PIT STOPS


London’s best cycle cafés

Container Café

The View Tube Building is the best place to watch the rapid erection of the Olympic stadia at Straford – and the café within is run by the people behind Counter Café in Hackney Wick.  There is also a small hire service from community cycle project Bikeworks.  This is a great starting point for an East London ride.
 
The View Tube, The Greenway, Marshgate Lane, E15 2PJ tel: 07530 274 160 web: www.theviewtube.co.uk

Cyclelab

Near enough to the City to draw in cycle couriers, this friendly little shop combines knowledgeable service (for all types of riders), a few bikes and accessories, and a very healthy little café.  Freshly squeezed fruit juices and smoothies are the specialty, but there is also tea, coffee and cakes for a little indulgence. Seating is limited to a few stools in the window or a bench outside next to the cycle path.
 
18 a Pitfield St, N1 6EY tel:3222 0016 web: www.cyclelab.co.uk

Lock 7

You can’t move in Hackney these days for bikes, and this is where a lot of them come to be fixed.  Lock 7 has an all-day café along with cycle hire, repairs and second-hand sales.

129 Pritchard’s Road, E2 9AP tel: 7739 3042 web: www.lock-7.com

Micycle

Hidden on a side road between Upper Street and Liverpool Road, this repair shop and café has the bonus of a leafy little garden in which to sip your coffee whilst your bike gets serviced. Staff are helpful: take advantage of the open workshop, where you can borrow their tools and get advice on keeping your bike running smoothly.

47 Barnsbury Street, N1 1PT tel: 76840671 web: www.micycle.org.uk

Look Mum No Hands!

Opened in April 2010, this café, repair shop and events space caters for the cool new breed of London cyclist, and is the clear market leader in cycle cafés.  The café part serves Square Mile coffee, cakes and pastries, plus pies and salads, while in the evening you can get a beer or a glass of wine.  Cyclist events are shown on the big screen – this is the best place to watch the Tour de France.

49  Old Street, EC1V 9HX tel: 7253 1025 web: www.lookmumnohands.com

Published by TimeOut London 2011