on 6/6/10 9:21 AM, William at tapebu...@gmail.com wrote: > I personally think the Rapha thing represents something very good for > cycling, just like I think Rivendell represents something very good > for cycling. The thing they have in common, for me, is encouragement > and advocacy of an attitude towards cycling that expands the variety > of things that are cool about cycling. There are numerous other > companies that also expand the envelope of what cycling is. Ten years > ago, virtually all hard core roadies, or their associated wannabes > were all about team kits. Rapha has helped expand that, especially > with the Continental, to include wool, and stylish basic colors (and > black shorts!) back into the realm of high end roadie gear. Maybe > that look or vibe was cool all along, but no company that I know of > has lately presented that look as the height of fashion and style. > And there's still plenty of room for those who want to wear synthetic > team kits. Rivendell also goes against the conventional wisdom about > what a bicycle is and what a bicyclist dresses like. Lots of cyclists > think of Rivendell as an exclusivist pompous boutique because you can > buy a Surly for cheaper that is 'just as good'. And here are Rive > users implying (or stating outright) that Rapha wearers are some other > kind of stuck up fashionistas, while it's us that are the normal > everyman. I personally think it's a waste of tie for cyclist in > general to categorize themselves in to cliques and then figure out > ways to emphasize our differences. It seems to me that, at least in > my lifetime, cycling has never had a broader set of participants than > it does today, and I think that is extremely exciting. There's plenty > of room for all of us.
That's really well put, William. I think one could throw an even wider lasso than that, to include the KoF's involved with the Cirque du Cyclism, practical approaches like ANT, the Oregon Manifest, the NA Handbuilt Shows, the anarchy of cyclocross and those kids down the street who cobble together low-budget bikes out of cast off bits. It's the core love of cycling which keeps these things going. Cycling enthusiasts generally will evolve, and if they come to bicycles by way of matching team kits and carbon bikes, that's fine too. As obvious as good position, comfortable frames and having a great time out riding is to us, we're a relative outlier in the perceived spectrum. Visible companies like Rivendell, Rapha, etc., give folks a way to migrate away from the racing paradigm. We help to recruit by example, knickers and normal shorts, jerseys that don't stink and bikes that let us bring more than a gel pack or two onto a stunning variety of trails. Rivendell and Rapha are examples of relatively small, nimble companies able exist because they focus on what makes sense to them, and as GP has overtly written, they figure that it will interest other people too. History is full of companies that went away because they were all hype and image, while their products ranged from "meh" to craptaculous. Both Rivendell and Rapha have elected to succeed or fail on their terms. It's hard not to give that the respect it deserves. One can certainly decide how and where to draw the line with one's pocketbook, but I think it's impossible to make the case that we're not the better for their existence. - Jim -- Jim Edgar cyclofi...@earthlink.net Cyclofiend Bicycle Photo Galleries - http://www.cyclofiend.com Current Classics - Cross Bikes Singlespeed - Working Bikes Workshops of the iBob's -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bu...@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en.
