Rapha interview in Times for the wealthier MAMIL

curium

Sub required - http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/life/fash ... 136932.ece

Although the bikes cut a dash, the kit very much didn’t — until the launch of Rapha ten years ago. The British clothing firm’s elegantly restrained merino-mix jerseys were a radical departure from the garish, synthetic horrors clotting our bike lanes and at last offered the classier, wealthier “Mamils” (middle-aged men in Lycra) an appropriate weekend wardrobe. If you have a smart bike and want to look good on it, there’s still only one show in town. Paul Smith rides in Rapha. So, I’ve been told, does Brad Pitt.

Owner is from Rotherham so is excited about the tour being in Yorkshire

RichiePortly

I'm surprised at that - I seem to remember him knocking all things cycling and British in Ned Boultings book.

ddraver

Quite enjoyed this one and no sub required - http://www.esquire.co.uk/culture/sport/ ... and-style/

disgruntledgoat

Does all this cobblers not make you hate cycling just a little bit? All the sportif tips and bike reviews in broadsheets just feel really facile since they were mocking us a few short years ago and that rapha and esquire articles made me sick in my mouth a bit

Lanterne_Rogue

disgruntledgoat wrote:

Does all this cobblers not make you hate cycling just a little bit? All the sportif tips and bike reviews in broadsheets just feel really facile since they were mocking us a few short years ago and that rapha and esquire articles made me sick in my mouth a bit

I'm not sure about that, but the collective hysteria over only three or four British riders in the Tour made me smile. Four! Ha!

ddraver

^^Only if you have a thoroughly unrealistic idea of what cycling is

Yellow Peril

disgruntledgoat wrote:

Does all this cobblers not make you hate cycling just a little bit? All the sportif tips and bike reviews in broadsheets just feel really facile since they were mocking us a few short years ago and that rapha and esquire articles made me sick in my mouth a bit

I agree. the worse thing I've found is converted mockers. Metaphorically they've spent years kicking your head in , in the playground, for being different now they want to be your best friend because what you do is popular.

They all dip their toe with a spesh allez with some low end Altura /Endura kit then quickly move up to a Pinarello Dogma and wear the entire Rapha catalogue. They also quote Paul's 10km for every 1min in chasing the break as gospel. They also think Sportives are races.

jimmythecuckoo

Dangerous territory looking at the length of the "Are sportives races" thread

viewtopic.php?f=40013&t=12972983

joelsim

To be honest the more mainstream the better in my view. Every little helps in getting things better for cyclists on infrastructure etc, targeting Times and other publications read by leaders will be beneficial.

ddraver

Yellow Peril wrote:

disgruntledgoat wrote:

Does all this cobblers not make you hate cycling just a little bit? All the sportif tips and bike reviews in broadsheets just feel really facile since they were mocking us a few short years ago and that rapha and esquire articles made me sick in my mouth a bit

I agree. the worse thing I've found is converted mockers. Metaphorically they've spent years kicking your head in , in the playground, for being different now they want to be your best friend because what you do is popular.

They all dip their toe with a spesh allez with some low end Altura /Endura kit then quickly move up to a Pinarello Dogma and wear the entire Rapha catalogue. They also quote Paul's 10km for every 1min in chasing the break as gospel. They also think Sportives are races.

I e-love the both if you but that is the most colloidal snobby balls...

No one owns a sport, any sport, it is there for everyone to enjoy

pottssteve

Joelsim wrote:

To be honest the more mainstream the better in my view. Every little helps in getting things better for cyclists on infrastructure etc, targeting Times and other publications read by leaders will be beneficial.

Got to agree with this. Of course it's somewhat annoying to have a different cycling article in the paper everyday because people are jumping on the bandwagon. However, the more people who cycle the better, because as drivers they will be more aware and as cyclists they will support those of us who have been doing it for longer. Obviously there will be lots of bell-ends doing it but there are lots of bell-ends doing everything so why should cycling be any different?

Rapha stuff is nice but too expensive for me. And the article is wrong, a quick look through Prendas website will reveal many stylish kits that existed before Rapha - the only difference is not many people in the UK knew about them as they were French, Italian etc teams. The ultimate stylish riding attire is a genuine club kit such as the Manchester Wheelers - real heritage and panache without a monumental price tag.

Steve

Yellow Peril

ddraver wrote:

Yellow Peril wrote:

disgruntledgoat wrote:

Does all this cobblers not make you hate cycling just a little bit? All the sportif tips and bike reviews in broadsheets just feel really facile since they were mocking us a few short years ago and that rapha and esquire articles made me sick in my mouth a bit

I agree. the worse thing I've found is converted mockers. Metaphorically they've spent years kicking your head in , in the playground, for being different now they want to be your best friend because what you do is popular.

They all dip their toe with a spesh allez with some low end Altura /Endura kit then quickly move up to a Pinarello Dogma and wear the entire Rapha catalogue. They also quote Paul's 10km for every 1min in chasing the break as gospel. They also think Sportives are races.

I e-love the both if you but that is the most colloidal snobby balls...

No one owns a sport, any sport, it is there for everyone to enjoy

You are right of course. 99.9% of the time I am grown up about it and I don't get beaten up in the playground anymore, it's only when I had my first bottle of vodka before work in the morning it comes out (note I didn't mention fixies )

sy1975

Joelsim wrote:

To be honest the more mainstream the better in my view. Every little helps in getting things better for cyclists on infrastructure etc, targeting Times and other publications read by leaders will be beneficial.

I agree - When I started back on a bike again 4 years ago the best bit of advice was "whatever makes you feel good on a bike, gets you out on the bike". I must admit to owning a couple of rapha products (mainly because they are quality), but i also have a few retro jerseys from prendas, plain kit and kit that matches my bikes (I would not wear a yellow, WC or climbers jersey however)

Don't really care if that is right or wrong in some peoples eyes, its got me on my bike, helped me loose 3 stone in weight and I am currently the fittest I have been for 20 years.

All good in my eyes

wallace_and_gromit

pottssteve wrote:

The ultimate stylish riding attire is a genuine club kit such as the Manchester Wheelers - real heritage and panache without a monumental price tag.

You were doing well there until you mentioned Manchester! Yorkshire Road Club kit is obviously the most stylish kit out there! Not much panache when I race wearing it, though.

TMR

Yellow Peril wrote:

They also think Sportives are races.

Aren't they?

pottssteve

Wallace and Gromit wrote:

pottssteve wrote:

The ultimate stylish riding attire is a genuine club kit such as the Manchester Wheelers - real heritage and panache without a monumental price tag.

You were doing well there until you mentioned Manchester! Yorkshire Road Club kit is obviously the most stylish kit out there! Not much panache when I race wearing it, though.

I'm confused - are you Wallace or Gromit? Either way, they are both from Lancashire and therefore would not be seen dead wearing a Yorkshire club kit!

Steve

TMR

To be fair, I do own a lot of Rapha. I am very 'brand aware'

wallace_and_gromit

pottssteve wrote:

Wallace and Gromit wrote:

pottssteve wrote:

The ultimate stylish riding attire is a genuine club kit such as the Manchester Wheelers - real heritage and panache without a monumental price tag.

You were doing well there until you mentioned Manchester! Yorkshire Road Club kit is obviously the most stylish kit out there! Not much panache when I race wearing it, though.

I'm confused - are you Wallace or Gromit? Either way, they are both from Lancashire and therefore would not be seen dead wearing a Yorkshire club kit!

Steve

A good point. There is a certain inconsistency living in Yorkshire and being named after "foreigners"!

Philly8mt

Yellow Peril wrote:

disgruntledgoat wrote:

Does all this cobblers not make you hate cycling just a little bit? All the sportif tips and bike reviews in broadsheets just feel really facile since they were mocking us a few short years ago and that rapha and esquire articles made me sick in my mouth a bit

I agree. the worse thing I've found is converted mockers. Metaphorically they've spent years kicking your head in , in the playground, for being different now they want to be your best friend because what you do is popular.

They all dip their toe with a spesh allez with some low end Altura /Endura kit then quickly move up to a Pinarello Dogma and wear the entire Rapha catalogue. They also quote Paul's 10km for every 1min in chasing the break as gospel. They also think Sportives are races.

I dipped my toe with a Specialized Allez ... Seemed a sensible thing to do ... Ya not going to blow mega money without knowing you'll stick at it?

Snobbery can be found at all levels of cycling & life it seems ....

Downward

sy1975 wrote:

Joelsim wrote:

To be honest the more mainstream the better in my view. Every little helps in getting things better for cyclists on infrastructure etc, targeting Times and other publications read by leaders will be beneficial.

I agree - When I started back on a bike again 4 years ago the best bit of advice was "whatever makes you feel good on a bike, gets you out on the bike". I must admit to owning a couple of rapha products (mainly because they are quality), but i also have a few retro jerseys from prendas, plain kit and kit that matches my bikes (I would not wear a yellow, WC or climbers jersey however)

Don't really care if that is right or wrong in some peoples eyes, its got me on my bike, helped me loose 3 stone in weight and I am currently the fittest I have been for 20 years.

All good in my eyes

Agree there. I think you get to an age where you accept yourself and what makes you happy. Ultimately you can't compete with everyone and there will always be someone fitter, faster and richer.