The Great Rapha Roll Swindle

SimonAH

I have only one item of Rapha which is a merino hat and it is a thing of loveliness. Despite being unbelievably thin it is windproof and reversible. Black on one side and orange on the other meaning that I can go full tart on the fixie with the deep dish orange rims.

It was, however, stupidly expensive for a wooly hat.

And worth every penny!

Clever Pun

I was rocking this accesory the other day, matched the accents in my jersey, really amused me

velohutts

I have a few rapha items (would like more) as it is very good , it fits well , functions well , looks good , would love it more if i went faster wearing it but unlikely to say the least.
Is it a fashion thing , yes , do they sponsor a team and put things back into cycling , yes , is it expensive , yes , will I be buying more , hopefully !!
I also have assos shorts which are superb and some cheap jerseys for the turbo , wearing under a jacket or when I have run out ....fingers crossed the fat fella in the red suit brings me some more ( not been subtle with hints ) or that a sale starts again soon.

First.Aspect

meanredspider wrote:

DrLex wrote:

meanredspider wrote:

I've never seen any Rapha kit - it's banned north of Perth for being "soft southern nancy wear"

Yet you're happy to dress like Travis out of Blake's 7 in Assos?

Absolutely 8) 8) 8)

Funnily enough, whilst you do see people in Assos up here, I've never yet seen anybody in Rapha. I think that's possibly because Assos is almost totally about function whereas Rapha has a definite nod to style. I'm not knocking it - if I still lived in Cambridge, I might be tempted but a pink shoulder bag in the Highlands would be like - well, the time I ordered a Pimms up here - the bottle was behind the bar but no one knew what it was...

My PhD supervisor was a Scot. He once told me of when Burger King first came to Fife. Rather than be heard ordering a "whopper", people used to just point and say, "I whan one'o they"

Coach H

The Fuggler wrote:

On a related note, the 20% discount code for Rapha seems to have expired, much to my annoyance. Was just about to pull the trigger on a winter jersey.

Try Torm, quality is easily as good but less than half the price.
On the T5 Jersey you get 2 arm loops too. This must make them even better value!

In Sportwool terms, TORM is exactly the same fabric as Rapha with the same build quality but far more reasonable prices.

If you want to buy Rapha then fine, if you want the same type quality (in Smartwool Jerseys) but are not bothered about it being branded Rapha then Torm is an option or if you don't want to spend that type of money on cycling kit then other options are available. Choice is a very personal thing unique to individuals, sheep would love the options available to us humans.

Coach H

mroli wrote:

Unless Assos girl came and sold them to me.

Look up Cippolini girl, now I'd buy anything off her!

daviesee

Coach H wrote:

The Fuggler wrote:

On a related note, the 20% discount code for Rapha seems to have expired, much to my annoyance. Was just about to pull the trigger on a winter jersey.

Try Torm, quality is easily as good but less than half the price.
On the T5 Jersey you get 2 arm loops too. This must make them even better value!

In Sportwool terms, TORM is exactly the same fabric as Rapha with the same build quality but far more reasonable prices.

If you want to buy Rapha then fine, if you want the same type quality (in Smartwool Jerseys) but are not bothered about it being branded Rapha then Torm is an option or if you don't want to spend that type of money on cycling kit then other options are available. Choice is a very personal thing unique to individuals, sheep would love the options available to us humans.

Sorry but I have both and they are not the same.
Torm is undoubtably better value for money but the Rapha version is slightly better quality.
If you are on a budget or just generally like value for money then buy Torm. If you want a splurge treat then go for the Rapha. The fit is better, the weave tighter and it just feels 10% better but it does cost 100% more. You decide, but they are not the same.
Back on subject - Torm don't do a version of the winter jersey.

Coach H

daviesee wrote:

Sorry but I have both and they are not the same.
Torm is undoubtably better value for money but the Rapha version is slightly better quality.
If you are on a budget or just generally like value for money then buy Torm. If you want a splurge treat then go for the Rapha. The fit is better, the weave tighter and it just feels 10% better but it does cost 100% more. You decide, but they are not the same.
Back on subject - Torm don't do a version of the winter jersey.

Interesting as this is not my experience as I also have both. I have to say my Torm T4 and T5 are pretty much identical quality to my Club and Long Sleeve jerseys. I certainly cannot tell the difference.

Bacl on subject - You are right Torm does not do a version of the Winter Jersey. Bad comparrison on my part, but it was late (ish)

JamesB5446

I saw some plum buying an Armani suit the other day. Tapped him on the shoulder and pointed him in the direction of this - http://direct.asda.com/george/mens-suit ... lt,pd.html

jds_1981

JamesB5446 wrote:

I saw some plum buying an Armani suit the other day. Tapped him on the shoulder and pointed him in the direction of this - http://direct.asda.com/george/mens-suit ... lt,pd.html

You pointed him in the wrong direction - should have sent him here http://www.h-huntsman.com/

asprilla

Wore a Rapha Winter Jersey this morning. What a brilliant bit of kit. I reckon with a merino base underneath I'd be good down to freezing.

daviesee

Asprilla wrote:

Wore a Rapha Winter Jersey this morning. What a brilliant bit of kit. I reckon with a merino base underneath I'd be good down to freezing.

Assuming you mean a long sleeve base layer, you'd be right. :P
The arms don't have a wind block layer so IMHO you need long sleeves underneath for below 5 degrees.
Nice that you can wear it from zero then open the vents as it gets warmer up to around 10 degrees. It gets a bit warm above that if cycling with effort.

il_principe

daviesee wrote:

Asprilla wrote:

Wore a Rapha Winter Jersey this morning. What a brilliant bit of kit. I reckon with a merino base underneath I'd be good down to freezing.

Assuming you mean a long sleeve base layer, you'd be right. :P
The arms don't have a wind block layer so IMHO you need long sleeves underneath for below 5 degrees.
Nice that you can wear it from zero then open the vents as it gets warmer up to around 10 degrees. It gets a bit warm above that if cycling with effort.

I've worn it at just above freezing with no more than a sleeveless Prendas baselayer underneath and was toasty warm. Fabulous bit of kit.

spasypaddy

i want lots of rapha kit

maybe i'll ask for some for xmas/with my xmas bonus

mroli

On this - the sale that happens right after xmas is a bit hit and miss - but you can get some great stuff then...

the_fuggler

I do like Torm kit, but have had problems with the stitching. I can tell the difference between the two. Whether or not Rapha is worth the extra I guess is down to the individual to decide...

Chippy_Minton

I have the very same jacket in OP. Fits brilliantly, breathable, its a bright colour and not hi viz yellow, and is a lot more waterproof than you might imagine as proved on a very wet and windy ride round RP with WrathRob. And I like pink. A lot. :oops:
I'll fess up that I'm a sucker for their marketing, but I can't fault my Rapha bibs or jerseys that I have bought from a warmth / wicking / fit perspective.

keyser__soze

t4tomo wrote:

Now this jacket costs £165. One hundred and sixty five frigging quid for what is effectively a pink school girls anorak, the sort my 9 year daughter would love.

I see your £165 and I raise you £459



http://www.norrona.com/Products/5002-11 ... o-jacket-m

gtvlusso

Pink Bar tape:



Pink and Blue lug cutouts:



I tried to go down the 'Rapha' look with my Aende frame, recently built.

I am a man..... :shock:

Ben6899

Just bought one of their Country Jerseys - the medium fits like I had it tailored!

Got my eye on the Classic Softshell or Brevet for Christmas, but the Brevet is out of stock until February.

meanredspider

For such pricey kit, the stocks of Rapha aren't great. Persuaded a friend that the lady's pink gilet would be great - lo and behold no effing stock even at Rapha - not clever especially in the cold season and the run up to Xmas

mroli

You could try phoning Condor/the Rapha store and see if they've got any left in stock...

daviesee

mroli wrote:

You could try phoning Condor/the Rapha store and see if they've got any left in stock...

Or try Ronde in Edinburgh. I think they would do postal orders.