Rapha Cycle Club Opens in San Francisco, Hosts Ride with Cyclocross Stars Jeremy Powers and Chris Jones

On Thursday, May 12, British high-end cycling clothing company Rapha celebrated the opening of its San Francisco Cycle Club with a “Gentlemen’s Ride” with pro cyclocrossers and new teammates Chris Jones and Jeremy Powers.

Cyclocross Magazine chased these two pros to talk cyclocross (see our Chris Jones and Jeremy Powers interviews) as the ride crossed Golden Gate Bridge and climbed over to Muir Woods and along Highway 1. Afterwards, riders got to kick back in the new, ultra-civilized digs of the new Rapha Cycle Club.

What is a Cycle Club? It’s part boutique, part gallery, part cafe, with bike racing on the big screen throughout the day. As poor cycling journalists and avid mudders, we felt a bit out of place, but with fine beverages, racing and cyclocross photos on television, a dismantled Focus cyclocross bike on the wall and great company, it was a nice spot to end a fun ride.

Bay Area cyclists shouldn’t get too used to this lifestyle however, as it’s not a permanent fixture. The store will be open from May 5 through July 31 to provide San Francisco cyclists with their bike racing, caffeine and high-end cycling clothing fixes, and then will likely move to another location next summer. Other current locations include Tokyo and Mallorca, while last summer New York and London had their own “clubs.”

While it’s open, the Cycle Club will be featuring live coverage of both Grand Tours on their big screen television monitors in the store, opening some mornings as early as 6am for important stages, and offers a complete library of cycling magazines and books.  The Cycle Club will also be hosting  weekly group rides, and of course, carries a full range of Rapha products.

Love Rapha lifestyle and the Rapha-Focus team? See also A Ride and a Chat with Jeremy Powers at the Rapha Gentlemen’s Ride in San Francisco and Catching up with Chris Jones.

For more information, hours and location: Rapha’s Cycle Club San Francisco’s website

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