Rapha's faux pas

frenchfighter

It just occured to me that with Rapha thinking they are the epitomy of cycling style, how can it be that they ride with Shimano and DA wheels and that all the models in their publicity are riding shimano?!

I am not referring to function here, simply pure aesthetic qualities and it goes without saying that the majority of people would say that Campag is hands down nicer to look at on a bike (the difference in the Shimano and Campag hoods/levers for 2009 is admittedly rather vague, but for all preceeding years the difference is stark). As an example, in the facebook group Beauty and the Bike, about 99% of the photos are of bikes equipped with Campagnolo.

Anonymous

Sponsorship?

frenchfighter

That doesn't have to have anything to do with the people in their adverts or the people who ride in their feature events or whatnot.

Additionally, given they are so bothered about style they could have not accepted Shimano and if totally necessary then pay for it out of their own pocket (they earn enough as it is!).

Anonymous

It does if it means that if Rapha use shimano in their adverts then the team gets free equipment.

Plus, there is always personal preference?

antfly

Is the complaint here that Rapha aren`t being snobby enough?

biondino

What an utterly subjective comment! It's true that more bike snobs prefer Campag to Shimano, but a) they're snobs and b) even the snobs admit the Shimano gear does what it's supposed to. In looks terms, perhaps Rapha think metal is more "classic" in a groupset than newfangled plastic?

But yeah, it's most likely that they get bikes for their shoots and they go with whatever the bikes are equipped with. Ditto the Rapha Condor team - I assume they use Shimano from the above pics.

will3

Nah, they're trying to make their kit look better by deflecting your gaze from the Shimano stuff you abhor. Those Campag droolers would never see the Rapha kit would they?

LangerDan

If Rapha were that concerned with image, I'm sure they'd equip the team with something other than a ten-a-penny, "stick-your-own-brand-here" generic frame from some big faceless carbon conglomerate.

When the Rapha-sponsored womens team were over here racing, the jersey zippers (and I presume the rest of jersey) were made by Nalini, IIRC. Perhaps they extract money from the cognoscenti on the basis of form and spend it on racing on the basis of function?

antfly

biondino wrote:

What an utterly subjective comment! It's true that more bike snobs prefer Campag to Shimano, but a) they're snobs and b) even the snobs admit the Shimano gear does what it's supposed to. In looks terms, perhaps Rapha think metal is more "classic" in a groupset than newfangled plastic?

But yeah, it's most likely that they get bikes for their shoots and they go with whatever the bikes are equipped with. Ditto the Rapha Condor team - I assume they use Shimano from the above pics.

So are they using Shimano because Campaq is plastic, or have I got that wrong?

frenchfighter

Well obviously the comment is subjective, most opinions are, and mine wasn't meant to be otherwise. I just thought it was quite funny and demonstrates how fickle a lot of companies and people are.

The irony is that most of their goods could be produced custom by an independent worksmith (leather gloves by a tanner for example), at a lower cost and a better quality.

Anonymous

I dont like the shape of campag shifters, I like the taller hoods of Shimano.

Anonymous

frenchfighter wrote:

Well obviously the comment is subjective, most opinions are, and mine wasn't meant to be otherwise. I just thought it was quite funny and demonstrates how fickle a lot of companies and people are.

The irony is that most of their goods could be produced custom by an independent worksmith (leather gloves by a tanner for example), at a lower cost and a better quality.

Then design some and do that then rather than whinge!

frenchfighter

Haha, I reckon that there are a large proportion of people on this forum that should get out on their bike more and experience the joys and pains of road riding, as well as the positive effect it has on your mood. It might make them less likely to try and rubbish as many comments as possible, taking everything like it is a serious decision, opinion or accusation rather than a light-hearted way to talk about all things cycling....especially in the cake stop forum.

Anonymous

Haha, I wish I could get out on the bike at the moment.