From assos to rapha

mrushton

irritatingly prob made in the same factories in Lithuania/Bulgaria

cookeeemonster

meanredspider wrote:

bendertherobot wrote:

No nanoflex range.

And a good job too. Nanoflex is rubbish. And I think Gabba is over-hyped

This...especially the nanoflex.

bendertherobot

I like Nanoflex, it works. For me anyway. And I rate the Gabba as, if not the new messiah, better than the Rapha softshell.

But the point really is about an approach. Assos go for the proprietary keep you dry with breathable waterproof approach. Pretty much works but has that inherent boil in the bag. Castelli and Rapha provide that option but also one that acknowledges a different solution. You'll get wet, we can keep you warm.

I rate Assos very highly indeed. Higher than the other two. Everything they make does a job. I just don't think we'll see true innovation in terms of approach from them.

meanredspider

I get that - but I still try to work out what Gabba gives me that AirJack 851 doesn't and weight is the only thing I could come up with. The Gabba is lighter but sweatier too

on-yer-bike

The recent Rapha kit Ive bought has been of very quality. Ive had stuff in the past thats been iffy and theyve replaced it with no argument. My assos shorts wore out very quickly the Rapha classic shorts are more robust. Both brands are equally comfy. Castelli free aero shorts dont fit me well and have too much graphics. Im not keen on the Assos look with their tops, they're a bit science fiction. With Rapha there are two fits the standard and the pro-team, the latter is very race fit, and dont buy a size bigger to make it work, you either have the body or you don't.

meanredspider

Bit surprised your Assos shorts wore out quickly. My first pair are getting close to 5 years old and even the logos are in good nick. They're a bit more grey than my others but currently
I could see them lasting another 5 years!

vinnymarsden

Just had a look at the page wit the "new" Rapha stuff..I may be a fair weather biker….. but seriously, those gloves etc…I used to be a Health & Safety approved diver, qualified and everything….and truth…we din't wear gloves that looked so water repellant!! Maybe thats why their stuff is so expensive..its tested to the EXTREMES!!!

FatTed

Flasher wrote:

Assos shorts, Rapha tops, best of both worlds.

Also Castelli tops, Assos tops make you look like a Power Ranger

bendertherobot

FatTed wrote:

Flasher wrote:

Assos shorts, Rapha tops, best of both worlds.

Also Castelli tops, Assos tops make you look like a Power Ranger

I like Castelli tops. But that prosecco fabric is a bit snaggy. The other one they do is nicer.

this material

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/castelli-volata ... ve-jersey/

vermin

Misogyny is where the other brands really lag behind Assos.

I've yet to see any really convincing sexual objectification of women from either Rapha or Castelli, and I've never been told by a national distributor of either Rapha or Castelli that such objectification is an intentional lure to the male consumer base, as I was told by a national distributor of Assos.

mulletmaster

There is a difference in cut to me. Castelli for absolute racing snakes, assos slightly more generous and realistic, rapha seems to be a lot more generous, even leisure like in comparison. I'm a small, medium and large in the 3 brands as described above.

FatTed

bendertherobot wrote:

FatTed wrote:

Flasher wrote:

Assos shorts, Rapha tops, best of both worlds.

Also Castelli tops, Assos tops make you look like a Power Ranger

I like Castelli tops. But that prosecco fabric is a bit snaggy. The other one they do is nicer.

this material

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/castelli-volata ... ve-jersey/

What size? I'm a large in Rapha pro team jersey how does it compare to Rapha lightweight jersey
regarding the topic, both have free repair service and Rapha allow you to try the classic range for free.

disgruntledgoat

Never had any Assos, but I had a pair of Rapha pro-team cross shorts that lasted 3 months before they fell to pieces (I probably smashed something in too epic a manner) and the refund they gave me wouldn't cover another pair, as I bought them in the end of year sale.

i have, however, had Etxeondo shorts through varying levels of the range, for about 8 years now and not really seen the need to look elsewhere. The first pair I bought are just about to be retired but the other 3 are going strong after more than 5 years and their tights are decent too (if a bit thin, made for a Spanish winter, I fear)

thegreatdivide

mulletmaster wrote:

There is a difference in cut to me. Castelli for absolute racing snakes, assos slightly more generous and realistic, rapha seems to be a lot more generous, even leisure like in comparison. I'm a small, medium and large in the 3 brands as described above.

You're a small in Rapha but a large in Castelli?

kingstonian

I have Assos bibshorts which are fantastic, a pair of three-quarter bibs from Rapha which are a great piece of kit, Castelli Gabba top (the convertible one) which is really versatile and well made, Torm jerseys which I have been really impressed with and Specialized shoes which have been ok but not perfect.

Basically, I go for what appears to be best for the job, and don't stick with one brand.

mulletmaster

thegreatdivide wrote:

mulletmaster wrote:

There is a difference in cut to me. Castelli for absolute racing snakes, assos slightly more generous and realistic, rapha seems to be a lot more generous, even leisure like in comparison. I'm a small, medium and large in the 3 brands as described above.

You're a small in Rapha but a large in Castelli?

Yup in their jerseys. Never bought a pair of their shorts but I'm medium in assos large on castelli in those too.

bendertherobot

FatTed wrote:

bendertherobot wrote:

FatTed wrote:

Flasher wrote:

Assos shorts, Rapha tops, best of both worlds.

Also Castelli tops, Assos tops make you look like a Power Ranger

I like Castelli tops. But that prosecco fabric is a bit snaggy. The other one they do is nicer.

this material

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/castelli-volata ... ve-jersey/

What size? I'm a large in Rapha pro team jersey how does it compare to Rapha lightweight jersey
regarding the topic, both have free repair service and Rapha allow you to try the classic range for free.

I'd be getting an XL in a Pro Team or an XL in the Castelli. Pretty similar IMO. But I'm a large in normal Rapha (classic jersey etc)

Sir Velo

Kingstonian wrote:

Basically, I go for what appears to be best for the job, and don't stick with one brand.

Agree with Kingstonia, good to have a mixture of brands.

As I am not a sponsored rider I have a rule of thumb that I will only wear two items from anyone manufacturer at any one time, to avoid looking like Mr Rapha (or Mr Assos/Mr another brand). Probably means I have a few extra items.

SV

robbo2011

You worry too much about what others might think, lol

I went out today for a 2.5 hour ride in sub zero temps (coldest was -7) dressed as Mr. Assos. Did I look stupid, maybe. Did I care? no, because I was warm and comfortable for the whole ride.

Chunky101

A couple of years ago I bought a set of Rapha Classic bib shorts and was very happy with them. End of last year i was doing a cross Europe charity ride and needed another pair of shorts so I bought a pair of Assos s7 bibs. They're good but the Rapha are better (comfort, fit, longevity) and my go-to shorts.

stueys

I've got various items of castelli, rapha and assos. It varies for me as to my go-to item but rapha bibs are the most comfortable for me by a country mile. I would agree that the wear on the newer rapha items seems to be higher than assos though. Out of the three brands I would say that my rapha stuff has performed probably the most consistently. Jerseys, jackets and bibs have all been top notch, especially in pro team range.

Iain Gillam

I'm verging on having too much rapha kit in my own opinion but I think quite a bit of their stuff is just great despite not being a fan of the cost and to some extent image it conveys. I only have a few cycling items and no shorts but jerseys etc have all lasted really well taken a few falls etc with grace. The normal clothing is what i have most of and I'm a big fan of stuff like the jeans/ touring shorts which some of which I've abused the crap out of and they're still like new.

Iain

ctc

Mixture of Castelli, Rapha, Torm, Defeet and Helly Hansen.
All of them have certain items that are good, and some that are not so good. Just got to pick and choose

markyone

Rapha delivery today and all looks good, now I need to start trying some of it.