View Full Version : Continental Bikes
OldPad
08-05-2008, 06:05 PM
Rapha dropped an email today talking about all the bike builders that worked on bikes for their Continental project. Where do I sign up for a team-issue bike? And, how great is that picture of Bilenky in the parking lot?
http://www.rapha.cc/continental/index.php?page=538
fiamme red
08-05-2008, 07:28 PM
I love reading Rapha's articles. The style is so ridiculously over-the-top, almost like self-parody. :rolleyes:
He’s also quick to lend a hand, find your arm warmers, walk the dog and make everyone, in the middle of a hard and demanding ride, the best peanut-butter, cream-cheese and jelly sandwiches ever.
Peter sees the Continental project as a gathering of intelligence, a special-ops group of bike-minded folks who wish to adventure and be pushed through the ether. He welcomes the responsibility documentation entails, the need to be more detail oriented, to accurately capture all the rough patches, slick curves and cruel descents, and how they were negotiated.
At 5’8” and built like a cyclist he is surprisingly intimidating, not in the uncomfortable or fear producing sense. He’s just a bit, I don’t know, kind but dangerous like you’d imagine a dolphin would be.
He can climb for miles with a toothpick jutting rakishly from the corner of his mouth, not a drip of sweat or even a hint of pain anywhere in sight – it takes a lot of a very special skill and is infinitely inspiring.
"He’s just a bit, I don’t know, kind but dangerous like you’d imagine a dolphin would be."
johnnymossville
08-05-2008, 07:55 PM
I got that email too, and found myself reading every single feature on each of the Continental Builders. Nice Stuff.
It may be a bit over the top in some places, but that's alright, I lapped that stuff right up.
I liked the Bilenky bike.
39cross
08-05-2008, 08:16 PM
Earnestness is apt to run along the razor's edge of self-parody.
But that doesn't mean it isn't fun. Good reading. Even if the picture of Ira makes him look like a smudgy Jack Dempsey.
stuckey
08-05-2008, 09:36 PM
Am I the only one who finds Rapha to be a big silly/annoying marketing scheme?
rustychisel
08-06-2008, 02:52 AM
They certainly know very little about dolphin. I, for one, question what they know about much else.
They certainly know very little about dolphin. I, for one, question what they know about much else.
They sure know how to make cycling gear. Seriously, everything I've tried from Rapha has turned out to be the best of whatever it is that I've ever used. (Bibs, Jerseys (Club and Country), Arm/Knee warmers, socks, caps.)
Maybe they aren't marine biologists, but I get what they say about dolphins. Sure they're gentle, but they're huge and powerful and even though they likely wouldn't, they could kill you in one fell swoop, I imagine.
Am I the only one who finds Rapha to be a big silly/annoying marketing scheme?
What's silly and annoying? Do they even advertise? I only know of them by word of mouth. They have a well designed website that's enjoyable to read and on online store that's simple and functional. Many could learn from their example.
People complain about their prices, but one can easily spend more and get less. (Assos comes to mind, I've used a lot of their stuff. Way more expensive and not nearly as nice, IMO)
tys
Chris
08-06-2008, 04:48 PM
Am I the only one who finds Rapha to be a big silly/annoying marketing scheme?
yes
davidlee
08-06-2008, 05:00 PM
Amen to this...Best ( and coolest) riding threads out there. Hands down.
david
They sure know how to make cycling gear. Seriously, everything I've tried from Rapha has turned out to be the best of whatever it is that I've ever used. (Bibs, Jerseys (Club and Country), Arm/Knee warmers, socks, caps.)
Maybe they aren't marine biologists, but I get what they say about dolphins. Sure they're gentle, but they're huge and powerful and even though they likely wouldn't, they could kill you in one fell swoop, I imagine.
What's silly and annoying? Do they even advertise? I only know of them by word of mouth. They have a well designed website that's enjoyable to read and on online store that's simple and functional. Many could learn from their example.
People complain about their prices, but one can easily spend more and get less. (Assos comes to mind, I've used a lot of their stuff. Way more expensive and not nearly as nice, IMO)
tys
"Am I the only one who finds Rapha to be a big silly/annoying marketing scheme?"
No. Many of us share that opinion.
Chris
08-06-2008, 07:30 PM
Honestly guys, I just don't see it, in regards to the harping on Rapha for marketing. Do they want to sell you their stuff? Sure. It's a business and that is what you do. But this goes way beyond marketing. They support the pastime/lifestyle/passion that they sell products for. They sponsor a pro team, publish a gorgeous magazine, and support a three year project of documenting rides in the United States for a comprehensive coffee table book. To me, that goes way beyond inundating me with full-page ads of models in bib shorts with no top, etc. If it is only marketing, then they are spending way too much and doing things really inefficiently to accomplish the goal of selling more product.
stuckey
08-06-2008, 10:10 PM
I will add I think they are drastically overpriced unless all there workers are in the first world, union, have a defined benefit pension, and free medical coverage/cheap co-pay for life. There writing is silly we are cool... just look at us elitist drivel that is suppose to make you want to belong to there culture... It is just a buy into me crap style that some of us call hack. That is all I have to say on the matter.
stackie
08-06-2008, 10:20 PM
I love the Rapha style. The marketing is way cool. The prices are over the top, but the made in China thing just frosts my rear. For their prices, things really ought to be able to be produced in the USA or Europe. Why should we pay a premium to support their cool marketing.
BTW, I've loved everything I've gotten from Ibex. The thing I can't figure out is where they are made. It says on the label, made in USA. Where is USA? Is that somewhere near Malaysia? I can never keep my third world countries straight.
Just my 2 cents.
Jon
stuckey
08-06-2008, 10:37 PM
It says on the label, made in USA. Where is USA? Is that somewhere near Malaysia? I can never keep my third world countries straight.
Just my 2 cents.
Jon
Not third world yet, you are going to have to wait a wee little bit longer.
fiamme red
08-06-2008, 10:38 PM
BTW, I've loved everything I've gotten from Ibex. The thing I can't figure out is where they are made. It says on the label, made in USA. Where is USA? Is that somewhere near Malaysia? I can never keep my third world countries straight.That's one of the reasons why I love Sierra Trading Post (http://www.sierratradingpost.com/). They list the country of manufacture of every item that they sell. Searching there for Ibex, they list some of their stuff as made in the USA, some in China.
mosca
08-07-2008, 02:37 PM
I think this is cool, really enjoyed reading the interviews and looking at the pics. For the first time I actually want to buy some of their pretentious overpriced stuff. Seriously.
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