Better than Rapha...

[Mr Will]

Has this done the rounds here yet?

http://internationale.teamjva.com/

[AyBee]

[Gargamel]

Haven't seen that before, very good.

[Gizmoish]

Excellent.

"Some rides are so special, that we’re forced to make our black and white photos of them even blacker and whiter. If we were to tell you this ride was “fun” it would somehow cheapen it."

[TonyHetherington]

Having just purchased 2 Rapha tops, and thus well and truly having embraced their ethos, I still bloomin love that site

[Rocksteadyeddie]

[Rocksteadyeddie]

Also to sponsor Sky next year.

Rapha that is

[TonyHetherington]

Ooo interesting - I didn't know that. That's a good tie up

[GBDG]

How many points for overtaking someone in a team sky replica kit worth more than your bike?

[TonyHetherington]

None.

Because you have no idea if they're on mile 2 or mile 100.

[Johnny]

Rocksteadyeddie said:

Also to sponsor Sky next year.

Rapha that is

Yeah, got the email this morning.

Great collaboration as far as I'm concerned and a tie-up I was thinking about only recently.

[TonyHetherington]

Difficult balance to maintain though for Rapha.

You can't have replica jerseys of the UK's most popular cycle team costing £150. So they'll have to be £50. Rapha have never sold a jersey that low before - so they'll have to either make it of lesser quality ("perceived") or do it another way.

I'm probably not explaining myself very well, but I'm sure you see what I'm trying to say.

Will it devalue the whole brand - that's what i'm asking.

[GBDG]

TonyHetherington said:

None.

Because you have no idea if they're on mile 2 or mile 100.

Pfft, this is always the case. Points is points, i'm saving mine up for some better legs that don't get tired as quickly.

In terms of balancing the brand, won't it just be the same price as the Rapha Condor one? (£140)

[TonyHetherington]

That's true - current Rapha Condor Sharp is very expensive.

Perhaps they'll have actual replica cycling jerseys at £150, but then just team t-shirts for £40.

[Rocksteadyeddie]

I reckon "official jerseys" will be usual Rapha pricing too. And they'll spin off a ton of other stuff at lower price points to ensure the name is still seen on the roads.

[CoolC]

It's alright, the Chinese copies will be on Ebay soon enough

[AyBee]

TonyHetherington said:

None.

Because you have no idea if they're on mile 2 or mile 100.

Points is points, if you can't sustain the speed, don't wear the kit

[rhinochopig]

AyBee said:

TonyHetherington said:

None.

Because you have no idea if they're on mile 2 or mile 100.

Points is points, if you can't sustain the speed, don't wear the kit

I passed a lad the other week on his posh mountain bike in all the gear. I was on my old 9 speed MTB with a child seat on the back and my 3 and half year snoring loudly in the seat. How many points would I get for that.

He looked crushed if that helps the score

[itsnotarace]

TonyHetherington said:

You can't have replica jerseys of the UK's most popular cycle team costing £150.

Why not exactly? The RCS jerseys were £140 as already stated http://www.rapha.cc/rapha-condor-sharp-jersey

TonyHetherington said:

Rapha have never sold a jersey that low before - so they'll have to either make it of lesser quality ("perceived") or do it another way.

These were 50 quid new but not made of merino http://www.rapha.cc/etape-acte-i-jersey and http://www.rapha.cc/etape-acte-ii-jersey and various other spin off jerseys they have done over the last few years

[TonyHetherington]

That's true - current Rapha Condor Sharp is very expensive.

Perhaps they'll have actual replica cycling jerseys at £150, but then just team t-shirts for £40.