“It never gets easier, you just go faster,” three-time Tour de France champion Mr Greg LeMond famously once said of cycling. And there can be that element to it, certainly: a person, alone, on a bike, pushing themselves to their limits. The professional arm of the sport is littered with legends of endurance, determination and, frankly, self-punishment. But that’s generally not what keeps most riders on the saddle – the shared experience and camaraderie is.

The health and well-being benefits of cycling are numerous and well documented. An easy way to work exercise into your daily routine, riding a bike is also proven to combat stress. Studies show that cyclists are 15 per cent more likely to feel satisfied with their lives, while those who regularly take part in an aerobic exercise such as cycling are on average 18 per cent happier. As a method of getting from A to B in a congested city, it is often not just faster than driving, it will make you feel a lot better about yourself when you arrive.

However, perhaps the greatest single reward for all the kilometres you put in, whether on the road, gravel path or over rougher terrain, is likely the friendships you will make along the way. True, you are a single rider on two wheels, but you are also part of something much bigger.

Shop the MR PORTER Health In Mind X Rapha collection here

Given the increasingly atomised lives we lead, and the tendency that men often have to take on the world alone, the community spirit that runs through cycling can be a unifier; the sport itself can be something to share with friends.

In that spirit, MR PORTER has joined forces with cycling lifestyle brand Rapha, as well as men’s health charity Movember, to produce a capsule collection of cycling jerseys. Tapping into Rapha’s archive, the three designs have been produced in the signature green colourway of MR PORTER’s Health In Mind initiative. All net profits from the collection will be channelled back into the Health In Mind Fund, which supports men’s mental and physical health causes around the world.

Providing stylish apparel is, of course, central to what we do at MR PORTER. But our number one tip for wearing any outfit is to make sure it makes you feel good about yourself. This ethos extends to our sportswear, where comfort, not to mention self-confidence, is a distinct advantage. But a sport doesn’t have to be competitive, and here, a sense of belonging, and the regalia of a club, is just as important. This is, after all, a team effort.

“Over the past few months, we’ve seen more and more men turn to cycling as a way to improve their physical fitness as well as their mental health and well-being,” says Mr Justin Coghlan, co-founder of Movember. “There’s a passionate cycling community out there and we want riders to help us by doing what they enjoy the most, but this time united behind a cause. Globally, one man takes his own life every minute, and the funds raised with this collaboration will go to the MR PORTER Health In Mind Fund powered by us at Movember, enabling us to continue to tackle the issues that so many men face.”

We all have our own way of working through our problems. For some, cycling is an answer.

“I’ve cycled every day for more than 30 years,” says Mr Simon Mottram, Rapha’s founder. “The main reason I have kept riding is that it keeps me centred and grounded, helping me make sense of the world and the challenges that are thrown at me. Cycling really is the best form of daily therapy for me, which is why I am so passionate about getting more people on bikes.”

But cycling is also a way of getting people together, a means of talking to each other rather than just a mode of transportation. So, yes, the jerseys are an exclusive, but the idea behind the collection is the inclusivity of this sport. Anyone can take part: all you need is a bike.

From 22 August, our Instagram account @mrporterlive will be hosting the Friends of MR PORTER Cycling Club, a clutch of influencers sharing their love of cycling, but also highlighting the importance of a strong support network. It’s the message at the heart of this collection: as with a peloton, a group of friends can go further together.

Shop the MR PORTER Health In Mind X Rapha collection here

All net profits from the sale of this collection will be donated to the MR PORTER Health In Mind Fund powered by Movember, our initiative dedicated to helping men lead happier, healthier and more fulfilling lives. You can find out more about this fund and donate using the link below.