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If I cast my mind back to around seven years ago, I recall making my first London commute, hauling a heavy mountain bike across rush hour traffic to my workplace a mere three miles away. Upon arrival, red-faced and panting, I dashed to the toilet where I promptly threw up from the gargantuan effort of getting my derrière from A to B.
Undeniably, the racing season is here. Not just in the world of professional cycling, where the likes of Paris-Nice and Tirreno-Adriatico are sweeping across their respective nations, but also the less official races cropping up around the world. Take for example Brooklyn, New York's Red Hook Criterium, which has sold out once again and added a few dates and locations to their roster that includes Milan and Barcelona. Then, there are our very own endeavors, such as the Rapha Women's Prestige that will take place in San Francisco. They too, have filled their quota making it 24 teams of six that will take to the start line. That means that there is another race that is lurking around the next bend. The 2013 Rapha North East Gentlemen's Race will take place on Saturday, May 4th in the hills and dales in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Do you have a team of six riders that are up to the challenge?
Photos by Jonathan Hines
This weekend will be Rapha’s fourth annual pilgrimage into Hertfordshire for the Hell of the North IV. Like last year it features an additional 1,500m sector of gravé, the Trouée de Woodside, a home counties homage to Paris-Roubaix’s infamous Arenberg Trench and a new beauty, Gidner's Wood.
Rapha's homage to Paris-Roubaix in hellish Hertfordshire is back once again. What with all the beautiful weather we've been having in the UK, the parcours for this year's edition of Hell of the North is looking suitably shambolic. Potholes, mud and some of Hertfordshire’s meanest gravé awaits. This year's edition will see brand new sectors and all the trimmings needed for a great day of riding and watching the Queen of the Classics, Paris-Roubaix. Again we'll have prizes for punctures, panache and power. And as is traditional, beer and frites will be served at the arrivée (public house) where the race will be showing on the big screen. More details soon.
photo by Jake Stangel
The Rapha Women’s Prestige 2013 will, like last year’s event, take place in the sunny hills surrounding San Francisco. The Prestige will set off on April 13th and the Rapha Cycle Club SF staff have been busy organizing things to make this year’s event even more exciting (and challenging) than the previous edition. Thirteen teams took to the start line in 2012 and we’ve already well exceeded that number for this year. With teams coming from all over the United States, the 2013 Prestige looks set to be another unmissable event. An amazing route, over some of the best riding terrain in the country, is a proper celebration of this wonderful sport. And that’s where you come in.
There is a little bit of everything going into Steven Nereo's show at the San Francisco Cycle Club this weekend. The focus of the show Paper Friends will rest on illustrations that he has continued to evolve over the years. But that won't be the only thing on display. His extensive work helping to fill out the Los Angeles Survey section of the Rapha Blog will also play a part to help paint a picture of the man himself. After a brief chat with Mr. Nereo we were a bit closer to defining the show, but its multi-faceted approach leaves much to interpretation.
The weekend beginning the 25th January sees not only the culmination of the Berlin Six Days but also Rapha's first sample sale in Berlin. For only two days we will open our doors to offer big discounts on samples and discontinued/end-of-season stock. Moreover, a selected range of regular and new products is available. There will be some incredible deals so arrive as close to opening time as you can.
