It’s been a while coming – around 18 months, in fact, since the last one – but the start of February will see Rapha hold a Sample Sale in Manchester.
The sale is an ideal opportunity to get your hands on what Rapha describes as “unique samples, discontinued items and end-of-season stock,” and from experience we know there’s some great bargains to be had.
It takes place in the Northern Quarter, and if you want to get hold of some of the best kit before it sells out, Rapha say that going by the success of the last Sample Sale in Manchester, it’s a good idea to get down there early on the Saturday.
The Sample Sale isn’t the only thing the London-based brand has planned for 2014 – later this year the city will host the second permanent Rapha Cycling Club shop-cum-café in the UK.
The first opened in London’s Soho in 2012, following an earlier pop-up store in Clerkenwell in 2010.
Rapha Sample Sale
Unit 6, The Old Smithfield Building
61 Church Street
Manchester
M1 1JR
Saturday 1st February – 9.30am to 6.00pm
Sunday 2nd February – 10.00am to 5.00pm
22 thoughts on “Rapha Sample Sale returns to Manchester at start of February”
Bargains to be had. Last time
Bargains to be had. Last time I bought the Paul Smith rain jacket for £50, and I mean a proper rain jacket, not a flimsy thing that rolls into a ball.
Ive heard ALDI have shifted
Ive heard ALDI have shifted their Sunday Special Buys cycling kit launch back a month as not to clash with this.
I’d save nothing by the time
I’d save nothing by the time I’d paid to get up there and back. When or are they doing one down south?
I went last time in
I went last time in Manchester, and the stock was fairly limited. Lots of the same thing mostly, trousers, cycling casual shorts, arm warmers and loads of small red cycling jersey. It’d be a bit more appealing if there was a greater variety of stuff, but that’s the nature of sales I suppose.
I’d fancy this, but not sure
I’d fancy this, but not sure I fancy queuing up and whatnot before it opens. Also, cheap or not, I don’t actually *need* anything. Still, it is dangerously the day after I get paid.
Good news about the cycle club. New York, San Fran, Sydney, Osaka, London and… Manchester!
<:P
Will the Sky mesh skinsuit be
Will the Sky mesh skinsuit be in stock 😉
Why Manchester…London based
Why Manchester…London based company.
Miles253 wrote:Why
Because Manchester is just fantabulous.
Miles253 wrote:Why
Sorrys Tubbs, I didn’t realise it was a ‘local brand for local people’.
Miles253 wrote:Why
=))
Manchester this time just
Manchester this time just because most of the sample sales are indeed in London.
I think the stock was pretty varied if you got in there soon enough. Apart from the Paul Smith rain jacket mentioned above, I came away with:
Bibshorts
Cross 3/4 bibs
gloves
armwarmers
cap
t-shirt
I didn’t bother with any of the commuter kit, jerseys or various other bits and pieces.
get ready for lots of stuff
get ready for lots of stuff on ebay at “half rrp” 😉
just found out the opening
just found out the opening times are wrong, it wont open until lunch time so you lot should stay in bed a little longer, this is deffinetly not a plot by me to get first dibs….just me doing a bit of public service.
see you all there are lunch time 👿
Manchester have the coffee.
Manchester have the coffee. They might even have a pretentious cycle club with ‘velo’ in the title. I think us Northerners are ready for Rapha. We’ve telephones and that there inter web.
it’s only the bloody city
it’s only the bloody city where the NATIONAL cycling centre is based, innit.
Queued for 3 hours this
Queued for 3 hours this morning to get in. Vey disappointed.
We were told outside there was plenty of stock in winter gear, pro team etc in all sizes including large
This was not the case. If you are an extra small or extra large and above and wear team sky kit then there is plenty.
socks plenty. small leather gloves,plenty.
Anything else forget it.
waste of time if you are looking for some decent gear although should have known better as at the end of the day this is a sale and Rapha will be trying to dump their unwanted stock before they release their new summer range.
cheers
Anyone thinking of going
Anyone thinking of going along don’t bother. I went this morning, got there an hour and a quarter early and joined the back of a fairly big queue which continued to get a lot bigger. They let a load in, then it was one in one out. Many of the first batch were greedy selfish idiots who basically went round and grabbed everything they could carry, leaving very little for everyone else. Just to quantify this, the most expensive item on sale was jackets at £50. The two people in front of me both spent over £800 each! Their stuff will be appearing on ebay very soon.
I got in at 10:15 and was
I got in at 10:15 and was pleasantly surprised. I did go a bit OTT and spent far too much. The problem now is hiding all of it around the house.
are people really going to
are people really going to buy this crap on ebay?
its good kit but its not worth the 1 rrp, im much happier with my DHB bibs (or Howies if im feeling posh), it good quality and it doesnt have SKY plastered all over it. the chesire lanes are gong to be awash with fred when the weather gts better! =))
mrchrispy wrote:are people
Who’s Fred?
I got an invite to the
I got an invite to the preview event on Friday evening, and spent a bit more than I meant to. I’m a medium. The classic softshell is £240, so I can accept a sky blue armband and the little stripe graphic running from the collarbone down the shoulder, in exchange for a £50 price tag, it’s a superb jacket. No massive team or sponsor graphics. There are on the thermal softshell gilet I also bought, but they are all black on black so I dont think it matters. The country jersey is lovely. Its now obvious how my older large winter jersey is a bit big on me, so I’ll ebay that.
As a rule I don’t do pro kit, but ho-hum.
Got there at 8.30 and was in
Got there at 8.30 and was in by just after 10am, although had to form an echelon in the queue with two lads from Garstang to keep out that wind barrelling down Church Street – wasn’t surprised that very few bibs and rain gear left by that time.
Also not surprised that it seemed to be mostly Sky gear.
I personally thought the selection of stuff available was wider 18 months back.
But am pleased with a couple of merino track tops at £30 each, some touring shorts and leather mitts. Would have gone for the Holland jersey but getting another jersey was ‘verboden’.
So, ta v much Rapha.