Rapha Continental is about the view from the road less travelled. It is about seeing the land through the eyes of the people you meet, and learning its story through their voices; sharing those intimate, compelling moments you can only discover when you ride a bicycle.
In 2012, the project focussed on rediscovering the spirit of cycling in the UK. It worked in partnership with riders and bespoke bicycle frame makers to produce a set of brilliantly crafted bicycles. The idea was then to ride these bikes on some of Britain's ancient routes highlighting the beauty and rawness of our landscapes.
Back in the Spring I took a trip to visit the frame builders to record in both words and images their tools, techniques, personalities and individual skills as they worked on the Rapha Continental frames. To be able to visit them in their workshops and record the detail of their work space is a particular privilege.
At a moment in time where we are bombarded with images of super fast carbon framed racing bikes coated in garish branding, these bikes show another side. Equally contemporary and engineered, but using beautifully fashioned steel frames, much cooler and elegant looking (well, in my opinion anyhow).
I also met up with Sam Humpheson who talked about the secret world of great wheel building. Sam and one of the frame builders, Tom Donhou, are also riders on the project, so were able to look at the project from both aspects.
The images that follow are a selection from the project. You can see the photofilms from the builds as well as the videos from the first of the UK rides over at http://www.rapha.cc/rapha-continental/
Ricky Feather, another of the frame builders, has been busy working on book about English frame builders, from what I've seen of the book it looks great. You can find out more and order the book here.