[Closed] PSA - Rapha clearance @ JohnLewis

Cheers OP, was wondering what I was going to spend some JL vouchers I got from work on!

I mean, great PSA and all that, but WTF are John Lewis doing selling Rapha clothing, indeed any cycling clothing?

@IHN JL have sold sporting / fitness clothes for ages? It's a middle class department store, what would you expect them to stock but rapha?

Had no idea they sold Rapha.....

As above. They've a massive store just off the main road between Wilmslow and That Manchester, think of all the mamils who pass on theway to work, or who take their other halves and go for a browse while they just wait. Prime market target for Rapha, execs with too much money and a need to demonstrate that fact

Prime market target for Rapha, execs with too much money and a need to demonstrate that fact

You're a couple of years, if not half a decade, out of date. It's all about Pas Normal Studios, MAAP and Cafe du Cycliste.

 WTF are John Lewis doing selling Rapha clothing

The venn diagram of people who shop at John Lewis and people who buy Rapha is really just one circle laid on top of the other.

Prime market target for Rapha, execs with too much money and a need to demonstrate that fact

Don't forget low ranking civil servants who wouldn't dream of paying full price but quite like a sale....

The venn diagram of people who shop at John Lewis and people who buy Rapha is really just one circle laid on top of the other.

I don't disagree, but I suppose it's more the thought process about "I want to buy some Rapha stuff, so I'll see if John Lewis have got any" that surprises me.

Xmas list fodder. Rapha washbag anybody...

Why wouldn't they stock it? Roadcycling is just like jogging now. And I hope that popularity continues and cycling really does become normal and everyday in the UK (although looking out of the window right now, the weather is sometimes set dead against this happening, isn't it).

You’re a couple of years, if not half a decade, out of date. It’s all about Pas Normal Studios, MAAP and Cafe du Cycliste.

Hence the rapha sale, I get it now thanks

“I want to buy some Rapha stuff, so I’ll see if John Lewis have got any” that surprises me.

T'other way around - "My partner has forced me to come to John Lewis,...Oh, they have Rapha...I'll have a rummage"

Wow, aP I had never heard of those brands!
While I appreciate they are not aimed at a tight old Yorkshireman, they still gave me an attack of the HOW MUCHes. It shows that there is a market for 'Premium Cyclewear'!

Gutted, the Core shorts are possibly the nicest short I've ever worn, with the exception of the weird pad which is possibly the only chamois I can't ride in for longer than 40 minutes! Wish they would change it but keep the material and cut the same... 🙄

edit:

“My partner has forced me to come to John Lewis,…Oh, they have Rapha…I’ll have a rummage”

probably this, I was always guilty of wandering around the tiny sports department in the Edinburgh JL whilst shopping for baby or new flat, aimlessly swishing expensive squash rackets and buying random workout stuff I never really needed.

I find the Rapha chamios (eg in Core) the best in the business! Precisely because it's completely simple. No ridiculous ridges of different heights design literally to irritate your skin and tissue

I didn't need a bright pink t-shirt, but now I have one on their way.

Bugger, procrastinated too much and the Commuter Lightweight jacket I was looking at went out of stock.

While I appreciate they are not aimed at a tight old Yorkshireman, they still gave me an attack of the HOW MUCHes. It shows that there is a market for ‘Premium Cyclewear’!

It's quite ironic that Rapha started out as premium but is actually pretty decent value now compared to a lot of the newer brands.

If you're ever up that way, Wheelbase in Staveley (South Lakes) also sells a reasonable range of Rapha clothing.

Christ Rapha stuff is boring. Even the pink and orange tops are dull as ****.

I find the Rapha chamios (eg in Core) the best in the business! Precisely because it’s completely simple. No ridiculous ridges of different heights design literally to irritate your skin and tissue

Yeah, it's really nice to begin with but the seam running right up the middle ends up getting quite painful for me. I actually wonder if I was 'sitting wrong' or just didn't have the flexible low back and hips of the sort of cyclist Rapha was aimed at, but then I never get discomfort at the front of the saddle otherwise. Strange. Lovely shorts otherwise, best fit and material I've ever tried.

What I like about rapha is exactly that the hipsters and marketing men have stopped wearing it, which now makes it acceptable to wear for the rest of us. Five years ago, I would have mumbled "rapha ****ers" as I passed eight blokes all wearing blue and pink (a remarkable but unsurprising coincidence that that scheme also matches Jack Wills - as if these obnoxious students have grown up, moved to the city and bought matching s-works tarmacs) - now, I slide by those in one of the many chinese-produced but instagram branded labels happily warm.

It's good kit. It's not that expensive compared to Castelli, Assos, or whatever. It's a step up from Endura, but it's also much, much better quality.

WTF are John Lewis doing selling Rapha clothing

They also sell Fjallraven which is similarly over priced hipster douchbag gear but the reason I occasionally trawl the JL sales as I like to be imagine I'm stomping back to to my Scandic snow covered log cabin when the reality is im soaked to the skin and cold in rainy Rossendale whilst picking up the dogs poo.

You’re a couple of years, if not half a decade, out of date. It’s all about Pas Normal Studios, MAAP and Cafe du Cycliste.

Rapha is quite reasonably priced compared to the others now.

E.g. their shakedry jacket is the cheapest Shakedry you can buy (for cycling).

Yeah, it’s really nice to begin with but the seam running right up the middle ends up getting quite painful for me. I

I was thinking about my spring/summer shorts and was considering Core, it seems to get a lot of good reviews. Anyone else suffer from this problem?

 is exactly that the hipsters and marketing men have stopped wearing it,

What are the Hipsters and Ad-men wearing now?

Christ Rapha stuff is boring. quite simple and understated 

I was thinking about my spring/summer shorts and was considering Core, it seems to get a lot of good reviews. Anyone else suffer from this problem?

I have shorts from all their ranges inc Core - no problem with any of them. The pro team ones are the nicest fit though.

I have a feeling that my less than pro team figure may be the impediment there. How do you find core sizes up at the waist? Any room for a bit of personal padding?

Any room for a bit of personal padding?

Rapha is not proper racing snake in sizing, they'd lose a large part of their core market if they were. It's not baggy but there's enough room for the odd bit of extra girth if needed.

PSA – Rapha clearance @ JohnLewis

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How do you find core sizes up at the waist?

Pretty close to standard UK clothes sizing. I wear a 34 in most jeans and medium Rapha Core fit great.

Rapha is not proper racing snake in sizing, they’d lose a large part of their core market if they were. It’s not baggy but there’s enough room for the odd bit of extra girth if needed.

Might be for the waist, but for shoulders their tops are tiny eg I'm XXL for Rapha tops whereas I'm medium in say a normal T-shirt!

Most of the prices are about 20% higher than they were in Rapha's own January Sale.