Rapha Los Angeles

Thanks to all that participated in our Three Year Anniversary Scavenger Hunt over the weekend! Here are some highlights and check out #larideandseek on Instagram for more.

We've had a bunch of different display bikes in the shop over the years. Here are a few, what's your favorite?

In the year of lockdown and social distancing, riding together virtually, on the road, or otherwise has never been more important. On 6th September 2020, the Women’s 100 returns with a rallying cry to female cyclists around the world: we might be riding solo, but never alone. We're running a series of Zwift rides to get your legs in shape for the challenge. These are open rides, so all are welcome. August 22nd at 11 a.m. ET | W100 Preparation Training Ride... September 6th at 11 a.m. ET | The Women's 100 Zwift Ride Sign up for the Zwift Rides https://zwift.com/events/tag/rcc Join the to Challenge on Strava https://www.strava.com/challenges/Rapha-Womens-100-2020

Words by Roel Hessens and Photos by Cody Chouinard A few weeks ago, Cody and I both had the same day off. My plan was a long ride to escape the madness of Los Angeles. What better place to go than Ojai? Once I assured Cody that I would take care of him aka making sure I don't drop him; we set the alarm for 6 a.m. and started rolling at 7 a.m. sharp. Our complete route was 270km! The first part of the route along the Pacific took us to Malibu, where we took a right turn stra...ight into the Santa Monica Mountains. I’ve ridden these mountain roads for almost four years, which doesn’t leave many surprises. So, it was not until kilometer 90 that we encountered a road that I’d only been on once before. Balcom Canyon is steep as heck, but the descent is a true reward. It was around this point that the heater got switched on to high. At 31 degrees Celsius, we had one final climb followed by a short downhill between us and the best coffee in Ojai. With the temperature still rising, the 17 km of climbing on Highway 150 was tough. I did what I told Cody I would not to do; I dropped him. I told myself, He will be fine, he is a tough one. He could be Belgian after all, but he is from Vermont. I bought a Gatorade and a bottle of water, then waited for him at the top. When he arrived, I could see he went deep. The Gatorade was well deserved however his stomach was not happy with the sugar. It came back up at the same speed as it went down. There is a first time for everything, right? After ten minutes recovering in the shade, we were ready to go get our coffee. While we enjoyed two espressos, a cold brew and a cappuccino under a tree, we talked about life and the world. It will all be fine, we said. Unfortunately, there were no gourmet snacks at the coffee bar, so we opted for Snickers bars from the liquor store. From Ojai, the route was mostly downhill until we reached our homestretch on the PCH. Our last stop was in Oxnard. There it was time to fuel up and fly home. The tailwind on the PCH makes the last 80 km go by quickly. We were sure not to bonk, while staying focused to avoid car(door)s. We made it home safely. On the beach Cody had another bout of sugar stomach, but he enjoyed a beer at home. The next day both of us were present at the Clubhouse and worked our full shifts. https://www.strava.com/activities/3705594799

Did you miss out on the Legion Los Angeles training jersey online? We've got a few left in stock in sizes Small, Medium and Large! Come visit us to purchase.

As of today, Monday, June 15th, Rapha Los Angeles will offer a limited in-store shopping experience daily from 10am until 5pm. We appreciate everyone’s patience as we navigate these unprecedented times and adjust our operations to adhere to local restrictions. We require all customers to wear a mask to enter the space and will admit a maximum of three guests at a time. We provide hand sanitizer for our guests and require application upon entry. We request that customers maint...ain a 6ft distance whenever possible and cannot offer dressing rooms, restrooms or accept cash as payment. We also cannot facilitate any online exchanges or returns. Our café also resumes in a limited capacity with to-go only beverages. The maximum number of guests includes coffee patrons, so please follow the guidance for lines and service. We continue to offer curbside pick-up if that is the preferred method of shopping. We continue to check [email protected] daily for questions or orders. We’re experiencing a higher volume of calls than normal, so email is a great way to get in contact with us.

On Saturday afternoon, Bikes Over Bang N' hosted a Ride for Justice in Leimert Park. Over half of our staff were there along with RCC members, others in our cycling community and many more from Los Angeles to support Black Lives Matter. It was a powerful moment and we thank all those who created the opportunity, joined in and pushed the movement.

Rapha Los Angeles will remain closed until further notice to ensure both the safety of our community and to allow our team to participate in the movement for justice. We look forward to reopening as soon as possible. Stay safe, educate yourselves and support Black Lives Matter!

Congrats to the 37 participants who met the 12,000ft first week goal of our Giro Climbing Challenge. We've attached the top 10 below - that's some serious elevation! The winner of the raffle, Chris Hands, was chosen using the Google Random Number Generator. The second week (May 25 - 31) elevation goal for eligibility into the raffle is 18,000ft. We will announce the winner for week 2 and the overall winner on Monday, June 1. Good luck to everyone!

Sheldon joined the RCC in 2015 when it began. He's a founding member of the LA chapter and participated in countless rides, gatherings and events. For his 40th birthday, he decided to create the ultimate gift to himself that encapsulated his cycling journey in LA and with the Rapha Cycling Club. Check out that gift and read the backstory on Mosaic Cycles, https://www.mosaiccycles.com/sing/behindthebike-sheldonrt1d. Photography by Sean Talkington.

To honor the Giro d'Italia, Rapha Los Angeles will host a springtime climbing challenge each week between May 18-31. Each week's results will be tallied, and all participants who achieve the weekly goal will be entered into a raffle to win a prize. Raffle winners will be contacted via Strava for further details. Cycling INDOORS RECOMMENDED to adhere to the new Safer at Home officers order. Outdoor rides are eligible for those who don’t have access to indoor cycling. Rides m...ust be logged in Southern California to win. Please, for the safety of all, #ridesolo or with your quarantine Partner(s). To enter, join the Strava club and fill out the associated form, both linked below. Strava Club - Rapha Los Angeles Giro Climbing Challenge, 2020 https://www.strava.com/clubs/660731 Los Angeles Giro Climbing Challenge Form https://forms.gle/yWs2RxDyLTn4L4xN9 (Link for App Use) Week 1 (May 18-24) Vertical feet: 12,000 Prize: Accessories bundle Week 2 (May 25-31) Vertical feet: 18,000 Prize: Pro Team/Souplesse Jersey Overall (May 18-31) Most vertical feet climbed Prize: Pro Team/Souplesse Bib Shorts Please continue to practice the social distancing guidelines when you’re out there and if possible #RIDESOLO or ride with #ZWIFT.