Rapha – have the haters gone?

[Salted_Peanut]

Rapha was once so polarising that the BBC and Guardian reported on it, but trends go in cycles. Do you think the hate has backpedaled?

[Tim Cognito]

Possibly, in that it's become accepted that it's just a brand for dentists/poseurs.

The counter argument was that it was genuinely quite cool looking and good quality. Now it's struggling on both of those.

[okgo]

Tim Cognito said:

Possibly, in that it's become accepted that it's just a brand for dentists/poseurs.

The counter argument was that it was genuinely quite cool looking and good quality. Now it's struggling on both of those.

Yeh, they were quite innovative early doors, but I can think of about 5 brands that do the minimalist 'quiet luxury' style that Rapha do and mostly they're cheaper and don't carry the y image. The kit isn't all that amazing either, which doesn't help. And of course its ludicrously priced.

Ultimately, the legs do the talking in cycling (some exceptions apply, time trials for example on occasion), the rest is rather irrelevant.

[moonigan]

I’ve been a serial purchaser since 2012 but the drop in quality and innovation since the buyout has been quite remarkable. There has only been one item in the last 3 years that I have thought was groundbreaking (og brevet insulated jacket). I haven’t bought anything for full price for yonks.

[MrBarry123]

I really like the Rapha aesthetic but the prices are bonkers nowadays and I refuse to buy anything from them at full price as every “new” item is reduced by 30%+ within a couple months of release. I’m not even sure Rapha are the trendy brand anymore, feels like Pas Normal Studios have taken their place.

Edited by MrBarry123 on Sunday 22 October 23:26

[JEA1K]

I've probably bought more Rapha clothing than other brands, because of the look and quality of the product and the fit has always suited my frame. From an aethetic point of view, I dislike clothing with too much going on ... so, 3, 4 or five different colours. Rapha has traditionally had a decent choice of colours but generally a couple of colours per garment which I've liked.

As soon as Rapha became popular, those who were cool just dropped it and hated it for becoming popular, thats just how fashion goes! There is so much more choice/more cycling brands than 10 years ago - who are producing some excellent clothes lines so the competition has just got better.

I've bought more from 'other brands' in the past 2 years I'd say, mainly because I've liked their designs/fit and I haven't really seen anything from Rapha thats caught my eye thats different from what was available 5 years ago.

[Salted_Peanut]

MrBarry123 said:

I really like the Rapha aesthetic but the prices are bonkers nowadays

I also love the Rapha aesthetic but not the pricing. Considering winter bib tights, I can buy two Endura tights or several Pearl Izumi pairs for the cost of one Rapha pair. My existing Endura clobber is premium quality without the premium price.

I struggle to imagine how Rapha could be better, but perhaps that’s because I’ve never tried it. What am I missing?

[okgo]

Nothing. It’s a triumph of branding. My rapha shorts are terrible.

[andyeds1234]

Salted_Peanut said:

I also love the Rapha aesthetic but not the pricing. Considering winter bib tights, I can buy two Endura tights or several Pearl Izumi pairs for the cost of one Rapha pair. My existing Endura clobber is premium quality without the premium price.

I struggle to imagine how Rapha could be better, but perhaps that’s because I’ve never tried it. What am I missing?

You aren’t missing anything. Rapha isn’t even the best quality amongst the premium brands. The quality of Assos kit is noticeably better, for similar prices.
Having said that, I have a few Rapha bits, and it’s good kit, it’s just the marketing BS that puts me off.

[JayRidesBikes]

Rapha are having a pop up archive sale in Birmingham again this year, bargains to be had.

Lasy year jerseys were £40, bibs and tights and jackets £60, they also had gilets, glasses, shoes etc heavily reduced too.

[MrBarry123]

Salted_Peanut said:

I also love the Rapha aesthetic but not the pricing. Considering winter bib tights, I can buy two Endura tights or several Pearl Izumi pairs for the cost of one Rapha pair. My existing Endura clobber is premium quality without the premium price.

I struggle to imagine how Rapha could be better, but perhaps that’s because I’ve never tried it. What am I missing?

You aren’t missing anything. Rapha is incredibly expensive for what it is although the same can be said about any premium cycling brand. Contrary to other opinions on here though, most of the stuff I have from Rapha is also good quality, washes well and does the job it’s intended to do e.g. a winter jacket of theirs I have keeps me warm down to almost freezing with only a base layer on. Still wild pricing though.

[WindyCommon]

In 2010 I bought a Rapha Softshell jacket from Condor on Grays Inn Road. I wore it this afternoon, and it kept me warm and dry when I was caught by a random heavy shower near Windlesham. Not bad!

https://www.condorcycles.com/blogs/journal/4533248...

[Richard-G]

JayRidesBikes said:

Rapha are having a pop up archive sale in Birmingham again this year, bargains to be had.

Lasy year jerseys were £40, bibs and tights and jackets £60, they also had gilets, glasses, shoes etc heavily reduced too.

Ohhh where abouts is this in brum?

[okgo]

WindyCommon said:

In 2010 I bought a Rapha Softshell jacket from Condor on Grays Inn Road. I wore it this afternoon, and it kept me warm and dry when I was caught by a random heavy shower near Windlesham. Not bad!

https://www.condorcycles.com/blogs/journal/4533248...

That was likely of vastly different level to what they make now. The soft shell was their posterboy product at the time, much like the Gabba was for Castelli a couple years later.

[JustinCredible]

WindyCommon said:

In 2010 I bought a Rapha Softshell jacket from Condor on Grays Inn Road. I wore it this afternoon, and it kept me warm and dry when I was caught by a random heavy shower near Windlesham. Not bad!

https://www.condorcycles.com/blogs/journal/4533248...

I don't ride much these days but used to commute 20miles a day all year round for 5 or 6 years pre covid so could justify Rapha prices, best piece of cycling kit I've ever bought was a Rapha Pro Team Jacket which was a slim fitting softshell. Perfect from Autumn through to Spring, water resistant without being waterproof but kept me dry enough given it was only 10 miles each way. Not bought anything from them recently but the quality used to be very good, on par with Castelli and the like, only with less garish aesthetic.

okgo said:

That was likely of vastly different level to what they make now. The soft shell was their posterboy product at the time, much like the Gabba was for Castelli a couple years later.

Gabba was go to short sleeve!

[lufbramatt]

I bought some clearance Rapha bits around the time they stopped sponsoring Team Sky. The jerseys were lovely (Froome and Thomas themed ones that look like retro national jerseys), can’t fault them, they have some lovely detailing and I still wear them today. Thought the bibs were a bit crap.

Current stuff all seems a bit boring looking with washed out colours and don’t think I’ve seen many of the guys I ride with wear much Rapha. Mainly castelli, le col or team training kit they get cheap. Certainly doesn’t seem as popular as it used to be.

[WindyCommon]

JustinCredible said:

WindyCommon said:

In 2010 I bought a Rapha Softshell jacket from Condor on Grays Inn Road. I wore it this afternoon, and it kept me warm and dry when I was caught by a random heavy shower near Windlesham. Not bad!

…

okgo said:

That was likely of vastly different level to what they make now. The soft shell was their posterboy product at the time, much like the Gabba was for Castelli a couple years later.

Gabba was go to short sleeve!

I have the original Gabba stuff also. The long bibs are still ok, but the jackets lost their shape and ‘proofing within a short period.

I agree with the comments on Rapha quality. It used to be really good, but is clearly less so now.

[numtumfutunch]

I chanced upon Rapha shortly after they launched and rapidly bought into the brand helped by well made kit and an effort to tap into grass roots racing

Coincidentally after the storm last weekend I went for a ride on Sunday and wore a pair of bibs and jersey that are almost 20y old

In the late 2000's they became huge and were very much the brand of the middle aged man/woman with money, a Pinarello and a beer gut
Im pretty sure they outsourced production and in my opinion quality suffered

Ive not bought any of their stuff for over a decade however as described above their early kit was made to last

Cheers

[Mad Scientist]

Their Brevet jersey (lightweight, standard and thick) are the best jerseys I’ve personally found for proper long rides. The pockets are second to none, and for me the fit is perfect.

Admittedly, if you are just pootling about you don’t need all the pockets, but I do personally think Rapha have some really well thought out products.

[Castrol for a knave]

Rapha caught the zeitgeist as it were - the emerging wave of interest and middle class money into the sport. Before that, if you wanted to burn a hole in your wallet, you bought Assos or Castelli.

The pricing was divisive, as were some of Mottram's utterances.

Problem was, others entered the fray and a niche corner of the market became very crowded.

They were also very US/UK centric - they never really seemed to make inroads into Europe, which has no end of heritage brands. That's also where they struggled, they tried to manufacture heritage whereas plenty of existing brands already had it.

Fast forward and being bought out, closing their stores and coffee shops, an arguable fall in quality and plenty of their kit discounted in the overstock retailers and they are just another brand. The hipster side is now passé.

They were also never really an innovating brand.

So now, people are not really sure what Rapha is. It's expensive and discounted at the same time. It's up against some very agile and strong brands, many with much more experienced rag trade owners.