MAK

Two Walmart heirs, who are avid cyclists, have just bought Rapha, a British cycle clothing and accessory company. I'm not really familiar with Rapha, but what I've read says they are small but well respected.

Is Walmart likely to start selling quality cycle clothing and accessories?

pickettt

Rapha is extremely expensive clothing. If Walmart bought them, it will severely devalue the brand.

Machka 

No ... Walmart is not getting into upscale cycling clothes.

https://www.bikemag.com.au/news/wal-...n-rapha-470364

Juan Foote

^ Whether they do or don't, the fact that one of the richest families in the world have invested in not one, but two cycling ventures with big money says something about the future of cycling at the very least.

Doctor Morbius

Wouldn't it be nice to be born into extreme wealth?

brianmcg123

Walmart didn't buy Rapha.

Wildwood 

Maybe, maybe not.

trailangel

A cheaper line of Rapha kits to be sold in Walmarts.
Get a Big Mac meal, and a Rapha jersey all in one stop!
Rapha will start marketing like Fast Food mentality..always adding something new to keep you coming back to try it.

Wileyrat

I figure they'll start a line of downscaled Rapha clothing called Denali, perfectly matched to go with your newly purchased high end GMC Denali road bike.

1989Pre 

Everybody I know boycotts Walmart for their lack of adherence to environmental and labor laws.
Let them die.

jefnvk

No. Wal-Mart doesn't sell anything "upscale", surely that will continue to include bicycle clothing. Wal-Mart sells adequate goods at a price point that is appealing to the majority of the public.

What I would read into this would be Rapha being pressured to bring in lower cost lines of clothing that can be sold more locations.

I seriously doubt your boycott is hurting Wal-Mart one bit.

brianmcg123

Walmart did not buy Rapha.

prj71

Alongside its premium garments, which range in cost from around $70 for a long-sleeve T-shirt to $200 for gloves and $290 for a jersey, Rapha regularly invites fans to frequent its stores, known as “clubhouses,” where they can sip coffee and watch live cyclocross races on state-of-the-art television screens. It also has an international cycling club with more than 9,000 members, each of whom pays an annual $229 fee.

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/07/f...a-cycling.html


Lol...at those prices I'd avoid Rapha like the plague. Looks like they are trying to sell an image instead of clothing.

I-Like-To-Bike

Everybody I know boycotts over priced products with high-tone brand name labels for their lack of adherence to the principle of providing sufficient added value to justify outrageously high prices. Bike snobs and people with more money than sense may feel otherwise.
Let such folks spend their money however they like.

Machka 

This bears repeating.

Especially since people seemed to have missed it the first two times.

Walmart did not buy Rapha.

jefnvk

You and I may LOL, but I think you underestimate just how much people are willing to pay to portray an image.

Is it really any different than the same folks hanging around the LBS every time I walk in, and when out riding are fully kitted out in that shop's gear that retails upwards of $200?

texaspandj

Well I hope so. Then I could finally afford to buy me a cycling jersey. I buy tubes, cages,grease,and black cable from WalMart. I used to buy wrap but now I use old inner tubes (as suggested by a BF member).

PDKL45

There is a real niche for wildly expensive high end cycling clothing; Rapha is actually comparatively mainstream compared to some brands.

I donn't think the brand will be harmed or devalued too much. The new owners are heirs to the Walmart fortune, not product buyers for the corporation.

coffeesnob

Walmart and upscale clothing oxy moron

Marcus_Ti

Very true...the same vultures who own Walmart bought Rapha.

Which isn't an improvement.

jefnvk

Yep, Wal-Mart did not buy them. However, heirs to the Wal-Mart fortunes, who have extensive experience in marketing lower end goods to the masses and thriving on low margin bulk over high priced boutique, bought them. I don't think that spells good things. Not to mention, many in the Rapha crowd would probably balk at the thought of being associated in any way. The prestige of the product just took a hit, like a microbrewer's does when Budweiser buys them out.

It is hard to find info on that particular investment company, but they do own Allied Cycles, so maybe there is some hope.

indyfabz

I got a Rapha Merino wool base layer as a present. Love it because of the fit and the feel, and it has nothing to do with image because no one sees I am wearing it. Unfortunately, it could use replacing due to a moth problem I developed a while back. I will not hesitate to spend the $80 for a new one.

TimothyH

I'm about to try a pair of Rapha Core bibs. I typically ride solo so not sure whom I'm supposed to be impressing other than trees and squirrels.

Performance Ultra SL bibs are nice but I'm looking for more support and comfort on all day gravel rides with 6000 ft elevation, 10 mile climbs, etc.

Rapha Core bibs are $25 less than the 7Mesh MK2 bibs I just purchased and way more understated than the Performance bibs I'm now riding. In many cases Rapha is less expensive than Castelli, Assos, DiMarchi and several others.

-Tim-

Trsnrtr

Why do you and other people keep letting facts get in the way of a good story? This is Bike Forums, you know.

Doctor Morbius

Doesn't that make your hands smell? Last time I swapped out an inner tube my hands stunk all day, even though I washed them with Dawn several times. Couldn't get that rubber smell out.