As I was perusing online retailers for bike products to give as gifts, it came to me that I can shop local online, as well as on the street. But what about REALLY local. Local bike shops support the local bike shop retailer, but what about the products within the shop?
It’s difficult to know what is made in the UK, let alone what has been made within your local community. So I thought I’d start a handy little list of businesses creating products in the East Region. Not everything is made in the east, or even the country, but the business is based in the east. Below this, I’d also like to start a list of products that are designed and manufactured in the UK. Please let me know if you know of any more:
Bikes: Aspire cycles – custom carbon bikes based in Suffolk. Frames manufactured in Italy? Built in Suffolk http://www.aspirecycles.com Lotus – well, they have made famous bikes before, maybe again? Based in Norfolk. Mach7 – The creation of 2007 Giro D’Italia winner Danilo Di Luca. Engineered and painted in Italy, built for customers near Milton Keynes. “Ultra Light, unbelievably fast, these Italian superbikes make a true statement, as well as increase any rider’s performane. Why not take a test flight?” www.mach7bikes.com Quella Bikes – Single speed and fixie bikes designed in Cambridgeshire, manufactured? http://www.quellabicycle.com Radial Cycles – Carbon and steelframed bikes. Based in Essex. Manufacutred? http://www.radialcycles.co.uk The Light Blue Cycles – Urban and sport steel framed bikes. Based, designed and manufactured in Cambridge? http://www.lightbluecycles.co.uk Travers Bikes – Hand build titanium custom frames based in Essex, manufactured? http://www.traversbikes.com
Bike parts: Halo Wheels – Bike wheels and wheel parts, based in Cambridgeshire. Manufactured in http://www.halowheels.com Hand Crafted Wheels – Wheel building specialist based in Suffolk. http://www.handcraftedwheels.co.uk
Clothing Bertini Velo – Casual cycling apparel. Brand new business based in Essex. Manufactured worldwide. http://www.bertinivelo.co.uk
Blackmore Apparel – Cycling apparel designed and produced in Essex. http://www.rideblackmore.com Maratona – Cycling clothing (just men’s) based in Essex Manufactured in Europe. http://www.ridemaratona.com Sealskinz – International thermal clothing brand based in Kings Lynn, Norfolk. Based on design ideas going back to John Logi Baird, inventor of the TV and the first waterproof socks! http://www.sealskinz.com Sundried – activewear aimed at triathletes. Based in Essex, manufactured? http://www.sundried.com This is Cambridge – Cycling socks, caps and jerseys, based in Cambridgeshire (obviously). Manufactured? www.this-is-cambridge.com WOW Custom – Custom designed cycle kit. No minimum order. Business based in Ipswich, Suffolk. Manufactured? http://www.wowcustom.co.uk
Off-Track: Simpson Magazine – Cycling magazine with editors and contributors based throughout the east, for world domination (I mean distribution). Printed in Hertfordshire www.simpsonmagazine.cc Strip-Tees – Not soley cycling, but run by a cycling enthusiast – screen printing, embroidery, signage and promotional products. They do fabric race numbers amongst many other things. Designed and produced in Suffolk. http://www.stripteesuk.com
DESIGNED and MANUFACTURED in the UK
Kapz – Custom headset caps (and other stuff). Based in Somerset. Designed and manufactured in the UK. http://www.kapz.com
TanyGriff 