Cycling + Style: Friends or Enemies?

[Flying_Monkey]

Prompted by this piece in The Guardian about Rapha, Vulpine and now the mainstreaming of clothing designed for cycling that looks good off the bike. Is this ridiculous or a sign of cycling's growing popularity? Who here wears any of this stuff?

 

[MacB]

I have bits and pieces by nearly all the names mentioned in the article and would probably have more if some of them didn't tend to Italian ideas of large and XL. I also have a fairly nice selection of unworn stuff with plans to slim into it . It's mainly tops I'm interested in and I like merino wool or a sportswool blend. Shorts/trousers the jury is still out on as I find bib shorts under normal shorts to work well. But I do have some of the Rapha padded merino boxers which I plan on pairing with some of the nicer shorts or 3/4 designs.

Strangely, or not, I'll still wear pretty much anything on the bike so can be found in a weird mix of Rapha, Lidl and TK Max. I hate normal cycling tops, don't care what you pay they stink and I won't wear a full zip top if I can avoid it either. I have tried various MTB shorts and 3/4s but they tend to that sort of material that swishes as you move. I'm sure they dry really fast and do all sorts of wonderful technical marvels but they cross the line towards shell suit for me.

My only disappointment has been the regular Rapha merino boxers....they're nice enough but I'm not convinced they are a big enough step up to justify their pricetag.

 

[Archie_tect]

It's just another fashion trend for people with too much disposable income to buy into.

 

[Sara_H]

I found the article a bit disapointing TBH.
I like the ethos of dressing for the destination, not the journey. Alot of the brands mentioned still focus on buying cycling specific clothing that looks good off the bike. And for some reason, this seems to add £££££'s to the price tag of the clothing.

I do it the other way, I tend to buy normal clothes that I know will function well on the bike. Since I adopted this approach, life has become much simpler!

 

[Puddles]

Who here wears any of this stuff?

Not me, , normal clothes Jeans & T-shirt usually but only cos that is what I usually wear or in winter add a coat,scarf, hat, gloves

 

[thom]

Rapha and cycle clothing are a bit like Coldplay and music. I dislike both for their abegnation of soul in their "style" and advertising. Far too self conscious, they try far too hard. I own neither.
A sign of popularity ? Probably a sign that it is popular amongst moneyed professionals but Rapha's pricing will mean its success will never depend on cycling's popularity across a wide spectrum of people.

Edit: I once met one of the designers who worked at Rapha at the start. It only made me think the brand was more pretentious than I had done before.

 

[theclaud]

I'm much better dressed on the bike since I met @Agent Hilda, as I seem to have first call on stuff she's bought that doesn't meet her exacting standards. The Rapha shorts she gave me were so comfy on the recent Fridays Normandy tour that I thought I might splash out on a second pair... until I saw quite how much splashing would be needed. Very pleased with a red Vulpine jersey acquired in the same way, and a Rapha long-sleeve. The Fridays are a preposterously attractive club, of course, and we have a few especially natty dressers - not just Agent H, but (to name a few) @Jasper the Surrea, @wanda2010, @Zee and (he's worth waiting for..................................................................) @Michael Adu.

 

[dan_bo]

I have a string of snot hanging from my nose whether I'm on a 1-in-4 or stood at the bus stop. Stick that in cosmo.

 

[dan_bo]

Or indeed in the guardian.

 

[EltonFrog]

It doesn't matter what you wear as long as you ride your bike, what ever floats ya boat.

 

[theclaud]

[QUOTE 2526801, member: 1314"]@Mice

Sloane London cycling chic as...[/quote]

Of course! How could I forget Mice?!

 

[User169]

Sorry - what's the thread about?

 

[jayonabike]

*sigh* Another Rapha bashing thread.

If you don't like it don't buy it, but don't slate the people that do. Personally I love it. The material is top quality and the woollen tops different to the normal run of the mill jerseys. I personally like the cut, which isn't "race cut" and the fact they're stuff isn't plastered with loads of different logos. If you like your Aldi/Lidl/poundstretcher top then fine. I don't, but I won't slate you for it.

 

[EltonFrog]

*sigh* Another Rapha bashing thread.

If you don't like it don't buy it, but don't slate the people that do. Personally I love it. The material is top quality and the woollen tops different to the normal run of the mill jerseys. I personally like the cut, which isn't "race cut" and the fact they're stuff isn't plastered with loads of different logos. If you like your Aldi/Lidl/poundstretcher top then fine. I don't, but I won't slate you for it.

Who was bashing Rapha?

 

[mcshroom]

Pretty certain thom was