London's designers putting cutting-edge style into the cycle lanes

LOOK round London and you will see a cycling revolution taking place. In every borough, fashionistas are gliding through the city on fixed-gear riders, mountain bikes, or vintage-style ladies’ cycles.

Owning a bike used to be about saving money and getting fit, but now it is a style thing and Londoners who make up the 545,000 bike journeys a day drive an industry ­centred on looking good.

Although there is still an army of cyclists decked in Day-Glo and hi-vis wear each morning, many of London’s two-wheelers are opting for a more unique, stylish look, which involves more than just reflective gear and weather-safe shorts.

Partly driving this is the fad for fixed-gear bikes, and the interest in sub-culture sports such as bike polo. London’s bike polo devotees, who play three-a-side matches on ball courts across London, will lock horns at the European Bike Polo Championships at Southwark this weekend. Around 40 teams – four of which are from London – will take part. The event, as much about looking good as it is about winning games, will even have a best-dressed team award. This fashion, whether from classic cycle website Rapha, or the laddishness of Chunk’s bike polo range, is inspired by demand for style.

In east London, Cyclodelic has designed feminine “bra bags” fitted to suit the shape of the body so they don’t move when riding, while Bobbin stocks tweed flat caps which reflect the light of drivers’ headlights.

Cycle Chic Shoreditch

58-60 Rivington Street, EC2

cyclechic.co.uk

At the forefront of the cycle revolution is ­Cycle Chic, run by Caz Nicklin. A brand wich combines femininity with functionality, Cycle Chic started life as blog in 2007, before Nicklin realised the gap in the bike fashion market, opening a store in May last year.

Nicklin says its rain capes, stylish panniers, “ding-dong” bells and breathable ladies­’ vests and knickers are changing cycling­ from “a blokey, unsafe way of travelling” into something stylish.

“Our main market is women in their 20s and 30s who are fashion-conscious, though blokes are regularly banging down our door asking for more fashion,” says Nicklin. “Being in Shoreditch, we do get a lot of ­people coming from trendy design companies, and young professionals.”

Cycle Chic’s top lines include fingerless leather cycle gloves with “Love” and “Hate” written across the knuckles, and peaked Bern Muse helmets. But what Cycle Chic specialises in is beautiful Velorbis bicycles (from £899) and designer panniers.

“The cyclist’s main problem is how to get your stuff from A to B with style,” says Nicklin. “When we started, the only panniers on the market were dull, waterproof affairs. Now you have range – be it floral, leather or traditional satchel looks.”

Best buy: “Love” and “Hate” cycle gloves (£29.99)

Revolutions in clothing

Rapha Kentish Town

Kentish Town rapha.cc

Founded in 2004, Rapha is the grandaddy of the cycle cool scene, creating stylish road wear for the discerning rider.

Chief executive Simon Mottram says: “It’s no longer uncool to ride a bike. Ten years ago I would be derided for walking through an office in Sidis and a cycling jersey. These days it’s a positive image.”

Once the preserve of road-race obsessives, the Rapha look has been adopted by bike polo players and even City fixed-gear riders.

Best buy: Classic Sportwool Jersey (£125) and the flat-peaked cap (£25)