Flandrien Inspired & Proud

Belgian Champion and Flandrien, Roger De Vlaeminck- 

1970 Liege-Bastogne-Liege

via Castelli Cycling

The great Roger De Vlaeminck won an astounding 257 victories during his career that spanned 15 years (1969-1984). A majority of his victories were one-day races or Classics. Uncannily comfortable on the treacherous cobbles of Paris-Roubaix (four time winner) he excelled in the Monuments of Cycling becoming one of three to win all five masterpieces of cycling's toughest classics; Milan-San Remo, Tour of Flanders, Paris-Roubaix, Liege-Bastogne-Liege and Giro di Lombardia. It's not a surprise he shares this special Monument podium with his two fellow Belgians Rik Van Looy and Eddy Merckx. Thus our Flandrien cycling cap is created as a symbol to that fighting spirit of those Flandriens - past, present and future.

Flandrien Cycling Cap

Our Flandrien cycling cap,

Belgian national team blue under brim

photo Red Dots Cycling

We embroider Flandrien proud in our Vancouver studio!

photo Red Dots Cycling

TGIF: Making The Better Cycling Cap & Thanks Jordan!

Paris-Roubaix Cycling Cap

photo Red Dots Cycling

TGIF opens with a wonderful post from Jordan of irideroad.blogspot.co.uk

Jordan recently received the Paris-Roubaix cap, for a birthday gift, and what caught my eye was his impeccable review of our handmade cycling cap...


'Among the presents was a cycling cap. A very nice cycling cap. A cycling cap to make all others look obsolete.'


Furthermore, he described our Release the Hounds-tooth Winter Cap...


'looks well made with quality and overall finish as a main priority. Take into consideration that a big brand such as Castelli or Rapha would charge a lot more than £31.90 for a winter cap the Release the Hounds-tooth Winter Cap is a bargain.'


Since day one, Carolle and I set out to make the finest handmade products that everyone, cyclists and non-cycylists, can appreciate and enjoy. To be compared to the big brands is  both a compliment and also fuels our passion to produce the finest handmade cycling caps. This year, our custom cap market has grown and so has the learning curve of creating challenging and fun designs for cycling teams/clubs worldwide. We're constantly learning how to make the best made and comfortable wearing cycling caps ...because we wear them everyday on the bike too. Cycling is in our blood and without our cycling customers we could not grow.



Thanks Jordan and Ride-on with the Paris-Roubaix!

Richard

Showing Our Italian Stripes - FRFuggitivi Team Cycling Cap.

Italia!

photo Red Dots Cycling

We're showing our stripes. And proud we are. This is our recent handmade Italian ribbon detail on the special edition FRFuggitivi team cap. It's not any common ribbon. Made from three ribbons this distinctly, handmade Italian tricolore maybe a first. We like to think so. 

There are plans that a few of the FRFuggitivi-ers will be starting their first organized 100km ride (launching the new season in a big way) at the Pacific Populaire Bike Ride, April 6th. I'm looking forward to it - Forza!

Fuggitivi - The Italian expression for breakaway riders.

photo Red Dots Cycling

Ricardo

New Classic... Flandrien Cycling Cap

Flandrien cycling cap

photo Red Dots Cycling

We love the classic season with a particular fondness for the grittiness for the Belgian riders called Flandriens. The foul Flemish weather, cobbles strewn roads are the perfect setting to produce a type of rider that accepts self-sacrifice and grim suffering in glory. In the past, we had a few Belgian cycling cap variations and this time around Carolle and I re-designed a true classic... Flandrien Cycling Cap!

With the aid of our wonderful embroidery machine, we create a custom embroidered detail in honor to a ...Flandrien.

Our custom embroidered detail.

Photo Red Dots Cycling

It is made from pre-washed linen/cotton for a comfortable wearing cycling cap. We sew in a pre-washed 100% cotton wicking band - so please go ahead and sweat over the cobbles. And, lastly no Flandrien is not complete without the Belgium light blue under brim.

Be inspired, ride hard, embrace your inner... Flandrien!

Richard

In Production: The Classic.

Embroidering... the classic!

photo Red Dots Cycling

We are excited! Classic season, in Belgium, starts this weekend with Omloop het Nieuwsblad and Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne. And we are busy producing our newest 'classic' cycling cap. 

Classic stars...

Clockwise top left: Merckx, Schotte, DeVlaeminck & Van Looy.

TGIF: Ride Studio Cafe February Winter Cap Promo & More Colombian Caps

Keeping warm is essential in winter riding and we encourage all to check out our super wool winter cycling caps. Meanwhile, our friends at Ride Studio Cafe has a February Promo going including our stylish winter cap we made for them. Please check it out!

More Colombian caps...

photo Red Dots Cycling

We just shipped a small batch of the ever popular Colombian cycling caps now en-route to Klaus of cyclinginquistion. It will be there shortly!

New: Londoner & Audax: Beautiful Plaid Is Back!

Audax cycling cap

photo Red Dots Cycling

Usually we do not launch more than one cap at the same time.

Well, this time it's an exception! We couldn't help ourselves, plaid is back introducing...

The Londoner and Audax cycling caps!

Londoner cycling cap

photo Red Dots Cycling

Plaid is classic and, for us, it's rare to find such a beautiful plaid in cotton. We usually find a variety of plaid in wool for our fall/winter caps. Both caps are made in cotton with only 3% spandex to provide a comfortable fit. When we first lay eyes on the plaid fabric, from our new supplier, we were in love. We had to have both.

We love the name, Audax it has Italian origins (late 19th century) as a long distance ride usually over 200 kms in length. You may not ride that far but all of our caps are made to go  the extra mile. The Audax has the classic feeling to it and we made it sportier adding a new designed, handmade red/black two ribbon design. The Londoner is our classic plaid cap, no extra details included because we want to fully show the beauty of the black/white plaid design. Of course we lovingly include with every cap a 100% cotton wicking band and all fabric/wicking band is pre-washed to prevent shrinkage.


Enjoy our two new stylish plaids on your next ride!

Richard

A Note From CyclingInquistion

Klaus you're welcome!

photo Red Dots Cycling

We are working on another small batch of the popular custom Colombian cycling caps for our friend, Klaus of cyclinginquistion He just sent us more special Colombian ribbon and inside the package we found this wonderful note (see above) from Klaus!

TGIF: Upcoming Audax, Forza! - FRFuggitivi Team Cap & Valentine's Day Nueva Vuelta!

Plaid will be back... The Audax.

All Photos Red Dots Cycling

We're busy putting the finishing touches on our next Spring cycling cap. This beauty should be out in a few days, so here's a teaser photo of our upcoming new cycling cap called... Audax! 

Forza!

The FRFuggitivi custom team cap.

Our FRFuggitivi team is getting ready for our third season starting this Spring. And, to ring it in I pitched the idea to the team and we all agreed on this amazing design. It works very well. Fuggitivi is the Italian expression for breakaway riders... fugitives. Thanks to Guy for naming this - it's the perfect description, 'escaping one's other commitments to go for a ride can feel like being a fugitive. 'FR' refers to the Fraser River area (New Westminster, BC that is) where the Sunday rides commence from. It's striking, 3 ribbons to form the Italian ribbon, embroidery team name and logo handmade from linen/cotton - our favorite fabric that offers excellent comfort, breathability and wicking. 

LOVE IS IN THE AIR!

Celebrate Valentines: 25% Off on our Nueva Vuelta!

Happy Valentines Day!

We decided to celebrate this lovely day by taking 25% Off our new Nueva Vuelta cycling cap. In fact, this exclusive sale on our passionate red cap is now on until February 16!

Richard

Raise a little L'Enfer!

L'Enfer du Nord Winter Cycling Cap

photo Red Dots Cycling

We're in the middle of introducing our new Spring collection of cycling caps. With Winter in no  sight of ending - March 20 is the first day of Spring - our popular L'Enfer du Nord wool winter cap has sold out... and returned. Yep, we're keeping up with demand and supplying all sizing... once again. It's simply amazing, during Winter, this beautiful Italian wool cap has gone through many cycles of production. We just re-stocked size S/M and have both sizing in stock. 

'Hell' never felt better!

L'Enfer du Nord Winter Cap

Valentine's Passion for Red: The Nueva Vuelta Cycling Cap

Nueva Vuelta Cycling Cap

all photos Red Dots Cycling

We have a simmering passion for the Vuelta a España. Spain's grand tour has longer mountains, plains are flatter, incredible architecture and racing always unpredictable. Spain is the most mountainous country in Europe that produces some of the finest climbers in the peloton. Besides, we love this great race and passionately designed this beautiful, comfortable cap in red linen/cotton including a Spanish flag accent. 

Viva la 'Nueva' Vuelta!

Nueva Vuelta

Red Dots Cycling & Cycling Art Cards at Musette Caffe

Cycling Art cards (left) and our cycling caps to purchase...

don't forget the coffee!

All photos Red Dots Cycling

This week, I rode into Musette Caffe - Burrard store to meet my friend Hans and enjoy a hot chocolate. Where  I discovered my Cycling Art cards and a good selection of our caps, wallets, pouches are available. The perfect coffee stop to meet a friend and purchase our handmade, functional products and cycling art cards.

Under the glass...

our recycled inner tube wallets and pouches.

Combat the Cold with the Tierra Fria

photo Red Dots Cycling

If there is one thing we (here in the northern hemisphere) can share is ... winter is still around. Even  here in pleasant Vancouver, the cold is taking us on. Minus 7C for a low and just above freezing during the day can mean riding without a winter cycling cap can spell ...COLD! Whilst the rest of Canada and parts of the US are bundling up. I happily say that relief is in sight! 

If you are a fan of Colombian cycling (ie. Nairo Quintana or Lucho Herrera) and admire high quality handmade wool cycling caps, then our handmade custom Colombian wool cycling caps are for you. The winter caps are available from Klaus at cycling inquisition. If you haven't read his superb blog, may I suggest you do. Enjoy it along with a Tierra Fria!

You can purchase the Winter Cap (Tierra Fria) here.

Richard