Support road.cc

Like this site? Help us to make it better.

TECH NEWS

Carbonaut - New UK bike clothing brand launched

Clothing for cyclists to wear off the bike, but still look like cyclists

A new British cycle clothing brand has just been launched to produce casual wear aimed specifically at cyclists. The Carbonaut Clothing Company is based just outside Bristol and we already have some of the products here at Road.cc.

Paul Skuse, founder of Carbonaut, said, “We identified that there was a real lack of casual wear options available to cyclists once off the bike. For us, being a cyclist means so much more than just riding, racing and training and we wanted to encapsulate this in the casual wear market.”

Carbonaut also say that they’re big on social responsibility – everything has been made to strict ethical and ecological standards.

So, there you go, those are the marketing angles. Essentially, this is clothing for cyclists to wear off the bike.

The Café Vélo Hoody comes with a high neck, an adjustable hood and a two-way zip. You get a zipped phone pocket and a dropped hem at the rear. It’s a fitted cut and it’s 100% cotton. No, that’s not a hi-tech sports fabric – this is a casual top. The Café Vélo hoody is £75.

 

The Classic Jersey is mostly cotton too, although there’s some (8%) elastane in there to give it some stretch. It comes with a dropped tail and, like the Café Vélo Hoody, it has a zipped phone pocket. This one is £45.

The Breakaway Jersey is very similar but it’s long sleeved. It comes in carbon grey and macchiato colour options and is priced at £57. 

You can buy Carbonaut clothing direct from their website www.carbonaut.cc.

Mat has been in cycling media since 1996, on titles including BikeRadar, Total Bike, Total Mountain Bike, What Mountain Bike and Mountain Biking UK, and he has been editor of 220 Triathlon and Cycling Plus. Mat has been road.cc technical editor for over a decade, testing bikes, fettling the latest kit, and trying out the most up-to-the-minute clothing. We send him off around the world to get all the news from launches and shows too. He has won his category in Ironman UK 70.3 and finished on the podium in both marathons he has run. Mat is a Cambridge graduate who did a post-grad in magazine journalism, and he is a winner of the Cycling Media Award for Specialist Online Writer. Now over 50, he's riding road and gravel bikes most days for fun and fitness rather than training for competitions.

Add new comment

19 comments

Avatar
Benjamin Hall | 11 years ago
0 likes

I have to say, I do like the grey long sleeved jersey. £57 sounds like a fair price too. I may have to buy myself a present.

Avatar
Dr_Lex | 11 years ago
0 likes

"Two pints of EPO, err I mean IPA, please barman!"

Avatar
zanf | 11 years ago
0 likes

Caption: "You know, from the side you look like Kate Humble. Wanna feel my saddle chafe on your knee?"

OR...

"Look at me pretend to change gear but using my penis!"

Avatar
notfastenough | 11 years ago
0 likes

"if I knee this weirdo in the balls he'll go clean over that stool"

Avatar
nbrus | 11 years ago
0 likes

Another one...

"...these merino shorts are a bit itchy..."

 22

Avatar
bashthebox | 11 years ago
0 likes

What a strange idea.

I have finally got myself some civilized trousers to commute in (the Levis ones, an heartily recommend) and I've bought these because I don't like looking like a bike rider when I'm not riding.

Avatar
lostinfrance | 11 years ago
0 likes

Rohan looks a bit different is reassuringly expensive and lends one a carefree/privileged look in the "Old Dog and Duck" pub of a Sunday lunch time. Seems they now have a bit of competition.

Avatar
ourdave | 11 years ago
0 likes

Caption: "Hello, my name's Jeff and i'm a cyclist don't you know. Care to join me for a quick game of pocket billiards? Mmmmmmm..."

I am largely indifferent to the idea of cycling-inspired street wear but I can offer an opinion on the Carbonaut website. It's not good.

OD

Avatar
Simmo72 | 11 years ago
0 likes

I don't get it myself. Cycling gear looks good on a bike, off the bike you look like a twat. I suppose its better than golf where you look like a twat even when playing.

it serves a market for people who like to say look at me I ride a bike but not right now

Avatar
Fixie Girl | 11 years ago
0 likes

The shocked look is after they have just searched "Paul Skuse Bristol" on google!

Avatar
Tony Farrelly | 11 years ago
0 likes

the second one isn't bad

Avatar
nbrus | 11 years ago
0 likes

Or how about this one...

"I seem to have lost my bike ... its red with with white handlebars..."

 24

Avatar
nbrus | 11 years ago
0 likes

Good looking gear...

Caption:  39

"People will cotton-on when you've got cotton on..."  36

I'm a medium ... size that is ...  4

Avatar
jak001 | 11 years ago
0 likes

Caption: 'Yes you're right, this jersey does accentuate my nipples, why do you think I bought it'.

Avatar
jamjam | 11 years ago
0 likes

i think its for people to ride to somewhere and not look silly once they're there

Avatar
Cyclodunc | 11 years ago
0 likes

So if it's off-bike wear, why does it need to be cut for cycling?

Avatar
notfastenough | 11 years ago
0 likes

Off-bike-wear for cyclists - it's about time, I've been wandering round naked for years whenever not on the bike.

Certainly looks like cycling kit.

Don't know about a caption, if he gets any closer he's going to be making a move...

Avatar
Tony Farrelly | 11 years ago
0 likes

Can't help thinking that main image is a caption competition in waiting

Avatar
jova54 replied to Tony Farrelly | 11 years ago
0 likes
tony_farrelly wrote:

Can't help thinking that main image is a caption competition in waiting

If you insist, go on then.

You provide the prizes and we'll provide the captions  4

Latest Comments