Rapha Kit

Used to be on the side of
Used to be on the side of “wearing Rapha, all the gear, no idea” but since actually buying and wearing some of the stuff, and decidedly on the side of “it’s actually worth the money” now 🙂
Bought some 3/4 bibs for my b’day back in November, very comfy, very well fitted. Then bought the hardshell jacket in the sale for xmas. I have worn that for every ride I’ve been on since. The best jacket I’ve got for winter riding. Bought the winter base layer in the sale a few weeks ago, combined with the jacket, it’s an unbeatable combo. Now saving for the winter longs.
It’s so comfortable to wear, it actually makes me want to go out cycling in inclement weather, which is crazy.
I’m sticking with my Gore winter gloves though, as the Rapha items are not supposed to be very good, and take a lot of looking after.

I wonder if James Blunt wears
I wonder if James Blunt wears Rapha? Stuff your reverse-snobbery. Vive la establishment, Vive la 1%! <:P

Best bit of kit I own is a
Best bit of kit I own is a Rapha Pro-Team jacket (windproof front, roubaixy back). It seems to work from early autumn to spring, with only a switch of baselayer depending on how cold it is. Their classic bibshorts are good too and are understated. All their plain merino/mix is classic.

I’m not a fan of Rapha’s weird ‘homage’ jerseys or the leather goods which have lost the plot in my mind. Personally I’m not a fan of the ‘Captain Scarlet’ Assos look either, and definitely not the over-logo-ed euro pro stuff, but if it floats your boat then go for it.

I have some Rapha kit (winter
I have some Rapha kit (winter tights, rain jacket lightweight jersey, caps) and I’ve had really good experience of their repair service. I bought some of their winter tights when the forst came out (2005ish?) and at the time they seemed good quality and price was close to other high end kit.

I finally wore through the backside (pointy sit-bones?) a year or so ago and they were repaired to a very high standard (inserts rather than patches) without any hassle.

I wore through a newer second (red leg flash – get me!) pair in the same place just before Christmas and agin these were repaired to a similar standard and back to me within a week. I think I’ve had good vfm from these.

I like the imagery and ‘ethos’ that rapha promotes and I accept that it’s not for everyone, I’m a self-confessed bike tart. I don’t like it because it’s Rapha – some designs are pretty hoofing IMHO and their LS jerseys never fit my forearms comfortably.

I’ll give a second very strong recommendation for Morvelo, really good quality kit, a great range of designs (probably something for everybody) and keen prices. My drawers are slowly filling with more of their kit.

I’ll by more Rapha as I want it but it’s not the be all and end all. Nice stuff tho.

Crosshouses wrote:My kit is

Crosshouses wrote:

My kit is mostly a mix of Aldi and vintage Flemish club jerseys off eBay, although I do have a Gabba jacket which is the best £100+ I’ve spent on bike clothing.

However, the regular mentions of Rapha have piqued my curiosity, so if I was to buy one Rapha item what should it be?

I guess people who own a good variety would point you to the classics kit – jersey and shorts. I don’t have those. I do have the Rapha Focus pro-team shorts (I don’t go for pro-team kit, but at £40 they were a steal) which are very good. The base layers are great too, as are the winter jerseys. When it’s chucking it down outside, I have the Rapha Paul Smith city rain jacket which is really good, and looks good regardless of whether I’m on the bike or not.

However, I bought nearly all of this from end-of-line/sample sales – as an example the jacket was £50 as opposed to the £200+ RRP.

I only have 2 bits of Rapha
I only have 2 bits of Rapha clothing; a lighweight jersey and a city rain jacket. Both are excellent; fit, performance, quality, style etc. Rapha do a seriously good sale with big price reductions.

Team kit I think that is a
Team kit I think that is a differant story, I tend to think if you not in the team don’t wear the kit, I wouldn’t think badly of anyone who does wear it in the same way is I don’t prejudge people in Rapha, just not for me, though conversely I own a blue replica football shirt? I must have double standard or at a minimum poor judgement in my football shirt :S

Rightly or wrongly I see
Rightly or wrongly I see Rapha as the cycling version of Harley Davidson motorcycle clothing, a bit midlife crisis