Rapha has the biggest weekday club ride in Sydney?

Rapha used to be the dominant cycling clothing brand not too many years ago. Since then a whole host of smaller brands have popped up and grown such as MAAP, Attaquer, PNS and Pedal Mafia. But something very interesting has happened in Sydney in the last year. The Rapha club and cycling group has absolutely exploded, with over a hundred people turning up to their week day Wednesday ride. They have a strong emphasis on inclusion, social riding and being friendly. I had to go check it out for myself. I dusted off my old Rapha kit and hopping on my bike to have some fun.
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[@out_spocken]

Hope that cafe has a good mass coffee making system. getting swamped by the group would be nuts stress as the barista.

[@joshkwan]

They’ve been affiliated with Rapha for many years, as well as visited a lot by the cycling community. Unlimited cold brew refills too ;)

[@Junior6502001]

Great ride! So good to know so many cyclists are enjoying early morning scenic rides 👏👏👏

[@joshkwan]

Yep, great to see cycling becoming more popular. Can only mean positive things for more infrastructure for cyclists.

[@thegoodwheel]

This was a nice chill video. I enjoyed watching it👍🏾

[@joshkwan]

Thank you :)

[@richardseverin8707]

Nice easy going video Josh , can’t beat a chilled out ride but having said that , at my age I can’t smash myself to bits like you young guns . Sending you good wishes from the UK 🇬🇧 LONDON 💪🏾

[@joshkwan]

Haha I can appreciate that. I turn 30 in two weeks. Still got some energy but the next generation is breathing down my neck!

[@felixoates]

Love it Josh 🙌🙌🙌

[@joshkwan]

Thanks brother 😚

[@gavgams]

Great vid, ta

[@RichardLi-vf2xo]

Will have to join you guys for a chilled ride soon.

[@joshkwan]

Yes let’s do it :)

[@DanTuber]

Big bunches at the cafe is fine but out on the road it can get problematic with traffic lights and cars.

[@joshkwan]

Agreed. They split in to many groups with gaps inbetween them to mitigate this. At a minimum there is 5-6 groups.

[@Simon-Simon-Simon]

Grew up in Sydney tho left for a regional area and we had a Tuesday afternoon ride at one stage 15 odd yrs ago, 50 to 80 riders and 3 grades racing back with some top riders ranging from mountain biking to tour team riders was amazing. Things almost died off producing Melb to Warrnambool winners - team directors now at GREENEDGE The melb hell ride was infamous same period and still is but may be toned down

[@joshkwan]

It seems the riding community goes through some phases. I have to say it’s alive and blooming right now. I really being a part of it.

[@sds1605]

Would love to get you along to the Wollongong Trek Ride on a Saturday mate!!

[@joshkwan]

What time do you guys start? It’s a fair way for me but if I ever find myself in that part of the world I’d love to join.

[@jonathankerr882]

Awesome mate.what does RCC stand for? Their is a RAPHA CAFE here in Manila, Philippines, i must check it out, cheers Jono

[@joshkwan]

Stands for Rapha Cycling Club. Has a yearly membership but allows you to join their exclusive club rides and receive a bunch of discounts and benefits. Personally haven’t paid for it.

[@paddyotoole2058]

Every time I’m out on the road and pass someone wearing Rapha gear I cringe inside, and also feel slightly sorry for them.

[@twowheelsandcroissant]

what mount n camera r u using to record the video Josh??

[@joshkwan]

GoPro Hero 9, bite mount :) Lets me move the camera around a lot and take lots of different angles.

[@robertmcfadyen9156]

Do any of the group members ride Mountain bikes ( with road style tyres ? ) .

[@joshkwan]

No, not that I saw. There were some people on gravel bikes with slicks though.

[@beeess7987]

Been considering going to the Brisbane Rapha ride, despite us not having a clubhouse which means you have to pay $99 to join RCC. Might give it a go..

[@krisbowditch827]

99 buck gees sound at bit steep, can’t you just organise a meet up group ride yourself.. personally think the rapha seen is a bit snobby just saying 🙈 all brands and riders included ✌️

[@beeess7987]

@@krisbowditch827 It's hard to sometimes find a ride where you can just chill and grab a coffee. A lot of them are just hit outs without multiple grades.

[@joshkwan]

I have to say the Sydney Rapha group really go above and beyond to provide value for their members. Multiple organised rides a week with dedicated Rapha ride leaders. You also get various discounts and stuff 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@richardburgess5865]

Love the videos but I’m extremely jealous that you get to do bunch rides. Being a born again cyclist and living in the middle of nowhere (4 1/2 hours west of Sydney) it’s a bit hard to find another cyclist!

[@joshkwan]

Where you based? Around Mudgee or Orange? I think there is a few smaller clubs you could join.

[@richardburgess5865]

@@joshkwan A bit further south and 40 kms from any town! It’s ok, I can put up with the solitude until I can move back to QLD.

[@joshkwan]

Okay, you are really in the middle of no where haha. All the best mate@@richardburgess5865

[@bengt_axle]

Does the local roadway regulation require a steady red light in the back of the bike? I think this is a good safety measure and it is good to see that it is respected.

[@joshkwan]

The rule in our state is that you must be visible from 200m. That means when it is dark you just have a front and back light, or wear some highly reflective/visible clothing. Most cycling groups will enforce front and back lights.

[@kxvinxavier]

Big fons on the front!

[@joshkwan]

Fons the tank engine

[@haemstah]

Slow is 👍

[@fucktheworld1207]

Nice Josh, and i bet you fitted in very well there...this common scouse English 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 peasant would have stuck out like a sore thumb 😉😂🤔

[@joshkwan]

Hahaha Rapha originated from England no? I think you’d be fine.

[@fucktheworld1207]

@@joshkwan yes in London in 2004...

[@robertmcfadyen9156]

Can you participate in the Sydney Rapha ride if you have a different brand of cycling lycra . I wear Bontrager lycra sometimes when I ride my TREK mtb .

[@joshkwan]

I would say there’s no rule that you have to, but it’s a cycling club based on a clothing brand so I guess there would be some unspoken peer pressure hahha. Matching uniforms ;)

[@FatboyAussie]

Where does this start?

[@joshkwan]

Taylor Square 6am on Wednesdays

[@FatboyAussie]

@@joshkwan keen to try it out

[@JFomo]

Respect for making the effort of rocking a full Rapha kit on the RAPHA ride. Yes it's not that serious but it just erks me seeing non club kits on club rides 🤨

[@joshkwan]

Rapha make good kit, I don’t mind wearing it. We have so many Australian owned kit companies though, I prefer to support them. So if I’m not on a specific club ride I’ll just wear my MAAP or Attaquer stuff :)

[@ricardordg3443]

Cheeky

[@user-uh6lm5wv6n]

A 100 rider group with gaps between cyclists that big?? That looks pretty scrappy and uncoordinated. I imagine alot of cars beeping their horns 😮

[@MrJustinpb]

The spandex clad rage farmers are out reaping

[@adamhan4891]

are there lots of pretty gals?

[@joshkwan]

What about the boys 😚

[@adamhan4891]

@@joshkwan who cares about the KKJ?!

[@drTeddyJo]

Looks like a bunch of people buying expensive cycling clothes trying to look like cyclists lol

[@joshkwan]

Define cyclist 🤔

[@hagakuru]

very large Asian turnout. why is that?

[@AM-bl2cs]

It's sydney

[@MrSzwarz]

What is special about Rapha? Nothing. Just a bunch of cyclist like it for some reason, but it will not improve their riding, results or achievements. It is "posh" and shallow.