Rapha too posh for discounts
Comments
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giant mancp wrote:[quote="Stewie Griffin"]pneumatic wrote:As they say on Pretty Woman, "if you have to ask the price, you probably cannot afford it, madam"
How do you know what was said in pretty woman :shock: ? I have had to sit through it on several occasions and all I can recall is that there is a Lotus Esprit in it :P
urrgghhh shudder, feel for you mate. I won't entertain it at all with my mrs, and Titanic and bloody Dirty Dancing and Coyote Ugly. Good grief!!! urrgghhh!!!![/quote][/quote]
that's my abiding memory as well giantman. the rest of the film doesn't stack up for me as i regard julia roberts as about as physically appealing as a woman-shaped dogturd ... but the silver esprit in that film is memorable ... shame you've got another 80 minutes or so to go at that point0 -
erko wrote:carbonfiend wrote:again my point has been missed and just because a commodity is highly priced doesn't mean it's of superior quality a commodity is only worth what the public is prepared to pay if nobody bought Rapha it would either fail or have to lower its prices they lead you believe the hype
I have no grievence with persons that purchase anything they consider of merit and what ever price they want to pay, my issue is with Rapha itself which I don't consider to be of anywhere near the value they place on it.
I base this opinion on two things a) I have worked for over 15yrs in fashion, lifestyle, music pr and marketing and the game that Rapha are playing is clear as day to see if you know what to look for, this is not to say I don't think there is something in style led cycling apparel I just don't think Rapha is good enough in its style or quality to justify its price and on top of that I also don't think the Kudos they attempt to carry across holds much weight (publishing a ridiculous over priced magazine and sponsoring a pretend pro cycling team that races in events that nobody cares about that's affiliated to a bike shop on grays inn road -sorry to be so blunt)
b) I also think the aesthetic of cycling apperal that they are trying to potray is misplaced- racing bikes is not about trying to look like a french school teacher with a basket on the front of your steed a beret for a shell and some onions to refuel with it, its about speed & power. If you wanna look like monsiuer marsaud go to Anges B and buy a packet of gitanes.
Good luck
i see it too, you are not alone, though you seem to be in this thread. Rapha is a cafe rider brand, faux prestige based on price and well crafted blurbs trying to convince the naive that is what real roadies should be wearing. Meanwhile, product is made in outsourced factories in China in small batches (which will make QC difficult over time) and mark up is extreme. As road cycling has become the new golf in recent years Rapha have found their niche selling to those possessed of a healthy bank balance and no clue. As long as they can continue this veil of exclusivity they will continue to find suckers rising to the bait.
Some say its not about the bike, well, its certainly not about poncing around in a GBP 450 Rapha Tweed Softshell looking like Monsieur Cravat :P
I have some sympathy with carbonfiend as well. i do think rapha put something into the sport however. my syampthy is that i just find the branding and image ball-achingly cliched. the moody "I take myself so seriously" pre-ride shots. I don't want to buy into that though it seems many do ... there you go.0 -
Being to dosh for piscounts is somehow reassuring.0
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RAPHA;
Really Absurdley Price-Hyped (cycling) Apparel
What else do you need to know..?0 -
I don't buy into any lifestyle.
I own kit from most of the well known brands and almost all have made something I really like.
Including Rapha, Assos, Pearl Izumi, Castelli, Gore, Specialized etc etc.
It just so happens my favourite jersey is a Rapha one due to comfort and fit. As is my favourite lightweight softshell.
The jersey to most people just looks like a black cycling top with a white band round the sleeve. Fine by me.0
