We are showing you the US version of our site: would you prefer a different location?
Words & pictures by Ben Lieberson
Studio Magic
We woke up at 5.30am and navigated our bus across the Golden Gate Bridge. We glided across, encountering no traffic or the obligatory fun run event that seems to be held twice a day. Once in Mill Valley, CA we parked up outside Studio Velo and watched from the cockpit as all kinds of different riders arrived in the mist.
Photos: Andy Belfrage, Phil Deeker, Joe Hall
A little after 7am, and after just five hours sleep, we straddled our bikes under dark grey skies and rode out from the centre of Liège. Over the ‘roof’ of Belgium and back again, we returned almost 11 hours later; cold, wet, hollow and hungry. Two hundred and seventy kilometres, with over 4,000m of climbing, it was the longest of the three route options of the Doyenne Classique sportive. I saw a rider with number 10,400. It was hard to understand why, rather than rolling over in bed that morning when the alarm went off, another 10,399 riders had also registered.
Hennie - the North American version of the Rapha Mobile Cycle Club has been on the road for a few weeks now. Traversing the entire length of the West Coast with stops in San Francisco, Los Angeles and a few others. Along the way they have been taking in the sights and sunshine that is generally associated with California.
The roads are now heading upwards in the Ardennes and with the Rapha Mobile Cycle Club still in the area following the Amstel Gold, Rapha is staging an additional event, a Rapha Ardennes Week, from 16th-22nd April. Starting with the Flèche-Wallonne sportive and ending with the Liège-Bastogne-Liège Monument, Rapha would like to offer you the chance to experience the Classics like never before.
This Saturday, April 14th the Crown Prince of Bicycles Mr. BikeSnobNYC will be appearing at the Rapha Cycle Club San Francisco. The Snob will be on hand to discuss his new book The Enlightened Cyclist and sample the Burritos of the San Francisco area. Allegedly Mr. Snob has worked up quite a humorous speaking engagement culled from his time spent as a cyclist in New York City riding and writing the website BikeSnobNYC
Rapha Cycle Club Osaka is now open.
Last Saturday, 7th April, saw the opening party for Rapha Cycle Club Osaka, with approximately 60 guests. The following Sunday night, a group of about 50 arrived for the live screening of Paris-Roubaix to watch Tom Boonen blast to victory.
The Mobile Cycle Club North America put its wheels into motion early yesterday morning. You may have spotted its European counterpart parked firmly on the banks of LBL, Paris Roubaix or even stages of the Tour de France last season. With the start of the Spring Season of riding upon us there is a new kid on the block. If you see him on the road do not hesitate to introduce yourself to Hennie. Lovingly nicknamed after the Dutch cyclist Hennie Kuiper our Hennie will be stocked with delicious La Colombe coffee to pull shots of espresso and meet people at cycling events around the United States. It will also contain a full range of Rapha clothing for you to peruse as you sip your coffee.
