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The Sunday Times - In Gear Section
By Tim Dawson
The Guardian Online - Bike Blog 20th November 20011
By Andrew Dickson
Road-testing men's winter cycling jackets
From ingenious design and chilly nipples to an elegant cut and a clammy ride, we put two jackets to the test
Last year I lamented on this very blog how hard it was to find a winter cycling jacket I liked: a pernickety moan, I thought, until I read all your brilliant comments. I wasn't alone, it seemed. There are other blokes who don't want to look like Chris Hoy simply because they happen to cycle into work.
Even so, I didn't actually succeed in finding anything, so I stuck with my trusty Endura for a fourth winter – and proud it did me, too, until the lining finally gave up the ghost. A few months ago I began to look again, with a heavy heart. But lo! Nice jackets had started to appear!
I quickly homed in on two likely looking candidates: the men's cycle coat by new British company Water Off a Duck's Back, and the Oratory Jacket by Brompton, who also of course make folding bikes, one of which is cycled by me. Having got hold of both to review, I've been riding them around for about a month now, though only during the last week has it been chilly enough here in London to test jackets designed for winter weather. Here's what I reckon – I'd be interested to hear if anyone else has given them (or any other jackets) a go.
Men's cycle jacket, Water off a Duck's Back, £140
Appearance: City slicker. Man of affairs. Mildly stylish tax accountant.
Tell me more: Elegant and simple, this looks from a distance like any classy high-street men's raincoat: double-breasted and mid-thigh length, a touch A-line (says my colleague Kate), with a single vent at the back and two pockets, lined throughout. Peer closer, though, and you spot the cycle-friendly bits – a reflective turn-up collar, reflective strips on the cuffs and (neat touch, this) a buttoned strip on the back of the coat, covered in normal fabric one side and reflective stuff on the other. There's a detachable hood, and it's machine-washable.
Visible? The reflective strips are nice and wide, and looked pretty bright when I flashed a light on them. Slightly puzzling is why the men's version is only available in black and navy (nearly black) when the women's also comes in "stone" (grey-beige). I'd have gone for something lighter.
Waterproof? It stood up well to a flash shower, and copes decently with autumn drizzle. That it's a bit longer than other cycle jackets I've tried helps: dry thighs, too.
On the bike? Comfortable enough, but the version that I had – the smallest they make – felt somewhat voluminous (I'm 5'9" and have a 36-inch chest), so it was difficult to tell. My main problem was that it was too hot for anything but relaxed cycling: the material is marketed as "breathable", but I found it fairly clammy, even with just a T-shirt underneath. I couldn't imagine wearing a suit jacket too – but I do run permanently late, thus give off a fair amount of stress-related heat.
Off the bike? Like any raincoat: waterproof, but not especially warm.
Improvements? Pit zips. Possibly an ice pack. More colours.
Sizing: S (too large for me), M, L.
Colours: Navy, black.
Worth the dosh? The quality is excellent, it's waterproof, and when you consider it's a British-designed, British-made coat that seems like it'll last, £140 feels like decent value. My uber-stylish colleague Helen Pidd really rated the girls' version.
Weight Watchers Magazine October 2011
The Saturday Telegraph Men's Style Magazine September 2011
The Cycling Diaries 21st September 2011
The Raining Champion of Waterproof Cycling Coats
by Jason on Sep 2, 2011
http://www.thecyclingdiaries.co.uk/blog/the-raining-champion-of-waterproof-cycling-coats
Water off a Duck’s Back was formed when Antonia Maybury got tired of having to put on functional, unflattering sporty cycle wear over her normal clothes when cycling. Water off a Duck’s Back is set up to provide beautiful stylish clothingto cyclists who wat to look stylish and fashionable whilst staying safe, warm and dry on the go. 
Q: What first gave you the idea of designing and manufacturing cycle wear?
A: When I worked in the West End I cycled into work and to meetings during the day. I got fed up with having to take off my neon cycle jacket outside clients’ offices and hide it away in a handbag. I wanted a coat that was stylish enough so that I could get straight off my bike and walk into the boardroom. I also wanted something that was long enough to keep my skirt dry when cycling, and something that was safe to wear at night. I couldn’t find anything – so I started up Water off a Duck’s Back.
Q: Presumably by its name – all of your clothes are waterproof?
Yes, all of our coats and jackets are waterproof and breathable. Also, importantly for a cycle coat, they are machine washable. All of our coats are made in the UK – supporting British industry.
Q: Are your range of clothes suitable for men, women and all ages – do you have a target audience?
The coats can be worn by people of all ages. We have coats for men and women – the men’s coats will be in the shops from Friday 23rd. They are smart coats so are generally bought by people who commute to work and want to look smart while they are cycling, and not have the hassle of having to shower and change when they get into work.
Q: Do you think women want to look fashionable or safe on a bike?
A: Thankfully the two are not mutually exclusive! When I designed the coats I made sure that as well as looking good there were well placed reflective panels. I wanted to ensure that all of my customers could be visible at night, but not to have the reflective on show during the day. So all of the refelctive elements can be hidden away. Being visible at night is very important - espcially when if comes to signaling right turns – which is where the reflective cuffs come in handy.
Antonia wants women cyclists to look stylish as well as dry
Q: Do you think your range of clothes and accessories will inspire more women to cycle?
A: I hope so. Not everyone wants to wear lycra and break their personal best time to get to work. This is very much a lifestyle coat and is suited to the growing number of cyclists that are taking up cycling to get from a to b and want to cycle in their normal clothes.
Q: Why do you think that more women should cycle in their daily lives?
A: Cycling to work in the morning is the best way to unfurl. It blows away the cobwebs, and makes you start the day all fresh. It means you don’t have to huddle up next to some sweaty stranger on the bus, tube or train. It’s free. And my goodness it keeps you slim. I went down a dress size when I started cycling to work and I never have to watch what I eat.
Q: Are your clothes just for cyclists?
A: No – the beauty of the coats is that because they look like normal coats they can be worn when you aren’t on a bike. I have quite a number of people that have bought the light coloured mac simply because it machine washable and they are saving a fortune on dry cleaning bills!
Q: In the future do you anticipate bringing out a wider range of waterproof gear for cyclists
A: I am planning to expand the range. The spring collection is being designed at the moment.
The Irish Times (Saturday)
What's Hot and What's Not
Volkskrant 25th August 2011
Slippers by Aaf Brandt Corstius
De jongen in het cafe, die zat te schuilen voor de regen, droeg een vaal T-shirt met vrolijke tekst, een al net zo vale afgeknipte spijkerbroek en scheefgelopen blauwe Havaianas. Hij was, dat was duidelijk, een vakantievasthouder. Het kan de besten overkomen. Ik ben zelf ook vaak genoeg een vakantievasthouder geweest.
Het gaat zo. Je gaat op vakantie met een koffer vol kleren. Zomerkleren, slippers, gympen, en voor de zekerheid vier lange broken en drie warme truien. Halverwege de vakantie kom je middels natuurlijk reduceren en deduceren tot een wast kostuum. Het vakantiekostuum. Je habt al die klern boj je, maar elke dag blijk je hetzelfde iut de koffer to pakken. Dit is over het algemeen een vale afgeknipte broek met een flodderig hemdje erboven en slippers, want het vakantiekostuum is universeel en uniseks. Als je in dit ensemble in een Italiaanse strandtent zit. En er draait een Braziliaans muziekje, en de ober geeft je per ongeluk of expres een knipoog, dan dringt het ineens tot je door:dit is eigenlijk jouw oerout. Hier ben je je beste zelf in. Slank, sexy, bruin.
Ne de vakantie, thuis, lijkt je klerenkast to vol, vol met stijve, tuttige, warme kleding. Teveel donkerblauw en antracietrijs. Je wil dit niet meer. Je wil alleen nog maar het vakantiekostuum. Meer hed jij niet nodig. Je bent een makkelijk mens geworden. Ontspannen. Less is more- achtig.
Je wordt een vakantievasthouder. Als je alsmaar dat shirt en die shorts blijft dragen, en voorzichtig doucht zodat je bruine teint er niet te snel afvalt, kun je misschien tot eind oktober het vakantiegevoel vasthouden. Dat is de illusie van de vakantievasthouder.
Maar gisteren was het ineens voorbij. De regen stortte uit de hemel. Vakantievasthouders zaten te bibbern op kantoor, tussen de mensen die ge woon de hele zomer waren thuisgebleven en dus in donkerblauwe en antracietgrijze kleding waren blijven lopen. De realisten. Met warme, dichte schoenen. En broeken die hun benen bedekten.
De vakantievasthouder verlangde ineens ook heel erg naar een bedekkende broek. En naar een regenjas. De rest van de werkdag werd besteed aan googlen op superwaterdichte regenjassen. Het mocht wat kosten.
Nu droomt de vakantievasthouder niet meer van dat strandtentje. De vakantievasthouder droomt van een regenjas van het Britse merk (dus dat moet goet zijn) Water off a Dcuk's Back. Met deze droom heeft de vakantievasthouder de vankantie definitief losgelaten.
Guardian Online Bike Blog 23rd August 2011
Water Off A Duck's Back cycling raincoat – review
Hurrah for this stylish alternative to the dreaded cagoule
By Helen Pidd
Helen Pidd, Berlin correspondent, modelling the Water Off A Duck's Back cycling raincoat. Photograph: Michael Danner/guardian.co.uk
There are very many joys associated with bicycling, but getting wet is not one of them. Only masochists enjoy cycling in the rain - Lance Armstrong once said that he liked riding in poor weather because he knew his rivals hated it. Well, I'm not a Tour de France cyclist and I'm not ashamed to say it gives me no pleasure at all to arrive at my destination as damp as a dishcloth.
Given my aversion to public transport, however, I do very often have to ride in the rain. And when I do, I want to have a coat that will keep me dry and look nice. The dreaded cagoule has its place, yes. I always have one stuffed in the back pocket of my jersey if I'm out on my road bike (just in case). But what I've been after for ages is a grown up coat that transfers from the saddle to the street without people wondering if I've got lost on an orienteering adventure.
I'm therefore delighted to report that the Water Off A Duck's Back lady's mackintosh is very nearly The One. It comes in two colours - cream and black. I chose the black one because I figured it would need washing less often. The coat has no buttons but has enough material in the full skirt that when you tie the belt, your lap and legs will stay dry (though you'll get a wet décolletage). There's a detachable hood which I didn't use much - it was a bit Scottish Widows for my liking, plus it's dangerous cycling in a hood because it obscures your view when you turn around.
It only really worked, aesthetically and practically, when I was riding my Dutch-style bike. In the run-up to my summer holiday cycling in the Alps I was razzing around on my racer and looked pretty ridiculous hunched over my handlebars with this coat on - plus the long skirt was liable to get stuck in my spokes. But on my secondhand city bike with skirt guard and step-through frame, it was just the ticket.
Bit Scottish Widows? Photograph: Michael Danner/guardian.co.uk
Water Off A Duck's Back is a British brand which aims "to create coats that look like chic regular coats but that have hidden qualities". The really clever thing about this mac is its secret reflectivity. If you unroll the cuffs, a wide reflective strip is revealed, and if you turn the belt inside out, that too will glow in the dark. I thought it was very nifty, and much more palatable to me than a luminous yellow number. It's not cheap, of course - but £130 is not at all bad for a coat you can wear both on and off the bike, especially given that it is made in London (Kentish Town), rather than the Far East.
It wasn't perfect. As a bit of a titch (5'4), the coat was a little long on me. But Antonia Maybury, the woman behind the brand, tells me she is in the process of bringing out a shorter length alternative. I also found it too warm as soon as the temperatures reached 20c - but it would be perfect for autumn or spring cycling. It's quite bulky to stuff in a pannier too.
All in all, though, it's a good looking, practical purchase. Recommended.
Water Off A Duck's Back lady's mackintosh - sizes xs-xl (8-18/20), £130.
For ordering and stockists see www.wateroffaducksback.co.uk
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/bike-blog/2011/aug/23/water-off-a-ducks-back-review
The Evening Standard 24th August
The Girls Guide to Cycling
By Victoria Stewart and Jasmine Gardiner
Abridged - for full article go to http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/lifestyle/article-23980889-the-girls-guide-to-cycling.do
The Gear
Princess
Helmet: Nutcase knows how to make helmets stylish and safe a te same time. Try the flowery Hula Lounge helmet with a padded shock absorbing liner and washable chinstraps (£54.95, pedlars.co.uk).
Jacket:No one wasnt to scrunch their party dress into a rucksack. Instead, if you wear a waterproof Maintosh (£130 wateroffaducksback.co.uk) with reflective cuffs collar and belt, you can keep the frock on and stay dry.
Bottom: Forget the sporty look, TwonFro's black dress with a reflective neckline is slimming (useful when the hottie in the car pulls up at the traffic lights) and safe. (£120 or £40 black culottes, 215w11.com).
Reflective: some stick one reflectvie pads leave nasty glue stains on your clothes. To avoid those wrap a neon Bike Glow chain around your bike - available in eight colours (£19.99 bkikeglow.co.uk
Grazia online - Pedalling in Heels
When it Rains, it Pours with Great Coats
Kate Faithfull-Williams, Health Editor
And if you’re after something that doesn’t scream ‘cycling jacket’, check out this trench at
£130. It’s waterproof, crumple resistant and it’s got hidden reflective panels so traffic will see you on the road. Pedalling In Heels is particularly keen on the fact the pockets sit securely in the front of the trench-skirt so your keys and purse don’t fly out when you bounce over a bump. Genius.
What are you wearing for Cycletta next month? Tell us in the comments below!
P.S. It’s not too late to sign up for Cycletta, the 40km big bike challenge, at www.cycletta.com
Sunday Times Online 14th August 2011
The Coat that gives you the Visible Edge
By Tim Dawson
My wife’s car-dependent colleagues nagged her for months that she should wear high-visibility clothing for her cycle into the office. Eventually she relented and bought a bright yellow tabard. Now, as she arrives and departs the office, her co-workers all joke that she is moonlighting on a building site. Her's is a problem familiar to many of us who ride to our place of employment, but prefer to do so in some semblance of work-a-day clothing. And it is one that a few manufacturers of cycle wear have started to address – albeit with more of an eye to making a statement than practicality.
Rapha's City Range for example, is part messenger-cool, part Tweed-Run retro – but with its tailored jacket at £400 and cycling jeans at £150 is aimed at a wealthy niche. Dashing Tweeds' Russell Howarth -designed cycle suit might conform to the CTC’s nineteenth century clothing regulations, but at £800 is not likely to be seen in many offices.
It was a problem that Antonia Maybury turned her mind as she dashed about London with her job in commercial property. “I always found myself trying to take off at least my outerwear before I actually arrived at client’s offices – I didn’t want them to know that I travelled in clothes the same colour as a tennis ball”. Skirts she found particularly difficult in the rain. “The front of a skirt seems to get the full force of the water and is not covered by normal cycling jackets”.
Although she did not have a background in clothing design, Maybury had always enjoyed making her own clothes – and she thought that she could design something that would go at least someway to solving the problem.
Last December she launched her women’s coat, and her company Water Off A Duck’s Back. The design has sold out three production runs and she has nearly 40 distributors around the UK. In September the range will be joined by the man’s coat. Both retail at £140 and are also available on line.
Based on the classic pea coat, the men’s coat actually looks as though it has nothing to do with cycling – which was always Maybury’s intention. However, the collar turns up to reveal a reflective strip, the cuffs turn down to show off the same, and a button on panel at the back can be reversed to increase visibility further.
The coat’s most impressive feature, however, is the fabric from which it is made. The coated micro-fibre is, says Maybury, one-hundred-percent waterproof, but to the skin it feels like brushed cotton. Even better, the mid-length jacket rolls up to approximately the size of two cans of cola, and unrolls time after time looking back-from-the-cleaners sharp. Keeping the coat in your briefcase until the rain actually strikes should be easy. The design itself is full of clever features. There is extra fabric in the back to accommodate the movement necessary when riding a bike and, the long cuffs keep your hands drier in the rain. The length of both her coats is deliberate too, banishing, as they should, the wet fronts of legs that bedevilled Maybury in London.
It is still quite a lot to pay for a coat. But, for a garment that most people will assume that you bought for its looks alone, it is worth it for the secret safety features.
Of course, to assuage the concerns of your colleagues, you might feel that you had to reveal its hidden reflective details anyway. Perhaps, though, it would be better to confront head on the concern for cyclists’ safety with which some motorists can seem curiously obsessed. At doing this the Cyclists Touring Club has offered up an object lesson.
A couple of months ago the AA took the curious step of giving away 5,000 bicycle helmets to London cyclists. The pr stunt was apparently based on a survey of AA members that showed that 97% of them thought that cyclists should wear helmets and high vis vests. Of course, the main danger to cyclists is actually dangerous drivers. Before the AA’s supply of free helmets was exhausted, the CTC was handing out copies of the Highway Code to bemused motorists – their point being that the way for cyclists lives' to be saved is for car users to keep to the code.
So, I will be keeping a copy of the Department for Transport's instructive booklet in the generous pocket of Ms Maybury’s coat, and the next time a car driver feels the need to share with me some safety suggestions, I will have a handy wad of paper with which to press home my riposte.
Bike Biz 25th July 2011
Water Off A Duck's Back launches men's Cycle Coat
by Jonathan Harker
Outerwear promises a blend of style with functionality of cycle gear
British clothing company Water Off A Duck's Back has launched a men's Cycle Coat.
Designed and manufactured in England, the Cycle Coat is tailored and designed for cyclists who want to combine style with visibility, while keeping warm and dry.
Suited to men looking for a normal coat with the functionality of cycling outerwear, the Cycle Coat has been tailored to create the extra room in the shoulders and arms needed for cycling, while leaving the coat looking close fitting.
The machine washable, quick drying, crumple resistant Cycle Coat will retail for £140 RRP. It features unique hidden reflective panels and rolls into a small pack when not in use.
Designer and founder of Water Off A Duck's Back Antonia Maybury commented on the Cycle Coat:
“I am delighted to launch our men’s coat. Since launching the women’s range we have had a
huge amount of interest and it was a natural progression to branch out into menswear.
"Commuting as a cyclist is a fantastic mode of transport however there are times when you want to be able to look smart, professional and stylish as soon as you step off your bike. It was key for me to design a functional coat, creating something that would add to the experience of cycling whilst looking smart at the same time. Indeed you do not even need to be a cyclist to appreciate the look of the coat.”
Dealers interested in stocking the Cycle Coat can contact Maybury through the website
or at
antonia@wateroffaducksback.co.uk
The Cycle Coat launched last week, the same week at Brompton's Oratory jacket. There is a wealth of info and pics on Brompton's offering in the new edition of BikeBiz, out this week.
Bath Life April 2011
Prepare for the April showers
Innovative waterproof clothing company Water off a Duck's Back which was set up by Bath resident Antonia Maybury is pleased to announce that from this month, its range of unique coats will be available at Harrods. The elegant British-made coats are designed for female cyclists who want to commute and remain visible, warm dry and stylish while on the go. Harrods is the 13th location (including John's Bikes and Boho in Bath) to stock the coats since their launch in 2011. Antonia Commented: Harrods is such an iconic brand, recognised globally. I am delighted that my coats will be stocked there. My coats are designed to provide practical elegance while on a bicycle- at the same time as keeping dry, warm and safe.
31st March Time Out - Shopping page
Water off a Duck's Back
For chic cyclists who balk at Gore-Tex, how about a ladylike waterproof trench? Water off a Duck's Back (at stockists throughout London) has designed the first truly elegant belted mac especially for cyclists
24th March - Bath Chronicle
Knightsbridge Break for Niche Coat Company
by Tom Bradshaw
A niche clothing business launched by Bath woman Antonia Maybury is taking the capital by storm. Water Off a Duck’s Back, which produces British-made waterproof coats for women, has been invited to sell its lines in the world’s most famous department store, Harrods, in Knightsbridge. The 32-year-old returned to Bath last year to launch Water Off a Duck’s Back, having previously worked in property in London. Since then the business has been enjoying rapid success. Its specially designed macintoshes are aimed at fashion-conscious women who want to preserve their style while out cycling, pushing the pram or walking the dog, whatever the weather might be.
They are designed to keep the clothes underneath totally dry and have hidden reflective panels under the cuff, collar and belt, which an he folded out after dark. Since launching her business in the autumn, the former Royal School pupil has persuaded 13 stores to stock her macs, including ten in London and two in Bath, at John’s Bikes in Walcot Street and Boho in Broad Street. Antonia’s coats will be available in Harrods from April 5 where they will be featured in the British section of Cycle UK’s area. She said: “Harrods is such an conic brand, recognised globally, so I am delighted that my coats will be stocked there.
“It’s such a vote of confidence in what the business is doing. I’m so pleased to be going into such a well-known place. “But I’m always on the lookout for more stockists and I can’t rest on my laurels.” Explaining why she believed there was a gap in the market for Water Off a Duck’s Back, she added: “Cycling is a brilliant way to get around – cheap, quick and environmentally friendly – but until now the clothing available was not very stylish. “My coats are designed to provide practical elegance while on a bicycle, at the same time as keeping dry, warm and safe.”
10th March 2011 Cycling Made Easy
Cycle Macintosh in Action
26th February - Bike Biz
Ten retailers snap up new female-focused clothing
by Jonathan Harker
UPDATE: Another two retail locations pick up Water Off A Duck's Back
Water Off A Duck's Back's innovative line of women's coats are set to be sold in ten locations in the UK. The UK-manufactured Cycle Macintoshs are an elegant take on the waterproof coat, featuring reflective and reversible panels on the collar, belt and cuffs that can be flipped round to adapt the coat once the rider steps off the bike. A button hem system stops the coat from flapping open and the coat also includes a detachable rain hood.
The coat, first launched at the end of last year, will be available from Cyclopedia, Fitzrovia Bicycles, Luv Handles, There Cycling, On Your Bike, Velorution, John's Bikes and Cycling Made Easy. UPDATE: Putney Cycles and Cycles UK in Greenwich have also just picked up the brand. The Cycle Macintoshs can also be ordered online from www.wateroffaducksback.co.uk.
“I am delighted to be working with some of the best cycling outlets in the UK and would like to thank them for displaying our product," said Antonia Maybury, founder of Water off a Duck’s Back. "It is great to see our coats out and about, especially with heavy rainfall forecasted for March. Commuting as a cyclist is fantastic, but brings with it limitations when it is dark and wet. I designed this coat to look good off the bike but to be functional on it, creating something that would add to the experience of cycling, and enable us all to get out and about when the weather isn’t great, something which is all too frequent in the UK.”
Maybury told BikeBiz that the firm doesn't currently have a distribution partner, but would consider a deal to market the product to retailers.
22nd February - Angels and Urchins Blog
I'm always impressed when I hear about a parent launching a business on the back of what they’ve learnt having a baby. Admittedly, Antonia Maybury, founder of waterproof clothing company Water off a Duck’s Back designed her first British-made Macintosh with hidden reflective panels to help get her safely back from the pub at night by bike. The belt, collar and cuffs reverse to reveal the reflective panels, the coat is tailored to prevent it tangling in a bike’s spokes, there’s a detachable hood, and the entire thing can be machine-washed.
The Water off a Duck’s Back Mum’s Macintosh has huge pockets to carry all those baby essentials, the same hidden reflective panels, and it’s the right length to keep you dry without getting in the way of a buggy. And because it belts up, it can easily make the transition from pregnancy (and if you’re bumpy at the moment, click here for the dresses to impress) to new mum.
http://www.angelsandurchins.co.uk/blog/2011/02/22/water-off-a-ducks-back-macintosh/
2nd February - CycleScheme Newsletter
Cycling has not been known for its fashion sense. This is due to change with the advent of the Cycle Macintosh from Water off a Duck’s Back. The Cycle Macintosh has been designed to look like a stylish fashionable coat. It has clever features that mean that the reflective elements on the collar cuffs and belt can all be hidden when you are not cycling. The coat is, as you would expect from a cycling coat, still waterproof, breathable and is also made in England. Antonia Maybury set up ‘Water off a Duck’s Back’ at the end of 2010 because she wanted a coat that looked beautiful but that was safe to wear at night. ‘I wanted to be able to hop off my bike and walk into work/the pub without having to wear neon, or screaming ‘cyclist’. Water off a Duck’s Back were present at The London Bike Show and received an excellent response from lady cyclists. ‘The response was overwhelming.’ said Antonia ‘ It is apparent that there is clearly a gap in the market, and that this new style of coat is craved for’. There is currently only one style of coat in two colours – black and the typical Macintosh ‘stone’ colour. Antonia is currently working on new styles and colours, so check back on her website for updates! http://www.wateroffaducksback.co.uk Antonia@wateroffaducksback.co.uk
28th January Jeanie B - Make it up Blogspot
So imagine my surprise when I walked into a cycle shop in London only to find amongst the inner tubes, a rather beautifully cut swing coat with a nipped in waist and wait for it - detachable hood.
The bike shop guy registered my surprise and gave the low down on the coat, a new range by designer Antonia Maybury her company is Water Off a Duck’s Back stylish coats for women who want to look good and stay dry.
This is the answer to the prayer I’ve often muttered - decent cycling outerwear with integral reflective tape. I’ve gone so far as to source reflective tape myself in order to design and make such a jacket.
This mac has a reversible belt, one side reflective - flip up the collar and roll down the cuffs for more of the same. It buttons in such a way as to keep the fabric far from the back wheel. I was too busy to try the coat on that day and the £130 price tag just before Christmas meant I’d have to be content just to drool. But my hat goes off to Antonia, an innovate design and a market gap well and truly exploited - I hope she extends the range.
19th January The Telegraph I-Spied
By Natasha Cowan
Water off a Duck's Back
Waterproof Macintosh
£130
I'm throwing away my horrible neon bike jacket. This stylish breathable waterproof overcoat has been tailored for cyclists so it does not catch in the wheel of a bike. And you can put it in the washing machine!!
http://fashion.telegraph.co.uk/ispied/TMG1631/waterproof-macintosh.html
Cycling Active January Edition
Return of the Mac - Secret Cyclist
As we all know, cycling is the best way to get around the city streets but, to be honest, there is a downside. Once it gets dark, wet and cold outside, the only option is to don a proper reflective, breathable cycling jacket. And however chic and stylish the suit, or however casual and sexy the evening ensemble, arriving at the meeting/pub in a hi-viz yellow anorak just aint going to cut it.
So, new company Water off a Duck’s Back has come up with a solution: a stylish, regular-looking raincoat with all the hidden features of a cycling jacket. It’s fully waterproof and breathable, quick drying, machine washable and has large, yet discrete reflective panels revealed only when you fold down your cuffs, flip the belt over and raise the collar. Even the longer length, we are assured, will not interfere with the chain.
Available in traditional stone or black, it retails at £130.
14th January The Environmental Transport Agency Blog
Fair-weather cyclist getting back in the saddle – London Bike Show!
by Lynzi.Ashworth
By my own admission I am a fair-weather cyclist; my daily commute has returned to the car as I am not brave enough to attempt my 16-mile ride in England’s winter months. I still use my bikes for the odd short trip, but over all my cycling has stooped to an all time low!
But that is about to change. As part of my New Year health kick I am determined to dust off my bike and oil up my chains and get back into the saddle.
To kick-start my cycling motivation I attended the opening of London Bike Show, which was part of the London Outdoor Show taking place this weekend.
The following in particular took my interest
I have a keen interest in fashion and a massive aversion to Lycra, so I’m always delighted to find practical cycle wear that looks good. This lovely cycling coat is made by a company called Water Off a Ducks Back and costs £130 from their show stand.
13th December www.thegearcaster.com
Waterproof Mackintosh Coat for Real Bike Style
Move over cycling jacket, here comes the cycling coat. Maybe not for the everyday bike commute, but if you plan to hop on your bike for a short ride to the pub or cafe to meet some friends, the new waterproof Macintosh coat from Water Off A Duck's Back offers an extremely stylish way to do so.
Water Off A Duck's Back was started by Antonia Maybury, resident of Bath, England. Rightfully so, Antonia hated the idea of wearing a neon cycling jacket for the short ride to and from her local pub. Instead, she decided to design her own cycling coat that would look stylish both on and off the bike.
Quintessentially British (the first Macintosh coats were made in Glasgow), this breathable waterproof Macintosh is essentially a normal coat off the bike with hidden reflective panels in the back of the belt, behind the cuffs and under the collar. Before you get on the bike, you simply turn down the cuffs, flip over the belt and the collar to reveal the reflective tape.
The cycling coat is expertly tailored so it will not catch in the wheel or chain of your bike. A hidden snap closure keeps the coat panels from flapping in the wind, while a detachable hood offers further weather protection. The waterproof Macintosh coats are all British made at a factory in North London and best of all, are machine washable.
Currently the Macintosh is the only style coat from Water Off A Duck's Back but Antonia plans to expand into a full women's cycling apparel line in the near future. The cycling coat comes in two colors, black and stone, which you can order for £130 from the company website.
9th December 2010 - Southwark Cyclists
By Alex Crawford
Last night I stopped off at On Your Bike to have a look at and try on one of Water off a Duck's Back brand new and very stylish Cycle Macintosh's.
I'd never seen so many ladies in OYB at once!
The coats are lovely: beautifully made, with details such as reflective panels of the cuffs and belt, a cute detachable hood and a popper-button to fasten the hem so it doesn't flap open.
I didn't try cycling with the coat on but the company director Antonia assures that the coats are designed not to catch the wheels of your bike.
The coat is available in black and stone in three sizes: small, medium and large.
Price £130
I urge you all to go to OYB or visit http://www.wateroffaducksback.net/cycle-macintosh/ to check them out for yourselves - good Christmas present me thinks...:)
Regards,
21st November 2010 - www.road.cc
New women's casual clothing from Water off a Duck's Back
We went down to John's Bikes Christmas Cracker in lovely local Bath last night and bumped into Antonia Maybury who's just set up a new clothing company, Water off a Duck's Back. Antonia found herself disappointed at the range of cycling gear available for women after getting back into cycling, and decided to do something about it: this cycle macintosh is the first product she's bringing to market.
"I didn't want to roll out of the pub and have to put on my hi-viz jacket for the ride home", Antonia told us, "So this coat is designed to look good off the bike but also be functional on it." Essentially a non-bike-specific black coat off the bike, there's reflective panels hidden on the back of the belt, behind the cuffs and under the collar. Before you get on the bike it's a simple case of revealing all the reflective and setting off for home; turning down the cuffs also makes the sleeves a bit longer for better wrist coverage on the bike.
It looks a nicely thought out garment and Antonia is currently looking for stockists in the bike trade across the UK, as well as – she's hoping – more mainstream outlets too. If you're in the Bath area you'll be able to get them from John's Bikes as soon as the first production run is ready.
18th November 2010 - Bath Chronicle
Cycling fan's smart fashion move
When keen cyclist Antonia Maybury takes to the roads, she likes to look stylish.
But she could never find a coat which kept her safe and dry &n>
And she will be showcasing her Water Off A Duck's Back products at an open evening at cycle shop John's Bikes in Walcot Street tomorrow.
The 32-year-old former Royal School pupil, whose father, Richard, is deputy mayor of Bath, worked in the property industry in London before moving back to her home city to launch the firm.
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The coats hang below the knee and are waterproof, breathable and machine washable with hidden reflective panels that can be displayed after dark.
Antonia says more and more women are now cycling but want a coat they can wear in the daily lives once they've locked up their bikes.
She said: "I formed the company because when I cycled I was fed up of having to cover up my lovely clothes with baggy neon jackets.
"I was convinced that there must be a credible alternative – something that looks stylish and fashionable while at the same time waterproof and reflective. There was nothing on the market so I set up Water Off A Duck's Back."