Met a Swiss cyclist last week who was riding across the U.S. on a bike adorned with those Brooks bags. They certainly look nice in the field. (Had earlier seen them at a trade show.)
Do happen to own a few items of Rapha clothing. Specifically items that were on closeout. The Swift Jersey is easily the best feeling top I own. And I own most of the Rivendell offered items. Actually feel that Rapha's strong suit is publishing. Their magazine (Rouleur) and books are very well presented. I'm not overly interested in racing, yet do like reading their publications. Steve is right in the feeling that Rapha is more exclusive. But no worse than the folks that are into superlight bike touring, or any other type of bike culture. (The 3 speed tour that happened last weekend comes to mind. Or the gravel grinder races that are popping up.) Again, I could go on, but that takes it even further afield from Riv. Eric Platt St. Paul, MN On May 26, 5:47�pm, Jim Cloud <cloud...@aol.com> wrote: > I think one of the things that most bothers me is the extreme price > mark-up by companies like Rapha, whose products are made in China. �A > example which I've seen are some recent bags now being marketed by > Brooks (which are labeled as "Made in China"). �The "Cornwall" > handlebar bag lists at $369.99 from Milwaukee Bicycle, each of the > "Devon" rear panniers are listed at $349.99 (the drive and non-drive > bags are individually priced). �You can drop a cool $1,069.97 for the > set. �My LBS has a complete set of these bags on display, I found the > pricing quite amusing. �Each to his/her own, but this seems ridiculous > to me for products made in China. > > Jim Cloud > Tucson, AZ > > > > > > Rivendell's philosophy and marketing seem to me to be broad based. �If > > > you're reading their stuff, you are definitely "good enough" to be using > > > their products. �Rapha, on the other hand, what with all that "hard-man, > > > epic" stuff is all about exclusivity. �If you can't average 18 mph on a > > > hilly ride you are not only not fit to be a cyclist, you certainly > > > aren't fit for (or going to fit!) Rapha stuff. > > > Frankly, I have never been able to pay close attention to marketing > > blurbs, no matter the medium. �I have looked at Rapha price, > > components and manufacture domicile. �I cannot see how their approach > > is similar to Rivendell's. > > > On May 26, 4:51�pm, Steve Palincsar <palin...@his.com> wrote: > > > > On Wed, 2010-05-26 at 14:19 -0700, JoelMatthews wrote: > > > > > Rivendell's approach is inclusive, Rapha's is exclusive. > > > > > The difference I see between Riv nd Rapha is the mark up. > > > > > Riv bikes made in Taiwan use components and design close to their U.S. > > > > and Japanese made products. �Labor costs less, so Riv charges less. > > > > > There are several companies that make products similar to Rapha using > > > > U.S.,U.K. and even Swiss labor. �Rapha makes almost all of its product > > > > in China but nevertheless charges a premium. > > > > I'm not talking about prices or markups, or even where the products are > > > made. �I'm talking about marketing and philosophy. > > > > Rivendell's philosophy and marketing seem to me to be broad based. �If > > > you're reading their stuff, you are definitely "good enough" to be using > > > their products. �Rapha, on the other hand, what with all that "hard-man, > > > epic" stuff is all about exclusivity. �If you can't average 18 mph on a > > > hilly ride you are not only not fit to be a cyclist, you certainly > > > aren't fit for (or going to fit!) Rapha stuff. �- Hide quoted text - > > - Show quoted text - -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bu...@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en.
