New Izzivelo site for women's cycling kit

The Lakeland based bike shop DC Cycles has spun off a new web-based venture based on the owners' realisation that "women really aren't very well served by bike shops."

DC Cycles in Ulverston owned by Charis Drysdale and her mechanic husband Dave has been open two years and focusing mainly on Dave's workshop service and accessories. In fact, apart from some rather nice custom builds based on Niner frames, they don't even sell complete bikes.

With a wide range of Lake District visitors calling through, it didn't take Charis very long to work out from the appreciative comments from women cyclists that there's a whole market for clothing, obviously, but also the saddles, helmets and even tools that women appreciate. "It's funny," says Charis, "women say they want their own tools to be able to fix things but cannot even get the husbands to take them seriously, let alone boys in bike shops. They can ask me."

Charis - full name Isabella Charis - thought that Charisvelo wouldn't have quite the same ring to it and started her Izzivelo website quietly this week stocking Ana Nichoola - our writer Leonie reviewed the Her Pleasure Armwarmers here - Pearl Izumi, Castelli, Giro, Bionicon and Alchemy Goods with the intention of  building up over time based on customer feedback.

Meanwhile, husbands could do a lot worse than checking out the Kooky n Kool section for Christmas. We're loving the Alchemy Goods Magnolia handbag made from recycled inner tubes that, according to Izzi - sorry, Charis - "Feels like soft leather the more you use it." 

Details: izzivelo.com

On Izzivelo: Alchemy Goods Magnolia Handbag made of recycled inner tubes £77.99