Rapha Videos

[fourflys]

I don't care who you are, you gotta love the videos these guys make... you may have opinions about the clothes, but would any one of us say "no thanks" if asked to do one of these rides? I know I wouldn't...

http://vimeo.com/51666050

someday maybe I'll score a used Rapha jersey on the classifieds to see what the hype is about... of course it will have to be XL at least since it's Rapha... :D

[johngmartin]

Agreed. When it comes to branding and marketing, these guys have it figured out. They sponsor great teams, host great rides, and produce great videos/content.

[tiretrax]

You'll like their clothing as much as their videos. It's all great stuff from them.

[Lovetoclimb]

I was fortunate enough to do one of the rides. The 2012 NE Gentlemen's Race. It put a new definitions of epic, suffering, misery, teamwork, etc in my mind. Can't wait for 2013 and the hopes of a second invite.

[SpokeValley]

Agreed. They are great vids and make me long to be twenty something again and virtually unencumbered...on long rides in remote places.

Here's one fave that I can relate to, old guys sitting in a bistro giving each other the gears either during or after a ride. I just have that feeling that they could, without doubt, ride my ass into the groud...http://www.rapha.cc/massif

[jlwdm]

someday maybe I'll score a used Rapha jersey on the classifieds to see what the hype is about... of course it will have to be XL at least since it's Rapha... :D

Wear L in most Rapha and XL in most other brands.

Jeff

[tiretrax]

I was fortunate enough to do one of the rides. The 2012 NE Gentlemen's Race. It put a new definitions of epic, suffering, misery, teamwork, etc in my mind. Can't wait for 2013 and the hopes of a second invite.

Did you make the video?

I've been trying to get them back to Texas. I know they enjoyed the Gentlemen's Ride at NAHBS when it was in Austin. There's even more to enjoy, including strada bianche!

[tiretrax]

Here's one fave that I can relate to, old guys sitting in a bistro giving each other the gears either during or after a ride. I just have that feeling that they could, without doubt, ride my ass into the groud...http://www.rapha.cc/massif

Like Velotel. I am scared to go to his neck of the woods.

[fourflys]

Wear L in most Rapha and XL in most other brands.

Jeff

really, I guess I assumed/thought I heard that the Rapha were "euro" sized... cool

[jasonlee]

Meh... I'm not convinced about Rapha. After a race last year where their racers basically knowingly shunned the tradition for the winners, it spawned a whole discussion about it. Here's one person's take (http://hodala.cx/2011/11/29/pot-stirring/).

This made it even more clear that Rapha is just about showing up to places and pretend to be involved in an event as long as it will directly help their sales.

Charge hundreds of dollars for a "club" ride in which it is basically just a photo shoot that the extras PAY for instead of getting PAID for their new catalog, press or website photos? Sweet.

They producing goods that their official stance is that it is 'race wear'. If it wears out in less than a year of use (not crashing) than that is totally ok with them. No warranty, no discount on future goods. I'm not just talking about the fabric wearing thin, I'm talking about poor quality on construction with single stitching and cutting corners where they can with the actual product.

Sure, Rapha is a good marketing company. They figured out how to make better looking cycling clothing and then sell it for about 10 times more than their cost to make it in China.

For me, I'll stick to a locally, US made wool blended jersey that fits amazing and looks great as well.
Cedar Cycling: Apparel Made in California (http://prollyisnotprobably.com/2012/04/cedar-cycling-apparel-made-in-california/#1) - John Prolly's blog
http://g.virbcdn.com/_f/cdn_images/resize_640x640/f5/PageImage-491121-2527762-cedar1stjersey05.jpg (http://anderssonulrika.com/blog/13434870)

[veloduffer]

Wear L in most Rapha and XL in most other brands.

Jeff

For me, it's the other way around. I wear size L in Pearl Izumi and my Rapha Softshell is an XL.