Fashion on two wheels

We know that there are certain fashion do's and don't's amongst the differing genres of cyclists.  Most road cyclists refuse to wear a helmet with a visor - for good reason as the position on a road bike means a visor interferes with visibility - while MTB cyclists are often looking for mud and branch protection and prefer a visor but may tend to only wear lycra while racing and go for the baggy cycling gear when riding with mates.

On the other hand, regular peak hour commuter cyclists feel obliged to go with form over fashion and lean towards the high visibility end of the clothing and accessories spectrum while the weekend coffee cyclist tries to balance the 'practical/fashionable' dichotomy with clothing that can be worn on the bike yet has cool street cred.

If you're like me, and cycling is core to your life, you probably cross over a range of cycling loves.  On my road bike, I wear lycra and a road helmet.  Mountain biking, I've whacked the visor back on my helmet and gone for padded, loose shorts or an MTB skort.  If I'm commuting to somewhere in a frock and street shoes, I'll likely ride my folding bike because it has a lower top tube to stand over.  But, riding about town, I get real street cred on a pink-rimmed, pink-framed Surly "steel is real" single-speed with black skull valve caps and skull and cross-bone stickers.  Thus, when Race Face came out with a pair of pink skull & cross bone gloves, I just 'had to have' them, as much as any fashionista would declare that they 'had to have' the latest designer outfit or pair of shoes.

My favourite Surly

Cycling gloves to match!

That's just the tip of the iceberg.  Check out these great links to higher-end fashion on two wheels.

Ladies on bicycles 1899

Very niche market bike shop

Who thinks that tight lycra is good for showing off males' bodies?  I'd love to see a bike race like this!

Anyone keen to set up a Brisbane chapter of Frocks on Bikes?

If you've got any great photos of cycling fashion do's and don't's, please share them here.

Kelly

$1800 raised with your support

After a weekend of sizzling sausages, cooling drinks, testing yummy treats and sampling great coffee, we raised around $1800 to contribute to the flood appeal.  Thanks to all of Epic Cycles' wonderful customers who not only supported us by buying at our Flood Sale this past weekend but who also contributed to the fundraiser.

On top of our generous customers, it was wonderful to see how many people simply pulled up into the Epic Cycles' driveway to donate money, without wanting anything in exchange.  We also had plenty of people who were just out and about drop in to 'buy' a snag or cold drink at higher than market value; even local residents who lost more in the flood than we did contributed to the fundraiser.

Special thanks to those who supported the BBQ through sponsorship goes to

• IGA Milton for drinks and sausages 
• bRED Bakery Milton for bread 
• Cafe2U Geebung for coffee
• Epic Cycles for sausages, sauces, etc.
• Baked Relief for yummy baked goods 
• local residents like Toni for even more yummy baked goods and snack food 
• Nest Nappies for a big eskie, and,
• family, friends and staff for supplying the BBQ, other equipment and the labour (see photos in posting, below).

Leftovers went to the Yeronga Recovery Centre, who had put out a plea on Saturday for food as they were desperately short, and to the RSPCA Fairfield volunteers.

Donations are still being accepted at Epic Cycles so if you drop in to check out the sale, feel free to throw your loose change in our bucket.

Fundraiser BBQ a success & still going strong

Saturday's session of our Flood Relief fundraiser was a HUGE success; with the presence of Cafe2U Geebung, we raised $1200 on Saturday and are hoping to raise at least another $800 today to reach our target of $2000.


It's not a lot, in the scheme of things, but local businesses who themselves were affected by the floods have contributed the goods.  IGA Milton donated drinks, bRed BAKERY Milton donated bread, Epic Cycles donated sausages, sauces, etc., Baked Relief contributed lots of yummy things as did local neighbours; Cafe2U Geebung turned up on Saturday to provide coffee and donated all their sales to the Flood Relief too.  And, of course, many volunteers have donated their time to run the sizzle.









THANK YOU BRISBANE FOR NOT ONLY HELPING EPIC CYCLES DURING THE FLOOD BUT FOR ALSO CONTRIBUTING TO OUR FUNDRAISER, TO HELP PEOPLE WHO WERE EVEN HARDER HIT.

Epic Cycles survives the Brisbane flood!

  The waters started rising on Tuesday, 11 January 2011 - must have been something in those numbers 11/1/11.  Epic staff worked hard to move stock to our second level and to sand bag the outside.  

  By 2am, Wednesday, as we neared the high tide, the decision was made to evacuate all stock, starting with the computers through a tiny window (understand, once you wrap plastic around a building and sandbag it, there's no more doors!).  By dawn, we had our staff on board and a small crowd of volunteers.  The waters kept rising and the race was on to get stock out before we lost access to the building.  With the help of staff, family, friends and complete strangers,  we managed to save most stock.

  Thankfully the heavy rain stopped so the high tides of Thursday 13 January fell short of the predicted level and just short of our second floor storage and bicycle workshop levels, saving us a lot of extra clean up work.

  By Friday, we could get back in to begin the clean up.  Certainly, we were blessed in that the damage wasn't as bad as it could have been and everyone was safe.  BUT, there's a huge amount of work to be done to get the shop back and running.

Tues. 11 January 2011

Taxi anyone?

Wed., 12 January

Fri. 14 January