In The News

Quote of the Week:

"If you're ready for an indulgence that won't disappoint, treat yourself to some Rapha"

I feel like I might be a just a little behind on all of this, but it is nice to see some mention from people around the interweb world.

William Yan and the Gentleman's Cap

Looking through William Yan's website you'll find the best street style around. His off the cuff commentary mixed with his keen eye for spotting celebrity designers on the street is amazing. Also check out his photos from his Lomo camera.

Competitive Cyclist

One can always count on Brendan Quirk over at Competitive Cyclist for some great commentary on What's New in not only the cycling industry, but also the Cycle racing world. Read below for his great breakdown of the Rapha Baselayers.

Here is what Brendan had to say:

When I'm mentally weak I go cynical and at times like that it's easy to train the critical crosshairs on Rapha for their Ansel-Adams-meets-Anthropologie aesthetic and their seeming refusal to let a ride just be a ride and instead represent every day in the saddle as "epic" -- either an emotional epiphany or an I'm-auditioning-to-move-to-Portland fashion show. But, as mentioned above, October puts me in a happy place so I get open-minded and it's getting cool to boot, so I needed some new clothes and I invested in a Rapha Merino Wool base layer and a Rapha Winter Hat and even if I'd been in a chokehold of cynicism I would've busted out of it because this stuff is unexpectedly dreamy. Like most things in the bike business on a surface level nothing here seems different. There are n wool base layers and Belgie-style winter hats to choose from in the marketplace. In this case, however, the substance of these garments puts them in a class of their own. In terms of the base layer, there's a soft pliability to Rapha's wool that makes it a joy to wear as layer #1 against the skin. Virtually every other high-end Merino we've tried has a least a hint of scratchiness to it. Not here. In addition, the wicking prowess is outstanding. It's the best base layer I've ever worn -- and so far I've worn it in both the 40's and the 70's. It was equally pleasurable in both ends of the temp spectrum.

And their Belgie winter hat won me over at 'hello'. The exterior shares the same softness as the base layer. The interior has a silky, ventilated lining that feels great against my shaved head. The ear flaps are built with an ideal extent of elasticity so they stay down over my ears when it's cold, but I can easily flip them up and they stay perfectly in place. The elasticity isn't so great that the flaps creep down (and high-tension elasticity at the ears is a surefire ingredient for a mid-ride headache, to boot.) The final bonus is the attention paid to the bill. It works in either a flipped-up or flipped-down position. Even though the bill is thick like the rest of the hat, your helmet won't push the bill downward when you're riding flipped-up. This hat is soft, warm, and perfectly conforming. This sucker is an essential.

So, in short, huge props to Rapha. Don't get turned off by the pouty hipsters in the catalogs. The reality is the quality of the clothing: It's remarkable and it's distinct. If you're ready for an indulgence that won't disappoint, treat yourself to some Rapha._

Moving on to Australia…

Cycling Tips

Their blog has some great photography and thoughts from the Australian Sun Tour that has some great photos and writing about the Rapha Condor guys in action. Day One is particularly great because it breaks down the riders and support crew, their roles and even their nicknames. Also has some great tips from the guys on packing and washing your bike.

Day 1
Day 2
Day 3

Selectism

Who could forget our favorite sartorially adept clothing advisor from the great shores of Boston, MA? He attended our little party in Vegas and continues to excite with his style recommendations (I bought some new boots the other night). So, thanks for that. But check back frequently to his sight for great finds everywhere on the web and the rest of the world too.