There was excitement over the weekend as round three of the 2013 British Cycling Mountain Bike Cross-Country Series took place. The competition was expected to be fierce and fans were not left disappointed. There were close-calls and tumbles-a-plenty, as riders careered around corners and down the hilly inclines of this demanding Hopton Woods course.
Notable names in the Elite Men's discipline included Kenta Gallagher, who recently celebrated his first ever world cup win in Nove Mesto, where he saw off opponents to take first prize in the 'Eliminator' race. Another favourite was South African born Rourke Croser, for whom this was a first appearance in the series. Overall leader Grant Ferguson, started the event with an impressive 20-point lead over second place, Hamish Batchelor. Ferguson recently finished 23rd in the under-23 event of the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup in Nove Mesto, Czech Republic. So it's of no surprise that he was a firm favourite to take the title from defending champion, Oliver Beckingsale.
As expected, it was Gallagher and Ferguson who dominated in the first lap of the Elite Men's race, by taking an impressive early lead. The former seemed to be in his element, leading the latter out of the woods at the end of lap one, with remarkable aplomb. However, all that was set to change in lap two where the young Scot ran into trouble, as he struggled with a long drag and dusty incline. By contrast, it was here that Ferguson really found his stride, as the steep and hilly terrain proved perfect for his style of riding. And whilst Gallagher managed to rank only sixth, Ferguson was able to keep up his impressive lead to go on to snatch first place, closely flanked by Dan Fleeman and Oli Beckingsale, who took second and third respectively.

In the Elite Women's discipline, Hannah Barnes returned to the field, having proven herself to be a serious contender for the title by snatching second place at series one in Sherwood Pines. She went on to take fifth place from Annie Simpson, with only a second between them. However, it was Maddie Horton who having finished sixth in the previous round, was to really make an impression in what was to be an incredibly tense tussle for third place with Jessie Roberts.

The women's race proved to be full of nail biting moments as Beth Crumpton, gave favourite Mariska Strauss, a serious run for her money by dominating the race right up until the penultimate lap. After lap one Crumpton had notched up an impressive 25 second lead over Strauss. However, this proved to be not quite enough as her rival still managed to bridge the gap with an unstoppable burst of energy in the last lap that saw her secure first place, and her second overall win in the National MTB series.

Round four kicks off in Port Talbot on 6th July, and after such an eventful round three, fans and competitors alike are hoping that the next round will prove to be just as exciting.
Check out the vid below to see some awesome footage of round two!

The great British weather has always been known for its unpredictability, but over the last few years it's been even more unsettled than usual. We've had flooding in summer, snow blizzards in spring, and winters that seem to last an eternity. It's now springtime again, and although the sun is finally putting in an appearance, it seems that none of us trusts the weather quite enough to stray too far from home without the obligatory coat and umbrella.
This is why investing in a quality coat has never been so imperative. As the seasons seem to become less defined with each year that passes, a quality jacket is something that makes sense all year round. With this in mind, I've picked my top 3 favourites that are available on the market right now. I've tried to choose ones that are practical, durable, offer protection from the elements, and most important of all, look uber-cool. So, without further ado...

1. HUF Burma M51 Jacket

This jacket is a key piece from Huf's autumn/winter 2012 collection. It's lightweight, durable and with its popper down storm flap and high-neck collar, is guaranteed to protect you from whatever the British weather decides to throw at you. The tiger camouflage print is a fresh twist on a classic look, and I love the drawstring detailing at the waist. This makes the jacket really versatile - wear it loose for a casual day look, or pull the drawstring in to create a smarter tailored look for the evening. All in all, a must-have coat, for any time of year.

2. Penfield Redington Officer's Jacket

This Penfield coat is fresh from their spring/summer 2013 collection. Smart, stylish and sophisticated, this jacket's the perfect choice for when you want to rock the ever-popular gentrified streetwear trend. With its tailored fit and classic blazer style, this would look great teamed with some slim-fit dark-coloured chinos, and a pair of canvas boots (Clae's 'Strayhorn Canvas Boot' in black camouflage would be a perfect choice here). 

3. Carhartt Women's Michigan Coat

This slim fit jacket is brand new for spring/summer 2013 and is already generating a lot of interest. And with its corduroy collar, camouflage design and tailored shaping, it really isn't hard to see why. Made from high quality cotton, and triple stitched for extra durability, it offers the perfect defence against all kinds of weather. Although incredibly soft and lightweight, don't be fooled, this jacket's built to last. It's a reworked version of an original workwear piece, so you're guaranteed a coat that offers protection, style and longevity.
If that little lot hasn't inspired you, you can see some more of Carhartt's latest designs by checking out the vids below:

A sneak peek at Carhartt's Men's Collection Spring/Summer 2013

A sneak peek at Carhartt's Women's Collection Spring/Summer 2013

Streetwear is now such a lucrative industry that there are literally hundreds of brands all vying for the attention of the average consumer. It can be daunting trying to decide which brands are worth following and which are just riding the wave of streetwear's success, until a new bandwagon shows up to jump on. With this in mind, I've picked out my 5 must-have streetwear brands; brands that focus on people over product and genuinely care about the culture that their brands represent.

1. Diamond Supply Co.
This brand just keeps on going from strength to strength and shows no sign of slowing down in 2013. So much more than just a clothing brand, Diamond Supply Co. will settle for nothing less than perfection in everything they do. They've had numerous high profile collaborative projects, are a favourite of celebrities including Lil Wayne and Jay Z, and are famed for having one of the most talented skateboarding teams in the world. With credentials like these, it's easy to see why they've made the list.

2. Crooks and Castles
Having been publicly endorsed by hip-hop artists including Nas and Busta Rhymes, this brand has cemented itself as a favourite among skaters and urbanites alike. They're known for their controversial designs and the villainous delight they take in all things crooked. With their roots in the past and a focus firmly on the future, this brand is about as authentic as they come. They embody everything that urban culture stands for - rebellion, originality and self-expression. They've set a benchmark for all other streetwear brands to follow. And boy, did they set it high.

3. The Hundreds
'The Hundreds is Huge!' has to be the biggest understatement of the year. They describe themselves simply as 'the world's first social merchandising company'. Personally, I think they're being a little modest. Unless I was to write a dissertation on the subject, there simply isn't enough room to list these guy's achievements. Iconic clothing brand, online magazine (attracting more than a million visitors a month) and collaborations aside, The Hundreds stand out because of their dedication to their fan base and unfaltering passion for streetwear and urban culture. These guys are nothing short of legends.

4. Huf
Huf's popularity has skyrocketed over the last few years, and the brand has now rightfully taken its place among the streetwear elite. Huf's philosophy has always been about celebrating diversity - diversity of people and diversity of culture. Huf's founder, Keith Hufnagel, believes that the skateboarding community unites people from all walks of life. And through Huf he wanted to create a 'crossover' brand, which would appeal to this melting pot of skaters, artists, hip-hoppers, musicians, and photographers alike.  And that's exactly what he did. And then some.

5. Penfield
When you're looking for fashion and function, substance as well as style, Penfield are the brand to go for. Having been designing innovative, high-quality outerwear since 1975, you'd be hard pushed to find a brand with more experience or better credentials. Renowned for creating seasonal classics, that are as stylish as they are durable, Penfield's like a fine wine, it just keeps on getting better with age.

So, what exactly is streetwear, and how and where did it all begin? Well, the subject is actually one of considerable debate however, it's generally agreed that the origins of urban fashion as we recognise it today can be traced back to the late 1970s and early '80s in Southern California.

Skateboarding and surfing were enjoying a peak in popularity at the time, and a surfer by the name of Shawn Stussy*, was one of the first of a new brand of young, street-smart entrepreneurs. Inspired by a passion for surfing and the culture that surrounded it, Stussy was unsurprisingly, quickly seduced by the idea of designing and making personalised T-shirts for himself and his friends. He also took is hand to surfboard design, with great success, and it didn't take long for the label 'Stussy' to establish itself as the lead player in this new and emerging world of urban fashion.

Stussy provided a blueprint that countless other streetwear labels would later go on to follow. The idea was to create clothing that represented the surf, skate and punk sub-cultures, to which Stussy, and countless others at that time, belonged. They all embraced the punk do-it-yourself ethic, whose acts would create their own T-shirts and mix-tapes to give out to their fans.
This style of self-marketing was just as common in the hip-hop world, and as hip-hip began to grow in popularity and became more dominant in both the alternative and mainstream music scenes, many streetwear designers started experimenting with incorporating elements of hip-hop style into their lines. This was to prove hugely successful, and by the '90s would see streetwear go on to firmly establish itself as an extremely lucrative industry, both in the American and Europeon market.

Fast-forward to today and the nature of streetwear has evolved considerably. Although its philosophy remains the same, the way in which the brands market themselves has been, like so many things, completely revolutionised. This is largely due to the dawning of the digital age, but also reflects the ever-changing nature of streetwear culture itself.

Urban fashion has always been a direct product of its surroundings. And as those surroundings continue to change, urban fashion will change also. As the younger, digitally savvy generations continue to utilise all the tremendous advantages of technology, I think it's fair to say that exciting times lie ahead in the ever-evolving world of streetwear.

* Check out the awesome vid' below to get an insight from the man himself on what the streetwear business was like in the '80s.

The Hundreds started life somewhat humbly in 2003, as a blog and T-shirt line. Subsidised by a tiny $400 dollar investment, it's amazing to think that the company has now evolved into one of the most globally sought-after streetwear brands in history.
Having grown up on the sun-drenched streets of Southern California, Ben and Bobby Hundreds were exposed to an eclectic mix of subcultures. Punk, skateboarding, surfing and hip-hop struck an almost instantaneous chord with the two boys, and inspired a passion that would ultimately result in both becoming the proud owners of a multi-million dollar clothing brand, before turning the age of 30.

Unlike many streetwear brands, The Hundreds has stayed firmly in touch with its customer base. And even more unusually, Ben and Bobby are still majorly involved with the day-to-day running of the company. These boys have every excuse to just sit back and enjoy all the perks of the corporate lifestyle; but don't expect to find them up in the high-rise offices sipping Cristal champagne, oh no, you'll find them in the stores, answering the phones and sweeping the floors.
Ben and Bobby affectionately refer to their fans as 'The Kids', whose fierce loyalty to the brand is equalled only by the loyalty Ben and Bobby Hundreds show them in return. This mutual respect and dedication is bolstered by the fact that, through their clothing, they encourage their customer base to embrace individuality, and show that with a lot of hard work and dedication, any dream is achievable.

That's just a small part of what makes this brand truly special. The Hundreds isn't just a clothing brand; it's a lifestyle project, the world's first social merchandising company, and the ultimate rags to-riches story. The brand reflects the street-culture that Ben and Bobby continue to live and breathe - a culture that fuels their passions and provides the inspiration for every single thing that they do.

Unlike many other streetwear brands that claim to be 'down with the kids', it's clear that Ben and Bobby Hundreds really do care about their fans. It is this company ethos of 'people over product' that makes them truly unique in the world of streetwear and urban clothing.

The Hundreds clothing is distributed limitedly to only a select number of skating boutiques and streetwear merchants across the globe, so you won't find them just anywhere. But, if you're looking for a reliable UK-based distributor, try checking out online retailer, Street Casuals. They offer an extensive selection, ranging from snapback caps and T-shirts, right through to sweatshirts and coats, so you can get your hands on some awesome The Hundreds clothing, with minimal hassle.
Click the link below to check out their awesome 2013 Spring Lookbook!
http://thehundreds.com/lookbook/spring13/

"Believe in what you do and never give up your dreams, even through the worst of times. Learn from your mistakes and just keep it movin’." Nick 'Diamond' Tershay
Diamond Supply Co. need little in the way of introductions, being literally legends in the world of skateboarding and urban fashion. Since the company's inception in 1998, despite meteoric success, they have stayed remarkably true to their roots, which lie firmly in Californian skateboarding culture; and they continue to thrive and take inspiration from living, what they call, the 'Diamond Life'.  

The Diamond Supply Co. are renowned for creating cutting-edge and innovative fashion, sourcing inspiration from the global skateboarding community to which founder and creative director, Nick Tershay, holds a life-long membership. The company was borne out of his tenacious passion for skateboarding and urban fashion; and after more than 15 years' of trading, Tershay has lost none of that creative fire. So, it's perhaps unsurprising that what started out as a humble skateboarding hardware company, has now grown in to one of the most iconic and sought-after brands in streetwear history.
Nick Tershay, said in 2012 that he owes much of the company's success to the fact that they've managed to stay so in touch with their customer-base. It's a common pitfall that has seen many a streetwear brand stumble in the past; once a certain level of success is reached, the 'cash-machine' takes over and it becomes all too easy to lose sight of the ideals that inspired the brand in the first place.
However, Tershay was damned well certain that he wasn't going to make the same mistake, and so in 2006, the Hypebeast forums were born. This was Tershay's golden opportunity to talk directly to the people that mattered most - the kids that bought his products. This provided him with an insight that few people in his position had, and allowed the company to create a dialogue with their fans, a dialogue that continues to this day.
Fast-forward to 2013, and considering that the brand has had several collaborations with some of the biggest players in streetwear, is a favourite among celebrities including Jay Z and Lil' Wayne, and is renowned for having one of the most talented skateboarding teams in the world, it's difficult to pin-point their single biggest achievement. But, if pushed, I'd say it would have to be the creation of the Diamond "Tiffany" Dunk SB in 2005. Widely considered as the most sought-after shoe in Nike history, this was an absolute game-changer in the world of streetwear, and catapulted Diamond Supply Co. to a level of status and fame that most brands can only ever dream of. Long may their reign continue.
Visit http://www.diamondsupplyco.com/diamondlife/ to find out more about the company, or if you're looking for diamond supply UK, then check out Street Casuals, online UK suppliers of urban streetwear.