Is fashionable cycle gear possible?

Well, the answer is a resounding, "Yes!" from Anna Glowinski who set up set-up AnaNichoola after working as a cycling instructor for a year. She says, "I'm a girly-girl, although I do ride my bike hard and regularly. I found there was nothing on the market that I got excited about wearing, that also did its job."

To Anna, cycle clothing that simply performed well was just not good enough. "Ipods don't look like purely functional music players and cars don't look like boxes on wheels," she says. "We live in a society where aesthetic design is an integral and enjoyable part of everything. Why cycle-wear hasn't reached this stage is beyond me!"

So Anna started up her own company, AnaNichoola. "I had a few t-shirts printed up, making them back printed to embrace the cycling position, or using bamboo, a wicking and deodorising fabric. I really enjoyed thinking about how to make a functional thing look nice. I handmade a few bits - 'Lovelocks', colourful bike lock covers and 'Trouser garters', cheeky, lacey trouser guards and recycled bike-part jewellery."

It all started small, but then a year later things started to get moving, "I decided to get serious and exhibit at the Cycle Show 2009. I wanted to push for garments that most cyclists need, but that still looked great. So I created three jackets water resistant to different levels, with reflective features, cut to ergonomically fit a cyclist but also look gorgeous. They were received really well. Cycles UK took some for sale in their

flagship Harrods store which was my big break, and then I received investment from a fashion company, Dragons Den style! Since then, AnaNichoola has been rebranded online, for a soft, feminine looking site. The changes in cycle wear design is new, exciting and refreshing. Cycling is becoming "cool" and I love that!"

The Bike List will soon get hold of the stylish Curve jacket pictured here, and a Lovelock lock cover (also pictured here) so keep checking the reviews section for a closer look. Coming up soon from AnaNichoola are more jackets, bottoms, gloves and jerseys, but in the meantime, browse their current kit at www.ananichoola.co.uk.