Bike clothing - are the current sales a bad time to buy?

[SVS]

Is now a bad time to buy bike clothing? There seem to be loads of sales on ... but very little stock! Unless you're XS or XXL, there seems to be a very poor range of clothing on sale. How come?

I realise it's the end of summer, but autumn clothing seems very low. Surely now is the time for selling autumn clothing? What's up?!

[Pachydermus]

Basically they think that if they claim they're having a massive sale (XS/XXL only) you'll look at their site and buy something at full price instead when you can't find what you want discounted.
They'll have discounts on normal size stuff at quieter times during the year if you're prepared to wait.

[Moaningroadie]

Which sites are you looking at? Wiggle have hundreds of items in size 'L'

[Craikeybaby]

Surely the sales are getting rid of the left over summer stock, the popular sizes are the ones most likely to sell out first, hence only the extemes of sizes available in the sale.

[louiebaby]

Craikeybaby said:

Surely the sales are getting rid of the left over summer stock, the popular sizes are the ones most likely to sell out first, hence only the extemes of sizes available in the sale.

Indeed, it's such a terrible state of affairs.

(6'8" here, and a rare time when that's a good thing.)

[sjg]

Right now is the time to clear out summer stuff, but the popular lines will already have sold out of the popular sizes.

Yes, some people will be planning ahead for autumn - but when it's over 20 degrees outside very few cyclists will be thinking about roubaix tights and cold drizzly rides.

[TwistingMyMelon]

Not sure there is ever a good time to buy, stock is normally all over the shop, unless you buy stuff at full price that isnt that popular

The sun & Olympics has got a lot out on their bikes hence low stock

Shop around, plenty of options

[SVS]

Thanks, I'll shop around Wiggle, etc.

Seems like you've explained things - makes sense -

Craikeybaby said:

Surely the sales are getting rid of the left over summer stock, the popular sizes are the ones most likely to sell out first, hence only the extemes of sizes available in the sale.

sjg said:

Right now is the time to clear out summer stuff, but the popular lines will already have sold out of the popular sizes.

[Rich_W]

Somone, years ago, told me that Wiggle and CRC go to the clothing companies and buy "everything" the manufacturers don't want. So that they get favourable rates on the more usual sizes. Hence why there's loads of XXS and XS stuff left on their sites.

Rapha of course are a different mindset. So choose not to make vast quantities of stuff in larger sizes. So its often out of stock and then forces you to buy when NOT in the sale for fear of never having what you want. Make sense?

I don't buy Rapha, but I do wonder how they'll get on when the Sky deal expires end of this year, and the purchasers of sky kit gravitate towards whoever takes over (Castelli are rumoured at the moment, but no proof)

[Matt_N]

Rapha had loads of stuff in the popular sizes in the recent sale, which is still on but obviously stock is running down, I picked up a classic jersey and oversocks both in large and all sizes were available when I ordered last weekend.

At the beginning of the sale they had all the popular lines in stock in all sizes, Brevet jersey, classic jersey, base layers etc.

I've also just picked up a Chapeau jersey from £49.99 down to £19.99, again all sizes available.

[Matt_N]

I'd also say Rapha will be fine without the Sky deal, no one I know who wears Rapha wears the Sky kit, FPKW and all that.

They have established their customer base with those who like understated, quality garments and aslong as that doesn't change people will still buy it.

[stripy7]

Yeah Rapha will be fine, they are sponsoring Team Wiggo now IIRC

[Rich_W]

Matt_N said:

I'd also say Rapha will be fine without the Sky deal, no one I know who wears Rapha wears the Sky kit, FPKW and all that.

They have established their customer base with those who like understated, quality garments and aslong as that doesn't change people will still buy it.

I think you underestimate how many FPKW there are out there! And how much of Raphas turnover it represents! Did you see any of the people riding the London100 a while back?

It's funny, as a relatively successful British company I "should" like Rapha. The stuff appears well made, it's not horrendously patterned. And yet, there awful, awful pretentious image and marketing makes me detest them.

I stick to Assos and Castelli. Actual heritage right there. Not manufactured 10ish years back and trying to steal some from other brands