Four to the floor: VCG's new Colourbolt Bike...

Can a girl have too many bikes?! When I started cycling I thought one would be enough... fast-forward 3 years and I'm now the proud owner of my FORTH set of wheels, a Colourbolt Ratty Black.

As detailed in this post (originally published on the Vulpine Blog) this is how VCG has become a four-bike blog... yikes.

When you’re a bit of a bike fiend, nothing beats the pure excitement of getting a new set of wheels. Two weeks ago I pretty much combusted with utter joy after picking up a new addition to my family… a Colourbolt ‘Ratty Black’.

I’d first laid eyes on the bike in April at Bespoked Bristol. British bike builder and founder of Colourbolt Jay Pond-Jones and his colleague Kendal had Ratty on display alongside his other bicycles. I couldn’t stop walking over to their stand to check it out and ended up admiring it all weekend. I wanted to ride around on this bike so badly… but I didn’t see that going down too well in the crowded hall. The draw I felt to the bike was unusual as it was nothing like the bikes I own; a Pashley Princess – a big classic traditional Dutch style bike with its solid and weighty frame and the Clubman, a fixed gear retro-racer, also steeped in traditional design. The Ratty Black with its Columbus Spirit Frame and Carbon Fork was sleek, gritty and sexy. She looked urban and tough - not overdone with logos, just subtle details like the single red coloured chain ring bolt, the LightSKIN LED seat post and these amazing square pedals that stood out. It was the beauty of the understated modern design that really got me.

Three weeks later and I was back in the company of Colourbolt at SPINLDN. Ratty was back on show again for the weekend, and again I was admiring her.  Two days into the event and with a lot more space in the Truman Brewery, Jay kindly let me take Ratty for a quick ride. I couldn’t believe how much lighter, faster and how much smoother it was compared to bikes I’d ridden before. Ratty felt so good and my mind was made up… this bike had to come home with me.

On the last day of SPINLDN, Jay and Kendal fitted me for the bike, with final tweaks to the tyres, chain and handlebars done by John of Tokyo Fixed… It was like being an F1 driver at a pit stop! All set up and ready to go, I cycled out of the Truman Brewery with my new baby and a ridiculously massive grin on my face.

I’ve been riding around on her (yes, she’s a girl) for the past two weeks and already know I’m addicted to this bike. A world away from what I’ve known, I’m discovering a whole new riding style, which is blowing my mind. Pretty amazing that what started off as me staring at something unusual has turned into an exciting adventure. 

Thanks Jay for letting me have that test ride… you’ve started off a new cycling revolution in me.  

Boy on a Bike - The London Tweed Run 2013...

Last month saw the 5th anniversary of The London Tweed Run. As I was unable to attend, The Boy (Ian James) went along to represent for VCG! Here is his report on the day along with some beautiful photography he did at the event... 

I was determined to be more prepared for the Tweed Run than ever this year. But it was always going to be a bit different as sadly Lady Velo was going to be out of town ogling lots of lovely hand-made British bicycles at Bespoked Bristol.

So, that left me, The Boy on a bit of a solo mission. But you’re never alone on the Tweed Run: it's a very friendly occasion. Each year it seems that more and more friendships are formed and there is usually a chance to hook up with those you met previously.

This year I decided to meet up with the Loughton Brothers; two lovely Northerners I've met on every Tweed Run we've attended, that were flying the flag (literally) for Lincolnshire. Being typical Northerners they love a good pint of ale so we met for a Friday night pre-ride drink, sinking a few jars, trying some of the great local ales and craft beers that London has to offer. This is where a plan was hatched to change a few details of the carefully planned arrangements that Jools had made. I was originally planning to ride her Pashley Princess with some lovely VCG bunting that had been custom made for the occasion...

I had got myself a three-piece Tweed suit from a costume hire company in Haslemere and something in my head was nagging me to swap to the Pashley Clubman Urban. It seemed much more in keeping with my attire and also it would be something a bit different as you don't tend to see as many of them on the road. It's certainly a steed that doesn't fail to draw admiring glances. 

Every year the route is different, with this year's starting in the quadrangle courtyard of University College London. A chance to fix ties, cravats, attach bunting and greet fellow Tweed Runners old and new happens at the meeting point. Then we were off, weaving our way up to Regent's Park.

It's always great looking at the array of bicycles and outfits; the Penny Farthing cyclists always inspire awe and wander and there was more than a few well co-ordinated Tandem duos weaving though the bunch.

Now four hundred Tweed clad cyclists tally-hoing their way through central London makes for some spectacle and it's always fabulous to see the look of surprise on the faces of Londoners and tourists alike as we wend our way past attractions like Buckingham Palace and Trafalgar Square! Even the frosty demeanour of the capital's taxi and van drivers is thawed as we breeze by honking our horns and dinging our bells.

We stopped for lunch at Lincoln Inn Fields, sipping tea from fine bone china cups & eating handfuls of crisps from ride sponsor's Tyrells. The Tea Stop is also where the wonderful 5th anniversary Tweed Run cake was unveiled! Having sacrificed the cargo carrying capacity of the Princess's basket I was rather bereft of lunch time supplies, so my thanks go to the Loughton brothers for sharing their Scotch eggs, sausage rolls and a rather decent bottle of ale from the Lake District. We also enjoyed a cheeky cocktail at the St Germain picnic saw us ready to ride once more.

It was only a short hop up towards our ending of the Tweed Run - King's Cross to the Star of Kings pub. This was a good job as the rather foreboding clouds passing overhead had been threatening to let go all day... the heavens opened just as we got into the shelter of the pub!

Yet again, Ted and Jacqui along with the excellent Marshals did a marvellous job of organising the Tweed Run. It was a fantastic experience and I'm thrilled to have been there for the days events. I can't wait to see what's in store for the next 'Run... and perhaps Lady V will come along for the ride.

Best,

The Boy.

More of Ian's stunning photography from The Tweed Run can be seen in his set over on Flickr:

The London Tweed Run 2013 - by Ian James.

The London Tweed Run 2013...

What-what?! Saturday sees the return of London's most stylish bike ride... The Tweed Run is back! 

Celebrating its fifth birthday, this years Tweed Run is set to be a marvellous day. With yet another wonderful route planned around the city and the weather promising to be good, I'm sure all those who won a place will have a fantastic time. This year I won't be on the Tweed Run, as I'm off to the South West today with Vulpine for an amazing weekend at Bespoked Bristol!

But wait - Frankie has been given a clean and is ready to roll on Saturday morning... as The Boy will be riding on behalf of VCG! My very dapper chap Ian James will be tweeded-up on my Pashley Princess and taking photos of the day, for a guest post on here. 

Here's a little peek at the distinctive bunting I had made for the basket of the bike, which will be waving the VCG flag for the day...

Look out for the three B's on Saturday: Boy, Bike and Bunting! Do say hello if you happen to ride with him and pose for a picture! He'll be taking stunning photos of the day again, like he did at last years Tweed Run. 

I hope everyone taking part enjoys the day, and watch this space for The Boy's guest blog post on it soon... Toodle-pip!

Glorious Green - Spring Cycling...

With the clocks going forward, British Summer Time is officially here. March certainly didn't bring much Spring cheer - lets hope April does a better job. If like me you're longing for warmer days, brighter evenings and lots of rides in the sunshine, here's a little injection of colour to get your wardrobe in a Spring-Cycling mood...

Dress - Lisa Wrap, People Tree: Makers of Fair Trade fashion, People Tree have come up with this dress featuring a cute bicycle print. Made in a simple everyday shape, it'll make a great summer wardrobe staple, and a comfy dress to ride in.

Hat: Straw Fedora, Topshop: Made from natural straw with unfussy detailing, the brim will keep the sunshine out of your eyes on your journey & your head cool as you ride.

Necklace: Blossom Branch, Tatty Devine: I'm a long time lover of TD, and this necklace from their Acid Cherry Blossom range is sure to add some spring colour into your wardrobe. Instead of putting flowers in your basket, pop some around your neck.

Shoes: Cantalina Espadrilles, Tory Burch: More natural materials here with a mix of cotton-canvas and Rope soles. Easy slip-on style shoes with a pretty floral print. Comfort and style all in one.

Bag: Ikat Palette Hobo, Anthropologie: Vibrant colours and a decent sized strap if you wanted to wear it cross body on the bike.

Nail Polish: Peacock Green, Mavala: Accessorise down to your fingernails with this green from Mavala. Ideal for Spring!

Matrix Racing Academy Team Launch: An Interview with Jessie Walker...

15.03.13 is sure to go down as a date to remember in pro-women's cycling. This was the launch of the 2013 Matrix Fitness Racing Academy Team.

All photography by Guy Collier.

It was a launch event like no other - a complete break from the norm. Forget those stifled images of a whole team together for a day of posed photos with cars, bikes and kit. Turning the standard on its head, it was about getting to know the individual women on the team; who they are, what they're about and what makes them tick. This was about breathing a new lease of life into the launch 'format' - a documentary of how it all went... another nod to The New Cycling.

Months of planning between Sports Director / Manager of Matrix Stef Wyman, and founder of Vulpine Cycling Apparel & team sponsor Nick Hussey, resulted in an amazing all day event. Accompanied by Stef & team mentor Helen Wyman five of the eight team members came to Vulpine HQ on Friday morning to try on some gear, have a few relaxed team photos taken in-between documentary shots of the morning & then each rider was paired-up with their own writer & photographer for the day to interview them & get shots that reflected their style & personality. Then it was off to London cycling cafe Look Mum No Hands for the launch party in the evening. Didn't I say that this was a launch like no other?!

I was thrilled to be selected as one of the writers for the Matrix Launch & to work with professional wedding photographer, huge cycling fan and bloody nice bloke Guy Collier, who also did all of the stunning documentary shots around Vulpine HQ for the day.We were both paired up with rider Jessie Walker, who I had the pleasure of interviewing and doing the shoot with around Brick Lane - famous for its gritty and bright urban graffiti, this was the perfect setting for Jessie with her love for Art and Photography.

At 18, Jessie is the youngest rider with Matrix Fitness Racing Academy, and is entering her second season with the team.

"I’m kinda new to the sport of cycling, compared to a lot of riders" explains Jessie over a hot chocolate in the coffee shop we'd chosen for the day - "But I come from a cycling background because it runs back four generations on my Mum's side of the family... and both my Mum and Dad used to race on an international level!" You could say that cycling is in Jessie's genes, but it wasn't a family expectation that she go into racing - "We would mess about on our bikes on family rides, but I used to do cross-country running with my brother before cycling."

Inspiration to ride on a competitive level came from outside the family circle of cycling for Jessie, after going to watch the 2009 Lincoln Grand Prix - "I went to it with my Dad and saw Russell Downing win the race. He'd done really well and just seeing him win with an amazing finish was incredible, as was the atmosphere." 

The spark which ignited the desire for Jessie to race was burning, and soon enough her Father bought her a road bike, with an interesting first experience on it - which Jessie looks back on and can laugh about... "My Dad was all like 'I'll get you a road bike!' but I'd never ridden a road bike up until then. I tried it out, and you know the first time I rode I think I started crying because I couldn't clip in the pedals! I remember getting to some traffic lights and just falling because I clipped wrong!" 

There is something truly refreshing talking to Jessie about her experiences & the fact that she can indeed smile about it not being perfect the first few times, but getting there is part of the adventure... it certainly gave me inspiration, being a world away from clipped-in riding! "Another time I was riding on this little lane with my brother which was just one track. He stopped infront of me and I was like 'What are you doing?! - Keep going!' I couldn't clip-out and just fell into a nettle bush! I wasn't happy but it's all good fun, isn't it? Clipped-in takes a while to get used to, but soon you just don't think about it - you just do it and go with it." 

Life away from the Matrix Team is a busy affair for Jessie, yet getting out there on a bike still plays a huge part in it... "On recovery days I just like to go for a ride. When it’s a nice day you just want to be out there and just going for a steady ride is just lovely"

It's clear she's dedicated to the 2013 team, but there is the not so small matter of Jessie's studies and just how she balances her education with cycling. Training everyday, along with attending Sixth Form College and revision, Jessie explains it's a demanding regime; "In the week, training is shorter and more intense, with 1-2 hour sessions indoors, or I might go out and do a short ride. The weekend is where I get my longest training sessions."

She's a determined young woman, with a great support unit around her... "I did all my GCSE's without the pressure of cycling which was good and I got my results. Now the pressure is on; I have my A-Levels and 2012 was my first year of racing with Stef's team so I didn't have any [pressure] on me. I just need to finish my A-Levels... my education comes before my cycling and Stef really understands that. He promotes that as much as he can - on the training camps he makes sure we've got Wifi and quiet places to go and study which is so good. I really want to get my results and take it from there" 

Unless you've been living under a rock recently, there is a real boom in women's cycling happening at the moment and a shift in the culture from racing though to fashion. The world is sitting up and paying attention, which is something that Jessie hasn't let pass her by... "I do think the sport it attracting more women. When I first got into cycling I just thought 'this is a man’s sport'; that’s why I didn’t think I’d race a bike. Then when I saw girls racing I thought 'Yeah actually, I want to give that a go... why not?!' and from then it’s getting more girls throughout the years."

"When I go for a ride, I really go for it - I'm sweating and you don’t care…. And then you get off the bike and you try to look nicer… that's why it's nice there are cycling clothing brands out there like Vulpine who are making clothing to look good on and off the bike. Of course, when I've done a hard ride one day and I'm going out that night, I like getting glammed up! I love getting ready, getting dressed up. I’ve got so many dresses…. I think I’ve got too many dresses, but I can’t ride in a dress!" 

Cycling culture and the joy within it is something that has struck a chord with Jessie, as she goes on talk about... "There are so many different types of people who do ride a bike and I love how interesting it is that you can take one simple thing [a bike] and you get all these different people into it. Cycling culture is so varied…. It’s wonderful."

Being part of Matrix Fitness Racing Academy over the past year, both Jessie and the team have gained a lot of attention, and this year is set to be bigger , meaning that she'll more than likely become a role model to other young women who want to get into cycling. It's quite the responsibility to carry - something that Jessie is excited about and getting prepared for...   

"I really like the thought of that…. The other day two little kids, a couple of years younger than us came up to me and my brother. They'd been been watching me in races and told me I’d got them into cycling. They said to their Dad 'I want to be like Jessie!' Just THAT made it all worth while. These little girls had got on their bikes and said 'Do I look like Jessie?!' Inspiring other young girls to get on a bike and ride is really wonderful feeling"

... and Jessie's advice to any young women out there thinking of getting into cycling?

"Give it a go! It’s really good fun… you don’t know till you’ve tried really... so go for it!"

Jessie was an absolute joy to work with for the day; extremely funny, charming, grounded and smart. She has an extremely bright future ahead of her & VCG will certainly be keeping up with Jessie and Matrix and how she continues to develop as both a racer and an inspirational woman.

And of course, a HUGE thank you to Guy Collier for these wonderful photos. Absolute gentleman and I hope to work with him again one day soon.

Lady V x

Work It! The Fit Crowd with Sweaty Betty...

When Sweaty Betty contacted me about #TheFitCrowd, they certainly got my curiosity. Then, a couple of weeks later when I got an invitation to attend an evening of fashion and fitness, they definitely got my attention.

Empowering women though fitness is Sweaty Betty's primary aim, and since launching in 1998 there are no signs of this mission slowing down. Their latest stage in this is 'The Fit Crowd' - a collective of likeminded women working together with SB to inspire new communities of fitness focused women. This was something that really appealed to me for two reasons:

1. My absolute belief in cycling having a wonderful impact on your health and lifestyle
2. Being inspired myself by other women to cycle and wanting to do the same via VCG

Last week I attended the introduction evening for The Fit Crowd, held at the Sweaty Betty Kings Road boutique. This was a chance to meet the other women who were part of the collective and check out their new range of clothing, with advice from their personal stylists...

All evening photos courtesy of Sweaty Betty.

I've indulged in their clothing before for my forays into Yoga, but never for the other elements of fitness in my life: cycling and running (which I do with the fabulous RetroRunnersLDN group). The notion of having nice pieces of clothing for BOTH cycling and running was ringing in my head while looking though the racks; something for runs with the Retro Girls, as well as for "go harder"days riding on the Clubman. After having a good look though EVERYTHING in the store & trying some pieces on, I'd put together an outfit that would be ace for both. 

So, after the fashion element of the evening, it was time to get into the fitness half of it... which saw The Fit Crowd having a Barrecore class!

We all headed over to the Barrecore Studio, which wasn't too far from the Boutique for an hour long session. This was certainly a new fitness experience for me, having never done it before...

This certainly put muscles I'd not discovered I had though their paces... this class was hard, fast but enjoyable! There was an interesting "burn" in the body doing Barrecore... my face in the last photo probably tells you that to - ha! I can see myself doing this again soon, alongside my cycling... 

It was a fantastic evening and I'm looking forward to working with SB and the rest of The Fit Crowd collective again! Inspiring more women to embrace fitness IS a brilliant thing & something I hope to do more with VCG and getting on your bike!

YOU can also get involved with The Fit Crowd AND win some rather nifty Sweaty Betty gear! To celebrate the launch of the collective, all you need to is:

1. Take a picture of yourself wearing your favourite fitness outfit 
2. Tweet the picture to @SweatyBetty_UK
3. Hashtag it #TheFitCrowd

The person who takes most inspiring and creative picture will win the SB gear along with some Cowshed Spa goodies. Competition ends on 31st March... so get out there with your bikes and go for it!

Watch this space for more #TheFitCrowd updates... 2013 certainly is turning into the year VCG gets its fitness ON.

A Meeting of Cycle Minds: When Jools Met Caz...

Since starting VCG, I've made some wonderful friends in the cycling/blogging community and it's always a joy to meet them beyond my laptop. This week, that finally happened with Caz Nicklin -  founder of online cycling accessories shop, Cyclechic!

Although we've been in contact for almost two years, the first ever product review on VCG was for Cyclechic AND we live in the same city, our cycle paths didn't cross until Wednesday... how long overdue is that?!

We met-up after Caz asked me to work with her on an upcoming and rather exciting project, which involved us filming together at her lovely home and around Chiswick, West London.

With perfect sunshine and a slight chill in the air, we spent the day on our bicycles with a very cool all female film crew in tow. it's fair to say between us all, there was plenty of talk about bikes & fashion, style and all things women's cycling.

Finally getting to ride and chat with Caz about her starting-up Cyclechic, her passion for the business & women's cycling fashion was fantastic. She's also a natural infront of the camera, and behind it too with her Go-Pro...

I'll leave you with this little sneak-peak of the day with Caz and the crew (I can see myself becoming addicted to Vine) ... keep your eyes peeled for more updates on the project!