Life In The Saddle

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...

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...

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...

Good quality cycling inspired tees and jumpers can be hard to come by. There are a plethora of brands producing cool designs, but the quality of the materials is also important. VintVelo, a local UK brand, produces some great quality kit. Made from 100% cotton, recycled cotton, or bamboo, their selection of tees and jumpers are soft, luxurious, well fitted, and long lasting. The designs printed onto the t-shirts and sweaters are fun and interesting too. 'Contre La Montre' (against the clock), and 'Allez Allez Allez' (go go go) are two of my favourites. The print quality seems to be good, with little deterioration after multiple washes and wear. Life In The Saddle is about more than just time in the saddle, and kit like this from VintVelo is great après-ride wear.  >> View the range at vintvelo.com <<

Lycra is not always appropriate. Lycra around the house... not advisable. Lycra in the office... just no. Lycra on a night out... hell no. Instead, look for some quality cycling inspired casual kit. It will be more comfortable, and more acceptable when you are not sprinting for signs or tearing up trails. These are some of my latest favourites, from this winter's collections... Swrve Skinny Cycling Jeans I am a great fan of the casual clothing range from American brand Swrve. I wear a pair of their Indigo Cycling Jeans or WWR Trousers almost every day. The new Skinny Fit Cycling Jeans are the latest addition to my wardrobe, and a great one at that. They have a flattering slender fit, reflective trims, and also cleverly incorporate just a little Lycra into the material mix, to give them a bit of stretch if you are riding around town. The black Cordura denim provides a look that is smart enough for most offices, but a fabric durable enough to stand up to...

Some products impress you, even before you've tried them on. The stylish and unique range of cycling inspired casual wear from Dutch brand Le Patron CC , certainly earns that mark of respect. The collection of products arrived from The Netherlands in a smart branded box; which opened up to reveal a set of clothing and accessories, with each item neatly packaged in a cotton musette, or wrapped in branded tissue paper. Removed from its intricate packaging, the quality and detail of the Le Patron CC kit continued to show real promise… Le Patron CC T-Shirts Over the past few years, I have reviewed and featured a number of cycling inspired tees on Life In The Saddle. Some have shouted "cyclist!" others have been discrete in alluding to their two-wheeled heritage. The Le Patron V-neck tees are definitely the latter of these two (thankfully); they are smart and subtly styled, and would be at home in any smart casual setting. Made from 100 percent cotton, and pr...

Cycling kit doesn't have to mean Lycra, tight fitting jerseys, and marginal aerodynamic gains. For many, riding a bike is simply a way of getting around town; or even just getting out in the great outdoors. For this more utilitarian and casual kind of riding, the Vaude Men's Cyclist Shorts and Vaude Sentiero Shirt are ideal clothing choices; especially when partnered with the Vaude Yara TR Bike Shoes that I have reviewed recently here on the blog. This is everyday wear, with design considerations that make it ideal for riding a bike. The Vaude Sentiero III Cycling Jersey - Casual styling with clever details The Vaude Sentiero Shirt is designed to look as at home off the bike, as it is to be practical and comfortable whilst riding. The merino mix fabric provides a soft-touch feel, as well as a more natural appearance than polyester riding apparel. Merino wool also has the well-touted characteristic of being more resistant to bacteria build-up than synthetic fabrics; s...

The La Machine strap-line is " Clothing for cyc-a-holics ". That sounds like me! La Machine CC is a small start-up, based in the Netherlands (I instantly liked it, due to my Dutch heritage). The casual clothing range is the brainchild of Rens Robroek and Sander Tielen; two riders who share a passion for design, and a love of all things cycling. At the moment, the La Machine range is focussed on good quality, soft feel, well fitted cotton tees and polos. It is fast expanding though, and long sleeved tops and sweaters are on the near horizon. The brand has quickly established a well deserved reputation for producing quality apparel, with some quirky and interesting designs. I was keen to showcase an example on the blog, with a few photos. It is a range well worth checking out... View the La Machine range at lamachine.cc (Link)

Levi's jeans need little introduction. Seriously, if you haven't heard of them, where have you been?! What you might not be aware of, is that as well as being the makers of probably the best-known denim range in the world, they also produce jeans especially for cyclists. The Levi's Commuter range was actually one of the first mainstream denim/chino brand ranges to introduce cycling specific features. The idea behind the range is that subtle adaptations and innovations make their products more comfortable for that commute across town, without compromising the classic looks. Of course, with Levi's keeping to their superb reputation for quality and style as well, these are jeans that promise to stand the test of time, and continue to look great however many times you ride to the pub in them.  The Levi's 511 Slim fit Commuter Jeans look like a regular pair of indigo denims at a glance; a set of well-made and well-fitted ones, at that. The 'Commuter' i...