Rapha will relocate North American HQ from Portland to Bentonville, Arkansas

(Photo © J. Maus/BikePortland)

Another piece of Portland’s vaunted local cycling industry is soon to be gone: High-end cycling apparel and lifestyle brand Rapha Racing LLC is moving its North American operations from Portland to Bentonville Arkansas.

According to North America Marketing Director Jake Rosenbloum, the move will be finalized by March 1st. “Portland has been an incredible home for the Rapha brand over the last 10-plus years,” he said in an email today. “Throughout our time here, the Portland-based team have helped to inform and define what Rapha is and means not just to the US, but around the world.”

Rapha made Portland for its U.S. headquarters in February 2008. Back then I asked company co-founder Luke Scheybeler why the London-based apparel brand chose Portland, he said, “Portland is so obviously a center of cycling, there’s an amazing bike culture here and a real appreciation for it. It just feels right.”

One reason for the change of heart is that the company was purchased by RZC Investments 2017, which is controlled by heirs to the Wal-Mart fortune, who are based in Bentonville. Bringing the popular company to Arkansas is part of a larger push by RZC’s Steuart and Tom Walton (grandsons of Wal-Mart founder Sam Walton) to make Bentonville a mecca for cycling of all types.

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“We understand the Portland cycling community might be a little disheartened with this news.”
— Jake Rosenbloum, Rapha North America

With a solid footing in the road cycling market, Rapha’s latest move is to launch a line of mountain bike apparel in 2021. Rosenbloum made it clear in a statement today that Rapha feels Bentonville’s off-road cycling opportunities (which Bicycling Magazine has likened to “Disneyland for mountain bikers“) figured prominently into their decision to leave Portland.

“With this [mountain bike apparel launch] in mind, we need to make sure that our office has a home that best supports this strategy. So after much careful consideration, we’ve decided to relocate… to serve these aims most effectively. The proximity to the emerging OzTrails MTB network, the incredibly fast-growing gravel landscape and the continuing emergence of Northwest Arkansas as a cradle for all kinds of cycling development will help to foster this direction and the impact that Rapha North America can have in the US and beyond.”

Rapha’s Portland office on NW Kearney and 19th is just a mile or so away from the 5,000 acre Forest Park. Unfortunately, mountain biking isn’t welcome there. Despite years of advocacy and promises to improve off-road cycling access in Forest Park and other places, the City of Portland has largely failed to do so.

Like many of us, Rapha is tired of waiting.

“We understand the Portland cycling community might be a little disheartened with this news,” Rosenbloum said. “But we’d like to thank all of our friends, fans and collaborators here for over a decade of warming support and hospitality.”

— Jonathan Maus: (503) 706-8804, @jonathan_maus on Twitter and jonathan@bikeportland.org
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Jonathan Maus (Publisher/Editor)

Jonathan Maus (Publisher/Editor)

Founder of BikePortland (in 2005). Father of three. North Portlander. Basketball lover. Car owner and driver. If you have questions or feedback about this site or my work, feel free to contact me at @jonathan_maus on Twitter, via email at maus.jonathan@gmail.com, or phone/text at 503-706-8804. Also, if you read and appreciate this site, please become a supporter.

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Champs
Champs
4 years ago

Amazing things happen when when billionaires throw their money and clout around. Everyone else gets to wait for scraps to fall off the table.

TOM MARTIN
TOM MARTIN
4 years ago
Reply to  Champs

I wonder how much of that billionaire money was used to lobby Portland city council and METRO?

Steve Scarich
Steve Scarich
4 years ago
Reply to  Champs

Yes. Despite the talk about being located near MTB trails and all, this move is just about corporate centralization. Keep your owned companies nearby to enable face-to-face communication, oversight, and, btw, since this is Arkansas, lower your salary costs by 1/3.

Stuart
Stuart
4 years ago
Reply to  Steve Scarich

Lower cost of living by half as well

maccoinnich
4 years ago

What happened to the Off-road Cycling Master Plan? The project website still says that it will go “to City Council for adoption in 2019.”

D2
D2
4 years ago
Reply to  maccoinnich

I find it funny that today I found this article and comment when just yesterday I was watching this video about the amount of mountain bike trails Bentonville has put in recently. It may be a suburban town in Arkansas, but they certainly have us beat on trails.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ehfEapgUAB8

Alex
Alex
4 years ago
Reply to  maccoinnich

What Jonathan said, but also, it woefully inadequate even if implemented. At this point, I really don’t think we have much to lose if we just start cutting new trail in FP.

Paul H
Paul H
4 years ago
Reply to  Alex

We have a *lot* to loose. Please do not do this. NWTA is doing a lot of behind-the-scenes work right now and is on the cusp of big things.

While I understand your frustration, comments like this undermine their efforts and put the whole thing in jeopardy.

If you’d like to help out, please get in touch.

Zimmerman
Zimmerman
4 years ago
Reply to  Paul H

Big things! Why, in just another 20 years mountain biking might be allowed to be mentioned in an actual serious policy conversation about Forest Park. Or, not.

Brian
Brian
4 years ago
Reply to  Alex

Why cut new trail? There are plenty of “ok” options already.

Danny deVelo
Danny deVelo
4 years ago
Reply to  maccoinnich

Portland is home to some VERY extreme environmental groups (think Earth Justice) who will go to any length to keep people off “public” land. The also happen to carry a lot of political clout in Portland

jered l bogli
jered l bogli
4 years ago
Reply to  maccoinnich

As Jonathan said the Off-road Cycling Master Plan is stuck on someones desk due to lack of political will from the council.

PICK UP YOU PHONE AND MAKE A CALL:
Ted Wheeler: 503-823-4120
Chloe Eudaly: 503-823-4682
The office of Nick Fish: 503-823-3589
Amanda Fritz: 503-823-3008
Jo Ann Hardesty: 503-823-4151

PLEASE CALL.
Note the overwhelming support the plan has and ask when the plan is scheduled to pass council, ask what you can do to help it get through.

You can even ask for an in person meeting to discuss. If 20 people call and ask for meetings it will move much faster! Phones make things happen faster. Officially on my list to call this week. Who else is with me!!!

Eric H
Eric H
4 years ago
Reply to  jered l bogli

Lol, good luck with all that. Let’s be real here. The ORCMP got hijacked by Marcy Houle and her crew. It is beyond dead and nothing will ever happen in Forest Park without her blessing no matter how much work is done behind the scenes by anyone.

jered l bogli
jered l bogli
4 years ago
Reply to  maccoinnich

I’ve been casually looking for jobs in Bentonville. AK has a great MTB scene, you can ride to a ton of epic trails from you house, kids can bike commute on cool neighborhood MTB trails to school, Great art museum in Bentonville, easy access to the outdoors…

Huey Lewis
Huey Lewis
4 years ago

Ewww. Arkansas? Have a blast, I guess.

Middle of the Road Guy
Middle of the Road Guy
4 years ago
Reply to  Huey Lewis

And in Arkansas, people are pointing and laughing at Oregon.

dwk
dwk
4 years ago

You seem from your comments here, that you would prefer living in a red state.
There is a big and growing difference in this country between the blue and red states, culturally and economically, and will get greater in the future.
You should move to a red state, you would probably enjoy it.

Hello, Kitty
4 years ago
Reply to  dwk

>>> There is a big and growing difference in this country between the blue and red states, culturally and economically, and will get greater in the future. You should move to a red state, you would probably enjoy it. <<<

Your first sentence is undoubtedly true. The second is troubling, and it took me a while to figure out why. Having lived much of my adult life inside "the bubble", I totally understand why people want to live around others that are like them. But while homogeneity is comforting on a personal level, it is utterly destructive on a more macro level.

I think we need to be welcoming to a diverse spectrum of views, rather than suggesting that those who see things differently leave. I find that some "progressives" are welcoming to superficial diversity, while rejecting the deeper diversity of thought, experience, and outlook that gives us our strength.

Matt S.
Matt S.
4 years ago
Reply to  Hello, Kitty

There’s definitely a Portland liberal elitism that cuts across class divides.

Matt Bakke
4 years ago

Not at all. I was born in Portland and moved to Bentonville for Walmart. More similar than different, and NWA people love Portland

Hello, Kitty
4 years ago
Reply to  Huey Lewis

Your prejudice is showing. There are lots of great places that are not trendy like Portland, but have a lot to offer (and where housing is cheap, like it used to be here.)

Huey Lewis
Huey Lewis
4 years ago
Reply to  Hello, Kitty

I have family in north central Arkansas. It is *intensely* conservative and I’ll take a hard pass at living there, trendy or not, cheap or not. It’s naturally beautiful but it comes with some very big and non-negotiable societal trade offs. I’ll ewwww Arkansas as much as I please and if they’re laughing at us, fine, let them.

Middle of the Road Guy
Middle of the Road Guy
4 years ago
Reply to  Huey Lewis

I have a black friend.

Huey Lewis
Huey Lewis
4 years ago

You caught me! Anonymously making stories up on the internet about having family in Arkansas to back up my opinion that Arkansas is not a good place to live. Is that what you’re trying to imply?? Unreal. You really are one of the worst commenters here.

Hello, Kitty
4 years ago
Reply to  Huey Lewis

I don’t think that’s what he was trying to imply. More that proximity to Arkansas does not immunize you from being biased about it.

Manville
Manville
4 years ago
Reply to  Huey Lewis

dwk
You seem from your comments here, that you would prefer living in a red state. There is a big and growing difference in this country between the blue and red states, culturally and economically, and will get greater in the future. You should move to a red state, you would probably enjoy it.Recommended 1

There is very little difference between Arkansas and Oregon politically if you remove the Portland Metro. There is very little difference between Strickler, AR, and Oakridge, OR. Fayetteville is more liberal then Sisters. If you don’t know, you’ve got to go. The Womble Trail is one of the best trails in the country. Politically, if that matters, it’s similar to the area around the McKenzie River Trail… Get the correlation? Portland is NOT representative of 95% of Oregon.

jeff
jeff
4 years ago

Their quality has suffered greatly in the past several years anyway.

I wear many hats
I wear many hats
4 years ago

I moved away from Portland. I can now mountain bike from my house every single day. I no longer get yelled at on the trail. Portland is good for commuting, but its terrible for mountain biking, despite the miles and miles of trails in the city. Its no surprise that the brand needs to be somewhere where mountain biking is allowed.

Matt S.
Matt S.
4 years ago

There’s amazing MTB near Portland, you just have to drive to it. Of course, if lived in Hood River you could ride from your doorstep. Just as if you lived in Corvallis, Oakridge, Ashland, Bend, and Sisters. You’d have to develop the heck out of FP to make it more than it already is: a gravel grind cardio trainer for when you actually go to good mountain biking areas…

I wear many hats
I wear many hats
4 years ago
Reply to  Matt S.

Having grown up in Bend and lived in Ashland, Portland seemed like a mountain bike city when I arrived. Trails all over town, within riding distance of the populace. Then the no bikes signs popped up in Tabor, River View, and everywhere. Driving to ride is asinine when the opportunity for trail access is out the front door. If more mountain bikers showed up to ride in Forest Park on a regular basis, the city would cave. The 8 parks rangers are busy cleaning biohazard sites and cant begin to enforce trail users. Heck, they cant even keep campers out of Gateway Green. Don’t wait for the ORCMP, its buried in paralytic analitics. Ride, and be polite to the other users.

Middle of the Road Guy
Middle of the Road Guy
4 years ago

When I lived in DC I was a mtn biker – there was a lot of stuff pretty close to the city. Moved to Portland and became a roadie, because getting to most of the trails became a day trip.

rick
rick
4 years ago
Reply to  Matt S.

What about removing the unused, rusting rail road tracks at the Oregon Zoo and make mtb trails? Lots of weeds will be removed.

I wear many hats
I wear many hats
4 years ago
Reply to  rick

Great Idea Rick, however, the Zoo master plan calls for a paved MUP. That wont be a great mountain biking experience. There is room down slope from the zoo tracks for trails but it seems like a pipe dream.

Skid
Skid
4 years ago
Reply to  Matt S.

Matt S.
There’s amazing MTB near Portland, you just have to drive to it. /p>Recommended 3

Exactly…that’s what the issue is.

Matt S.
Matt S.
4 years ago
Reply to  Skid

Everyone thinks we’re blessed here in Portland with some kind of amazing geology. Forest Park isn’t that great in comparison, sure it’s something but I’d almost rather keep it for what it is than develop sections of it. Oakridge is amazing geology. Bend, Hoodriver—amazing! Corvallis and Mac Forest, not so much…. Forest Park would just be another Dan’s Trail.

PS
PS
4 years ago

Ah yes, if only there was mountain biking here in Portland, then the company from England, majority owned by an investment vehicle for two heirs to the Walton family fortune, who consequently operate their fund from Bentonville, AR would have kept the NA operations here, sure. This was a long time coming guaranteed.

Probably due time to pivot to OrNot, Voler, and others at this point.

rick
rick
4 years ago
Reply to  PS

Care to explain ?

D2
D2
4 years ago
Reply to  rick

Rapha was bought by Walmart whose HQ is in Bentonville. It is absolutely no surprise they would move operations.

If Nike bought a company with less than 1% of its total employees that was based in Bentonville it would almost certainly move to Beaverton, even without any other reasoning.

Middle of the Road Guy
Middle of the Road Guy
4 years ago
Reply to  PS

I think he’s saying it’s better to look at local companies for local investment.

Al
Al
4 years ago

How many Rapha customers will enjoy learning that they’re owned by Walmart?

I can just see this now, “Nice jersey. Was there a sale at Sam’s Club?” *snicker* *snicker*

Middle of the Road Guy
Middle of the Road Guy
4 years ago
Reply to  Al

Rapha is also taking steps to not have any discounted clothing.

rick
rick
4 years ago
Reply to  Al

Who supports mountain biking more? Wal-Mart or Oregon’s Nike?

Al
Al
4 years ago
Reply to  rick

I don’t know. Who?

rick
rick
4 years ago

Lower taxes and less regulations?

Champs
Champs
4 years ago
Reply to  rick

Walmart money buys a lot of influence and land for the pet projects of its heirs.

RudiV
RudiV
4 years ago

Not as bad as the Sonics moving to OK City, but in a similar vein. As somebody funnier than me noted at the time, “It’s like getting mugged by a 10 year old.”

rick
rick
4 years ago
Reply to  RudiV

There is no comparison. The new buyer of the SuperSonics claimed he would not move the team. It is on record. It is also in the Sonicsgate movie.

Tom Ritchey
Tom Ritchey
4 years ago

Best way to instantly alienate everyone at the MTB trailhead: show up wearing Rapha lol

Middle of the Road Guy
Middle of the Road Guy
4 years ago
Reply to  Tom Ritchey

Rapha really is the “backpfeifengesicht” (face in need of a slap) of clothing.

Beard-o
Beard-o
4 years ago

MTB apparel will be another short-lived folly in stepping away from their bread and butter business, which is marketing “suffering” to rich MAMILs who live in posh urban condos.

Middle of the Road Guy
Middle of the Road Guy
4 years ago
Reply to  Beard-o

While I personally loathe the brand, I did meet some Brits in their 20-30’s decked out in Rapha suffering up the Col d’Aubisque. MAMILs, they were not (yet).

Paul
Paul
4 years ago

Sad for what it says about the state of road cycling and cycling in general, but honestly I don’t think anybody should be too surprised by this. There have been rumblings around town and their involvement in the local scene has declined the last 4 years or so. I mostly feel bad for those that are affected job/ salary-wise by this decision.

And if you’re looking for a local brand to support, Roule Cycling Apparel is a Portland startup that could use some love and support from our PNW family. 🙂

Dustin
Dustin
4 years ago

From an area that is supposedly inclusive, many here are prejudice. I moved to NWA (northwest Arkansas) 2.5 years ago and had some of the same concerns posted here. I would say it is awful to keep people from moving here, but I simply can’t in good conscious. 2022 UCI world cyclocross also chose Fayetteville. Soooo as I said to an old girlfriend once: “it’s not you, it’s me (being super awesome!)”. Dont hate it til you try it! We love visitors! http://Www.ozarkcyclingadventures.com

Matt S.
Matt S.
4 years ago
Reply to  Dustin

Not prejudice, just understand what comes along with living in a red state.

Matt S.
Matt S.
4 years ago
Reply to  Matt S.

For instance, AR is a Right to Work State. Look it up…

rick
rick
4 years ago
Reply to  Matt S.

Yet Arkansas is openly embracing mountain biking unlike the Portland metro area.

RudiV
RudiV
4 years ago
Reply to  rick

The best thing about this thread is the links to local makers.

The Ozarks are beautiful, bu let’s not pretend that the sudden love for Fayetteville is anything more than sucking up to billionaires. Same reason that Bernie is going to *win* the nomination but Bloomberg is going to *be* the nominee.

Kirk Jordan
4 years ago

As an Arkansan (Who loves Oregon), All I can say is — When you vernture this way, get ready for a big suprise. Arkansas is a hidden gem, a true delight.

Rivelo
4 years ago

Check out Wabi Woolens, which is based right here in Portland, Oregon and SEWN right here in Portland, Oregon!

About the same price as the Made in China Rapha stuff.

https://www.wabiwoolens.com/

Matt S.
Matt S.
4 years ago
Reply to  Rivelo

I talked with a Rapha rep years ago about their goods being made in China, he said, “that’s where all the best sewers in the world are located.” We have a lot of US pride here so it makes since we value stuff being made locally, but when you’re London based operating in NA they’ll go where the best sewers are. Interesting how he framed it as a quality issue, suggesting our sewers are subpar. He even went as far as speaking about the decreasing textile industry on the east coast.

Rivelo
4 years ago

Of course, the people who invented mountain biking just wore regular clothes. 🙂

https://www.collectorsweekly.com/articles/the-hippie-daredevils-who-were-just-crazy-enough-to-invent-mountain-biking/

Manville
Manville
4 years ago

maccoinnich
What happened to the Off-road Cycling Master Plan? The project website still says that it will go “to City Council for adoption in 2019.”Recommended 12

Just freaking ride Forrest Park. The master plan is a joke.

John Stephens
John Stephens
4 years ago

Bummer to lose them. Love the brand and the clothes. But, seems this is the pattern with high end brands…..sell to a holding company, go ‘big’ and start mass production under corporate management. Oh well. Lots of local companies to keep shopping at, like the Wabi Woolens mentioned above.

Rivelo
4 years ago

Matt S.
I talked with a Rapha rep years ago about their goods being made in China, he said, “that’s where all the best sewers in the world are located.” We have a lot of US pride here so it makes since we value stuff being made locally, but when you’re London based operating in NA they’ll go where the best sewers are. Interesting how he framed it as a quality issue, suggesting our sewers are subpar. He even went as far as speaking about the decreasing textile industry on the east coast.Recommended 0

The Chinese *are* excellent sewers. Their labor costs are also a fraction of what American shops charge.

Chinese costs are rising, though, and more and more American/UK companies are going to Vietnam. (The Vietnamese sew the best tents in the world! Amazing stuff. )

Hello, Kitty
4 years ago
Reply to  Rivelo

It took me until now to figure out you were not talking about waste drainage.

Michael Mann
Michael Mann
4 years ago

“We understand the Portland cycling community might be a little disheartened with this news,”
Yes in terms of selling out to Walmart. But once you have, sure, please, go to Arkansas.

Clive de Sousa
4 years ago

The mystique of the Rapha brand seems to be running out of gas with each turn it takes.
Was truly inspirational at the start not feeling the same anymore.

They'll Never Get It
They'll Never Get It
4 years ago

Middle of the Road Guy
And in Arkansas, people are pointing and laughing at Oregon.Recommended 22

it’s typical of the people of this area to think that everyone else, everywhere else are rubbing the last two brain cells together while the most enlightened find themselves here in this hamlet.

But, the rest of the country does point and laugh, and it takes a bit of swallowing your pride to see that the city in all of its communistic glory is an almost comical cesspool where companies simply don’t want to be, and certainly where families do not want to raise their children.

Everyone that leaves is better for it. When I finish milking the funds out of this consulting gig, I’ll be happy to move on as well. You’ll, surely, be happy to see actual productive and moral bicyclists roll out. But you do that to your own detriment.

dwk
dwk
4 years ago

This comment is just laughable. Right wing talking points out of the woodwork.
The reason it is so expensive is people want to Move here…
Stop making stuff up.

Hello, Kitty
4 years ago
Reply to  dwk

A lot of people move here because it’s so cheap. At least compared to other cities on the west coast.

dwk
dwk
4 years ago
Reply to  Hello, Kitty

You and MOTRG think your full time job is delivering the right wing answer to all the comments…..

Hello, Kitty
4 years ago
Reply to  dwk

It’s probably more right-wing fact-based drivel from me, but in this list of cities, Anchorage is the only west coast American city with a cheaper cost-of-living than Portland:

https://www.expatistan.com/cost-of-living/index/north-america

idlebytes
idlebytes
4 years ago
Reply to  Hello, Kitty

That’s a pretty incomplete list of west coast American cities but also you appear to have missed: Riverside (148), Victoria (155), Vancouver (168), and we tied with Sacramento (181).

Hello, Kitty
4 years ago
Reply to  idlebytes

Victoria and Vancouver are in a different country, and Sacramento is not commonly thought of as being “west coast” in the sense of those other cities (but if it is, you can probably count Spokane as well, which is also cheaper than Portland). Most people think of Riverside as being part of greater Los Angeles; that said, I am sure there are areas in all cities that are cheaper than the average for Portland. Heck, Gresham and Hillsboro are too.

I stand by my statement, but agree that with certain definitions, it is not entirely true.

Ilya
Ilya
4 years ago

I have been wearing Rapha bike and off the bike clothing for about 10 years. After my first jersey purchase 10 years ago, I exclusively wore Rapha clothing going forward. I used to purchase new items all the time, especially during a sale or when I had a discount code or a gift certificate. As of the last few years, I have noticed a drop off in quality and design. I am not longer excited by many of their products and find the quality is lacking compared to a few years ago. I’ve had a gift certificate that I’ve tried to spend but many of the basic items like a cream base layer or classic bib shorts were only available in extra small or large. The jersey designs have become very boring. I remember the club or country jerseys or the special issue jerseys that would sell out quickly only to be replaced by some boring race cut jerseys that down quite fit right anymore. I wont even get into the City collection which used to be awesome If things continue on the same path this company is doomed and this move is a signal of the beginning of the end. I hope they bring in some new designers because whoever is designing their current products SUCKS!!

Slate
Slate
4 years ago

Forest Park’s lack of MTB access has nothing to do with this move. This is a consolidation by new ownership, plain and simple. Things change when the mission is different from the original vision. Rapha in MTB? Sacrilege. Rapha not in Portland? Bummer. But, I’ll just say my own personal thank you to Portland for having Rapha in our early days be part of this great community. The role Portland played in those days were defining to the culture we wanted to show to the world. A love of riding, adventure and the amazing people you meet along the road.

Jessie
Jessie
4 years ago

I have no dog in this fight, I live in the east and have never been to Portland or Bentonville. I find it interesting that there are very few positive comments here about Rapha as a company, yet people still complain that they are leaving Portland. Do you like them or not? Do you actually want them there? Personally, I am not a fan of the cult of Rapha but I do own a few pieces of their gear, and it is all arguably of the best gear I have. I take issue with some of their prices but I have no issue with the quality they produce. I don’t love the branding but I also think it’s coming from an authentic place. They have created something special, along with creating a new category of apparel.

It should be noted that Wal-Mart does not own Rapha. The grandchildren of Sam Walton, who inherited his money (yes, Wal-Mart money), have their own investment company. That’s who owns it. They also have a stake in Allied and are heavily invested in cycling infrastructure to make NW Arkansas more of a destination. Regardless of where their money came from, I think we can all say it seems like they are using it to make bicycling better, which is good, right?

It makes complete sense from a business perspective to consolidate operations. Imagine being a national company but living in the top-left of a huge country. I think the time difference to their London HQ is 8 hours, right? Have you ever had a 6:00am conference call? Consider how much easier shipping orders and business travel is from the middle of the country. Personally I wouldn’t want to move from Portland to NWA but I do know (this part of) Arkansas isn’t as bad as you think it is, and they’re obviously building a new culture in the area.

So, what is Portland going to lose by their dozen or so staff moving to Arkansas?

Alan 1.0
4 years ago
Reply to  Jessie

I think we can all say it seems like they are using it to make bicycling better, which is good, right?

“I refuse to join any club that would have me as a member.” –Groucho Marx