Phone call to Rapha / can someone measure something for me?

bendertherobot

I have two jerseys.

A Club in XL. That measures pit to pit 21 inches.

A Condor in XL. That measures pit to pit 19.5 inches.

A difference!

My reading of their sizes on site suggests to me that I would be better (with a 42") chest to go for LARGE now (the XL of the club is too baggy on me).

So I phoned Rapha just to ask, before buying two country jerseys, if they could measure a large pit to pit.

And they can't. Because their jerseys all have a margin of error. Flatly refused to do so. Which I thought was a bit poor. I concede I can use their return service but it would be nice to get it right first time round.

So, could anyone measure a current Rapha Country jersey for me if you have one please! LARGE in inches pit to pit!

Ta!

hopper1

Considering the prices they charge, if I asked for some help, and was refused point blank, then I'd tell them to poke it up their collective a*ses! :evil:
By Assos instead.

bendertherobot

hopper1 wrote:

Considering the prices they charge, if I asked for some help, and was refused point blank, then I'd tell them to poke it up their collective a*ses! :evil:
By Assos instead.

Funnily enough, that's how I finished the conversation!

amochrie

Sent my Country Jersey back today...too small, obviously margin of error.

ajb72

I'm not at home to measure my jersey for you, but based on your chest size I would say a large would be fine, and XL would be too large.

I have a 40" chest and my large is definitely not skin tight, my mate has a 42" chest and the large fits him just fine.

bendertherobot

Ta ajb72!

DaSy

I posted the following on Road.cc last year as I had the same issue -

I have just gone through a bit of a drama with Rapha regarding the sizing of their jerseys.

First of all, I have to say they have been more than fair, and exchanged my jersey that was bought for me for Christmas. I have only just realised it didn't fit correctly, as it hadn't been jersey weather until recently. It had been worn and washed (I was up front about that to them), so I can't complain about the service.

The jersey was marked as a large, and as I have 4 other Rapha jerseys in large, I assumed it would be the same. After a couple of wears I felt it was just too big, so measured it from armpit to armpit and compared this with the same measurement of my other jerseys. It turned out to be 6cm bigger around.

After a lot of to-ing and fro-ing with Rapha it turns out that the current medium is the same size as all my previous larges. They sent me a new medium and all is okay.

This seems to me to be all part of the shift of focus of Rapha to the American market. All the Rapha rides are now in the USA, and I think the sizing thing is part of a shift toward the larger sizes the Americans use to make them feel normal size (like the size zero of the USA is equivelant to size six in the UK).

I know the US is a big market, but I hope they don't continue to move away from the UK.

schweiz

Okay, from my cycling drawer....

All 'Large'

Classic Jersey 07 White = 52cm
Classic Jersey 08 Black = 49cm
Club 08 Orange = 47cm (noticeably smaller fit than all others)
Club 09 Red = 51 cm
Country 10 Red = 51cm

The club 08 and 09 are a different cut, the 08 has no side panels.

(edit)

I'm 40-42" chest with broad shoulders.

bendertherobot

Ta boys. Seems that what was an XL previously is now an L then. Will order the L instead.

Will be insteresting to see what the team jersey is next week when it gets released.

schweiz

be careful! my jersey sizes don't reflect that the sizes have got bigger in 4 years, just that I have a jersey that's on the small side from a couple of years back.

saying that, if you're 42" I'd go with L as you were planning

TiBoy

Hi bendertherobot - I am a new and massive Shutt VR fan and am trying to spread the word, I have never had Rapha but used to be an Assos man so am used to quality stuff. The Shutt stuff looks very good and, as far as I can make out, is made from the same sort stuff but a much more resonable price. Looking at the website they also have a made to measure and bespoke design if you need it, I have not seen anything like that from anyone else unless you order lots of kit. Why not give them a call and see what service you get, that's always how I judge small companies who would like my money.

http://www.shuttvr.com/products.php

bendertherobot

Hi Tiboy,

already have the White Rose. Lovely jersey. Might get a few more. Just going to invest in a Country Jersey (or two) so that I'm "all wool" for the summer.

TiBoy

The White Rose looks very nice, I've got a No. 3. and love it. Wanted one of the limited edition team ones in blue and missed out, gutted. Looks like they are slowly getting new products in as the gillet looks good. The website says they have a spring range being launched soon, the credit card may take a beating.

nicensleazy

I just bought a country jersey.....they are lovely!

bendertherobot

What colour? I'm currently planning the black and light blue ones!

TiBoy

I was a bit worried that the wool would be like wearing a jumper, how far from the truth, it's wool all the way for me this summer too.

nicensleazy

I went for the Italian jersey with the arm warmers!

nickwill

I have a Shutt No 5 jersey and it's a perfect fit and looks great. I also have two Assos jerseys which are spot on as well. I found the Rapha Country jersey too stretchy which meant that it was a great fit with nothing in the pockets, but full pockets meant that it hung down below the saddle at the back. I found it larger than suggested by their size guide, and would concur that the sizing is more American than European..
I will probably opt for Shutt clothing in the future as their quality and pricing hit the nail on the head for me. It's a major bonus that they are manufactured in the UK .I await the Spring relaunch of their website with great interest.

TiBoy

Don't get me started on the pockets in my Shutt, they are amazing. I have put another post on after my ride at the weekend to show how much stuff I had got in them and they did not sag one bit. How can other companies get it so wrong. I'm turning into a bit of a Shutt geek. What the heck, they are a small British company that make good quality kit in Britain, after my rubbish experiance with another jersey company I think I have found a good one.

bendertherobot

I tend to agree on the pockets thing. Assos great, Shutt great, Rapha not so good with lots in.

I'm currently waiting on an Owayo bespoke team kit (16 shirts ordered) and that came out at £36 each. Not wool but will be interesting to see how good the quality is.

s2_art

I'm glad I'm not the only Shutt evangelist haha.

I bought 2 sports wool jerseys, bib shorts, 2 pairs of socks, orbea cap and gilet. It didn't break the £200 mark. Everything I bought is a perfect fit (which is rare for me despite being a medium) and the quality is phenomenal. I was worried about sports wool being heavy, but I sincerely love it. You can tell that Shutt is run buy people who love cycling. The added bonus of everything being UK sourced/manufactured just ticks a box that not many companies in general tick at the moment. I can't recommend them enough.

s2_art

I'm glad I'm not the only Shutt evangelist haha.

I bought 2 sports wool jerseys, bib shorts, 2 pairs of socks, orbea cap and gilet. It didn't break the £200 mark. Everything I bought is a perfect fit (which is rare for me despite being a medium) and the quality is phenomenal. I was worried about sports wool being heavy, but I sincerely love it. You can tell that Shutt is run buy people who love cycling. The added bonus of everything being UK sourced/manufactured just ticks a box that not many companies in general tick at the moment. I can't recommend them enough.

giant_man

Has anyone bought the Shutt Velo Rapide "Sean Yates" Bib Shorts from Shutt VR? I am intrigued about the Du Pont insert they use in these. And for £29!!!!

bendertherobot

Discussing that in the thread just below. Waiting on freehub et al to tell us!

TiBoy

Here's the link http://www.bikeradar.com/forum/viewtopi ... c&start=40 still waiting.

on-yer-bike

Is it because Sean Yeats has long legs that his bib shorts are short? Shorts that cut through the middle of the thigh don't look that great IMO

miggers

on-yer-bike wrote:

Is it because Sean Yeats has long legs that his bib shorts are short? Shorts that cut through the middle of the thigh don't look that great IMO

He does have long legs but he had a habit of rolling them up too ...

http://www.seanyates.co.uk/racing/vualta.htm

Pete

ajb72

I'm sure I read an interview towards the end of his career that he was just fed up of dodgy tan lines! Knowing Sean Yates though, it was probably tongue in cheek stuff.

miggers

ajb72 wrote:

I'm sure I read an interview towards the end of his career that he was just fed up of dodgy tan lines! Knowing Sean Yates though, it was probably tongue in cheek stuff.

I thought one of the reasons we cycle is to show of the dodgy tan lines.. testament to all the miles we put in...

Anonymous

S2_art, it appears all your posts are about Shutt...

http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/search.php?search_author=s2_art

Do you work for them or something?

Very fishy indeed!

I ordered a pair of shorts a while ago and got told some new ones were coming out so they were going to send me some of them at the same price, which is great, but not heard anything since...

miggers

NapoleonD wrote:

S2_art, it appears all your posts are about Shutt...

http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/search.php?search_author=s2_art

Do you work for them or something?

Very fishy indeed!

I ordered a pair of shorts a while ago and got told some new ones were coming out so they were going to send me some of them at the same price, which is great, but not heard anything since...

S2_Art is not an employee, we have a small and loyal fan base Alex nothing wrong with that and I believe he has explained this on another post after having the same accusation being made.

Yes I remember your order from last Monday. I am happy to post your shorts, current style, tomorrow first thing. I just thought as you were happy to wait for the Pro Team ones you didn't need regular emails telling you that they weren't available .. We are expecting them this month from the factory in Bury, your call? They have been busy ramping up for us to supply Orbea-FGS with their team kit.

For the record we are a small company that focusses on making great cycling kit in the UK. We don't set up dummy accts to do blogging, forums etc. Even if we had time it would be unethical and counterproductive really. Feel free to pop in to our office in Ilkley to say hello you are only over the hill and you'll see that we are for real. Which is exactly what S2_Art did last week. He came to the office as he wanted us to design his jerseys for the L2P 24hr ride he is doing for Scope.

Give me a shout first as home is Oxford so I am not in Ilkley every day, though Simon is in most days when he is not out visiting our suppliers.

Kind regards, Pete