ARGH.... Rapha

That's just what stage races are about, you need to keep one eye on tomorrow's stage rather than aim for a knockout in the first round. That's probably why your man Sagan is more interested in the Classics.

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I wish those days were back, I shy away from watching cycling, because its become a little stale and boring. There is no-one that is very exciting to keep my interest alive.

It's the same as F1; flair and panache and suicide attacking doesn't win races when everyone else is looking at a power meter and a heart rate monitor.

15 years ago, the "science" in bike racing was all about who had the best drugs. Now it's aerodynamics and nutrition and power. You've got to decide which you want - the entertaining drug fuelled spectacle of the past or the scientific fractions-of-a-second approach now.

Although we've gone a bit off topic of where Rapha fits in to that - personally I can't really find much to dislike about a successful British company that's done so much to support cycling over the last 10 years. Sponsored the best UK domestic team (Rapha-Condor-JLT), promoted grass roots CX, hosted dozens of events, made some decent stylish cycling clothing and now sponsors one of the most famous cycling teams in the world. And I suppose courting a bit of controversy along the way in terms of commemorating Pantani is one way of getting talked about!

Also, this: http://www.janullrich.de/

Other than my race kit, I almost exclusively wear Rapha. Because simply, the stuff just doesn't wear out. In 7 years of wearing Rapha the only thing that's died were my original gloves, and that was because they didn't survive an accidental trip through the washing machine. This includes heavy weekly commuting (min 4 x weekly), cyclocross and road weekend riding and 2 - 3 centuries a year through winter and summer.

Sure, the brand and marketing is fancy, but the product is bombproof. When I compare the investment for the time it lasts, Rapha's a far cheaper option than anything else I've tried.

Its ever so tiresome that the cycling fascists are always going on about what people should or shouldn't wear, do they, dont they deserve to wear certain kit.
All manner of companies exploit the memories and images of the dead. Perhaps Rapha may make some kind of donation.
Road racing kit is generally crap looking and Rapha actually make good looking stuff.
You should all be sticking together because as a group youre generally hated by everyone.
In fact stop messing around with all your carbon fibre and digital gears, get a fixie, relax the attitude and get fitter powering up those hills

Having visited the Rapha store makes it worth the money alone. You can't do that with other high end brands.

The rest of my kit is mostly Castelli with a few other bits of Assos and some other brands.

I bought a few Rapha base layers online and was impressed, visiting the shop allowed me to try on various jackets to get the best fitting one which would be most suitable for my needs rather than ordering online and guessing. Not something you want to do when buying a premium product and paying the price.

Sure the jacket was $320 which is expensive compared to some others, but it's something I'll wear every morning ride throughout winter. 4 rides a week for 3 months, maybe 100 hrs a month, so less than $3 p/h! Given how other people have said the kit lasts very well that cost goes down even more after a few years.

OK, Rapha bashers...

I'd buy Rapha if I could afford it and I'm probably the slowest "cyclist" on here. The fact that I even bother to wear lycra is something of a joke.

As people blow past me on cheap mountain bikes in their day clothes, I may feel a bit miserable on my massive 4 mile commute, but I enjoy cycling. It's my hobby. I can't help it if I'm crap.

The positives are: it helps me manage my weight & happiness; I'm one less car on the road; I get to see wildlife as I meander round the lanes pretending to be a pro (only, in the little ring).

Back to Pantani, his climbing was beautiful - true dancing on the pedals stuff - but he was another cheat. Makes it hard to eulogise or hero-worship him.

I don't see that it makes the slightest difference whether or not Rapha are actually a part of the heritage all their marketing stuff is based on. Or even whether or not they have a genuine love for it or are just capitalising on it (although the two aren't necessarily mutually exclusive). They don't have to have actually had any association with Pantani (or whoever) to make a Pantani jersey, any more than somebody writing a biography has to have been there with the subject, or the guy making those little figures of Cav and Merckx has to know them.

The only thing about this that made me raise an eyebrow is the celebration of a doper while others are vilified.

Actually, celebrating Pantani is the exact opposite of celebrating dopers.

As a doper in a doped peloton, his is a story of glory, followed by ignominy and then tragedy. He's held out on a pedestal, not as someone to emulate, but as an example of how bad things can get when a corrupt industry uses you and spits you out.
The most interesting stories are about people who are great but flawed.
Think of some of the greats of cycling...
Hinault - massive bastard
Fignon - admitted to racing on coke and amphetamines
Merckx - introduced his son to Michele Ferrari, so draw your own conclusions there
Simpson - another tragedy.
Even the Lance story has been made more compelling by the doping.

You can't deny that freak shows are entertaining, whether you're aware you're being hoodwinked or not.

The film's made by the same people who made Senna, so it ought to be good.

As for why Pantani's lauded more than so many other dopers - he died young and tragically, he was a fascinating character on and off the bike, and he exhibited panache and vulnerability in equal measure. Yes, he and his fellow members of the peloton at the time were doped up to the eyeballs, but damn could they ride bikes. Fuck it, it was awesome at the time.

And as for the Rapha question - shove your inverted snobbery up your arse. They make great kit, if you don't want to buy it, don't.

Back to the original post. Yep, I'm very much looking forward to the film, I bet it's a fascinating watch.

I wonder if this thread answered any of Gkam's questions or had the desired effect intended.

Anyone that thinks what they wear is more important than why they ride is an utter moron.

I rather think that if people believe what they wear to ride a bike is more important than riding their bike, then they're missing the point. When cycling ceases to be trendy, they will forget about it and Rapha will go bankrupt.

Yeah, Jan Ullrich, ripped to the tits, boshing pills in a club.

If Rapha can get the spirit of that on a retro-wannabe jersey I'll tear your arm off for it.

You wanna check out Milltag jerseys... maybe this one? http://milltag.cc/shop/jerseys/dope

My coffee machine uses 1" standard cups so no chance for me.

Has anyone else been eyeing up the Rapha Chris King Espresso Tamper??

That looks like a sturdy piece of kit that.

No matter how much I admire their marketing and brand presence I just cant justify paying their prices on anything. That is all.