For 5 years I worked around the corner from a Pearl Izumi outlet. I’ve got loads of their gear, all usually at 50% or more off, so I tend to think of them as a “budget” brand.

Their N3 running shoes were amazing, and I used to get them for less than $50 a pair. I was gutted when they stopped making them.

Or, as my wife once referred to it "Your Bike Togs".

I believe humans have divisive (tribal) traits, regardless of brand, style etc
fwiw, no bib works like Rapha for me, favorite jersey are from Attacus

What ever happened to live and let live

your money dress how you wish.. but no matter how understated the fancy cycling jersey is and or the tights... you put on those space man goggle and bowling shoes... and you .... we all look like fools... so embrace the freak flag and let it fly... thats why i like the 90s stuff so much more.... then there was no pretense to make cycling look sophisticated and cool... look up Montgomery Bell, or Polti ... have both of those and wear those garish ugly tops with gusto.... ralpha... may be quality... but man is it drab.. mho

For me it's all about fit and service. I've tried couple of Rapha Jersey and bibs but always ended up returning them. My girlfriend likes how they fit so she wears Rapha.
One thing though, we never buy Rapha locally because we've always had bad experience with sales people in NYC store. Over there unless you roll in with super bike with Rapha all over you, they don't talk to you if you ask questions you get an answer with less then two words. They looked too busy talking to people with fancy suite or Rapha kit with $10000 bike. Hope they changed it by now. Same goes to many local bike shop in NYC. Not all of them but some.

FIFY

The appearance is fairly bland overall, and I prefer a sportier look
.
I have no problem with the cost, and the quality is equal to other brands in the same price range

Why are N+1s added to the 'stable'? anyway...
Rapha is obvious, though it's very well thought out stuff. I guess it's because of its obviousness that I haven't really bought any of their stuff. That armband design is reminiscent by nature of clubs, units, orders, military, or organizations etc. So the subliminal messaging is that you're a part of something that your clothing choice itself is defining.

Other clothing company logos (eg Nike swoosh or Castelli scorpion, etc).. may be just as obvious, but they are just logos that only signify or tell the viewer what brand of clothing it is, there's not the same embedded association of belonging to something.

I’m holding out until Rapha shows up at Walmart.:innocent:

That's cool - I have no problem leaving the garish stuff for others. ;)

Once worked for a Mercedes dealer and found out informally that the markup from manufacturing cost to MSRP was 100%. I carry that thought with me when shopping for cycling attire. I imagine the retail markup is well over 100% for these up-market brands. I just do not like getting greased by any brand.

Wear what fits you and makes you comfortable. Some people find that a lower priced garment fits their needs perfectly, others find that what works for them cost a bit more. No one is thinking about the deal they got when they 40 miles out and their bibs start giving them problems.

I see the Rapha divisiveness on the interwebs, but NEVER in person.

That's like all of these internet holy wars. You'd think Canon and Nikon photographers would be spitting on each other, but then in person everyone gets along. People used to rip Cervelo online, but never in person. All of these...

I think most of their stuff looks pretty cool. They're definitely projecting a certain image and yeah that invites differing reactions from different folks.
The worst I've heard said about Rapha is that some of their stuff is not as durable a you might want or expect for the price.
And that's the deal with a lot of stuff that takes a fashion-oriented point of view . . . how much of the price is about fashion and how much about the function?
I don't think their stuff is widely considered to be junk, but because of their pricing it invites the argument that you can get equal quality for less.

I don't have any Rapha stuff, I don't need it -- I got a bad Assos habit and how much premium-priced stuff does a dude need?

because it’s the metrosexual brand of cycling

if you wear 3/4 pants and comb your mustache, you were born to be the rapha clientèle

Yea ok...
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...a83db210dd.png

I have not used Rapha (above my pay grade). However, I'd like to suggest Twin Six Cyclery out of Minneapolis. Their apparel is made in the USA The quality is excellent!

https://www.twinsix.com/

People used to rip on Cervelo, but now they are a fairly common brand

CSC was using them in 2005, and in 2009ish the Cervelo Test Team formed. They went from a brand that was popular with triathletes/dentists, to a legit UCI world team.

It took some time for the stigma to fade, but now it's pretty much just an obsolete stereotype.

Under what circumstances would I care what some other cyclist is wearing, or what they paid for it? As long as they didn't take my money out of my pocket to buy their gear, I quite literally could not care less.

I have no opinions about Rapha one was or the other. I don't own any, because I'm cheap, and they sell bibs that cost more than my shoes (and I wear expensive shoes.) I'm a Black Bibs and jerseys-on-clearance-who-cares-what-brand kinda guy.

I do own a Cervelo though. Not a dentist. :lol:

I visited the NYC clubhouse last year as a tourist. Pulled up on a Citibike. Wearing gym shorts, flip flops, and sweaty cotton T. Even parked the Citibike inside the clubhouse next to the $$$$ bikes as the meter was running and I was only going to be a minute and didn’t want someone else picking up the bike and having to walk 3 blocks for another one in the heat.

I picked up a pair of socks (cheapest thing you can get there) and waited for 2 guys decked in Rapha at the counter chatting it up with the salesman. Salesman looks at me, hurriedly says farewells to the 2 lads, and says “sorry for the wait, how can I help you?” Then asks me my shoe size to ensure I bought the right size socks. Then rings me up and tells me to have a good day.

Overall great experience.


https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...13512b076.jpeg
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...f9fb46d33.jpeg

Where I'm located, when I see folks wearing Rapha, there's a 90% chance that they came from San Francisco.

I think you are a bit too easily affected by marketing....

I also collect watches and there is a lot of hand-wringing about how people are treated at various dealers. Sometimes, how you dress does play a role - but some of it is also how you interpret the interaction. When I go into a shop, the only thing i care about is whether the salesperson answers my questions - his opinion of me is entirely irrelevant (and of course, the transaction part of it). I ask my questions, they usually answer. As long as i get the info i need, the rest doesnt matter - and that pretty much always happens.

Why care what someone else wears while you ride past them in your entry level bike in a non-matching shorts/jersey combo while they are on their multiple thousand bike with perfect matching kit. Probably says more about you if you do care, than about the brand.

I think cost and a lack of a cycling history.
kinda like Tesla. new big dog becomes the villain to some, hero to others.
I love their stuff, the image and yes the nyc store is just cool.