Harlots, still made in the USA

My cycling style has changed from club rides and lycra to commute and ride to the store. The rides may be shorter but I still want gear I can ride in. Now I stress comfort and utility on the bike but want to look fabulous at work or in the produce aisle. I'm not into labels but at over 50 it's fun to wear pants that proudly say "Harlot".

We first saw these clothes at http://www.recycledcycles.com/ in Seattle, K bought capris and loved them. Comfortable, pockets in the right spots, fits your bike quads and hams and shows off those calves you suffered mightily for. Recently I went online to peruse some more and to my shock saw they were having a huge sale. Prices were so low I thought they are going out of business like our belated fave Ballard Organics.

I'm happy to find while Harlot has new owners they are vowing to stay made in USA. So watch this space http://harlotbikewear.com/

Love the name, love the clothes.

Bike clothing while uniquely suited for cycling looks great in direct inverse proportion to proximity to your bike. In other words lets say I get all kitted up in lycra spandex to ride to the store. I park my bike. As I walk away the further I go the sillier I look. By the time I reach the dairy aisle where I slip on the floor in my cycling shoes I'm pictured on YouTube comedy section. 


You don't have to dress in neon and lycra to ride. Here are bike shorts and clothes for the rest of us.

No lycra, bulky pads, pink butterflies, logos, no neon anything. Just comfort, fit and style.  All made in USA. 


http://www.harlotwear.com/

Body by chocolate.

I'm a local'varian where possible and favor Fair Trade products. K has slipped me the Folger's coffee and it's fine but I prefer Fair Trade and swear I can taste the difference. There are fair trade organics I eat with the sense of "I will eat this Fair Trade Organic product that others may live".

And there's this chocolate:

https://www.theochocolate.com

Theo repurposed a factory in the quirky Fremont district of Seattle. You don't need the address, go to Seattle, head for our funky Fremont district, then follow your nose. 

At Theo's you find a cozy store full of dark wood, comfy chairs and chocolate. On cold rainy days the fireplace is going and you may be served hot chocolate. On any day a well informed staff answers questions and hands you samples till your head spins and your wallet opens for more.

There are single origin chocolates from Ghana to Madagascar, dark chocolates to milk chocolate. Some of my favorites are the spicy ones like chili chocolate. This is no Mars bar. Theo's is chocolate you will pair with the right wine, ale, local cheeses and fresh fruit or slowly savor alone. There are imaginative seasonal concoctions like cherry and pink peppercorn for Valentines day. That one was heavenly. We watch for that each year.