ralpha rant
03-16-14, 08:35 PM
#26
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So, yeah, I'm bored enough to check the Wayback Machine. 
Changes since 9/2013:
Lightweight Jersey = same
Team Sky Pro Jersey = same
Long-Sleeve Pro Team Jersey = increase by $15 (now $245)
Classic Bib Shorts = increase by $15 (now $235)
Team Sky Replica Bib Shorts = same
Team Sky Pro Bib Shorts = increase by $30 (now $290)
Merino hat = same
...
Changes since 9/2013:Lightweight Jersey = same
Team Sky Pro Jersey = same
Long-Sleeve Pro Team Jersey = increase by $15 (now $245)
Classic Bib Shorts = increase by $15 (now $235)
Team Sky Replica Bib Shorts = same
Team Sky Pro Bib Shorts = increase by $30 (now $290)
Merino hat = same
...
03-17-14, 05:36 AM
#27
Professional Fuss-Budget
It's no secret that Rapha's stuff is expensive, nor am I telling anyone to buy it. I'm simply saying there was no across-the-board increase, and most of the increases are closer to 7% than the alleged 15%.
03-17-14, 07:02 AM
#30
pan y agua
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03-17-14, 10:34 AM
#31
well hello there
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The rapha classic jersey has been my favorite since the day I bought it.
__________________
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Two wheels good. Four wheels bad.
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Two wheels good. Four wheels bad.
03-17-14, 11:38 AM
#33
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$290 for bib shorts?
Bwhahaha....I see what gramercy is saying...
Bwhahaha....I see what gramercy is saying...
03-17-14, 04:12 PM
#34
well hello there
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03-17-14, 04:27 PM
#35
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Well, I do think my ass deserves the very best.
03-17-14, 04:53 PM
#38
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03-17-14, 05:00 PM
#39
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03-18-14, 07:16 AM
#41
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03-18-14, 08:00 AM
#42
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Assos has sales constantly. There have been bibs on chainlove for the last two months in the $100-$200 price range. Rapha also has sales on occasion.
Just because you think they're unreasonable, doesn't mean others do.
Just because you think they're unreasonable, doesn't mean others do.
03-18-14, 11:29 AM
#43
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Being in the business, I end up with all kinds of stuff to try. Sorry, I ride all the time and it's not that much better. I have bins full of the same stuff that various manfacturers issue to teams and it is not that much better.
If you are making a fashion statement, it's great for that.
03-18-14, 11:35 AM
#44
I'm doing it wrong.
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As an alternative to Rapha, I suggest Road Holland....at least for jerseys. Road Holland Cycling Apparel and Accessories
They are well made, USA made, stylish, comfy.....
They are well made, USA made, stylish, comfy.....
03-18-14, 01:59 PM
#45
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That tells you something, right there. I can put a ridiculous price on clothing, then have a sale and the sale price is what they should have been charging all along, but they "create a market" for themselves.
Being in the business, I end up with all kinds of stuff to try. Sorry, I ride all the time and it's not that much better. I have bins full of the same stuff that various manfacturers issue to teams and it is not that much better.
If you are making a fashion statement, it's great for that.
Being in the business, I end up with all kinds of stuff to try. Sorry, I ride all the time and it's not that much better. I have bins full of the same stuff that various manfacturers issue to teams and it is not that much better.
If you are making a fashion statement, it's great for that.
I dunno...just because a company has an online outlet or last year's models are showing up on chainlove doesn't mean they're following the Kohl's business model. You can go buy a new Coach weekender bag from Bergdorf Goodman for $3000 or wait 4 years and hope to find it at an outlet for $800. That doesn't mean Coach is putting a ridiculous price on something just to put it on sale...it means its a luxury item that demands a higher price and people will pay that price for it.
People don't need to buy luxury items, cars, clothing, etc - but they do, there is a market for it, and it sells. People can complain about this all they want but it will not change.
03-18-14, 02:11 PM
#46
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Factory outlet...clothing with an issue that means it cannot go to the retail market.
At the end of the day I truly do not care. Like outlet malls...stuff that has some issue, some things so tiny you can't tell the difference but did not pass quality control.
I got a free pair, tried them, and they were about the same as everything else I have. So unless you are into logos and think people will care you are wearing designer bike clothing, it's really not twice better than what I am given which is basically team issue.
And I am not complaining. I am chuckling.
At the end of the day I truly do not care. Like outlet malls...stuff that has some issue, some things so tiny you can't tell the difference but did not pass quality control.
I got a free pair, tried them, and they were about the same as everything else I have. So unless you are into logos and think people will care you are wearing designer bike clothing, it's really not twice better than what I am given which is basically team issue.
And I am not complaining. I am chuckling.
03-18-14, 02:16 PM
#47
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there is a lot to be said for fashion and not just function. Some people are just dumb and don't understand fashion(most of the cycling community).
Function is achieved somewhere around the $50 level. After that it's all fashion.
If you want to look like a scrub, you can stop at the $50 price point. I have no problems with that
Function is achieved somewhere around the $50 level. After that it's all fashion.
If you want to look like a scrub, you can stop at the $50 price point. I have no problems with that
03-18-14, 08:13 PM
#49
Professional Fuss-Budget
Assos -- the real stuff -- is made in Switzerland. For a variety of reasons, the Swiss franc has become significantly stronger than the USD over the past 10 years -- i.e. whereas it used to be $1.30 to 1 franc, it is now 87¢. This means you need to use more dollars to buy something made in Switzerland, and in order for Assos to make the exact same amount of money on that pair of shorts, they have to charge more for their exports.
Rapha has a similar issue, but only on a shorter time scale. The GBP has gotten much stronger vs the USD over the past year or so.
03-18-14, 08:42 PM
#50
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Personally, I love rapha clothing. I often zone out in front of the computer, and when i come back to earth 5 minutes later, find that I have done extensive ebay searches for cheap rapha clothing.
I can't afford it (at 15 I don't have much of an income, not that having an income would really help), but I always pretend I can (I have 2 rapha items).
I do however think they make really nice stuff. Some of it doesn't appeal to my tastes, like the pink merino gilets with reflective straps down the back, but I do feel that rapha is one of the few companies out there whose clothing actually fits the malnourished cyclist, and looks/feels nice.
I can't afford it (at 15 I don't have much of an income, not that having an income would really help), but I always pretend I can (I have 2 rapha items).
I do however think they make really nice stuff. Some of it doesn't appeal to my tastes, like the pink merino gilets with reflective straps down the back, but I do feel that rapha is one of the few companies out there whose clothing actually fits the malnourished cyclist, and looks/feels nice.