in order to start my story I need to take you back in time I need to take you
take you back in time I need to take you
take you back in time I need to take you back to nineteen fifty to a place called
back to nineteen fifty to a place called
back to nineteen fifty to a place called the cold dog Libya excuse my
the cold dog Libya excuse my
the cold dog Libya excuse my pronunciation a mountain pass in the
pronunciation a mountain pass in the
pronunciation a mountain pass in the French Alps home to a grueling stage at
French Alps home to a grueling stage at
French Alps home to a grueling stage at the Tour de France bike race and home to
the Tour de France bike race and home to
the Tour de France bike race and home to an iconic moment in sport now I’d like
an iconic moment in sport now I’d like
an iconic moment in sport now I’d like you to meet fausto coppi and Gino Batali
you to meet fausto coppi and Gino Batali
you to meet fausto coppi and Gino Batali two legendary Italian road cyclists and
two legendary Italian road cyclists and
two legendary Italian road cyclists and they had a fierce rivalry that spanned
they had a fierce rivalry that spanned
they had a fierce rivalry that spanned well over a decade here they are
well over a decade here they are
well over a decade here they are captured in the heat of battle during
captured in the heat of battle during
captured in the heat of battle during that epic 20 kilometer hill climb but
that epic 20 kilometer hill climb but
that epic 20 kilometer hill climb but this this photograph captures something
this this photograph captures something
this this photograph captures something more than the race it captures something
more than the race it captures something
more than the race it captures something more poignant it captures a rare moment
more poignant it captures a rare moment
more poignant it captures a rare moment where two fierce rivals were united
where two fierce rivals were united
where two fierce rivals were united united by a simple gesture the passing
united by a simple gesture the passing
united by a simple gesture the passing of a water bottle and that water bottle
of a water bottle and that water bottle
of a water bottle and that water bottle came to symbolize not just their
came to symbolize not just their
came to symbolize not just their intimate rivalry but also their
intimate rivalry but also their
intimate rivalry but also their friendship and their respect for one
friendship and their respect for one
friendship and their respect for one another and it was this photograph that
another and it was this photograph that
another and it was this photograph that got me hooked on the golden era of
got me hooked on the golden era of
got me hooked on the golden era of cycling and drew my attention to the
cycling and drew my attention to the
cycling and drew my attention to the humble bicycle bottle now back in the
humble bicycle bottle now back in the
humble bicycle bottle now back in the day this very simple metal flask would
day this very simple metal flask would
day this very simple metal flask would have been filled with milk and sugar for
have been filled with milk and sugar for
have been filled with milk and sugar for energy an early version of a redbull
energy an early version of a redbull
energy an early version of a redbull sometimes it would have been filled with
sometimes it would have been filled with
sometimes it would have been filled with wine as you can see here the performance
wine as you can see here the performance
wine as you can see here the performance enhancer of the day and sometimes it
enhancer of the day and sometimes it
enhancer of the day and sometimes it would have been followed by a
would have been followed by a
would have been followed by a celebratory cigarette
love this picture so I was really
love this picture so I was really intrigued by this this weird and wacky
intrigued by this this weird and wacky
intrigued by this this weird and wacky world of cycling the rivalries the races
world of cycling the rivalries the races
world of cycling the rivalries the races the characters the camaraderie so I
the characters the camaraderie so I
the characters the camaraderie so I decided to immerse myself in it a little
decided to immerse myself in it a little
decided to immerse myself in it a little more and i entered a nostalgic new world
more and i entered a nostalgic new world
more and i entered a nostalgic new world i started to attend vintage bike
i started to attend vintage bike
i started to attend vintage bike festivals and bike rates races I started
festivals and bike rates races I started
festivals and bike rates races I started to document my newfound obsession with
to document my newfound obsession with
to document my newfound obsession with the bottle all different shapes and
the bottle all different shapes and
the bottle all different shapes and sizes or with different owners all who
sizes or with different owners all who
sizes or with different owners all who had a different story to tell and around
had a different story to tell and around
had a different story to tell and around this time I started to dress very very
this time I started to dress very very
this time I started to dress very very strangely as well so this is me actually
strangely as well so this is me actually
strangely as well so this is me actually taking part in a bike ride called
taking part in a bike ride called
taking part in a bike ride called larocca it’s a hundred miles and you do
larocca it’s a hundred miles and you do
larocca it’s a hundred miles and you do it on a heavy vintage steel bike and you
it on a heavy vintage steel bike and you
it on a heavy vintage steel bike and you do it wearing questionable period
do it wearing questionable period
do it wearing questionable period clothing this actually took place in
clothing this actually took place in
clothing this actually took place in California and if you haven’t ever
California and if you haven’t ever
California and if you haven’t ever ridden 100 miles in 100 degree heat in a
ridden 100 miles in 100 degree heat in a
ridden 100 miles in 100 degree heat in a pair of very thick wool shorts I really
pair of very thick wool shorts I really
pair of very thick wool shorts I really wouldn’t recommend it but I noticed
wouldn’t recommend it but I noticed
wouldn’t recommend it but I noticed something about my my fellow cyclists
something about my my fellow cyclists
something about my my fellow cyclists during these events and that was a
during these events and that was a
during these events and that was a shared obsession they shared my my
shared obsession they shared my my
shared obsession they shared my my passion for this most simple of products
passion for this most simple of products
passion for this most simple of products I noticed a couple of things I noticed
I noticed a couple of things I noticed
I noticed a couple of things I noticed that they were going onto eBay and they
that they were going onto eBay and they
that they were going onto eBay and they were spending hundreds of pounds on
were spending hundreds of pounds on
were spending hundreds of pounds on originals from the 1940s the 1950s
originals from the 1940s the 1950s
originals from the 1940s the 1950s or they were going to great lengths and
or they were going to great lengths and
or they were going to great lengths and getting very creative in turning a new
getting very creative in turning a new
getting very creative in turning a new bottle into an old bottle as you can see
bottle into an old bottle as you can see
bottle into an old bottle as you can see here this guy had garden wine cork and
here this guy had garden wine cork and
here this guy had garden wine cork and an industrial sander but no one was
an industrial sander but no one was
an industrial sander but no one was remaking them in the spirit of the
remaking them in the spirit of the
remaking them in the spirit of the originals and this is what intrigued me
originals and this is what intrigued me
originals and this is what intrigued me so I enlisted the help of a friend and
so I enlisted the help of a friend and
so I enlisted the help of a friend and we began to trace the roots of some of
we began to trace the roots of some of
we began to trace the roots of some of the original bottle makers from the 40s
the original bottle makers from the 40s
the original bottle makers from the 40s and there was one one bottle and one
and there was one one bottle and one
and there was one one bottle and one company in particular that we were drawn
company in particular that we were drawn
company in particular that we were drawn to it was made in England up in
to it was made in England up in
to it was made in England up in Birmingham it existed in the late 1940s
Birmingham it existed in the late 1940s
Birmingham it existed in the late 1940s faded out in the early 50s we assume
faded out in the early 50s we assume
faded out in the early 50s we assume when plastic bottles became popular in
when plastic bottles became popular in
when plastic bottles became popular in my opinion it was the most elegant of
my opinion it was the most elegant of
my opinion it was the most elegant of the designs the most beautiful and it
the designs the most beautiful and it
the designs the most beautiful and it was deep bottle that featured in all
was deep bottle that featured in all
was deep bottle that featured in all those black-and-white photographs the
those black-and-white photographs the
those black-and-white photographs the company I’m talking about the bottle I’m
company I’m talking about the bottle I’m
company I’m talking about the bottle I’m talking about is called chloral it might
talking about is called chloral it might
talking about is called chloral it might not be a name that anyone here is
not be a name that anyone here is
not be a name that anyone here is familiar with but it has something of a
familiar with but it has something of a
familiar with but it has something of a cult following within cycling and our
cult following within cycling and our
cult following within cycling and our adventure took us from the British
adventure took us from the British
adventure took us from the British Library to Companies House and we
Library to Companies House and we
Library to Companies House and we couldn’t trace any lines of ownership
couldn’t trace any lines of ownership
couldn’t trace any lines of ownership and we spend over a year trying and we
and we spend over a year trying and we
and we spend over a year trying and we decided to take a leap of faith and we
decided to take a leap of faith and we
decided to take a leap of faith and we bought chloral that sounds much grander
bought chloral that sounds much grander
bought chloral that sounds much grander than it is in reality it involved buying
than it is in reality it involved buying
than it is in reality it involved buying the name the trademark the intellectual
the name the trademark the intellectual
the name the trademark the intellectual property but in effect we became
property but in effect we became
property but in effect we became custodians of this great brand and then
custodians of this great brand and then
custodians of this great brand and then we had to decide what do we do next what
we had to decide what do we do next what
we had to decide what do we do next what do we want the new chloral to be what do
do we want the new chloral to be what do
do we want the new chloral to be what do we want it to stand for so we set about
we want it to stand for so we set about
we want it to stand for so we set about defining our purpose we knew that we
defining our purpose we knew that we
defining our purpose we knew that we didn’t want to make another replica or a
didn’t want to make another replica or a
didn’t want to make another replica or a souvenir they were already out there we
souvenir they were already out there we
souvenir they were already out there we wanted to make a bottle that functioned
wanted to make a bottle that functioned
wanted to make a bottle that functioned but was as faithful in design as the
but was as faithful in design as the
but was as faithful in design as the original and we knew that we wanted it
original and we knew that we wanted it
original and we knew that we wanted it to stand for something more a purpose a
to stand for something more a purpose a
to stand for something more a purpose a cause and for us the obvious choice was
cause and for us the obvious choice was
cause and for us the obvious choice was the issue of plastic pollution for those
the issue of plastic pollution for those
the issue of plastic pollution for those that don’t know eight million tons of
that don’t know eight million tons of
that don’t know eight million tons of plastic are discarded every year around
plastic are discarded every year around
plastic are discarded every year around the world
the world
the world polluting land rivers oceans that’s
polluting land rivers oceans that’s
polluting land rivers oceans that’s enough plastic to circle the Earth four
enough plastic to circle the Earth four
enough plastic to circle the Earth four times and is a huge amount of over
times and is a huge amount of over
times and is a huge amount of over consumption and a tiny fraction of
consumption and a tiny fraction of
consumption and a tiny fraction of recycling so as well as being advocates
recycling so as well as being advocates
recycling so as well as being advocates for this cause we committed to
for this cause we committed to
for this cause we committed to eliminating all plastic not just from
eliminating all plastic not just from
eliminating all plastic not just from the product itself but the packaging as
the product itself but the packaging as
the product itself but the packaging as well so no plastic washers no plastic
well so no plastic washers no plastic
well so no plastic washers no plastic linings no plastic bags and I want
linings no plastic bags and I want
linings no plastic bags and I want chloral or be only in a small way to
chloral or be only in a small way to
chloral or be only in a small way to really help address this issue now as
really help address this issue now as
really help address this issue now as well as wanting the bottle to live
well as wanting the bottle to live
well as wanting the bottle to live forever we needed it to function so we
forever we needed it to function so we
forever we needed it to function so we kind of moved into the the design phase
kind of moved into the the design phase
kind of moved into the the design phase of our project we started to draw and
of our project we started to draw and
of our project we started to draw and sketch and we started to do
sketch and we started to do
sketch and we started to do computer-animated diagrams we even did a
computer-animated diagrams we even did a
computer-animated diagrams we even did a 3d printed prototype at one stage and we
3d printed prototype at one stage and we
3d printed prototype at one stage and we were really exploring the upgrades that
were really exploring the upgrades that
were really exploring the upgrades that we could make and we decided on three
we could make and we decided on three
we could make and we decided on three first of all we wanted to upgrade the
first of all we wanted to upgrade the
first of all we wanted to upgrade the material from aluminium that would have
material from aluminium that would have
material from aluminium that would have been used in the past to a food-grade
been used in the past to a food-grade
been used in the past to a food-grade stainless steel which would be
stainless steel which would be
stainless steel which would be considered much more health conscious
considered much more health conscious
considered much more health conscious for today second we wanted to do two
for today second we wanted to do two
for today second we wanted to do two things that almost contradicted each
things that almost contradicted each
things that almost contradicted each other one we wanted to make it lighter
other one we wanted to make it lighter
other one we wanted to make it lighter but at the same time we wanted to add
but at the same time we wanted to add
but at the same time we wanted to add installation we wanted it to be able to
installation we wanted it to be able to
installation we wanted it to be able to keep liquids hot as well as cold and
keep liquids hot as well as cold and
keep liquids hot as well as cold and then the last one was we tweaked the
then the last one was we tweaked the
then the last one was we tweaked the dimensions the specification so that it
dimensions the specification so that it
dimensions the specification so that it would fit onto every bike within every
would fit onto every bike within every
would fit onto every bike within every bottle cage and not require any special
bottle cage and not require any special
bottle cage and not require any special fitting that the original would have
fitting that the original would have
fitting that the original would have needed so next phase how do we move from
needed so next phase how do we move from
needed so next phase how do we move from a design project to a real product how
a design project to a real product how
a design project to a real product how do we make this a reality so we became
do we make this a reality so we became
do we make this a reality so we became experts in a process called steel
experts in a process called steel
experts in a process called steel spinning which is the process used to
spinning which is the process used to
spinning which is the process used to form metal bottles and we also became
form metal bottles and we also became
form metal bottles and we also became experts in receiving rejection letters
experts in receiving rejection letters
experts in receiving rejection letters from factories UK Europe Asia another
from factories UK Europe Asia another
from factories UK Europe Asia another year when passed of rejection and they
year when passed of rejection and they
year when passed of rejection and they all said the same thing in terms of too
all said the same thing in terms of too
all said the same thing in terms of too complicated not enough volume too
complicated not enough volume too
complicated not enough volume too expensive
expensive
expensive but there was one ray of light one
but there was one ray of light one
but there was one ray of light one factory entertained the idea and they
factory entertained the idea and they
factory entertained the idea and they gave us a costing albeit an astronomical
gave us a costing albeit an astronomical
gave us a costing albeit an astronomical one but really it was our only choice
one but really it was our only choice
one but really it was our only choice we’d been a long time looking for it for
we’d been a long time looking for it for
we’d been a long time looking for it for a partner we took that calculation and
a partner we took that calculation and
a partner we took that calculation and that that costing and we decided to set
that that costing and we decided to set
that that costing and we decided to set about trying to raise the necessary
about trying to raise the necessary
about trying to raise the necessary funds to move into production so we
funds to move into production so we
funds to move into production so we launched a crowdfunding campaign on
launched a crowdfunding campaign on
launched a crowdfunding campaign on kickstarter that i’m sure everyone’s
kickstarter that i’m sure everyone’s
kickstarter that i’m sure everyone’s familiar with and it went really well to
familiar with and it went really well to
familiar with and it went really well to start with it got lots of attention lots
start with it got lots of attention lots
start with it got lots of attention lots of people wrote about it particularly
of people wrote about it particularly
of people wrote about it particularly within the cycling world that you’d
within the cycling world that you’d
within the cycling world that you’d expect but also it started to pop up in
expect but also it started to pop up in
expect but also it started to pop up in design homeware & fashion even even g GQ
design homeware & fashion even even g GQ
design homeware & fashion even even g GQ magazine at one point which was really
magazine at one point which was really
magazine at one point which was really cool a particular highlight for me as a
cool a particular highlight for me as a
cool a particular highlight for me as a sports fan and a cycling fan we’re
sports fan and a cycling fan we’re
sports fan and a cycling fan we’re seeing some professional cyclists hear
seeing some professional cyclists hear
seeing some professional cyclists hear about the project and throw their way of
about the project and throw their way of
about the project and throw their way of support behind the project and this was
support behind the project and this was
support behind the project and this was a real favourite from the british
a real favourite from the british
a real favourite from the british cyclist victoria pendleton on twitter
cyclist victoria pendleton on twitter
cyclist victoria pendleton on twitter but alas we fell short we didn’t reach
but alas we fell short we didn’t reach
but alas we fell short we didn’t reach our target and we proved out a couple of
our target and we proved out a couple of
our target and we proved out a couple of theories one was the pricing was too
theories one was the pricing was too
theories one was the pricing was too expensive and overall our our target our
expensive and overall our our target our
expensive and overall our our target our funding target was just too ambitious
funding target was just too ambitious
funding target was just too ambitious but huge amount of awareness and it felt
but huge amount of awareness and it felt
but huge amount of awareness and it felt like there was a huge amount of goodwill
like there was a huge amount of goodwill
like there was a huge amount of goodwill from the cerney from the cycling
from the cerney from the cycling
from the cerney from the cycling community to see us get this bottle made
and then something really cool started
and then something really cool started to happen before we had too long to
to happen before we had too long to
to happen before we had too long to wallow in our Kickstarter failure people
wallow in our Kickstarter failure people
wallow in our Kickstarter failure people who had heard about the project started
who had heard about the project started
who had heard about the project started to contact us we got calls in emails
to contact us we got calls in emails
to contact us we got calls in emails from people that just wanted to be part
from people that just wanted to be part
from people that just wanted to be part of our adventure wanted to help us make
of our adventure wanted to help us make
of our adventure wanted to help us make it a reality retailers factories and
it a reality retailers factories and
it a reality retailers factories and brands came to us asked how they could
brands came to us asked how they could
brands came to us asked how they could help one brand in particular came to us
help one brand in particular came to us
help one brand in particular came to us and said let’s make this bottle together
and said let’s make this bottle together
and said let’s make this bottle together let’s do it in partnership and this at
let’s do it in partnership and this at
let’s do it in partnership and this at this point this was like a dream come
this point this was like a dream come
this point this was like a dream come true a really prestigious brand very
true a really prestigious brand very
true a really prestigious brand very exciting we moved into the design phase
exciting we moved into the design phase
exciting we moved into the design phase and we started to kind of work together
and we started to kind of work together
and we started to kind of work together share our thoughts and ideas
share our thoughts and ideas
share our thoughts and ideas is it was all going quite swimmingly
is it was all going quite swimmingly
is it was all going quite swimmingly until the final design came back and our
until the final design came back and our
until the final design came back and our name had been completely removed from
name had been completely removed from
name had been completely removed from the product and we had a I guess a rude
the product and we had a I guess a rude
the product and we had a I guess a rude awakening at this stage and we had to
awakening at this stage and we had to
awakening at this stage and we had to remind ourselves why we got into this
remind ourselves why we got into this
remind ourselves why we got into this project in the first place and it was
project in the first place and it was
project in the first place and it was for simple reasons it was to tell the
for simple reasons it was to tell the
for simple reasons it was to tell the chloral story it was to make the bottle
chloral story it was to make the bottle
chloral story it was to make the bottle better than it was before and it was to
better than it was before and it was to
better than it was before and it was to have it serve a purpose and we realized
have it serve a purpose and we realized
have it serve a purpose and we realized that that wasn’t going to be possible in
that that wasn’t going to be possible in
that that wasn’t going to be possible in partnership with somebody else so we
partnership with somebody else so we
partnership with somebody else so we decided to break away and follow our own
decided to break away and follow our own
decided to break away and follow our own path a really difficult decision to make
path a really difficult decision to make
path a really difficult decision to make because like I said it was a prestigious
because like I said it was a prestigious
because like I said it was a prestigious brand and it was the only order that we
brand and it was the only order that we
brand and it was the only order that we had on the table but it felt like it
had on the table but it felt like it
had on the table but it felt like it wasn’t the right step for us and then
wasn’t the right step for us and then
wasn’t the right step for us and then came a tipping point so three things
came a tipping point so three things
came a tipping point so three things happened in kind of short succession
happened in kind of short succession
happened in kind of short succession around the same time that we decided to
around the same time that we decided to
around the same time that we decided to go our own way first people started to
go our own way first people started to
go our own way first people started to pre-order the bottle from us on our own
pre-order the bottle from us on our own
pre-order the bottle from us on our own website an amazing factory reached out
website an amazing factory reached out
website an amazing factory reached out to us a specialist in stainless steel
to us a specialist in stainless steel
to us a specialist in stainless steel manufacture and they said that they
manufacture and they said that they
manufacture and they said that they would be flexible with us they would
would be flexible with us they would
would be flexible with us they would kind of relax their usual terms and
kind of relax their usual terms and
kind of relax their usual terms and commitments to help make it a reality
commitments to help make it a reality
commitments to help make it a reality and then individuals within the cycling
and then individuals within the cycling
and then individuals within the cycling world but also friends and family all
world but also friends and family all
world but also friends and family all started to contribute the necessary
started to contribute the necessary
started to contribute the necessary funds that we could use to pay for
funds that we could use to pay for
funds that we could use to pay for tooling and pay for the first run of
tooling and pay for the first run of
tooling and pay for the first run of bottles so that brings us up to date
bottles so that brings us up to date
bottles so that brings us up to date this is spans five years as of three
this is spans five years as of three
this is spans five years as of three weeks ago I’m very pleased to be able to
weeks ago I’m very pleased to be able to
weeks ago I’m very pleased to be able to say that we are actually now making the
say that we are actually now making the
say that we are actually now making the bottles they’re in production 3,000
bottles they’re in production 3,000
bottles they’re in production 3,000 bottles to be precise coming to a store
bottles to be precise coming to a store
bottles to be precise coming to a store near you soon and it’s been it’s been an
near you soon and it’s been it’s been an
near you soon and it’s been it’s been an amazing journey it’s definitely been
amazing journey it’s definitely been
amazing journey it’s definitely been more of a hill climb than a sprint but
more of a hill climb than a sprint but
more of a hill climb than a sprint but we’ve learned a lot along the way and I
we’ve learned a lot along the way and I
we’ve learned a lot along the way and I do think the hardship will be worth it i
do think the hardship will be worth it i
do think the hardship will be worth it i think the finished product will make
think the finished product will make
think the finished product will make both fausto and gino proud and rather
both fausto and gino proud and rather
both fausto and gino proud and rather fittingly next year is the 70th
fittingly next year is the 70th
fittingly next year is the 70th anniversary but the original color
anniversary but the original color
anniversary but the original color company and I can’t think of a better
company and I can’t think of a better
company and I can’t think of a better time to put it back where it belongs
time to put it back where it belongs
time to put it back where it belongs which is back on the bicycle thank you
which is back on the bicycle thank you
which is back on the bicycle thank you very much
very much
very much [Applause]
”
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