The Rapha hater thread

[Damiano Machiavelli]

Maybe they took some of the arty shots on the Rapha website.

I am rather suspicious of RDV. His dislike of helmets makes me think he might be [gasp!] a Rapha-ite. Could it be?

Cycling photos are 50% less epic when the riders are wearing helmets.

 

[leftover pie]

I am rather suspicious of RDV. His dislike of helmets makes me think he might be [gasp!] a Rapha-ite. Could it be?

Cycling photos are 50% less epic when the riders are wearing helmets.

i heard rapha were teaming up with brooks to produce a new epic style helmet based on yee olden days football helmets

 

[pedaling squares]

What else do you call a bunch of image merchants whose method for selling two dollars worth of chinese made glove for the better part of two C-notes is to glorify a cynically faux Nietzschesque philosophy about the transformative nature of pain?

Marketers.

Cycling photos are 50% less epic when the riders are wearing helmets.

Ok, that was funny.

He gets it. atmo

Yep, I can see exactly why you guys roll your eyes at some of the Rapha schtick. Difference being, I just figure they're creating a certain image to sell their products, like every other business, so I won't go so far as to dump on their whole company and the people who work for it just because I don't want mohair tweed bibs with 'bon courage' written across the cheeks. I'd wear some of their kit.

 

[mulletCobra]

Just got back from an epic ride. I'd have to say that my Rapha team kit made the ride about 34% more epic. I even had a friend to take a photograph:

 

[marathon marke]

Would a Cutter be caught dead wearing Rapha?

Just got back from an epic ride. I'd have to say that my Rapha team kit made the ride about 34% more epic. I even had a friend to take a photograph:

 

[RDV4ROUBAIX]

I am rather suspicious of RDV. His dislike of helmets makes me think he might be [gasp!] a Rapha-ite. Could it be?

Cycling photos are 50% less epic when the riders are wearing helmets.

Actually, I do wear a helmet, just don't feel the need to preach to the choir about it. We have a helmet debate thread somewhere on the form but every time it pops up it immediately falls off the front page because nobody wants to hear a bunch of dogmatic Right to Lifers complaining about people who choose not to. This thread will fall off pretty soon too, has to be one of the dumbest in a while, you'll see.

 

[rickshaw]

Bye the way.....

Rapha is primary sponsor of a UCI Continental team, right? I think that is worth something. They'r supporting the sport...

 

[Damiano Machiavelli]

Would a Cutter be caught dead wearing Rapha?

Absolutely not, but that will not stop Rapha from coming out with pink duct tape for those who want to tape their feet to their pedals and pretend that they are riding in the 70s.

 

[Wallace]

While the annoying Rapha image and advertising campaigns have out-weighted the attraction of their very well-made gear--and besides, I'm an Assos guy--I still have an Assos fall jacket from 1990--and I wore it as a bike messenger: heavy abuse and although it certainly is worn (the right forearm is frayed from going in and out of my messenger bag), it still works like new... but:the silliness and strange seriousness of this thread has convinced me to buy some new Rapha clothing. I think I'll try the bib shorts and a long-sleeved jersey. They look pretty good to me.

 

[fatsprintking]

While the annoying Rapha image and advertising campaigns have out-weighted the attraction of their very well-made gear--and besides, I'm an Assos guy--I still have an Assos fall jacket from 1990--and I wore it as a bike messenger: heavy abuse and although it certainly is worn (the right forearm is frayed from going in and out of my messenger bag), it still works like new... but:the silliness and strange seriousness of this thread has convinced me to buy some new Rapha clothing. I think I'll try the bib shorts and a long-sleeved jersey. They look pretty good to me.

See - any publicity is good publicity.

 

[Boeing]

I dont like Rapha because they sell vibe and this isnt my vibe because I set the tempo for vibe in cycling. i was cycling before they were and I am fitter than anyone in Raph gear. Those riding Rapha kits are newbies and yuppies and the dont belong to our vibe because my vibe is the true vibe. they drive hummers and have mortgages and cycling is just a past time. They pay full retail for the fancy bikes and need a mechanic to repair their bikes. I know how to do my own tuning and hahahaha I get brodeals and well am sponsored uhhh kinda but I am....uhh at the level, a level they will never dream to attain in fitness in this sport because I was here first and I am more committed and have been for ever like, . they are raising the damn rent here and destroying the culture that I discovered before them. they cant even track stand at a signal like me.

 

[Damiano Machiavelli]

This thread will fall off pretty soon too, has to be one of the dumbest in a while, you'll see.

I do not understand why you are so upset by me and others having a negative reaction to Rapha's marketing. In an old thread you wrote:

The aerodynamic performance claims by manufacturers is probably the most dishonest topic that the bike industry is propagating on the general consumer, and doing it purely for sales, I know because I spent years in meetings with these same mfg's dreaming up lies about this stuff by using altered, or even fake data. Forums like weightweenies is where you'll find the sheep and fanatics that believe everything the manufacturers tell them like you'll be more aero or save so many watts with 2mm less here, much faster with 20g savings there. It's all collusion by the industry and the motive is profits, that's it.

You clearly are not too keen about claims of bogus performance advantages of gear. How hard is it to figure out that others might not be too keen about phony imagery that promotes an nonexistent association with a time decades before a company existed?

 

[RDV4ROUBAIX]

I do not understand why you are so upset by me and others having a negative reaction to Rapha's marketing. In an old thread you wrote:



You clearly are not too keen about claims of bogus performance advantages of gear. How hard is it to figure out that others might not be too keen about phony imagery that promotes an nonexistent association with a time decades before a company existed?

Performance advantages yes, you're talking about a clothing company which doesn't claim "saving watts", or "you'll win your next race because... ", nothing "phony" about Rapha or the people involved with them, calling people "d-bags" that you've never met is really cool, very impressive. We get it, you don't like marketing, neither do I for the most part, but you take it too far with the name calling. May I ask, how old are you?

 

[Hawkwood]

While the annoying Rapha image and advertising campaigns have out-weighted the attraction of their very well-made gear--and besides, I'm an Assos guy--I still have an Assos fall jacket from 1990--and I wore it as a bike messenger: heavy abuse and although it certainly is worn (the right forearm is frayed from going in and out of my messenger bag), it still works like new... but:the silliness and strange seriousness of this thread has convinced me to buy some new Rapha clothing. I think I'll try the bib shorts and a long-sleeved jersey. They look pretty good to me.

Same here, I like to buy well-made gear that is confortable and will last. For me the brand doesn't matter so much. I haven't paid much attention to Rapha, but after reading this thread I've looked at their website and am tempted by some of the items, I will be looking to buy them in sales, so not full rrp.

 

[rickshaw]

Me too!

Same here, I like to buy well-made gear that is confortable and will last. For me the brand doesn't matter so much. I haven't paid much attention to Rapha, but after reading this thread I've looked at their website and am tempted by some of the items, I will be looking to buy them in sales, so not full rrp.

First time I saw Rapha I thought "Cool Stuff", then I got the poser marketing hype ting. Not Cool. Now I'm reading this and I think, "I can wear Rapha and REALLY pyss some fashion police off!" I like.

Mostly in cold weather I wear thin cashmere sweaters (base) I pick up for $2 at resale shops. I'm ready for a change. lets all join in.

 

[Chuffy]

The OP clearly needs to chill out a bit - why not sit down with a nice cup of tea? Here are some mugs for your tea- I'm sure they'll ship to the US if you ask nicely.

 

[erikdv]

Hate it less

If price has been one of the reasons you hate Rapha, now is the time to set your hatred aside.

http://www.rapha.cc/shop/sale

 

[Hawkwood]

First time I saw Rapha I thought "Cool Stuff", then I got the poser marketing hype ting. Not Cool. Now I'm reading this and I think, "I can wear Rapha and REALLY pyss some fashion police off!" I like.

Mostly in cold weather I wear thin cashmere sweaters (base) I pick up for $2 at resale shops. I'm ready for a change. lets all join in.

Yeah funny how this cool, not cool, cool thing works. My girlfriend is a big Madonna fan, but absolutely hates ABBA, they are not cool. A few years ago she was listening to a Madonna track and I said but that's an ABBA tune, no way would she believe it, then ABBA sues Madonna and settles for a lot of money out of court! Of course I remind her that Madonna is an ABBA fan on a regular basis.

 

[Damiano Machiavelli]

The OP clearly needs to chill out a bit - why not sit down with a nice cup of tea? Here are some mugs for your tea- I'm sure they'll ship to the US if you ask nicely.

Then I wouild have to buy their limited edition espresso machine.

http://www.bikerumor.com/2011/07/31...-milano-for-limited-edition-espresso-machine/

1700 euros. Just a few years old and they are already milking the brand. Can a limited edition Rapha toilet be far off?

 

[britinbe]

Rapha

I've always seen Rapha as being "Soho Chic". I have a couple of their items and I like them, they are well styled. For good kit, I'll spend the money, and lets face it, there is a lot of crap over priced stuff out there.

 

[Hawkwood]

Then I wouild have to buy their limited edition espresso machine.

http://www.bikerumor.com/2011/07/31...-milano-for-limited-edition-espresso-machine/

1700 euros. Just a few years old and they are already milking the brand. Can a limited edition Rapha toilet be far off?

It looks similar to the Giotto Premium II Rocket, its rrp is about 1850 euros, but can be found for about 1495 euros. So depending on the exact spec they might not actually be taking the pi**.

 

[doxter]

im not entirely clear on the basis of the hatred OP .

is it the marketing and only the marketing or is it the falseness and solely the falseness . it does have a foppishness to it in places , particularly in the paul smith ranges but then that is targetted at the leisure audience rather than roadies.

personally i like the look of much of the kit , it is somewhat overpriced but the difficulty i see is that so many other manufacturers make over-the-top styles that direct us back to the very few that are understated and functional to look at and wear for major distances.

surely for most riders the look and feel has to be a main factor in the clothing accessories ?

 

[Martin318is]

Recent tweet by Michael Creed, suggesting info to put on RoadId bracelets:

http://twitter.com/#!Michael_Creed

Don't cut my shorts - they're Rapha!

 

[seniyajw]

Plus it's fun to search the hornet's nest by saying a good word of Rock to watch the lemmings pouring rock and condemn people to have the same questionable ethics that meet the management teams.

 

[Wallace]

plus it's fun to search the hornet's nest by saying a good word of rock to watch the lemmings pouring rock and condemn people to have the same questionable ethics that meet the management teams.

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