miscellaneous

To look good is already to go fast

Feb 22, 2010 | 4 Comments

As has oft been kindly pointed out on club rides (or mocked – I’m not quite sure which), I’m quite partial to a bit of Rapha. So it is with some interest that I took a look at their new 2010 collection (it gives me some clue as to what items I’ll be able to afford when they make their way into the clearance section of the website in a year or so).

Paul Fournel wrote in his book ‘Need for the Bike’, “You have to know how to look good when you’re riding. You have to impress your adversary with your elegance. To look good is already to go fast.” Cycling is one area of life where the phrase ‘style over substance’ is made redundant.

However, for some reason Rapha seems to attract its fair share of critics and detractors. Surely it’s not the ‘premium’ price tags that are offensive? Or the irksome pretentious product descriptions? Or their forays into producing superfluous luxury accessories such as silk scarves and tool cases? The irrationality of ‘Rapha Haters’ is beyond me. All I know is that what’s good enough for Gary Kemp and Jake Gyllenhaal is good enough for me.

From the new 2010 range it is the Stowaway Jacket – in the pink ‘colourway’ (above) – that most piques my interest. A hitherto unexploited colour in the performance cycle wear market, anyone brave enough would certainly cut a dash at the Sunday club run.

It’s also worth studying closely the aspirational photoshoots for on- and off-the-bike styling cues. Riding with aviator sunglasses is definitely IN. As are long flowing locks, loose and tamed only by a cap with its peak inversed. OUT go helmets, Oakleys, and undertaking any rides that are neither ‘epic’ or not on beautiful sweeping roads of Sicily, Girona or other such continental cycling nirvanas.

Fear not, there’s no need to replicate such scenes on Col du Box Hill – Rapha now run luxury trips to more suitable poseur locations. They may be the only rides you can safely undertake without the fear of having your pink cycling jacket laughed at.

4 Comments

  1. + Saddle Bag Spares… « IN THE SADDLE
    May 18, 2010

    [...] …I love a bit of Rapha as much as the next poseur cyclist, yet even I think a brushed Camel textured cycling cap at £115 is taking things a bit far… [...]

    Reply
  2. Gem Atkinson
    May 18, 2010

    couldnt agree more about the hate on rapha. It riles me when people rant about it being ‘exclusive’ and ‘better than thou’. I love wearing my rapha togs but it certainly doesnt serve make me feel better than others or give me a feeling of self impotance. Rather it makes ME feel good wearing it, its stylish and functional and it certainly gives me a boost and makes me feel fast wearing it! I work very hard and cycling is my passion, why not treat myself to some thoroughly decent gear? Theres nothing sinister about that as the rapha detractors will have you believe. I also think that they shouldnt cater to the more modest market, enough brands already do that such as Craft etc. Rapha are a wonderful brand run by some very passionate people…. they consistently plough money back into fab cycling events for people to enjoy FOR FREE most of the time. I dont see many other brands doing as much as rapha to raise the profile and support grassroots cycling (their recent race series and womens teams are fine examples) Not only that, but im yet to fork out on a rapha piece and be dissapointed by it. I love thier clothes, their image, everything from their features and projects they run (conti/yonretto etc) to how downright helpful and feriendly their staff are. As a brand the reaching out they do to their customer base is fab….

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  3. Gem Atkinson
    May 18, 2010

    Its also suitable to apologise for my atrocious spelling above!

    Reply
  4. Damien Breen
    May 20, 2010

    Thanks for the comments Gem. It’s interesting that you read the post as being so positive towards Rapha – my intention was to be a little more ambiguous than that!

    Although I like, wear and covet much of Rapha’s products I do sometimes feel they are becoming a parody of themselves at times. The latest camel hair cycling cap is an example – an impractical luxury item that means nothing to the serious roadie to whom Rapha supposedly targets its brand. I wish they’d stick to their core product line, and not descend to such gimmicks.

    I applaud Rapha for getting involved in the grassroots of the sport, and I think it’s vital for them to be associated with actual racing teams. Otherwise I think their client base would be exclusively rich bankers riding sportives at the weekend.

    So, despite the gentle teasing from my club mates I’ll continue to wear Rapha products, and request them as indulgent Christmas and Birthday presents! They sure beat ASSOS in the looks department too…

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