Rapha Closes Office, Lays Off Staff

[TheBelgian]

Yeah I'm 185cm and 82kg and an XL. I'm L in Assos and Rapha and most casual clothing.

My Assos gear is also all size L, btw. My Equipe RS jerseys are race-fit and sit tight around my body. I have no Assos bibshorts. I have a couple of fall/winter tights that are fine too, but they could be a few cm shorter. (I usually fold them up a bit since I only wear those with overshoes). Castelli winter/fall tights are the right length for me.

[Noctiluxx]

I have dozens of kits from Assos, Maap, Paul Smith, Rapha, and Cafe Du Cycliste. By far the worst quality bibs in fit and quality are the Rapha. Their jerseys, vests, jackets, socks, gloves, caps are all excellent. The bibs are absolute garbage!

[EtoDemerzel]

Rapha has always been the most durable and best service. The attention to detail and tailoring is excellent. Most of my stuff is Pro Team. Absolutely the best stuff. It just wears well, technically excellent and lasts.
They have poor photography on their site, and become unimaginative and stagnant with design and colors. The only interesting stuff is limited edition sponsored kit. Quality and technical materials is top notch though.

Maap doesn't last and their quality and service is not on par with their prices. They are also often more expensive than Rapha Pro Team. Influencer kit of the moment. None of my Maap kit lasted even 1/4 the time of Rapha Pro Team.

Castelli is always interesting in technology but they are horrible in style. Not horrible, just outdated. Their stuff doesn't last and they are the OG of transparent bibs.
Rossa Corsa stuff is good but just no style points.
The only people I see wearing Castelli are team issue, and freds.

PNS is tops in style and colors. They self destruct about as fast as Castelli but most PNS buyers probably swap out every season anyway. I can't wear PNS across my back.

LeCol is LeMid. LaPassione is LaMid

There are some good smaller brands but the high quality stuff is a tough sell. For the money people usually go for a name brand.
The smaller cheap stuff seems to do well like Black Bibs, Neo and others. Though I don't see much of it out on the road, it's probably a big market.

[froze]

Trek is no longer going to be carrying Rapha stuff in their stores, that could be the reason for the layoffs.

But that's ok, I bought a pair of Rapha socks and they got a run in them in the first use, I have never had a cycling sock in over 50 years that developed a run, so they should close their US office!

[Britishedgehog]

Over 50? That's where I see the cutoff between Assos and Castelli. Rapha buyers are younger than Castelli and older than MAAP/PNS/Le Col.

Is Assos for the under-fifties, whereas Castelli is for the over-fifties?

[spdntrxi]

I have dozens of kits from Assos, Maap, Paul Smith, Rapha, and Cafe Du Cycliste. By far the worst quality bibs in fit and quality are the Rapha. Their jerseys, vests, jackets, socks, gloves, caps are all excellent. The bibs are absolute garbage!

I only buy proteam and above (powerweave) but I love Rapha bibs. I dont get along with most others... Pedia Mafia was working for a bit, but they already feel worn out half through the season. I have Rapha a few years old and going strong.

[Mr.Gib]

and the fact that sizing shifted toward "heavier" guys.

Are you serious? I'm 1m75 and weigh 67kg. All my Castelli gear is size L

Missed this but to clarify, I only wear Gabba/Perfetto from Castelli. Both long and short sleeve versions - good for winter riding here. A while ago I bought some in XL that were proper race fit on my 75kg/183cm body. Bought again a year or two later and not only were they sized bigger, the shape very much more "recreational" if you know what I mean. Also even further back I noticed some jersey's getting bigger, but also highly inconsistent. I have had medium, large, and XL that all fit me. I get that certain product lines are meant to fit differently, but not to the extent I experienced. I have no dobt that the latest race fit stuff is nice and lean, but I don't even bother anymore. Still use certain Castelli shoe covers and here's a hot tip - the Perfetto gloves give a great combo of protection and breathability. Come in three different weights. The medium and heavy are very good winter gloves - no claminess.

[warthog101]

Missed this but to clarify, I only wear Gabba/Perfetto from Castelli. Both long and short sleeve versions - good for winter riding here. A while ago I bought some in XL that were proper race fit on my 75kg/183cm body. Bought again a year or two later and not only were they sized bigger, the shape very much more "recreational" if you know what I mean. Also even further back I noticed some jersey's getting bigger, but also highly inconsistent. I have had medium, large, and XL that all fit me. I get that certain product lines are meant to fit differently, but not to the extent I experienced. I have no dobt that the latest race fit stuff is nice and lean, but I don't even bother anymore. Still use certain Castelli shoe covers and here's a hot tip - the Perfetto gloves give a great combo of protection and breathability. Come in three different weights. The medium and heavy are very good winter gloves - no claminess.

Snap! Same size. I have only used Castelli bibs and L is a good fit.
Gabba/Perfetto is a XL for you then and that is still the correct sizing?
Just wondering in case I see them on special at some point.

[Mr.Gib]

Snap! Same size. I have only used Castelli bibs and L is a good fit.
Gabba/Perfetto is a XL for you then and that is still the correct sizing?
Just wondering in case I see them on special at some point.

The last item I bought was a Perfetto short sleeve with two pockets in the back - the XL was too big and the wrong shape for a "cyclist". I note that they have done away with that extra stupid two pocket design and gone back to three pockets. So maybe they corrected the fit as well. I wouldn't consider anything Castelli without a try-on.

[warthog101]

Snap! Same size. I have only used Castelli bibs and L is a good fit.
Gabba/Perfetto is a XL for you then and that is still the correct sizing?
Just wondering in case I see them on special at some point.

The last item I bought was a Perfetto short sleeve with two pockets in the back - the XL was too big and the wrong shape for a "cyclist". I note that they have done away with that extra stupid two pocket design and gone back to three pockets. So maybe they corrected the fit as well. I wouldn't consider anything Castelli without a try-on.

Thanks

[Nohands83]

Echo the above about trying on anything Castelli... as I'm 83kg and 185cm I wear a Medium in a new Perfetto but a large in a Gabba. I do like kit tight but both still leave enough space for a Spatzwear baselayer underneath.

It's Pro Team only for Rapha for me as well and that's mainly just the bibs - Castelli pads really don't work for me, they're a few mm thicker than most other brands which messes with my fit.