Urban

POC was founded in 2005 in Sweden. They are a leading manufacturer of helmets, eyewear, and cycling apparel (as well as safety equipment and clothing for snow sports). They started the brand with a clear mission “Protect lives and reduce the consequences of accidents for athletes and anyone inspired to be one.” Thanks to their…

In 2012, British entrepreneur Nick Hussey set about creating bike kit to challenge the snobbery and cliqueness from some parts of the cycling industry. The result is Vulpine: a fresh, fun and accessible brand that ‘looks beautiful and works superbly’ – both on and off the bike. Vulpine is instantly recognisable thanks to its designs…

SAS have one simple goal: to make performance kit that looks and feels better than anything else you’ve worn before. All their products are manufactured in New York’s garment district in Manhattan, which means they get to personally oversee every stage of design and production. They take a ‘one piece at a time’ approach to…

Assos is the Swiss giant of cycling kit. Widely credited with inventing the skinsuit, they’ve been innovating since the mid 70s. Assos is a family business. Founder, Tony Maier started producing kits for local teams in his basement. His Mum came up with the brand name (from the Greek word for ‘ace’). Tony’s son and…

Madison started out as a small bicycle shop in 70s London to become one of the leading names in the UK bike industry. Over the years the brand has developed its philosophy of ‘Cycle Everywhere’. Under this banner, it’s clothing arm offers something for every type of cyclist – from commuters and first-time sportive riders…

In 1969, L. Gore & Associates invented Gore-Tex, a game-changing performance fabric still used by many leading brands for outdoor wear. In 1985, L. Gore & Associates started experimenting with waterproof, windproof and breathable bike clothing. They didn’t look back. Now Gore Bike Wear is one of the biggest and most trusted names when it…

Troy Lee originally started out as a motocross rider but became famous for customizing helmets for fellow professional motorbike racers in his parent’s garage in Corona, California. As his reputation for being one of the world’s best helmet customizers grew, he launched Troy Lee Designs in 1981. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Troy Lee painted…

In 2003 visual artist Dustin Klein took elements of San Francisco’s bike messenger culture as the inspiration for a complete collection of performance cycling kit. Cadence was born. This is good-looking, high performance gear. Over 13 years, Cadence has diversified to cater for all kinds of cycling: road, dirt, commuting, touring. And they also have…

Rapha is a London-based clothing company that needs little introduction. It epitomises the style, culture and attitude of contemporary road biking. In 12 years, Rapha hasn’t wavered from its core vision: to design without compromise for the most discerning of riders. Offering a vast catalogue of high-performance cycling apparel for men and women, Rapha has become instantly recognisable thanks to…