Has the recent Rapha sale been the best one in living memory?

sebbyp

The sale has been really good! Just odd how the prices change day to day and stock level isnt the best. Currently got a PT rain gilet in Medium that was too small even though all my Rapha kit is medium. Want a large but alas they are out of stock so have to check stock every day for the next 90 days! otherwise will get a refund and lose out on a good deal :-(

bmxboy10

sebbyp wrote:

The sale has been really good! Just odd how the prices change day to day and stock level isnt the best. Currently got a PT rain gilet in Medium that was too small even though all my Rapha kit is medium. Want a large but alas they are out of stock so have to check stock every day for the next 90 days! otherwise will get a refund and lose out on a good deal :-(

If you exchange it after the sale I’m pretty sure you will have to pay full price.

daniel_b

Daniel B wrote:

Aha, well I'm not sucked in by the hype, and read precious little of it tbh. Cycling is my predominant hobby, so if I can buy casual clothing that has some kind of cycling link, then I will!

Two of my fave jeans are Endura ones, that were £80 down to £40, with the added unexpected bonus that they were made in Mauritius - I wore one pair back there this year!
I also have a pair of Sombrio jeans which are beautifully detailed, quality material, but were only £27. In some form of contrast, i'm underwhelmed by a pair of Vulpine jeans, that I had high expectations of. £150.... down to £50.

So am happy to buy as above, but not if the upkeep is more work than a standard equivalent garment, which it seems like the Rapha ones may be.

I also have a raft of Cycology short and long sleeve T's.

The jeans arrived, bizarrely I fitted into a 30" waist pair, and they were pretty nice, but the stories on here and on the reviews of them still chucking out dye after 18 months put me off too much - didn't want them damaging other clothes, so regrettably sending them back.
Will keep an eye out next year to see if any of their other trouser shaped objects comes up in the sale.

Things I have ordered that are stunning quality, and fit (for me) are:
Winter cap - £15
Pro team cap - £12
Winter base layer - £27
Pro team LS aero jersey - £51 - The fit on this is outstanding - I went for small which was a mission to get on - didn't even bother trying the XS I ordered

stevie63

I ordered quite a few things but I have kept just the 2 items which are the Long sleeve base layer and the Pro Team Insulated Jacket. The jacket is an absolute standout item of clothing. It is thin, light and very warm without causing you to overheat. It's not perfect mind the top of arms flaps a bit and the length of the arm is a bit short (not a problem for me as I am short) but it is possibly the best item of winter cycle clothing that I have bought.

daniel_b

stevie63 wrote:

I ordered quite a few things but I have kept just the 2 items which are the Long sleeve base layer and the Pro Team Insulated Jacket. The jacket is an absolute standout item of clothing. It is thin, light and very warm without causing you to overheat. It's not perfect mind the top of arms flaps a bit and the length of the arm is a bit short (not a problem for me as I am short) but it is possibly the best item of winter cycle clothing that I have bought.

I ordered far too much really, a few of the leather items, essentials case, transfer case, also some casual (my use) city gloves, which seem reasonable-ish (Ok still extravagant) for the £60 paid.
What else, some socks, a zippie\track jacket thing which is lovely, and a couple of casual shirts - one Poplin shirt which I am intrigued to see, as it used technical cycling fabrics from their jerseys, so interested to see how it fits, looks and hangs - that one was only £46.
Oh and a Merino beanie which was £30 - any other beanie I have bought, always makes my head itch, so I end up no wearing them, thought that fact made this worth a go - oh and it fits really well too, and appears to have zero branding on it externally.

I VERY rarely wear shirts, so when I do, they may as well be something I like.

I think I have a different base layer to you - mine is the winter one with a high, almost roll neck top I guess you would call it = I chanced my arm on XS, as that was all they had, and it fitted.

Just had a look at the jacket you speak of - reviews on there are only weighing it at around 4.2\4.3, can't be bothered to read them all - glad it works so well for you, but me being shallow, realise I glossed over it as the colours do nout for me - appreciate that should not matter on a functional piece of clothing, but I want to have it all

earth

keef66 wrote:

I kept looking just to test my resolve. I'm not their key demographic, but I'd buy some of their kit at a discount; it is generally well thought out / constructed.

It's well constructed but I don't think it is well thought out. Almost everything I've bought is flawed. They have this thing about asymmetry. In some situations it might be the clever design but they use it like a trademark and it comes across as a gimmick.

bmxboy10

Whats going to happen to the stuff that gets returned? I ordered probably 10 items and half went back. Maybe another sale if its mostly old stock?

stevie63

They stick it in their archive sale part of the site or send it to their outlet store.

thegreatdivide

stevie63 wrote:

They stick it in their archive sale part of the site or send it to their outlet store.

Not any more. Some (i.e. recent season stuff) goes to the Archive section but most of it goes on eBay now and is sold via a third party seller called treasure4u-2sell.

londoncommuter

thegreatdivide wrote:

stevie63 wrote:

They stick it in their archive sale part of the site or send it to their outlet store.

Not any more. Some (i.e. recent season stuff) goes to the Archive section but most of it goes on eBay now and is sold via a third party seller called treasure4u-2sell.

Rapha denied this when I chatted online with them, claiming they must be counterfeit as they don't sell to ebay sellers! I questioned whether it was worth someone counterfeiting hundreds of lines of really old items and they sort of dodged the question.....

I've had a few things from them with no problems. £6 postage a bit steep but they'll combine this if you buy more than one item.

daniel_b

londoncommuter wrote:

thegreatdivide wrote:

stevie63 wrote:

They stick it in their archive sale part of the site or send it to their outlet store.

Not any more. Some (i.e. recent season stuff) goes to the Archive section but most of it goes on eBay now and is sold via a third party seller called treasure4u-2sell.

Rapha denied this when I chatted online with them, claiming they must be counterfeit as they don't sell to ebay sellers! I questioned whether it was worth someone counterfeiting hundreds of lines of really old items and they sort of dodged the question.....

I've had a few things from them with no problems. £6 postage a bit steep but they'll combine this if you buy more than one item.

What a bizarre response. It's clear as day they are legit products, perhaps some of them are seconds.

If the theory above is correct, post sale returns we should see a raft of new items on that sellers page in the next month or so.

mrb123

Daniel B wrote:

londoncommuter wrote:

thegreatdivide wrote:

stevie63 wrote:

They stick it in their archive sale part of the site or send it to their outlet store.

Not any more. Some (i.e. recent season stuff) goes to the Archive section but most of it goes on eBay now and is sold via a third party seller called treasure4u-2sell.

Rapha denied this when I chatted online with them, claiming they must be counterfeit as they don't sell to ebay sellers! I questioned whether it was worth someone counterfeiting hundreds of lines of really old items and they sort of dodged the question.....

I've had a few things from them with no problems. £6 postage a bit steep but they'll combine this if you buy more than one item.

What a bizarre response. It's clear as day they are legit products, perhaps some of them are seconds.

If the theory above is correct, post sale returns we should see a raft of new items on that sellers page in the next month or so.

Mainly the all stuff that you have sent back I guess!