Sky changing from Adidas to Rapha?

Sep 12, 2010
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Heard from a very good contact that Sky are in talks with Rapha to replace Adidas as their kit provider in the near future. Makes sense from a "Cool Britannia" perspective - I'm thinking it might not go down well with the current Rapha customers who have bought into the exclusive VIP image. Should be an interesting marketing challenge.
 
The other McHoy said:
Heard from a very good contact that Sky are in talks with Rapha to replace Adidas as their kit provider in the near future. Makes sense from a "Cool Britannia" perspective - I'm thinking it might not go down well with the current Rapha customers who have bought into the exclusive VIP image. Should be an interesting marketing challenge.

seeing is believing, but yes, damiano will make this thread ...ahem....'fun' (???) cough cough
 
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Anonymous

Guest
but bearing in mind the adidas stuff isnt even made by adidas it makes no odds there.

however, there have been enough complaints about the price of sky kit, without switching to a supplier with a history of being erm, "high quality?"

Think there have been some issues with adidas. Took eighteen months to get casual wear that was promised since about february 2010.
 
Oct 6, 2009
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Rapha probably sought out this partnership just so they could use Wigans as their spokesmodel, what with Bradley being so well known for his fantastic sense of style . . . .

;)
 
they aren't happy with adidas at all. big delays in getting the stuff and sizing problems haven't helped. Can't imagine rapha being any better as quality wise it is pretty average, it's just people that have spent a fortune on it are embarrassed to complain ;)
 
May 23, 2011
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Beech Mtn said:
Rapha probably sought out this partnership just so they could use Wigans as their spokesmodel, what with Bradley being so well known for his fantastic sense of style . . . .

;)

LOL.

Rapha would be a much better match with a hipster doofus like J. Vaughters and his team.
 
Damiano Machiavelli said:
LOL.

Rapha would be a much better match with a hipster doofus like J. Vaughters and his team.

I can only imagine the original hipster doofus in Rapha.

RS.ARM:I sense great vulnerability. A man child crying out for love, an innocent orphan in the post-modern world.
MR. ARM:I see a parasite.
MRS.ARM:A sexually-depraved miscreant, who is seeking to gratify only his
most basic and immediate urges.
MRS.ARM:He is man's struggle. He lifts my spirit!
MR. ARM:He is a loathsome, offensive brute, yet I can't look away.

MRS.ARM:He transcends time and space.
MR. ARM:He sickens me.
MRS.ARM:I love it.
MR. ARM:Me too.


Seinfeld_Kramer_Painting_Black_Shirt.jpg


HT: Seinfeldscripts.com
 
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Anonymous

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bobbins said:
they aren't happy with adidas at all. big delays in getting the stuff and sizing problems haven't helped. Can't imagine rapha being any better as quality wise it is pretty average, it's just people that have spent a fortune on it are embarrassed to complain ;)

Yup. Adidas have been a total pain, sizing as you noted, delays on getting kit out (couldnt produce the rainforest kit at short notice either), and adidas being very strict over the retail price, there have been pretty serious restrictions on what retailers could sell it for.

One of sky's aims is to broaden cyclings popularity and make it more accessible. Joining up with one of the most elitist, up their own **** clothing brands doesnt really help that.

That said, IG markets are of course heavily involved with Rapha. ;) Wouldnt surprise me to see some of the more promising youngsters heading to the continental rapha condor sharp team, but then Sky already have 100% me for that, although RCS do ride a much higher level of race. 100% are purely U23
 
May 20, 2010
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Going to Assos would exactly allow for accessible clothing either, but its interesting about the turn around for kit. I thought a company like Adidas would have been able to cope with that, especially there Nalini/Moa are actually the producers of the team issue kit. Supposedly Nalini/Moa also do the Rapha team issue stuff as well.
 
Turnaround times have been terrible with MOA, as they always are, Sky wouldn't listen though so deserve the problems they have experienced.

Kit supposed to be changing design again next year too so a new supplier might be in order as other sponsors are changing too.
 
Oct 19, 2010
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Angliru said:
I thought their kit was made by Nalini with Addidas being put on the jerseys, although I'm not sure why.

MOA/Nalini is one company which runs two different brand.

It's no secret, that they produce lots of kits for different sponsors (eg. also the AGU kit from Rabobank, heard also most of Sugoi for L-C).

Size issue is really a bit tricky. I learned from other teams, that they often size larger than labelled.

Rapha would really be surprising. They may have the name, but for sure not the technical requirements to satisfy a PT-team. And do they have the budget to spend (let it be 2 millions / year) to support a big team?
So if they come, they can only step in as a supplier of their logo.

And if I see the close partnership between adidas and british cycling (existed way before Team Sky was found) and the upcoming Olympics, it doesn't make sense one more time!