Nine out of ten cyclists look absolutely appalling...

[GrumpyGregry]

Caption competition

"Before I wore Rapha....."

 

[arch684]

View attachment 350506

Caption competition

"Before I wore Rapha....."

My wallet was this thick with cash

 

[mjr]

Problem is I have a very tough beard and very sensitive skin. Shaving foam just doesn't cut the mustard.

I think it's more likely that your sensitive skin is being caused by cutting your shaving foam with mustard

 

[Cp40Carl]

View attachment 350506

Caption competition

[voice of Darth Vader]
"Before I wore Rapha I found your lack of Lycra disturbing. You have failed me for the last time Admiral..."

[choking sound]

 

[mjr]

but the new wave of MAMILs has done much to revive the cycle industry with better service and a wider choice of better kit thanks to the R&D investment that's gone into bikes and equipment, so old-school cyclists should be celebrating their new-found popularity, not scoffing.

I don't think so. They're why I now have to get full-thickness single-speed sprockets or adjustable cups posted to me. Robust staples have gone from many local bike shops and all chains to make way for excellent expensive developments like 1x14 cassettes of wafer-thin sprockets and silly-string narrow chains and fortnightly-replacement BB30 bearings.

 

[Hugh Manatee]

@wicker man that photo of the cafe. That looks like the Spider's Web in Cosford. Could it be?

 

[iandg]

@wicker man that photo of the cafe. That looks like the Spider's Web in Cosford. Could it be?

It is - I rode with Stafford Road Club for some of the 70s and 80s. It was a regular coffee stop.

 

[Hugh Manatee]

It is still there. I must have ridden past hundreds of times but never gone in. I ride solo and don't like stopping. I'll have to take my son there. He is a fine judge of cafes.

 

[Lonestar]

At least O'Leary's attention seeking bollocks is funny sometimes mildly amusing...

https://www.theguardian.com/business/shortcuts/2013/nov/08/michael-o-leary-33-daftest-quotes

Number three is my favourite but he's no David O'Leary

 

[derrick]

Rapha CEO thinks so anyway.

https://www.theguardian.com/busines...e-brand-thats-making-cycling-into-a-lifestyle

Who gives a s**t what he thinks

 

[jefmcg]

It's not normally a brand strategy that goes down well at the premium end of the market. If he were running Sports Direct he might get away with it!

Ah, I see your confusion.

Rapha is a fashion and cosmetics company not a sporting goods company. Fashion and cosmetics been doing excellent business by making their target market feel fat and old and ugly.

 

[screenman]

I don't think so. They're why I now have to get full-thickness single-speed sprockets or adjustable cups posted to me. Robust staples have gone from many local bike shops and all chains to make way for excellent expensive developments like 1x14 cassettes of wafer-thin sprockets and silly-string narrow chains and fortnightly-replacement BB30 bearings.

What like money making parts.

 

[Milkfloat]

View attachment 350506

Caption competition

"Before I wore Rapha....."

I didn't look like a pillock.

 

[mjr]

What like money making parts.

A small market of frequently-replaced parts makes less money than a mass market of robust parts. A lot less servicing work, though, and I suspect that's a large part of where the money-making is.

 

[User169]

View attachment 350506

Caption competition

"Before I wore Rapha....."

Caption aside, flagrant violation of Rule #22.