Women’s 100: Who Will You Ride With?

Cycling historian and author Herbie Sykes is at his forthright and expansive best in this new long read from Mondial magazine. Are you sitting comfortably?

The best bike rides are those shared with other people. With this in mind, the Women’s 100 brings cyclists around the world together to share the road and create enduring memories of their century ride.

In Episode 11, Rapha Race Radio makes it to Paris for the party, but not before going surfing with Tour de France stage winner Juan Antonio Flecha and meeting some proud Welsh fans at the final time trial.

Whether it be to ride a certain distance, climb that tricky hill or achieve a certain race result, goal setting is a powerful motivational tool for many cyclists. Here’s how to set your goal and, more importantly, achieve it.

The boys make their own ‘Publicity Caravan’, go inside the team car with Team EF sports director Tom Southam, and play a game of boules with Juan Antonio Flecha.

The fear of getting lost is a common obstacle to riding further away from home or even riding at all but with a little pre-ride planning, there’s nothing to worry to about. Here’s our guide to adventuring, with a little ‘a’.

The most important contact point between rider and machine is that between our behinds and our saddles. To help you sit comfortably, follow our tips for taking care of ‘down there’.

From treadmills to tennis courts, the pitch to the pool, exercise of any kind presents a challenge and prompts an endorphin rush but adventure? That’s reserved for the cyclists.

Just as hill climbs are rewarded with descents, so the calories you burn must be replenished. Here’s our guide to keeping your energy up during your ride and rewarding yourself afterwards.

While we don’t recommend trying to solve a Rubik's cube while you’re riding, heading out for a spin can be a great way to solve other problems. Take a problem out on the bike and it’s bound to come back smaller.

How long does it take to get to know someone? A week, a month, a year? Head out for a bike ride with someone and it’ll probably take less time than you think.

Roadside dispatches from the best bike races in the world

Outskirts: Route 66 is Rapha’s feature length film following the epic adventure four riders across the United States. The soundtrack to the film, composed by Builder’s Tea, was created a long way from the great American highway, writes Stuart Downie.

As you ride more frequently and further afield, a few additional pieces of kit will prove to be very useful. We asked a trio of Rapha designers what they’d recommend.

A clean bike will last longer and maybe even go a little bit faster. Giving yours a wash every now and then is well worth it. Here’s our routine for keeping your bike pristine.

For the uninitiated, cycling clothing can throw up more questions than answers. In this Manual, we recommend what to wear and explain why it’s alright to wear something tight.

From the cobbles of Roubaix to sprints through the Pyrenees, the 2018 Tour was designed to include the most varied route to date. But innovation at the Grand Tours is never without its history, writes Graeme Fife

It’s hard to hold a conversation with headphones in at the gym or shouting across a tennis court but cycling is different. Welcome to the sociable sport.

Riding with Rapha is easy. We have rides across the world, for every cyclist. Follow these simple steps to ride with us:

Cycling’s meditative qualities are much vaunted but these claims are more than just hearsay. Here’s the science behind clearing your mind on the bike.

From the makers of Thereabouts and filmed in partnership with Rapha, Outskirts is a new film series chronicling incredible journeys along the world’s most famous roads.

Whether you have been riding for decades or you are just clipping in, the journey to becoming a cyclist always includes the same rites of passage.

Enjoy a clearer view of the road ahead. Whether you’ll be swooping down alpine descents or spinning into town for a quick coffee in the morning sun, find your next pair of Rapha sunglasses below.

The latest publication from Rapha Editions plots the history not only of the world’s most famous race but also the country that hosts it. Editor Guy Andrews and renowned writer Paul Fournel discuss the inspiration behind their new book.

A ten day adventure on the West Coast

Painting the roads of the climbs has long been a part of cycling culture, but do professional racers notice the messages of encouragement written by fans? Mondial spoke to former and current riders David Millar, Lachlan Morton and Ian Boswell to find out.

We ride events such as the Etape not just to pedal in the tracks of our heroes but to answer the call of the mountains. In this piece from the Mondial Archives, Julian Hoffman explores why mountains occupy such a special place in the human imagination.

Roadside dispatches from the best bike races in the world

CANYON//SRAM at the OVO Energy Women’s Tour

In a long read from the Mondial Archives, Richard Grant delves into the restless spirit of Americana and the answers that the road can offer up to travellers.

Luggage for life on the move and a pairing for the 21st century

In this long read from the Mondial archives, author Jon Day looks at how the bicycle has helped us find the answer to social, cultural and political questions for more than a century.

We believe cycling transforms lives and should be the most popular sport in the world.

Los Angeles is unlike anywhere in the world. A patchwork of city and mountain, it was the location of our latest shoot and a place where riding is the answer to life's daily challenges.

Criterium racing is a discipline apart. More intense, more fiery and less formal than road racing, it suits punchier riders who race with flair as well as form. The Crit collection is the kit to match, made for railing corners and turning heads.

Roadside dispatches from the best bike races in the world

Roadside dispatches from the best bike races in the world

Roadside dispatches from the best bike races in the world

We’ve been designing the world’s finest bib shorts for years, yet we’ve never had control of their interaction with saddles. Until now.

Roadside dispatches from the best bike races in the world

The first layer of your cycling wardrobe

This week’s selection from the Mondial archive investigates themes very pertinent to Explore: are we too reliant on GPS navigation and is it changing our brains in ways we don’t yet understand? Science writer and broadcaster Kat Arney investigates.

Roadside dispatches from the best bike races in the world

Tested in the world’s hottest and most humid riding climates, the Souplesse Flyweight Jersey is made to take the heat.

Tested in the world’s hottest and most humid riding climates, the Pro Team Flyweight Jersey and Bib Shorts are made to take the heat.

The new Rapha City collection is for time spent outdoors in the sun. Whether you’re on two wheels or two feet, our lightweight, technical clothing will keep you cool on the move.

Years of research and design at the top level of the sport have helped us make cycling’s fastest kit. Now it’s time to up the high-speed stakes with a new collection designed for moving fast. This is Pro Team Aero.

Richard Askwith’s article from Mondial issue 005, turns its focus inwards and asks, what insights do we get when we look at how the brain responds when the body is pushed past normal physical limits?

The hardest efforts demand their rewards

Early flights and long drives. Start lines and warm downs; there are some days that take longer to put to bed. Introducing Pro Team Transfer, the perfect solution to time off the bike, because the hardest efforts demand their rewards.

New Rapha City

Roadside dispatches from the best bike races in the world

Roadside dispatches from the best bike races in the world

In our latest publication from the Mondial Archive, we examine the wildlife revealed through exploration first published in Mondial 001.

Travel with the world's finest cycling club

Ten exciting new Rapha Travel destinations.

Friday, May 11 - Sunday, May 13

A relative newcomer to bikepacking, Sarah Hammond’s first crack of the long-distance whip came at the TransAm, a 6,900km across the USA in June 2016.

The intimate series Thereabouts has inspired riders around the world. Now its creators are partnering with Rapha to produce an incredible new series.

Phil Deeker, founder of Rapha Travel’s Cent Cols Challenge, set out to ride 1,000 mountains in 100 days – the equivalent of scaling Mount Everest 50 times.

In January, Rapha photographer and filmmaker George Marshall travelled to northern Argentina with long-distance riders Jesse Carlsson, Sarah Hammond and Neil Phillips.

As Rapha explores the theme of exploration, we are publishing an extraordinary account of adventure cycling in the 1980s from Mondial Four.

At Rapha Travel, we’re in the business of exploring. This year sees our most diverse range of trips ever, with adventures across Europe, USA, Japan and beyond.

A whole new way to dress for exploration. Films and features that explore the roads less travelled. Trips, rides and events to help you go until life looks less familiar.

This season we welcome a series of improvements to much-loved favourites, and new colours across the collection.

The Classics never get old.

Changeable conditions pose a dilemma to the cyclist: you want to be protected from the worst of the weather whilst having the option to layer down, should conditions improve.

Changeable conditions pose a dilemma to the cyclist: you want to be protected from the worst of the weather whilst having the option to layer down, should conditions improve.

The yellow jersey. Polka dots. Pink or red. Whether it’s leaders jerseys, checkered flags, team colours and rainbow bands, cycling has always been a riot of colour.

Cyclocross is a sport as ugly as it is beautiful. Held in extreme weather, on dusty fields and in frozen forests filled with fans.

Rapha Cycling Club Manchester

A guide to clothing combinations for any spring/autumn ride.

Travel with the world's finest cycling club.

New Season Highlights

Jeremy Powers is one of the most inspiring figures in cycling. A four-time US national cyclocross title holder, charismatic leader and champion of talented youngsters, Rapha is incredibly proud to have sponsored his team for the past seven years.

Rapha Travel

We followed Japanese photographer Satoshi Oda as he endeavoured to capture the beauty and the grit of Rapha Supercross Nobeyama.

Training and Preparation

Emma Osenton, co-creator of the Manchester to London route, provides some intriguing advice on long distance riding, in preparation for the event.

Key information

Fundraising information

On Sunday 4th September, 169 cyclists rode Manchester to London, a yearly ride from the north to the south of England.

Training routes

Ride through the heart of England in one of the most demanding and rewarding events of the year, raising money for Ambitious about Autism.

Special edition women’s collection

Rapha and Herman Miller caps toast the terrain of South Australia.

The Rapha #Festive500 has finished for another year. If you made it to 500 kilometres, we offer our heartiest congratulations.

Phil Deeker in conversation with The Cycling Podcast

Join the Rapha Mobile Clubhouse along the cobbles, just 20km before the finish line, and support the pros as they ride the Hell of the North.

Aspire Racing at the US Cyclocross Nationals

All-new luggage for every trip

Over a long weekend in May, the Rapha Cycling Club hosted its first French summit in the small commune of Mougins, on the heights of Cannes.

Recognising the most daring and passionate riders of 2017

Robust on the road and inspired by the spring classics, a new pair of full frame glasses by Rapha.

“It is by riding a bicycle that you learn the contours of a country best, since you have to sweat up the hills and coast down them.”

Autumn can be one of the best times of year to ride a bike, but for many riding through the seasons can be daunting; short evenings and changeable weather often mark the time to hang up the wheels.

Read our guide for tips and tricks to riding through the season, and learn what to wear and how to wear it.

As the old adage goes, summer races are won in winter. Read our guide for tips and tricks to riding through the season, and learn what to wear and how to wear it.

All Wool and a Yard Wide