17 Responses

1. I've recently received the first pieces of kit I've ordered from a brand on AliExpress called: Spexcel. I'll just be honest… They are Rapha knockoffs… But they are GOOD Rapha knockoffs. I call them "Raphakes". Spexcel products at 10%-30% of the price of Rapha labeled kit. I'd highly recommend them to anyone. Spexcel is very affordable and I imagine most people couldn't tell the difference.

   I did order some legit Rapha caps based on your glove and hat video recommendations.

2. I agreed what you said about "NO expensive shorts can replaced a proper BIKE FIT" but also good quality cycling kit(especially bibshorts) makes you ride more longer miles and more comfortable on your bike😁
   I had cheap bibs from previous years and Rapha/La passione bibs and I can tell it's a night and day difference when it comes to long hours of bike ride.
   Now, I just use my old cheap bibs when i do my indoor training.
   I also wait for the sale/archive from Rapha and La passione when they have one. "You get what you pay for"😉🚴‍♂️

3. Great video!! I had tried few brands like Pearl Izumi, LG, nice bibs for short rides, I personally had discomfort after 3 hrs of riding with them, but then later around I purchased Rapha and Santini bibs and I can tell the difference, great for the long rides, you pay more but is well money invested, If cyclist is your passion, save a few dollars and get the good stuff, (watch for the sales and discounts). God Bless!!

4. Bibs i only go for assos and giordana …some of the giordana is truly amazing… have been using their FRC pro lyte jersey and bibs this summer awesome! rapha pro team stuff is also great

5. I agree with the comments; let me add:

   SERVICE: I appreciate the comparison on products based on price but I really think we can't do that. Rapha offers free shipment, free returns, free REPAIRS and a number of other services (such as 50% off when you need a small jersey because you lost weight). These are all services you are paying for as part of the regular price. They are all blended into the service – if you have an accident and rip your jersey, you can't call LG and ask them to fix it for free. That is worth money to me.

   FIT: You can only compare the brands/products by their products. I tried a number of inexpensive brands at first but when I tried ASSOS and Rapha – their fit won me over. Castelli is a good product but I'm not into the fit… The ASSOS shorts are the bomb (for me). Because they fit me and they feel better. They might not fit others as well but for a long ride, those bibs are worth their weight in gold to me.

   PRODUCT: Then there's the product itself – sure, you can get a nice jersey from Le Col, AliExpress, from Rapha, from LG etc… but there is an investment to the materials that many brands do not benefit from. Aero or lightweight fabric for the heat etc. The lightweight fabrics from Rapha are amazing, the fact the ASSOS jersey fabrics do not strech vertically (so your pockets stay in place) was an innovation that more budget brands can't offer.

   I think having budget and premium brands are super important as there are many kinds of cycling and some are better than others at some things – You don't need a Rapha bib if you commute 5 minutes to work. I would not do 160km on a budget bib short. Now, i you want the Rapha look at an AliExpress budget, that is a different thing… that is bike fashion which is not without its merit, but not the reason Rapha/ASSOS/Le Col etc actually cost what they cost. 🙂

6. 👍 video well done SIR!
   Going to jump in while the sale is going ON

7. agree

8. I ordered some tubes, tire, and rim strips from Merlin Cycles you mentioned occasionally. I couldn't believe the price they had for Michelin tubes beating out probikekit which I have ordered from the past. You saved me some money. Thank you.

9. Heres why I never go "premium". I'd rather replace cheap components and cycling gear than expensive stuff. I have tiagra 10 speed and 105 11 speed and can't tell the difference. The tiagra stuff is so cheap to replace, I see no reason in buying gear for 3-5 times the amount. I've never had great discomfort due to non premium clothes. If the price is right, its a different story. During winter, you can get some stuff 50-70% off. My biggest gripe with premium stuff is when its marketed as a need or far superior to budget stuff. Some of those prices scare potential
   new riders away.

10. Hi Eldred I have never tried Rapha bibs but a few weeks ago I bit the bullet & bought a pair of Assos T Cento bibs, all I can say is I wish I had bought a pair when I came back to cycling 3 years ago, penny wise, pound foolish as they say.

11. Right on VH well said. Life is too short man!

12. Spending more will bring either bring you either greater comfort, greater speed or greater reliability – or several of these combined. Little of anything good comes cheap.

13. Ha haaa Brink truck following a hearse.

14. A good example is express way tolls. From my house to my GF’s house are 20 miles, I can take one way with tolls and no traffic or regular way with 0 tolls and traffic, once you try the toll and no traffic you wont ever use the regular one lol.

15. High end cycling clothing are worth the $ since I tried Rapha I can't go back

16. Thanks for doing this video VH! I myself also bought into their Rapha products when its on sale right now. I buy several different kinds of kits to feel the quality and different materials use in their Pro Team, Classic, Flyweight lines. The reason why I am so heavily invested in Rapha gears is their level of service. If you don't like it you can always return it before 90 days. In addition, I like how they input a return shipping label for every Rapha purchase that you make online so return is hassle free. Also, I like how they stand behind every Rapha products because if you ever get in a crash or needs something repair for their jersey or shorts you're covered for life with their repair policy which definitely gives you a piece of mind when you're pulling hard in a ride.

17. Well said VH! I got a friend who doesn't understand why would anyone spend so much money on mid-high end bikes when an entry level bike is good enough until he got a chance to try one, he commented on how it feels different and how every energy applied to each pedal stroke propels the bike forward much more efficient than his entry level bike.

    Can he afford one? He does, but he chose not to buy one, but he certainly glad to be able to experience riding a high-end​ bike and understands now why some people choose to buy more expensive bikes.

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