Socks

elbowloh

daniel_b said:

sports direct is owned by ashley, so I personally would not be spending any of my money in there.

elbowloh said:

kingstongraham said:

I'm always amazed by people's capacity to be surprised that expensive things exist.

Not surprised they exist, but amused that people don't buy something just as good for a lot, lot less.

That could be levelled at everything and anything though really couldn't it?

Food (Appreciate there is a taste/nutrition/health aspect with this)
Bikes
Clothes
Cars

To name but 4.

Yep. And?

elbowloh

daniel_b said:

molteni_man said:

Just checked and you’re right re Prendas - they’re just focussing on caps. Real shame as their retro jerseys were really good.

https://www.prendas.co.uk/blogs/news/time-for-change

Huge shame, bought some kit from when when I was first starting out and more recently, really helpful with sizing queries and returns when required.

Reading that it looks like leaving the EU and the pandemic has hit them hard :-(

Are people genuinely surprised that some people buy items for a certain price when a lower cost alternative that fulfills the same remit exists?

Do those same people drive either very old 2nd hand cars, something like a Dacia, or something that is REALLY economical regarding fuel consumption, is cheap (or free) to tax, and cheap to insure and service?

Presumably they also do not have a carbon bike, and wouldn't need anything above a claris groupset on the steel or aluminium bike they do own?

If I buy higher end kit, I never pay any thing like full price.

daniel_b

elbowloh said:

Yep. And?

And I bet everyone who is shocked\amused doesn't buy the cheapest car, clothes, whatever, so seems a bit odd to me, unless they also are shocked and amused by their own buying patterns.

elbowloh said:

If I buy higher end kit, I never pay any thing like full price.

Same here - 50% or more off is normal, or at least used to be the order of the day, bit more difficult to get those kind of offers now, with reduced supply, and options for buying though.

Bikes I have bought in the past have been at least 30% reduced, not in the future though looking at the current supply.
I am planning to utilise my employers cycle to work scheme for the 2nd time shortly to offset some of this.

A couple of standout purchases are a Castelli Alpha jersey for £80 back in the day, and a beautiful Isadore Merino jersey only last year for £43 instead of the intended £140!
The Rapha bundle deals used to be awesome as well, especially when they have their X% codes you could get hold of by just registering a new address - buy the bundle of shorts and jersey, flog the jersey in a popular size on ebay, bag the shorts for probably 25% of their retail.

elbowloh

But this is socks. You'll get no performance difference from 2 pairs of socks made of the same stuff even if one pair is 4 or 5 times the price.

daniel_b

elbowloh said:

But this is socks. You'll get no performance difference from 2 pairs of socks made of the same stuff even if one pair is 4 or 5 times the price.

But it's a key contact point that sits on your feet inside your shoes, which connects the rider to their pedals, and personally I want to be as comfy as I possibly can be.

I would argue £15 (or £8) spent on two socks is probably better value than 8K on an aero bike with deep rims.

People put value on different things, and I'm not saying either is wrong, but I'm saying neither is odd or weird, simply individuals choices.

*Hang on, I do have some aero socks, so they will give a performance increase

First.Aspect

daniel_b said:

elbowloh said:

But this is socks. You'll get no performance difference from 2 pairs of socks made of the same stuff even if one pair is 4 or 5 times the price.

But it's a key contact point that sits on your feet inside your shoes, which connects the rider to their pedals, and personally I want to be as comfy as I possibly can be.

I would argue £15 (or £8) spent on two socks is probably better value than 8K on an aero bike with deep rims.

People put value on different things, and I'm not saying either is wrong, but I'm saying neither is odd or weird, simply individuals choices.

*Hang on, I do have some aero socks, so they will give a performance increase

I'm forced to agree. I couldnt give a toss if I'm wearing highly wicking colour matched socks personally, but I spend loads on bar tape.

We all have our foibles.

elbowloh

First.Aspect said:

daniel_b said:

elbowloh said:

But this is socks. You'll get no performance difference from 2 pairs of socks made of the same stuff even if one pair is 4 or 5 times the price.

But it's a key contact point that sits on your feet inside your shoes, which connects the rider to their pedals, and personally I want to be as comfy as I possibly can be.

I would argue £15 (or £8) spent on two socks is probably better value than 8K on an aero bike with deep rims.

People put value on different things, and I'm not saying either is wrong, but I'm saying neither is odd or weird, simply individuals choices.

*Hang on, I do have some aero socks, so they will give a performance increase

I'm forced to agree. I couldnt give a toss if I'm wearing highly wicking colour matched socks personally, but I spend loads on bar tape.

We all have our foibles.

Sounds nasty. Have you seen a doc?

First.Aspect

elbowloh said:

First.Aspect said:

daniel_b said:

elbowloh said:

But this is socks. You'll get no performance difference from 2 pairs of socks made of the same stuff even if one pair is 4 or 5 times the price.

But it's a key contact point that sits on your feet inside your shoes, which connects the rider to their pedals, and personally I want to be as comfy as I possibly can be.

I would argue £15 (or £8) spent on two socks is probably better value than 8K on an aero bike with deep rims.

People put value on different things, and I'm not saying either is wrong, but I'm saying neither is odd or weird, simply individuals choices.

*Hang on, I do have some aero socks, so they will give a performance increase

I'm forced to agree. I couldnt give a toss if I'm wearing highly wicking colour matched socks personally, but I spend loads on bar tape.

We all have our foibles.

Sounds nasty. Have you seen a doc?

😐

webboo

No one has Paul Smith cycling socks then.
Seriously though I’m surprised that people buy there own cycling clothing. I have god knows how much clothing all bought for Christmas and birthdays by daughter and the missus. I had the Paul Smith socks pointed out to me by the missus and I picked couple of pairs but I think she paid for them.

elbowloh

I got 3 pairs of Tour de France themed socks free with a 2021 TDF magazine.

Not worn them yet

mrb123

elbowloh said:

I got 3 pairs of Tour de France themed socks free with a 2021 TDF magazine.

Not worn them yet

Yellow, green and polka dot?

elbowloh

mrb123 said:

elbowloh said:

I got 3 pairs of Tour de France themed socks free with a 2021 TDF magazine.

Not worn them yet

Yellow, green and polka dot?

Aye

rick_chasey

Am going against the grain but I’d say high quality socks are quite nice and are noticeable.

Doubly so for non-summer socks.

MattFalle

Gutted re Prendas - #fuckbrexit

lincolndave

MattFalle said:

lincolndave said:

Have a look here , https://www.pongolondon.cc

£17 a pair!

Seiously? Like seriously, seriously?

Not if bought in the sales

daniel_b

webboo said:

No one has Paul Smith cycling socks then.
Seriously though I’m surprised that people buy there own cycling clothing. I have god knows how much clothing all bought for Christmas and birthdays by daughter and the missus. I had the Paul Smith socks pointed out to me by the missus and I picked couple of pairs but I think she paid for them.

I know of someone who does buy Paul Smith cycling kit

I'm super fussy about my kit now, so only I am allowed to buy it, or at least send suggestions through.

My sister in law used to buy me cycling kit..........
I was gifted a jersey from sports direct one year, and the following year a pair of shorts and jersey from lidl or aldi (Whichever one has Crane as their brand), and not even the good ones, shorts, not bib shorts, generic cycling ones I think.
They have been gifted in return to a charity shop, which I thought was fair.

And before anyone thinks I am ungrateful, I have asked her many times simply not to get me anything at all as a present, but she won't listen!

I must say she pulled a blinder for my birthday this year though, and bought me some casual cycling themed socks - really comfy and nice designs:

davebradswmb

Getting family to buy you cycling socks as presents is a great idea. Most things I want I just buy so I struggle to think of anything when they start asking what I want for my birthday/Christmas. I can't justify the price of cycling socks in my own head so I bought a pack of 5 M&S socks for £12 recently and they are perfectly good socks. I still wouldn't mind some nice branded cycling socks though so I might be dropping some hints later in the year.

webboo

I have my family well trained. Assos, Rapha and occasionally Castelli are the brands they know to buy.

vincesummerskRoxcBTr

Got given a pack of Rapha socks as a present, seem nice quality but bizarrely are so tight at the top I have to wear them pulled down and I have skinny calves
I wouldn't pay that much for socks myself though.

oblongomaculatus

elbowloh said:

I got 3 pairs of Tour de France themed socks free with a 2021 TDF magazine.

Not worn them yet

I got some of those a few years ago with the official guide. Wouldn't normally buy the guide as £9.99 is a bit much for a magazine full of info you can find elsewhere for free, but that year, besides the socks (yellow, green, polka dot) there was a bottle with some gels and an energy bar, a neck buff, and a musette. The musette is a bit pointless, I rarely wear a neck buff, but a bottle's always handy, as were the edibles. The socks, though, are excellent - really comfy, and still in regular use. Worth the money on their own.

bobmcstuff

I have DeFeet socks, because I have been through a load of different brands and they are comfortable and they do good a good merino winter one (wooleator) as well as the summer versions (aereator or levitator). Think they're normally in the £10-15 region, higher end for the wool ones, but you can often find them discounted. I usually get some when I spot them discounted since I know I like them.

My previous ones were all Endura which are fine (and quite a lot cheaper), but not in the same league comfort wise.

It's worth paying for good winter socks IMO. Thick non-cycling socks usually aren't comfortable on the bike, in my experience.

dannbodge

Ratio 20cm ones from Wiggle
£7 each and come in bright colours.

amrushton

Decathlon. 4.99 in the cycling section and come in plain colours. As good as any I've had and I've paid stupid money. White socks go grey, doesn't matter which brand

MattFalle

i got some long black DHB ones from Wiggle a few months ago for a few squiddlies and they do the job perfect.

super_davo

I know I'm probably in the minority but for winter I always use waterproof socks, even in the dry. Mainly because they are totally windproof, eliminating cold feet for me.

Bulky compared with other socks so only viable if your shoes have room (and never unless I'm wearing longs). And I prefer Aldi cheapies over Sealskinz as noticeably thinner.

But otherwise, always been able to pick up decent socks from Planet X, Endura, DHB, Decathlon and even Castelli for under a fiver in sales / multipacks, some prices charged are insane.

webboo

Apparently I have to take the grandson to meet the missus at the designer outlet to night. I wonder do I need any more socks especially Paul Smith ones.

vincesummerskRoxcBTr

Amazingly this thread is still going, didn't realise we had so much to say about socks

pblakeney

vincesummerskRoxcBTr said:

Amazingly this thread is still going, didn't realise we had so much to say about socks

Put a sock in it!

navrig2

Who is Paul Smith?

webboo

navrig2 said:

Who is Paul Smith?

Bradley Wiggins tailor.