Rapha #Festive500

As Sky calls time on professional cycling, Jeremy Whittle reflects on the state of a sport suddenly left without its dominant force – and the long descent that looms after Britain’s climb to the top of WorldTour.

Whether you plan to ride with clubmates or alone, to take on the #Festive500 is to join a global community of riders. Your inspiration for this year’s challenge could come from anywhere, as our diverse selection of the best previous entries to the #Festive500 Awards show.

A tribute to the legendary cycling commentator and former pro Paul Sherwen, who passed away last weekend.

Nine years after the first #Festive500 challenge, we revisit the story of how its creator, former Rapha designer Graeme Raeburn, had to ride 1,000km to realise 500km was enough.

Gifts for any cyclist, no matter where they ride.

150,000 square miles, 28,000 people, four riders, one road – an extraordinary adventure to the edge of the world.

Whether you’re gearing up for the Festive 500 or another riding goal, get up to speed with the Rapha Cycling Club’s virtual training camp on Zwift.

A forgotten race between iconic Italian cities. Two editions, twelve years apart, both won by the same rider: Milano-Roma. Rapha celebrates the best bike race you've never heard of with this luxurious special collection.

Developed with the most adventurous riders over thousands of miles in the saddle, our first down jacket was designed to be incredibly warm, packable and lightweight.

Covering new ground on two wheels demands products that break with tradition and defy convention. The Cargo Bibs – with pockets – and the Technical T-Shirt form a whole new way to dress for in-the-saddle adventures.

The Explore Winter Tights take the radical pocket design from our popular Cargo Bib Shorts and add large reflective panels on the lower leg and a warm fleece-backed fabric to keep you warm, well-stocked and visible on winter adventures.

The new Explore collection

As the temperature falls and the light fades, it’s harder to get out and ride. Led by our legendary merino jerseys and padded tights, the Classic collection takes on the challenges of autumn and winter riding.

As the temperature falls and the light fades, it’s harder to get out and ride. Led by our legendary merino jerseys and the redesigned Winter Tights, the Classic collection takes on the challenges of autumn and winter riding.

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

Cycling with character.

In his latest contribution to Mondial, WorldTour directeur sportif and former Rapha-Condor pro Tom Southam takes us through Britain’s storied cycling history to remind us all just how spectacular the recent run of British Grand Tour victories has been.

As the first of the autumn gales struck the UK, the Rapha Cycling Club escaped to Snowdonia for a weekend of superb riding on some of Wales’ finest roads.

Seasons change and so do we. Tired legs are refreshed, worn out kit is replaced, new colours bring a new lease of life. Make a change with these fresh colours, mixing firm favourites and new flavours across our range of unparalleled cycling clothing.

Don’t let the falling temperatures keep you indoors. Our Core collection includes winter essentials for every cyclist’s wardrobe, offering value that doesn’t compromise on comfort and performance.

Those who commute by bike know its virtues. They also know what they need from a jacket. Waterproof, breathable and visible, the Commuter Jacket is made for the rigours of riding to work.

After British riders complete an unprecedented triple crown of Grand Tour wins, can Simon Yates go one further by adding the rainbow stripes? Rapha Mondial asked Jeremy Whittle to assess the season so far, and look ahead to Austria next week.

Some say cyclocross is the most fun you can have on two wheels. Mud-splattered, sand-blasted… there’s always a gleaming set of pearly whites amidst the grime. We spoke to five riders to help you get across road cycling’s fun little sibling.

As the Vuelta a España splutters to its conclusion, this week’s Rapha Mondial sees Herbie Sykes trace the path towards a three-week stage race for the instant gratification generation.

From the fin-de-siècle velodromes of North America to the glamour and chaos of the first women’s Tour de France, Queens of Pain offers a sweeping panorama of female racing history.

Fully customisable clothing. A sleep system for cross-country adventures. A jacket designed specifically for the commute. Iconic products, reimagined. Look up the road with these new season highlights from Rapha.

In the latest Mondial long read, we hear the story of James Mark Hayden, the fastest man across Europe.

Since May 2016, an anonymous writer has been penning a series of diary entries about long-distance riding for Rapha. In this piece we reveal his name.

The Rapha Cycling Club London chapter continued its dedication to fostering a strong grassroots racing community with the fourth edition of its road race on Sunday, 12th August.

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.

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