here we go again.....

Jeez you could get a whole bike for that

Rapha and Paul Smith have attractive but expensive love child shocker

To answer your Q though, no I won't be buying one. I have nothing against either Rapha or PS or any other hideously expensive bike kit but I don't really like the bag and if the back of it is plasticised like the front appears to be then it's going to be awful sweaty. Plus I prefer a pannier for commuting.

^ Bikeradar, your Captcha codes are a PITA!

Anyway, I like that there are company selling frivolous stuff like fancy man bags for cycling with. If I see one being worn (highly unlikely, I don't lilve in that London) I shall doff my cap and celebrate the rider's vast resources of cash.

Or something.

It's not the price as their must be a very small and rich! clientèle for this stuff it just looks crap!

leaving aside the price - I think the bag looks just a little bit tacky. My 6yo son has a school lunchbox made out of something similar....only with a pic of Ben10 on the side...

I'm with softlad, if I were in the market for a £200 + courier bag* this wouldn't be it. It just looks naff.

*which I'm not.

I live and work in London and the type of person who would buy this bag does not cycle in the city, they use a cab, town car or the tube to get around in their £6k paul smith suit. A "city cyclist" uses something that is tough, inexpensive and preferably waterproof. If its a courrier bag then they have got it completely wrong because couriers don’t give a damn about the rapha pro team or paul smith and they sure as hell would not spend this much on a bag.

Any couriers wish to express their view on a bag designed for a profession they actually do?

It gives you some idea what the Rapha's target market has always been ;-)

I wouldn't spend that amount of money on a bag.

But it's hideous. For that sort of money I would want something that exuded a bit of class. It looks like the sort of thing that little kids use but with Buzz Lightyear on it instead

If I was going to spend 200 notes on a bag, I want it to be both classy and understated - I could only justify the price if it was going to last years and I could use it for both business and casual use, plus it wouldn't attract the interest of the casual thief. I'm afraid on both counts this bag is a big fail.

Anyone else getting bored fo the same old comments on rapha kit?

I'm outraged that this bag even exists / what's wrong with a blue plastic bag draped over the handlebars? / Any stupid fool that even contemplates buying this bag, i'll be right round their house to beat them unconscious / there should be a law against this sort of thing / I hate anyone who might consider spending £200 on a bag / this bag is gay / rabble rabble rabble / *indecipherable grunting* / I can't afford this, so it's shit / I don't like this & if you do, you're wrong / etc. etc. etc.

I think i'll compile a large hardback, vintage leather-bound, purple silk polka-dot dust-jacketed book of comments from the various reviews of Rapha kit on here & charge £1000 for it just to see the comments that attracts, bet that would raise the bar slightly - I mean, when's the last time anyone seen an original critique of this stuff - come on people, try harder!

I quite like it incidentally, wouldn't buy it though.

mcj78 - ironically, the only person saying stuff like that on this thread is you....everyone else's comments seem quite reasonable....

Eeeekkkk! they did what?!!??... Why??!!?

I guess the Paris Hilton and Lady Gaga wannabes will go for it. Just goes to show you can buy taste, but you can charge for the lack of it :-)

I have seen one of these in the flesh at john's bikes in bath, and I have to say, I like it.

There are other designs which aren't so... Rapha... which I prefer...But importantly, the bag actually feel really great. I tried it on, and even though there is loads of storage space, it didn't feel bulky.

So yes, I reckon I would get one!

im a courrier who live's in london & would love to own this 'spiffing' bag, i would love to ride my pashley governor around the old town during my daily deliveries of moustache wax, snuff & monacle chains, anyone who dislikes this knapsack is a bounder & a cad, what what!

softlad, you are just fantastic, mate, absolutely priceless! I thought I'd have a quick flick through BikeRadar over lunch to catch up on the Vuelta gossip, saw 'Paul Smith+Rapha' and knew, just knew, that you'd have something to contribute, and there you were, first in line! Terrific. You are a cross between what BikeSnob calls a Retro Grouch and Righteous Cyclist, just top dollar. But if I had a spare 200 quid, I'd so want to get you one of these for Christmas just to see the look on your face.

mcj78 does have a point though, and, like freedom of speech, while I may not always agree with what you say, I'll defend your right to say it. And in much the same way, while you may not agree with some or maybe all of Rapha's products, you should defend their right to make whatever they want and charge whatever they want for it. I just can't wait for their essence of Ventoux cologne to hit the shelves...

get me one for xmas fella - I'll give it to my lad. His Ben10 lunchbox is beginning to smell a bit....

With a name like 'scammers' I'm guessing you work for Rapha..?

softlad - Ironically, you've forgotten you earlier compared the materials used in the production of this bag, to your 6 year old son's Ben 10 lunchbox. Have you compared both in the flesh, or possibly subjected both to an extensive & vigorous test of durability and function, or are you just joining in with the Rapha bashing as it's so de-rigueur nowadays?

I'm not disputing people have a right to an opinion, just asking for a novel one now and again. The above comments could be lifted straight from the previous Rapha review or the one before that, or the one before that, ad nauseum... and you do realise of course that my above remarks were made jokingly at some of the comments this stuff attracts & not meant to be taken literally? Oh...

Carry on, most original Rapha-bashing comment wins a luxury silk monogrammed handkerchief (in pink polka dots) & a copy of my new book; " Le Basheur - a history of taking the piss out of Rapha stuff on internet cycling forums".

;-)

hmmm a pile of overprice shite to keep piles of overpriced shite in.

The pocket pictured, you know the purple one....that reminds me of something. Can't quite put my finger on it, but it does remind me of something. It's a bit feminine I think.

Anyway, if you have the money, why not have the nicer things in life. I would love to have Campag, Rapha and/or Assos cycling kit, but don't have the money. Not sure this is something I'd have but then I haven't seen one 'in the flesh' if you excuse the pun....

I don't like it.

I won't be buying one.

That is all.

EDIT -

I do like it.

I won't be buying one.

That is all.

No, my friend, not a Rapha employee. And Scammers is a nick name given to me by an ex-alcoholic scouser friend of mine with a penchant for golf and sunbeds.

out of date already House aint the gb champ anymore

I can afford.

Dont want one.

Looks pretty horrid.

I wander how it would look after a bit of hard use? Though I doubt one would ever see it..

Mind you if it came in a nice Harris tweed I would probably think again..

mcj78 - I live on the west Wales coast - sadly there isn't a Rapha dealer in my village, so because I have not seen one in the flesh, I am having to use my imagination. Although to be fair, my lad's current lunchbox does not have leather binding, quality canvas interior or an iPad pocket, so I guess the courier bag can't be all bad.....

OAKLEY ALPHA CHARLIE MESSENGER BAG - A PROPER BAG!

mcj78- I don't think this is really the usual Rapha bashing, most people probably don't mind the look of most of their kit and would probably concede it's good stuff. It's just the price that gets people exercised.

Most of these comments are about looks and practicality, and it looks both awful and impractical.

In a word, no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no.

Just no.