Going for Pink? Anyone for Donuts? STATE BICYCLE CO. X THE SIMPSONS

Cycling enthusiasts who hanker after the polka dot jersey and the coveted yellow jersey - the top prizes of Tour de France - will go Do-nuts for these.

A new limited edition range of cycling clothes and accessories - the result of a collaboration between State Bicycle brand and The Simpsons of the TV cartoon series - feature the well-loved Donut as its main theme.

Look for a number of collectible items with the classic Homer Simpson donut design, these accessories not only indulge Simpsons fans, but also meet the demands of the urban commuter.

The line consists of a selection of “dad hats” with an adjustable tucker strap, cotton t-shirt, a cycling cap that fits securely under any helmet, jersey in a Race/Euro style with a zip-up front, roll-top backpack made of watherproof Cordura Fabric , water bottle, bar tape, foot straps, and a shock-absorbent  saddle that pairs well with a State/Simpson’s bike. Homer’s favorite food has inspired State to create an entire line of goods that are reliable, durable, and exude flair for your daily commute or ride.

In 2009, State Bicycle was launched by three Arizona cycling addicts in the US. The goal was and remains: to introduce premiere quality, aesthetically striking bicycles to the fixed gear/single speed market at a fantastic price.  T

Their bikes and accessories are  now available online in the US, UK and Europe.

THE SIMPSONS is a Gracie Films Production in association with 20th Century Fox Television. James L. Brooks, Matt Groening, and Al Jean are the Executive Producers. The Gracie Films Worldwide Brand Division develops and produces the licensed content for the series.

Cycle friendly Tokyo Bike x Ally Capellino backpack

Following the successful launch of the Ally Capellino x tokyobike backpack last year the brand are excited to introduce two new colourways.

The backpack combines simple, functional design with cycle friendliness. The fabric is a light-weight showerproof nylon featuring a reflective strip and a space to attach a rear light, while internally there is a neat laptop sleeve.

Its available in two new colours: orange and navy, that pair with tokyobike frame colours for 2017.   Pick one up at tokyobike stores in London and Tokyo or online.

About tokyobike 

tokyobike is a small, independent bicycle company founded in 2002 in the quiet Tokyo suburb of Yanaka.  The name was derived from the design of the bikes.  In the same way the mountain bike was designed for the mountains so tokyobike was designed for Tokyo.

Smaller 650mm wheels and slim, compact, steel frames make the bikes easy to handle and light to ride. Based on the concept of ‘Tokyo Slow’, tokyobike believe it’s as much about the journey as the destination.

tokyobike stores can be found in an increasing number of cultural cities around the world and the company regularly collaborates with brands that share a similar outlook.

Stylish cycling helmets for the fashion-minded

Calling all fashion-conscious cyclists.   These flattering helmets embody the spirit of heritage design while being theft-proof.

They form part of the new Epoch helmet line by California company Thousand Helmets - creators of classically-designed bicycle helmets - marking the company’s second anniversary.

According to co-founder Gloria Hwang, a long-time cyclist herself, these helmets have been designed as a stylish alternative to traditional bulky headgear that people would want to wear.

They are also guaranteed against theft in that if your helmet gets stolen while securely locked to your bike, Thousand will replace it.  There is a secret Poplock System to keep the helmets secured to your bike.

Designed with air vents and cooling channels that provide optimum airflow, they come complete with vegan leather straps playing for an eco-friendly ethos.

From what started as a mission to simply get more people wearing helmets and a fascination with heritage design and iconic stories from the past, Thousand continues to pay homage to their signature Heritage Collection of helmets that are the crossroads of vintage moto and modern minimal.

 “We wanted to tell our story authentically and felt that our second anniversary was an opportunity to progress our brand,” notes Gloria. “We believe that the story behind the product is as important as the product.”

The Epoch line embodies an expression of a time in history or a person’s life, with the new collection inspired by the past tales of Steve McQueen and the iconic Bel Air Cadillac as well as the Nordic Modernism.  These stories are a nod to the past and were influential and inspirational to the product development team.



The new Epoch colours are Speedway Creme, Willowbrook Mint, and Nordic Wood, which is created by a colour water dipped technology. Advanced features include vegan leather straps, copper hardware and the signature PopLock system that allows the cyclists to easily lock the helmet to the bike as well as a magnetic buckle for a one-hand fastener that’s pinch-free.

Thousand is committed to help curb the impact of bike accidents, promote active and community living, and make quality product without causing unnecessary harm to the planet.  As a member and committed to the “1% for the Planet” organization, where the proceeds go towards environmental causes that help contribute to a healthy planet.

Collaboration between two UK brands for satchels and bikes launched this month.

Two of UK's best known lifestyle brands for leather bags and bicycles have launched this month their first collaboration.

The bags from Cambridge Satchel Company are available online and in stores in Cambridge and Covent Garden in London.  The bike from Brompton is sold exclusively in its dedicated Brompton Junction stores, and in selected American stores.  

The collaboration between Cambridge Satchel Company and Brompton Bikes is viewed as a natural fit as a bicycle is already part of the Cambridge Satchel Company’s own logo, plus both companies are manufactured in the UK.

Brompton's in-house design team have worked closely with The Cambridge Satchel Company to develop the leather satchels which integrate with the Brompton’s front carrier system, fitting neatly onto the front of all Brompton bikes.

The Satchels, able to hold up to 2.5 kg of your must-have items, come in three colours: a Lagoon Blue, Turkish Green and Oxblood as shown in above and left pictures, taken at Cambridge's Covent Garden shop in London.   Brompton has also created a special edition bike in Gloss Oxblood and Ivory which showcases the Oxblood satchel.   The sophisticated colour combination should appeal to both men and ladies.

The Satchels handmade in Cambridge's own factory in Leicester, UK, are retailing at £195, and the foldable bike handmade in Brompton's factory in west London costs £1,400 and comes with the bag.

The bags are available online and in Cambridge's stores in Cambridge and Covent Garden in London.  The Brompton bike is sold exclusively in its dedicated Brompton Junction stores, and in selected American stores.

All photos © Lucia Carpio 2017.

Sales of Bike Accessories outstrip sales of Bikes, says Mintel

La Tour de France 2015's champion Chris Froome of Great Britain in yellow jersey, winner for the second time,  with his Sky team mates cycling to victory on the final day on the Champs-Elysees in Paris on July 26th.

Speaking from the experience of a concerned wife whose husband has lately exchanged his own car for a bike as his regular commuting vehicle, I can relate to a new research just released by Mintel, the world market intelligence agency, that for many cycling loving Brits, owning a bike is simply the tip of the iceberg as today’s cyclists are splashing out more on the accessories than bikes themselves.

The Trophy Bull Bike Rack from Outline Works, is designed in the silhouette form of an iconic bull head, made from solid steel with a soft touch coating, now available at Bear & Bear.

As the report reveals, it all starts with the bike, but for some, before very long this will be swiftly followed by skin tight shorts, gloves, sunglasses and a whole host of other must have gadgets.

Indeed, the UK market for bicycle accessories, or ‘PACs’ (which Mintel defines as including bicycle parts, accessories and clothing) was valued at £1.25 billion in 2014, running rings around the £956 million Brits spent on bikes in the same year.

Vintage styled 21L durable canvas double pannier bag by Alban with multiple carry options, easily fastens to the back rack of a bicycle, but is also easy to carry thanks to a robust leather handle or detachable shoulder strap. It is constructed from durable 20oz water-resistant coated canvas that will protect the bag and its contents from any weather,
now available at Bear & Bear. 

What’s more, while sales of bikes are set to top the £1 billion mark by the end of this year, Brits will spend an even more impressive £1.35 million on PACs. Over the past five years, sales of PACs have outstripped that of the bicycles market, increasing 28% between 2010 and 2014. Meanwhile, bicycle sales have increased 23% over the same five year period. This year, the average spend on PACs among all 15.8 million cyclists is set to reach £79, while the average spend among the 11.85 million cyclists who ride once a month or more often will reach a wheel spinning £106.

While MAMILs – middle-aged men in Lycra – still rule the roads, there are an increasing number of women now taking to the saddle. Overall, over a third (36%) of Brits ride a bicycle rising to four in ten males (41%), compared to 31% of females, but the number of women taking to two wheels is gaining speed. In 2014, just over a quarter (26%) of women were cyclists. Meanwhile, one in twenty (5%) Brits ride every day, a fifth (21%) mainly cycle at the weekend and some 13% cycle to their place of education or workplace most days.

Michael Oliver, Senior Leisure and Media Analyst at Mintel, said:
“Cycling is no longer regarded simply as a cheap means of transport, a bicycle is now regarded as a lifestyle accessory, an expression of an individual in the same way as driving a premium sports car or belonging to a golf club. This is positive news for accessory suppliers, because it means that many of their potential customers are not buying on price alone, instead brand, quality and product features are also key factors influencing purchase. Ahead, the prospects for the market look extremely positive, given the expected easing of pressure on household incomes and the expectation of further growth in cycling participation levels.”

Magnetic Bicycle Indicators - waterproof
bike lights by Cycl, available at
Bear and Bear.

Amongst current cyclists, lights (27%) and locks (26%) are the most popular bicycle accessory to have been bought in the past year. These are followed by puncture repair kits (23%), water bottles (22%) and spanner or multi-tools (13%). While more specialist accessories such as cycle computers and GPS’s were purchased by one in ten (11%) cyclists, this rose to a fifth (21%) of frequent cyclists who ride most days or at least 2-3 days per week. The same was true of action or helmet cameras which were purchased by 8% of all cyclists, but twice as many (16%) frequent cyclists.

In terms of clothing, the top five purchases amongst current cyclists are: cycling helmets (22%), hi-vis jackets (18%), cycling gloves (18%), cycling shoes (13%) and cycling longs or leggings (13%). Again, purchase rises considerably amongst most frequent cyclists with almost twice as many of these cyclists buying cycling shoes (25%) and cycling gloves (33%).