TGIF File: Cycling Caps, Going Going Gone Cactus & LABOR DAY LONG WEEKEND FREE SHIPPING SALE!

SOS... Cactus dying!

TGIF! for the upcoming Labor Day long weekend...


We had to put our winter cycling cap production on temporary hold for our custom cap order for Autodrop Ltd. and we're answering the call of the roaring lion. Operation Lion is nearing the end and we're getting the cycling caps ready to ship.


Carolle and I have been together for 17 years, now, and this is the first time that I see her killing a plant. She's a green thumb and nurtures all the plants around the Red Dots Cycling HQs. This is one of the plants donated by our good friend Duane, before he moved to Thailand. Carolle's tried everything to care for it and now the plant has started to shrivel, death is imminent. Maybe it's missing Duane?


To celebrate the upcoming Labor Day long weekend, we are happy to announce FREE SHIPPING on EVERYTHING in our shop! And, there's free shipping on all of our current Sale products. You'll save even more purchasing multiple products, so go ahead and make your order(s)... shipping is on us! The FREE SHIPPING OFF SALE is from Friday August 31st- September 3rd!


Enjoy the long weekend everyone!

Our 'messy table'.

Back To Scuola SALE!

With school around the corner, we've decide to take 25% off all Scuola Cases until September 15th!

The Scuola cases are a little longer than our Piccola pouch, lined with colorful, fun cotton fabrics so your valuables stay safe, secure and won't stick to the rubber. If the fabric liner gets too dirty, don't be afraid to reverse it and hand wash in warm soapy water. The Scuola (Italian for school) is perfect to hold pens, pencils, tools, cosmetics or any knick knacks you want to keep safe...


...SCUOLAS IN! 

Whoa! Our Cycling Caps Now Selling at Whoa! Nellie, Vancouver

Carolle and I walked down to Whoa Nellie Bike Shop on Main Street here in SOMA (South of Main), right in our neighborhood. Where we met the very pleasant owners; Christopher and Nellie.

Their little bike shop is well stocked with all things for the bike commuter. From pumps to colorful helmets, they can supply the needed accessories to make your ride more pleasant, safe and fashionable. After all, you gotta look good while riding. Nellie mentioned that they can customize a commuter bike for you, best that you contact them for that commuter bike you always dreamed of. They are also a full fledged bike shop where you can bring in your bicycle for repair.

During our craft shows, many folks have asked us where in town they can find our products. We are proud and excited to have some of our products now available at Whoa Nellie. Where you can find a small selection of our handmade cycling caps and unique rubber inner tube wallets.

If you are in Vancouver, this is your opportunity to try on our handmade cycling caps and buy our rubber inner tube accessories  and enjoy the fine service from Christopher and Nellie.... of Whoa! Nellie.


Facebook page:

http://www.facebook.com/whoanelliebikeshop

 

Final Weekend of the Tour: 25% Off Everything Sale!

This is the last weekend of the Tour and we're having a 25% OFF everything in stock sale!


Just use shop coupon code: TOURDEFRANCE


The Tour de France sale is on until Sunday July 22nd Midnight PST!

Ten New La Piccola Wallets are Here!

We've added to our popular La Piccola Wallets! 

We've added 10 New La Piccola Wallets to our website...

Fun and Funky designs perfect for id, credit, business cards and folded banknotes!

Sunny Day with New Products for the MECBikefest

Bird standing guard over the MECBikefest.

Photos: Richard

The weather for Saturday's MECBikefest called for thundershowers...

Remembering last years show, I told Carolle to bundle up (with peacoat/blundstones) to get ready for a rainy day. I had on my winter hoodie and vest avec blunnies. Thankfully, it never happened, no rain but welcoming sunny skies and warm temperatures. Of course, I overdressed and curse not wearing my 3/4 shorts.

Ahoy Me Hearties!

Perhaps, that's why we notice a lack of folks attending the event compare to last year.

The excitement of starting our first show of the season snapped us into frenzy mode as we eagerly set up our table with new products. Now, I can finally mention our new rubber inner tube products; the reversible belt, lite rider id wallet, telefono wallet & multi-use rubber key chain. As of now, they are only available during the craft shows, but, we plan to sell them online very soon.

Huge Thanks go the MECBikefest crew for putting on a good show and to the sponsors for providing bananas and chocolate!

Look ...no rain but new products!

MECBikefest: Last Minute Prep

Our lead up to tomorrow's MECBikefest has been anything but restful. It seems we're busy right up to the day with last minute preparation of printing labels, signage and finishing another new recycled rubber inner tube product. The craft shows are a good launching point for new products, so I can't divulge what our new products are. Here's a hint: a brand new cycling cap will be avaliable!

We'll have fun, practical new products on hand. And, I'm always checking online what the weather gods  have in store for us tomorrow. So far, it will be cloudy with a hint of rain. That may sound depressing but the good news is, MEC organizers always make the day sunny with plenty of fun in store.

If you can make it, we hope to see you tomorrow,

So bring it on... it's going to be fun!

MECBikefestVancouver @MECBikefestVanc Come join the fun this Saturday from 10-3 with@momentum @WeAreHub @whoanelliebikes@StromerCanada @reddotscycling at MEC Bikefest... 04:13 PM - 21 Jun 12 via web

Update: First Time Sewing

I'm giving my first time sewing, a whirl!

Our week with the blue monster sewing machine, I coin this phrase out of respect, is nearing the end.

Carolle and I rented this Sailrite sewing machine from Mason Sewing Machines in Vancouver, and preceded to make enough inner tube stock for the upcoming craft shows. Our first show is June 23 at the MEC BikeFest.

As I write this post, Carolle is finishing up on a new design we started at 3:30pm. Now, it's 6:41pm and we're almost done. We've tabulated the time spent and we figure seven days at 10 hours = average time spent with the blue monster: 70 hours. Not bad, good (exhausting) time spent.

While Carolle was grappling with the blue monster I was directed, for the first time, on her sewing machine. I've never used a sewing machine until now. I discovered fun and frustration trying to grasp threading, learning zig-zag & straight stitch, filling countless empty bobbins, screaming with broken thread, and re-gaining my composure. Really, the bottom line it's fun, the steep learning curve aside. I learned how much fun her machine is, it's forty-four years old. I guess it's liken to an old Italian steel bike, hint: my Marinoni. She takes very good almost god-like care with it; cleaning, oiling it basically pampering it with the knowledge that it will return the favor. And, it does. Something about an mechanical machine devoid of plastic it's all metal and built tank tough.

She experienced, for the first time, the uncanny displacement of hearing her sewing machine without working with it. Carolle still finds it weird.

I had my turn at the blue monster and I can tell you it's big, clunky, non-ergonomic, noisy (no complaints from our neighbours, yet) a sloth due to it's slow speed. But, it sure works well a good domestique in the line up of sewing machines. It will work with pretty much anything, as long as you feed it.

We've made incredible leaps at filling our rubber inner tube stocks including a some new products.

I'm feeling good putting out a full week's run with both machines going at the same time... and having fun with both!

Richard

A rare sight...

The Sailrite (aka blue monster) at rest.

Inner Tube Time

Ready for the next phase of production!

It doesn't look like much ...yet. Rubber inner tubes, washed and cut and ready for the next phase of production.

Our Spring production is revving up, as we are working on new inner tube products. Yes, we've been happily busy with wholesale cycling cap orders and now it's inner tube time.

Carolle designed a new product and we're both excited... we'll be launching it and more very soon!

GO! for the MEC Bikefest!

At the 2011 MEC Bikefest.

We're happy to announce that Red Dots Cycling will be at the MEC Bikefest, Saturday June 23rd at the Athletes Village, Vancouver.

This will be our second visit and we're proud to be part of this day long community celebration of all things we love... the bicycle!

Carolle and I will have our world famous handmade cycling caps and recycled rubber bike inner tube accessories.. hope to see you there!

Read our last year's Bikefest.

Richard

New Pricing, New Weekly Sale!

Routier Cycling Cap 

© Red Dots Cycling

We are going through growing pains with our business.

The first is that we realized that our old name of Galstudio didn't relate to our products. So we rebranded to Red Dots Cycling.

The second part, is that we realize our pricing was too low and didn't reflect directly with the high quality craftsmanship of our product. Each cycling cap is carefully design, we choose the best fabric available. The fabric is tested, pre-washed for shrinkage and to remove any lingering dye before it goes into small batch production. By working closely with our customers we realize we needed to introduce a wider range of sizing. Because we don't believe one size fits all in cycling caps!

We don't brag often. The privacy of our customers are very important to us. But it sure reinforces us that we're on the right track and give us further motivation to produce classic, fine handmade cycling caps. We are compared to some of the big names in cycling caps and we've even sold to one of the champions of the Tour de France, we're humbled and so grateful!

Now, our regular cycling caps are $32.00 USD and we are introducing a weekly sale section on our Etsy site. Because folks love a deal.

Every week, there will be a few different products offered on sale. When it's gone it's gone!

And so, we now launch our new weekly sale! Featuring...

The Routier Cycling Cap & Recycled Piccolo Pouch!

Recycled Piccolo Pouch

© Red Dots Cycling

Our Community Inner Tubes

Inner tubes bounty!

The Sun is certainly shining today as I hustled over to Our Community Bikes on the Main for bicycle inner tubes.

I received a monster garbage bag full. A cool and very busy repair place where you can fix your own bicycle and learn how to do it. It's also a bicycle recycling depot, good for us for more inner tubes.

Thanks again to Jesse & the crew!


Richard