Walmart heirs buy Rapha.
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Drago
Legendary Member
- Location
- Suburban Poshshire
My hardest wearing, most comfortable, practical garment is a zip up cycling jacket from Aldi in 2010. 7 years on and its only just starting to wear.
There will be examples of cheap items that are great, and expensive items that are poor. There will also be cheap stuff that is rubbish, and expensive stuff that is great. There is no firm correlation between price and "quality", whatever people perceive the word to mean.
There will be examples of cheap items that are great, and expensive items that are poor. There will also be cheap stuff that is rubbish, and expensive stuff that is great. There is no firm correlation between price and "quality", whatever people perceive the word to mean.
U
User169
Guest
Just got a long sleeve brevet jersey - lush!!
srw
It's a bit more complicated than that...
I'd love to have the chance to wear Rapha. I must be slap bang in the middle of their target market in many ways - affluent, middle-aged, looking for durable kit that is comfortable for wearing on the bike all day that is well-cut and lasts well. But their XXL kit (the largest size they do) has a chest size of "45+ inches" (i.e. cut for a 45in chest with some stretch) and a waist size of 38 inches.
I'll be the first to acknowledge that I'm currently rather "prosperous" (to use @mmmmartin's euphemism for overweight). But even if I were at a more appropriate weight for my size I'd struggle to get into that size, especially because it's not cut generously. I'm quite big-boned (as well as being overweight), but not extraordinarily big - from my experience a few years ago having been much less overweight I'd need a 48-inch chest and a reasonably generous 38 waist or a normal 40 waist. And the leg lengths are really odd. XXL has an inside leg length of 36 inches. I'm six foot, reasonably averagely proportioned top-to-bottom and my inside length is 31 inches. It's as if they reckon that all cyclists are beanpoles.
Not that they're alone. Thank goodness for FLAB and (within reason) for Endura.
[edit for typo]
I'll be the first to acknowledge that I'm currently rather "prosperous" (to use @mmmmartin's euphemism for overweight). But even if I were at a more appropriate weight for my size I'd struggle to get into that size, especially because it's not cut generously. I'm quite big-boned (as well as being overweight), but not extraordinarily big - from my experience a few years ago having been much less overweight I'd need a 48-inch chest and a reasonably generous 38 waist or a normal 40 waist. And the leg lengths are really odd. XXL has an inside leg length of 36 inches. I'm six foot, reasonably averagely proportioned top-to-bottom and my inside length is 31 inches. It's as if they reckon that all cyclists are beanpoles.
Not that they're alone. Thank goodness for FLAB and (within reason) for Endura.
[edit for typo]
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mmmmartin
Random geezer
My Rapha (£30) "arm coolers" were used every day on a recent week-long tour and were great - comfy, didn't slip, well-made, drop some water on them and they cool the arms, recommended. Albeit pricy. But far better than my Wiggle arm warmers.
In other news, my Assos bib shorts are wearable for days at a time on a long audax, far better than anything else I have. £165 is a lot of money. But cheap if it removes the chance of saddle sores causing you to fail on a ride for which you spend four years training.
In other news, my Assos bib shorts are wearable for days at a time on a long audax, far better than anything else I have. £165 is a lot of money. But cheap if it removes the chance of saddle sores causing you to fail on a ride for which you spend four years training.
Fnaar
Smutmaster General
- Location
- Thumberland
I've had my Lidl arm warmers for 5 years. Worn regularly in spring and autumn. Washed loads of times. Cost a fiver. Still as good as the day I bought them.
