Cycle Show preview: Female designers breathe new life in to women's cycle clothing

London Fashion Week may have just finished, but the capital’s female cyclists have plenty to look forward to at next week’s Cycle Show at Earl’s Court.

There was a time when women looking for cycling clothing designed for their needs were lumbered with female-specific cuts of the usual lycra ranges, with a colour palette typically based around pastel pinks and blues.

That’s fine if you’re going out for a training ride, but not so good if you’re popping down the shops to find something for that party on Saturday night, or meeting friends for lunch at the weekend.

Not any more. In line with a growing trend that has seen the likes of TopShop looking to woo female two-wheel enthusiasts with dedicated ranges, brands such as Cyclodelic and Ana Nichoola will be showcasing their latest ranges.

Cyclodelic’s new Cool 2009 clothing range features garments such as the Kimono jacket, which is available in forest or navy and is said to be wind- and shower-resistant, plus a tailored, waterproof City coat, which has a belted waist and comes in cobalt blue with gold lining or plum with silky cerise lining. Both the Kimono and the City have reflective piping.

Other new products include a Hooded Scarf, which has heart-shaped pockets with zip detail, and a Flared dress, which comes in navy or plum in a quick-drying fabric – perfect for averting the potential disaster that can be caused by that sudden shower en route to your destination.

Cyclodelic will also be launching its Girls Guide To Cycling at the show, and also promises three themed days – Friday focusing on commuting, while Saturday and Sunday will feature, respectively, competitive cycling and cycling holidays. All with very much a female-friendly angle, of course. It will also provide women-only maintenance sessions with Bike Tech and The Bike Doctor.

Meanwhile, Ana Nichoola also plans to launch new products, which it says are “practical with a fashionable twist”, at the show.

The company, whose strapline is “Riding Style”, was set up last year by designer Anna Glowinski, a racing cyclist and cycling instructor, and will bring to Earl’s Court new products including three different showerproof jackets, leggings and jerseys made form bamboo fabric, a natural fibre with similar properties to merino in terms of wicking, thermostating and deodorising. Look out for some more photos soon.

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