The nominations came thick and fast, and we are happy to announce the finalists in the Female Specific Retailer of the Year category for the Total Women’s Cycling Awards in association with Velo Vixen.
More and more women are taking up cycling, and thankfully there’s now an increasing number of women’s specific cycling shops cropping up to cater to their needs. They provide friendly advice, maintenance tips, beautiful kit and are increasingly also the foci of local cycling communities.
The winners of each category will be announced at the Total Women’s Cycling Awards ceremony at The London Bike Show in February 2015 – stand by for more info.
Voting is open, so make sure you have your say on which finalists in each of the 11 categories deserve to be crowned winner. Don’t forget to spread the word online!
Vote for your Female Specific Retailer of the Year here
VeloVixen
One of the most established women’s specific cycling retailers in the UK, online shop VeloVixen has a great reputation for providing excellent products, exceptional customer service, and an inclusive spirit for riders of all types. Stocking quality brands like Cafe du Cycliste, Flare and Morvelo, innovative products like Urbanist cycling padded knickers, and award winning accessories like Hill and Ellis bags. 2014 also saw them open their new showroom near Oxford.
Everyone Bikes
This cheerful, friendly shop opened in Battersea in 2014, and has already had a big impact in the area. As well as the usual opportunities to buy beautiful bikes and gear from the likes of Good Ordering, Morvelo and Otto London, Everyone Bikes also run women’s specific maintenance classes, and group rides. They’ve worked hard to build a community around the shop itself, and a welcoming experience for shoppers.
Gladys Bikes
A nomination for a bike shop all the way over in Portland, Oregon, in the United States. Galdys Bikes aims to be a ‘warm and welcoming space where people of genders, life experiences and walks of life can feel comfortable.’ The shop is named after the bike of renowned suffragette Frances Willard, and the shop supplies semi-custom bike builds in addition to a wide range of two-wheeled steeds, clothing and accessories.
Bella Velo
The newly opened Bella Velo started as it means to continue, with a launch event that included appearances from pro-cyclists Lizzie Armitstead and Tiffany Cromwell. The beautifully set up bricks-and-mortar store aims to focus entirely on providing it’s female customers the bikes, accessories, clothing and kit they want and need. They stock bikes from Specialized and Liv, and clothing and gear from Vulpine and Giro.
Pedal Chic
With the ingenious tag-line ‘geared for every women’, Pedal Chic is another shop from over the pond, located in Greenville, South Carolina, US. They run events like ‘rise’n’shine’ rides (though we’re rather drawn to their ‘spin’n’sip rides that finish with a glass of wine.) The shop stocks a good selection of bikes and accessories, plus they do bike rental too.
Cicla
A women’s specific online shop, Cicla has some beautiful, eye-catching kit that comes well reviewed. If you are a fan of the stylish Maloja cycle kit, Cicla have a huge selection to choose from, including road, mountain bike and stylish casual wear too. The feel of the company is very friendly and accessible, reflecting owner Louise’s own journey into the world of cycling, so questions, comments and experiences are shared and valued.
Cycle Chic
Cycle Chic, an incredibly well stocked online shop, don’t just deal with cycling clothing – oh no! It has pretty much everything you might want, from cycle storage and bike themed mugs to jackets and bicycle wine holders. The clothing on offer is stylish and practical, with brands like Tracey Neuls, Chapeau!, Urban Legend and Georgia in Dublin available.
