Nonusual blog

On the 3rd and 4th of March 2012 it's the Berlin Bike Show. We're excited to be able to say that Gropes will be there.

DAILYBREADis an exclusive Berlin-based bike brand, designing and selling custom build urban singlespeed and touring bikes. What's more, they have recently become an official Gropes retailer. It is through DAILYBREAD that we will be making our Berlin Bike Show debut, as we will be on display on their stand. They have written more about their presence at the show on their blog.

More than 10,000 visitors are expected to pass through the show over the course of the two days. We think this is the ideal place to present Gropes to Germany and indeed, a wider European cycling and bike-enthusiast community.

We're so excited for Gropes and will be visiting the event to show them and DAILYBREAD our support. We will be sure to report back on our trip when we return to Blighty. 

Auf Wiedersehen for now.

As you know (we’ve mentioned it once or twice), Gropes launched in the lovely ‘Look Mum No Hands’ café on 27^th October 2010. At the time of launch there were several Gropes trophies on the wall, showing-off the latest bike accessories to hit the cycling scene. (Read more)

We work to continuously improve Gropes and recently we wanted to source new bar end plugs, so that’s what we did. Our new plugs are made of natural cork, which is a lighter and softer material than our “first generation” agglomerated plugs. (Read more)

We know that some of our customers are starting to want more lace/leather colour combinations in order to achieve an even greater bespoke look for their bikes. We want to be able to give you the best in true handlebar customisation and we’re currently testing out numerous colours. (Read more)

Last night we went along to the launch of The Temporium, a design pop-up shop brought to us by Dezeen magazine. (Read more) 

There’s no doubt about it, we’ve been busy recently; we launched our new colours for Gropes, Christmas orders have been coming in and lots of (very essential) ‘networking’ has been going on... (read more)

Just when you thought Gropes couldn't get much quirkier, we are the bearers of some exciting news. We've added two new colours to our range, a vibrant turquoise and team Rapha's key colour, pink. We’re very fond of them and think they also might be quite a hit with the girls, especially the pink...

Here at Nonusual, we believe in delivering excellence ­- in both workmanship and materials. We gave a lot of time and thought to sourcing the leather that we use for Gropes. Eventually, with the help of Alison Lloyd, founder of Ally Capellino, we came across something we were very happy with...

It must be very surreal if you were happen to be shopping in West End as tourists and saw more than 500 cyclists riding on the street who properly dressed up Tweed. There were so many serious classic bikes that you wouldn't see that often in town. Some of the bikes are over 100 years old...

The Work Cycle (TWC) is a celebration of bikes and their integration within the workplace – a concept that is right up our street. What we really like about TWC is the unique way it features bikes; it's not your average bike ‘porn', they prefer to focus more on what your wheels say about your personality. It’s about emotional connections and a true passion for beautiful bikes.

As you know, we launched the Gropes online shop back in June this year and marked the occasion with a gathering held at Family Tree. The evening was a great one, although it seems like a lifetime ago now. We had fun and prizes and there was even the odd free drink floating about. Best of all though, we met lots of people who share similar passions to ours and it was such a great opportunity for us just to say hi. We couldn’t have thrown the Gropes launch party at a better place and 22nd June 2011 will go down as a momentous day in Nonusual history.

This Sunday, we are joining The Soho Festival at St. Anne‚Äôs Garden, Wardour Street in Soho. There will be live music, food stalls and all sort of entertainments. 

So come and join to have a peaceful Sunday with us. 

The Soho Festival
www.thesohosociety.org.uk/soho_festival

Gropes medium will be available at this event as a trial. The size of the Gropes medium is 294mm x 75mm.

To celebrate the launch of Gropes on-line shop. We‚Äôre holding a Gropes and friends gathering at Family Tree on the 22nd of June. 

Toast our new products and meet the family. Among those attending will be our cool cousin from the city, tokyobike, and our lovable, eccentric uncle, the Mechanical Alchemist. The bespoke bike exclusively made for the night will be displayed at the shop window as well as Gropes tropies...
 

Gropes are now available at Family Tree in Exmouth Market, London. The selection of this sweet boutique is unique and beautiful and most of the items are not easily find anywhere else.

I was optimistic about trying to do everything in 4 hours: meeting people and documenting the night, drinking beer, listening to music and promoting Gropes. Luckily my favourite photographer Nikanika took many great shots of the night. Check out on our flickr page. Thank you so much for all your support.

Gropes will be finally let loose on the world at our official launch party at the end of October. Look Mum No Hands is the bike-lovers hangout of choice, where a passion for bikes, coffee and being friendly is all that matters. 

Over the last 11 years I have come to know a few things about leather, but I‚Äôm still learning. You get what you pay for, the life that the animal leads and the tanning all show through ‚Äî it‚Äôs like food ‚Äî you can‚Äôt make good risotto or sushi if the rice isn‚Äôt good in the first place. Good leather improves with age ‚Äî it polishes up, it stays flexible and it moulds to it‚Äôs job.