Countless socks and knitted jumpers will be unwrapped on Christmas morning – but it needn’t be that way.
Casual cycling clothing attempts to bring together your life on the bike, and your life away from two wheels. It’s clothing which is fit for both your ride and the destination, be it the pub, cafe or office.
A number of cycling-inspired casual clothing companies have cropped up in recent years so here’s a selection of some of the best bits we’ve seen from four small, British companies – Vulpine, Shutt Velo Rapide, Morvelo and Carbonaut.
Otherwise, you can find the rest of RCUK’s Christmas Gift Guides here (cycling books, when money is no object, under £200 and under £50).
Vulpine Softshell Jacket – £160
Nick Hussey launched Vulpine earlier this year and the softshell jacket was part of the original five-piece range. Vulpine have enjoyed significant success since then and the recently expanded collection now covers 16 pieces.
The softshell jacket remains a staple of the range, however. It’s made from a mid-weight softshell fabric designed for riding in cool weather (and there’s no shortage of that in the UK). The tailoring is a nod to the British military, with lined pocket flaps and traffic-facing shoulder bars, and its undeniably a stylish piece. But crucially there are a number of cycling-specific features, too, including fold-back reflective wrists, a high collar, a long drop tail – plus it’s windproof, showerproof and has a fleeced lining.
Vulpine Long Sleeve Merino Polo – £85
Merino wool features heavily across Vulpine’s range thanks to its natural insulating and wicking properties. This long sleeve merino polo shirt is made 100 per cent from New Zealand merino wool, subtly styled so it’s suitable for cycling and, well, not cycling.
That means there’s the seams are flat-locked so the super-soft wool sits comfortably against the skin, while the rear pocket has a subtle reflective trim and the rear is ever-so-slightly longer than normal. It’s available in navy blue and grey.
Shutt Velo Rapide Active Softshell Jacket – £99
Shutt Velo Rapide have earned a reputation for well-priced cycle clothing. This is the Oxfordshire-based company’s first foray into casual clothing.
It came with a design brief to develop a jacket that can worn pre or post-ride, or at a cafe or pub, but which looks equally at home on the bike. Styling is simple, but there’s plenty of subtle reflective trim and the arms are a little longer than normal to reflect the riding position when on the bike. It’s very warm, too, thanks to the windproof fabric. The jacket’s designed for cold weather and that’s reflected in the very generous cut (so you can wear layers underneath) so try the next size down.
Morvelo T-Shirts – £21.99
Morvelo started in 2009 with just a handful of t-shirt designs and have grown since then, with a wide range of cycle clothing which now also covers jerseys, shorts, hoodies and sweaters, and accessories (arm warmers, socks and the like).
It’s with t-shirts that Morvelo made their name, however, so it’s only right we feature two designs from the current range. The Pass (pictured above, left) pays homage to Fausto Coppi, while The Gruppetto reflects the struggle of riders languishing off the back of a race. All of Morvelo’s t-shirts are made from 100 per cent cotton and there are plenty of designs besides those we’ve featured.
Carbonaut Breakaway Jersey – £57
Carbonaut are a new company launched in October which, in their words, “was born out of a passion for the complete cycling lifestyle”. The launch range reflects Carbonaut’s belief that cycling is a way of life, not just a past time, with design inspired by traditional cycle clothing.
This is a winter-weight jumper with a cut which mirrors that of a long sleeve jersey. It’s made from a 92 per cent cotton and eight per cent elastane mix, so there’s a little stretch built in, and details include a high zipped collar, dropped tail and zipped phone pocket at the rear. Two colours are available; the ‘macchiato’ pictured and ‘carbon grey’.
Carbonaut Café Vélo Hoody – £75
This is Carbonaut’s take on the classic hoody. Unlike the jersey above, the Café Vélo Hoody is made from 100 per cent cotton, with a fitted, ergonomic cut. Again, there’s a zipped pocket at the rear for a mobile phone, a high neck with a fitted hood, and a chin guard. It’s available in black only.
