Does Rapha have a shop in London?

LONDON, UK - One of the questions we get asked most often is "Does Rapha have a shop in London" and "Will Rapha ever open a store in London?".

We have talked to our contacts at Rapha and they suggest that at the moment a traditional shop in London is unlikely but they are looking to open a Rapha Cycling Club which will sell Rapha products as well as operate a cafe and gallety. However they will not open anything until they have found a suitable premises within a short ride of Regents Park, north/central London's alternative to Richmond Park.

Rapha's business model was always to be largely an online retailer and while they realise some people would prefer to go to a shop, the cost of running a shop is relatively high and takes up a great deal of management time.

In the meantime potential customers who want to see Rapha kit in the flesh (or merino wool and lycra) before purchasing can go to one of the small number of Rapha stockists.

In the London region the only two places that stock Rapha clothing are Condor in Holborn's Greys Inn Road (nearest tubes: Chancery Lane, King's Cross or Russell Square) and Sigma Sports in Kingston Upon Thames (not strictly London, we know, but thereabouts).

We have heard of some customers who have called up Rapha and been able to go and look at Rapha items at their Imperial Works headquarters in London's Gospel Oak.

Those who live outside London only have two potential places to go and look at Rapha clothing; at Royles in Wilmslow and at Edinburgh's Ronde Bicycle Outfitters.

You can also try a wide range of Rapha gear at the Rapha Mobile Cycling Club which turns up at most of the major cycling events of the summer, including the two stages of the Etape du Tour, the Olympic road race, Eurobike and the World Championships as well as plenty more smaller events. See their summer schedule.

Updated August 2012: Rapha has now opened a shop/cycling club/cafe in London's Soho. And very nice it is too. They have the full range of clothing and also show live most major cycling races from round the globe. The cafe sells excellent coffee and a range of sandwiches and snacks. It is at 85 Brewer Street, London W1F 9ZN and is open from 7.30am to 9pm Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 7pm on Saturday and 10am to 6pm on Sundays and bank holidays.