by Thomas Spronk | Mar 14, 2026 | News
If there’s one thing—besides bikes—that binds the Killat Collective, it is probably our deep love for coffee. Nothing beats waking up early, going out for a hike, trail run, or ride, and that first coffee after. Caffeinated rides have saved our days countless times, and when we are not able to ride or run due to whatever, our morning coffee is probably the next best thing.
Try asking the team about their favorite beans and ways of brewing and you’ll get all different answers (the same goes for their bike preferences or favorite Killat bag). I guess that’s what they call complementary.
Early Morning Rides and Swartberg Pass Adventures
Back in 2021, we were still figuring out the next steps for Killat. We had our first fleet of Mercer bikes on the road, and our range of bags was still quite new. We decided to plan a trip to Calitzdorp to ride the Swartberg Pass and its surroundings, hanging out with our family and friends while also taking the time to create some content and think about the future, before we parted ways again.
Early rides meant a 5am curfew to wake up and head out on time, something I was not quite used to since we were figuring out sleep patterns while travelling with a toddler. Needless to say, I was pleasantly surprised by the fact that Ronald brought his pro coffee machine all the way from Jo’burg, allowing us to get some shots in before the trails.
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Crossroads
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Swartberg Pass
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Calitzdorp bike check
Connecting in Cape Town
A couple of weeks later, we had dedicated our time to organizing the Bicycle Film Festival in Cape Town, hailing from our temporary base in Sea Point. I remember waking up to the sound of Dane grinding his Comandante in our condo before we would jump on our bikes to head out and do a round of posters. This reminded me of how we became friends in the first place, riding our bikes up and down Suikerbossie before work while finishing off with a coffee at our favorite seaside spot. Connecting on the bike and over coffee.
The Limited-Edition Killat x Bluebird Collection
Fast forward to 2026. Some coffee stops have become vendors, like our friends at The Village Hub and Die Koffieman. We are all still crazy about coffee in our way. When friend of the collective and Killat lead designer Pete approached us with the idea of working together with Bluebird Coffee Roastery, we did not have to think about it; it was a done deal.
Based in Howick, Bluebird Coffee Roastery is a highly respected, award-winning specialty coffee roaster from South Africa. The project was started by Dario Scilipoti as a passion project that grew from home-brewing to home-roasting, and eventually into an international operation. Their quality-first approach, the 100% specialty vs. mass production focus: we could go on about how our values are the same.
We’re very proud to release the one-off edition Killat x Bluebird collaboration, featuring two versions of our signature Wax Moon hip and camera bag alongside four versions of our premium cotton caps. The design is based on the different Bluebird coffee flavours. The best part? We also got our own limited-edition blend which you can order the bundle via our site, directly via Bluebird, or in their shop in KZN.
Stock is very limited, so don’t wait too long to pick your favorite color.
+ Shop the bundle
+ Get the Wax Moon
+ Get the cotton cap
Killat x Bluebird
Creative direction and production: Pete Reynolds , Ronald Jacobs, Dane Zijlstra
A massive thanks to Pete and the Bluebird team-Dario and Katie- for making this happen.
Words by: Thomas Spronk
by Thomas Spronk | Apr 9, 2025 | Events, News
There is nothing like a good old alleycat race. Whether it’s the anticipating excitement when doing the organizational part, getting prizes and setting out the routes, or just taking part in it, it’s always a special vibe. According to Wikipedia, the first race to be called an ‘alleycat’ was held in Toronto on 30 October 1989 and continued, in its original form, around Halloween and Valentine’s Day for the following five years.
Alleycats give you a nice insight into what a local scene is about. Whether it’s a more fun and friendly variant or an extreme sufferfest, we never stumbled upon one lacking creativity nor competition. Back in 2022, we organized one ourselves as part of the Bicycle Film Festival in Cape Town and we were amazed by how much fun it is to host. Since then, our bikes have been taking part in some around the globe and we always try to support these community-building, grassroots races with prizes when asked. Most alleycats—for example, the ones hosted by Cape Town Rat Race or BXL in Brussels—are nice get-togethers and doable for all riders, whether you’re into fixed or geared bike racing. But there’s always a level up.
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Bikes at the start of the Cape Town Rat Race
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Podium ceremonies
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Zynn finishing his Cape Town Rat Race
One of the more stand-out ones we have been supporting since 2024 is Damn 24—a 24-hour endurance bike race spanning the distance between Amsterdam and Rotterdam. The objective of the race is to cover as many kilometers as possible within 24 hours. The next edition of the race kicks off on June 28, 2025, at noon (12:00 PM) in Amsterdam at TwoTone. It concludes 24 hours later with an awards ceremony and celebration at Rotterdam’s coolest cycling store Bikes and Records.
Crowds gather for the Damn24 at Bikes & Records in Rotterdam
We caught up with race organizer Carlos Meneses, current organizer/race director/all-around person in charge of Damn 24, to get to know a little more about this one-off event.
“My general goal is to make all participants suffer, both physically and mentally, as my own personal rides tend to have a similar philosophy.”
Skate mentality and underground cycling culture
“Cycling was never particularly in my background. I really started around 6–7 years ago. Before this, my background and knowledge were primarily in skating, particularly the longboarding part of it. My attitude towards cycling also comes from the mentality of a skater. Speaker strapped to handlebars, riding in cut-off shirts and sneakers, and a general disdain for the “taking themselves way too seriously” side of cycling. By pure coincidence, the YouTube algorithm led me to alleycat videos. Not too long after, I stumbled onto a poster for an alleycat in Rotterdam. I joined my first alleycat, and within 4–5 months, I was organizing my first one. This was finally a cycling subculture I agreed with—riding recklessly through cities with an unapologetic disdain for traffic and societal norms warms my heart.”
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Bikes & cameras
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Price award ceremony
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Wheelie time
“I jumped into the organization of Damn 24 last year when I heard from co-organizer Caio Machado that they were thinking of possibly asking for government subsidies. By this point, I was also the unofficial poster and spoke card art guy for Rotterdam alleycats and quite experienced with organizing alleycats around the city. As time went on and my previous job contract ended, I essentially dove headfirst into all aspects of organizing the second edition of Damn 24 and just kind of naturally took the position as main.”
Damn 24: A 24-Hour Sufferfest on Two Wheels
“Damn 24 was originally started by Lamri Adjis in 2021, the concept being a 24-hour race back and forth between Amsterdam and Rotterdam, the winner being the person to make the most kilometers within the period. Last year, for the second edition, I came in and added some minor twists here and there. To the riders that were sent to “Disneyland Aalsmeer” (a Dutch ode to the Orlando theme park with over 300,000 Disney collectibles, red.) late at night and are still haunted, that was all me, and I’m not sorry.”
This year, I’m fully managing the organization and, therefore, making the event mine with various small changes. My general goal is to make all participants suffer, both physically and mentally, as my own personal rides tend to have a similar philosophy. June 28 and 29 will bring pain in the best way possible. Last year, both Caio and I were honestly a bit jealous of the participants, so this year all preparations are being set up in such a way that we will also be participating and suffering along with everyone.
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Finish food
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Team (no) sleep
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Prizes at the finish
“This is a race, of course, but you should see it more as a personal challenge. Challenge yourself to a distance and go for it.”
Also, quick shout-out to the 12-hour alleycat taking place in Amsterdam this April—for an event with a way less sadistic outlook and, as far as I’ve seen, the biggest number of participants in a Dutch alleycat by quite a big margin.
Upcoming Events: When and Where to Race
Want to take part in Damn 24? Set your goal and register by June 4th. The Twelve Hour Alleycat takes place in Amsterdam on Saturday April 12th. Make your way to Groningen on April 19th to find a special Easter Egg Alleycat starting at Grote Markt and finishing at Spaak.
Photo credits: Dane Zijlstra, Ludek and Jeremy. Follow us on Substack for more stories like these.
by Thomas Spronk | Oct 17, 2024 | Uncategorized
One might consider a Breakfast Club x Killat collaboration as an outdoor activity. Over the last decade, running, cycling, and hiking clubs have been popping up in cities around the globe. Yet, this is about the indoors. Spanning almost 15 years, Breakfast Club is one of the Netherlands’ leading underground electronic music events. Think intimate venues packed with adventurous people seeking quality music to dance to. A breeding ground for upcoming artists who get the chance to play alongside more established names—artists who return regularly. We believe this has something to do with the organizers’ vision, their attention to detail, and their open, welcoming mindset.
When Breakfast Club approached us for a collaboration around their ADE-thriathlon, we noticed many similarities between clubbing and going for a ride or hike. Consider the underlying desires: finding rhythm while escaping routine, breaking the monotony of daily life. Physical motion—whether dancing, riding, or walking—creates a rhythm that frees the mind, allowing you to forget everyday stresses. It gives a sense of freedom and lets you connect with yourself and your surroundings.
For this occasion, we used our signature New Moon hip pouch, customizing it into a black-and-yellow version, symbolizing day and night. Black represents the night, while soft yellow symbolizes the sunrise, marking a new beginning, whether you’ve been out all night or are just getting started. Neon yellow zips were added to give it that stand-out clubbing vibe.
The limited-edition Breakfast Club x Killat Collective bag is handmade in Cape Town (🇿🇦) from 340 GSM cotton and designed for daily use, with a padded rear panel and wings for comfort. There are two main compartments, separating valuables from keys to avoid scratches. With use over time, the natural fabric will cause the black and yellow to fade, like the cycle of day turning into night and back again, reminding you of the days you went out for all the right reasons.
Photos by: Toby J. Fisher
With special thanks to Breakfast Club and Amsterdam Dance Event (ADE) for making these events happen.
by Thomas Spronk | Dec 27, 2023 | Bags, Bikes, Events
The annual Bridges for Music x Amsterdam Dance Event charity ride aims to raise money for the Bridges Music Academy in Langa, South Africa, where over 200 young students in under-resourced communities receive free education that combines entrepreneurship, mindfulness, and music. This year’s trip took the riders from London to Amsterdam via France and Belgium in five windy stages, ending with a nice celebration dinner to kick-off the world’s leading electronic music event in style.
For this year’s cycle, we produced a limited edition version of the Kota Moon, using a thicker and even more durable cotton to create an all-black handlebar- and hip bag cut out for all weather and clubbing conditions. The bags are customized with an embroided ADE logo and Bridges for Music and ADE steel pins, all created in Cape Town.
Consider donating if you support the cause and movement, visit cycleformusic.com for more info about the project and the charity ride. Hat tips to Amsterdam Dance Event and Bridges for Music for making this collab happen. If you’re looking to get in touch with us about a custom bag, bike, shirt or other wild idea you can contact us via connect(at)killat.cc
Photos by Milan Goldbach
by Thomas Spronk | Aug 29, 2022 | Bags, Bikes
A great adventure took place between Jonathan Pinkhard and Wandile Msomi on the roads of Johannesburg to Durban through Lesotho. They cycled 936km and climbed an elevatian of 15km over an 11 day journey.
“It was an amazing experience, an experience of overcoming so many obstacles, from getting caught in a blizzard, to sleeping in an open corn field watching the most beautiful sun set. I would love to thank all the great advice and hospitality we found along the road, South Africans are a diverse group and Lesotho’s people are a sum of the bravest.”
Jonathan rode a custom Killat x Mercer frame, while Wandile used a Rook for this journey.
