+1

Uh now I want a water bottle lol.

Agreed.

The amount of self-entitlement involved in getting pissed off over something as minor as this blows my mind. Especially in the context of a sport where weight is a VERY significant factor. The truth doesnt stop being true because someone dislikes it - I am 180lb and in the immortal words of Patentcad, I am too fat for this sport. That's reality. If someone has an eating disorder, they have my sympathies and my best wishes in dealing with it - but to expect the rest of the world to come to a stop for them is hubris at a scale that deserves a swift kick in the nuts.

I think you can put inspirational bike quotes or phrases on your products without going there. Just IMO. And opinions are like butt holes, everybody has one and it usually stinks.

I was giving Rapha a pass on this topic until reading that. Now, you all have changed my mind. It's not an image I want to buy into.

I'm the kind of guy who also wouldn't find it funny if they put a quote on one of their products "put me back on my bike".

Disagreeing with me or the guy in the article doesn't mean we're "tools". I don't think someone who buys the stuff and likes it is necessarily a "tool" either.

No, He's a tool Don't tell me what do.

Yep.

No one ever said Professional Cycling is a sport for everyone. I always wanted to be a jockey, but you won't find many that are 6'2" and 190lbs. I had to accept the reality, that it was never gonna happen, and move on.

why is GUCHIEE.. or how ever the heck you spell it so divisive? good lord.. some times cycling is just so..... so.....bleaach...

You have your opinion, and I have mine.

FTR, I'm not saying anyone in this thread is a tool. I just want to make that clear.

I don't care if you buy Rapha gear, or boycott them. The choice is yours.

The water bottle is an anecdote about a popular figure in the sport. It's certainly not an explicit recommendation and I don't see it as an implicit recommendation, either. I guess that I could see someone not being fond of it, but to be so perturbed as to post complaints online and/or let it sway brand opinion is a bit... much.

I doubt I'll ever spend the money to buy Rapha gear, but can't imagine why anyone would care if others choose to.

Complaining about the phrase on the water bottle is way over the top. Totally absurd. Some folks have too much time on their hands.

Riiiiight! And unlike bibs, my jerseys can last a decade, making the 'you paid $80 and I only paid $40' argument much less meaningful.

+1. I personally don't have any of their jerseys but I do have the Core bibs, Touring shorts and the newer Randonnee shorts. My Core bibs and Touring shorts are about 5-6 years old and still looks great out the wash. I wouldn't say the Core bib is an all day, 100 mile ride type of bib as the chamois isn't as supple as the ones found on my PI Pro and Campagnolo Magnesio. The overall construction seems up to par with much higher priced bibs, has those really wide leg grippers and still cost less than some of my other bibs. But my favorite Rapha pieces are the Touring shorts and the newer Randonnee shorts (replaced the Touring). Casual and comfortable enough for a sub 20 mile ride on days where it can be so hot and humid and even use it on nice, cold days worn over bib tights.

Come to think of it, the bottle flip could lead to an increase in repetitive strain injuries, so that's a problem.

Ornot

It's interesting that we as a society are in a place where we are so afraid of eating disorders that anything that hints in that direction is radioactive, but far more than a hint in the direction of obesity is A-OK.

Calling him a tool is an expression of an opinion (that you just said he was entitled to hold).

A social media account that I follow (First We Feast), mostly for an interview program (Hot Ones), regularly posts some horribly stomach-churning pics of gluttonous creations, like quad burgers oozing with cheese or mac-and-cheese-stuffed sandwiches (ick - like... why?) and I'm constantly perplexed by the love that those pics get.

Honestly, the actual point of a social media site such as Twitter, has been very much to express opinions or complaints. I really don't see anything wrong with the tweet or person who posted it as it seems to be his genuine viewpoint (and not a troll); maybe it's more apropos to be calling Road.cc the 'tool' in this situation -- turning one guy's tweet into a news story?

Whether or not something is a "genuine viewpoint" doesn't excuse it from criticism.

It doesn't have to be one or the other.

Of course it doesn't. And those criticisms of course are just more viewpoints.
Pointing out that nobody has criticized Road.cc for making this into a news story, maybe when it might have otherwise been an obscure tweet that very few even knew about. Suggesting that the media website might be more deserving of the 'tool' label than the actual tweeter.

So why not quote the person that dubbed the guy a 'tool' rather than quote me?

I guess because you found it somehow remarkable that people post complaints on online social media. I don't find it at all surprising that there was one individual out there who found issue with Rapha's water bottle and posted a negative opinion of such.

So your point was that was calling someone a 'tool' was possibly unleashing venom on the wrong person and you directed that at me, because I said it was 'a bit much,' rather than the person that called him a 'tool'?

I hope the irony isn't lost on you.

going back to the concession stand to replenish the xl coke and large popcorn tub...

Well, the movie theaters are all shut. We gotta do something for entertainment.

Speak of the devil -