by maj » Sat Aug 10, 2019 11:55 am
"rapha is for men buying bikes to make up for being impotent"
Simply incorrect
Take a jaunt down to your local bike shop and browse the "fashion", you'll notice it is devoid of any form of aesthetically pleasing bike-wear
Casteslli? Nty that logo is bad
Endura? Do I look like I ride the gnar?
Dhb? You mean worse rapha
Sportful? Do I look European??
Now take a jaunt to your local rapha, pop by your local bike person, "hey how's it going?.... Yeah mate still planning that big tour, mapping it out now ahahah, yeah the real issue is the PTO but hopefully when the new year starts I'll book it in first unless the partner wants another 2 weeks in Dorset...you know how it is ahahahah". Then you'll slink upstairs to the cafe and order a pour over, Katie isn't on the bar today and so Steve made it instead, it's juicy but got a bitter after taste, part of you wishes you got it from that place opposite your work instead, but he tried so you leave it on the counter and say "banging mate, see you next week". Finally you're there on your way out, notice a set of cargo bibs hanging on the sparse rails, "oh banging, they'll be perfect for that tour I'm planning", grab those, a set of socks on your way to the till and then Sarah realises it's you "back again John?" "Ahah yeah you know me, cracking out the miles", she smiles but sees through your lie, knowing you're looking for endorphins to stave off anxiety. Bagged up and ready to cycle the 4 miles home on your lightweight race bike you just bought, you'll wave to everyone on your way out and think "glad I didn't go to Evans"
This sounds like a familiar tale, you could swap rapha for pi polloi, aseop, bodega if you happen to be on the bad side of the Atlantic, it's the same customer, the same lifestyle salesmanship, we just have to accept that's who we are.