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Sneak peek: all new Vulpine bike clothing coming in Spring

Detail pics of roads-to-trails-to-streets cycling kit

The Vulpine brand will launch on March 14th 2012 consisting of five garments designed according to founder Nick Hussey out of "frustration that cycling clothing has been stuck in a Lycra-warp for 30 years."

Vulpine meaning from Latin 'like a fox' is something he's worked on for years, feeling like many a club cyclist that the sport has its attractions - he rode with the legendary Kirkby Cycling Club while at university - but the clothing isn't one of them.

Says Hussey, "We've taken the performance characteristics of high-end sportswear and applied them to a world where lycra won't advance you in the complicated social strata of modern life....a pub lunch off the muddy trail, a pint after work with mates, or a hot date with a suddenly-requited love. Clothing must work for us on the bike, but why not work off it?"

"So we created Vulpine," he continues, apparently "with some help from some of Britain's most highly regarded creative talent." They're fettling the launch and website now - March 14th isn't far away - which is where these detail pics come from as they nervously try and anticipate everything that can go wrong in a brand-new startup. They'll be shipping from a warehouse near Box Hill in London's leafy Surrey suburbs.

Not so nervous that Nick can't make his pitch, though: "Highest quality technical fabrics, perfect stitching, bang-on trims, combined with classic British athletic design. There's ample use of stuff like odourless wicking 100% merino wool, Epic Cotton - that's waterproof and breathable, but casual - slim aero cuts and clever features that help the rider go about their day in comfort and style."

Details: vulpine.cc

 

 

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29 comments

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aslongasicycle | 12 years ago
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That was the proper answer....

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aslongasicycle | 12 years ago
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Hi Kaner, good timing! Road.cc are announcing the launch very very soon.  3 Like, reaallly soon...

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The _Kaner | 12 years ago
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Still waiting!

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nick_rearden replied to The _Kaner | 12 years ago
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Tomorrow or Wednesday, we're told is when the site is going live, Kaner

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WolfieSmith | 12 years ago
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I'm sure many of us buy British when we can. All my 5 bikes are British: 2 Dolan and 3 Condor - errr...even if the Dolan's are made in China and the Condors in Italy...  22 Once again good luck with it.

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aslongasicycle | 12 years ago
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Thank you for the kind comments and interest. This article has sparked a huge amount of interest. And we haven't even launched! Roll on March!...

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Dr_Lex | 12 years ago
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Chalk up another curious punter here - always happy to have another cycle-friendly garment source to add to Howies, rapha, Surface, tørm. The colours look to be a good break from the usual palette of red/black/white/navy.

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adamcoppock | 12 years ago
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These look fantastic. Love the colours and style. Looking forwards to see a bit more from the new kid on the block!  4

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AtothaP | 12 years ago
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Teaser pics look good - excited to see more over the next few weeks. Good luck getting ready for the full launch

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seanieh66 | 12 years ago
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The comparison to Rapha hopefully won't also extend to premiumk prices for admittedly good technical garments that are made in China and not EU factories.

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aslongasicycle | 12 years ago
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Hi Benjamin,
Not sure what baggy merino nonsense is, but we have merino garments, but they're not particularly baggy, if that helps?

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Benjamin Hall | 12 years ago
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Is it more baggy merino nonsense?

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WolfieSmith | 12 years ago
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Still trying. Look away...  1

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mattsccm | 12 years ago
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I love to see new business's succeed so good luck.
I also see this as another Rapha. The very description above is aimed at the trendy rather than the average cyclist. To be honest if it was half Rapha prices it would be in the "how much" bracket.
Having said that if it can take cycling away from the BMX/13 year old skater look that dominates mountain bike clothing it would be nice.
No baggies please.

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pepita1 | 12 years ago
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Women's?

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aslongasicycle replied to pepita1 | 12 years ago
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pepita1 wrote:

Women's?

Hi, yes there will be. More info as I...Errr, release it!

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aslongasicycle | 12 years ago
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Hi @captain_slog, no I don't want the garments to be too expensive. They're very high quality, so they won't be cheap, but neither will they be (and you'll be the judge of this!) crazy expensive.

I've just released 'teasers' as I was getting constant asks to show the garments, but I want everything to be done perfectly, and we don't launch for a month, so I decided to release just a smattering!

Thank you for all the kind comments so far. It means a lot.

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captain_slog | 12 years ago
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Yes they do look classy and yes it is a bit of a tease to give us just detail shots. I can't imagine it'll be cheap - I'm guessing 100 quid for a jersey?

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Cervelo12 | 12 years ago
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looks very nice and well made and different. Good Luck.

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BikerBob | 12 years ago
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Interesting........no doubt with Raphaesque pricing!

Oops just seen the reply above............maybe not  39

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aslongasicycle | 12 years ago
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Hi MercuryOne,
Yes, these are just teasers that I took myself. They'll look much better when we do the 'proper' shots and obviously with full info.

It's interesting that you compare us to Rapha. I don't feel that way myself, but I hope that's the quality & design associations.

More info soon. I bloody love Michael Caine. I'm a small (medium small, cough) man, but I'm out of shape.
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WolfieSmith replied to aslongasicycle | 12 years ago
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My apologies for the rant. I'd just come back from a long ride, saw the comment on the death of Lycra and the reinvention of the wheel and flew off the handle a bit.  4 . And just to correct us both - it's SIR Michael Caine. All the best with the new business.

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WolfieSmith | 12 years ago
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Nice set of detail snaps but still no idea what I'm looking at. Is it a teaser that there are no full garment shots? I love the blurb 'Lycra won't advance you in the complicated social strata of modern life'. No - it's for riding your bike in. I tend to get changed to do anything else. I'm sure like Rapha's city wear stuff it makes sense if you work in Clerkenwell, have a 30" waist and want to nip into a pub on the way home looking as elegant as Sean Connery in Dr No; for the rest of us it seems cheaper to wear different clothes for different events rather than expensive hybrid 'solutions'.

Don't get me wrong. I have a couple of merino wool base layers that are good enough to wear on the bike and to work but I wouldn't consider doing a 60 mile ride in a pair of drainpipe fawn mod pants and I wouldn't wear them down the pub either.

If Vulpine or Rapha want to do me a pair of stretch jeans with a decent kick flare and a nice crome cycle clip with my name and number on it that would be useful. We need to get away from the whole Michael Caine/ New Mod look and bring casual cycle gear kicking and screaming into the 1970's! Zip fronted Arran sweaters, Tank tops and big shades. : D

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Ush replied to WolfieSmith | 12 years ago
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MercuryOne wrote:

bring casual cycle gear kicking and screaming into the 1970's! Zip fronted Arran sweaters, Tank tops and big shades.

We're going to have to sue you for infringement of intellectual property then. Our carbon-fiber reinforced flares are actually specially streamlined to improve airflow around the rear triangle and the platform boots offer a clear advantage in terms of power transfer due to their stiff soles.

Seriously, looking forward to seeing what Vulpine has to offer.

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Michael5 replied to WolfieSmith | 12 years ago
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MercuryOne wrote:

I wouldn't consider doing a 60 mile ride in a pair of drainpipe fawn mod pants and I wouldn't wear them down the pub either.

Give em a break - I can see them going down a treat on the Sunday clubrun. Well, we do call at a cafe AND a pub, so could be ideal.

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WolfieSmith replied to Michael5 | 12 years ago
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If you have a Sunday club run that stops at the cafe and the pub maybe you need to stop cycling and buy a motorbike? It sounds like a leatherclad itinery to me!  4

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WolfieSmith replied to Michael5 | 12 years ago
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Typing on an iPad lags. Signing out

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WolfieSmith replied to Michael5 | 12 years ago
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Michael5 wrote:
MercuryOne wrote:

I wouldn't consider doing a 60 mile ride in a pair of drainpipe fawn mod pants and I wouldn't wear them down the pub either.

Give em a break - I can see them going down a treat on the Sunday clubrun. Well, we do call at a cafe AND a pub, so could be ideal.

Cafe and pub? Are you sure you're not on a motorbike? Sounds like a leather clad Sunday run to me.  4

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step-hent replied to WolfieSmith | 12 years ago
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MercuryOne wrote:

If Vulpine or Rapha want to do me a pair of stretch jeans with a decent kick flare and a nice crome cycle clip with my name and number on it that would be useful. We need to get away from the whole Michael Caine/ New Mod look and bring casual cycle gear kicking and screaming into the 1970's! Zip fronted Arran sweaters, Tank tops and big shades. : D

If you're looking for a 70's vibe, check out Velo Bici - they have (admittedly subtle) nods to the 70s classics (big cardigans and big hair).

As for Vulpine - I'm excited. I'm trying to use the bike more for transport, and for lots of the places I go I can't get changed and have a shower - so I need good crossover clothes that work both getting to the destination and at it. Awaiting more revealing shots with interest!

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