Now that you’ve got your Catlike helmet, it’s time to get high-performance cycling clothes that look stunning. My first choice is Etxeondo. Based in Irura, Spain in the heart of the Basque country, Etxeondo have traditionally been the clothing manufacturer for Euskaltel-Euskadi (who also wears Catlike’s helmet). The company was started in 1976 and Tour de France winners such as Miguel Indurain were already wearing their clothes. In 1993, they helped start Euskaltel-Euskadi, the Basque cycling team for Fundacion Euskadi. They sell men’s and women’s cycling wear and accessories.

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If you were watching the Tour de France this year, you could not have missed the coolest cycling helmets ever made. They were worn by the Basque team Euskaltel-Euskadi (pictured above) and Team Cervelo. Who makes them? Catlike, a Spanish company based near Valencia. The distinctive style – oblong cutouts that look like the spots on a leopard – make these cyclists stand out from the rest. Now you too can look this cool and professional. Catlike is selling the helmets (which are called Whisper Plus) through distributors around the world, except it seems, in the United States. According to this review, they do a great job keeping your head cool (with 39 vents) while offering a lot of protection for your head.

Go to http://www.catlike.es to find out more. And in the next post, I will feature fabulous cycling outfits from Etxeondo. You’ll be the envy of the road.

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Here’s my latest article on NBC Bay Area news about Cop.Copine, a French brand that has just opened a store on Union Square in downtown San Francisco. Cop.Copine’s style is edgy and urban, a bit more high-tech and futuristic than agnes b. and Comptoir des Cotonniers, my other favorite French brands. But it’s still very feminine. What I like about Cop.Copine is that the clothes are eclectic and distinctive, but they don’t fall into the purgatory of the weird and unwearable. Once you’re in the store and you begin trying on the clothes, you’ll have a very difficult time figuring out which pieces to buy. You’ll want them all.

Cop.Copine
343 Powell Street (at Post)
San Francisco, CA
+1 415 989 9035
www.cop-copine.com

They just opened a store in the 2nd arrondissement in Paris, one of my favorite areas in the city, right on the rue Etienne Marcel. Watch the store opening video showing a model wearing some of their clothes. Cop.Copine has several stores in Paris.

Cop.Copine 2nd arrondissement store
37, rue Etienne Marcel
75001 Paris, France
+33 1 5300 9480

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Related articles:

Shopplr’s favorite boutiques in Paris

Shopplr’s favorite boutiques in San Francisco

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Check out our sister site, Mapplr.com, for travel news and reviews of the coolest boutique hotels and restaurants around the world.