Babelgum's Freewheelers series

Babelgum have put together a series of short films about people and their beloved bicycles. My Pashley Poppy and are chuffed to be included. Some charming little interludes... I particularly like the Penny Farthing....

Cyclechic picks the Kit bags for the Financial Times Magazine

 

We were very pleased to be asked by the Financial Times to pick our ideal kit bag for stylish cycling this Autumn.  I know the less than clement weather can make you feel like leaving the bike at home but on a fresh crisp autumn day being out and about on your bike can be wonderful so why not get inspired....

Pashley Sonnet Bliss
Hand-built in Statford-upon-Avon, this gorgeous claret-and-ivory bicycle has five gears, dynamo lighting and a frame-fitting lock. Pashley.co.uk, £595

Cherry Pine Deluxe Shopper
This chic, 1940s-inspired satchel simply clips on to the bicycle’s rear rack and, when removed, doubles up as a great day bag. £40, Cyclechic.co.uk

Lumatwill Cape
This beautifully tailored cape has reflective Lumatwill yarn sewn into the fabric, alerting traffic to your presence by night. Made to order by Dashing Tweeds & Hardy Amies, £400, dashingtweeds.co.uk

Sawako Furuno Helmet
Sawako Furuno’s bike helmets are feminine yet urban, printed with Japanese-inspired graphics. Ran, £68, at cyclefashion.co.uk
 
Brooks Hoxton Basket
Cleanly designed with a metal frame, wooden base and leather grip, this roomy basket is perfect for a weekend trip to the farmers’ market. £89.99 Cyclechic.co.uk

See My Style, See My Disability

Here at Cyclechic we are big supporters of looking good on two wheels and this doesn't stop at bicycles... We are thrilled to be supporting the Disabled and Sexy charity fashion show happening in Notting Hill on 25th October. The show will feature models and work by designers who suffer from Muscular Astrophy in aid of the Jennifer Trust.

The show will use disabled and able bodied models, in an effort to prove that fashion is for everyone. Sophie Morgan, contestant on Britain’s Missing Next Top Model will be making a guest appearance in the show. The evening will be hosted by Jonathan Phang, who is highly respected in the fashion industry and was host of Britain’s Missing Next Top Model.  Doug Henderson, Head of Fundraising commented “This is an amazing opportunity for our young people affected by SMA to make a real difference in the fashion world. All of us here at The Jennifer Trust are proud of the work that has gone into this project, and excited about the show itself”.

The Jennifer Trust is the leading national charity in the UK dedicated to supporting children and adults affected by Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA). SMA is a genetic neuromuscular condition which causes muscle weakness in varying degrees of severity. In its severest form, Type I SMA is the largest cause of genetic death in infants in the UK today, usually fatal before the second birthday. Children affected by Type II SMA will never walk, and rely on electrically powered wheelchairs to gain mobility and independence. Proceeds from the Disabled & Sexy Fashion Show will go towards The Jennifer Trust continuing to provide ‘help for today and hope for tomorrow’ to all those affected by SMA.

So if you fancy a showbiz night, wearing a posh frock and sipping champagne what better  a cause for the proceeds to go to. To show your support to the young people who have organised this fantastic event, visit www.disabledandsexy.co.uk for more information, or contact The Jennifer Trust on 01789 267520 to purchase tickets at £20.

Cyclechic Press: Evening Standard Entrepreneur Profile

Thanks to lovely Rosamund Urwin for thinking Cyclechic's business story was worth hearing and featuring us in the Businsess section of the Evening Standard yesterday.

Light me up this Autumn

Its officially Autumn. The leaves have started to fall there's a chill in the air and the evenings have stated to draw in. Its the end of carefree summer cycling and time to get yourself kitted out with lights and some reflective additions.
My lights of choice this year are a Knog Beetle for the front and a Knog Skink for the back. I'm a big fan of the Knog brand sightly bonkers but totally practical. The body of the lights is made from a silicon material so they simply bend round and clip onto your bike, no awkward brackets and you can simply pop them off when you get off your bike, so they don't get nicked. They also come in lovely colours, I am sporting a pink for the front and blue at the rear. >We also have the classic frogs and Gekko's on sale with 15% off if your looking for a bargain.
We've been on the hunt for stylish reflective wear and have some great new products this season. My fave is the TWOnFRO reflective vest £39.99, pictured above. It's adjustable and flattering and easy to stow away when your not on the bike. If your looking for something more subtle we also have the very cute Po Campo reflective pins and Brand NEW!the inspired Dorothy covers by Georgia in Dublin. These are hi Viz covers that go over your basket, they not only act as a visibility aid but keep your belonging safe and dry and enable you to pack more into the basket without it all toppling out.

City of London Cycle Style Event.. models required

We are delighted to be involved in The very first Cycle style event happening this Friday.
"Come and celebrate the diversity of City cycling at the first City Cycle Style, an event celebrating cycling as a fashionable form of transport in the City. Come for fashion, food and beverages within Smithfield Market’s hallowed halls.

There will be live music, performances and interactive cycling displays. You can meet the latest cycle fashion designers try-on outfits and sit on saddles of some of the newest trendy bicycles. The event is in conjunction with the City Cycle Challenge which will be raising money for
Re~Cycle bike aid charity for Africa."

We are also looking for a couple of lovely ladies to model for us on the night. We're not looking for 6ft tall size 0's but bonny lasses who identify with the Cyclechic brand. Think this could be you, please email me with a pic of yourself to caz@cyclechic.co.uk as soon as possible...

Erin O' Connor on cycling

I am loving that Erin O' Connor cycles. She has always been my favourite supermodel - not only does she look ridiculously elegant but she comes across as having an admirably down to earth attitude given the world she works in. Erin is one of the famous faces promoting the Skyride events this year and has been talking about her passion for bicycles. " One of my happiest cycling memories - apart from passing that cycling proficiency test - is racing at high speed along the canals of Birmingham with my friends. We'd also go to the BMX track. I'd ride my girly pink bike in my school uniform with a gigantic pink bow in my hair."
Sounds wonderfully 80s! Read the rest of her interview at The Skyride style website
This year the Skyride has spread country-wide, with the Flagship London event taking place yesterday and a whopping 85,000 turning out on their bikes and the Birmingham Ride coming up this weekend.

3 Brilliant Bicycle Baskets

Bicycles and baskets belong together. Not only do they look charming but they are super practical for carrying your bits and bobs around as you cycle. Here's 3 of my faves for different bikes and budgets..
Brompton Basket, specifically designed to fit onto Brompton handlebars, designed by TwonFro and made from recycled boat sails. These wonderfully unique baskets are currently in our summer sales, reduced from £50 to £42.50 (above)

Bargain Basket: Classic Wicker £19.99

Brooks Hoxton Basket.. something a a bit special, made from recycled materials, elegant sophisticated and unisex £89.99

swimming with the fishes

My Pashley Poppy, my Kitsch Kitchen pannier an my little girl, creating a rather nice swirl of colours against the backdrop...

Cyclechic's little black book: Cafe Luc, Marleybone High street

I had the pleasure of being invited to new brasserie restaurant, Cafe Luc, to test out the bike valet service... and of course the food.
The booking was for 7pm so I popped on a frock, jumped on my poppy and set off across London. I had a wonderful cycle ride through Kensington and Hyde park, passing the Royal Albert Hall and crossing over the Serpentine. A perfectly romantic start to the evening.

I arrived at Cafe Luc, located in one of my favourite London streets, the sophisticated Marleybone High street. The restaurant looked wonderfully inviting and as I perused the menu, a couple of smartly dressed and rather handsome chaps came out and offered to park my bike for me. How lovely. Instead of the usual hunting around for suitable bike parking then scrabbling around with my lock, I simply handed Poppy over and waltzed into the restaurant to meet my date. Cafe Luc have a secure indoor area where they store customers bikes while they dine at no extra charge, this is the the first bike valet service I've heard of in London and I think its a fabulous idea.

I won't pretend to be a restaurant critic but the food was scrummy. A fantastic selection of French and Mediterranean dishes, I had scallops to start and Red Mullet for my main, washed down with lovely Savingnon Blanc. The service was efficient and friendly but not intrusive and throughout the meal I was safe in the knowledge that my bike was parked safely and would be presented to me as I left.

The restaurant, which has only been open for 8 weeks and busy and bussling - some popping in for a quick bite after work and others sitting comfortably in the corner, taking their time over 3 courses and a couple of bottles of wine. The mains range from £12-28 but there is also a very reasonably priced set menu for £15 per person so it doesn't have to be expensive night out.
The bike valet service was a great added extra to what was a very enjoyable evening out. I will definitely be back. I am already suggesting it to my cycling friends as the perfect spot to meet for Sunday brunch and have it noted as a great place for a business lunch.
So after a smashing meal and an espresso to help me with the cycle home, we left the restaurant and I was reunited with my bicycle. Not only was this handy and hassle free but was a sophisticated end to glamorous Friday night out.

All charged up for a party...

British bike brand Charge are collaborating with professional party putter oners 'I Heart' for a night of free music and free burgers. You can be sure of a friendly crowd of bikey types so if you and your trusty steed are looking for a knees up why not give it a whirl...

The London Cycle Hire scheme is here!

Hooray! today is the first official day of the London Cycle hire scheme for those who have registered. I set off on my virgin voyage from Old street station, cycled up to our warehouse and then docked it back in Shoreditch Park. Apart from a little panic at the funny noise it made at me when I docked it back in it was all plain sailing.

A few tips on getting started
1. Register - To be one of the first to get involved you need to register for an annual membership through TFL's website. It is fairly straight forward. You need to pay £45 and then an additional £3 for the key. I registered on Saturday and the key arrived promptly on Tues.
2. Activate - you need to either phone or go online to activate the key before you use it.

3. Find your nearest docking Stations - You get a map of all the Docking stations when you register, as long as you are in the catchment area there are lots of them and you can't miss them. Apparently there are a couple of good apps out there though for locating the docking stations.
4. Push key in - wait for green light and then pull out your bike.
5. Check the time - Your first half hour is free so its a really good idea to check the time just as you release the bike.
6. Helmet? - It entirely up to you if you wear a helmet or not. personally I prefer to wear a helmet when cycling in central London so I brought my nice lightweight Nutcase with me in my bag and popped it on before I began cycling
7. Bags? the bike has a bag holder with a bungee strap to secure it. I managed to get my Kate Sheridan handbag in there but you may require a rucksack or messenger bags if you have a lot to carry.

8. Adjust your seat- The saddle is easily adjustable and has a number system so you can remember which height works for you and off you go.
9. Gears and lights - The bike has 3 gears which are very easy to adjust on the right handle bar and there have automatic dynamo style lights.
10. Dock back in - by pushing the bike into an empty docking station, You don't need to put the key back in and please do ignore the funny noise... this is just the bike saying hello to the docking station apparently!

Cyclechic's accessory suggestions for getting started on the cycle hire scheme

Lightweight Nutcase helmet £45


Fjallraven vintage laptop messenger bag £61.99

The launch of Going Going Bike...

What a good idea! An (ebay like) auction site dedicated to bikes and bike accessories. Going Going Bike launched this week and to celebrate I was invited to launch party at Look Mum No hands. It was a great evening and I think the beginning of a successful business venture for the founders, James and Andrew.

Instead of the predictable drinks and chat, they had the rather fun idea to make the longest ever bike daisy chain. Not a serious record breaking challenge but it definitely added a buzz to the evening.
I have often wondered how many unused bikes there are in London. The Going Going Bike team have unearthed some statistics on the matter and apparently there are more than 1.5million unused bikes in London, with 200,000 abandoned in gardens – that’s almost enough bikes to make a line from London to Istanbul!
So if you do have an old bike, in need of some love. Dust it off, take a few snaps and get it up on Going Going Bike. Or if you are after a second hand bike yourself get bidding. I have already seen a rather nice ladies Peugeot on there.

Bike buddies - James, Andrew, myself and the lovely Andreas from The London Cyclists

The Cycle Hire Scheme lauches in 2 weeks!

I am terribly excited about the forthcoming London Cycle Hire Scheme. The official launch date is Fri 30th July and I, for one, can't wait. The Cycle Hire scheme will make my life a whole lot easier. My commute to the office is currently too far to cycle everyday (Chiswick to Old street) I did take my bike on the overground for a while but had to travel out of peak hours so that didn't really work. Once I am in in East London I usually have to do trips to our warehouse or meetings nearby and usually end up trying to borrow my colleague's bike or surrendering to the obvious... public transport. So for me it is going to be the ideal solution.
My Mum is equally as excited! She commutes into Euston and then has 20 minute walk to her office. She will soon be able to hop on a hire bike and cut her journey by a good 15 minutes.
And I'm pretty sure its not just me and my Mum who are going to benefit from the Cycle Hire scheme. I imagine there are thousands of people who live and work in London who will be able to jump on a bike as part of their day to day journeys.
There will be 400 docking stations all over central London, take a look at the Cycle Hire scheme area map for exact perimeters. The docking stations will be no more than 300m apart so you can always find one to fit in with your journey. TFL have invested millions in the scheme and have recently secured Barclays as the sponsor. The scheme is predicted to increase cycle journeys in London by 40,000 a day on top of the current 500,000 journeys a day.
I had a go on one of the bikes at last years Cycle show and they are very comfortable to ride. They maybe a bit heavier than the average city bike but they're a smooth ride and are a rather nice shiny blue colour. They also have a front carrier for your bag with a bungee straps attached to keep it secure.
If you are excited about the scheme but feeling a bit wobbly about cycling in London. Follow us on twitter We will b e giving out lots of helpful tip and advice once the Scheme starts.

Cyclechic's little black book: Cyclelab, Shoreditch

A new cycle repair workshop has popped up in our neighourhood and our friend Matt has been down with his poorly bike to check it out...

There’s a new bike shop / juice bar in Shoreditch called cyclelab My bike badly needed a service so I booked it in on Friday. They took it on Monday rather than saying “come back in 2 weeks”, which was a good start. It got better: I was offered a free coffee, and the guys there are very friendly. The quote for a service (new chain, new cables, new brake pads and general sorting out) came to £90. On Monday afternoon I picked up my bike and the bill was for £78. The bike is running better than when I bought it. It’s the best service I’ve ever had. They’re a little independent shop, and I highly highly recommend them if you ever go anywhere near Shoreditch.

Bagelgum Bicycle Films

Missed the Tweed Run this year? Here's a wonderful taster of what went on. This film was made by Bagelgum, a streetwise video magazine that both inspires and showcases new and emerging ideas and talents across music, film, arts, comedy and contemporary urban culture.

I have just been shooting an interview for there next film about cycling tribes. My Pashley Popppy and I met the crew down at London fields this morning, struck a few poses and and waxed lyrical about bicycles and vintage dresses.. what fun!

Our fave helmets for the summer: Nutcase

Each year we try and find a new helmet that makes us smile. In our first year it was the Bern helmets, last year it was the YAKKAYS and this summer we have the wonderful Nutcase helmets to shout about. My fave is the 'Jetson' style Starbright and we also have the stripey and dotty. These helmets are fully certified and feel light and comfortable to wear. A great practical feature is that they come with a series of padded linings that simply velcro to the inside of the helmet. This ensures that you wont have any sizing issues as you can simply select the right width padding to fit your head.
These are the perfect helmets if your just about to start cycling or are thinking about starting when the Cycle Hire scheme comes in as they are only £45, comfortable to wear and well ventilated.

Listen up Mum! The Bobike mini+ baby/child seat

I have finally found the perfect baby seat for my 14 month old daughter. She was probably ready from about 12 months but it has taken me a little while to do my research. My pre-requisites were something that feels safe for both Flo and I, doesn't cost more than my bike and looks reasonably nice on the bike.
My final choice which ticks all the boxes and more is the Bo Bike Mini+ front carrying child seat. I am so happy with it that we are now selling it and I was at the Wholefoods store in Kensington on Saturday showing parents how it works.
The first reason it receives my accolades is that I manged to attach it to my bike all by myself in about 20 mins, even with Flo crawling around and getting in the way. As someone who struggles with putting things together generally (travel cots, Ikea furniture all tend to turn me into a flustered, swearing wreck)I was chuffed that I actually enjoyed attaching the Bobike seat. It basically involves attaching a bracket to the handle bar stem and tightening the screws, you then push the seat through 2 holes in the bracket and then attaching the foot rests to fit the length of your child's legs.
The next selling point for me is that Flo loves it.As I took her and the seat for a testride she immediately felt at home, holding onto the middle of the handle bar singing away to herself.
It does takes a little bit getting used to the extra weight at the front - once your riding its fine but mounting & dismounting can initially feel a bit awkward. However after a few rides round the block I had got the knack. To avoid bumping into the back of the seat when getting going the key is to stay sitting in your saddle and adjust your pedals instead of coming out of the saddle.
The seat has an age range of 9 months to 3 years (or 15 kg) (Bobike do a full range for kids up to 10). And I think having them at the front of your bike when they are still pretty little is the ideal position. They not only have a great view of the world but it stops them from getting anxious at you having your back to them. It is also reassuring for the parent as they are in full view and you don't have the urge to keep turning round to check on them.
Next challenge is to find a suitable, small enough helmet....
If you are interested in the Bobike mini+ sear want more info, email me caz@cyclechic.co.uk or if your local to Chiswick West London I am more than happy for people to arrange an appointment for a trial.

The saddle covers are back and coming to town near you!

After the success of last year the saddle covers are back. To celebrate the great British summer (and the inevitable rain showers that come with that) we will be distributing them on bikes to keep all you lovely chic cyclists bottoms dry.
This year we have more saddle covers and we have lovely Cycle Chic ladies in London,Oxford, Cambridge, Jersey, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Brighton and Bristol who will be distributing them on bikes we think will appreciate it.
Look out for them coming your way, alternatively they will be on sale on the site from Monday 21st June or free with any order you place with us.

Profile: Meli from Bikes and the City

Whilst in San Francisco I had the pleasure of catching up with Meli from fabulous blog Bikes and the city for a coffee. Her blog is packed with personality and gives you a real sense of Meli's adventures in this vibrant city with her trusted steed.

C: What bike do you ride?
M: My beautiful FRENCHIE! A vintage motobecane -ASTRA- model with 'Tour de France' decals from the mid 70's, made in France of course. I am only its second owner, and the bicycle was purchased in the city in the same decade.
Pretty much it is all original parts, with the exception of the fenders, basket and the usual wear/tear parts like tires and brake pads.

C: Why do you cycle?
M: Why not. SF is 7x7 miles and with so many things to see, it seems boring to be inside of any moving vehicle.

C: What’s the best thing about cycling in San Francisco?
M: The coffee, the bicycle encounters on the bike lane, the fog in your face, the cloudy cold weather in the summer (I think I stand alone on this one) the colors, and the hills. No one can say it is hard to bike to work, because on top of all 'barriers' we have hills. Mean ones. There are always too many things to do and too many things to see. Arts, drugs, hippies, bikes, money and silicon 2.0 nerds - you pick your hobbies and run with them.
San Francisco is so small that crossing 8 miles you can go from the Pacific Ocean to the Bay.

C: Do you think cycling amongst women is on the increase in the USA?
M: I have certainly seen a hike in San Francisco in the last 7 years I have biked. Which, is unlike many cities even in California. It is slowly happening, but women need more exposure and people need to know that there is more than a Lance face to the word 'cycling', and that it comes in regular clothes and cool slow bikes, around the states. We have seen this wonderful explosion of exposure, with the connections that we have all made via the blog/internet media, nationwide, a birth of the 'normal' people on bikes. Here we are now! HELLO :D
 
C:  What’s your favourite outfit/style to cycle in?
M: I dress normally. I don't necessarily 'dress' to go on my bike I suppose. I love fashion, I love colors and I am not afraid to show my roots and culture through my clothes with wicked patterns, the biggest hoop earrings and crazy tights/leggings. But if I'm to get dressed, or shop for new clothes, I always do the invisible bicycle dance, just to make sure I can pedal OK.