With political turmoil and the sad death of some of the greats of the music, art and entertainment world, 2016 seemed a bit bleak at times. But, as HG Wells once said, “Every time I see an adult on a bicycle, I no longer despair of the future of the human race.” So, while the year had its tricky moments, we were lucky enough at Ride Velo to see plenty of adults (and children) on bikes as well as ride a few ourselves. Here are some of our highlights of the year.
Read MoreRouleur Classic Highlights
The Rouleur Classic moved to a new home this year in the Art Deco splendour of Victoria House in Bloomsbury Square. Having set the bar so high last year we were intrigued to see if "The world's Finest Cycling Exhibition" could pull it off a second time round. The opening night kicked off with copious amounts of complementary refreshments which were appreciated, not only by the punters, but by the Rouleur staff headed by Ian Cleverly. The night was hosted by Ned Boulting who interviewed some star speakers including Sir Dave Brailsford (launching the new Team Sky/Castelli kit), Christian Proudhomme and Jan Ullrich.
Read MoreLumo: New Range Launched on Kickstarter
It’s usually a good evening when we end up at Look No Mum Hands at the end of the day. It was extra special this Tuesday night as the bright and talented Doug and Lucy Bairner, founders of LUMO, were there too. They were lighting up Old Street with a Kickstarter campaign as they launch three new products to their line.
For those of you that don’t know, LUMO have been around for over a year now, designing and manufacturing some very special urban cycling wear. Their ‘pub test’ (would I wear this down the boozer?) has resulted in some great looking practical clothes that look cool, work well on the bike and are visible at night time. They achieve this by hiding strips of LED lights within the seams that are invisible unless switched on via a hidden rechargeable USB battery pack.
Read MoreIntermediate Cycle Maintenance
If you want to learn more about looking after bicycles you have three options: dismantling your bike in your bedroom, signing up for a City and Guilds or going on a Look Mum No Hands! intermediate cycle maintenance course. Here's a hint - the third option is definitely the path of least resistance. Ride Velo hasn't ever tried options one or two, but three is the safest - and we think it's the most fun too.
Read MoreNed Boulting at Look Mum No Hands!
In between busily commentating on one cycling event after another, author Ned Boulting made a guest appearance at Look Mum No Hands! on Monday night. Coming straight from the Dauphiné and via his publishers, he waved around a manuscript of his latest book, Velosaurus, with more red ink corrections on it than a GCSE English paper. He was embarrassed to admit that he'd been chastised for spelling Eddy Merckx wrong, and not the tricky surname. But it was was the imminent Tour de France that everyone wanted to talk about of course.
Read MoreBespoked: the Handmade Bicycle Show
Bespoked 2016: basically a long weekend of pure fantasy bike shopping! Absolute heaven. The 6th UK Handmade Bicycle Show featured, not only scores of bike builders, but also some fascinating speakers with inspiring tales of circumnavigating the globe and tips on dealing with taxi drivers too! Ride Velo hot-footed it to Bristol’s Brunel Old Station last weekend to indulge in a gluttonous feast of the best customised creations in the country.
Brixton Cycles - the Whole Story
Once upon a time, there was a friendly neighbourhood bicycle shop in South London. Then the big bad property developers came and evicted the cycle shop. But the cycle shop fought back and reopened in bigger, better premises. Life was good for the workers for 14 years or so, until new property developers came in the name of 'gentrification' and forced the company out once more. What would the poor oppressed workers cooperative do now? They got their heads together and came up with a plan: "Crowdfunding!" they exclaimed. And sure enough, one year later, Brixton Cycles looks set to live happily ever after with their brand new shop and café.
Read MoreEliza Southwood
Chatting to artist Eliza Southwood is like peeling an onion; her life story unfolds in layers, each perfectly independent of the other. Famous for her stunning cycling prints and commissions for the V&A, Sustrans, Rapha and more, I would never have guessed that her former careers included being a professional flamenco dancer and a horse stable hand in a Pythonesque anarcho-syndicalist commune in Tuscany! There is certainly more to this London-based producer of iconic cycling images than meets the eye...
Read MoreBrixton Cycles and Look Mum No Hands! Join Forces
It's a marriage made in cycling heaven: East and South London coming together to create a cycling nirvana at Brixton Cycles. At the end of last year, Brixton Cycles - London's oldest workers' cooperative - faced extinction, but last weekend they emerged like a phoenix from the ashes when they launched their new improved shop, complete with a 'pop-up' café courtesy of Look Mum No Hands! Ride Velo went to check out the new premises and talk to BC's Lincoln Romain and LNMH!'s Sam Humpheson and Lewin Chalkley about their exciting union.
Read MoreDear Susan - Vehicles of Optimism
“I’ve always built stupid shit and it’s always been really fun. I think you’re not allowed to start a bike business until you’ve built a tesla coil and electrocuted yourself!” So says Petor Georgallou, founder of bespoke bike frame designers, Dear Susan, and artist, sculptor and film-maker. We went to his trendy, but freezing, East London workshop to meet the man, find out about building custom made bike frames and, hopefully, receive some pithy, weird and off-the-wall sound bites. We weren’t disappointed.
Read MoreLook Mum No Hands! - the cycle cafe that wrote the rulebook
Look Mum No Hands! - an unusual name for a cafe - but, as it turned out, weirdly prophetic. In 2010, three friends who were into cycling, launched LMNH and, unwisely for a new business, had no plan for failure or running at a loss. Just like a small child learning to ride a bike, full of confidence and knowing no fear, the trio "opened the doors, and in they came!" Huge acclaim followed. Ride Velo met with co-founder Lewin Chalkley to discover their recipe for success.
Read MoreSean Kelly at Look Mum No Hands
If you’re still stuck for some Christmas prezzies for your cycling friends and family at this late stage, you could do worse than popping down to uber cool Cycling Café, Look Mum No Hands in Old Street, London, and earn some Bonification with their new Sean Kelly mug.
Read MoreAttack the Pack Launch Party
Ever wondered what pro cyclists get up to on Tour when they're not actually riding? No, nothing smuttier than massages - the hours they spend travelling in between stages on tour buses are actually pretty dull. No booze, no partying obviously, and away from their families, until now all the cycling celebs could do was dream of making it to the off-season. That was until two Bens decided to find a way to relieve the boredom of cycling pal Nathan Haas from team Cannondale-Garmin...
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