Event: Vulpine Cycling Fete

I spoke with Nick of Vulpine fame when this was in its early planning stages and he was yet to speak to anyone about it. Seeing who he has been able to line up to come along is beyond impressive.

I wish I was in the UK to be there for this – I reckon it’s going to be a great day out…

A bit about Vulpine:

Vulpine is a brand new (three weeks new!) casual cycling apparel startup, with an inclusive attitude, for men and women. We combine British tailoring and style with performance fabrics, for cycling apparel you can wear on and (shock horror) off the bike. No lycra or Hi-Viz vests here.

For example, our finely cut Cotton Visibility Gilet, is a stylish but functional alternative to The Least Flattering Garment Ever, the dreaded Hi-Viz Vest.

Vulpine was founded by ex film-industry Executive Producer, design obsessive and passionate cyclist Nick Hussey, from Wimbledon, London, along with his wife Emmalou and Jack Russell Lily. We have a well established and passionate cycling blog too.

Now the Fete:

The Vulpine Cycling Fete was created by Nick and Emmalou as a positive reaction to the lack of innovation, design and actual unashamed fun currently lacking in much of the cycling world. There is a new cycling attitude coming through, different from the geeky or stuffy image many still imagine, and we at Vulpine want to reflect that. It is a genuinely new and innovative event at a time when cycling just gets bigger and more interesting.

The Fete is being held on June the 4th 2012, the Jubilee Bank Holiday Monday, at Balham Bowls Club, a vintage-chic British pub/bar/restaurant/venue with retro-chic wood paneled walls and ironic doilies!

The event is free, and welcoming of all cyclists, whatever their creed, interest or ability. We hate cliques! It will be fun for non-cyclists too. And there’s even kids stuff.

Add in bunting, cake stalls, tea, coffee, beer garden, BBQ, artists and a host of entertainment including live graffiti and Roller Racing for all ages from Rollapaluza and you’ve got a great way for everyone to celebrate design, entrepreneurialism and cycling.

The venue is huge, but will be packed with stalls from the leading young lights in cycling entrepreneurialism and design. Vulpine isn’t charging anyone anything to attend, or have a stall. We understand how hard it is starting a new business, and why not combine our resources as a community to make something bigger and better together rather than struggling separately?

We have only asked that every brand or artist contributes something to our auction/tombola in aid of cycling charities Wheels For Wellbeing (supporting disabled people to cycle) and Rollapaluza Outreach (bringing cycling and fitness to the disadvantaged).

Key brands involved:

Look Mum No Hands! cafe in London is the social centre of the British cycling scene.

The Tweed Run is a cult event, always massively over-subscribed, where participants dress up in amazing vintage wear and tour their city on beautiful old bikes. Mustaches and bow ties aplenty.

Tokyo Fixed is possibly the coolest bike shop in the World. Based in Soho, it works with the finest brands, and holds a unique status in the uber-stylish cycling world.

Feather Cycles‘ Ricky Feather is widely regarded as the best new framebuilder in the UK, and awarded as such. He is making an exclusive Vulpine bicycle, made from stainless steel, with all kinds of innovative features, for the event.

Fete poster artwork is by respected illustrator/traveller/really good looking chap George Butler.

Balham Bowls Club is 2 minutes walk from Balham Northern Line Tube and mainline rail, on a Cycle Super Highway and is a very pleasant and accessible ride via Richmond Park, Battersea Park and Clapham Common.