Alleycat Sponsor Profile: CYCLODELIC

Cyclodelic make bags, accessories and clothing:

"CYCLODELIC combines thousands of miles of pedaling experience with the simple goal of creating beautiful CLOTHING and ACCESSORIES for WOMEN who don't want to forfeit fashion over function when arriving by bike.

After success selling their bicycle accessories range through the TOPSHOP flagship store on Oxford Street during the Summer of 2009, CYCLODELIC are launching their first women's clothing collection this October which will be available online through cyclodelic.co.uk.

Expect heavenly soft antibacterial CASHMERE base layers, tailored WATERPROOF JACKETS and glamorous SOFT SHELLS in Autumn hues. "

Cyclodelic is a brand just for girls, so I shall embrace my feminine side for this! The Cyclodelic bags and accessories are lovely, well designed and hand made in London. If I was a girl I'd be all over the ankle cuff they do and the large messenger bag is way more classy than the "snazzy" ones you usually see. They also organise events for private companies, local authorities and charities which is really cool. If you are a lady and you cycle then be sure to click the lovely photos below to go to the site, even if you are not a lady go there and get something for your lady, she'll love you all the more for it!

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Alleycat Sponsor Profile: URBAN HUNTER

Urban Hunter is an online shop that has this to say about itself:

"Urban Hunter is all about being on the bike in the city and the kit that goes with it, mixed together with our love of track and road racing. This is functional urban cycling gear made by people who care about their products, allowing you to get out on the bike and look good while riding."

I think of Urban Hunter as being a bit underground, I don't know if I am right but going to the site is a bit like finding a brilliant shop that you've never heard of but feel like you should have been to a loooooong time ago. They sell, mostly, clothing and bags and have a huge selection of both as well as a bunch of accessories like tool pouches, wallets and top tube protectors. Their selection of fixed gear specific t-shirts is next to none so make sure to leave the t-shirt page on the computer for your other half to see if your birthday is coming up, haha.

Clickity click the products below to go to the site...

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Bookworm Alleycat: CHECKPOINT MAP

Riiiiiiiiiiiight then you crazy kids, here’s the moment you’ve all been waiting for! Below is a map containing the start/end location and all the checkpoints. You will be hitting 5 libraries where we will have someone waiting outside with a stamp, DO NOT FORGET TO BRING A BOOK WITH YOU! The size of the book is not important, just bring one! Here are the checkpoint locations:

- Fforestfach Library, Kings Head Road, Gendros
- Llansamlet Library, 242 Penial Green Road, Llansamlet
- Townhill Library, The Phoenix Centre, Paradise Park, Powys Avenue, Townhill
- Treboeth Library, Llangyfelach Rd, Treboeth
- Library and Information Services, Swansea University, Singleton Park

View Bookworm Alleycat in a larger map
Feel free to go about making your own detailed maps if you think you’ll need them, we’ll also have maps available on the day so don’t worry too much, nothing will be too hard to find. Please note that the organisers will be racing too but we certainly haven’t been practicing, we don’t even know where two of the libraries are (except on the map of course)!!!

Anyone that is staying the night down here we look forward to having you, anyone that needs to stay the night but hasn't told us yet please register on the main alleycat page and tell us so in the message box. Bring pillows and a sleeping bag to be safe.

One last thing: BRING A LOCK! You’ll either need it at one of the checkpoints (haven’t decided/checked the loaction yet) or you’ll need it at some other point during the day…

See y’all in a week :-D

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Alleycat Sponsor Profile: JOL GURNEY STRAPS

JOL/Gurney Straps are a new foot strap produced in the UK, read this:

"The concept was born from straps failing at the hardware/join point so we decided to remove this element all together. Our multi-directional hook&loop layer system prevents strap movement while being infinitely adjustable. The construction of the straps provides rigidity to allow for easy entry and keeps the foot comfortably secure while riding. Whether for Bike Polo, Freestyle or general riding, Gurney Straps provide a solid, adjustable and comfortable solution to foot/pedal interface."

As soon as I saw these straps I wanted to check a pair out, they are hand made and the materials and construction make for a super strong feeling strap, no corners have been cut with regards to quality. There are a few different options out there now if you wan’t this kind of strap but why buy any of the others when you can have a set that are made in the UK? I look forward to trying these out…

Click the pix to go to the JOL blog.

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Alleycat Sponsor Profile: SKULLCANDY

Skullcandy make a bunch of instantly recognisable headphones, they say that:

"Skullcandy is the result of a bunch of snowboarders, skaters, surfers and x-pro athletes getting together to create products that work for their personal lifestyles."

Whether you want a nice small set of classy looking earbuds for your iPhone or a huge set of bass heavy headphones Skullcandy will have something for you. Shed loads of development goes into all their products, they are not just pretty looking they sound really really good, I swear by my set of Full Metal Jackets which are way better than similar Sony and Sennheisers that I've had.

And you wanna know the best thing? They offer a lifetime guarantee! Has that convinced you that they are a safe buy? If so then get them from Nucleus via the advert over there >>> to get 10% off the already guaranteed lowest prices in the UK.

Click on the photos below to check out the full range...

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Alleycat Sponsor Profile: TOKYO FIXED GEAR

Tokyo Fixed Gear is an awesome webshop, here's a bit about them:

"We started in 2007 exporting keirin frames & parts from Tokyo, Japan. Soon after we launched our web shop stocking stocking high end clothing from Tokyo based brands such as Nari Furi & CCP. It was & still is our aim to offer the exclusive goods styled by the Tokyo track bike scene to the world. Now based in London we are still stocking the best product from Japan as well as clothing and parts from any other countries doing it well."

Tokyo Fixed Gear have all the cool gear, there is an emphasis on top quality parts and exclusive designer clothing. They have everything you'd need for your bike, if you are looking for "a cheapo this" or "any old crap" then this is not the site for you. If you are on the lookout for great parts that are not only top quality but bling too then why go elsewhere? To give you an idea of what they stock these are their most popular brands: ALEXANDER LEE CHANG, BROOKLYN MACHINE WORKS, COG, DIA COMPE, MASH, NARI FURI, NITTO, PEDAL.E.D, PROFILE BMX, SUGINO, SWRVE and VOLUME.

Click on the photos below to go to their shop...

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Alleycat Update

Hey guys and gals, the alleycat is just under 2 weeks away now, we've had people pre-register from Manchester, London, Leeds, Bournemouth, Cardiff, Swansea, Warminster and DUBLIN!

If you are planning on coming please pre-register so that we have an idea on numbers, everyone that pre-registers gets a slightly snazzier spoke card too!

If you are in two-minds then please know that we have well over £1500 in prizes from these guys:

Bike Food / Cantgoslo / Charlie The Bikemonger / Cyclodelic / Exist / 14 Bike Co / Halo / Hell Yeah! / Howies / Hub Jub / Hunting Lodge / JOL Straps / Knog / Prendas / Re-Cycle / Schmoos / Skullcandy / Solder Gal / Tokyo Fixed Gear / Urban Hunter / Velo Solo

...so it is well worth coming down for.

Even if you think you don't have a chance of winning the race (does that really matter???) then there are prizes for longest skid, trackstand, footdown and hill climb as well as whatever else happens that is awesome.

The day isn't all about winning sweet product though, it's about meeting up with like minded people and having a laugh. After the riding is over we'll be heading to a secret location to watch videos and have some beer or pop.

See y'all on Oct 3rd, the checkpoints will be released next Saturday, stay tuned...<

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Alleycat Sponsor Profile: HUB JUB

I'm sure you've all heard of Hub Jub, how could you have not? Read:

"Hubjub launched in 2003, but the business really got started a couple of years earlier, when Will Meister dug out an old Maillard fixed gear hub and a set of cross tyres and started riding the bridleways around his parents' house on the South Downs. The idea is pretty simple: to bring the best fixed gear parts and tools from the US and other countries to UK street and offroad riders at prices as close to US standard as possible."

Hub Jub stock loads of high quality products like Nitto, Phil Wood and Sugino, if you are looking for quality then it's a good place to start. They also like to fulfil custom orders for hard to get stuff so if you are having trouble finding those hard to find Nitto horns give Will a call and he will try his best to hook you up. They have a whole load of NJS stamped parts which are the absolute best of the best in terms of quality. Hit up the photos below to see the rest of their gear...

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Alleycat Sponsor Profile: PRENDAS CICLISMO

Prendas Ciclicomo is a great online shop selling cycling clothing and other essentials, they say:

"We consider ourselves to be clothing specialists focusing on the unique, the stylish and the most practical items which will work for you, the rider, whether leisure, weekend warrior, commuter, clubman or racer.

All of the people involved in our organisation are keen experienced riders with a passion for the sport. We only sell items that we would be happy to use ourselves and consider it to be good value for money. "

I remember when I first found the Prendas website, I was looking for cycling caps and came upon the mother load. They must have the best selection of classic and new cotton caps available in the world. If you want a cap (and you should want one cause they are just the best thing ever) then just go to Prendas, don't waste your time Googling and forget about eBay, they have the cotton cap market on lock down, huh.

Below are some of my faves, they have millions more as well as jerseys, jackets, gloves, shoes, socks, sunnies and this calendar :-p Click the pix below to go to the site you crazy cats!

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Alleycat Sponsor Profile: CANTGOSLO

Cantgoslo is a clothing brand from Manchester (home of The Fall, the greatest band of all time!) aimed at fixed gear riders. Here's what they have say about themselves:

"chris drinks guinness and likes campy
nasty drinks sierra nevada and likes njs stuff

sometimes these guys help us out:
charlie tries his best to keep us on the straight and narrow and likes all bikes
dangeruss drinks lager beer and likes doing bar spins
dave10 drinks lambrini and likes riding very fast
liam og drinks lager beer too and likes riding on rollers

none of us can rollerblade"

I sure am glad to hear that they are non-rollerbladers cause I'd have to return their prizes if they were! At the mo they have 5 designs up for grabs including the awesome Love Park one. Click on any of the designs below to go to the new website...

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Alleycat Sponsor Profile: 14 BIKE CO.

14 Bike Co. is the hottest fixed gear shop in the UK, this place has all the gear you would need from nuts and bolts to full custom built bikes and everything in between. I was at the shop a couple of weeks ago and was really surprised by how nice all the staff were, not something I am used to in London! There's so much stuff in there I came out having really not looked at anything and as soon as I got home I wanted to go back there for a proper look!

The custom bikes they build are just perfection, words can't explain how awesome they are so check out their flickr stream: flickr.com/photos/shopfourteen and then click on any of the photos below to go their blog.

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Alleycat Sponsor Profile: KNOG

On their website Knog say this about themselves:

"knog is SEXY URBAN BIKE simple"

Knog are a bit like the Crumpler of cycling gear, they are wacky and instantly recognisable. The difference being that Crumpler stuff is quite expensive but Knog represents great, innovative design and awesome value for money. Their Frog range of LED's must be the most popular choice for fixie riders the world over, recently their other lights have been popping up on bars and seatposts all over town too and the buzz about their no-nonsense cycle computers is louder than an orgy of bees inside a traffic cone. I must insist that you support Knog (I'm sure you already do) as they have been very generous, whoop! Click the pix below to go to the official site...

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Alleycat Sponsor Profile: CHARLIE THE BIKEMONGER

Charlie Says:

"This corner of the internet is here to help people who want to singlespeed and ride fixed wheel. It provides solutions to the technical issues that fixed and singlespeed bikes throw up. Building a single speed or fixed is not always dead straight forward, so I am here to make it easy. You get free advice including "how to" movies and we can also sell you everything you need.

There are a few UK based online fixed gear specific shops and charliethebikemonger.com is definitely the one that screams out "I am like you!" more than any other. He clearly loves to ride and it comes through in his descriptions of the products he sells. From single half links to track frames via hip flask bottle cages there is something for everyone on his site. Go an have a looksie by clicking on any of the products below...

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