What to do with a bent cycling brim

Darn that's a bend in my brim!

A customer recently asked that his Petit Breton winter cap sat under some dirty laundry and discovered a bend in the brim. He tried to flatten it with a heavy book and he wanted to know if there was a fixable solution....

The main reason why we use a heavy interfacing for our brim material is that it is flexible and if you find yourself with a bend in the brim, you can fix it yourself. Unlike most cycling cap companies, WE DO NOT USE plastic for our brim material for the simple fact that it can crack when folded. From experience I had cycling cap brims made of plastic, that cracked when folded.

One of our requirements for our cycling caps was that we wanted the cap brim to be folded without the risk of damaging the brim. Plastic was out of the question. So, we are using heavy interfacing that is strong and flexible.



Here's what to do if you find a bend in your brim on your Red Dots Cycling cap!


1. Have a hot iron on steam setting at the ready. Make sure you have water in it.

2. Wet a cloth.

3. Sandwich your injured brim between the wet cloth.

4. Apply the hot iron to create lots of steam. Repeat until the crease comes out.

This will remove the crease and bring back your brim to a healthy state.

Under Pressure!

Sandwich a wet cloth between the brim,

Apply hot iron, steam setting ON, until crease is removed...

Afterwards...

your brim may be a little wet but let it dry and all's fine

and ready for the next ride!

Richard

TGIF: Custom Cap Crazy, New Wool & Dog Gone!

Custom caps...

As we are currently immersed in our custom winter cap orders, we are also quoting on new custom cap orders... it's all very exciting. We have never before worked and quoted on so many custom cap orders in such a short time.

rubber labels shaping up to cut...

Here's our newest wool blend fabric that will be destined as a new cycling cap. Now, the question is whether we introduce as a Spring cap (no ear flaps) or a Winter cap? We have been asked for a wool cap without ear flaps... so m-a-y-b-e this will be the one.

New wool blend waiting to be unleash!

TGIF and beers are planned for beer o'clock.

One day we will have a shop dog...

Have a great weekend!

Dog gone!

TGIF: Parker St Studios & Very Busy

It's Friday and and it's just about to get  REALLY BUSY here at Red Dots headquarters.

January has started with a bang... for more custom cycling cap orders. We have a list of cycling caps that need to come back into stock but we haven't had the time to do it. So it looks like we will be pulling late nights next week to fulfill the custom orders, approved today, and back into making our regular cycling caps. 

You know, we have been looking to expand our little company. Our friend Hans mentioned 1000 Parker Street, here in the Vancouver Eastside. Here's a video on the denizens and some history of this fantastic Artist community....

Quest For The Right Scissors

Cutting to the top!

Scissors are a very important tool in our Red Dots Cycling world.

We have gone through so many and spent many bucks trying to find the right pair. There are many types, sizes and brands... it's a jungle out there.

It's funny, the one that we end up using the most is under 5 dollars. We discovered that we both cut differently. The way we both hold our scissors are one distinction. So, we will try to find and label our own scissors so we always use our own pair. Let's see if this makes a difference. So far, nothing stands out from the crowded scissors world.

We are big fans of Henckels and bought two pairs today from our new supplier. Those are the two scissors, top left hand corner of the photo. It's too early to say, but we will put them through a grueling test on our next custom cap order. In fact, I see our next 50 custom cap order waiting to be cut. This will be a good test.

So, we are still on the quest for the ...right pair of scissors!

Carolle

TGIF: NO January Blues.

Flemish Winter Wool Cap,

by Red Dots Cycling.

January is remarkably busy for us.

The month is usually a time for us to reaccess and plan for new products for the upcoming year. Now, our work table is full-on for more wholesale custom cap orders. In fact, we just finished and shipped off a batch of cool custom caps to the US. A detailed post upcoming.

We received a unique request to make our Flemish wool winter cap into a ...summer cap. That's a new one for us, that means no ear flap. It's unusual. But, it makes us think there may be a demand for a warmer cap without ear flap. This could be a cap for next Autumn.

After our last craft show, in December, the attention grabber for us is that our winter cycling caps are  a fashion accessory. A young woman, not a cyclist, enthusiastically purchased the Red Hunting cap for about town. Many women bought our winter caps based on the design. It's made to be stylish to walk around town, warm and comfortable to keep that rain/snow out of your eyes. Our winter caps are popular with dog owners.

You may have notice the price has increased on all of our recycled inner tube products. After evaluating our products and the long hours of preparing and producing we can now confidently enter the wholesale market. In fact, we shipped off our fun rubber products to a US sportswear company. Again, a detail post upcoming.

We are planning our upcoming new 3-season caps with new fabric and colors. And, we will be working on some old favorites; to all the folks that have requested some of our popular caps from last season... have patience, they will return!


Have a fun Friday!

500 Recycled Bike Inner Tubes, and Counting!

Back from the local bike shop

with raw tubes and with plenty of hard work we turn

it into...

We realized that we have passed the 500th recycled bike inner tube used in our popular rubber products. That's a milestone.

When we first started Red Dots Cycling, we thought it would be fun to use re-cycled material for our products.

The reality is when it comes to fabric, many companies are already making garments out of re-cycled fabric. In fact, it's difficult to find and if you can find the material it's usually not fit to make a cycling cap. We tried to make caps out of old denim, suitings and shirts. It was fun to make but not a reliable source of fabric to build our cycling cap business. The only option is to purchase new fabrics, pre-wash before making cycling caps.

There must be another plentiful, re-cycled material to use?

Richard requested a pouch to hold keys, money and tools on his rides.

So, we came up with the idea of rubber bike inner tubes from bike stores. A sustainable practice that makes sense. We are happy and proud to be using re-cycled bike inner tubes  that would be destined for a long time in the landfill. But, it requires a lot of work to get it, secure it, wash it, cut, and produce. Many companies have approached us for our rubber inner tube products to sell in their stores.

We looked long and hard and having sold our products for the last two years at a low price it was time for a price change. We are thankful it's a free material. When Richard returns with bags full there are often surprises. It does come from a bike shop and it's always dirty or really dirty. We often find rust, oil, grease, and that annoying no-flat goo to prevent flats. And of course that allergic white powder inside every tube. What this means, there is many hours of prep before we go into production. Cleaning that is!

So, this is why we have raise the price of our popular inner tube products to cover our costs and time. They are all one of a kind, fun, well-made and now available in many stores in Manchester UK, Ontario and Oregon!

... fun, innovative products!

The New Presta 100% Wool Winter Cycling Cap

Happy New Year everyone!


We are proud to introduce a new winter cap...

The New Presta 100% Wool Winter Cycling Cap!

Handmade from 100% British fine wool, it's a black wool beauty with tiny grey dot pattern. Also new, our ear flap is better... made from Bamboo cotton blend fabric. Why?

Bamboo cotton is far superior than just cotton. Properties: antibacterial, hypoallergenic, wicks/dries quickly and super comfy.

Now available in two sizes: Small/Medium (21-22.5") and Medium/Large (22.5-24").

TGIF: Happy New Year! & Introducing Organic Bamboo Cotton.

This is our last TGIF of the season...

We had problems to secure the ear flap fabric for our popular winter cycling caps.

The problem is solved. We discovered an even better fabric to replace the previous discontinued French Terry Jersey Knit. Introducing...


Organic Bamboo Cotton Stretch Fabric!


At a first glance, it is a truer black, softer, and mostly made from bamboo. Bamboo has wonderful properties: it is antibacterial, hypo-allergenic, wicks very well dries quickly than cotton. We are very excited of our new fabric and Carolle is just about to produce the prototype. I'll be the lucky tester.


And, it's time to reflect on our successful 2012.

People around the world are recognizing our high quality craftsmanship in our cycling caps. We are looking forward to 2013 and we have many new projects and products on the boil. Carolle and I would like to thank each of our customers for supporting us this past season.

Last January, we proudly rebranded our company name and it is almost a year, now, of Red Dots Cycling


A happy and prosperous New Year to all... we invite you to ride along with us in 2013!

A L'Enfer du Nord Christmas Story.

Christmas Smile!

Courtesy: Mario FRFuggitivi and Katie.

Just before Christmas, Katie contacted me for a winter cycling cap for her husband, Mario.

As a matter of fact, we have worked with a few spouses and girlfriends for Christmas cap gifts.

Mario and I ride together as part of our FRFuggitivi group and he already purchased a non-winter cap from me. So, I smiled at Katie's plan. Careful preparation was key and I'm so glad Carolle and I pulled it off to get the cap to Katie on time.

That's a great Christmas smile from Mario with his new Red Dots Cycling's L'Enfer du Nord winter cap!

TGIF: Colombina Candy & Busiest Time of the Year

Sweetness...

Colombina hard candy.

TG it's Friday and closer to Christmas...

Klaus (aka cyclinginquisition.com) is requesting another order of custom Colombian cycling caps. We are also pleased to be working with him on a new design for custom winter caps. Stay tune we should have his order ready, with some pics, in early January.

I want to thank Klaus for the little surprise (3 that is), that came with the Colombian ribbon... Colombina Caramelon de Cafe (Coffee Hard Candy).

We are busy! Our busiest Christmas ever. Our winter cycling caps are selling very well, we can barely keep them online. Our wholesale orders are increasing. As, Carolle and I enjoy the holidays, we will more than enjoy our much needed break and come back refreshed to begin winter/regular cycling cap production. Of course, our wholesale orders will get top priority.

Over the next few days, we will post new wallets and pouches on our site.

Looks like January will be just as busy as December!

A Fun Affair... The Women's Winter Faire.

Our famous selling Scuola!

Red Dots Cycling

When it comes to our cycling caps, I work with cyclists. I was so happy to discover, after this past weekend's Women's Winter Faire, that people love to wear our winter caps to stay warm and fashionable walking around town. They are not only for cycling.

Before the show, Richard and I wasn't sure if the Scuola Pouch would be an item for us to continue producing. It wasn't selling as well as the other items and we wanted to introduce new rubber products. After this weekend, I'm having doubts. People were going crazy and in love with the Scuola pouch. Before Sunday, I had to take seven Scuola's off from our website. Well, they sold and now I have only two left. We will decide soon whether it returns, perhaps with a glass of wine to make the decision process easier.

It was a pleasant surprise for me to see so many Francophone vendors. My friend Helene, Chicachicdesign, was a vendor and ceramic artist, Micheline Claret of L'Atelier De Poterie. I learned that Micheline and her partner, Jean-Marie is retiring after 40 years producing beautiful ceramic pieces. Sadly, this was their last craft show. I could not help myself and bought two wonderful coffee mugs. I wish Micheline and Jean-Marie a happy retirement.

This was my first show by myself. It was an interesting show. In fact, the 19th edition and the organizers are already talking of a huge 20th anniversary show for next year.

I had fantastic response for my knit wear, almost selling out. That means, I'll have the extra money to buy lots and lots of yarn.

Thanks to Pat and all the volunteers for making this show a success, I plan to return next December!

Jean-Mariee & Micheline

TGIF: Red Dots Cycling at Women's Winter Faire

Our last Christmas show of the season is this weekend...

I'll be at the Women's Winter Faire Dec. 15/16, Heritage Hall, 3102 Main Street Vancouver. Red Dots Cycling will have many cycling caps and recycled inner tube products perfect for Christmas gift giving. And I'll have many products not available on our website. Hope to see you there!

Carolle

The Shipping Elves are hard at work.

It's Christmas time and as we are inching closer to the magical day...

Let's talk shipping.

As we receive your orders, we will process it within 24 hours of receipt. It's the busiest time of the year. And, the Canada Post elves are working hard to get your gift to you as fast as possible. So, do expect some shipping delays especially in mid-December, Canada Post makes no guarantees for Christmas delivery. 

Thank you!