“You look good”, said one of two riders whose wheels I caught while riding solo, south towards Bayside Marina. We were stopped at the intersection of SW 168th St and Old Cutler Rd when I exclaimed, “Well, this is the very first time I have seen two riders in Miami wearing Rapha”!
“And now there are three”, the older of the two quipped. Both gentlemen were dressed in Rapha’s Super Lightweight Jersey , white with a grey arm band, Rapha’s Pro Bibs and tall black Pro Team Socks. It was a sharp look made better in duplicate.
We spoke briefly, sharing our mutual admiration for Rapha kit. When I finished with, “I like the lack of egregious logos” the older rider concluded, “We are Italian, we know about logos”, then rolled on. While riding second wheel, I noticed their Bianchi frames had been painted over in matte black providing the underlying logos a discrete, monochromatic appearance.
We cranked it up to 22 MPH and held it solid all the way to Black Point where we were engulfed by the All4cycling group ride. Separated by the confusion, the Italian gentlemen turned off while I continued to Bayside carrying with me, some regret for not stopping to introduce myself and perhaps exchange information.
I remember thinking, “only an Italian guy would complement another man, a total stranger, on his style”.