My love of Rapha and their very stylish aesthetic is fairly well documented on this here website. Smooth as hell, with a classic style and ridiculous price tag to match, they make cycling products that are a step above many of the branding-heavy gear we see daily. My favourite thing about their website has always been the Features section, with a heap of stories that usually have me inspired to be out at 5am, turning pedals and sweating onto my handlebars (never really translates to actual results, but I’ll be a lazy bastard til the bitter end). Recently they’ve been doing a heap of stuff in their Continental series, documenting rides across North America.
The latest of this is a series of videos covering their riding of the Tour of California route. Complete with trendy beards, tattoos, black bikes and pink accents, the riders trundle along putting in plenty of KMs. It’s all shot in the indie-film style you’d expect, and I can’t help being a bit of a sucker for it. It really does a good job of capturing that feeling you so often get when you’re out on the bike. You may be out with a group, but it’s you and you alone who’s pushing your pedals over and over, and your mates aren’t going to help. There’s a reflective solitude in this, even if pain is usually the only thing staring back into your eyes. I guess having all the right gear and clothing helps make it all the more comfortable, but the truth is, that feeling is out there and waiting for you all the time.
So I’m going to sit here and dream of epic, painful rides and glory through suffering, softened by clothing aimed at dentists and surgeons. Tomorrow I’ll jump on the rust bucket out the front, with the buckled rear wheel that rubs on the chainstays and the brakes that barely work, and somewhere between here and the beach, I’ll find that same feeling.
Beautiful post. I know exactly what you mean about the inspiration that comes from well shot photos and video. They just capture the feeling of being out there and turning the pedals over. Pushing yourself up the climbs but with half an eye on the surroundings, soaking up the experience of being on your bike in whatever the weather. And as beautiful as the Rapha clothing is, and as light and efficient new and modern bikes are, I love the fact that you can get that feeling riding and wearing pretty much anything. I love cycling!
…and then, there’s http://www.evilcycling.com
And still severely lacking in updates.