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Our Visit to the Rapha Cycle Club in San Francisco
Up to now it seemed to me as though the Giro could only be properly watched in two places: (1) In Italy. (2) In my kitchen. In a paradigm-shifting visit, the wonderful Rapha Cycle Club carved out spot #3.
Oh, San Francisco, most lovely of all American cities. Can't we just make the Tour of California 7 different days of coursing through your streets? The world can have Lake Tahoe and the Donner Pass. I'll sip my coffee, reminiscence about the best Californian race there ever was, and spend countless hours in May glued to the TV as the big leagues of bike racing takes place some 10,000 km away.
June 17, 2011
Um... Does anyone really believe materials and construction quality are the only factors that determine the price of clothing? Or even that they should be? If they were, we'd all be wearing Wranglers. I guess my point is that fashion, like many industries, operates on its own scale. The Rapha stores are cool, the clothes look pretty cool, and, ultimately people should just buy what they feel like wearing on the bike. If you can afford it and it makes you happy, go for it. If you don't like it, don't buy it... Some of you seem to be mad that it even exists, and that's just... weird.
- Brian, Washington, DC
June 09, 2011
After so many years of busting my ass on the saddle - scraping for watts - I've lost the elitism. Why hate anybody for riding a particular bike or wearing a particular jersey - what the f@$#. They're stimulating the cycling economy and for f@#$ sake - that's a damn good thing. Assos would be crippled if they lost the fatties wearing XL or TIR. They make those sizes for a reason. Rapha sponsors a team. More teams = more fun @ the races. Just ride. There's bigger things to get yer chamois in a pinch.
- Anon, Anon
June 03, 2011
where is Lance?
- Bobby Pimple, LRAR
June 03, 2011
Steve, your appreciation for cycling itself seems rare these days and I could not agree with you more.
- kelsey , illinois
June 02, 2011
I'm ready for a new post. This one was sort of lame to begin with, the comments are an exploration of all that is truly lame about cycling and we just had the Giro for cryin' out loud!
- steve, miami
June 02, 2011
The last time I wore a pair of Rapha bibs was when I got dropped by a guy riding a steel Nishiki. I think he was wearing denim cutoffs and a pair of lime-green Chuck Taylors. (I can't be sure though as he was going by much too fast). I took solace in the fact that he was probably jealous of my cool looking bibs.
- PillyWillnutz, NYC
June 01, 2011
Rapha is newspeak for over-marketed trendy fashion and if you're even considering wearing it, let alone defending it, you're probably a certain type of cyclist who doesn't compete but may very well appreciate competition. But it's so not PRO as to be laughable that it could even come up for discussion. Hands down the best shorts and jerseys for the price are made by Vermarc.
- John, Nutley
May 31, 2011
I have 3 Rapha jerseys and one pair of bib shorts. All jerseys are merino and they all pilled and looked old very quickly. Capo are better made in my worthless opinion.
- Ron, NYC
May 31, 2011
Ken, in Fairbanks; sounds like you have time to sit at the computer and mouth off (more than most). Chill out dude, go hang with Sara Palin and go shoot and kill some wildlife. relax.
- - PawleeWalnutz, NYC
May 30, 2011
for what it's worth, my wife doesn't know a thing about cycling but thinks the Rapha stuff looks good. gotta be worth something.
- adam, hamilton
May 28, 2011
This is directed to the folks at Rapha, who I assume are reading this forum. Based on a handful of times wearing your jersey, price does not equal quality.
- cc, SF
May 28, 2011
Funny how something like this can cause so much drama.
Here's the thing I think is funny:
Let's take any pro-tour rider, put him on a $129 bike from WalMart and have him wear $19 shorts from Performance and a cotton tshirt.
You pick $10000 worth of bike and clothing.
3 day race, ITT, 200k road race, and a crit. Guess what? More than 99% of you are still going to get your asses handed to you.
So I say this, to those of you accusing the Ralpha crew of being posers and pretentious snobs, please STFU and go ride and be happy to be on a bike. Think of the people who are laid up with injury that are unable to ride. Think of those people that are too ill to ride. Think of those people that have sold their bikes to make their mortgage payment. Think of them while you're sitting behind your computer telling another rider, who shares in your passion, that they are *wrong* for not agreeing with exactly what you think.
Just go ride and be happy.
- Ken, Fairbanks, AK
May 28, 2011
All I know is that I am not good enough to even view their "exclusive" offerings. What a bunch of preening snobs. I would rather pay more for Assos who cater to real cyclists, not fashion victims. See - http://bit.ly/m1OCtm.
- Marty, Madera, CA
May 27, 2011
I don't mind being a neon poser either.
- kelsey, illinois
May 23, 2011
Anyone who in the same breath compares Rapha to Assos in regards to construction and quality needs to have their heads examined. Don`t get me wrong, Rapha make some nice stuff (I own some pieces myself and quite like them), but use low tech fabrics to do it, and use high end marketing to charge more than the product is actually worth. I can think of a few other companies out there who make much higher tech clothing with cutting edge fabrics who charge less because their marketing departments can`t market themselves out of a box. To each their own however. As for fit of Rapha bibs, you won`t know until you wear them - fit is such a subjective issue that no one can be an authority on any specific piece of kit.
- nacho libre, sans-cashville
May 23, 2011
Doping is PRO, Rapha is not.
- Bobby Pimple, LRAR
May 20, 2011
@ Andy: I've got a couple of Rapha bib shorts that I purchased three years ago. They're still going strong. The pad is by Cytech (same company that makes the Assos pads), stitching is good although not fantastic, and they're comfortable and hold up well.
I also own Assos with the same pad. I would say the Assos stitching is better, and they don't stitch through the centre of the pad. Interestingly, the lycra of the Assos is wearing out faster than the Rapha.
Overall, I'd say the materials of the Rapha bibs are the same or slightly better than my Assos bibs. But Assos is stitched better. I paid less for my Rapha bibs than I did for the Assos.
- Marc, Toronto
May 20, 2011
Oh....just to add one thing...Rapha stuff is great qualtiy made for cyclists and real commuters. Not for neon posers. Ok...it is not cheap...but quality wiil be remembered every ride long after the price has been forgotten...(-:
- John , Antwerp
May 20, 2011
Was in the Rapha Cycle club in London last year and it was just unique....few places where hardcore roadies sit together with a nicely dressed lady on a Brompton and share a laugh, good coffee and have a glance at one of the 29633 magazines splattered over the table...
Next year Amsterdam? SF is a bit too far away...(-:
- John, Antwerp
May 19, 2011
I just like to ride fast
- kelsey , illinois
