After a ride last night I was at a craft brewery with some riding colleagues. I casually mentioned I was looking for a new cycling kit and asked if anyone had experience with Rapha. Wow. What a grenade that turned out to be.

Comments went from "Meh, their gear is more style based than function" to "great kit, super comfortable" to "super expensive, there's cheaper and better stuff out there" to "only hipsters and wanna-bees ride their gear". I did a quick google around the interwebs afterward and it seems as though the comments from last night are echoed around the web.

Why the dislike for Rapha? Isn't their gear good quality? And should I let these comments/thought influence my decision on purchasing Rapha?

Have you looked at their website? It's pretty obvious why it's so divisive. They seem to want it that way.

They make quality stuff. Buy it if you like the image they are going for.

This. It's up to you to decide if it's the gear for you.

I bought my Rapha jersey at the London Soho store when I was visiting England a couple years ago because the price in pounds seems lower than dollars... ahaha

I never knew how good jerseys and under layers could be until I tried Rapha. My jersey is a ‘classic’ one and is very comfortable and very functional.

People who disparage brands generally say things like: “it’s stuff no one needs”, “it’s overpriced”, and “soulless” but if you dig deeper they have no experience with the product from the brand or even been to the brand’s stores. My guess is they say these things because their friends say it and they think it’s what they’re supposed to say, but have little actual knowledge to back it up.

Some people are just looking for any reason to be angry. I know an Aldi hater who refuses to shop there because she has to bring her own bags.

Your buddies were right. It is overpriced.

And why do we have to say "cycling kit". Hate that. How about just saying jersey and shorts?

Do you get up in the morning and get dressed for work and say that you are putting on your work kit?

God, I hate that too. I like "cycling costume."

Cheers, mate.

I absolutely love my Rapha gear. I have several jerseys and shorts, and it is really all I wear. The stuff is quality and I honestly don't understand the divisive nature people take with Rapha. Is Rapha any different than Assos? You know from a mile away If somebody is wearing Assos or Rapha, but at least their designs are original. To me, it beats seeing people dressing as giant green highlighters, and it beats seeing USPS team jerseys (which I still see daily).

Their Core line is anything but overpriced. I find the jerseys to be high quality and like the solid color with a white stripe on the arm band. I’m not exactly how something so simple can be divisive. It’s probably more a case of who it is marketed to rather than the look/construction of the clothing.

popcorn with butter for this thread

I can’t imagine being so insecure as to worry whether my kit brand offends another cyclist. It’d be like worrying if someone cared I was on a Cervélo instead of a Trek.

Yea I really don't get what is so divisive about the jerseys. They are simple and IMHO, subtle. Maybe because it isn't a team kit and people that love team kits think the jerseys look weird? I really don't get it.

Grab an XL Coke with that order because I advocate for riding in a full US Postal Kit complete with gloves and socks.

It's divisive just like any other divisive product or brand... Canon vs Nikon, full frame vs Micro Four Thirds, Leica vs everyone else, Mac vs PC, Android vs iOS, etc.

Who cares what others think, as long as the product you use fits your needs well.

Are you a dentist?

Because we're not playing basketball or soccer?

Look at their website: Rapha's marketing is a bit over-the-top, with lots of flowery verbiage about "the glory of suffering" and all that. And it is relatively expensive at full price. All of this encourages the haters.

However, I've bought all of my Rapha gear in their "Archive Sale" section (or with other promotions) -- and at those prices, it has all been very good value: truly excellent gear at very competitive prices.

As a bonus, their customer service is excellent. During the pandemic, I had an issue with a pair of Specialized bibs, and getting it resolved was very challenging - they have practically quit doing CS. And their resolution was only so-so. I also accidentally snagged a Rapha jersey on something in my garage and put a little tear in it, and so subsequently sent in a few photos with their online repair request form. They wrote back very quickly that they could not repair the jersey, but gave me a $95 credit (half the cost of a new identical jersey). Here's the kicker: I had bought the jersey on sale for only $95...And the local seamstress fixed the jersey for $8. So, I still have $95 to spend at Rapha.

Rapha's speedsuit: $285. Castelli's speedsuit: $400.

Bargain!

I would guess it's some combination of marketing, image and price. It reminds me of the great MEILENSTEIN LIGHTWEIGHT WHEELS debate. If you have the coin, what's the problem? It's your money, do with it what you wish. Same conundrum that is in this clip. Warning, there is some strong language there.

No, and I don’t worry about that, either.

So, what image are they going for exactly? Please provide some screenshots of adverts or product descriptions in which you feel slighted by the wrong image.

To be fair, instead of assuming, I went to the website. I clicked through some products. I read the descriptions and took note of the prices. I watched a few adverts and looked at their pictures.

I saw nothing that would lead me to believe they're trying to intentionally create a culture to exclude people.

Their prices for their basic bib shorts were actually in-line with the entry level Castelli and other good quality bib shorts or jerseys. Just because a person's budget is below that, doesn't mean anything. It is what it is.

I chalk this one up to "hate on the guy driving a Porsche, he must be a horrible person".

Yeah. As far as I know, anyone can visit a Rapha “Club House.”

And I love my Rapha wool base layer.

Ok, explain how you don't want to be a part of that group of individuals or find that offensive.

If we go for race or another protected (or even non protected 'class'), be prepared to demonize the rest of the cycling industry.

Be the director, the camera is rolling...........make me an advertisement for quality cycling clothing. Go....

I'll bet that most of the Rapha haters have never even tried the stuff - but, based solely on the marketing, they hate it. The Rapha fans, on the other hand, have actually worn the stuff before making decisions.

So, who is more susceptible to marketing?

What is divisive about that marketing though? A group of guys take a couple days and eat greasy food while burning thousands of calories in search of incredible views. That doesnt seem divisive/elitist.

Ive seen that video before and always chuckle at how seemingly random the helmet wearing is(since they climb both ways), like the bottle spin cuz its cool, and am amazed they only show about 8 seconds of descent compared to a few minutes of climbing and flat riding in a 4 minute advert showing mountain riding.

I dont own Rapha stuff, no interest in paying for it, but if I found what I do wear to be lacking then yeah sure I would consider Rapha because much of it is simple. It is the anti-Primal, really.