On the Road……Rapha shop, San Francisco — and a question
Eco-velo had a post today about the new Rapha shop on Filbert St. in San Francisco, which I stumbled upon completely by accident when I was visiting a couple weeks ago.
This place absolutely oozed San Francisco-hipster bike culture: a designer, bike clothing shop with an espresso bar and gallery attached; the machine the barista was pulling shots on: a La Marzocco — of course.
Rapha shop, SF
I loved it…but deep down I began to wonder, Is this all a bit excessive?
Is the bicycle’s renaissance (see my Golden Age of Bicycling post for more background) entering a kind of Dionysian-type decline, whereby the luxurious aspects of this utilitarian machine are fetishized to an unhealthy degree?
Or,
Are these kind of commercial ventures simply utopian celebrations of modern bicycle culture’s still-to-come zenith?
Loading ...Featured Comment by Hassan-I-Sabbah: “As I understand, Dionysus is associated with the chaotic beginnings of creativity not the eventual decadence and hedonism (for which I would ascribe the great god Pan).”
Rapha's espresso bar
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La Marzocco
As I understand, Dionysus is associated with the chaotic beginnings of creativity not the eventual decadence and hedonism (for which I would ascribe the great god Pan).
Hassan-I Sabbah
30 Jul 11 at 11:08 am
What’s the harm? Maybe your inner hipster squirmed a bit at being so unexpectedly fulfilled by a single spot – but meanwhile the rest of the U.S. is still climbing into their cars or fighting for space on roads. It’s a beautiful thing, embrace like Pan would!
Satya
10 Aug 11 at 10:49 pm
I Sabbah/ Of course, Pan with the goatee and all! Thanks for your contribution!
Satya/ Yes, you’re right, my inner hipster was very fulfilled. Maybe it was the prices that slightly bummed me out.
fridaycyclotouriste
11 Aug 11 at 6:11 pm