The Brooks Bugle 2015

I S S U E

02 Racing

04 Culture

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E D I T I O N

14 Travel

20 Products

PRINTED ON RECYCL

ED PAPER

Back in the Races Brooks rejoins the Peloton. Read more on page 2.

A Riveting Read

Author: Andrea Meneghelli

With this 7th edition of The Bugle we continue our mission to keep you abreast of developing trends among the devotees of pedal power. Speaking for ourselves, we have much to share after a busy year, and thanks to the kind attention of some of our closest friends, sundry exploits atop a Brooks Saddle are here for your enjoyment as well.

We have been shocked and delighted by the enthusiastic reception from the cycling public to our latest line of Cambium Saddles. Our Cambium range has now grown to encompass various models to answer the call of a wider group of users, and has found a particular home amongst cyclists of the athletic variety, but not only. We’ve captured the cultural Zeitgeist too, and recently teamed up with the

famous inventors of riveted denim jeans, Levi Strauss, to produce a limited edition Cambium in recycled denim, an exciting project about which you can read more of on the following pages.

The steadily increasing swell of interest in retro-themed group riding in scenic settings has seen Tuscany’s L’Eroica export their simple yet highly enjoyable concept to a larger audience. Not all that far a cycle from our own Smethwick premises, the first Eroica event on British soil was a roaring success in the Summer of 2014, and is expected to grow exponentially this summer and beyond.

Judging by the sheer volume of bulging mail sacks that arrive on our doorstep, cycle touring is experiencing as much a renaissance as all things cy-

23 Company

cling in general. An exciting new online resource for the cycle tourer is pannier.cc, featuring route suggestions, sharing inspirational tales, and offering a great selection of invaluable kit for the needy traveller. However not to forget, when it comes to cycle luggage, Brooks have long been at the forefront of manufacture and design, and we continued to produce innovative equipment in the past year. Our latest line of Expedition Bags is featured herein, as well as a number of other new products from our ever expanding range.

We round out this feature-packed issue of The Bugle with news from various intersections of art, design and cycling.

Read on, and though it really need not be repeated, we urge you to pedal on. And remember: Enjoy Every Mile!

Racing

2 MUNICH, GERMANY

TABOR, CZECH REPUBLIC

Silk Route 1200

CX World Championship

Author: Manuel Jekel

German cycling editor tackles the great unknown on the Cambium C15 Sometimes, things need to be done because they are absurd. For example, a 1200km bike ride in Uzbekistan.

Manuel Jekel, editor of Tour Magazine, took up the challenge and the long journey to Central Asia.

We wish to thank all contributors and photographers. If you have an interesting story to tell and wish to contribute to a future issue of The Bugle, please contact us either through our website or send your submission or questions directly to thebugle@brooksengland.com Editor in Chief Andrea Meneghelli Editor at Large Bregan Koenigseker Managing Editor Michela Raoss Art Direction & Design Fabio Fedrigo Jim Holland Editors and Contributors Manuel Jekel Angus Edmond Nick Hand Jack Thurston Alasdair Mackenzie Dan Farrell Kevin Downey Stefan Amato Oliver Parsons Ugo Villa Jhojan Pardo Gianmarco Mioni Steven Green Photography Liz Seabrook Frank Herholdt Alessandro Bon John Watson Jack Thurston Jonathon Cherry Sergio Jensen Andy Nelson BROOKS ENGLAND LTD. Downing Street Smethwick, West Midlands B66 2PA, England United Kingdom T +44 121 565 2992 F +44 121 565 1630 brooksengland.com

The Brooks Bugle is printed on recycled paper.

Racing

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The Idea The first time I heard about the Silk Route Brevet was in 2013. The routing alone instantly appealed to me, that year it was Samarkand–Tashkent– Samarkand–Bukhara–Samarkand.

That didn’t only sound like Arabian Nights, it was actually in the oasis town of Samarkand where Scheherazade supposedly told tales to the Emir to avoid execution in 1001 Nights. In the book, the Emir falls in love with her, pardons and marries her. For my trip I hoped for a similar happy ending.

Uzbekistan? Where on earth is that? Can you even ride a road bike there? Such were the questions I was frequently asked when I talked about my 2014 ambitions. The former Soviet republic is located in Central Asia, bordering Kazakhstan in the north, and Afghanistan in the south. What about cycling? The only connection I could make between cycling and this country was the professional racing cyclist Djamolidin Abduschaparow, who won the green jersey in the Tour de France several times in the early ‘90s. But other than that?

The Brevet The founder of the Silk Route Brevet is a saddler from Tashkent, Rafhat Sulemin, 48. His idea was born out of necessity: in 2011 Sulemin wanted to participate in the most famous of all bike marathons, Paris-Brest-Paris, but was denied a Visa. “Then I will organize my own Paris-Brest-Paris”, he declared defiantly and founded the Silk Route 1200.

The following year, 14 cyclists participated. In 2013 only eight adventurers appeared. For the briefing of the 4th Brevet, nine people had turned up; by next morning one cyclist had changed his mind. The peloton was small but truly international: two riders each from Uzbekistan and Russia, one from Kazakhstan and three from Western Europe. Three supporters accompanied us, carrying our luggage in the support car, stamping out tour cards at the ten checkpoints and noting the times.

On the way You shouldn’t ride a bike in Uzbekistan if you’re afraid of monotonous landscapes. This huge country is mostly flat and, as it’s one of the major cotton producers worldwide, dominated by cotton monoculture.

The south and the west are dominated by steppe, only the turning point en route, Buchara, in the desert of Kysylkum, is an oasis. The only landmarks in this barren land are the horizon and the illuminated petrol stations that are inhabited but rarely sell petrol. For trained cyclists Uzbekistan is easy, only a 1000m elevation on the whole brevet.

Much different though the roads: most of them oscillate between grit-

tour-magazin.de ty and gravely. The share of pot holes is also higher than that of surface!

The worst are concrete surfaces that have inch-wide cracks and tremble like hell when a truck comes by. At least outside the cities, traffic is no big deal, only a few trucks and cars and even donkey carts are around. Since traffic is so scarce, it was easy to ride around the craters in the road surface.

However, the Uzbek style of driving is quite different to our style, but luckily I didn’t experience any seriously dangerous situations throughout the 1200 kilometres.

Author: Angus Edmond

UCI World Cup Racer chooses the Cambium C15 I have mixed feelings after the Worlds.

To sum it up, it just ended badly. There were some highlights in there. My manager Pieter giving me an Orval while the paramedic cleaned up my leg was one.

Dinner with the boys after was good fun too. But the second half of my race went badly, and the fact that I now have trouble walking has most certainly tainted my mood. The time, energy and preparation that you put into a race like this certainly increases the expectations, but of course you need to remember that everyone else in the race will be giving it 110% too.

My start was good. I took at least two places every turn for the first half a dozen turns, I missed three crashes including a beauty in the sprint on the asphalt, and I felt like I was placed well for what seems to be ‘my’ style of racing.

Just keep plugging away at them, gaining lap by lap. The cracks started to show when I slid out on a corner that I knew shouldn’t have been a problem (OK, Van Aert did a superman on the same corner, but I wasn’t racing for the win) Then a few hundred meters later about 1/4 of my rear tyre rolled off. Luckily I had the foresight to just pop it back on and keep riding. But this put my speed in the corners down and meant I had to change bikes. This is where we encounter the biggest flaw in all my preparation.

I only have one set of mud tyres. Last season started with me spending £1000 on tyres and I not only chose to continue this season on those same tyres,

The People On my way back to Tashkent I pass a stand beside the road selling tea. The woman waves at me to stop for some tea and Non, the traditional Uzbek pita bread. My attempt to pay for it is resentfully refused! An incident that is symbolic of Uzbekistan and its people. Making this trip is unforgettable, it is hard to find a more hospitable people.

Wherever I go, I am greeted with great sympathy, school children exchange high-fives with me, and even drivers greet me. It is very helpful to know some Russian to get along in Uzbekistan, even though the official language is Uzbek. In that way I can always say who I am, where I am from and what I am doing here. My nine flat tires even helped me get to know the people there while I made my repairs.

My most emotional encounter was with Alisher and his mates at the Yoshlik bicycle sports club in Buchara. They spent the night looking after us and we talked using hands and feet. I couldn’t believe what bikes they rode! Heavy steel frames welded multiple times and from the old Soviet times. Before I headed out at five in the morning I gave Alisher my unused jersey. In return he escorted me out of the city and we hugged each other farewell.

I even sold off some of the excess ones to try and raise funds. The second bike had, what we in the business call ‘Grifos’, an all-round tyre that wasn’t up to riding in the conditions in Tabor.

So as I came into the pits I communicated my problem (read: screamed “THE TYRE FELL OFF!!”) knowing that they could do nothing about it, and continued on, now equipped with my ‘drifting bike’. It was such a joke trying to ride it that I came back to the pits half a lap later to get the first bike again, it was still the more favourable of the two.

I had lost those that I was chasing and I didn’t think there was anyone left behind me (I found out there was) so motivation was a little hard to come by. I don’t know what it was but I hadn’t felt like I could really open up during the race, I felt like the ceiling had been lowered. I had been eating garlic pretty much nonstop since we left Denmark, as I felt like I was coming down with something that never really manifested itself, but maybe it was still there anyway.

By the time we got to the fall, which everyone who is even remotely interested in cyclocross has seen by now, I wasn’t in the mood for more problems.

As you could see in the footage it came out of nowhere. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t mind falling, but this one was horrible, plus it ripped a big hole in my knee and fucked up my gears. Everything that happened after that was just a movement towards the 80% zone and getting pulled from the race.

One thing I would like to add was how much I loved the crowd support.

All in all we had a great weekend in the Czech Republic and I look forward to returning, but it has taken me at least a few days to ‘get over it’.

LONDON, ENGLAND

Lessons learned I want to polish up my Russian after this adventure - this was definitely not my last trip to this region. I only have been to Europe and the States before and even though I like traveling very much I have always visited countries that are similar to ours culturally.

Uzbekistan is an Islamic country, where religion is apparently not so important to the people, and almost everything is different to Europe.

Outside the capital, Tashkent, most people lead a simple, though by our standards miserable life. But most people I talked to didn’t seem unhappy at all.

My most important realization of this trip is that our measurable wealth is no prerequisite for a satisfying life.

This is also true for cycling. The members of the Yoshilk cycling club ride around on 35 year old steel bikes and train with the same passion as we do. I wonder what they would think about our methods by which we try to reduce the weight of our bikes, counting the grammes?

Epilogue Together with Wadim Malakhovskiy, I reach Tashkent after 85 hours on October 4th. We are the first of five finishers. There I embrace my wife, who had arrived the previous day by plane.

To let out pride and joy I started to cry, relieved that everything went so well. That’s what you call a happy ending, I guess.

angusedmond.wordpress.com

Back in the Races Author: Bregan Koenigseker

Athletes choose the performance advantage of comfort

Angus Edmond at CX World Championships in Milton Keynes, UK

In February Brooks England announced their ongoing sponsorship of UCI World Tour cyclocross racer Angus Edmond (Team NZ / Malteni). Angus is part of a growing number of competitive cyclists foregoing lighter components in favour of those designed with comfort in mind, mirroring a trend among road cyclists for wider tyres. Angus has in fact been riding the Brooks Cambium C15 since last season.

Edmond, a native New Zealander, enthusiastically endorsed his choice of saddle. “How well the seat and your a*** match together is everything. But in the case of racing ‘cross it is the durability and ability to take a beating that is important. I have to throw myself up on the bike many times during a race and I need to be able to trust the saddle that I am landing on.”

The Cambium is already being seen atop many of the fixed gear bicycles of

brooksengland.com the popular Red Hook Crit international series, notably top women’s team Desgena. “Being seated comfortably effects the whole way you ride your bike, for example your position. Lack of comfort will effect your performance in a negative way.” said Desgena team member Janine Jackson.

In coming up with the innovative Cambium, designers at Brooks were aware that sometimes the greatest burden to the long distance cyclist is simply the act of remaining perched atop their machine, as after a certain number of hours in the saddle numbness and discomfort can become unbearable.

“The unique hammock function of the rubber top ensures a fluid performance and greatly reduces vertical stresses. Therefore the type of performance offered by the Cambium is particularly noticeable after the 100th kilometer, and is thus perfectly suited to the long distance racing cyclist.” explains brand director Andrea Meneghelli.

Culture & Events

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Culture & Events

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“ Many thousands of cyclists have demonstrated their appetite to connect with the roots of the sport, and be joined in a collective experience which can truly be said to have soul. ”

GAIOLE IN CHIANTI, ITALY

The Eroica Journey Author: Andrea Meneghelli

New Eroica editions in USA, Spain, UK, Japan & Italy.

Eroica surely no longer needs an introduction. The inaugural event in 1997 was conceived of as a bicycle ride in the manner of years gone by, celebrating in spirit the heroic efforts of legendary Italian racers Gino Bartali and Fausto Coppi.

eroica.cc It was in that summer that a small band of fewer than one hundred enthusiasts rode vintage machinery on a course set out on the white gravel roads of Tuscany, dressed in appropriate old fashioned cycle clothing. More than merely an ode to the glorious history of Italian cycle sport, the event brought attention to the historic white gravel roads themselves, which the event organisers wanted to help preserve.

Since then, the popularity of L’Eroica expanded significantly as each successive event saw the registration of many more

riders than took part the year previous.

Many thousands of cyclists have demonstrated their appetite to connect with the roots of the sport, and be joined in a collective experience which can truly be said to have ‘soul’. As founder Giancarlo Brocci succinctly observes, those taking part in an Eroica event “rediscover the beauty of fatigue and the taste of accomplishment”, experiencing for themselves “the sacrifice that seeks out our physical boundaries, where thirst, hunger and exhaustion are felt with all their physical

strength. It is cycling that can spread respect and create bonds between loyal opponents. It is inspiring and beautiful to watch”.

The scenic backdrop of rolling Tuscan hills is undoubtedly a most attractive setting for a bicycle ride, and the region is of course renowned for producing great quantities of fine wines, which are quaffed with relish by the thirsty, ecstatic riders completing their routes. Tuscany provides a marvellous setting for the travails of the ride, a canvas which they splash

with a riot of colourful woollen jerseys and vibrantly-coloured vintage bicycles.

The event includes a Vintage Market for historic bikes and components, apparel, and associated paraphernalia. The riders sit down together to gorge themselves on local cuisine at the Hero’s Dinner, during where prizes are awarded to the rider with the most luxuriant moustache, and the best period costume and machine.

Last year the Eroica spirit was ever-so-successfully transplanted to the British Isles, where the first Eroica Britan-

nia became very quickly oversubscribed.

A great time was enjoyed by all, and the number of cyclists eager to taste the glory of the ‘golden era’ of the sport rose for this years event. Having confirmed that a joyful embrace of cycling as it was done in the middle of the 20th century isn’t restricted to only Tuscan folk, this year the Eroica concept is being exported to some other international destinations.

In April the first Californian Eroica will take place in Paso Robles, San Luis Obispo County. The rolling countryside

there features unpaved roads, much like those of Tuscany, with the addition of breathtaking coastal views. There will be a Concours d’Elegance for vintage bicycles, and of course an exhibition featuring sponsors, local bicycle stores, vintage bike and component retailers and the like. Part of the proceeds of the event will be donated to a local charity, the Hospice of San Luis Obispo, which is run by volunteers.

May will see the Primavera event on familiar Tuscan soil, and for the first time

Eiyu (Eroica) will also take place in Japan, with a ride from Fuji Kawaguchiko to Machi, Yamanashi.

Early June will then see the Eroica spirit exported to Spain. The Hispania event will take place at Cenicero in the Rioja region.

A fortnight later the second Eroica Britannia event will see the back-roads and byways of the scenic Peak District once again fill with the colourful sights and sounds of cyclists in the manner of yesteryear. The jam-packed programme

of events comprising the three day Festival celebrates the best of all things British, and features the world’s largest Bike Jumble, high jinks on The Sporting Lawns, music and dancing, and of course ample opportunity to sample traditional local wares such as the famous Bakewell Tart, while sampling from the various local beers and ales, light cocktails, or simply spring water from nearby Buxton.

IMAGE Gliding through corners dappled with Californian sunshine in the hills of the Santa Lucia range.

Culture & Events

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Culture & Events

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KENT, UK

Miles of Sitting Author: Bregan Koenigseker

Limited Edition sitting device with a distinct “Brooks”ian flair Simon Taylor of Kent based design duo ‘Two Makers’, talked us through the concept of their unique and highly distinctive ‘Randonneur’ rocking chair.

Simon drew inspiration from the aesthetics and construction methods of the classic racing bicycles of the 1940s, regarded by many as having been the ‘golden age’ of the master bicycle constructors. The resulting rocking chair is a delightful piece, which enables the discerning cyclist to experience indoors a similar sensation of freedom and delight associated with riding a bicycle outdoors.

The chair is made from Reynolds 631 manganese-molybdenum steel alloy tubing, connected using a combination of lugs and filet brazing. The fine craftsmanship is proudly displayed beneath a clear topcoat, rather than being concealed beneath paintwork.

Two sidepieces resembling the front triangles of classic randonneur cycle

BRISTOL, UK

Bristol to Mainz Printing all the Way Author: Nick Hand

Nick Hand at it again with another trip to illuminate One of the nice things about working amongst a community of designers, engineers and artists is the opportunity for collaboration.

When I moved a collection of letterpress type and presses next to the workshop of my friend, the bicycle builder, Robin Mather, it seemed like a good idea to do a project together. The idea was to build a bicycle capable of carrying a small printing press and all the equipment needed to print ‘on the road’, and then do a significant journey with it.

Robin has been developing the idea

twomakers.co.uk

frames, and sharing the same relaxed geometry, extend upwards from the ‘seat’ and ‘head’ tubes to support a curved back and arm rest with a pair of drops to the fore. There’s even a pair of water bottle cages! An arched crossmember joins the down tubes, two rear stays connect to the rockers, which at the front are attached to a ‘leg’ curved like a fork blade. The rockers themselves are outwardly clad in Sapele hardwood. Brooks contributed the high grade saddle leather used for the seat and padded rear cushion, as well as the matching saddlebag and leather handlebar tape with embossed cork end plugs.

Like the custom hand-crafted bicycle, the Randonneur chair exists in the contexts of the ‘bespoke’ and the genuinely authentic, and also shares the ethical, ecological, recyclable and sustainable properties of its two-wheeled sibling. Not only does it celebrate the heyday of British hand-built bicycles, it spotlights the continuing traditions of skilled manufacture and the benefits of collaboration between artisans, and does so at a time when cycling seems to be undergoing something of a renaissance.

departmentofsmallworks.co.uk

for the bike for a long while. The bike, which can carry a big payload, is just a little longer than a normal road bike. It is achieved by using BMX sized 20” wheels along with a clever tube arrangement.

Robin spent much of August 2014 building the bike. In Early September it went for painting as we prepared to roll off on September 16th, aiming to reach Mainz by early October.

The journey involved riding from Bristol to Mainz in Southern Germany.

Mainz is the home of modern printing, and is where Johannes Gutenberg invented printing with moveable type in 1440. On the journey through England, France and Germany, we printed postcards en route and posted them to folk who helped us fund the project through Kickstarter.

We also met with artists who carved

pieces of lino that we printed from whilst we were on the road.

I’ve done long journeys before, cycling around the coast of Britain and Ireland in 2009 and 2010. On those journeys I made films en route of craftsmen and women whom I met. So I’m interested in what’s possible on a bike. I am a massive fan of Brooks Saddles and Panniers and wouldn’t use anything else for this adventure. I’ve also chosen drop bars and derailleur gears, as I don’t see why carrying a printing press should be any excuse for not being stylish and comfortable (or enjoying a bit of speed now and then on a downhill).

Nick Hand is a frequent Brooks collaborator. We first met years ago during a project where he completed an astonishing cycle tour of the entire British coast.

MILTON KEYNES, UK

One Year Time Trial Author: Alasdair MacKenzie

UK Audax veteran takes on Tommy Godwin’s record Brooks England regularly receive letters from cyclists seeking sponsorship. Many of these requests for sponsorship set out to journey far and wide, and to all corners of the Earth. Some but by no means all of these applicants arouse our interest enough for us to agree to support them, quite literally, by providing them with their saddle of choice, and bike luggage where appropriate.

One such missive which most certainly got our attention was penned by Steven Abraham, whose intention throughout 2015 is to ride his bicycle no fewer than

LONDON, UK oneyeartimetrial.org.uk

75,065 miles, the distance record set in 1939 by the legendary Tommy Godwin, recognised as having been the greatest long distance rider in the world. Steven is likely to be spending more time on a bicycle saddle than any other human this year, so needless to say we were delighted to provide him with a Brooks Team Professional. Having already, at the time of writing, covered more than 13,500 miles since the start of the year, it seems fair to assume his saddle is by now well and truly ‘broken in’!

40-year-old Steve already holds the Audax UK points record, having covered 28,834 miles during 2007. He regularly spends up to 18 hours a day on his bicycle, and the long summer days will see him cover as many as 300 miles in a single day. These individual distances are enough to raise the eyebrows, but it is the

thought of stringing such performances together day after day, that really has us tipping our hat to the fellow.

His location will be available online in real time via a satellite tracker, making it possible for fans to anticipate his path, and wait for him en route in order to bellow vocal encouragement from the kerb.

Steve and his support team point out that they discourage cyclists to attempt to ride with him. It is crucial that he avoid mishap, in order to be able to stick to his carefully planned timetable, so he won’t be accepting offers of a ‘draft’ from anybody. To extend your goodwill, post a virtual ‘shout’ on his Facebook page. Every message of support is a tonic, helping to banish fatigue and spur Steven onwards.

Artcrank - B1866 & Bristol Author: Oliver Parsons

Five years of bicycle art displayed in London and Bristol We know a good thing when we see it. We like a bit of art as much as we appreciate good design. At Brooks we like to think of ourselves as cultured and culturally literate people, in addition to being enthusiastic evangelists for cycling.

artcrank.com

Perhaps this is why we teamed up with our Covent Garden neighbours PEdAL ED last July to jointly host a retrospective of five years of fabulous poster art from ARTCRANK UK. For those unfamiliar with their work, ARTCRANK draws upon a diverse group of artists who come together to create limited edition posters. Their colourful and eye-catching artworks celebrate the bicycle for being the most fun, accessible way to get around.

With Brooks having recently opened their B1866 store in London, and

not long after our friends PEdAL ED opened their own temporary premises next door, we both recognised the opportunity to throw our doors wide open in celebration of local artists.

Partnering with ARTCRANK was the logical and most natural thing to do. We hosted a poster party, itself a celebration of five years of such poster partys at which ARTCRANK invite local artists to design artworks which express what the bicycle means in their own lives, and print them by hand, using printing techniques such as silk screen

and letterpress. ARTCRANK installed a small silkscreen set-up on the night, and produced original new posters live, while local tattoo artists inscribed their designs into Brooks Leather Saddles.

ARTCRANK explain their mission as being all about using creativity to change the ways that people think about bicycles and grow the cycling community. To which end they hold colourful and creative poster partys in different host cities and countries. In addition to being a good party, guests can buy great hand printed artwork for very

reasonable prices. The money raised is donated to a good cause in each host town, chosen for their contribution to “making a difference in the community, helping people lead better lives, or just making the world a better place”. A spirit which Brooks and PEdAL ED can fully endorse.

Bikes of Distinction

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Bikes of Distinction

9 LONDON, UK

Bikes of Distinction Author: Jim Holland

Diamant - 130 diamantrad.com

A hundred years ago when Brooks was a somewhat younger company, the cycle trade was in its heyday, we had close to a thousand neighbouring businesses in Birmingham, all involved in the production of the bicycle, including a number of frame-builders that split their business between the manufacture of bicycles and home plumbing systems.

Whilst we may never see makers of this

Pelago Bicycles - Hanko pelagobicycles.com

Dawes Cycles - Galaxy Classic dawescycles.com

Cicli Viscontea - San Sirio cicliviscontea.it

Böttcher - Metro Street boettcher-fahrraeder.de

brooksengland.com/bikes-of-distinction

number again, it is still an exciting time to be in the cycle business and no doubt today’s machines ride better than those made of plumb tube.

There is a staggering amount of choice in today’s market and its immensely satisfying to us at Brooks to see the quality and diversity of conveyances upon which you can find our saddles perched.

As cyclists numbers swell, so do the

varying disciplines within the sport, feeding trends and evolving manufacture.

Wider tyres and disc brakes are now appearing on bikes of every category.

But perhaps the most obvious change is the resurgence of the city bike. As more people turn to the bicycle for commuting and urban transport, more practical and comfortable machines have found their way into the stores.

Thankfully, as you can see from our selection here, practicality and comfort need not come at the expense of style (something we have long said at Brooks).

Below you can find a fine selection of such machines from Pelago Bicycles, Gazelle, Böttcher, Diamant & HF Cyklar, all of whom have managed to make the utilitarian sexy. We have even have a racy e-bike from Italian manufacturer Klaxon,

BRADFORD ON AVON, UK

The Earl Grey Moulton Author: Dan Farrell

Moulton ‘Earl Grey’ Bicycle – from the cradle of the European Rubber Industry “This slender, whippet thing of steel and rubber that carries a man far and fast, by his own glad effort, on the open road and takes him away from his cares … as nothing can.”

Twells Brex Even before JB Brooks was born, Northumbrian Stephen Moulton sailed across the Atlantic Ocean (quite an undertaking at the time) to pursue business interests. This journey changed his life. He met his future wife; and he made the acquaintance of a gentleman named Charles Goodyear.

Goodyear had - through over twenty years of ingenuity, experimentation and dogged persistence – unlocked the greatest industrial secret of the 19th Century. He discovered a method – later called ‘vulcanisation’ - of turning gum rubber into a durable, predictable ‘synthetic leather’. Rubber products, as we know them today – rubber tyres, hoses, seals, straps, soles – all depend on Goodyear’s invention.

Entrusted with knowledge of the procedure and three samples, Moulton brought vulcanised rubber to Europe in the mid-1840s. He purchased a derelict mill in Bradford on Avon, Wiltshire, and founded The Moulton Rubber Company.

The mainstay of this company (and its

moultonbicycles.co.uk successor, Spencer Moulton & Co.), was to supply rubber hoses, springs, seals etc. for the rapidly expanding railway industries right across the British Empire; but there were many other items of interest – waterproof capes for the British Army in Crimea, rubber boots (galoshes and Wellington’s), and mast supports for Brunel’s SS Great Eastern.

Stephen Moulton’s great-grandson, Alex Moulton, joined Spencer-Moulton in 1945.

He saw great opportunities for rubber in the burgeoning automotive industries. After many years of experimentation, reminiscent of Goodyear’s struggle with vulcanisation, Alex was to make physical and mathematical sense of rubber as an engineering element.

Hitherto rubber in compression and tension was understood and predictable, now he could work with rubber in torsion and in shear – and, critically, there was now a comprehension of the subtleties of design required to ensure long fatigue life of rubber parts.

The result of this research is now history – Alex Moulton put rubber suspension (cone and interconnected ‘Hydrolastic’) under ten million British cars – from 1959 until 2000. A further three million cars were equipped with Moulton’s ‘Hydragas’ interconnected gassprung units, the last being the MGF in 2002.

Alex turned his attention to bicycles during the first Suez Crisis. To ensure his activities were not curtailed by petrol rationing, he borrowed a ‘curly’ Hetchins as ‘a serious alternative means of locomotion’.

Immediately being both intrigued and delighted with this lightweight steed, he nonetheless found it uncomfortable (although he had no complaints about the Brooks Saddle) and unwieldy, particularly

when carrying luggage. With characteristic conviction, he resolved to improve on it.

The Moulton Bicycle, with rubber suspension and small (16”) wheels, was launched in 1962 to immediate acclaim.

Within a year Moulton became the secondlargest cycle makers in Britain. To cut a long story short, Moulton sold the business to Raleigh in 1967 and started up again with the ‘Advanced Engineering Bicycle’ – this time targeted exclusively towards high quality – in 1983. This time he was determined to keep the business small, exclusive and under this absolute control.

The Moulton ‘Earl Grey’ is the result of Alex Moulton’s design ethos pared down to its elemental purity. The lightweight space-frame was originally developed for the world’s toughest bicycle race, the Race Across America. The handlebars are modelled on the controls of a De Havilland Mosquito aircraft. The single gear is ideal for the square mile, the city and the University town; and as every designer knows, less is more. In a similar vein, the grey finish is typical of the aesthetes mindset – judge by form, by comfort, by performance, but not by colour. It does, however, complement both Brooks Cambium Saddle colours perfectly.

After all, what could complement a bicycle designed and manufactured in the cradle of Europe’s rubber industry than Brooks’ vulcanised rubber Cambium Saddle?

And why ‘Earl Grey’, you may ask? To be succinct, Wednesday afternoons working with Alex Moulton were punctuated

by Digestive biscuits and Earl Grey tea.

Although, if the hands of the clock moved past five, a bottle of Scotch whisky would often appear.

Gazelle - Van Stael gazelle.nl

Condor Cycles - Classico condorcycles.com

HF Cyklar hfchristiansen.com

Creme - Lungo cremecycles.com

Abici - Abicino abici-italia.it

Klaxon - Clubman Zehus klaxon-mobility.com

as well as the quirky Abicino and retro modern San Sirio from their countrymen Abici and Cicli Viscontea.

Espresso-inspired Polish maker Creme offer us their Lungo, a stylish tourer.

Our long-standing UK colleagues at Condor and Dawes are still making machines so good that they have changed very little for generations, much like their saddles.

Bikes of Distinction

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Bikes of Distinction

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LONDON, UK

DIEREN, NL

Condor Cycles EST. 1948

Gazelle Fietsen EST. 1892

Author: Oliver Parsons

A Classic London Establishment with a Modern Eye Since Monty Young opened the doors to Condor Cycles in 1948, it has been one of the leading bicycle shops in Britain. Across over 65 years of history, they have provided their customers with a service and product range like no other. In the age before globalization, they provided British cyclists with a selection of exotic componentry, but there was one component on offer that was sure

condorcycles.com

to have its origins closer to home – the Brooks Saddle.

Back when Condor first opened its doors, Brooks were the saddle of choice for the professional peloton in Europe, so it was obviously one of the first products Monty chose to stock. However, many racing cyclists in those early days would be working in labouring jobs, restricting them to racing only on Sundays, so often they would not have the time to break in the leather. Ever the innovator, Monty began to offer race-ready Brooks Saddles, where the leather had been removed and conditioned, making it more supple and comfortable from day one, much like our modern day Aged

range. These race-ready saddles proved extremely popular and soon Condor was a Brooks Saddle Service Point.

Condor and Brooks continue to share a close relationship to this day, with Brooks Saddles regularly featuring on bicycles emerging from their Gray’s Inn Road shop. There is a shared philosophy that places an emphasis on quality and craftsmanship to deliver high performing products for demanding cyclists.

At a time when many bicycle manufacturers have looked towards the Far East, Condor continues to produce all of their frames by hand in Italy, providing them with the opportunity to select the tubing and use their own specific designs. This

creates bicycles that are highly fit for purpose, and offer the cyclist ultimate performance.

It is not only the Condor range of bicycles that are significant, Paris Lightweight Cycles are also part of this family. Back in 2007, the Paris marque returned to the stable, notably with the reintroduction of the Paris Path. These machines are a throwback to an earlier era of frame building, with beautifully intricate fillet brazed bi-laminates and distinctive frame designs, usually topped by a certain leather saddle.

Condor holds a special place in the history of British cycling and we at Brooks are very proud to call them a

Dealer of Excellence. They have provided bicycles to many of the leading names in the annals of British Cycling, including Tom Simpson and Bradley Wiggins, but their influence does not stop there.

They are the marque of choice for many recreational cyclists, including Mick Jagger and Eric Clapton.

Should you find yourself in Britain’s capital, we highly recommend a visit to their fantastic premises on the Gray’s Inn Road, where one can see today’s range and also some special items from their unique history.

Author: Alasdair MacKenzie

The cog keeping a nation spinning for over a century By the time Dutch Postmaster Willem Kölling decided to name his decade-old bicycle company ‘Gazelle’ in 1902, Brooks England had already been in the business of manufacturing bicycle saddles for more than two decades. We’ve long since lost count of exactly how many saddles we’ve produced since then, but at the present day Gazelle company they know just how many bikes have left their factory over the intervening years. The largest producer of bicycles in the Netherlands, the European

gazelle.nl

country with the highest number of cyclists as a percentage of population, Royal Dutch Gazelle are justifiably proud of having turned out no fewer than 14 million bicycles by 2012, and of course they’re still counting.

Gazelle bicycles, exported worldwide, have an enviable reputation for quality, adhering as closely today as ever to the old company adage and guiding principle of their design department, namely that “the better a bike is, the more often it will be ridden”. Gazelle’s product development team are today tasked with creating bicycles which achieve the precise alchemical mix of smooth ride, robust quality and smart design, and are thus worthy of wearing their distinctive leaping Gazelle icon and branding. The current range em-

braces designs as diverse as the perennial favourite ‘Tour Populair’, which fairly epitomises the catch-all description “Dutch bike”, and the rakishly styled ‘Cityzen S9’, a swoopy minimalist urban speed machine in matte ‘Onyx Purple’ combining racy aerodynamics with disc brakes and dérailleur gears. Various other iterations cover almost every conceivable niche, from trekking machines to urban bikes with electric motor assistance.

A delightful adjunct to their more modern counterparts is their stylish lifestyle offering, named ‘Van Stael’. A traditional lugged steel double-diamond framed bicycle, offered with a parallel top tube and as a Ladies model with a ‘stepthrough’ lowered upper tube. With its subtle ‘Sandstone’ metallic paintwork, and

without the fuss and clutter of too many cables, the Van Stael strikes an understated note, with a nod to the classic steel lightweight touring bikes of yesteryear, whilst being very much ‘of the moment’ in terms of ride comfort and hassle-free low maintenance.

Gazelle describe their Van Stael models as “Stylish retro bikes”, inspired by the company’s long popular ‘Tour de France’ models. Indeed at first glance both the Ladies and Mens models have a great deal in common with their forebears, essentially having changed little from the 1950s right up to the present day. Upon closer inspection however it becomes evident that the Van Stael benefits from the most recent developments in cycle component design. The twist-grip operated 3

or 7 speed Shimano Nexus hub gears are a smooth-shifting improvement on older and clunkier hub gear systems, and the progressive feel of the sidepull front caliper brake is a nice counterpoint to the relaxed style of deceleration that the coaster rear brake imparts. Sensible full mudguards and a traditional chainguard, gently swept handlebars, the option of a matching front rack, high quality paintwork and discrete badging all combine to make a very elegant machine with a reserved, nostalgic flair. An oatmeal coloured Cambium saddle and matching organic cloth tape Brooks handlebar grips are the perfect garnish, and bring the retro Van Stael right up to date, adding not just a contemporary styling note but also imparting incomparable comfort and a sure grip.

Heavy Industry & Weekend Romance

Steam-powered locomotives, and the network of track and points along which they ran, formed the steel backbone of Britain at the time of industrialisation. These imposing machines forged links between the towns and countryside,

bringing the catch from the fishing ports to the village hall. More than merely transporting goods and victuals, they also transformed the lives of a populace who had previously been more tightly bound to where they lived.

The rail network offered freedom and excitement to a new generation of weekenders and daytrippers. www.brooksengland.com

Travel

14

LONDON, UK

The Perfect Ride Author: Jack Thurston

Cyclist and Author Jack Thurston shares his thoughts on this important subject If there’s a month for armchair cycling, it’s November. Emily Dickinson described it as “the Norway of the year”, which is a bit hard on Norway. November really is the gloomiest month. Dreary skies above, mud below – and not much in between.

Just as an embalmer removes the blood from a corpse, the landscape is drained of its autumn colour. Spring seems inconceivable and we’ve not yet reached the frost-spangled glamour of midwinter.

November promises little and delivers less. Even professional bike racers – men and women whose job it is to ride their bikes – take the month off.

So as the rain blows in from the darkening sky and rattles my windows, I sit by the fire with a bottle of wine patching a year’s worth of punctured inner tubes.

Breathing deeply of the rubbery vapour, I recall some of the memorable rides of a year spent exploring the byways of Wales and the border counties, having not long ago moved from London to the Black Mountains and begun working on a second volume of Lost Lanes. I think back to the acid green of Radnorshire in spring, an almost magical land, all the more thrilling as it was somewhere I’d never even heard of, let alone visited.

A late summer afternoon, the sun warm on my back as I rode the Great Orme’s Head, the short coastal road that winds up and up around the limestone cliffs that tower above the Irish Sea. Were this road in the south of France it would be called the Corniche de something-or-other, and would be widely celebrated. A chilly late September morning on the Long Mynd in Shropshire, mist rising from the valleys and a view for miles and miles.

Perfect rides. But what is it that makes a perfect ride? Beautiful landscapes and fine weather helps, but neither holds the key. Might it be what you do along the way? A refreshing dip in a river, a lazy picnic under a spreading oak tree, exploring an eerie ruin or gathering a bagful of chestnuts or a mess of wild garlic. A pint in a pub garden bathed in late afternoon sun, or, in winter, the feeling of gently defrosting in a crowded

jackthurston.com greasy spoon, all steamed-up windows, cheerful chatter, the clatter of teacups and bacon sizzling on the grill. Nothing beats the moment a cyclist’s hunger meets a large plate of food, whether it’s a four-course midday menu du jour on the sunny terrace of a French café, sluiced down with a half litre of rose, or the salt and vinegar tang of fish and chips on the beach at the end of a long day in the saddle.

I’ve always found there’s something very special about the first day of a multi-day bike tour. There’s a feeling of liberation as you leave behind the complexities and commitments of home and work for a simpler, pared-down life on the open road. All the planning and preparation is done, everything’s packed and the roads traced so carefully on the map are now a blur beneath your wheels.

Then again, some of my most memorable rides were totally unplanned.

A sudden impulse, a late invitation, a journey into the unknown. In his book In the City of Bikes: The Story of the Amsterdam Cyclist, American cyclist Pete Jordan recalls many apparently aimless rides exploring his adopted city with his young toddler perched on the handlebars. At each junction father asked son which way the pair should turn. Childcare on two wheels meets the situationist’s dérive.

These kinds of urban explorations are proof that a perfect ride is never a matter of speed, nor of distance. For me, goal-focused riding has always detracted from the simple pleasure of riding a bike.

Sure, going fast or going far is rewarding, but it’s a delayed gratification. It’s all in the feeling of mission accomplished that you get at the end, rather than the intoxicating ecstasy of the moment.

There’s a BBC wildlife documentary in which a pod of dolphins surfs the breakers on an beach in South Africa.

In his narration, David Attenborough observes that “Humans and dolphins are almost the only species who continue to play into adulthood”. There’s nothing more playful, more delightful to the senses, than riding a bike. For me, a perfect ride is one when I ride with the same carefree exuberance as a dolphin surfing a wave. There’s no point to it, it’s mind and body at play. And as lifelong cyclist George Bernard Shaw, reminds us, “We don’t stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing.”

So what’s your idea of a perfect ride?

“ There’s a feeling of liberation as you leave home for a simpler life on the open road.”

IMAGE A deserted road silently snakes its way through England’s luminous Autumnal Wye Valley.

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Travel

Travel

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Travel

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BELFAST, UK

Kevin Downey Across Borders Tour Author: Kevin Downey

Irishman manages 2.5 years abroad by bike and boat After returning from a 59 day tour of mainland Europe, I never envisioned taking on the world on two wheels. But 13 months and 2,000 miles later, I found myself in Istanbul, Turkey far from my home in Ireland once again. With the right support behind me I continued on through 41 countries, covering 30,000 miles on bicycle, and 20,000 by boat.

Relying on the kindness of strangers, I

influenceanaudience.com

lived for 2.5 years on the finer things in life, while raising over £5,000 pounds for Depaul Ireland, a charity tackling homelessness on the Emerald Isle.

As the London 2012 Olympic Games came to a close, I cycled out of London on my trusty 20 year old Dawes Galaxy frame, fitted with a Brooks Flyer Special. Come end of day 1, my tent was hidden behind roadside bush on the outskirts of Dunkerque, France. The quick pitching two man tent quickly became home, as I chased the summer to the beaches of Dubai via Turkey, Iran and the Arabian Sea. Keeping my feet on the ground at all times, I jumped ship for the Philippines.

For almost 4 weeks I sailed with an all Filipino crew acquiring Asian customs before beginning my 6 month adventure in the Far East. But after failing to acquire a visa upon arrival, and questioning from Police and border control, I spent Christmas 2012 on a boat filled with bananas with my crew-mates at sea, before disembarking under a full moon in Singapore.

From the worlds largest port I continued north for the once bicycle capital of the world, Beijing China. Armed with my guitar, I performed weekly during my time in Malaysia, whilst working at a bar and hostel at night, and as a graphic designer by day. Daily, I wowed my stom-

ach with new foods, all things local to all things strange on the streets of Bangkok, Thailand. Outrun by the summer, Cambodia’s dry season was long behind me by the time I crossed the border of Vietnam with south China.

The Great Wall was just that, and a fine way to cap off an incredible time on Asian soil. Setting sail once more, I lived the high life, cruising luxuriously to South Korea and ports of Japan.

Two weeks were then spent at sea, carb loading until our arrival in Anchorage, Alaska. Unpredictable weather in May 2013 did nothing to slow down the rebuilding of my ailing ride. Come the early days of June, me and fellow

Irishman and good friend from home, Brendan Barnes, were conquering the infamous Dalton Highway for the Arctic Ocean. As a sign of victory, we stood barefoot over the frozen ocean, ready to part ways once again.

The extremities of North America continued to its borders with Mexico, from the wilderness of Alaska and British Columbia to the bicycle haven that is Highway 1 and 101. Ticking off natural wonders on the bucket lists of many, from the Redwood Forest and Grand Canyon, I reunited with family at the man-made spectacle that is Las Vegas, before venturing into the unknowns of Latin America.

Be it for different reasons, along with Iran, Mexico and its people remain misrepresented. The hospitality and good times shared there are matched only by moments in my life, not places. It’s no surprise I left 4 months later with a lump in my throat but craving more of the same beautiful food, women, colonial towns, rich culture and food from the rest of Central America and the South.

Arriving on the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica, I sailed once more with cargo, this time with Russian crew to Santa Marta, Colombia and the unbroken Pan-American Highway for Ushuaia, Argentina.

With the Caribbean coast and humid tropical temperatures long behind me, I climbed The Andes for the first of many times. On the flat planes of Peru alongside Lake Titicaca, I crossed the altiplano for Bolivia then Argentina, in tour record temperature lows of minus 17. But the Argentine people were ready to see me fit after the disappointment of their World Cup final defeat, with mountains of cheese and fine black stout rivalled only by Ireland. Prevailing southern winds of 80 miles per hour on the Atlantic coast, almost ended the tour but yet somehow, come September 2nd 2014, I stood bare arsed at ‘The End of the World’.

Objective complete, I made the return journey north with friend Patrick for Santiago Chile, before being left to my own devices for the final leg. Plus 200km days were completed daily via. 2 and 18 wheels through the Desert of Atacama before the final Latin frontier with Peru, and the heights of Machu Pichu with girlfriend Lily. As Lily returned to Mexico once more, I made tracks for my final destination in Latin America, unsure when she and I would meet again. After almost 2.5 years, I was ready to return to the white cliffs of Dover England, still, there was the Atlantic sea to sail.

Friends awaited at the official start line of New Cross, London before returning to my immediate family home in Belfast, Ireland decorated with flags of the world.

Christmas 2014 was extra special for the Downey family, not only did I return, but Dylan, my 7 month old nephew, enjoyed his first Christmas and quality time with his new Uncle. As I continue to share my journey with the world, I plan another… it’s not an addiction, it’s just what I want to do… for now.

IMAGES - Clockwise from Left - Cresting some gravel in Alaska - The sun going down in Mexico - Steady progress past the mountains and pine forests of Alaska - Gigging in Malaysia - Muraling in Malaysia - Walking a stretch in Costa Rica - In search of repairs, Alaska

Travel

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Travel

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“ An air of curiosity always surrounds a loaded touring bike: Where have they been? Where are they going? With all that gear? ” LONDON, UK

Pannier.cc - The Story So Far pannier.cc

Author: Stefan Amato

A beautifully curated online resource for all things Touring I could barely see 50 metres in front of me as I rode through a super foggy Peak District last weekend, following and crossing the contours of the Hope Valley that shape our Pannier “for the travelling cyclist” graphic.

The difference between Mist and Fog? Fog is closer, denser and reduces the visibility. Fog also makes your snood wetter as you pedal through its hanging moisture but, more importantly, makes

riding quite exciting – a similar feeling of weightlessness to riding at night when you cannot see a horizon line. These are the little things you notice when travelling by bike, exposed to the Great Outdoors, and one of the many reasons why cycle touring is such a rewarding, joyous escape.

Foggy conditions aside, Spring is here. Drifts of Snowdrops are out, the days are lengthening, and the UK’s cycle touring ‘season’ is well and truly underway. The second week of March also means pushing Pannier - our dedicated cycle-touring resource - live to the world, and I am excited. Why? Because, 1] a resource that helps people plan, prepare for, and share their journeys will

hopefully inspire and enable more people to pedal off on their own adventures, and 2] I have just finished planning and plotting a three-day tour of the English Lake District, for eight of us - challenging riding and swimming in the greatest of Outdoor theatres. I can’t wait to see how both pan out...

Pannier’s values are rooted in the belief that travelling by bike is the best way of exploring and discovering the world.

Experiencing places from the saddle of a bicycle embodies the Slow Travel mindset that the pleasure of the journey is too often lost by too eager an anticipation of arrival; the journey is what we tour for, after all.

Pannier has been a journey in itself.

From humble beginnings plotting cycle-friendly accommodation along cycle touring routes, to now offering a dedicated resource for travelling cyclists.

But everyone starts somewhere, right?

The hardest and most important thing is to start. And it is the same with cycle touring...

An air of curiosity always surrounds a loaded touring bike: where have they been? Where are they going? With all that gear? Although, one journey, however hard or easy, long or short is all it takes to discover that travelling by bike is awesome, and really quite straight-forward! The hardest bit is that first pedal stroke. And then, it is all too easy to be-

come hooked on a Cycle of Wanderlust – constantly thinking about your next tour, in search of new places...

For me, the hook was an ‘on a whim’ unsupported Land’s End to John O’Groats tour with two good friends to celebrate finishing architecture school.

Over two weeks in the saddle, we realised what a joy it was to ride with such freedom – immersed in such beautiful places - knowing we were carrying everything we needed on our bikes.

Hell, Luke even took a mallet! “You never know” he said, and still tries to justify it. We wild camped, wild swam, enjoyed meeting great people on and off the bike, and even crashed into each other on a remote, empty, single-track

Highland road as we tracked an Eagle soaring above. Great times.

Since, I crave life on the road - valuing a weekend away with friends in the UK as much as longer, more ambitious Continental tours – and these touring experiences over the last few years have culminated in establishing Pannier as a resource and community for fellow travelling cyclists today. Funnily enough, I have always managed without a mallet...

To help plan, prepare for, and share your adventures, Pannier is organised into six sections: The Pannier Journal is a platform for sharing inspiring cycle touring journeys, stories, conversations, and cultural pieces. Journal pieces will be published on a

regular basis and collated into monthly issues.

The Prepare section is dedicated to helping prepare for a cycle tour; something we aim to grow, in scope and detail, over time.

The Pannier Shop is where we are compiling a selection of the best touring equipment, from the right manufacturers, to serve travelling cyclists. There is an option to “Suggest a Product” for review by us at Pannier HQ if you have an item of kit you never leave without, or know of a product that your touring companions shout about. Please don’t be shy. Pannier is a member of the 1% For the Planet initiative, which means we pledge to donate 1% of sales to or-

ganisations that support our touring playgrounds: the rural areas and cycling infrastructure we enjoy.

Our Vision statement does what it says on the tin. This page is where we also list the wonderful Pannier contributors.

The Pannier Routes Application is a fantastic touring tool, especially alongside a 1:50,000 map. It can be used to view our library of touring routes, for planning your own adventures, and also for marking Points of Interest en-route – wild swimming spots or places you have enjoyed spending the night for example.

You can do this privately to share your routes and checkpoints with touring companions, and opt to ‘publish’ them

for others to see. We hope the mapping will grow organically, and be a really useful resource for travelling cyclists.

Last but not least, please enjoy sharing your touring journeys and special moments on our Tumblr, and via the other channels on our Engage page, using #panniercc. If you have any stories from cycle tours (past or present), are planning a tour in the near future, or are keen to contribute a general piece on cycle touring please get in touch.

Where will your bike take you? #panniercc

IMAGE Pannier founding member Stefan Amato crossing the snow laden Peak District on a deep winter January morning.

Products

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Products

21 LONDON, UK

MT10 Pocket Tool Author: Ugo Villa

This year’s handy follow up to the iconic MT21 The well prepared cyclist carries with them a tool or two with which to tighten up any cycle components which may shake loose with road vibrations, or perhaps adjust a gear or brake cable which has slackened.

Once upon a time a selection of all the tools that might conceivably be needed en route would have filled a saddle bag, which of course Brooks offer in plenty of varieties. These days many of

LONDON, UK

Expedition Line Author: Bregan Koenigseker

New line of Travel Bags meld function and style For nigh on a century and a half since the foundation of the Brooks England company, we have designed and made hard wearing and highly functional luggage solutions for cyclists. The demands of the traveling cyclist remain the same today as they were then, namely the ability to accommodate everything that is to be transported, without rendering the bicycle unstable, and all the while

Suffolk Rear Pannier

brooksengland.com

affording good protection from the ravages of the elements.

Now as then, to keep the bicycle handling in an acceptable manner, it is good sense to mount luggage low down, as a high centre of gravity makes for wobbly instability. Side-mounted pannier bags, which can be securely hung from fixed luggage racks, have been the preferred solution of the touring cyclist for well over a century. Today we offer several variations on the theme; our Land’s End (rear) and John O’Groats (front) designs, as well as a recent addition to our Expedition Line of cycle bags, the Suffolk (rear) and Norfolk (front) Pannier Bags.

Our paired set of four panniers are named after the two places on the British mainland farthest from each other, the windswept points of departure and arrival for hardy cyclists who would add the famous ‘End to End’ route to their achievements. As rugged as the coastlines of their Cornish and Scottish namesakes, these durable bags are produced for Brooks by renowned German makers of cycle luggage Ortlieb. Made from a waterproof material exclusive to Brooks England, they feature seams which are ‘welded’ to prevent the ingress of rainwater. The commodious Land’s End Rear Panniers can comfortably contain the equivalent in safely stowed, bone dry

Norfolk Front Pannier

baggage of 23 litres of liquid, whilst the similarly generous storage capacity of the John O’Groats Front Pannier bags is as much as 15 litres worth. Both pannier bag designs feature a fold-over closure, and are securely attached to the luggage rack using Ortlieb’s mounting system.

In addition to a carrying handle, both designs feature attractive leather details and adjustable webbing straps with satin anodised aluminium hasps bearing the Brooks brand-name.

Our Suffolk and Norfolk Roll-top Panniers, named after UK destinations ever popular with cycle tourists, are made from “cotton-like” waterproof bluesign® material, and both feature

Isle of Skye Handlebar Bag

a capacious outer pocket with a foldover flap adorned with a Brooks metal nameplate. Both bags also offer fourway stretch side pockets, ensuring that there’s never any need to unpack the entire contents of your bag to find your rainwear whilst out riding. Both Suffolk and Norfolk Panniers are easily attached to the luggage racks using the QL2 system by Ortlieb, and both include an integrated carrying handle.

Our Isle of Skye Handlebar Bag is a perfect companion to our Expedition Panniers, or can be used solo for easy access stowage on day-rides. Made in the same bluesign® waterproof material and trimmed with leather. The Isle of Skye

Glenbrook Saddle Holdall

can be casually worn over the shoulder with a detachable shoulder strap when you’re not on the bike.

The Glenbrook Saddle Holdall is the companion to the Millbrook, based also on a Brooks design from the 1950’s, but updated with bluesign® textiles and a handy leather-trimmed strap. The Glenbrook sports two further side pockets for easy access to your wallet or communications device. The large main compartment is perfect for tools, an oil can, a light jacket, newspaper, or a picnic lunch.

The Millbrook is intended for use on the handlebar, though it is also quite suitable for duty as a saddlebag. Again, it

comes with a leather-trimmed strap for use as a shoulder bag.

The Isle of Wight Saddle Bag is a smart, practical solution for touring or everyday use. The bag features a unique double zip for easy access to your valuables, with room enough for multi tools, an innertube, and with the large version, even a small bike pump. Available in three sizes.

Millbrook Saddle Holdall

Isle of Wight Saddle Bag

brooksengland.com

these individual tools can be combined into a multi-tool. Brooks makes two of these space-saving and potentially ride-saving cyclists companions, the fully featured MT21 and the smaller MT10. Each tool assortment is held together by embossed side plates, styled after the metal Brooks emblems which we rivet to our saddles as a mark of authenticity. Both multi-tools come with a stylish leather cover, embossed with decorative cycling motifs, and available in different colours.

These two invaluable items are the result of a collaborative process incorporating the feedback of over 700 members of the Brooks Community. We asked which tools you considered essen-

tial ‘on-board’ equipment, and devised these combinations from your many answers.

The MT21 boasts no fewer than 21 different tools, a plentiful assortment including 7 Allen keys, 3 screwdrivers, 3 Torx wrenches, 4 sizes of spoke key, a chain tool, a bottle opener, a knife and a Brooks Saddle spanner for adjusting saddle tension.

The diminutive MT10 restricts itself to the ten most vital tools, which comprise metric Allen keys (hex wrenches) in sizes 2, 2.5, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 8mm, a small flat bladed screwdriver, a Philips #1 cross headed screwdriver, and a Torx T25 wrench.

Products

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Company & Dealers

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LONDON, UK

Cambium Denim Limited Edition Author: Michela Raoss

Collaboration with heritage denim merchant yields modern results

brooksengland.com

Brooks England teamed up with Levi’s® Commuter™ to produce one thousand numbered Limited Edition Cambium C17 Denim Saddles. These special saddles have been manufactured using recycled Levi’s denim collected at the Levi’s® Commuter™ Workspaces in Brooklyn, Los Angeles and London

during the summer of 2014.

Each saddle features the same vulcanisation techniques of the comfortable, waterproof and long-lasting Cambium C17 original.

No two saddles are alike, their denim uppers each having a unique story to tell. In a similar manner the distinctive

pale blue uppers of these saddles will inevitably begin to develop a further patina, as their owners pedal in comfort and relaxed style.

Denim owes its popularity in large part due to its longevity, itself a product of the fabric being highly resistant to abrasion.

Only time will tell if these stylish pieces will prove as durable as our Leather Saddles. Being strictly limited they won’t be available for anything like as long as their expected lifetime of use.

SMETHWICK, UK

Employee of the Year Author: Steven Green

Darren Morgan puts in a good turn Darren has been with Brooks for 3½ years, joining initially as an agency worker in August 2011. As well as being in charge of maintenance, he is the leading hand in the Press Department As we all know, a lot of the saddle making machinery and tooling at Brooks is pretty old, some dating back to just after World War II. Their age makes them very temperamental and in need of constant tender loving care in order for them

LONDON, UK

John Boultbee Small Leather Goods Author: Jhojan Pardo

New collection extolls the natural beauty of vegetable tanned leather There is no substitute for the look and feel of genuine Brooks Leather. John Boultbee, trademark of Brooks England ltd, has created a new line of Small Leather Goods made with the same materials and handicraft of the famous Brooks Leather Saddles and Bags.

The first JB Small Leather Goods collection features classic staples like wallets for travel and everyday, and various smaller items made from the exact same high quality vegetable-tanned leather used for Brooks Saddles. The leather is sourced from a traditional tannery employing age-old techniques to achieve a singular robust quality, similar to raw denim or traditional leather shoes.

OSTEND, BELGIUM

brooksengland.com

Leather is a valuable raw material, and our design process set about to honour this fact by wasting as little material as possible.

Like the famous Brooks Leather Saddles, the straightforward design of our small leather goods has been meticulously considered, retaining only the necessary details, resulting in a collection of uniquely durable pieces whose character will only improve with age.

Cut and hand-worked by a skilled workforce in Tuscany, each item is an exercise in stark austerity. This pareddown approach results in beautiful finished objects that allow the virtues of the raw materials to come forth.

The items of the small leather goods line are carefully produced by these same skilled workers who require years of training to produce items fluent in the language of elegance and sophistication.

Dealer of the Year Gino’s Carts & Bikes Author: Gianmarco Mioni

The finest Brooks destination in Belgium In the western region of the province made famous by cycling and known as Flanders, an area skimmed by the Northern Sea, lays Oostende, home to our Dealer of the Year Gino Carts and Bikes.

Despite the fact that original founder Gino, an Italian expatriate well known in the city, is not around anymore, his spirit lives on in the shop mascot, a canary, named after him.

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Since 2008, the store with its unmistakeable “bubbled” storefront is run by the energetic couple Pat and Tom with the enthusiastic approval of their three children Flo, Nel and Bas as animating spirits.

We met the couple last year during “L’Eroica” in Tuscany and Tom was my ride companion in a “very relaxed” attempt at the 75 km. By very relaxed, we meant to spend as much time at the food stops as we planned to be doing riding. In the end, we only succeeded with the former. Too much provender along the way helped us to fail the latter, but gifted us good memories, and that was just fine.

We decided to pay back the visit in November 2014 where we were pleased to find , after a renovation of the internal spaces, an entire area of the upper floor dedicated to Brooks and PEdAL ED. At Gino’s you will find nearly the entire range of both Brooks and PEdAL ED products, along with some of the finest bikes and accessories on the market, like Belgian manufacturer, Achielle.

But no matter what you are after, as always, Pat and Tom’s expertise will be at your service.

Pat and Tom, you are our Brooks Dealer of the Year! Congratulations!!

brooksengland.com

to keep on producing the essential Brooks components.

Darren joined the Company at a time when the two long-standing guardians of these machines were retiring, having actually worked beyond their official retirement ages. You can imagine, then, that it was a somewhat worrying time for us.

Darren has worked really well over these three years to learn all of the mystical intricacies of these machines and tools, whilst managing to keep lost production time down to a manageable level. Often, this has involved a self-taught process.

Many thanks for all your efforts Mr Morgan.

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