Yesterday on my commute I saw someone wearing a Rapha cap and those Rapha knickerbockers, and riding - perhaps inevitably - a slightly boutique fixie.

It reminded me of another Rapheur (if that's the correct term) I had seen a few weeks previously who was wearing full kit of Rapha leggings, a Rapha jacket, and Rapha cap.

Both outfits were very striking, and I found that odd given Rapha's brand is intended to be understated and subtle.

Is Rapha still cool? Or is it slowly being Burberrified?

Who cares if it's cool? I don't, and I don't know if it is.

What I do know is it's expensive, but quite nice. I wouldn't buy it, but then again I'm a student and only work part-time, so I don't really have a choice anyway ;)

Some of their stuff is really nice... the waterproofs, the fixed shorts (providing you get the right fit), the socks are ace, and the hats are great (smart fabric and lots of sizes).

And some of their stuff is shoddy, I own a softshell that unstitched itself pretty quickly. justMouse saw the same thing happen to his.

The bits that are really nice are worth it, the bits that fall to bits are worth nothing and give them an appalling name.

I still love the looks, just wish the quality was consistent.

Something I also dislike is the exclusivity of it. Condor are the only place in London that sells it I believe, which is a bit shitty as it gives you no choice in which bike shop you want to purchase from and gives them a monopoly in London.

I have no idea what my point is. I like it all, wish it were more widely available and of a more consistent quality level... I guess that's my point.

Sigma Sport in Kingston sell it too.

I was over at my Mum's at the weekend - up in the Pennines above Oldham. Spotted Ryan Bonser.
Not that he has to buy his Rapha kit...

Huge props for keeping the spliff behind his ear...

ha ha

it's odd that wearing what is essentially very plain and simple bike clothing in muted colours (compared to euro fluro kit) seems to get up the noses of other cyclists.
i only wear it for it's ability to suggest other attributes about myself that aren't true therefore hiding behind a mask of superiority while consumed by my own self loathing.
like:

i shop at waitrose
i am a city boy wanker and drive a bmw
i think poor people with tattoos should be forced to live in slave camps
my other bike is a colnago.

Three out of four ticked - mmm....

I would say it was expensive and not great quality. i wouldn't say it was trendy or cool.

you hate people with tattoos that much?

Ride round Richmond Park some evenings and its wall to wall Rapha. Seems to attract the SW London Colnago rider who drives there in his BMW to do 1 lap and then go home.

Then again I have one their original ss shirts and I have to admit it has served me very well , but also I had a pair of shorts which the button fell off as I took them out of the bag.

Does anyone know if they ever sold one of the Rapha Shaving Kits?

No, I read it as 'people with poor tattoos'.

Check out the new Rapha Lauren on Bond Street.

i ride my condor pista round RP dressed in rapha gear. i don't drive though and ride to and from the park, i have on occasion done more than one lap. one day for maximum 'look at me' exposure i did 5 laps as there were loads of milfs about and the sun was shining.

Then off for an afternoon in the beer garden to work on the tan?

no. off to waitrose to buy a duck breast in morello cherry sauce with roasted root vegeteables ready meal.

As I live next to Kingston Gate I will keep me eye out for a Pista rider in Rapha , I'll also warn my missus not to go in the park when the sun is out...

i wore rapha jersey and armwarmers i got in the sale for my ascent of ventoux, on account of them being much more comfy than all the other stuff i tried. i had decathlon baselayer and 3/4 bibs and shorts, socks and shoes. a bit schizophrenic i guess.

most of the rapha haterz can't ride a bike for shit, or cuss it at the same time as spending a small fortune on nazigawa parts. doesn't mean rapha isn't without its 'issues'.

we;ve done this one before a few times. but most of the peeps who cuss rapha haven't done any longer riding.

[quote=pj (pj);154887]i wore rapha jersey and armwarmers i got in the sale for my ascent of ventoux,quote]

I'm doing Ventoux this July, think my my black merino wool rapha top might be a bit warm but then again their lightweight top might be the way forward.

...like not doing women's clothing, for a start (er, last time I checked, anyway). Rapha is missing a trick there....

i shop at waitrose
i am a city boy wanker and drive a bmw
i think poor people with tattoos should be forced to live in slave camps
my other bike is a colnago.[/quote]

two out of four ticked. I think Rapha is a decent company, they do good design (which I regard as important), have a true passion for cycling and a good customer service. I can't say too much about their prices, but if those guarantee all of the above I am ok with paying for it.

Try to get a single screw (or other small part) replaced by IKEA and you know what difference it makes to deal with a company that is not entirely based on pushing prices as low as possible.

My girl said the same thing. She would like a jacket with a more fitted shape.

Bellend Oxygen.
Bottled at source from at the world's greatest archaeological sites, the air contained is around 1000 x purer than today's polluted atmosphere. Ready to be used to insert your favorite Tyres, Crapha Bellend Oxygen provides a ride quality that lends itself to a feel not dissimilar to cycling during its belle epoque. £200 per 120psi.

Still cheaper than BLB, though, eh?

All my Rapha gear has been bought in the sale. I have 3 merino base layers that I live in, and they wash brilliantly and feel great. Also got a tour of Britain 06 shirt from one of the sample sales. My girl wants to buy me a Country shirt for my birthday, but I need a crank for my fixed build, so gonna get money for that instead!

You could have just posted 'saw Mouse twice last week' in the spotted thread? ;-)

Nearly all my cycling kit is Rapha because the alternatives are pretty awful. Agree with most of what DK says - I am disappointed with the quality for the price point - I wouldn't buy tights or shorts from Rapha (other than the fixed ones I have) - but I'm vain enough to prefer it over Assos or most other stuff I've seen in bike shops.

Is it striking? Compared to Fluoro endura kit, or replica team shirts, or club shirts? It's not overly branded - other than the race team stuff, but that's like saying that Grand Prix cars / drivers are overly branded!

I never know why it raises such a debate. In terms of marketing, they do more stuff for actual riders than many other manufacturers. They're generally alright. I feel fairly neutral to them. Certainly don't have the angst that Mr Smith seems to carry with him...;-)

Re girls stuff - totally agree they're missing a trick. But then, so is everyone else.

it'll all seem pretty fucking pointless when you're on your deathbed, drawing your last breath and reflecting upon your life..

I wear army surplus and endura and any other old shit, it's not important.

what is important, however, is the fact that whilst all these city-boy bellends are lapping RP and fondling their merino, I'm screwing the shit out of their wives, eating 12 ounce steaks, drinking barrels of ale and killing dinosaurs with my bare hands.

So that's why I never see you in RP :-$

but you did, remember?

you sneaked up on me, in a sneaky manner.

We were discussing how one of our customers (mobile phone manufacturer) could differentiate once and someone say they could do a niche product for women. Just 51% of the population then...

So are you or are you not shagging my Mrs whilst eating steak and wrestling dinosaurs when I'm going round RP? I think we should be told.