Cool project. I’ve always wanted to work in one of those offices where people leave their fixies propped up against a wall.
My hack bike is so trashed these days I’d have a hard time getting anyone to agree on it being inside, let alone inside a gallery.
A pleasant lunch-time browse.
Check out the Brooks blog, a nicely-designed complement to their main website.
The retro leather-upholstered chap thing is not really my bag (yet?), but Brooks’ skilful marketing of an old-world product in modern times (through creative web publishing) is admirable.
cyclepassion.com - I'm so not into you.
For a company producing calendars and posters of scantily-clad female cyclists, Cycle Passion‘s website certainly did a good job of pouring cold water over my initial excitement. These guys need a redesign bad.
Am I in heaven - or is this the mid-1990s?
Wow. It’s still there. Like a time capsule of Victoriana buried in the garden and dug up after generations, I recently stumbled upon www.cycle-heaven.co.uk for the first time in almost 3 years. (more…)
Sport Communication organise a series of big sportives every year in France and beyond. These include La Marmotte, probably the biggest European cyclosportive with 8000 entrants from across the globe. At 35 – 40 euros per rider, that’s a fair bit of cash sloshing around. I’ve now experienced one of their events, and was very pleasantly surprised by the warm welcome at the event centre, the free red wine, the quality of the post-ride meal etc. – but there was a stark contrast between this and my experience before the event. Why is their electronic marketing so dire?
The Grand Trophee half of the Sport Communication website looks like a sad orphaned relic from the early 90s. Using it is a wasabi sandwich of pain. It’s not just the design:
When I initially purchased places on the Ventoux and Marmotte sportives, I didn’t receive a receipt by email for several weeks. When I did, I was sent the wrong details – they thought I was someone else. I emailed a dozen email addresses, with no response. Finally I called a number in France, pleading for clarity. Eventually my details were corrected.
I went to some lengths to get a doctor’s note, because I was told this was compulsory. I wasn’t even asked for it when I registered on arrival.
True, the complimentary bottle of Ventoux wine did smooth things over. It’s not so much the inconvenience though, as just not understanding how SC can have such a high profile without bothering to invest in their website, which is the single crucial point of contact between the organisers and the participants many months before the events themselves.
Respect to Dominic Gill for his epic and noble journey from top to toe of the Americas.
And respect for a fantastic website.
I joined London Phoenix Cycle Club just before the Japan trip. The Phoenix has an (I believe) 80-strong membership spread around London, has regular socials, an AGM, and a great website with a very active members’ forum. Because the club’s members are scattered around the city, it can’t organise regular local rides – so if you want to head out, you just scan the forum posts and hook up with a group in an area that suits you. My big club debut is yet to come – and judging by yesterday’s performance, it may be a while…
The forum is probably worth the £20 membership fee alone. It’s got a firmly competitive slant, so it’s great for picking up tips about training, kit and events.
