Are you taking to the saddle to avoid the crowds and the germs of public transport or the gridlock of the roads? Great, you are going to love it.
Founder, Catherine Ellis has compiled her list of some of the best independent cycling brands creating functional & stylish clothing and kit for cycling to work. And there is no lycra in sight.
Cycling is fast becoming the best solution for getting to work as the pandemic continues; crowd free, gridlock free, and free. And there hasn’t been a better time to cycle - since the pandemic started, air pollution in some UK cities has reduced by a huge 40%, road traffic has dropped significantly and £2 billion pounds is going to be invested into cycling infrastructure to increase and improve bike lanes and cycle routes.
Add to this that public transport is expected to only work at 10% of usual capacity for the entire summer, making socially distancing impossible and delays a dead cert - cycling to work is now a no-brainer. Oh and with the delight of the long summer days there is no better season to take to the bike.
Luckily cycling to work no longer means inappropriately fitted lycra as young brands are designing for life with a saddle. Here are some of the best independent cycle brands, designing stylish kit that works for life on and off the bike.
THE JACKET
As June has already reminded us, the British summer can never be relied upon, and bright sunshine can turn to a summer shower quicker than the proverbial duck to water (wrong analogy but you get the point.
So a light, water-repellent jacket is the perfect answer and British designer Oliver Spencer has just teamed up with Brompton to launch a stylish jacket that works perfectly for cycling to work. Made in Portugal in light-weight, water-repellent fabric, it is also anti-crease so it can be folded into your bag, but a cunning feature is that the jacket also has straps so it can quickly be transitioned to wear across the back when you’ve pedalled hard up the hill and need to cool off. A pricey £385 but think of all the money you are saving on travel!
https://oliverspencer.co.uk/brompton-blazer-obree-navy
For an alternative for ladies, Georgina in Dublin make elegant jackets that are also lightweight and water-proof.
https://www.georgiaindublin.com/product/the-hustle-bustle-elegant-rain-jacket/
The Bike Bag
The trick of getting to work without a sweaty back is a pannier bag. And it also saves your back.
Panniers have historically been pretty ugly - made out of plain black pvc with hooks that dig into your back as soon as you carry the bag off the bike. But since 2013 we at Hill & Ellis have been on a mission to design bike bags that look good on and off the bike and work perfectly in both situations - making them the perfect cycling to work accessory. Our most recent collection is made in cotton canvas with a range of striking patterns all designed by award winning London print designers. We also have their striking collection of British made satchel bike bags in bold colours. All our pannier bags use German manufactured, adjustable pannier hooks to securely attach, fit a laptop, and all come with features for the cyclists such as a waterproof bag cover and reflective detailing.
The Helmet:
The roads might be quieter but safety is still key – and luckily wearing a bike helmet no longer means compromising on style.
British brand Dashel design chic bike helmets, all with a retro style that are worthy of wearing inside of the office as well as on the bike. All their helmets are made in the UK, they have a stunning carbon fibre helmet and their latest range of Re-cycle helmets can be recycled …into another helmet.
All their styles are extremely slim fitting and light, designed without compromising on safety. Both ranges are tailored to fit, via some special coolmax pads inside which keep you cool and prevent any helmet hair.
https://www.dashel.cc/collections/all
The Shoes:
Tracey Neuls has been a London shoe designer for 20 years and she is already a shoe icon. Her shoes are beautifully crafted - designed in the UK and made in Portugal. Tracey herself has a penchant for cycling and designed a range of reflective shoes for men and women over 10 years ago and they remain one of her best sellers. They are crafted in reflective fabric that is a matt grey during the day and glows under lights at night, they also have a rubber sole for comfort and better wear on the bike pedals. They are stylish and perfect for cycling… and clubbing (when that time comes).
Female Range:
https://traceyneuls.com/collections/women-1/products/geek_black-reflective-flat-shoe
Male range:
https://traceyneuls.com/collections/sale/products/karl-lace-up-black-all-reflective
The Rain option:
The best option for cycling in the rain is a Poncho. Ones thighs are at the mercy of the rain and always get drenched in a downpour but as the poncho covers your upper body and your legs (like a mini tent), it saves your legs from a complete soaking and you don’t need to worry about faffing with waterproof trousers.
Otto London is an independent brand that makes cycle friendly unisex ponchos in a beautiful collection of bold colours. Designed by Otto Lauterbach and Eleonora Perez, both artists and avid cyclists, these ponchos have lots of neat detailing for the cyclist… and they can double up for the 2021 festival season.
https://www.ottolondon.com/poncho.aspx?master=poncho
The Accessory.
Glow and See is a not for profit global enterprise lead by London fashion designer Comet. They work with women from low socio-economic backgrounds across the world who knit a range of hats and neck warmers from sustainable wool and reflective yarn for comfort and visibility.
