Should I Join The Rapha Club?
 

Hey all. Debating whether or not I should join the Rapha club house in my local city. I’m from NY but just moved to the NYC area. I’d like to meet a bit more people. I know there is also the NYCC which seems legit as well. I’m not sure what to get on with and suck up wheels but for now I’m riding solo.

Wanted to know if anyone recommends joining and if you are on it what your experience and thoughts are.

Subscribed.

The RCC price just went down, right? Is it at $100 or so now? If so, that's not bad if you're going to treat it like a club with club dues (and you like the brand). Do they have a way for prospective members to feel it out?

For people that don't have a shop/meet-up locally, I don't see what the membership fee is good for, other than allowing you to purchase exclusive gear - not worthwhile (pretty lame, actually, IMO).

As for NYCC, I never rode with them while I was there, but I know others that have been members for a long time. Seems like it's well big enough to have something for everyone, and I'm pretty sure that there are some non-committal ways to feel out the various rides to see if it's a good fit.

Not for me. Your sensibilities may be different from mine.

go join one their their freelancer rides, see if you'll fit in with them.

I’d do it in a nano second if I didn’t live 35 Los Angeles miles from a Rapha shop. The membership is cheap, many benefits, awesome group rides for every level, and half price coffee everyday.

Don't forget about the insurance benefits!

Yeah there are many benefits besides just RCC Kit. If you live where you can take advantage of them then I would.

yes.
Offer fun and frolic. Nyc riding is great.

Katie Kookaburra is a quite sensible and modest Manchester rider who chronciles her stuff on youtube. Not really a youtube person, though I do confess to watching animal rescues regularly, as they make me happy. Anyhoo, here is a quick video of Katie discussing why she never, ever wanted to join the Manchester Rapha Club. And then, she did.

Painful to watch. Strangers joining clicks that are thousands of miles away are of no interest to me, now as for all that fab gear...

Yeah that's what I was thinking. They're down in SOHO so that's not to far from where I'm at. I thought I can chill in the store get coffee and chop it up with some of the locals. Maybe even jump on the rides as well. I see them out there when I'm doing my own solo rides. Seems cool and stuff.

Just looked up the RcC rides in LA look pretty cool. We don’t have one in our area but I’m a member of both local clubs where I live. As someone who used to ride by myself 98% of the time when I lived in Shenandoah County VA (and enjoyed it), I can say that I really like these clubs.

in my case, I really don’t socialize outside my spouse and son, so the 3 club rides per week that I generally attend are great for me. I can get a great work out if I pull a bit longer, and I like the smaller batch of us that go for coffee afterwards. It’s been really good for me as a person and rider. The additional insurance is wonderful and we have a few good corporate sponsors so discounts on running shoes, power meters and such.

i definitely recommend club riding once you find the right group.

I've long been a fan of Rapha jerseys and bibs. I joined the RCC because of the very inexpensive rate for bike rentals out of their various clubhouses. In particular, I rent the bikes when I'm in Manhattan. A few days' rental in the Big Apple over a couple of visits more than made up for the original cost of club membership which, as noted above, has now been cut in half (although the cost of a cappuccino has gone from zero to half price). And the rental bikes are high end Canyons.

As it turns out, I also enjoy some of the club rides in Los Angeles, where I live. There are lots of rides, at various degrees of difficulty. (It doesn’t hurt that the city offers RCC members and every other cyclist a ginormous number of hilly and mountainous routes to climb, a seacoast to follow and miles of somewhat safe and reasonably flat urban bike lanes.) And the clubhouses - which are primarily the Rapha shops - are a welcoming environment, with coffee bars, cycling related magazines and books, large screen TVs continuously screening bike races, and all the items sold under the Rapha label your heart could desire.

So for me the RCC, at least as I’ve experienced it on two coasts, is worth joining.


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This is the reason why I'm planning to join the RCC. I can't really do club rides for now but rentals would come in pretty handy.

Keep in mind there are not many bikes in the three sizes and rentals are good for a maximum of three consecutive days.

Thanks for the heads up. Actually that could be an issue since I generally ride the largest size (192cm guy here). But maybe reserving in advance helps?

Yes. Join and you’ll be able to see what’s rented when, and see it months in advance. Demand is high. Or message privately and I’ll send you a screen shot of what the rental calendar looks like before you decide to join the club.

Sounds like a great club I’ll say that!

Definitely, check them out.

Yes, but what insurance benefits are those?

Awesome much appreciated!