We’re out at the Berlin Bike Show, Berliner Fahrradschau, this weekend and here are some of the best urban cycling clothes we’ve spotted.
1. Amity coats and jackets
Amity is a German brand that makes jackets and coats for both men and women, and very stylish they are too, we reckon.
The Franz is made from weather resistant, densely woven EtaProof cotton from Stotz of Switzerland that’s said to keep rain out for three hours.
It looks like an everyday coat until you turn up the collar, turn down the cuffs, and reverse the half-belt at the back to reveal reflective material.
The Franz is priced €399 (£311).
The Paul is made from the same EtaProof fabric but it’s a totally different cut. This one is €389 (£303).
Unfastening zips on the sides of the back provides more freedom for reaching forward to the bars comfortably and displays more reflective fabric.
Both are available in navy and beige, with the Franz available in black too.
Amity offers women’s versions too.
You can buy direct from www.amity-shop.de.
2. O1O6 Lehel jacket
O1O6 is another German brand and its Lehel jacket is made from Loden wool that’s designed to be windproof and waterproof. It’s also has a Teflon coating to add dirt resistance so a quick brush can usually clean it. We couldn’t comment on the performance because we’ve not used it, but it looks pretty neat.
The Lehel boasts several other bike-specific features including inner cuffs to keep cold air out and stretchy panels around the shoulders that provide a greater freedom of movement.
The price is €649 (£505).
3. Pelago Carhartt jacket
Finland’s Pelago is going to launch a new range in collaboration with Carhartt www.carhartt-wip.com later in the year.
The sleeves and back of this water repellent Carhartt WIP x Pelago Freeway Your Mind jacket are cut longer than normal for cycling and there’s reflective tape on the sleeves and pocket.
It’ll cost €249 (about £194) when it goes on sale in August. The collaboration extends to other clothing, a bike and a bag from Mission Workshop.
4. Segrasegra jeans
Segrasegra has a large range of urban cycling clobber including these jeans that are designed so that there’s no seam through the seating area.
Tabs and poppers allow you to cinch the leg in when you get on the bike and there’s reflective trim hidden inside that you can reveal if you turn up the leg.
These are priced €185 (£144).
The jacket comes with reflective elements and that’s an old inner tube used over the top of the breast pocket. It’s €365 (£284).
You can order via email. Go through www.segrasegra.cz
5. Velocity Sprinter women’s trousers
We’ve reviewed Velocity’s Women’s Cycling Trousers, designed and made in London, on road.cc in the past, but we’ve not looked at these Sprinter ones before.
They’re mostly cotton with some elastane in there to provide stretch, and the knees are articulated to provide more ease of movement. The fabric has a NanoSphere coating that’s designed to provide water and stain resistance.
The pocket trim is reflective and so is the logo that you can reveal when you turn up the leg.
These are £90.
Men’s clothing is on the way from Velocity too, but not just yet. We’ll tip you off as soon as it is.
6. Alberto jeans
Alberto is a clothing brand with bike-specific jeans and trousers in its line-up. These ones are made from a slightly stretchy denim with a Ecorepel DWR (durable water repellent) treatment from Schoeller Technologies. www.schoeller-tech.com
You get reflective trim on the rear pockets (you can see it on the pair behind) and there’s more reflective print inside the lower legs. An anti-slip band inside the waist is designed to keep them in the right place.
This pair has reflective belt loops.
And this is a women’s model.
Prices start at €99.95.
12 thoughts on “6 cool clothes for city cyclists”
Can we have “Six cool clothes
Can we have “Six cool clothes for city cyclists of more restricted means” next, please?
brooksby wrote:
Couldn’t agree more!
brooksby wrote:
These are just called ‘Clothes’ made by AnyOne. You can find them in Shops.
Leviathan wrote:
Really, so no company can make Cycling Specific Clothes For City Cyclists for less than A Shed Load Of Money? OK, then…
You can’t say ‘six cool
You can’t say ‘six cool clothes’ – the word you’re looking for is ‘garments’
If your going to splash the
If your going to splash the cash arctreyx fwd, for climbing running its hard to beat, I’d imagine this http://www.arcteryx.com/product.aspx?language=EN&gender=mens&model=A2B-Commuter-Hardshell-Jacket
would outperform 99% of cycling clobber, clearly at a price tho.
Yea, whatever. why I live
Yea, whatever. why I live some of those jackets cost a months mortgage on a reasonable house. yes, and you could also buy a handy N+1
Stretchy walking trousers from Karrimor and Aldi are my choice of legwear currently, and Asda some some stretch jeans for about a tenner. Top half tends to be a active T shirt with a fleece or a shell.
But then I’m no fashionista!
Well my dedicated commuter
Well my dedicated commuter cyclewear is a (rather expensive) Levis 511 commuter pair of jeans, a 40 quid softshell jacket and a pair of cycling gloves. All the other are simple everyday clothes, which are more than good for my commutes.
I would like though casual shirts that would be long enough at the back, jeans like the Levis 511 without the price tag and a windproof/waterproof jacket that wouldn’t look too sporty.
The reflectiveness fad I think it is more a gimmick than a true reason to buy cycling specific clothes. The reason why the add them in hidden places ready to be revealed at the true danger, is because they make feel you something between James Bond and Optimus Prime. Just add as much powered lights as you can and always keep the reflective elements on the bike, and you will be really seen. 3M reflective tape on critical parts on the bike can do wonders too.
Some of the jackets and macs
Some of the jackets and macs are stylish but the designers are perhaps imagining a 1950’s Fred Astaire movie world where blokes glide around a sunny town in tailored jackets arriving sweat free at their design meetings? ‘Sports jackets’ were never so poorly named.
Dry clean only and you better be prepared for leather elbow patches as a repair to your £200 blazer the first time you come off.
What I’d like to see next is
What I’d like to see next is a review of the people who make up the target market for this stuff.
I genuinely don’t get it. If you can afford to blow this kind of cash on clothes, good for you, I say. I for one share Mandelson’s views on personal wealth- but let’s not get political about it. Blowing a wad of cash on the most functional, most high tech cycling gear that’ll give you the best performance on the bike (and make you look pro / good at the cafe at the same time) – I get that. Blowing a wad of cash on a fashion clothes because you place value in looking /feeling good and wearing high quality clothes – yeah I can get that, too. Blowing a wad of cash on clothes that are not that functional (a pea-coat is never going to be more practical than a lidl/assos jacket, waterproofing or no) but compromise aesthetics for ‘cycling-specific’ flourishes (there is a reason Ralph Lauren don’t sell jackets with reflective collars; I mean Versace make some pretty hideous stuff, but those segrasera jeans!) – I just don’t get it. Surely if you’re that vain and have that much disposable income, you just buy some fashion clothes that aren’t ‘cycling specific’ but actually look good, and replace them once they’ve worn out/ the trend has changed/ you’ve spilled some achingly-hip hot drink down them.
I like them, and thank you
I like them, and thank you road.cc for making me aware of them; particularly velocity, where I hope a men’s range won’t be long in coming. The items shown don’t seem wildly different in price to the Rapha & Vulpine products, especially the collaborative ranges, where thought and attention has gone into their design & construction. Perhaps, like other expensive brands, some elements will filter down into the High Street.
If only Uniqlo did cycle
If only Uniqlo did cycle clothes.
Although frankly, their ‘clothes’ work pretty well for riding to work.