Hey Rapha, quit making stuff like this.

[cody.wms]

Ok, I get that Rapha is trying to make a global empire. I like their stuff a lot. It's really good bike clothing. But when they push away from bike stuff is it really hit or miss, and the further they get from the bike, the worse it is. The long sleeve marino polo might be my favorite bike piece, since I can go ride and run errands in it without standing out. But when they go too far... I know we (the royal we) gave them a lot of shit for the suit they made a while back, and for good reason. This is worse.

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At some point, you can't make everything work for everything, OK?? There is room for bike-only clothes, for commuting clothes, but not for bike/business clothes. The gap is too far. You can't make a downhill/track bike either. Just quit this. And really a blazer is good for lots of situations, but no one -- NO ONE -- needs a cotton and spandex blazer with zippered pockets on the back. It's a blazer, it has at least five pockets already! It'll look weird on the bike, and looks like absolute shit off the bike, and isn't appropriate for any type of semi-formal business occasion. I'd rather wear a Taz t-shirt to a meeting than this thing.

/rant over

[christian]

You forgot the worst part. The BoC to hem measurement is like 27". So it's a bike-specific blazer that won't cover your ass. Basically, it appears to be clothing made by someone who'd never seen menswear or ridden a bicycle.

[echelon_john]

I thought today was Friday? Mods? ; )

[chasea]

I thought today was Friday? Mods? ; )

I'll allow it.

[RickM]

Thing that gets me; You want a well-made sportcoat to ride with..usable in varying conditions, easy to keep clean, can withstand a little dampness, etc... go find a Harris Tweed 3-button jacket. Even thrift stores are chockfull of 'em. get one that has the necktab button and you are good to go.

[caleb]

I'll allow it.

"So, ah, people wear clothes. Please discuss your views."

[RickM]

Sadly..now belongs here; men who look like old lesbians

[Manumai]

Sadly..now belongs here; men who look like old lesbians

I just pissed in my pants...hahahahah

[christian]

I have a J.Keydge "Ivy" slack jacket in Harris tweed. Totally unconstructed, 3-roll-2, throat latch, suede patches, and 3 patch pockets. The "Ivy" has a center vent, which is less preferable than side vents for cycling, but otherwise, it appears to beat the Rapha jacket pretty hands down. For a cycling-specific garment, the J.Keydge "Ace" jacket has side vents. J*Keydge - Bienvenue

PS: I also have a couple of Engineered Garments Bedford jackets - one wool, one cotton. They're decent for cycling, too. Both have throat latches.

[liv2bike]

PEdAL ED

This stuff IMO for urban cycling if you must look this part.

[oldmuthariley]

I just pissed in my pants...hahahahah

me too

[robin3mj]

I have a couple Nau blazers, one in poly and one in wool that combined probably cost less than the one that started this thread and are pretty damn nice, despite the crappy looking fit on the models in the website photos.

Riding Jacket - Men's Recycled Polyester Soft Shell Blazer - Nau.com
Highline Blazer - Men's Waterproof Wool Coat - Nau.com

Wouldn't want to commute in them regularly but they are a nice blend of technical vs. office-appropriate.

[soupless]

PEdAL ED

This stuff IMO for urban cycling if you must look this part.

This brand just became part of the Brooks/Fizik/Selle Royal empire. I hope to see more from them in the future.

[taz]

I'd rather wear a Taz t-shirt to a meeting than this thing.

/rant over

You can't have my t-shirts.

[omnigrid]

I bet Outlier could pull this off.

[cody.wms]

I bet Outlier could pull this off.

If anyone could, they can.

I have a J.Keydge "Ivy" slack jacket in Harris tweed. Totally unconstructed, 3-roll-2, throat latch, suede patches, and 3 patch pockets. The "Ivy" has a center vent, which is less preferable than side vents for cycling, but otherwise, it appears to beat the Rapha jacket pretty hands down. For a cycling-specific garment, the J.Keydge "Ace" jacket has side vents.

I almost bought one of these, but held off 'til I could talk to our pals at J. Squeeze about sizing (run small is what they said). Good thing I did -- last night I found a Zegna "Soft" 3/2 navy roll at Goodwill last night. AND IT WAS IN MY SIZE! Can't beat that for $8.

[Saab2000]

I wish Rapha made our work uniforms. I'm sort of serious.

[maunahaole]

I wish Rapha made our work uniforms. I'm sort of serious.

That would probably require an open cockpit aircraft, so as to make wearing the rapha uniforms sufficiently epic. No oxygen, either.

[chasea]

Joke all you want. I spent all day yesterday helping Signature Cycles with their clothing display. The Rapha stuff they had was well thought out, high quality stuff.

And the colors.

Plenty of stuff on my lust list.

[maunahaole]

For the most part I like the gear. It is the rest of it that it is too over the top. It is working for them though, more power to them.