Opinions on Rapha clothing
Discussion
the thing to remember about roadies, is that they are the ulitmate cycle snobs. if they see someone with rapha clothing they will assume that you are either very competant and have been cycling for years or very rich, have just started cycling and know nothing about bikes.... in fact they will have already made an opinion based upon your bike... sad but true.
anyway, is rapha gear worth it? in my opinion, not really, its very nice but its not worth the money and other kit is just as well designed. as an example i use endura fs260 kit which is absolutely brilliant value for money. the bib shirts are very comfy and have a really nice pad. the material is good quality and its well designed stuff.
rapha clothing might well be regarded as the best you can buy but if it doesnt fit you comfortably whats the point?
anyway, is rapha gear worth it? in my opinion, not really, its very nice but its not worth the money and other kit is just as well designed. as an example i use endura fs260 kit which is absolutely brilliant value for money. the bib shirts are very comfy and have a really nice pad. the material is good quality and its well designed stuff.
rapha clothing might well be regarded as the best you can buy but if it doesnt fit you comfortably whats the point?
Do a few innovative pieces of clothing (which i have been given s gifts) especially if you like old skool wool jerseys etc. Apart from that i struggle to see the value esp' as much of what they make is produced in china etc which has to detract from the overall image they are trying to portray.
CAB
CAB
my point about fit was that it cant fit everyone because we are all different sizes, it may well be comfy for the majority but there is no point buying and wearing something that doesnt fit for a purpose where fit is essential....
i like endura gear because the company has its roots in scotland and a lot of the R&D is still done up there even if it is made in china.
i like endura gear because the company has its roots in scotland and a lot of the R&D is still done up there even if it is made in china.
I'd agree with pablo that it's lovely stuff but not worth the money. To some extent the answer depends on the size of your wallet though, same as anything else eg cars.
I'd also agree that you have to be able to 'justify' the fact that you're wearing Rapha or Assos kit by being fast. People just laugh at all-the-gear-and-no-idea types, for example a guy who was photographed by a mag on a sportive in head to toe Assos, riding IIRC a carbon Colnago, who must have weighed 16 stone.
I'd also agree that you have to be able to 'justify' the fact that you're wearing Rapha or Assos kit by being fast. People just laugh at all-the-gear-and-no-idea types, for example a guy who was photographed by a mag on a sportive in head to toe Assos, riding IIRC a carbon Colnago, who must have weighed 16 stone.
Lord Croker said:
I'd agree with pablo that it's lovely stuff but not worth the money. To some extent the answer depends on the size of your wallet though, same as anything else eg cars.
I'd also agree that you have to be able to 'justify' the fact that you're wearing Rapha or Assos kit by being fast. People just laugh at all-the-gear-and-no-idea types, for example a guy who was photographed by a mag on a sportive in head to toe Assos, riding IIRC a carbon Colnago, who must have weighed 16 stone.
Not sure if rapha sell speed more lifestyle ;-) Would agree that assos is a different matter all together though !!I'd also agree that you have to be able to 'justify' the fact that you're wearing Rapha or Assos kit by being fast. People just laugh at all-the-gear-and-no-idea types, for example a guy who was photographed by a mag on a sportive in head to toe Assos, riding IIRC a carbon Colnago, who must have weighed 16 stone.
It's designer kit for which you need to be skinny as a rake to fit in...
If you're a dinky italian roadie then it's lovely stuff but buy it to wear as a posing outfit/stand out from the crowd - don't buy on any illusion of it being somehow better quality than anything else.
Endura/Assos/Pearl Izumi/Gore - I'd utter all in the same well made, good quality gear conversation... I'd never mention Rapha unless I was talking more along the line of deigner labels and the fact some of their stuff is very luxurious - too much so for riding some of it!!
If you're a dinky italian roadie then it's lovely stuff but buy it to wear as a posing outfit/stand out from the crowd - don't buy on any illusion of it being somehow better quality than anything else.
Endura/Assos/Pearl Izumi/Gore - I'd utter all in the same well made, good quality gear conversation... I'd never mention Rapha unless I was talking more along the line of deigner labels and the fact some of their stuff is very luxurious - too much so for riding some of it!!
pablo said:
as an example i use endura fs260 kit which is absolutely brilliant value for money. the bib shirts are very comfy and have a really nice pad. the material is good quality and its well designed stuff.
Couldn't agree more. I made the mistake of riding a 50 on Sunday in my tri-suit, which has no seat pad but is all that was clean. Came back with some nasty chafing issues...went out again on Monday in - now washed - Endura FS260 shorts and didn't feel a thing. Really sound kit.Lord Croker said:
I'd also agree that you have to be able to 'justify' the fact that you're wearing Rapha or Assos kit by being fast. People just laugh at all-the-gear-and-no-idea types, for example a guy who was photographed by a mag on a sportive in head to toe Assos, riding IIRC a carbon Colnago, who must have weighed 16 stone.
b
ks. Jealous, jealous bks.If you laugh at someone for their choice of bike/gear then you are a weapons grade a
hole.Who cares if he weighed 16 stone? Should he have thought "Bugger, im not doing the TdF this year, better not buy myself a nice bike and comfy clothes, or some nobody on an internet forum will make fun of me"
Never owned any Rapha gear, because i just don't like the style. Assos bibs however are the be all and end all of comfort.
Parsnip said:
Lord Croker said:
I'd also agree that you have to be able to 'justify' the fact that you're wearing Rapha or Assos kit by being fast. People just laugh at all-the-gear-and-no-idea types, for example a guy who was photographed by a mag on a sportive in head to toe Assos, riding IIRC a carbon Colnago, who must have weighed 16 stone.
bks. Jealous, jealous bks.If you laugh at someone for their choice of bike/gear then you are a weapons grade a
hole.Who cares if he weighed 16 stone? Should he have thought "Bugger, im not doing the TdF this year, better not buy myself a nice bike and comfy clothes, or some nobody on an internet forum will make fun of me"
Never owned any Rapha gear, because i just don't like the style. Assos bibs however are the be all and end all of comfort.
as i said, roadies are the height of cycling snobbery, i agree, you shouldnt have to justify your bike or clothing to anyone, but not everyone in the sport shares that opinion.
pablo said:
Parsnip said:
Lord Croker said:
I'd also agree that you have to be able to 'justify' the fact that you're wearing Rapha or Assos kit by being fast. People just laugh at all-the-gear-and-no-idea types, for example a guy who was photographed by a mag on a sportive in head to toe Assos, riding IIRC a carbon Colnago, who must have weighed 16 stone.
bks. Jealous, jealous bks.If you laugh at someone for their choice of bike/gear then you are a weapons grade a
hole.Who cares if he weighed 16 stone? Should he have thought "Bugger, im not doing the TdF this year, better not buy myself a nice bike and comfy clothes, or some nobody on an internet forum will make fun of me"
Never owned any Rapha gear, because i just don't like the style. Assos bibs however are the be all and end all of comfort.
as i said, roadies are the height of cycling snobbery, i agree, you shouldnt have to justify your bike or clothing to anyone, but not everyone in the sport shares that opinion.
Nick_F said:
pablo said:
as an example i use endura fs260 kit which is absolutely brilliant value for money. the bib shirts are very comfy and have a really nice pad. the material is good quality and its well designed stuff.
Couldn't agree more. I made the mistake of riding a 50 on Sunday in my tri-suit, which has no seat pad but is all that was clean. Came back with some nasty chafing issues...went out again on Monday in - now washed - Endura FS260 shorts and didn't feel a thing. Really sound kit.I ride (a lot). About 250-350kms a week.
Tried Assos, bunch of Italian stuff, some cheap stuff and everything in between.
There's no surprise that aside from my club strip almost all my cycling wardrobe is now Rapha. Even their arm warmers (which used to be pants) are now my favourites.
- great quality
- super comfortable
- lasts
- looks great
And yes, I have all the fun bits too (the neck scarf, the white leather gloves etc) but that's just part of the fun.
Looks great on a Super Record 11s C-50 as well (though that Italiancrp has been back with the factory for 3months!!
Tried Assos, bunch of Italian stuff, some cheap stuff and everything in between.
There's no surprise that aside from my club strip almost all my cycling wardrobe is now Rapha. Even their arm warmers (which used to be pants) are now my favourites.
- great quality
- super comfortable
- lasts
- looks great
And yes, I have all the fun bits too (the neck scarf, the white leather gloves etc) but that's just part of the fun.
Looks great on a Super Record 11s C-50 as well (though that Italiancrp has been back with the factory for 3months!!
The good thing about some of the Rapha kit is that is doesn't necessarily have the pure "cycling" look. Some of the kit works just fine as casual clothing, and has a nice cut.
Sure, some customers may choose to buy it to fit in with the label and culture of Rapha's marketing/branding, in the hope of being perceived as a sophisticated yet understated esoteric rouleur. That may be shallow, but equally if an observer wishes to castigate that choice, then it probably says more about the observer. Each to their own.
It is certainly more expensive than most other kit, but if money at that level is not a real problem and you like the high quality, comfort and durability, then why not?
Sure, some customers may choose to buy it to fit in with the label and culture of Rapha's marketing/branding, in the hope of being perceived as a sophisticated yet understated esoteric rouleur. That may be shallow, but equally if an observer wishes to castigate that choice, then it probably says more about the observer. Each to their own.
It is certainly more expensive than most other kit, but if money at that level is not a real problem and you like the high quality, comfort and durability, then why not?
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