Rapha Sample Sale returns to Manchester at start of February

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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

it's only the bloody city where the NATIONAL cycling centre is based, innit.

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.

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

get ready for lots of stuff on ebay at "half rrp"

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.

Why Manchester...London based company.

Will the Sky mesh skinsuit be in stock

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!

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 save nothing by the time I'd paid to get up there and back. When or are they doing one down south?

Ive heard ALDI have shifted their Sunday Special Buys cycling kit launch back a month as not to clash with this.

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.