Posers
05-10-16, 04:27 AM
#26
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I might go on vacation with my wife, who doesn't ride, and of course I wouldn't bring a bike. She might say, "Look, a bicycle store" and decide she wants to buy me something because I was nice enough not to insist on a cycling-friendly holiday. I might swallow my revulsion and accept an overpriced 3XL T-Shirt (because I am overweight) if I thought it would make her really happy, thinking she had done something nice for me (probably not, but I might.) And then some guy would scorn me here. Bravo.
Look, if people can ride what they want, why can't they choose to not ride? And if people can choose to ride in other than cycling clothes, why can't non-riders buy other-than-cycling clothes? I hope you walked into the store, gave them all "The Look," and walked out at 400 watts and dropped them all.
(Just joking.)
Look, if people can ride what they want, why can't they choose to not ride? And if people can choose to ride in other than cycling clothes, why can't non-riders buy other-than-cycling clothes? I hope you walked into the store, gave them all "The Look," and walked out at 400 watts and dropped them all.
(Just joking.)
I've bought my share of souvenirs - stuff with no intrinsic value, only because of associations such things have. But I recognize that it's really kind of wasteful, and just leads to an accumulation of junk. I don't think there's anything particularly scorn-worthy about buying or paying a premium for things on the basis of association, but I do think it is often misguided and overplayed, and that encouraging the acquisition of stuff on the basis of association alone - capitalizing on peoples' weaknesses - is contemptible. Seriously, when producers and manufacturers of garbage defend themselves with "just giving the people what they want," it makes my skin crawl.
05-10-16, 05:18 AM
#27
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+1. Got a Rapha base layer for a gift several years ago. I love it. Still in great shape even after being used on self-contained tours where things get get neglected. In return, I bought my GF a Rapha jersey on sale that came with free arm warmers. She loves it. Next time I am in NYC I might have to check out the store.
05-10-16, 05:19 AM
#28
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05-10-16, 06:35 AM
#29
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I had a good time in Rapha's Manhattan store last week (I live in L.A. and we have one in the upscale, trendy Venice neighborhood). In fact, I had a good time twice! Once I went by myself and once with a friend. Although I brought my camera, regrettably I walked rather than rode to the store both times. I had excellent cappuccinos and watched race videos on a large screen tv. There weren't many people in the shop when I was there on either of my mid-week visits.
I wanted to buy the black t-shirt visible in the background of my photo (I made it black and white, Rapha-style). When I found out it was $60, it was more than I wanted to spend.
I'm a fan of Rapha, though, for a few reasons. One, I like the jerseys, and I have a few. When they go on sale for whatever reason - which is when I purchase them - they aren't overpriced. Given how much I paid for my nice bike, I don't mind paying for nice jerseys.
Two, Rapha asked for suggestions some years ago for a bike ride to be turned into photos and a (very) short video. One of the ideas they liked was mine. I was able to make the ride, with difficulty, along with six young and very fit cyclists. We were in a spectacular part of the U.S., on the Navajo reservation in Arizona. I also made some photographs when I wasn't too deep into oxygen deprivation.
Three, I enjoy Rapha's wildly pretentious website.
The above photo is in my book about nature photography.
I wanted to buy the black t-shirt visible in the background of my photo (I made it black and white, Rapha-style). When I found out it was $60, it was more than I wanted to spend.
I'm a fan of Rapha, though, for a few reasons. One, I like the jerseys, and I have a few. When they go on sale for whatever reason - which is when I purchase them - they aren't overpriced. Given how much I paid for my nice bike, I don't mind paying for nice jerseys.
Two, Rapha asked for suggestions some years ago for a bike ride to be turned into photos and a (very) short video. One of the ideas they liked was mine. I was able to make the ride, with difficulty, along with six young and very fit cyclists. We were in a spectacular part of the U.S., on the Navajo reservation in Arizona. I also made some photographs when I wasn't too deep into oxygen deprivation.
Three, I enjoy Rapha's wildly pretentious website.
The above photo is in my book about nature photography.
VERY COOL!!!
05-10-16, 06:40 AM
#30
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its a strange phenomenon that people seem to trade trade rapha gear back and forth in volume, unlike any other performance/athletic/functional apparel, not to even restrict it to cycling.
you dont find assos or arcteryk or helly hansen facebook swap groups, forums, and websites.
just really weird to me
you dont find assos or arcteryk or helly hansen facebook swap groups, forums, and websites.
just really weird to me
05-10-16, 07:21 AM
#31
Vain, But Lacking Talent
Rapha makes good stuff. They pull a strong marketing game. They charge a lot of money. Lots and lots of people buy it. Many more (I would assume) buy it when it goes on sale. They then enjoy the hell out of it. Rinse and repeat.
Meanwhile, petty people look down on said buyers and vilify the company because it makes them feel better about themselves.
On that same note, I have never once met a person wearing Rapha gear that found it necessary to look down on other people's kit. They're probably too happy riding their nice bike wearing nice kit to be bothered by anyone else around them.
Meanwhile, petty people look down on said buyers and vilify the company because it makes them feel better about themselves.
On that same note, I have never once met a person wearing Rapha gear that found it necessary to look down on other people's kit. They're probably too happy riding their nice bike wearing nice kit to be bothered by anyone else around them.
05-10-16, 07:28 AM
#32
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Who cares what overweight tourists in SoHo buy? I don't.
There is more to life than complaining about a cycling clothing company or non cyclists who buy their stuff. Move on.
There are plenty of people who don't play golf yet wear high end golf shirts. I don't hear golfers calling them posers. Same goes for non-runners wearing running shoes, etc.
There is more to life than complaining about a cycling clothing company or non cyclists who buy their stuff. Move on.
There are plenty of people who don't play golf yet wear high end golf shirts. I don't hear golfers calling them posers. Same goes for non-runners wearing running shoes, etc.
05-10-16, 07:36 AM
#33
Senior Member
I think people have a reaction to Rapha because the brand is trying to bring a sense of fashion to workout clothing. A lot of people feel the same way about Arc'teryx with outdoorsy gear or LuluLemon for women's workout stuff: these are brands that offer undeniably high quality goods but with a hefty dose of "image" and high price tags to boot. To me, Rapha brings some of the hate on themselves with the pretensions of cycling's "romantic" ideal of the "pedaleur de charme". Rapha really pushes image with their high contrast B&W images of deadly serious looking people with riding around with their sculpted facial hair and immaculate kits. It's a bit much, especially because cycling gear is inherently dorky. Personally, I couldn't care less about what other people wear while riding a bike.
05-10-16, 08:11 AM
#35
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Hey guys I just made a venn diagram that I think will help explain some of these issues we've discussed.
Some conclusions:
Many jerks are also posers.
Some people who wear Rapha kit/swag are jerks, some are posers (note that this would make them poseurs), and some are poseur jerks.
However, many people that wear Rapha are neither jerks nor posers.
Hopefully this has been illuminating.
Some conclusions:
Many jerks are also posers.
Some people who wear Rapha kit/swag are jerks, some are posers (note that this would make them poseurs), and some are poseur jerks.
However, many people that wear Rapha are neither jerks nor posers.
Hopefully this has been illuminating.
Last edited by Dan333SP; 05-10-16 at 08:42 AM.
05-10-16, 08:26 AM
#38
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Hey guys I just made a ven diagram that I think will help explain some of these issues we've discussed.
Some conclusions:
Many jerks are also posers.
Some people who wear Rapha kit/swag are jerks, some are posers (note that this would make them poseurs), and some are poseur jerks.
However, many people that wear Rapha are neither jerks nor posers.
Hopefully this has been illuminating.
Some conclusions:
Many jerks are also posers.
Some people who wear Rapha kit/swag are jerks, some are posers (note that this would make them poseurs), and some are poseur jerks.
However, many people that wear Rapha are neither jerks nor posers.
Hopefully this has been illuminating.
Total lol.
05-10-16, 08:35 AM
#39
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hey guys i just made a ven diagram that i think will help explain some of these issues we've discussed.
some conclusions:
Many jerks are also posers.
Some people who wear rapha kit/swag are jerks, some are posers (note that this would make them poseurs), and some are poseur jerks.
However, many people that wear rapha are neither jerks nor posers.
Hopefully this has been illuminating.
some conclusions:
Many jerks are also posers.
Some people who wear rapha kit/swag are jerks, some are posers (note that this would make them poseurs), and some are poseur jerks.
However, many people that wear rapha are neither jerks nor posers.
Hopefully this has been illuminating.
05-10-16, 08:44 AM
#40
well hello there
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Buy a Rapha light-weight wool sock on sale for about $12.00 and then let's see if you feel foolish for not having bought a Nashbar house brand sock for about $6.00.
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05-10-16, 08:49 AM
#41
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Is he buying one sock, or a pair of socks? If it is only one sock, I think I would feel foolish for either purchase.
05-10-16, 08:52 AM
#42
well hello there
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05-10-16, 09:05 AM
#43
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I once went into a Pearl Izumi store and bought a jersey for $10. I guess I'm the opposite of a poser then.
05-10-16, 09:37 AM
#45
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Great stuff.
05-10-16, 10:02 AM
#46
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Sure I know about the benefits of wool clothing, and I wore wool socks most of my working life every single day. Guess what? Then I didn't. No biggie. Everything isn't always about the nth degree. For lots of folks that wool sock business is nonsense. Not everybody is dissatisfied with just plain cycling socks. Cotton, Coolmax, whatever. In fact I never give them any thought. My feet aren't hot, they aren't cold, they aren't wet, they aren't dry. They are just fine in cheap cycling socks.
05-10-16, 10:08 AM
#47
well hello there
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They're gonna change my life, huh? NOT!
Sure I know about the benefits of wool clothing, and I wore wool socks most of my working life every single day. Guess what? Then I didn't. No biggie. Everything isn't always about the nth degree. For lots of folks that wool sock business is nonsense. Not everybody is dissatisfied with just plain cycling socks. Cotton, Coolmax, whatever. In fact I never give them any thought. My feet aren't hot, they aren't cold, they aren't wet, they aren't dry. They are just fine in cheap cycling socks.
Sure I know about the benefits of wool clothing, and I wore wool socks most of my working life every single day. Guess what? Then I didn't. No biggie. Everything isn't always about the nth degree. For lots of folks that wool sock business is nonsense. Not everybody is dissatisfied with just plain cycling socks. Cotton, Coolmax, whatever. In fact I never give them any thought. My feet aren't hot, they aren't cold, they aren't wet, they aren't dry. They are just fine in cheap cycling socks.
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Two wheels good. Four wheels bad.
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Two wheels good. Four wheels bad.
05-10-16, 10:11 AM
#48
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Rapha makes good stuff. They pull a strong marketing game. They charge a lot of money. Lots and lots of people buy it. Many more (I would assume) buy it when it goes on sale. They then enjoy the hell out of it. Rinse and repeat.
Meanwhile, petty people look down on said buyers and vilify the company because it makes them feel better about themselves.
On that same note, I have never once met a person wearing Rapha gear that found it necessary to look down on other people's kit. They're probably too happy riding their nice bike wearing nice kit to be bothered by anyone else around them.
Meanwhile, petty people look down on said buyers and vilify the company because it makes them feel better about themselves.
On that same note, I have never once met a person wearing Rapha gear that found it necessary to look down on other people's kit. They're probably too happy riding their nice bike wearing nice kit to be bothered by anyone else around them.
05-10-16, 10:15 AM
#49
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And I don't understand this.
If I buy the Rapha sock(s) and don't buy the Nashbar sock(s), I will feel foolish? So the Nashbar socks are better?
I like cycling socks. They've got to look good though. I got one of my favorite pairs for Christmas, I have no idea if full price was paid for them and it would be gauche to ask. They are thick-but-not-too-thick, wool, and keep my feet toasty warm in winter. No, I do not race cyclocross. Making me a poser/poseur, I guess.
Richard Sachs Wool Cyclocross Sock - Natural ? The Athletic
05-10-16, 10:21 AM
#50
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I can't wait until BF decides what is correct and orthodox for all cyclists so I can find out whether I am supposed to like or revile Rapha gear and whether people who buy it are posers or not. I feel so insecure not knowing .... should I wish I owned Rapha or be glad I don't?
Am I wearing the proper socks? How many am I supposed to wear? Help me, BF! Tell me what the cool kids wear!
Am I wearing the proper socks? How many am I supposed to wear? Help me, BF! Tell me what the cool kids wear!
