Blog
Baby Bikepacking in the Tatras
By Marion Shoote When I think about bikepacking trips, I think of travelling light, long days in the saddle, unknown destinations, random food stops and being at the mercy of the weather. So when we thought about trying to take our toddler son along with us, it would be fair to say I was a…
Read MoreMotivation for Winter Adventures
In the colder months of the year, it’s so tempting to get home, shut the curtains and curl up with a hot chocolate. There’s no reason why you can’t do this (it’s actually one of our favourite things), but getting outside first will make that transition from cold air on your face to warm toasty…
Read MoreTeam FINDRA go Paddleboarding
Over Summer, we asked you ‘what have you always wanted to try?‘. There were many ideas tabled at FINDRA HQ but after our ambassador, Jo Moseley, Paddleboarded the North, paddleboarding became our first new team activity! We immediately contacted Stand Up Paddleboard Scotland and booked in a Saturday morning session and opened it up to…
Read MoreSupporting the Next Generation of Cyclists
When brand ambassador, Dee Hollingsbee, approached us for coffee, cake and a chat, we couldn’t say no. We were even more excited to hear of her plans for a new initiative to give teenage girls a supportive and safe space to improve their riding skills. As a brand which started from being inspired by the…
Read MorePenny Zannikos: Snapshot of The Summer of 2019
As the temperature drops into autumn, we’re already reminiscing about our summer adventures and dreaming for next year. Our ambassador, Penny Zannikos, had an extremely eventful summer involving plenty of climbing, walking and one cute puppy. Grab a cuppa, and it’s over to Penny to tell us more… As summer turns bronze and autumn…
Read MoreBeyond The Wall
by Graeme Walker Motivation and mountains are inextricably linked, they both seem like a great idea at the time, but when the weather gets rough and the lower lip starts to tremble, it can be a little daunting. There are few things in the world that feel as good as taking yourself from the…
Read MoreFounding A Responsible Company
FINDRA launched to market in December 2014 and over the last 5 years we have grown from a one-person company (me) at the kitchen table to a pioneering outdoor clothing brand employing 8 people with growing sales and a loyal customer base. Before launching FINDRA in December 2014 I spent about 18 -24 months doing…
Read MoreAlex Feechan: How Biking & The Great Outdoors Saved My Soul
I have enjoyed spending time in the great outdoors since I was young, often heading off at weekends on little mini adventures, not that I knew that then. I was just a kid of the 70’s who got outdoors entertained themselves and headed home when hungry. This love of nature and being in the country…
Read MoreThe FINDRA Elephant Bike
If you’ve been to our Innerleithen shop it’s hard to miss our Elephant Bike, modelled below with Alex. Our bike is usually greeting people at our front door and displaying anything from bobble hats to local flyers or socks, but did you know that every Elephant Bike has a twin? “The story started a…
Read MoreOutdoor Adventures to Try Together
Sharing adventures with your partner or close friends can deepen a bond and create amazing memories. See each other at your best and your worst and strengthen your team. Making time to get outdoors with your other half might take some extra time planning and resources but it is always worthwhile. Here are our top…
Read MorePaddleboard the North: Jo Moseley on Adventuring In Your 50s!
Jo Moseley, our incredible brand ambassador, just completed her Paddleboard The North challenge which saw her paddleboard 162 miles from Liverpool on the English west coast to Goole on the east coast! She used the Leeds & Liverpool Canal and Aire & Calder Navigation and became the first woman to do so. Along the way…
Read MoreBooks We’re Reading This Summer
Members of Team FINDRA have been off on their holidays recently and they’ve all come back raving about the books they’ve read. Considering it’s nearly Book Lovers Day, we just had to share these with you! Read them by the beach, by the pool, in your back garden or on the sofa – it doesn’t…
Read MoreWhy Choose Wool?
Humans are the masters of invention, designing and innovating to find new solutions to old problems. But have you noticed that, in the end, we always revert back to nature’s solutions? With the oceans filling up with plastic microfibres, why would we put our trust in synthetic fibres for our clothing over natural ones?…
Read MoreFive podcasts to listen to this summer
Audio documentaries have been around a while, especially with platforms like Radio 4 and BBC World Service, but once the iPod was invented in the mid-2000s, the podcast market began to grow. Being able to listen to informative or entertaining audio shows on the go widened the market to a new generation of people who…
Read MoreWhat Have You Always Wanted To Try?
Our intrepid CEO, Alex Feechan, went off on her holidays earlier this month to enjoy some seriously deserved R&R. However, true to form she managed to still fit in some exciting new experiences! She managed a few days of rest, book reading and sunbathing but it wasn’t long before she saw the opportunity to try…
Read MoreAdventures Close to Home
With the popularity of Instagram ever increasing, it’s easy to think that you need to travel far and wide to have great adventures and get that perfect IG shot. Whilst we love a bit of foreign travel, at FINDRA we also support the concept of local everyday adventures. Those which you don’t have to travel…
Read MoreMerino Wool, in the summer … really?
When you love the outdoors and want to remain active at any time of the year regardless of the temperature, it’s crucial to dress appropriately and ensure your clothing is comfortable, adaptable and works hard for you. When you think of sunshine and warm days, you might not instantly reach for your merino, but actually,…
Read MoreWhy I Love to Ride – Helen Langridge
To celebrate National Bike Week, we asked the cyclists of Team FINDRA what it was that they loved the most about riding their bike and where that passion came from. Today we asked Helen, our social media coordinator and Edinburgh shop assistant, why she gets out on her bike. I learned to ride a…
Read MoreSustainability and Us
This year FINDRA supported three Scottish women taking part in the Homeward Bound Project. Now in its fourth year, Homeward Bound selects women from all over the world who are concerned with how we treat our planet and puts them through a year-long, state-of-the-art programme to develop their leadership and strategic capabilities. The programme culminates…
Read MoreTackling the Transmarocaine Tizi N’Trail
Our wonderful brand ambassador, Graham Kelly, recently spent three days out running in the Atlas Mountains. You can run or hike the Tizi N’Trail, and with only 150 competitors, it’s quite exclusive compared to other multi-day events such as the Marathon des Sables. We caught up with Graham upon his return and we’re in awe…
Read MoreWhat Motivates Me: Jo Moseley
With the lighter evenings on the way, we’ve asked each of our brand ambassadors where they get their motivation from. If you’ve struggled to get outside over winter, or even if you haven’t, we hope your motivation fire is fuelled with this mini-series blog. Today we’re with Jo Moseley, our everyday adventurer who loves to…
Read MoreMotherhood and the Outdoors
The outdoors has always been a big part of my life. Some of my earliest memories involve rampaging around on mountains and beaches, sometimes enthusiastically, sometimes rather reluctantly, mostly ending up wet and windswept but content. Those experiences helped to shape me – into someone who loves exploring, relishes a physical challenge, finds peace in…
Read MoreWhat Motivates Me: Julia Hobson
With the lighter evenings on the way, we’ve asked each of our brand ambassadors where they get their motivation from. If you’ve struggled to get outside over winter, or even if you haven’t, we hope your motivation fire is fuelled with this mini-series blog. Next up is our brand ambassador, Julia Hobson, a mountain bike…
Read MoreWhat Motivates Me: Tom Hill
With the lighter evenings on the way, we’ve asked each of our brand ambassadors where they get their motivation from. If you’ve struggled to get outside over winter, or even if you haven’t, we hope your motivation fire is fuelled with this mini-series blog. Today, we’re looking to our ambassador, Tom Hill, for some practical…
Read MoreWhat Motivates Me: Rich and Tom
With the lighter evenings on the way, we’ve asked each of our brand ambassadors where they get their motivation from. If you’ve struggled to get outside over winter, or even if you haven’t, we hope your motivation fire is fuelled with this mini-series blog. Today, we ask Rich and Tom Seipp, the father-son cycling duo.…
Read MoreInternational Women’s Day: Introducing Team FINDRA
Today is International Women’s Day and I feel it’s the perfect opportunity to highlight some amazing women that I work with every day, my team! FINDRA is a female-led team bringing together a variety of skill sets and personalities to make FINDRA the successful business it is today! We’re a small, close-knit group who continue…
Read MoreAlex’s Approach to Design
‘Designed in Scotland with adventure in mind, FINDRA is a clothing company built on a passion for outdoor and active lifestyles and an understanding of what people want from clothing to suit that’. One of FINDRA’s key brand values is INNOVATION. This applies to our approach to business and our design philosophy; innovation is…
Read MoreWhat Motivates Me: Ruth Allen
With the lighter evenings on the way, we’ve asked each of our brand ambassadors where they get their motivation from. If you’ve struggled to get outside over winter, or even if you haven’t, we hope your motivation fire is fuelled with this mini-series blog. Today, we’ve asked our new brand ambassador, Ruth Allen, who’s an…
Read MoreWhat Motivates Me: Graham Kelly
With the lighter evenings on the way, we’ve asked each of our brand ambassadors where they get their motivation from. If you’ve struggled to get outside over winter, or even if you haven’t, we hope your motivation fire is fuelled with this mini-series blog. First up, the inimitable Graham Kelly. I’m sitting at my desk…
Read MoreFor the Love of the Outdoors
You may have noticed among our brand ambassadors a mighty beard-adorned gentleman who takes incredible photographs which we sometimes include on our Instagram. Graham Kelly is an occasional mountain leader and trail running guide and we sat down with Graham to find out where his love of the outdoors comes from. The early days…
Read MoreNew Sports: Stand Up Paddleboarding
All the talk of New Year resolutions can detract from the joy of finding a new activity you end up loving to do. We’re chatting to FINDRA customers who’ve taken up a new sport and are thriving in it. Today, we chat to Sharon Griffin who’s taken up paddleboarding. Hey Sharon, great to meet…
Read MoreRunning blog: I don’t know how I’m still going!
Our Social Media and Marketing Co-ordinator, Helen, took up running in October 2018. She’s written a starting blog for us here, let’s catch up with how she’s doing! The last time I left you with a running update, I was just about to start running home from work at the FINDRA Stockbridge shop. It…
Read MoreRecovery Essentials and Tips
It’s one of the little ironies of life that by the time we truly appreciate our health and what our body is capable of on the trails, be that walking, running or cycling, we’re also becoming increasingly aware of its perceived limitations. Thankfully we don’t have to look far for reassurance that all is not…
Read MoreThe Value of Human Kindness
What a year 2018 has been! Whether your year has felt like you’ve been constantly hiking uphill, downhill or across a desert one thing is for sure: in all circumstances being kind to others benefits the world around you. At your lowest moments, kindness can be exactly what you need to lift your spirits and…
Read MoreCustomer of the month: Mandy Abbott
Our Customer of the Month feature is back again for December with Mandy Abbott. Meet Mandy, mum to two active teenagers. She juggles several jobs, reflexology, being an outdoor educator at primary school, and a gardener whilst studying herbology at the Edinburgh botanical gardens. She’s blessed to live by the sea and have two dogs…
Read MoreCustomer Adventure: Climbing the Via Ferrata, Italy
We love to hear about the adventures our customers embark upon. So when Vickie Morrison sent us a photo of the Italian Mountains, we just had to know more! Hey Vickie! Your adventure in the Dolomites looks exciting. Tell us more about the day you took this photo. This was my husband and mine’s third…
Read MoreShopping Local on Small Business Saturday
The beginning of December is a strange limbo time, much like the week between Boxing Day and New Years Eve. The Black Friday sales are over, and most people are waiting for Christmas… and the sales which come in the new year. Our founder, Alex, recently wrote a piece on why we don’t take part…
Read MoreCustomer of the month – Penny Zannikos
We love celebrating our customers, you’re all part of Team FINDRA. Our November customer of the month is Penny Zannikos. Hey Penny, thank you so much for chatting to us. We love what you do, but what sports or activities do you enjoy the most? It is impossible for me to choose just one here! …
Read MoreMy Journey Into Adventure
It’s almost inevitable that when having a conversation about the adventures that I’ve been on or am planning, the person I’m talking to will ask “how did you end up doing this?” It’s a very reasonable question to ask, and one I find myself asking other people regularly as well. I like to hear people’s…
Read MoreEveryday Adventure: The Art of Plogging
This year at Kendal Film Festival, FINDRA are hosting the Everyday Adventure Session. Before we head to Kendal, we chatted to Jo Moseley (@healthyhappy50) who’ll be taking part in the panel and is starting with FINDRA as a new brand ambassador. Jo, it’s so great to have you on board as a new ambassador for…
Read MoreRunning the OMM, 2018
Tussocks. I hate tussocks. Lumps of grass the size of a football, or a baby’s head, strewn across the otherwise featureless fellside. You can try and hop from the top of one to the next, but they are unstable and give under each footfall, sending you off in odd directions. Try and step around them,…
Read MoreRunning blog: The hardest part is starting.
A lot of people I speak to find it difficult to fit regular exercise into their routine and with rising costs in public and private modes of transport, active commuting is an avenue worth exploring if you’re able to. Even if it’s getting off the train a stop or two earlier and walking or running…
Read MoreActive recovery: cycling through depression.
Helen Langridge has been a frequent customer of FINDRA Clothing. We loved following her journey around the world, covering 30,000km in 17 months and when she got back, we asked her to describe one of the toughest moments. Both her and her husband were recovering from depression themselves and we find their story incredibly inspirational. …
Read MoreThe 7 Wonders of Merino
When you think about merino clothing most people think about warm cosy knits that you bring out in the depths of winter to keep you warm on those long cold dark days, and whilst that is true its also a little bit misleading as merino is a far more adaptable and all year round fibre.…
Read MoreWhy Independent Retailer month is worth celebrating
Every July Independent retail month comes around and, we really think that it’s worth discussing, celebrating and getting thoroughly behind not just because we, FINDRA, are most definitely an independent retailer but because we love the feeling that independent retailers bring to a high street, the buzz they bring to a town and the totally…
Read More5 reasons merino is perfect for the summer
When you think of sunshine and warm days, you might not instantly think to reach for your merino tops but, merino is perfect for the summertime, however hot it gets out there. Not just a winter staple, summer weight weaves of this wonder fabric will add versatility and style to your summer wardrobe. Here are 5…
Read MoreCustomer of the Month – Brenda Mitchell
It’s time for June’s customer of the month, this month we meet Brenda Mitchell. Cyclist, mother and Lawyer at Cycle Law Scotland, she makes the most of the stunning Tweed Valley and living with two gorgeous black labs. What are your favourite ways to get outside? Walking our two black labs in the forests…
Read MoreUK Summer Adventure Staycations
The summer holidays are upon us and it’s time to get away and enjoy some time with your loved ones. If you don’t fancy battling the holiday hoards at the airport, risking your delicate British skin in the foreign sunshine and trying to work out how much things cost with the ever-changing exchange rate, maybe…
Read MoreA (very) short guide to the Physical, Mental and Emotional Benefits of Yoga
To Celebrate International yoga day 2018, we asked our Yoga and Cycling ambassador Polly Clark what the benefits of yoga are and why, whatever stage of life you’re at, yoga will benefit you. For me practising yoga isn’t about the pursuit of physical perfection. Yes, it does keep my body toned and flexible, but…
Read MoreWhy I love to ride – Cat Worsey
To celebrate National Bike Week 2018 we asked the cyclists of Team FINDRA what it was that they loved the most about riding their bike and where that passion came from. Today we asked Cat, our marketing manager, why she gets out on her bike. I haven’t been riding as much as I was this time…
Read MoreWhy I love to ride – Dee Hollingsbee
To celebrate National Bike Week 2018 we asked the cyclists of Team FINDRA what it was that they loved the most about riding their bike and where that passion came from. Today, we asked our cycling mum ambassador Dee why it is she likes to ride her bike…. Its been a busy week since Cat asked…
Read MoreFINDRA’s Top 5 UK Mountain Bike Trails
Here at FINDRA, we love to ride our bikes. Whether the trails are wild or man-made there are so many tracks crisscrossing the UK all of them bringing their own unique pleasures. We all love our local trails best, they’re ours and we know their corners and climbs and where we need to brake before that tricky…
Read MoreWhy I love to ride – Alex Feechan
To celebrate National Bike Week 2018 we asked the cyclists of Team FINDRA what it was that they loved the most about riding their bike and where that passion came from. First up, we chat to our Founder and CEO, Alex Feechan. I can still remember to this day where and when I learned…
Read MoreThe Environmental Impact of the Fashion industry
World Environment Day 2018 is here and there’s a buzz in the air this year, it’s been a busy year and a year that more and more of us are becoming aware of our environmental impact. Our Government are starting to talk more seriously about single-use plastics which can only be a good thing and…
Read MoreWasting no time! Taking the new FINDRA menswear for a ride.
To celebrate the introduction of menswear to the FINDRA range, we invited Tom Hill, writer, photographer and adventurer, to join our team of ambassadors. Wasting no time, Tom took his FINDRA clothing out for a 200 km bike packing weekend ride in the lake district to raise money for cancer charities. Here’s how it went……
Read MoreEating intuitively for activity, great health and the planet
At FINDRA we know that being active and loving being outdoors in nature is a lifestyle choice. We know that feeling great in the outdoors (or anywhere for that matter) isn’t just about what you’re wearing, it’s a whole package including what you eat. We asked our friends at fitnaturally what advice they can…
Read MoreCustomer of the Month: Aileen Brand
This month we meet Edinburgh lass, Aileen Brand, a cyclist and lover of the outdoors. A fan of FINDRA since our very beginnings, Aileen has taken her FINDRA all over Scotland for both work and play. First and foremost I love almost anything that gets me outdoors, most people will associate me mainly with…
Read More5 Reasons we’re excited to welcome the springtime
Spring has arrived and the whole country is happy to welcome it into our lives. Whether you’ve been roasting in the heat waves of the south of the UK or you’re just jubilant to see the daffodils poking their heads up from the ground, so recently covered in snow, we’re here to celebrate spring and…
Read MoreFINDRA: Designed with purpose
With 3 and a half years of trading under our belt, team FINDRA are preparing to launch our new range of products in April. Alex explains to us the long and length nature of bringing a new product to the market. Why has it taken so long, you might well ask? Well lots of reason,…
Read MoreWhat’s in your bag for your next Mini Adventure?
Spring is here and time to get out and make the most of the beautiful days and longer evenings. Flowers are blooming and we’re all so happy to have the opportunity to get outside and get active again that we’re already planning where to go and what to take with us. We asked FINDRA ambassador,…
Read MoreWhat to have in your first aid kit
A first aid kit is so often neglected, we all think that it won’t ever happen to us and we risk heading out without one. Most of the time we’re right, it won’t happen to us but we might come across someone else who needs help along the way. What you need in your kit…
Read MoreTeam FINDRA goes Microadventuring
Microadventures are all about getting outside and fitting the maximum adventure into whatever time you have, squeezing every little bit of fun you can in around your day to day life. To help you get inspired, we asked some of the FINDRA ambassadors what they’d managed to squeeze into their free time. A 5-To-9 Adventure…
Read MoreMini -Enviro- Adventure to the Isle of Rum
This month at FINDRA we’re celebrating the mini-adventure, grabbing life by the horns and making the most of every moment that we have. Marion Shoote turned a weekend away on the Isle of Rum into both a mini adventure and an environmental win. The problem of plastic waste is one that has been on…
Read MoreHow to Find your Mini Adventure
At FINDRA, March is ‘mini adventure’ month, reminding us all that getting out and embracing the weekend, or an evening, cramming in as much exploration as you can in the time you have, is a great way to maximise your time and your happiness. We asked Jenny Tough, FINDRA ambassador as well as micro and mega adventurer, why…
Read More4 Fantastic Adventure Reads for World Book Day
March 1st is International Book Day. A day for kids to dress up as their favourite book character and celebrate the wondrous world of literature. But, after they’ve gone to bed, you can take some time to celebrate the written word yourself, see where it can take you and enjoy the excitement it can bring.…
Read MoreMotivate your Children to get Outside and Adventure
Getting your children outside and enjoying nature is a special experience, but it can be so difficult to motivate them and yourself to get in the park or the wilds to get some fresh air. We asked Bush-craft expert, survivalist and Scout Ambassador, Megan Hine, for some advice on how to make the most of the…
Read MorePeople, Vision, Detail and How to keep Motivated in Business
Since launching FINDRA over 3 years ago, Alex has often reflected on what motivates her. Launching a start-up business is such a roller coaster and being motivated is key to keeping going and getting through the tough times. When faced with big challenges she’s had to dig deep and remind herself of why she chose…
Read More5 Secrets to Workout Success
Staying motivated can be really difficult and it’s natural that dedication to exercise plans and schedules can slip a little as time passes. Here are 5 simple ways to keep you motivated, get you out the door and keep loving the feeling of exercise. 1/. SET YOURSELF ACHIEVABLE GOALS Who’s idea was this?…
Read MoreWhat Motivates Me: Marion Shoote
Ahead of her talk at FINDRA, Innerleithen on Wednesday 28th February, we asked bike-packing adventurer Marion Shoote what it is that inspires her to get outside and make the most of the day, even when she’d really rather stay inside. When the sun’s shining it’s easy to pull on my trainers or pull out my bike…
Read MoreFINDRA’s Favourite Recipes: Banana and Oat Pancakes
Are you feeling like a bit of a change from the normal crepe style pancakes with sugar and lemon? Do you fancy something healthy and lovely that can take all the fruit toppings and maple syrup that you can throw at it? With these delicious Banana and Oat pancakes, you’ll feel like you’re getting some…
Read More5 BOOKS TO MOTIVATE YOU OUT THE DOOR
It’s not always easy to just pack up your bags and head for the door, we read about inspiring adventures all the time and it’s easy to think that those adventures are beyond us. But what if we can push our horizons a little further afield? Set our sights a little further? The world is…
Read MoreJuicing For Energy
As we get older, our energy levels begin to diminish and we often find ourselves looking for external stimulants to give us the energy we crave. In the short term, energy drinks, caffeine and sugar certainly give us a boost, but it’s a false economy, putting strains on the body and depleting our energy levels in…
Read MoreYOGA STRETCHES TO KEEP YOU FEELING GREAT
Exercise is important and so is stretching, it keeps us mobile and feeling energized for the next time we get out. We asked our ambassador Polly Clark of Mountain Yoga Breaks for some yoga stretching advice. Getting outdoors and having adventures, either alone or with friends and family is a great way to boost energy levels, and…
Read MoreWHY MERINO MAKES THE BEST BASELAYER
Merino wool, wool from the sheep of the specialised merino sheep, is the best fabric for a base layer hands-down. Don’t just take our word for it though, here are some excellent reasons why merino base layers are the best. MERINO WON’T ITCH Wool can be an itchy fibre, especially when it’s directly against the skin. Merino…
Read MoreRedefining Health and How to Thrive
With the new year well and truly started, most of us are feeling a desire to feel healthier, fitter and just be better. Before her talk, Health and how to Thrive, at FINDRA on 24th January, we asked Katria Mather, founder of The Body Toolkit, to tell us what changes we can make to make…
Read MoreHow and Why to Layer
So why would be layer our clothes? Why not just put on the warmest comfiest jumper we can possibly find and head out for the hills. Although it’s tempting it’s a clothing tactic often regretted. When your body heat increases you’re left with the decision of cooking slowly inside your uber-fleece or walking around semi-naked…
Read MoreNo Christmas Opening hours? Are we crazy?
And just like that 2017 is almost behind us, a year for me that has been full to the brim with new challenges and undertakings both personally and professionally. It has often been said that ‘Entrepreneurs ‘ don’t take time to stop reflect and take stock of the journey they have been on or the…
Read More“Be Good to Yourself” Resolutions
New year traditions mean that we all feel a bit of pressure to make some changes in the New Year, start the year how we mean to carry on and all that good stuff. I often think that it’s not so much about resolutions as just getting halfway through December and realising that you have…
Read MoreGive yourself a break this new year
It’s so predictable, year after year the run-up to Christmas is frantic. Most of us crash full steam into the festive period having spent the days and weeks in the build-up rushing around, decorating our homes, buying gifts and vast amounts of food and alcohol! Generally speaking, we then spend the next week to…
Read More12 Bright Days – Why getting outside this winter is important
Emily Chappell, adventurer, long distance cyclist and lover of cold climates, tells us why staying active over the darker, colder months, can make us feel a whole lot better. I know I’m not the only one who has trouble leaving the house when the days are short and dark and the weather’s cold and…
Read MoreFINDRA’s Favourite Recipes: Orange Cardamon Christmas Truffles
We all know that Christmas is a time of plenty, where you begin to feel bogged down with the excesses of the time of year. Whether it’s too much turkey, a glass too many of wine or just leaving the chocolates within reach for too long, we can all start to feel a bit bogged…
Read MoreTEAM FINDRA CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS
So what’s your favorite Christmas Tradition? Maybe you don’t have one or maybe you have more than one! Christmas can mean different things to different people, and when we look back over the ages the history of the Christmas is wide and varied, have a look at this link on the history of the season, some interesting stuff…
Read MoreWhy merino is the perfect gift this Christmas
It can be hard to find the right gift for women, and men for that matter. We don’t want to give them something that will be confined to the back of the cupboard forever, we don’t want something that will not fit with their style or add clutter to their home. We most definitely don’t…
Read MoreTop 5 tips for riding in the Winter!
Whether you’re a mountain biker, a road cyclist or a cycle path cruiser, we all find it hard to get the motivation to get out in the winter when it’s cold and wet and the days are short. We asked FINDRA ambassador and Mountain Bike guide Julia Hobson for her tips on how to keep riding all through the…
Read MoreSwap Winter Blues for Winter Muse
Dark nights are upon us, dark mornings too! It’s easy to feel the motivation slipping away. We talked to Lucy Colquhoun, one of the country’s top ultra-distance runners and women’s record holder on the 95-mile West Highland Way race. Lucy is also the founder of Gutzi foods, savoury energy snacks for athletes. You know…
Read MoreChristmas – is it too early?
We all know that Christmas is starting earlier and earlier – who didn’t exclaim with surprise when they saw the first chocolate Santa on the shelf? Who didn’t roll their eyes when the first mince pie was spotted (and possibly photographed for Instagram) but, well, someone must be buying mince pies in Mid-October so maybe…
Read MoreCustomer of the Month: Vic Alker
This month we meet Vic Alker, a mountain biker, a planner of adventures and a competitor who’s in it for the good times – well shouldn’t we all be. It can be hard fitting mountain biking into a busy life, and I have to say I don’t always succeed. I have two active dogs whose…
Read MoreFINDRA & 5 things I learnt about mountain biking in Glentress…without riding a bike
THE FINDRA TEAM WELCOMED FRIEND OF THE BRAND, AUTHOR AND BLOGGER ADELE MITCHELL TO THE FINDRA STORE THIS OCTOBER. SHE TOOK SOME TIME TO WRITE A BLOG ABOUT HER VISIT TO US AND THE LOVELY TWEED VALLEY My trip to FINDRA Outdoor Apparel HQ and flagship store in Innerleithen to meet the team behind the…
Read MoreHow small environmental changes can make a big difference
We’re all starting to become more aware of our environmental impact, with recycling schemes promoted and constant reminders on tv (who’s seen the tear-jerking pieces at the end of David Attenborough documentaries?). We’re all responsible for what we leave our children. Marine Litter in Scotland. Surfers against Sewage campaign to clean our beaches Here are…
Read More5 Ways to Turn a “Failure” into an Amazing Adventure
Anna Blackwell, a lady not afraid of a challenge, faced a different kind of challenge on a recent trip to Arctic Norway. Something as mundane as luggage not appearing after a flight can throw a spanner in the works and plans need to be altered on the go. We asked Anna how she dealt with adversity and…
Read MoreCustomer of the Month: Sarah Shaw
We’re continuing our regular ‘Customer of the Month’ slot with Sarah, she takes time out from her very busy schedule to tell us a bit about her life and how a love or cycling has changed her outlook. Over to you Sarah I’m Sarah, Compliance Director by day, Owner of Garage Bikes by night and…
Read MoreMerino – Natures Wonder Fibre
Humans are the masters of invention, designing and innovating to find new solutions to old problems. But have you noticed that, in the end, we always revert back to natures solutions? No man-made foods compete with what nature can provide and more and more new drugs are being derived from nature. So, why would we…
Read MoreWant mud, skinny tyres, gravel roads, mad fun – meet gravel biking
Grinduro is a race concept straight out of the sunshine of California, and it landed crash bang onto the Isle of Arran, 7800 km and a world away. The parched roads and sunshine of the west coast of the US gave way to the lush landscapes and rolling hills of the west coast of Scotland…
Read MoreWhat’s this Empowerment all about then?
Here at FINDRA, we feel pretty empowered, but there have been lady lumps along the way. We asked our friend Heather Graham of the ‘How Dare She?‘ project what empowerment really means, and what it’s going to achieve. Are the words ‘female’ and ‘power’, contradictory? Firstly, ‘power’ is considered by many women to be a masculine description…
Read More“She needed a hero…” A 26 mile journey of empowerment
FINDRA is about women being empowered to take on the challenge, to go forth and conquer the world whatever stands in your way. We meet Fiona MacDonald, cancer survivor and newly motivated walker, on her journey from diagnosis to finishing the MacMillan Cancer Mighty Hike. Check out the ‘Empowerment’ pants on the outside – superhero style! My journey…
Read MoreThe Great Family Summer Cycling Dilemma
As the summer holidays draw to a close, our FINDRA Ambassador Kim Rand takes a moment to reflect on the last 6 weeks. When the kids are off school it makes a difference to everyone, whether it’s juggling child care, negotiating leisure time with your partner or just seeing the price of flights quadruple, we all have…
Read MoreTop 5 European Adventure Destinations: Julia Hobson
These days, Mountain Biking has become my main sport, and indeed my job, but it hasn’t always been so. I’ve been rock climbing, mountaineering, skiing, ski-touring, wild swimming and running in the mountains for as long as I have been riding. Basically, anything that allows me to have my own little adventures in beautiful mountainous places.…
Read MoreCustomer of the Month: Phoebe Montgomery
Hi, my name is Phoebe and I am 29 years old, I live with my rescue Staffie, Olly. I found Olly, along with 14 other puppies in a bin where someone had dumped them. I chose to keep Olly because he wasn’t breathing when I found him, our bond was growing stronger every day and…
Read More5 things that make summer awesome: Anna McGorum
Who doesn’t love the Summer Holidays? Over a month of action packed days, ‘stay up as late as you want’ evenings, shorts and t-shirt weather (if the Scottish weather is in a good mood) and, of course, no school! It’s everything anyone ever wanted, all in one holiday! But, there are some things that make…
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