Standing out from the crowd for the right reasons
Not every product is equal, even within the same category or type, because differences in design, material science and processes mean that even within a type or category, there will always be differences. In 1987, Roland Cattin took the path less travelled in pursuit of creating carbon bike products that were different – that were as near perfect as could be achieved. Starting with clip-in pedals, then forks and in 1993 with the first ever TIME carbon frameset, he changed the way that carbon bikes could be made. Yes, ‘could be made’, because ultimately TIME never stands still, and our bikes won’t simply give you a better ride – they’ll take you on a unique journey.
That journey is part of le Defi – the challenge (our motto) – and it starts and ends with our retail partners who are waiting to share that TIME experience with you. It starts with retailers such as RA Cycles in the USA; and if you’re lucky, it begins at their world-leading retail store at Walnut Creek on the California coast, just inland from San Francisco. It’s a store that has in recent years set the standard in what cycling lifestyle space can be, ought to be and actually is, if you share the belief in delivering innovation and excellence. Both TIME and RA Cycles operate in this sphere of excellence, and it’s ultimately why they’re regarded as one of the world’s leading retail spaces for cyclists.
In the beginning…
Starting out in New York in 1976, they were founded by Philip Cabbald, who opened his storefront at 105 5th Ave, Brooklyn, NY, with the philosophy that ‘if you don’t stock it, you can’t sell it!’ He developed a business model that catered for everyone, from the interested potential cyclist to the experienced pro rider. Like Roland Cattin, Philip sought out and sourced the very best. He located those difficult to find frames and parts, and those specialist products, and in time he gained a reputation that today – again, like TIME Bikes – is respected across the global cycling industry.
Leveraging that reputation and a well-stocked inventory, RA then ventured into mail-order business, with equal success due to their innovative approach. Then, in the early 90s, when the internet was still a vague idea, Phil and RA Cycles set out to redefine sales processes, and pioneered online cycling mail order websites, setting the industry standard with the most in-depth and product-rich website. Joined in 1998 by son, Albert, this focus on innovation and the positive drive to deliver the best possible experience for every cyclist continued and accelerated, with Albert helping to steer the RA Cycles website journey in this fast-evolving space. The approach taken mirrors that of our own ethos and that which continually drives TIME forward – that is le Defi, as a way of life and not just a way of operating. To seek the challenges and to face them and to deliver the very best.
Creating a lifestyle for cyclists who dream
These days, with their continually developing and world-leading flagship stores – or cycling lifestyle centre’s – in New York, Miami, and a Francisco, RA Cycles isn’t simply a retailer – that would be to fail to recognise and understand their way of operating. They’re a cycling lifestyle venue and world-leading location for cyclists to visit and to soak up the experience of what cycling means, what it can be and how cycling retail can change and influence your thinking.
Each flagship store follows the model set out 50 years by Philip and further developed since the late 90s by son, Albert. It operates as a high-quality, high-inventory hub serving all who ride bikes and all who dream of that perfect ride, be it taking on that epic climb into the Colorado mountains, or following those dusty Champagne gravel trails in the Catskills or upstate in the Hudson Valley.
Whatever your cycling desires or needs, Albert and the team at RA Cycles will give you the time that you need to find it, fit it and ride it. They have one of the most well-defined custom bike-fitting studios in the industry, where you get to talk with their experts, who will listen and then seek out your own particular needs and your cycling desires, before measuring, analysing, listening and delivering the perfect bike for you – hopefully with the TIME logo radiating out from the best carbon framesets in the world.
Ultimately, we all buy with our eyes, and Albert and his team of experts at RA understand this, and they understand how to direct those dreams and that enthusiasm towards the product that you will ultimately treasure. Buying online or from a store visit, the experience and level of attention to detail and customer service is the same.
The RA Black Experience
One aspect of RA Cycles that helps both to define them and to separate them from other retailers, for their adherence to excellence, is their ‘RA Black Experience’. As Albert puts it, it’s a unique package that will guide you to that perfect ride. Yes, in the same way that our own founder, Roland Cattin set out to find the perfect ride by creating the best carbon bikes in the world, the team at RA Cycles have developed a process to guide you on that journey.
From your initial enquiry, to meeting your own personal expert at their fit studio, the in-depth consultations, the analysis, the care and attention and the building of that ultimate bike – and then to the accompanied ride with your RA expert alongside you to ensure that everything is as it should be. It’s a level of service that sets the standard for what cycling retail can be. And it’s why as a brand there’s a synergy in how RA Cycles operate and how TIME constantly move forward in pursuit of excellence. They only work with brands and products that have earned respect through their quality and performance – which is why TIME is always an option.
The perfect ride is waiting for you
Yes, if you’re looking to ride that perfect bike, then a good starting point is with Albert and the team stateside. And, once you have the bike, you can join them on one of their many organised and regular ride outs. Why not check the schedule and details for local outings directly on the R&A Cycles Group Rides page
As a cyclist himself, Albert knows what makes the average cycling consumer tick. And, following on from what his father Philip set out over 50 years ago, he continues to innovate and develop the RA Cycles retail experience. And so, if you’re in the neighbourhood for a TIME bike from our current range of road and gravel options – the area Scylon, the endurance capabilities of the new Fluidity, or the all-road abilities of the ADHX45 – then go soak up the cycling lifestyle at New York, or Miami or that flagship store at Walnut Creek, and share a coffee and conversation about the journey that lies ahead – TIME travelling!
