Rapha, nice but a bit pricey?

Anyone got an XL jersey, XL bib shorts, or 36 waist touring shorts for sale?

Anyone got an XL jersey, XL bib shorts, or 36 waist touring shorts for sale?

if thats a smartass comment. fuck you.

if not, join the real man club ;)

I recall reading an interview with Mottram that asked whether he'd consider a budget line and he said there was no chance as it'd just cheapen the brand and in fact, they were investigating the possibility of releasing a 'premium' line that would be even more expensive, exclusive and infused with the scent of Mt Ventoux etc. So I take it that not only are they making piles of cash on the back of the ponciness, pretentiousness and brand, there are plenty of folk out there (quite a lot in the US, I think) that are prepared to pay double the going priciness for even more lashings of exclusivity and ponce. I don't know if that project turned into the secret range that regular folk can't know about; just those that have spent over £xxxx/year or are on the inside, or whether it's something different that's still to come. Speaking of which, does anyone have any details of that range? What's available, prices, pictures etc.?

Personally, it leaves me conflicted. I see that it's pure marketing, brand bullshit and I hate the selling of a lifestyle by sticking a pink tag onto an otherwise plain piece of clothing, but at the same time, I can't help but be sucked into it. I have lots of their kit and just the other day, for shits and giggles, went through the site adding all the things I want that I could realistically use to my basket (not just clicking everything that caught my eye) and the total came out at just over £3600! If I had the cash, I'd be head to toe, and somedays when the washing cycles sync up I am now, as empty as my bank account may be.

I had an accident the other day when I was in a new pair of Assos bibs and a £150 Gore jacket. Luckily both came through unscathed, but when I got up off the deck, my first thought was for the kit, not the blood running down my leg. It's made me seriously consider the implications of Rapha's free crash repair service when weighing up the costs of kit.

I'm not denying that their branding is spot on from a business point of view, for their demographic maybe, but it just doesn't work on me. To it doesn't have integrity because it's so overblown. In the same way as when the Cadbury's Flake advert comes on... "It's just a messy chocolate bar, now get out the bath and stop frapping over confectionery!".

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giffen_good

At times it can be odd seeing the petulant carping on this thread.

I know the main designer behind this jersey. He does a lot of night rides, endurance cycling etc, he specialises in such ventures and is probably one of the fastest distance cyclists I know. The jersey was designed for a specific purpose, there were many challenges to be overcome. PBP has very detailed requirements in terms of the reflective nature of the clothing for the evenings. One will probably be added to the wardrobe sometime soon.

So will one also add oneself to the list of PBP riders in four years' time (leg permitting)?

Serious question.

It's a 600k Audax, it'll be ridden by nutcases, social misfits and people whose bikes cost less than £150

I know at least two people who rode the Bryan Chapman this year who are supremely well-adjusted people. It's granted that you do meet such people as in the cliché. :)

if thats a smartass comment. fuck you.

if not, join the real man club ;)

Serious. Would quite like some of their kit but not at new prices. XL and 36 waist are my sizes.

lol.

From the Rapha customer survey:

59. A new cycle clothing brand appears in your favourite cycling magazine/ website selling jerseys made from a merino wool blend and featuring a familiar three rear pocket configuration and contrast armband styling. When you visit their website you find the experience poor but the jerseys are a bit cheaper than Rapha's. Do you:

Should have just asked "What do you think of Torm?"

There were lots of questions in that survey I felt were striving for humour but missed the mark.
Also, there were lots of questions in that survey.

jeez.. I aint gonna bother.

I didn't know three rear pockets was a signature rapha jersey feature..

More like two and a half on the classic jersey, anyway.

lol.

From the Rapha customer survey:

59. A new cycle clothing brand appears in your favourite cycling magazine/ website selling jerseys made from a merino wool blend and featuring a familiar three rear pocket configuration and contrast armband styling. When you visit their website you find the experience poor but the jerseys are a bit cheaper than Rapha's. Do you:

Should have just asked "What do you think of Torm?"

or "do you think paying double the cost for your jersey is worth it for a slightly improved website."

Silly questions, some quite daft (some gives you two pills at the start of the race - what do you do?).

Anyway, you get 15% discount with next order - Here is the code:

Thank you for completing the Rapha Survey 2011.
Please enjoy a 15% discount on your next order at www.rapha.cc. Simply enter SURVEY11 in the campaign code box at checkout and click 'Apply'.
This offer expires at midnight GMT on Sunday, July 17th 2011 and may not be used in conjunction with any other promotion

and they had us as an option for what internet sites do you waste your working day on*

I had the same code so I guess it can be used a few times.

Ordered my gloves yesterday. Meh.

*paraphrasing.

lol.

From the Rapha customer survey:

59. A new cycle clothing brand appears in your favourite cycling magazine/ website selling jerseys made from a merino wool blend and featuring a familiar three rear pocket configuration and contrast armband styling. When you visit their website you find the experience poor but the jerseys are a bit cheaper than Rapha's. Do you:

Describing looking at a website as an 'experience' makes me puke. Banal marketing-jargon toss.

Can someone please post the entire questionnaire?

What, all of it? or just a link to it? It goes on forever.

Link might not work though due to technical ineptitude.

it works halleluja

lol.

From the Rapha customer survey:

59. A new cycle clothing brand appears in your favourite cycling magazine/ website selling jerseys made from a merino wool blend and featuring a familiar three rear pocket configuration and contrast armband styling. When you visit their website you find the experience poor but the jerseys are a bit cheaper than Rapha's. Do you:

In other words, if we hike our prices up again would you continue to buy from us or go elsewhere?

In other words, if we hike our prices up again would you continue to buy from us or go elsewhere?

or, Would you buy a very similar product for about half the price without the wanky marketing bollocks?

Yes.

I'm going to treat myself to some arm warmers and jersey from torm tomorrow.

I answered No.59 saying is this a Torm question?

ha, me too.
I was so tempted to put "it's nice but pricey" in the "is there anything you would like to say about rapha" section
but I resisted.

I just told them to sew their sleeve extension seams properly.