Life In The Saddle

My monthly visits to Copenhagen have re-introduced me to the world of city commuting. I keep a singlespeed bike out at the GripGrab HQ, and ride the 15 kilometres across the city between my hotel and the workplace. Those city miles are beautiful; often punctuated with a cinnamon bun at a local bakery, they ease me into the start of the day and give me time to reflect at the end. City cycle commuting to a smart office requires a certain kind of cycle wear. The distance is not far enough to warrant full Lycra leggings and a close-fitting jersey, but you want comfortable and tough clothing that will withstand the rigours of a 30-minute ride at either end of the day, and still get you to your workplace in a clean and presentable state. The Vulpine Rain Trousers are the UK brand's answer to those city commutes – when the weather is against you. With a classic style, they are a tough, comfortable and practical pair of water-resistant cycling trousers, which look as at home on t...

Thread.com  does not sell cycling clothing. But their concept of personalised online shopping—tailored to your physique, tastes, environment, and even social situations offers an innovative and interesting concept that I was so impressed by, I felt compelled to write about it here on Life In The Saddle. I have never had the luxury of a personal shopper. I have friends, family, and colleagues comment and guide me on my clothing choices; but my style is very much my own: created from my own tastes, preferences, and the kind of clothing that is most suited to the environments and social contexts that I often find myself in. I do have preferred casual clothing brands, but I am by no means loyal to them. I opt for quality clothing that lasts, looks good, and remains timeless despite changing fashions. My style, if I could define it, would be a rugged outdoor profile with neutral tones and colours inspired by nature. The above list of preferences is not the easiest to shop for. A lot of ...

It is the time of year for chunky knitwear and cosy joggers; for winter hikes and indoor gym sessions. BAM Bamboo Clothing has got you covered for all the above, as well as offering a great number of other pieces for every casual and active occasion, with their beautiful new winter collection.  I have previously posted about BAM's range of sustainable clothing here on the blog ( previous posts ), and their kit continues to be some of my favourite every-day off-the-bike wear for both active wear and casual lounging.  Beautifully soft, stretchy, breathable and moisture wicking—bamboo trumps most synthetic fabrics in terms of its technical performance. In addition, the BAM range also includes other natural fibres such as merino wool, known for its luxurious feel and insulating properties.  This winter, I have been testing a trio of products from the BAM Bamboo Clothing AW21 range:  Bleaberry Merino Bamboo Chunky Knit Cosden Bamboo Bouldering Trousers Print On Demand Gr...

We all have a favourite pair of jeans; denim that gets worn day-in-day-out, whether you are heading down to the pub or into the office. For me, the Opus jeans from Vulpine have become that pair. These are cycling jeans that are smart enough for almost every occasion, but practical and comfortable enough to be worn all day, on and off the bike. Let's start with the basics, the fabric… the Vulpine Opus jeans are made from a soft and stretchy cotton elastane blend, utilising Repreve TruTemp365® recycled fibres—which offer moisture wicking and high breathability performance. The fabric is soft against the skin and flexible enough to allow you to move and stretch as you ride. Old school jeans would be stiff and abrasive when pedalling a bike, but the Vulpine Opus Jeans allow you to spin the pedals with ease and extraordinarily little restriction. Next up, seams… or rather, seam placement. Seams are irritating, and when you are sat on a bicycle saddle the seam that runs through the seat...

Some kit is exceptional. Clothing that goes straight back on as soon as it is out of the wash. Apparel that feels comfortable, looks great, and lasts for years. The London-based Vulpine brand makes kit like this… Vulpine makes a range of technically advanced, intricately detailed, everyday cycling clothing; clothing that makes every bike ride a stylish and enjoyable experience—whether you are tripping across town or heading up into the hills on an adventure. I have been testing out two of the pieces from their latest summer range: the Merino Henley T-shirt and the Vulpine Gravel Shorts. Review — Vulpine Merino Henley T-shirt The Henley tee is a classic British design and has become one of my favourite smart-casual summer tops. It is a little smarter than a standard tee but offers greater freedom of movement than a shirt or polo. The Vulpine Merino Henley uses 100% pure merino wool, with a superfine weave—the result is a soft, stretchy, breathable, moisture-wicking, and naturally odour ...

Cycle clothing is a long way behind the curve in terms of sustainability; unfortunately, companies within the industry have been slow to recognise the value of natural fabrics that are sustainably sourced. Bamboo clothing is one of the most sustainable clothing choices on the planet, and the range of activewear from the brand BAM Bamboo Clothing has fast become my go-to choice for off-the-bike wear. Beautifully soft, stretchy, breathable and moisture wicking—bamboo trumps most synthetic fabrics in terms of its technical performance. In addition, unlike some natural fabrics like pure merino wool, bamboo is also impressively durable and able to stand up to the rigours of outdoor pursuits and adventures. This year, I have been testing a selection of products from the BAM Bamboo Clothing range: Fordsland Bamboo Joggers Origin Quarter Zip Bamboo Knit Bamboo Training T-Shirt Rowtor Waterproof Recycled Jacket I put together this outfit as the ultimate 'comfort' kit for trekking and wa...

The Rapha Explore Long Sleeve Pullover is an insulating mid-layer designed for back-of-beyond exploration in variable winter conditions. Packable, protective, and comfortable—it is an excellent addition to any tour kit list. The Rapha Explore range is the UK brand's innovative product set created to deal with the rigours and challenges of bikepacking and cycle touring adventures. This long sleeve top is the perfect layer for adventurous pursuits, either worn on its own or layered up underneath an outer shell. The Explore Pullover is constructed of Polartec® Power Grid™ fabric. This soft and stretchy technical material is lightweight but insulating; protective yet breathable; form-fitting yet not restrictive. Quite simply, Power Grid™ is the ideal choice for a lightweight cool weather mid-layer. The Rapha designers have added windproof panels to the shoulders and arms of the Explore Pullover to supply added protection from windchill; while not restricting the breathability an...

With the arrival of the wet months of autumn and winter, a waterproof cycling jacket is an indispensable layer. The new Chrome Industries Candlestick Coaches Jacket is a cycling inspired development on the classic coach jacket worn by team directors at sports fixtures around the world. The USA brand has taken the timeless style and produced a jacket with waterproof stretch fabric, taped seams, and other great cycling specific features. Much like other Chrome items I have tested in the past, this is a winner… The Colorado based Chrome Industries team produce apparel and luggage made to deal with decades of hard riding on the city streets. I have previously reviewed their bags, shorts, and boots on the blog; all of which continue to do me great service ( see my earlier Chrome reviews here ). The new Chrome Candlestick Coaches Jacket is a waterproof layer that looks at home both chilling at the bar or blasting down the bike path. Whereas a classic coach jacket is designed for ins...

I cannot remember the last time I wore a suit to work. My life off the bike is spent in trainers, walking shoes, or wetsuit boots. Often, I am in cycling jeans or sweatpants, accompanied by a down jacket or hoodie. The range of clothing from BAM Bamboo Clothing is my latest casual kit obsession; the brand makes beautifully soft bamboo activewear and casual wear. It is so good; you might never take it off. Bamboo, like merino wool, is a favourite natural fabric of mine. It is sustainable, incredibly breathable, soft, stretchy, and surprisingly durable. My top two pieces of kit from BAM are the Urban Bamboo Jogger Sweatpants and the Jersey Active Bamboo Hoody . I practically live in these. The sweatpants are a classic tapered leg design, with wide comfortable ankle cuffs and waistband. The hoodie has a close-fitting articulated cut, with a handy zippered chest pocket and side hand pockets, thumb loops, and a little bit of elastic stretch for active use. Bamboo is a beautiful f...

Life In The Saddle readers will be familiar with the  Swrve brand—it crops up in reviews a few times a year, and I am always impressed by the quality, fit, and feel of the products; not to mention the superb durability. The Swrve Modal Cotton Henley Top upholds that great reputation, and like many Swrve products it has become a wardrobe staple—it is the perfect piece of springtime apparel. The beautifully soft modal cotton fabric, flat-lock seams, and seamless armpits mean the Swrve Modal Cotton Henley is comfortable enough that it can be worn as a base layer or layered with an under-tee in colder transition season conditions. As with other Swrve products that I have tested, the Henley has a flattering trim fit. It also has some subtle details that help to make it more cycling-specific than your standard tee—such as a higher cut front hem and a lower cut rear to help overcome that uncomfortable gap problem. The collar design with its three soft rubber buttons means you can...

The Felvarrom brand – meaning "I will stitch it up" – was set up in 2008; collecting used bicycle parts and materials to be cleaned-up and re-used into some great fashion accessories. I have been testing out a signature Felvarrom PUNCTURED Recycled Inner-tube Belt, and their INTUBAG Reclaimed Inner Tube Bag. The Felvarrom brand is all about the environment—making changes to re-use and reconsider what we might label as waste. All the materials are sustainably sourced and cleaned using environmentally friendly methods; the products are then formed from the useful components and the remaining residue is recycled. The Felvarrom products subtly brand you as a cyclist, and an eco-conscious individual. Felvarrom 'Punctured' Inner Tube Belt Review The Felvarrom 'Punctured' Inner Tube Belt is their signature product. Coming in 14 varied colour combinations and arriving in its own recycled inner tube pouch—the belt is made from hand-sewn bicycle inner tubes an...

When I reviewed the Chrome Industries Summoner Backpack earlier this year I was impressed by the quality, durability, and attention to detail in the Boulder brand's product — it has since become my go-to travel bag. With this in mind, their range of workboots also got me interested… could the Chrome Storm 415 Workboot be the ideal waterproof and comfortable casual boot for cycling errands and adventures? This is my review… Chrome Industries were the pioneers behind the original sling bike messenger bag. More than 20 years ago in the city of Boulder – Colorado the brand created the now famous bag out of seatbelt buckles and straps, five-bar webbing, and double-lined bombproof interiors. Their strapline now reads 'Building Indestructible Gear Since 1995' — a claim that they reliably hold true to. Work boots need to be indestructible, and the Chrome Workboots were designed for the factory workers in the Chrome headquarters; demanding constant daily use, for those often...

Spring is here. Summer is soon on the horizon. Shorts are the way forward, and the new Folsom Short 2.0 from Chrome Industries has become one of my go-to options for casual wear and casual riding. On a recent trip to Berlin—the city that oozes urban cool—I spotted a definite trend… Chrome. Chrome Industries messenger bags adorned more shoulders that I could count, and if a guy or girl riding a flat bar fixie pulled up alongside the tram, then it could be almost guaranteed that they were rocking some piece of apparel or luggage from the distinctive American brand. One of the brand's straplines is 'Building Indestructible Gear Since 1995', and damn is that right. This is the brand that first invented the swing-over messenger bag; using seatbelt buckles and straps, five bar webbing, and double-lined bombproof interiors. From the outset, the brand was built for the urban jungle. More than 20 years on, with the days of garage floor sewing machine production well in the...