What is rapha
Jason82
Posts: 142
And why is it so expensive? Is it like the Armani of the cycling world or something?
Missing a Boardman cx team
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a fiver says this thread will go over six pages at least....0
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Rapha is a state of mind. A journey. The last true display of luxury in a world full of poor. Some say it doesn't even exist. Others say it doesn't have to.0
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Is it for ginger beers? is that why it's all baby soft pinks and colours I can't pronounce?Missing a Boardman cx team
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Rapha is instant, timeless, up-to-the-minute. It is urban chic meets city cool. It is the beauty of a single chainring. It is many times the price of other brands. It is never seen in Belgium...
It's overpriced tat for knobhe@ds.
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To be fair it is cheaper than some assos and some of the (excellent) castelli stuff.
Most of the top brands sell stuff at that sort of price band except dhb who also do excellent stuff but it is also good value at the same time.
(P.S I AM NOT SAYING ASSOS OR RAPHA IS NOT EXCELLENT I JUST HAVE NOT USED ANY OF IT)0 -
It is a high end fashion label for cycling - and kind of a mixed bag. Some of their stuff is truly excellent, the best money can buy, and when you take into account the longevity and reliability of these products, they are actually quite decent value for money. I've got a couple of their long-sleeved jerseys, their softshell jacket and a pair of their old, and no longer made, criterium gloves and I love them. Had them for years, use them constantly and they still look like new and have performed flawlessly and are obviously well thought-out
On the other hand, some of their stuff is cringingly, toe-curlingly, patently a triumph of hype over common sense.
Thankfully it is pretty obvious which is which.0 -
Rapha is Assos for numpties.
Except for the pink neckwarmer which is of course awesome.0 -
Once men turned their thinking over to machines in the hope that this would set them free. But that only permitted other men with machines to make Rapha.0
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Isn't he some kind of tennis player?Bike lover and part-time cyclist.0
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Rapha is very nice, but expensive cycling clothing. Often bemoaned by people who can't afford it and haven't tried it.
It's actually very good quality and fit, but the fact that it's got a trendy image surrounding it means that said people just think it's expensive and poncey, worn by people who care more about the cycling image than cycling itself.
Have a look at the prices of Assos kit, people don't moan so much about that, and you don't see people moaning about Dromarti gloves at £109.
That said, there are some products in the range which are expensive, take a look at the Paul Smith / Rapha stuff for instance.
Personally, I don't see why people get so wound up about it. :roll:Science adjusts it’s beliefs based on what’s observed.
Faith is the denial of observation so that Belief can be preserved0 -
Do you mean Rapha-Geminiani or the shop that fat 40 year old dentists shop at?I'm sorry you don't believe in miracles0
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I don't care what anyone says, the Rapha key fob is fantastic at, err, keeping keys together. Well worth £54, of someone else's money
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it must perform very well because it looks like pretty drab stuff IMO.0
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Its a brand of clothing that when combined with the words "dentist" and/or "sportive" makes some grown men who post on here lose their minds... 0
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It never fails to amaze me how some people get so wound up about Rapha. Are they really saying what their cyling wear looks like is irrelevant to them? As others have said Assos is actually more expensive. Do these people rant at people who buy Diesel jeans too, or buy their shopping at Waitrose?? I doubt it.
I reckon 99% of those taking the p1ss have never tried a single item they sell. The fact is they make stuff that performs fantastically and generllay looks nice (with the exception of the last 2 years club jerseys and all the Paul Smith stuff!). Their bib shorts, softshell jacket and jerseys are fantastic to ride in and last way longer than synthetic stuff, Assos included.0 -
Hoopdriver wrote:It is a high end fashion label for cycling - and kind of a mixed bag. Some of their stuff is truly excellent, the best money can buy, and when you take into account the longevity and reliability of these products, they are actually quite decent value for money. I've got a couple of their long-sleeved jerseys, their softshell jacket and a pair of their old, and no longer made, criterium gloves and I love them. Had them for years, use them constantly and they still look like new and have performed flawlessly and are obviously well thought-out
On the other hand, some of their stuff is cringingly, toe-curlingly, patently a triumph of hype over common sense.
Thankfully it is pretty obvious which is which.
IMo - this is a very accurate post.
I also have a few bits n bobs of rapha stuff - it works very well - the softshell jacket and winter jersey are particular favourites of mine. worn a lot, washed a lot - still like new.
i like the styling - it's understated, not in-yer-face euro-ponce like assos (which i simply would not buy - no matter how good it is).
the paul smith stuff is, erm... an aquired taste though..0 -
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I have found myself gravitating towards Rapha stuff time and again.
Their softshell jacket is awesome; warm/cool/waterproof/breathable/technical/understated
Their touring shorts are brilliant for putting over lycra when you're going to the pub on the way home
Their merino polo is... overpriced, but comfy, wicks well and doesn't look like a cycling top (see touring shorts)
Their gloves are nice looking, but stretch like hell - from too tight to baggy.
All of it is expensive; it's also very well made, with top quality ingredients, and durable. There are not many companies making understated but technical cycle clothing, and Rapha doesn't really seem to have a lot of competition.
I also don't get why people get so worked up about it - perhaps it's because cyclists should be purists and therefore dressed in logos and lycra. I'm not prepared to do that, because a. I 'm not fast enough, b. I'm not thin enough, and c. I don't belong to or support a cycling team. Or perhaps it's because they simply can't afford it.
In short, great stuff, well designed, expensive but worth it if you like it and can afford it.0 -
Did you mean retro-ponce not metro? I guess everyone has different tastes and the world is a big enough place for both types of ponces. Personally I'm in the euro-ponce team and proud of it! We''re probably faster anyway0
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In a recent survey over 76% of sportive riders said they'd buy Rapha aftershave0
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is'nt he the spanish waiter who used to manage liverpool fc :shock:0
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lef wrote:Did you mean retro-ponce not metro?
no, I mean 'metro' - because you rarely see the gear being worn outside the rarified atmosphere of the capital....andrewlwood wrote:Their touring shorts are brilliant for putting over lycra when you're going to the pub on the way home
no other shorts will do this...?0 -
Instead of the sarcasm can one of those taking the p1ss actually explain to me what is so objectionable about the kit, and how many bits of Rapha kit they've tried?
I'm genuinely interested.0 -
Yes, me too. If they can do it without resorting to name-calling, so much the better.Aguila wrote:Instead of the sarcasm can one of those taking the p1ss actually explain to me what is so objectionable about the kit, and how many bits of Rapha kit they've tried?
I'm genuinely interested.0 -
They have marketed the product towards the fashion consious and 'must have it', I just know its 'kin expensive. No idea what the gear is like, but I would bet there are products that do the same job if not better at a fraction of the price. Or do you have to be part of the club or clic to wear it??1990 - Trek 950
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1992 - Roberts DOGS BOLX
1994 - Roberts STOLEN!
2003 - Specialized Epic
2006 - Specialized Allez Elite0 -
^^ see there we go again - "no idea what the gear is like"
it's great - the bits that i have tried have been / are excellent - and in the case of the winter jersey and softshell - good value for money also.0
