Have Rapha just jumped the shark?
Discussion
el stovey said:
I've never needed to use the faulty goods return service of other cheaper bib short manufacturers, I'm not sure why it would be worth buying Rapha ones just In case they are sub standard. 
Good point! 
It's worth stressing I've not had anything fail or go wrong so haven't used them for that. The repair service is apparently good though; if you crash and damage, they'll repair your garment if they can. Fortunately not needed that either (touch wood)
As ever, each to their own, buy what you like etc.
I have a couple of rapha items which are beautiful and I can see why tarts like tony love it so much.
I tend not to buy it though and get cheaper simple designs by people like gore or even some of the wiggle dhb stuff. If it's just black winter thermal stuff, I'm not too bothered if it says rapha or dhb on it.
I probably spend more on normal clothes and shoes etc though. Everyone has different things they enjoy.
If I see someone well dressed (not just on a bike) I like that they've made the effort, it's much nicer beng surrounded by people that make the effort rather than looking like they don't care.
I was in Paris recently and saw many dapper gents and women beautifully dressed, cycling along through the city. I'm all for it, the UK is unfortunately getting a bit full of people that don't bother about what they look like.
I have a couple of rapha items which are beautiful and I can see why tarts like tony love it so much.
I tend not to buy it though and get cheaper simple designs by people like gore or even some of the wiggle dhb stuff. If it's just black winter thermal stuff, I'm not too bothered if it says rapha or dhb on it.
I probably spend more on normal clothes and shoes etc though. Everyone has different things they enjoy.
If I see someone well dressed (not just on a bike) I like that they've made the effort, it's much nicer beng surrounded by people that make the effort rather than looking like they don't care.
I was in Paris recently and saw many dapper gents and women beautifully dressed, cycling along through the city. I'm all for it, the UK is unfortunately getting a bit full of people that don't bother about what they look like.
el stovey said:
Granfondo said:
"Cheaper decent" but ultimately not as good!
Well it's not as good to you just because it cost less. A cheap quartz will keep better time than a £20k automatic but you would go with the Auto!
The difference is though that Rapha stuff works equally as good as Assos (if not better) but looks better.
I did the Rapha #MYHOUR Challenge and apart from the shoes (Giro) which is basically the base for Rapha I was head to toe in Rapha and was happy looking good and the fact it's expensive is a bonus!
Granfondo said:
A bit like watches then?
A cheap quartz will keep better time than a £20k automatic but you would go with the Auto!
The difference is though that Rapha stuff works equally as good as Assos (if not better) but looks better.
I did the Rapha #MYHOUR Challenge and apart from the shoes (Giro) which is basically the base for Rapha I was head to toe in Rapha and was happy looking good and the fact it's expensive is a bonus!
Didn't exactly understand that Strava "Challenge" what part of it is at all challenging? A cheap quartz will keep better time than a £20k automatic but you would go with the Auto!
The difference is though that Rapha stuff works equally as good as Assos (if not better) but looks better.
I did the Rapha #MYHOUR Challenge and apart from the shoes (Giro) which is basically the base for Rapha I was head to toe in Rapha and was happy looking good and the fact it's expensive is a bonus!
whatleytom said:
el stovey said:
Convincing yourself it's worth buying all their gear.
I joined onto it hoping it would actually be ride as far as you can in an hour. Seems its just some s
te marketing gimmickery. I've 'completed the challenge' on every ride I've done this week, so no, for a keen, regular cyclist it has little to offer in terms of physical or mental challenge. You can always click the 'leave challenge' button if you find it facile and without merit/reward. But remember also that there are some pretty tough challenges on Strava. This month's 'Climb for Nepal' doesn't sound like a breeze, and 115km to earn the Gran Fondo badge is well beyond the capabilities (or available riding time) of a fair percentage of riders. For those who find the tougher challenges unachievable, there needs to be an occasional 'easy' or 'intermediate' challenge to spur them on to greater fitness and perhaps, eventually, to achieving one of the bigger 'milestone' challenges. This is one of those easier challenges. OK, so it isn't your 'thing' - "You can please all of the people some of the time, some of the people all of the time but you can never please all of the people all of the time".
TonyHetherington said:
I assume they got scared that people would make silly decisions on the road (like go through lights) during that hour so made it non-competitive
I suspect their software isn't written to make calculation of it easy, either. Everything they show is about how long it takes to go a given distance, not how far you can go in a given time. Possibly a consequence of the way in which the files that we upload are structured (though Veloviewer seems to be able to do it).Shame.
Edited by SixPotBelly on Friday 5th June 12:17
yellowjack said:
There's no sales pitch in that challenge as far as I can see. It may not be a tough challenge, but it helps raise awareness of Sir Brad's attempt on the hour record, and it also gives lesser mortals, tubbies, and newcomers an achievable route into a 'dashboard' Badge for completing a challenge.
I've 'completed the challenge' on every ride I've done this week, so no, for a keen, regular cyclist it has little to offer in terms of physical or mental challenge. You can always click the 'leave challenge' button if you find it facile and without merit/reward. But remember also that there are some pretty tough challenges on Strava. This month's 'Climb for Nepal' doesn't sound like a breeze, and 115km to earn the Gran Fondo badge is well beyond the capabilities (or available riding time) of a fair percentage of riders. For those who find the tougher challenges unachievable, there needs to be an occasional 'easy' or 'intermediate' challenge to spur them on to greater fitness and perhaps, eventually, to achieving one of the bigger 'milestone' challenges. This is one of those easier challenges. OK, so it isn't your 'thing' - "You can please all of the people some of the time, some of the people all of the time but you can never please all of the people all of the time".
Aside from the clear Rapha branding? Never mentioned any of the normal challenges being easy, far from it. Which is why it's slightly confusing. I've 'completed the challenge' on every ride I've done this week, so no, for a keen, regular cyclist it has little to offer in terms of physical or mental challenge. You can always click the 'leave challenge' button if you find it facile and without merit/reward. But remember also that there are some pretty tough challenges on Strava. This month's 'Climb for Nepal' doesn't sound like a breeze, and 115km to earn the Gran Fondo badge is well beyond the capabilities (or available riding time) of a fair percentage of riders. For those who find the tougher challenges unachievable, there needs to be an occasional 'easy' or 'intermediate' challenge to spur them on to greater fitness and perhaps, eventually, to achieving one of the bigger 'milestone' challenges. This is one of those easier challenges. OK, so it isn't your 'thing' - "You can please all of the people some of the time, some of the people all of the time but you can never please all of the people all of the time".
As we're talking Rapha, it's surprising just how many sales, offers, vouchers etc. that they have had this past 6 months. I wonder if they're seeing their popularity tail off, as others take on a similar approach (classic styling, high cost, technical wear)?
For me, ironically, I've bought all the bits I really need to; I have 2 pairs of shorts, couple of tops, a hard shell, couple of base layers. No need for anything else! It's just the clothes I like to buy now. An interesting, if difficult, situation for them.
For me, ironically, I've bought all the bits I really need to; I have 2 pairs of shorts, couple of tops, a hard shell, couple of base layers. No need for anything else! It's just the clothes I like to buy now. An interesting, if difficult, situation for them.
whatleytom said:
Granfondo said:
A bit like watches then?
A cheap quartz will keep better time than a £20k automatic but you would go with the Auto!
The difference is though that Rapha stuff works equally as good as Assos (if not better) but looks better.
I did the Rapha #MYHOUR Challenge and apart from the shoes (Giro) which is basically the base for Rapha I was head to toe in Rapha and was happy looking good and the fact it's expensive is a bonus!
Didn't exactly understand that Strava "Challenge" what part of it is at all challenging? A cheap quartz will keep better time than a £20k automatic but you would go with the Auto!
The difference is though that Rapha stuff works equally as good as Assos (if not better) but looks better.
I did the Rapha #MYHOUR Challenge and apart from the shoes (Giro) which is basically the base for Rapha I was head to toe in Rapha and was happy looking good and the fact it's expensive is a bonus!
el stovey said:
I've never needed to use the faulty goods return service of other cheaper bib short manufacturers, I'm not sure why it would be worth buying Rapha ones just In case they are sub standard.
+1Edited by el stovey on Thursday 4th June 08:01
I've always thought Rapha came off like a second-rate De Marchi in terms of style and quality.
The hipster marketing subs for heritage.
Edited by scherzkeks on Monday 8th June 10:25
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