[Hunger Relief 12hr ride!]

Thanks so much and I completely understand. We have given a lot to various places and all I wanted to do was share as far as possible. 

Thanks to you guys for being so active and supporting. You legends! 

[Hunger Relief 12hr ride!]

12hrs. I'm definitely posting that on strava ????

 

It's up already. Thanks man

[Hunger Relief 12hr ride!]

Thanks guys. What a day and thank you for the support and donations. Donations will be open until May 1st.

I'll put the link below.

 

So 12 hrs in the saddle. I stopped twice for a wee and kit change which took a total of 10min.

 

Total milage was 350km ????

 

Super emotional. We raised so much money to feed the hungry. So many good people out there

 

 

https://www.givengain.com/ap/gavin-brophy-raising-funds-for-the-clothing-bank/

[Hunger Relief 12hr ride!]

Hi Hubbers, 

 

Im joining a friend of mine to raise funds to feed the hungry! 

SO Whats the challenge!!, Well my good friend will be swimming in his pool for 12hrs /  36km while I ride a stationery trainer for 12hrs / 250km or until I fall over!. 

 

We are desperate to get support and would really appreciate if you could at least share the love!. DM me for the links to share. 

 

You can catch the live feeds on facebook to see the pain on my face if thats you thing too. 

Th how: 

8am to 8pm ride/swim. 
Live Facebook feed every hour, 

I will be tracking the milage and will update as often as possible. 

 

https://https://www.givengain.com/ap/gavin-brophy-raising-funds-for-the-clothing-bank/

 

https://www.facebook.com/gavin.brophy.3/videos/2578475135759309/

 

Thank you for your support in advance Hubbers!!   

[Cycling route from Barrydale Western Cape]

Thanks for all the advice chaps! I really do appreciate it. I think Im leaning towards doing Tradouw Pass and back again. Will see how feel on the day 

[Cycling route from Barrydale Western Cape]

Awesome, thanks guys!! 

 

@Abdoujaparov. Does suurbrak know what coffee is ?? 

[Cycling route from Barrydale Western Cape]

as far as i know that whole section has a nice big shoulder.....

I did think this was the case too. I cant remember much from the DC but Im sure there was a decent shoulder. 

[Cycling route from Barrydale Western Cape]

Thanks guys, yes @Sepia im on a Road bike. Perhaps ill leave the bike at home and take the weekend off! 

[Cycling route from Barrydale Western Cape]

Hi fellow Hubbers. 

 

Next week Im travelling to Barrydale on Route 62 and was want to ride out to Montegue. 

Just checking if anyone is out that side and keen to join as I'm a bit nervous doing that on my ace on the open highway! I have only don this route for the DC and was keen to do it as a training ride. 

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. 

 

Have a lekker Friday all. ! 

[Cycling kit polls]

So i think you should had added one/maybe two more categories here. "High End Overseas" as i am seeing more and more guys riding in Rapha and the likes here in Cape Town and then another category for brands like MAAP/Attaquer/The Pedla, etc. I would personally pick these "boutique" aussie brands any day of the week if i had the funds. Their designs are always amazing and I have some bibs and a tops from them and their quality is also exceptional.

 

If you are looking at what is missing on the SA cycling scene i would say it would have be that there are just too few options locally and the local market is just way too conservative when it comes to kit. A guy will go drop R6000 on a pair of Ass(os) bibs and a jersey while he could rather go and pic up something off MAAP or The Pedla that would really make him stand out.  

Thanks Lylo, 

 

The local market is tricky and we hope to change it. change the mould and the perception that import is better. 

[Cycling kit polls]

I am a big fan of First Ascent.

 

You asked so I'll tell you.

 

Jersey.

 

Must have. Full, quality zip on the front, zip on one of the pockets at the back. Some of the FA tops have this, some do not. I do not want to look like a pro or a billboard, I am neither. Plain colours, black is 1st choice, white is last. MTB.

 

Bib.

 

FA chamois are all over the place, some are good some are really bad. One range XL fits like a glove whilst another range makes me squeak! Not consistent, poor feed back from the shop I tried, Ridgeway? Rory. Poor feed back from the FA rep here in Jo,Burg.

 

Have a pair of Assos, worth every cent, quality and longevity. Make yours like that and you'll have a winner.

 

Thanks for the feedback. It will take a lot of time, research, development and money before we get to Assos level. Not to say we not heading that way, we are but it will take time. To come in at top level will be very unwise. 

 

We would like our clients to experience service they deserve and to grow with us long term.

[Cycling kit polls]

You need at least ten ladies of different ages, body types, fitness levels and disciplines (road, mtb, track) Please don't make the mistake of testing your cuts on just one lady.  Rather pay a bit more to have more sample kit made and get more ladies to test.

 

Remember only a small portion of ladies are very serious racers,  the average lady ( your target market ) is a lady of medium fitness with a few curves.  She might not be a strava queen, but she enjoys riding and she has money to spend on a good bib that will feel comfortable.

 

I wish you all the best

 

Thank you. Our lady is no race snake but I will ask her to recruit more ladies that she rides with on the weekends. In terms of samples. Its where most of the money will go initially so that we can get feedback and work on building up better kit.

 

Unfortunately this will all take time and a lot of cash but we want our riders to be happy. On all levels. 

[Cycling kit polls]

Referencing Gen's comments for the ladies.... I am normally quite unfussy with chamois. Ive never really had problems with any of mine. I do however not like bibs with writing across the top of your backside in large bold letters. For ladies that have bums that fall on the generous side it makes you feel like one of these trucks with the abnormal sign on the back.

 

Thanks for the feedback. And as I mentioned before we have a lady on our team who will definitely keep us in line!! with kit designs as well as cut and fits.

[Cycling kit polls]

Be carefull in trying to hit the same price point as premium brands. I work for a brand company, it takes years and millions to create a premium brand.  It is about perception and aspiration more than anything else. Yes, quality starts you out on the journey, but is desire, innovation, marketing investment and brand equity that "allows" you to charge the premium price one day. Take Johnny Walker Wisky, top selling blend and demands a price premium, yet has not won a recognised spirits prize in ages.

 

So, from an accounting point of view, I fell you cannot charge the same as a top imported brand because you have 1 or 2 less steps in the value chain

 

From a brand point of view, you cannot charge the same as the premium imported brands because you have no brand equity.

 

So, by all means have long term premiumtisation aspirations, but if your business plan is banking on being a premium brand from day 1, I for one will not be the bank manager on your business journey.

 

Sourcing and Route to market are quite mechanical and relatively easy to figure out. It is building that brand that will take alot, and it is more art than science or engineering.

 

You need a story behind you, the kind that only history and a track record of success brings you. You need the power of association (being a sport, this association needs to be with winning and speed, i.e. teams and cycling legends). You need innovation and third party verified performance. And then you need customer loyalty. This, I am affraid takes a long time and careful planning and a well funded business.

 

Good luck - and please keep the desings more simple and less colourfull than an anatomic product at the CTCT cycle fair

Thanks for the sound advice and good to know that we are on the right track. 

[Cycling kit polls]

To the OP.. whatever you do..invest in doing proper research for the ladies...the area that we sit on can become a complicated story.... so yes style etc is important but more importantly is it needs to work for the ladies where it matters most..[emoji106]

 

Some ladies have no issues.. unfortunately I am not one of those [emoji53]

 

Thanks So much Gen, Im happy you said that and even happier to tell you that I have a lady on board that we sponsor and she will test the ladies range very thoroughly. We will also take on board all the feedback from the clients so that we can build on producing the best possible kit !

[Cycling kit polls]

You should really investigate the tax and government funding initiatives for job creations on this. 

Even though you import the material, by having them stitched together in SA will lower the price drastically.

Look at Rapid sport who use imported Chamois and materials, yet they manage to push out a good quality value kit (not comparing the R&D used by brands like Castelli, Assos etc) for sub R500 a shirt and R800 bibs.

 

Thanks for the feedback and yes you are correct. It is one of the options we are exploring but getting that info from the relevant parties is taking some time.. they are not in a rush. Wow! 

 

Very valid point and we want to be a true local brand that can compete on the international market in the future.

[Cycling kit polls]

It's not design that holds back local manufacture of kit. Shirts seem to come close to being wearable if you pay attention to the cloth you are being offered.

 

But bibshorts are a long way off the standard of Santini, Castelli and Assos. I'm sure the spandex and padding are similar but the cut and finish are a long way off. But even those struggle to keep one comfortable on very long rides.

 

In the mid noughties Anatomic made a short with one big grey chamois, the cut was great in the gold label range and the pad worked for 8+ hour rides. Then they moved to a fancy moulded pad and their shorts became very ordinary.

 

So my advice is to focus on the fabric and cut and finish. Most cyclists have no taste at all when it comes to shirts. Just look at what you see on the roads and trails.

 

But the big opening is in quality black shorts.

 

Thanks for the feedback. Appreciate it . and I agree that the cut and "build" quality needs to be spot on

[Cycling kit polls]

The reason people would rather buy an overseas premium item is because the item has a proven track record over many years/decades vs a newly launched local item that "claims" to be the same quality.

 

Kit like Santini, Asos and the likes you know what you getting when you purchase it.

 

Its like saying someone shouldn't go for the Ferrari of R6mil but rather buy a newly launched local super car for R6mil 

 

Any new to the market product should always be cheaper than the big name players who have been in the industry for years/decades to win over the buyer first otherwise Rand for Rand the established product will always win.

 

Great response thank you!! 

[Cycling kit polls]

...and trying to change that mentality   

 

Cut me deep Patch   

 

Sorry Gav, I've semi hijacked your thread here. Will take my leave. All the best (I mean it), if you want any advice, info etc - please feel free to pm me. I'm well versed in the path you are heading down.

 

Thanks Will do.  

[Cycling kit polls]

Top end, extremely well designed from local brand

 

I assume "extremely well designed" includes fit, durability (through a number of seasons) and comfort?

 

Thanks, and yes definitely is about the above. 

[Cycling kit polls]

 

This thread made me think of this.

 

nice one!!  haha 

[Cycling kit polls]

Local

Imported

professional quality

top brand

acceptable

cheap and nasty

 

We are not competing in the lower middle market so the poll is really for purchasing made in the higher end of the market. 

[Cycling kit polls]

Thanks, Ill hope to change that mentality. We just need to partner with someone who can produce the goods and grow with the business and vision. 

[Cycling kit polls]

Come say Howzit at the cycle tour expo... I'll have a set of kit to put yours to shame 

 

Haha, I can see this blowing up into one massive slugfest 

[Cycling kit polls]

The poll options are not enough............

 

What other options do you want ?