Why do people hate Rapha more than Assos?

[bcroslin]

I'll be honest, the way the Assos stuff is marketed to women is more offensive than the douchey looking swiss guy. I know some of you might not feel the same way but why the sex kitten crap to sell bib shorts to the ladies? At least Rapha treats women like they can ride a bike.

[johnmdesigner]

For me it's all about fit. The Assos shorts fit well on my chicken legs and the tops fit well on my skinny neck and monkey arms.
I bought a Rapha winter jersey once - I was always having to wrap up my neck with something to keep the cold air out.
I have a pair of Assos shorts that have lasted me 10 years. The last few years they have been relegated to winter indoor training but they still see the washing machine quite a bit. I wash all their clothes in commercial washing machines (I do use a delicate wash bag) and they hold up pretty well.
They have made some mistakes over the years (one year the bib legs were wayyyy too short) but I would say the products have improved in a positive way over the years.
I can't afford their $400 offerings so I am hoping my bibs will last a few more years.

[sandyrs]

Originally Posted by bcroslin

I'll be honest, the way the Assos stuff is marketed to women is more offensive than the douchey looking swiss guy. I know some of you might not feel the same way but why the sex kitten crap to sell bib shorts to the ladies? At least Rapha treats women like they can ride a bike.

Agreed. Rapha's women's 100 is a huge step in the right direction relative to other clothing companies' attitude toward women in cycling

[fiamme red]

Originally Posted by sandyrs

Agreed. Rapha's women's 100 is a huge step in the right direction relative to other clothing companies' attitude toward women in cycling

Rapha didn't even sell any women's clothing the first few years they were in business. They finally realized that they were ignoring a significant market share.

[rwsaunders]

I've never owned a piece of Assos kit that didn't work as promised...I love their cold weather gear.

[shovelhd]

Originally Posted by RonW87

I've always thought it was interesting that riders will argue/discuss what clothing is best but as soon as they start racing with a team they don't have a choice in the matter. In other words, to the extent that what racers wear is cool, neither Assos nor Rapha can be cool.

Rapha sponsors amateur teams.

[oldpotatoe]

Originally Posted by avalonracing

I'm waiting for Charles from Pez to chime in. I like his take on Rapha V. Assos.

No post, very disappointed.. If it were about scram, I would have been in the first 5 posts.

Assos seems to Aryan to me, very to the point and conservative, sterile.

Rapha more like a great bike ride that finishes at that cool bar with a patio overlooking a river.

Plus Assos jersey designs are 'odd' and their bibs feel like wearing a diaper(in way too fat).

[Grant McLean]

Originally Posted by bcroslin

I'll be honest, the way the Assos stuff is marketed to women is more offensive than the douchey looking swiss guy. I know some of you might not feel the same way but why the sex kitten crap to sell bib shorts to the ladies?

I think the sex kitten crap is their marketing for the guys,
shirtless euro douche dude is perhaps of interest to euro gals.
There are cultural differences from the way North American's do branding.

Most of you know, i own at least two of practically everything Assos has made
in the last 5 years, but their marketing hasn't made me buy anything.
It's about the products, and having new stuff that pushes the "me need that" button.
Assos appeals to me more like equipment than clothing.

On the other hand, Rapha's marketing always appeals to me emotionally,
the black and white, the epic locations, the photography, the quirky British
take on a French sport is very appealing to me as a descendent from the Empire.
But most of the actual gear doesn't do much for me.

[christian]

What Grant said.

I love the Rapha movies. I just don't like the clothes so much.

The Assos advertising is odd. But I would recite epic poems of love to my Fuguhelm winter hat.

But the Rapha movies make me want to ride my bike! (Wearing Assos and Castelli.)

[Louis]

Being an equal-opportunity hater, I avoid them both.

But I enjoy disliking Rapha way, way more than Assos.
There's no fun in hating Assos, but Rapha - they deserve every snarky comment they get.

[texbike]

Personally, I think it's the "Epic-y-ness" of Rapha marketing that annoys the sh** out of people - not the gear itself.

On the other hand, Assos has always seemed like the "real" deal to me and not trying so hard with it's marketing.

That's the difference to me at least...

[Louis]

Originally Posted by texbike

Personally, I think it's the "Epic-y-ness" of Rapha marketing that annoys the sh** out of people - not the gear itself.

In general this is true, but my dislike of yak leather shoes and African hair goat leather gloves is also based on the gear itself.

Yes, the epic nature of the marketing annoys me to no end, but I can do without yak and goat skin stuff in my kit.

[54ny77]

Well have no fear, here you can buy both Assos AND Rapha for a fraction of the cost!

Sure it's real. Just like the Rolex's on Canal St.



http://www.aliexpress.com/store/1264104

[buddybikes]

Buy De Soto and get real stuff by real people.

[Roadguy]

Im with PEZ on Assos having superior quality as far as what my butt is concerned in shorts. However Raphas rain jackets are pretty dang nice. I have never been a fan of Assos's marketing, especially the women's stuff mostly because I don't know many women they appeal to even if the quality is there. The story behind the male model they use was pretty cool though.

However as far as stories, photographic material, gentlemen ride events, I love what Rapha does for the story of cycling. And I do enjoy that even if that's where all their value as a brand comes from in the eyes of most.