The best cycling cafes in Britain, part three

Maison du Velo, Britain's best cycling cafés pt 2

published 17 October 2013

As the cake of time crumbles inevitably in the mouth and is washed down by the coffee of an excellent ride, Cycling Weekly continues its foray into Britain's burgeoning cycle cafes - with a brief skip across to Ireland while we're at it.

We cyclists must have been good this year because, seriously, cycle cafes are popping up everywhere.

Velocity's founder Laura Nicolson wanted to share the bike repair skills her dad taught her, and her love of cycling. The result is a social enterprise where any profit goes to promoting cycling in Inverness and cafe punters sip ‘bicyclattes' and ‘campagcinos' from the proprietor's retro cup collection, with renowned locally home-baked cakes. Government climate change funds help Velocity provide maintenance sessions around Inverness. There are social rides and live music, too.

Founder Rob Wall wanted to create a focal point in Britain's first cycling city where roadies, mountain bikers, fixie riders and non-cyclists alike could mingle. Opened on July 1 the crowd - and council grant - funded result is a community interest company where punters' money goes towards RFTS's social aims: promoting cycling in Bristol. Cycling groups meet and share ideas, there's servicing and repairs upstairs, and ‘bespoke' maintenance tuition, while downstairs the cafe sells Mediterranean food, using local suppliers where possible.

Three of Velo's proprietors own Dark Star Brewing Co, Flour Pot artisan bread and Small Batch Coffee Company, and happily these are the cafe's ingredients. Opening at the end of September in Brighton's new park, The Level, inclusive is the word. The cafe has a grass roof, solar panels, rainwater harvesting, 360° park views and outdoor seating. There'll be a workshop, bike parking and cleaning facilities, kids' and adults' rides and events, bike recycling, maintenance and clothing.

Named after the reverend who brought education to Rothbury, Tomlinson's, a former schoolhouse, is now a cafe with cycle hire, a bunkhouse and great views over the River Coquet. In Northumberland National Park, Tomlinson's attracts cyclists and walkers as a base for exploration, in groups and flying solo. There's low-cost accommodation in dorms, homemade wholesome food and evening meals Thursday-Saturday. Secure bike parking, periodic bike doctors and guided rides are on offer, too.

Its July 4 inauguration puts it amongst the newest, and likely the shiniest, of the new kids. A road shop, key popular bike models are displayed in a glowing, catacomb-like gallery in the basement, almost guaranteed to elicit a ghostly ‘wow' on first sight. There's a homage to the local ‘Legs of Steel' route, its toothy profile emblazoned on the shop window. Gaze at it over a coffee, or get out there and do it. Apex bike fitting technology is being trialled soon.

Shoreditch bike shop with a little alchemy. One of the original cycle cafes, CycleLab recently doubled in size, spreading into next door. With seating for 10 indoors and benches beside PlantLocks outside there's fresh soups, sweet and savoury crepes, juices and smoothies. Oh, and carrot balls (a spherical carrot cake). Cinelli, US Raleighs, Argon 18s and Genesis bikes, Catlike helmets and loads of Endura clobber are on sale, too. Cycle Lab has a cyclo-cross team and runs monthly 80km road rides.

This cycle-themed cafe, complete with traffic lights and zebra crossings, opens in December, with secure bike parking and bike hire where hungry riders on NCN1 can refuel on healthy soups and paninis. You can also watch your bike being repaired while you wait. Behind the scenes it's all about the community with a day centre for adults with learning difficulties, while Sustrans, working with the local job centre, loans cycles to jobseekers.

Small, hip and mighty, Full City uses every inch of its 3x6m space. With a coffee machine in the corner and no food, it's takeaway only, though customers of all ilk and age are welcome to stand and chat. On every surface (and ceiling) there's pre-loved £200 bikes to £1000+ carbon machines, with custom builds, natch. Incredibly, repairs take place in the same space. Meanwhile, monthly Alley Cat and/or street keirin races nod to its owners' courier roots.

If Facebook ‘likes' are anything to go by, Rothar's 5,700-plus means popularity in shovel loads. Now celebrating a fifth birthday, our Irish contingent predates most UK cycle cafes. Local and ethical is the word: Irish companies Imbibe (triple-certified coffee), and Caranya's Cakes (vegan options available) provide cycling fuel, while Rothar refurbishes abandoned bikes for social aims like training and employment. Repairs and maintenance classes run on Sunday and Monday when the cafe is closed.

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The best cycling cafes in Britain, part three

Velocity

Roll for the Soul

Velo

Tomlinson's

Maison du Velo

Cycle Lab & Juice Bar

Route 1

Full City Cycles

Rothar

The Hub

Useful links

Racing

Buyer's Guides

Reviews