Here are a few lessons learned while in New York City.
The Rapha store is an excellent place to begin a ride. It’s a killer bike shop with no bikes for sale. Once in the door there are ample places to rack a bike. Behold beautiful espressos, fresh croissants, bike racing projected on a whole wall, seats, tables, a WC, and evidently some nice kit for sale too. They are welcoming to riders who just want to hang out for a coffee and watch a race. Did I mention it has two Belgian-style beers on tap? It is a beautiful place.
Saturday dawned sunny and warm. The Rapha Club-Velominati Saturday ride was on. Riders assembled, the place filled with carbon wheeled beauties, Rapha clad youth and us. The V-kit stood out in contrast to the understated Rapha colors. I outfitted Frank with the oldest and heaviest bicycle there. It was a thirty year old steel bike with heavy but aero aluminum wheels. The best part was it was geared for Roubaix when we were riding Flanders; it had a 44 tooth inner ring and a mostly inaccessible 23 tooth inner cog on the back. I was hoping it might slow him down but it didn’t, nothing does.
The ride was awesome. Some of us represented the kit better than others, let us leave it at that. Our Rapha Club leader, Rob, did a beautiful job getting thirty-plus riders out of Manhattan and eventually back, safely. He is a stud.
The book signing was heart warming; people buying The Rules and us writing something obnoxious in it, for them. Riders were coming into the store and whipping out their copies for us to sign. The New Jersey boys drove two hours to join us on the ride and buy a pile of books. It is simply amazing to me: this Velominati community which has grown across the world, all people who love to ride the bike. To meet some of them at a Keepers Tour, or Cogal or in the Rapha store, it makes this whole endeavor worthwhile.
The San Francisco Event is happening this weekend and I encourage all nearby to venture into the city for the riding and signing.
Mr T was bold enough to shoot photos while riding. Grazie for sharing.
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How good is that !!
@frank @Gianni - now its time to go worldwide.
A certain small UCI race in January would be perfect, followed by a couple of Cogals already in the planning in South Australia. The beer is cold and the weather warm ( read - fckn hot ) that time of year. @Gianni, you could even personally deliver the flag this time.
Many more books to sign and world domination to plot !
A sample of how the actual signing looked. Minus the excellent coffee and loud laughter.
Great time.
And you managed to not miss the insanity of the 5 Boroughs ride.
Great to finally meet a couple of the wizards behind the curtain. Plenty of strong riders, looking fantastic. Double thanks to Rapha Rob for herding cats and pulling us back.
Gianni, I owe you one.
I've been trying to tell all of you lads...New York State has it all! Two Great Lakes, borders another nation, a so-so city, an ocean, a bay, the Finger Lakes Region, some pretty darn good universities, the Erie Canal. I could go on. Oh, great cycling...
Congratulations to all of you Keepers! You are great cycling ambassadors and I admire you for all of your hard word, dedication, perseverance, and goddamn good senses of humor and love for life.
Thanks, guys!! You're true champions and big Kings of the Road!
A great event!
Man, I would've loved to have been there (almost was). Thanks to everyone who showed up for what looked like a great ride and event, and to all of our community who have made this a great journey for us.
@Timojhen
The picture raises two questions:
and/or
In mitigation though it would appear that @gianni is attempting to maintain some for of Rule 44 adherence even off the bike.
Boy oh boy, what a great day out. The images say it all, West Side bike path, GW bridge, gravel and no car roads next to the Hudson and a beautiful spring day! Not to mention the signing, Rapha and the Gypsy Doughnut!!
so wish I could have posted up...
Gianni - hey I'm impressed your looking fit! So too fearless leader ( but the helmet in store does need explaining or new Rule?). Was there a seatpost competition between Frank, Xyxax and Gianni??
Congratulations, job well done!
@Gianni So what is wrong with that picture? (In reference to the caption on the main photo).
I've looked several times and don't see anything - apart from the keyboard stashed somewhat untidily on top of the magazines in the bottom shelf and what may be some of the more questionable items from Rapha's range. Don't get me wrong I love their kit, I'm just less enamoured of the shaving set and leather-bound ride journal end of the spectrum.