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Last Sunday saw a Rapha Women's 100 training ride in the UK in the hilly Peak District for a tough 65km in preparation for the forthcoming ride in July. Nonnas Italian restaurant in Chesterfield acted as a suitably Giro-inspired rider HQ, with splashes of Rosa and tricolore welcoming the ladies who enjoyed traditional Italian coffees and pastries before rolling out with the Jaguar support car containing both soigneur and mechanic.
Photos by - Jason Perry
In the days leading up to a big ride such as the Rapha Women's Prestige you try to make sure that everything has been accounted for: the bicycle has been properly tuned; new tires have been installed (maybe a little wider than normal to take into account those notorious gravel sections); the derailleurs have been fine tuned; and the bike is nice and clean. Then there is your body: requisite training time in the saddle logged; stretching program followed; and the diet has been focused. It all culminates now, the starting time that sends you and your team into the wilds together. To stay together, to finish together, everything has to be just right.
Words by Tori Bortman | Photos by Daniel Sharp
Guest author Tori Bortman AKA Gracie's Wrench gives us the ultimate guide on fixing 'you know whats'. Read it, but don't talk about it…
Above all things dreaded by most cyclists is the annoyance, the waste-of-precious-riding-time and, in some cases, end to your ride, that can be caused by punctures. For the average rider, it’s a ten to fifteen minute detour that causes momentum to cease and frustration to build. For those who don’t know how to repair a flat tire it’s a complete game changer, leaving them subject to the skills of the riders around them— if there is another rider. Otherwise, these folks may be wary of venturing out too far with the looming threat of being stranded.
Join us in Chesterfield on 12th May for the first training ride in the UK in preparation for this summer’s Women’s 100 – Rapha's challenge to women around the world to cycle 100km on 7th July.
Starting and finishing at Nonna’s Italian Restaurant at the edge of the Peak District National Park in Chesterfield, there will be two groups of different speeds. The route is approximately 60km in length through spectacular but testing scenery, and promises to be an excellent opportunity to test yourself over an intermediate distance with a few challenging climbs. The Rapha H-Van will appear en route as a feed stop and post-ride feasting will commence at Nonna’s at 3pm.
Rapha’s collection of apparel and accessories for women has been expanded for Autumn Winter 2012 and now includes new products for high-tempo training and city riding. The products feature in our most recent photoshoot, which took place in the Friuli-Venezia Giulia region of Italy. Shot by Ben Ingham, Rapha riders Gem Atkinson and Collyn Ahart were game enough to tackle the ‘hills’ in the area, in some cases repeatedly and occasionally to the point of tears (sorry Collyn). In the coming weeks, we’ll also have a film of their ascent of the mighty Mont Zoncolan. In the meantime, here’s a short from Mr Ingham to keep you going, a film that also features in Rapha’s new lookbook.
Colour photos © Graham Watson
Words by Kati Jagger
The 1984 Tour de France covered nearly 2,500 miles and was comprised of twenty-three stages. Standing on the finishing podium at its conclusion were Laurent Fignon, Bernard Hinault and Greg LeMond. But these men were not the first cyclists that day to ride into Paris and climb onto the winners’ platform to celebrate.
Words by Fiona Adler
Cycling in France is such a cliché but, as it turns out, for good reason. We’re a few days into our trip and I’m still pinching myself because it truly feels like we’re riding through a painting. The landscape of the Vercors is absolutely stunning and there’s almost a magical haze making everything somehow brighter and larger than life (including the hills). The towns are quaint, the drivers courteous, the locals are charming, and the spring air is rich and full of life. This is truly living!
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