Cycle Style

I do love a multi purpose garment so every time I hear of a new collaboration or range that has some hidden detailing making it cyclist friendly I prick up my ears. And it seems to be a growing trend with more and more people adding pieces to their ranges which fit into the "bike to boardroom" category, so I've collated some of my favourite finds of items that keep you safe and comfortable on your journey and looking good once you get there. You'll also find some excellently stylish storage solutions for your bike from Cycloc which I discovered recently when I visited Best of Britannia.

This jacket is part of a cycling range designed exclusively by Incotex for Mr Porter. The jacket has some stretch in the fabric to make it comfortable to ride in, and a reflective trim under the collar, plus it buttons all the way at the neck. It has matching trousers which also have cycle friendly features, so can be worn as a  casual suit. You can see the full range here, where you'll also find shirts with reflective detailing and natty back pockets.

And check out this fabulous yellow "Loop" which is part of the Cycloc range enabling you to store your bike and biking accessories stylishly.

Dashing Tweeds set out to make a modern tweed sportswear range and as an appealing feature for the cyclists in the city, they've woven retroreflective yarns in with wool to create an urban reflective tweed. This charming duffle coat is made in one of their cloths, and take a look at this image of another one of their jackets to see how astoundingly effective they are! They have a range of RTW pieces in reflective cloths or alternatively choose one you like and have a bespoke piece made.

Next up from the Cycloc range is this green "Solo" cycle storage piece. You can hang your bicycle from it, lock it in place and store your accessories in the centre, Neat eh?

I went to visit the guys at Spoke recently and witnessed a glass of water being poured onto these "Bulletproof" chinos  - the words "water, duck, and back" sprang to mind! Marvellous stuff, and with this warning triangle with reflective trim that drops down when you need it and tucks away when you don't, they're a great choice for a city cyclist. Also, Spoke offer 3 different fits so if you have large thighs from all that cycling then choose fit C which will accomodate them perfectly.

These orange "Wrap" accessories from Cycloc have multiple uses - to keep your trouser legs in place whilst riding, prevent your bars from turning when storing your bike at home, or as a bungee for carrying small parcels. A perfect stocking filler for the cyclist in the family this Christmas, non?

One of the first cycle jackets I saw was this one which is a collaboration between Vulpine and Oliver Spencer. It has hidden reflective strip under the collar, and inside the cuffs which show when turned back, plus it's in showerproof fabric and has underarm vents. If you're a size 36 then you're in luck as it's half price on the Oliver Spencer website. Other sizes are available at Vulpine though unfortunately not at the reduced price.

The next ingenious item from Cycloc is this "Endo" vertical cycle storage piece. It's ideal if the space you have to store your bike doesn't accomodate having it stored parallel to the wall, and the rubber contact points will protect the wall from dirty wheels.

James Greig from CycleLove (the infinitely stylish site about all things bike) told me about this brand - Huez. Most of the pieces are of a more sporty nature, but I also noticed these chinos and a tailored jacket which are perfect for bridging the gap between saddle and style. The chinos, have lycra and an integrated chamois for ultimate comfort, meaning you can hop off the bike and into the boardroom pain and fuss free.

Some other brands worth a mention for stylish cycling gear (though perhaps not so office friendly) are:

• Paul Smith 531 range  - a small highly functionable & fashionable collection
• PEdALED  - I love the fabulous packable blazer
• Rapha  - they have great jeans amongst other things
• Blaze  - not clothing I know but a fantastic, innovative laser light

And last but not least, many thanks to LeskGraphic-Studio for allowing me to use their brilliant illustrations from the B.I.K.E. project for this piece.

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