Casquette LIVE – “the very best in women’s cycling” at the London Bike Show
Casquette is a unique and beautifully designed cycle magazine that promotes and supports a diverse array of cycling cultures. This year they teamed up with the London Bike Show to create a curated “show-within-show” called ‘Casquette LIVE in partnership with VeloVixen’, which showcased “the very best in women’s cycling” and was curated by women, for women. This is an overdue much needed addition to this annual cycling event. So, I was obviously very happy to be invited to be part of it.
The show was held in the massive ExCel exhibition centre out in East London. I packed lots of costumes, some books and PDF sewing pattern packs in my panniers on my trusty Roberts touring bike. The event was running for three days (29-31st March) and I was interviewed on stage on the Friday by Alex Davis of LMNH. She did a great job. Having done a reasonable amount of media for the book over the last year, I really appreciate it when the interviewer has read (at least some of) the book and this was definitely the case. Alex’s questions were new and unusual, rich and thought provoking. They made me think new fresh things about the research (and I had to have another read of parts of the book myself in preparation : ).
The event was really well organised, in a lovely designed space. Danielle helped rustle up lots of volunteers from the audience who kindly dressed in various convertible costumes for me to demonstrate the deliberately concealed extra-ordinary inventions. And the audience comments and questions were also terrific. I was told about how the book was being reviewed by cycling coaches and discussed by dress historians. One of the many things I love about this project is the different places it has taken me and the many ways it interests different kinds of people.
Casquette LIVE filled the next three days with:
“Personal stories, amazing accolades and incredible insight from your favourite track, road, cyclo-cross and endurance heroes.”
“Practical talks and tutorials to help you get more from your cycling (from saddle sore solutions to Bikepacking 101, cyclo-cyclo-cross essentials, yoga for cyclists, core conditioning, pro cycling highlights, confidence classes and much more).”
“Money-can’t-buy ‘how to’ session with the best in the business (Katie Archibald, Helen Wyman, Rebecca Charlton and many more).”
“An amazing saddle library (in association with London Bike Kitchen). All the saddles you could possibly shake a bottom at, the advice on whose bottom they are best suited to and the chance to test drive one.”
Many thanks to Danielle of Casquette for the invite and huge congratulations on what was clearly a very successful event. Fingers crossed it is on again next year!