Rapha, a UK Assos?

Unknown · June 2007

If the Rapha Rider's journal is typical of their kit, they must be laughing all the way to the bank.
Dave

David Jones

My bikes http://picasaweb.google.com/lb1dej

My clubs: Buxton CC - South Manchester CTC - VCC - VTTA

gavintc · June 2007

But the problem with Aldi/Lidl kit is that you are in danger of looking like someone that sells not buys Big Issue.

Ken Night · June 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by PeteinSQ

Assos shorts aren't particularly logo heavy are they?

I always get the impression that really keen cyclists who know what they are doing own assos shorts. <hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

The other item which seems to be on "those in the know" is the Intermediate Jacket

(though, you'll find the Nalini, Sigma Sport branded one just as effective)

"I once prayed to God for a bike, but quickly found out he didnt work that way...so I stole a bike and prayed for his forgiveness"

Unknown · June 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by KingstonWheeler

I haven't raced much this year but every time I've come across a rider from the Rapha-Condor team in a race, they've been wearing Assos shorts.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">I was at Crystal Palace last night and there were at least five Rapha-Condor riders there and they all seemed to be wearing Rapha shorts.

sylvanus · June 2007

Yes and I was at Hillingdon and there were four Rapha-Condor riders there, all of whom were mysteriously wearing Rapha shorts as well - must be some sort of sinister British conspiracy to discredit Assos!

I have to say the Rapha-Condor gear does it for me and looks an awful lot better than some of day-glo lycra vomit which seems to pass for good club gear in this country. I mean who even thought this looked good compared to this although I have to admit I'd prefer to have Tony Gibb's legs!

[Deleted User] · June 2007

The user and all related content has been deleted.

sylvanus · June 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Imagine if this thread was Gucci vs Vuitton, most of you would think it was a load of rubbish between pretentious posters...<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Any form of dress is a statement and often a form of good manners. For example club kit or army uniform denote membership of a group as well as having purely practical and utilitarian benefits. Right now I've stripped off the lycra and am wearing a suit since I'm seeing clients later and I would see it as bad mannered and poor business practice to meet a client in casual dress. Normally I'd be wearing jeans and most of the people that work for me are casually dressed.

Like it or not, people will make immediate judgements about you based on what you wear. You can try to ignore that but that won't stop them forming an impression accordingly. Clothes are another form of communication and decoration. They can be a pleasure in life and many of us have clothes we feel good in. The Puritans, Stalinists and Maoists would agree with you though!

[:)]

[Deleted User] · June 2007

The user and all related content has been deleted.

Unknown · June 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by KingstonWheeler

No, my point isn't about puritanism, the opposite in fact. If you want a mink-lined silk winter jacket, fine so long as you enjoy your cycling.

I just get bored by X brand vs. Y brand, after all Assos and Rapha are still tight lycra. I'd just rather everyone enjoys their cycling and thankfully there's a wide range of kit out there so there's something for everyone. If you don't like Brand X, don't buy it, but there's no need to slag off riders because they like Rapha or Aldi, each to his own and there's no need to sneer.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">I agree. We should encourage people to cycle more and sneering at their kit is a sure fire way of making them think again about cycling.

However, I do find the strength of reaction to Rapha funny. People seem to genuinely loathe them. It's only cycling kit!

sylvanus · June 2007

True!

If only we could somehow find a way of combining a Rapha thread with a helmet or RLJ theme then several of the more shouty-bonkers members of the forum might expire from a typing induced Tourette's spasm.

[:0]

hevipedal · June 2007

I agree with the sentiment about not slagging people off for their choices; if someone has the money and wants to buy rapha then fine, that's their choice - different to mine but so what. I happen not to like their designs very much and think they are too concentrated on fashion and not bike. I spend nearly œ100 on a pair of Specialized BG bib shorts because I find them the most comfortable - each arse to it's own..........

 Hevipedal 
Phrase of the week - I've got a bike. You can ride it if you like.
It's got a basket, a bell that rings and
Things to make it look good.
I'd give it to you if I could, but I borrowed it.
 
51yrs old and Proud of it - Made it to 87kg 2 more to go for the target.
Pedal to Paris Sept 2007

Eurostar · June 2007

I once bumped into a bloke from Rapha pimping up the display at Condor and asked very politely what proportion of the retail price was accounted for by marketing. Didn't get an answer!

In the early days of Rapha I was told by Karl at Condor - who must know more about selling high price clothing than just about anybody - that he never expected Rapha to succeed because he didn't think there was room in the market for a brand even more expensive than Assos.

Rapha's business model has too much in common with luxury designer goods like watches and handbags, where the markup is hundreds of per cent. Much of the price goes on their determination to be achingly cool by creating an instant heritage, blending courier chic with the era of Simpson and Merckx. If you want to worship at the altar of consumerism, look no further.

If you get Rapha stuff half price in the sale it can be a good buy - trouble is, the last thing you want is anyone thinking you're the kind of mug who would be seduced by their marketing! It's like Burberry after it was discovered by chavs.

I got a free jersey from Rapha (a loaner - they forgot to ask me to return it) but I don't wear it because it's white and has to have a cool wash. What a pain in the arse.

Assos is so comfortable, functional and hard wearing that it does represent superb value for money if you wear it year after year. If only they could do something about the polyester stink.

I have finally found my dream jersey - the finest grade of merino, a bit of lycra, no polyester, machine washable, understated retro design, half the price of Rapha. But I won't tell you what it is.

Unknown · June 2007

But I won't tell you what it is. 

Why ever not? [:0][;)]

Gwarn mister. Give us a clue!

Unknown · June 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Eurostar

I got a free jersey from Rapha (a loaner - they forgot to ask me to return it) but I don't wear it because it's white and has to have a cool wash. What a pain in the arse.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">Surely most cycling clothing has to have a cool wash? My Assos kit certainly states that it should be washed at 30 degrees. Which is the same as the Rapha kit I have.

I don't understand your complaint here I'm afraid.

Anyway, is the kit you refuse to name Solo? Although it isn't what I'd call understated!

Tom753 · June 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Eurostar

I once bumped into a bloke from Rapha pimping up the display at Condor and asked very politely what proportion of the retail price was accounted for by marketing. Didn't get an answer!

In the early days of Rapha I was told by Karl at Condor - who must know more about selling high price clothing than just about anybody - that he never expected Rapha to succeed because he didn't think there was room in the market for a brand even more expensive than Assos.

Rapha's business model has too much in common with luxury designer goods like watches and handbags, where the markup is hundreds of per cent. Much of the price goes on their determination to be achingly cool by creating an instant heritage, blending courier chic with the era of Simpson and Merckx. If you want to worship at the altar of consumerism, look no further.

If you get Rapha stuff half price in the sale it can be a good buy - trouble is, the last thing you want is anyone thinking you're the kind of mug who would be seduced by their marketing! It's like Burberry after it was discovered by chavs.

I got a free jersey from Rapha (a loaner - they forgot to ask me to return it) but I don't wear it because it's white and has to have a cool wash. What a pain in the arse.

Assos is so comfortable, functional and hard wearing that it does represent superb value for money if you wear it year after year. If only they could do something about the polyester stink.

I have finally found my dream jersey - the finest grade of merino, a bit of lycra, no polyester, machine washable, understated retro design, half the price of Rapha. But I won't tell you what it is.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Well said!

I wouldn't touch their stuff even if was at half price or if they gave it to me for free, I just loathe their marketing and business model. The actual quality of their products is largely irrelevant, as long as it's of an acceptable quality. And of course their sales are a marketing tool as well, all part of their "exclusive" image, because you have to be "in the know".

They are 100% marketing bull****. They appropriate genuine and authentic cycling history in their advertising and marketing of their products, when they have absolutely nothing to do with this history. Yeah I know other companies use cycling history in their advertising but at least they actually do have some history, whereas Rapha is a brand created by advertising and marketing people in the last few years. They even try to gain credibility by trying to associate themselves with the Tour (!!!), and try to imply that couriers wear their stuff, when in fact, apart a few getting freebies, the vast majority of whom wouldn't even touch Rapha with a bargepole.

<div align="right"> My fixed bike </div id="right">

Eurostar · June 2007

It's not Solo, which is synthetic.

Assos says it wants a cool wash, but if you wash it hotter it doesn't shrink. Rapha 'sportwool' (which is mostly polyester) does. Don't ask me how I know this.

Another problem with my Rapha jersey is that the fabric is just too thick - won't pack up really really small and won't dry overnight which is vital for touring.

But I'm nitpicking now. Pointless discussion really. There's nothing logical about fashion, and one of the cool things about cycling is that it's anti-fashion. Erm...I mean it was when I started cycling, before the cool people (who aren't really cool because they try too hard to be cool) got on the bandwagon. Now that it's the new golf we proper cyclists have to try harder and harder to be cool by leaving mainstream bicycles to the hordes and buying fixies or bents or some other wierd contraption. I fully expect Penny Farthings to make a comeback. People will accessorise them with fake courier radios and courier bags mended with gaffer tape.

I blame Lance. He even made cancer cool, which is so unfair. I mean, I had it first.

I can't tell you about my secret jersey too easily, because unless I make it hard for you, you won't want it enough. Like the people queuing for hours to get that bag that wasn't made of plastic.

culverwood · June 2007

I'm a dandy. I belong to a number of clothes/fashion forums. Reading this is so similar to "Edward Green are so much better than Churches", "British suits or Italian suits?". Does anyone think that any clothing manufacturer be he Assos or Rapha is not in it for the money?

As for Eurostar's special secret jersey - its not the emperors new clothes is it.

Although as a dandy I will undoubtedly buy some Rapha knickerbockers some day, until I get to somewhere where I can try them on (fit is soo important) I will survive in my cheap Lycra which though it is deeply uncool to me, works.

Rapha, a UK Assos?

Comments

Categories