Hailing from Valencia and working under the pseudonym Littleisdrawing, illustrator Carla Fuentes has an eye for the details and textures at the heart of her subject matter.

So whilst her ‘Le Tour’ series captures the panache of the riders like Eddy Mercx, Charly Gaul and Jacues Antqueti, it also details the water bottles, gloves, caps and jerseys which helped shape their style.

Elsewhere, you might have seen her work for Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti or in publications like Vogue and Esquire… Fuentes’ deft turn of hand helped make her one of the youngest illustrators to appear in Taschen’s Illustration Now series.

You can also follow Carla Fuentes on Instagram where she posts regularly as @littleisdrawing_carlafuentes.

The post Carla Fuentes captures the panache of Le Tour’s golden years appeared first on CycleLove.

His camera is sometimes his accomplice, and often the surveillance that gives him away.

You’d be forgiven for thinking this makes the Innsbruck-based photographer sound like a participant in the Jackass generation, but nothing could be further from the truth.

Theo Acworth’s work is mischievous, full of innocent curiosity and a love for the hidden corners that we often overlook.

CycleLove spoke to Theo by email to find out where his inspiration comes from…

“I was studying in a fairly quiet town with some good hedges…and the idea just sort of came into my head and I could picture everything perfectly, including the title”

It turns out his Austrian Antics series was shot with a £1 camera from a charity shop, which makes sense for someone who professes to be “more interested in the little things in life”.

“The idea just sort of came into my head and I could picture everything perfectly, including the title. I set the shot up and then had a friend release the shutter when they thought it best to do so”.

The shots are his way of “dealing with a world that is often taken far too seriously” — and didn’t result in any physical harm other than maybe “some snow up my sleeves”.

This inquisitive approach is manifested elsewhere in his work — at the London Triathlon last year he was fascinated by “everyone’s little area where they keep their kit, the differences between each one were pretty small, but that’s what made it interesting for me. I spent a hilarious hour shooting people trying to grab and then drink tiny cups of water while running”.

You can probably guess that Theo’s thrifty approach to equipment extends to bicycles too — in Austria he borrowed a friend’s bike to throw himself from, and the rest of the time he rides a beater “that you’d be appalled at the condition of”.

For more intentional mishaps, see Theo’s book Riding Bikes into Hedges & Other Adventures which includes levitation attempts and unsolicited garden visits:

Find a sign that reads: Keep off the grass
Touch as much grass as is humanly possible
Apply same attitude to life

The post Riding Bikes into Hedges with Theo Acworth appeared first on CycleLove.

After four years of observation and experiments, apparel designer Laura Šilinska has launched her Cyclist Raincoat on Kickstarter this month. It was shortlisted in the Muji Design Awards back in 2014 but never quite made it into stores, leaving her to carry on the project on her own.

Šilinska’s background in high fashion (at labels like Viktor&Rolf) manifests itself clearly in the Cyclist Raincoat, which effortlessly bridges the gap between streetwear and techwear.

With a push-button system to keep it in place around your legs when on the move, a hightech but lightweight waterproof fabric, and a hood designed to maximise your view on the road, everything about the raincoat is carefully considered for cycling.

It’s cut with a unisex A-line silhouette, and comes in everyone’s favourite colour… and yes, by that we mean black. (Gray and blue versions are in the pipeline for a later date).

The rewards for pledges on Kickstarter are carefully considered too — there’s a custom black light created in collaboration with BOOKMAN, and a minimal, waterproof backpack up for grabs as well.

Cyclist Raincoat is available for pre-order now, priced from €160 to €190.

CycleLove spoke to the raincoat’s designer Laura Šilinska to find out more about her background and inspirations, and get her take on everyday cycling in the Netherlands.

What were the biggest challenges you faced developing this product?
As Cyclist Raincoat is a combination of streetstyle, fashion and cycling apparel, the most challenging was to pair down the general silhouette to the point where both worlds finally meet. Every centimetre I added for the comfort of pedalling or maneuvering had to be in balance with the clean-cut of the coat. Then again every line I changed purely for the beauty of the design had to be tested on a bike. It was quite a ping pong match.

You previously worked at Viktor&Rolf — how did your time there influence your approach to the design process?
Draping shapes and coming up with smart and pure constructions of a garment is exactly what I did at Viktor&Rolf and what I will naturally do all my life. What I definitely brought to senscommon after having worked in the haute couture lab of Viktor&Rolf is the persistence of pushing the industry and the producers to always try to do new things and what was thought to be impossible. With our producer of Cyclist Raincoat, we have gone a long long way from thinking commercial and common solutions.

Your campaign page talks about the “inner geek, who is into technology and innovation” — but how do you draw the line when it comes to adding technology to cycling products? Isn’t there a danger that you spoil the simplicity of cycling?
The textile I use for Cyclist Raincoat and the way it is produced is hand in hand with the technology of the moment. We use the word “innovation” as for most of the people an everyday raincoat still means the rubber fisherman’s jacket or sports gear. It is the year 2016 and rainwear can be more than it was in the 60’s.  All the technology and the innovation is in the particles of the raincoat’s fabric and it’s carefully sourced trims and finishings. The performance does not compromise the casual and minimal appearance.

Can you tell me a little about cycling as part of your everyday life… what is it like to cycle where you live?
Living in Amsterdam for the past four years, cycling is just everything. Routine cycling, recreational cycling, weekend road trips. It is such an important part of our daily lives here in the rainy Netherlands, that it seems absurd that people still disguise in flying plastic bags or space suits when it rains. One thing is protecting yourself and the other is not being a danger for others. From experience in the busy cycling traffic of Amsterdam I designed a raincoat that is almost like your second skin, following all your movements, meaning a safe ride for you and the people around you.

Who are your favourite designers and why?
I am a big fan of Juun J, Y-3 and Yohji Yamamoto’s work in general. For the bold and pure aesthetics. I like Nehera a lot – for the contemporary, utilitarian, feminine designs and I daily observe Ader Error, just love their styling ideas and graphic approach.

What other product ideas are you working on? (Personally I’m curious if you have any ideas for keeping my feet dry in the rain…)
Good you mention that — I’m thinking of working on a minimal style of shoe cover – one that keeps you dry but is barely noticeable. Again it is the textile technology and the “smart fibers” that can make such a product super performant yet seamlessly fitting in your daily wardrobe. More accessories and simple unisex apparel designs are in a research phase at the moment.

Key features of the Cyclist Raincoat

Leg Protection: Push-button system ensures that Cyclist Raincoat can be fastened around your legs to keep your lower body dry.

Lightweight Technology: Technological fabric allows for a durable, entirely seam-taped, waterproof, wind-resistant yet breathable raincoat. It weighs only 400 g (14 oz) and comes with its own watertight pouch.

Clear Side Vision: Special hood design provides excellent peripheral vision making you feel confident in traffic.

Safety In Traffic: Black reflective print on the back of the sleeves – subtle during the day yet providing optimum safety at night.

The Cyclist Raincoat is funding on Kickstarter now and will be shipping worldwide next year.

Photography: Sabrina Bongiovanni

The post A cycling raincoat that’s cleverly designed for motion appeared first on CycleLove.

The post Deptford Dog-Runner appeared first on CycleLove.

When the days start getting shorter, and you can’t quite cycle to work without a jacket any more, it’s time to start thinking about your Autumn wardrobe selection.

(And maybe to squeeze in one last BBQ?).

Of course it’s not just what you wear, but what you wear it with.

So here are some stylish — but practical — combinations to maximise your cycle style this Autumn, with help from Vulpine’s new collection of cycling apparel.

1) Vulpine Cycling Trenchcoat + Aday Sunday Morning Jumpsuit

Because military style doesn’t always have to mean serious. Pair Vulpine’s British-made trenchcoat with an ultra-soft jumpsuit from new activewear brand Aday. A look that is as showerproof as it is comfortable.

2) Your Bike + Plume Mudguard

You’ve probably got enough on your back already without adding rain and mud to the mix. Plume’s minimal design will compliment your bicycle, whether it’s protecting your back from autumnal street splatter or coiled up neatly out of the way.

3)Vulpine Extrafine Merino Polo + Uniform Wares M42 chronograph watch

Although Vulpine is a proudly British company, there are certain areas of expertise on which they happily concede defeat to Europe — keeping time being one example. Uniform Ware’s Swiss-made watch is still hand-finished in London though, and like Vulpine’s extra fine Merino Polo will feel great against your skin.

4) Vulpine Commuter Backpack + Lezyne Zecto Drive rear light

The Vulpine Commuter Backpack already boasts subtle reflective panels, but as the evenings draw in, you’ll need a bright set of lights to stay visible on the roads. This nifty light from Lezyne clips easily to your bike, helmet or backpack and is also rechargeable and waterproof.

5) Your feet + Vulpine Merino Block Socks

Merino wool can handle any kind of weather, which is handy when you’re not sure to expect rain or sunshine on your next ride. And as the summer fades away, the Block Socks will ensure that at least your Autumn commute stays colourful.

The post Five Perfect Style Combinations for Autumn Cycling appeared first on CycleLove.

A reminder that not everyone who cycles in Shoreditch is a trendy young creative.

Love the matching helmet and gloves in this ensemble.

The post On the street: Shoreditch appeared first on CycleLove.

Sometimes it takes a happy accident to make something magical happen, even when the bike in question is a Bianchi.

Dan Mather — the screenprinter who crafted CycleLove’s “Just Ride” prints — snapped his beloved Moser in a crash last year.

He picked up a second-hand Bianchi 928 to replace it, but being a designer, wasn’t completely satisfied with its aesthetics. (Traditionalists may want to look away now…)

It came as complete bike, with SRAM Force groupset (of which I wasn’t very keen being a Campag man), but nice Mavic wheels and thought it was a bargain. I rode it for a about year, couple of weekend trips on it, and then about two months ago a shifter broke and I decided to change things up a bit… and make it more me.

Intent on creating a more personal machine, Dan started off with something that many a rider has on his wishlist — a bike fit.

After a trip to Bespoke Cycling for his fit, his neighbours Saffron Frameworks were the next port of call. They helped him strip the bike back to just frame and forks, and he then took it to a paint shop for the final transformation to chrome blue glory.

Then it was back to Saffron to fit his late Moser’s Super Record groupset, along with the new bars and stem from the Bespoke fit.

If it wasn’t for the shifter breaking none of this would have happened — “A blessing in disguise as my Mum would have said”.

A beginner’s guide to Bianchi

Founded by Edoardo Bianchi in Milan, Bianchi is the world’s oldest bicycle manufacturer still in operation. They set up shop in 1885, and after a brief fling with trading penny farthings, pioneered the use of equal-sized wheels with pneumatic rubber tires.

Custom paint jobs aside, Bianchi’s are instantly recognisable from their trademark celeste green colour. No-one is quite sure where the colour originated from though — was it just leftover paint from the Italian army, or inspired by the colour of the Milanese sky?

If you want to sound like a pro, don’t forget the hard “K” sound at the end — it’s pronounced bee-AHN-kee in Italian.

Bianchi used to make motorbikes and cars too. Back in 1995 they started a joint venture with Fiat and Pirelli as Autobianchi, a company that was sold to Fiat in the 60s. This dinky Autobianchi Bianchina was based on the Fiat 500 — and might just be the Italian car you never knew you always wanted.

The post Feast Your Eyes on Dan Mather’s Incredibly Bling Bianchi appeared first on CycleLove.

Here’s the deal: our friends at Everpress are printing these sweet new t-shirts for us on premium organic cotton.

They’re available in white and blue/red/black versions, and in men’s and women’s cuts.

Once the 14 day pre-ordering period is up, the t-shirts will be shipped straight to you (anywhere in the world).

One important bit: we need to hit a minimum number of pre-orders for the t-shirts to get printed. So if you like them, please share this link, or click the sharing buttons on the t-shirt ordering pages. Thanks :)

The post Order a beautifully minimal CycleLove tshirt — for 2 weeks only appeared first on CycleLove.

For most of my time in London I’ve lived east, around the various neighbourhoods of Hackney.

But 18 months ago I moved  south, over the river to New Cross Gate, after some friends and I stumbled across an amazing house for rent.

You know, the kind of house that actually feels like a home, with breathing space, and a garden, and even a shed. (That has since become more of a man cave).

The biggest downside about New Cross is the huge road that slices it in two, making cycling less-than-pleasant almost all of the time. Once you get to Greenwich, Deptford or Peckham you can escape on to quieter roads, but the main drag is not a place that is friendly to cyclists.

Yesterday I went out towards the end of rush hour to see what was happening bike-wise in my neighbourhood — but before showing you the photos, I thought I thought I’d tell you a little about how I actually take them…

How I take photos of people cycling when I’m cycling too

If you’re curious about my photography setup: I shoot with a Fuji X100S (now superseded by the X100T), which is an incredible wee camera, and allows me to leave my clunky SLR at home most of the time. The lens is fixed which means you can’t zoom in —  I prefer this as it makes you think and work actively to frame your shots.

Fuji’s cameras are renowned for their colour reproduction — most of the time I can publish a shot straight from the camera, without needing to edit it at all. I normally shoot in RAW mode though, so that I have maximum control over the editing process on the rare occasion that I want to tweak something. In the past I’ve used Aperture to manage my photo library, but sadly Apple have put the software to bed, so I’m now begrudgingly using the Photos app instead.

When I’m actually cycling the X100 is usually slung over my back, but with the the strap under my right arm, so I can swing it round to take photos on the go. (And yes that does mean that sometimes I’m looking through the viewfinder whilst cycling… you get used to it… and it makes going down hills even more fun).

As you’ll see below, I’ve just added Fuji’s TCL-X100 teleconversion lens to my setup, which takes it from a 35mm-on-35mm equivalent to a 50mm. If that sounds like technical gibberish, it basically just means I’m closer to the action, and can take nicer portraits. (This is the thing I was missing most about having a 50mm lens on my Canon).

Now for your periodic reminder of how not to lock your bike — please please please make sure the frame is locked up, not just your wheels.

Otherwise this happens…

As you’ve probably guessed by now, New Cross doesn’t exactly have a lot of space for cycling. You don’t see kids cycling here, except sometimes on the pavement. In short, it’s only a place that the brave of heart would choose to cycle around.

Here’s looking at you, Lewisham Council!

The post On the street: New Cross (and how I take photos of people cycling when I’m cycling too) appeared first on CycleLove.

The YoGoGirls have created another possibility for you to ponder — doing yoga with your bicycle.

When I discovered these amazingly energetic photos of the YoGoGirls lifting bicycles with their feet last month, I was intrigued. How did they come up with the idea of incorporating bikes into their yoga practice? And wasn’t it a little… dangerous?

(Insert obligatory “do not try this at home” disclaimer here)

So I fired some questions over the Atlantic to Saint Louis, Missouri — and here’s what came back from Michelle and Debby, aka the YoGoGirls.

Oh and you might spot a rather nice gold cyclocross bike in the photos… Michelle tells me this was a custom build by her friend Adam at Stanridge Cycles in Ohio.

So what came first, the yoga or the cycling?
Cycling came first for both of us. We both commute by bike often. Michelle race cyclocross and Debby participates in triathlons.

You met Debby on a bike ride… was it CycleLove at first sight?
Yes! We met at a triathlon training camp and had many things in common and some differences that complement, like yin and yang. We also have different abilities that work perfectly together. Debby is a writer/marketer and I’m a designer/photographer.  Debby is 5’8” tall, and I am 5’0. She is very outgoing, and I am an introvert… somehow it just all works.

Was there a eureka moment when you decided to start incorporating the actual bikes into your photos?
I can’t totally remember the exact time we started incorporating bikes, because it was just a natural extension for us to have our bikes nearby. Sometimes we would go on rides then stop at a cool place to hang out and do some random handstands. There was one pivotal moment when we thought it would be funny to do a handstand with a bike on our feet, so we did that and called it the #yogokickstand. As more and more people emulated the move, we got encouraged to try even more photos incorporating bikes.

What tips would you give to a cyclist who’s thinking about taking up yoga?
Do it! There are so many benefits for cyclists.

Racing as a competitive cyclist can be stressful. Yoga not only offers your mind a respite, but can provide your body the reset it may need to race again. Yoga is focusing on breathing and then linking it to movement. By focusing on the inhale and exhales of your breathing in a rhythmic fashion, you connect to a calming place where your central nervous system relaxes and your mind rests.

If you’re a non-competitive cyclist the benefits of a yoga practice abound as well. Stretching and strengthening combined with deep methodical breathing is good for everyone. There are as many varieties of yoga as there are brands of bikes and types of cyclists. Try as many as it takes to find the one that fits you. There are more rigid forms that dictate a format and more interpretive varieties, all the way to meditation and restorative classes.

It looks relatively effortless in your videos, but as anything ever gone wrong when you’re using bikes in your yoga?
Yes, all the time. We try not to have them fall, but they do occasionally fall over on us, or we drop them.

What have you got planned next for your Instagram photos? Do you feel pressured to keep upping the ante?
Debby has a new fat bike shipping to her now, and we are planning a Dr. Seuss themed video with it. We like to be silly and come up with crazy ideas that are unexpected, and the challenge of new opportunities for creating inventive images for Instagram.

What kind of cycling do you enjoy most? And have you been on any epic rides recently?
We both enjoy road cycling. I love cyclocross because of its competition and the fall weather. Debby loves the social aspect of going out on her fixed gear with friends.  She recently rode in a century and has another planned on her time trial bike and is waiting on a fat bike to arrive to take on some local mole hills asap. I was recently in Marin, California riding the mountains and am going this weekend to mountain bike again. There are some amazing views there.

Find out more about the YoGoGirls on their website or by following them on Instagram

The post Blending yoga and cycling to stunning effect with the YoGoGirls appeared first on CycleLove.