The Bicycle, a multispace for two wheels
BIKE SHOPS
1. TO MEET WITH FRIENDS
SLOW ROOM (_Plaza de las Salesas, 2) _
Slowroom is one of the latest bike temples to open its doors in Madrid. More than a store, it is a true fashion boutique that declares its love for wheels from the rooftops. In addition to store Slowroom is an art gallery, repair shop, and cozy lounge with a fireplace It serves as a meeting place for urban cyclists. The room invites you to leaf through a book about bikes while having a coffee or a beer.
The design of the place is amazing : bikes and accessories are placed on asymmetric shelves, while some models hang from invisible cables. The space and the furniture allow to leave diaphanous areas to organize presentations and events. As for brands and styles, they sell all kinds of bikes: from Mustache electrics or Brompton folding ones, to exclusive brands such as Crème or Cinelli. They also make à la carte bikes from 500 euros . And when it comes to dressing Slowroom is committed to comfortable and very urban clothing for cycling. In addition to jerseys with original designs, in this room we find the Levi's Commuter line of jeans and chinos designed by and for cyclists. As accessories they propose some good Californian design sunglasses made of wood and some great VANs.
The bike shop
two. TO BUY A SECOND-HAND BIKE
RECYCLING MADRID (_Round of Toledo, 18) _
Recycling Madrid is the first physical second-hand bicycle store to open in Madrid. Its objective is clear: no bike can die . And they are in it. Jose Luis Martínez, owner and entrepreneur, pours himself body and soul into recycle those bicycles abandoned in storage rooms and garages and give them a second chance. Here we can sell our old bike or buy a fully restored one. His recycling philosophy is not only applied to the bicycles, but also to many of his accessories and to the place itself, built with recycled materials. Recycling Madrid also offers courses in mechanics, boxes to repair the bike yourself and exhibitions of urban art and photography around the world of the pedal.
3.**TO READ A GOOD BOOK (ABOUT URBAN CYCLING)**
GRIPP (_Breton of the Blacksmiths, 5) _
Finding a good section of books on urban cycling that goes beyond the technical or the sporting is almost an impossible mission in Madrid. That's why, Gontzal Largo decided to create a section of books designed for urban cyclists in his Gripp's shop, a particular corner of cycling literature: the Veloteca. "The books that we have in the Veloteca deal with the sociology of the bike, its history, about people who travel by bike and who reflect on this device that makes childhood happy and, at the same time, contributes to making our cities places best...", explains Gontzal.
Among the stories recommended by this urban cyclist we find 'My Dear Bicycle' (very difficult to find, with autobiographical, literary and sentimental stories, from people like Miguel Delibes...), 'The Forced of the Road' (some journalistic chronicles of the Tour of 1924) or '12822', of Diego Ballesteros, who went from Zaragoza to China by bike. In addition to books, at Gripp they restore, paint and fix bikes of all kinds.
Bikes and books at Gripp
Four. FOR THOSE WHO EXPERIENCE IS A DEGREE
OTERO AND CALMERA
In Madrid we find two bicycle veterans that could not be left out of this guide: ** Otero ** (Segovia 18-20) is a mythical store founded in 1927 and specializing in craftsmanship . As a curiosity, it came to manufacture the bicycles of the athletes who won the Barcelona Olympics in 1992. Today, this old store promotes urban cycling and sustainable mobility through various projects that involve the smallest of the house. ** Calmera ** (Atocha, 98) is the other Madrid classic when it comes to bikes. Opened in 1942, Its premises of more than 600 square meters offer endless models and accessories. There is everything. It was the first store to bring folding models to the city.
5. TO FIND A RETRO BIKE
DAILY BICYCLE C.O _(Chamberí Square, 5) _
In the Chamberí neighborhood, the Daily Bicycle C.O store is famous for its close treatment and its elegant retro models . Your store is cute. You only have to enter it to realize how much they love bicycles. They have old pieces and a small workshop visible to the public to restore old models. They love the Nordic brand Pelago, comfortable and simple vehicles, made to last half a century if necessary. They highlight their ecological accessories like raincoats from Equilicuá -made from potatoes-; or the plant-based Orontas degreasers.
6. OTHER ADDRESSES TO KEEP IN MIND
The House of Bikes, if you go through the Rastro; Fixie & Dixie, if you are looking for a good fixed gear vehicle; Retrocycle , if vintage fashion is your thing; Dale Pedales , if you love leather accessories; o Novitiate Cycles, if yours are personalized paintings. And to pedal with a rental bike , the best thing is that you visit Mi Bike Río (in Madrid Río), Trixi or Fun Bikes (they have electric ones).
the retro store
LOCAL BIKE FRIENDLY
7. FOR CAFFEINE ADDICT
DRINK COFFEE (_La Palma, 49) _
In the Malasaña neighborhood we find Toma Café , a cozy place decorated with vintage furniture, exposed brick and more than a nod to the urban bicycle . You only have to see the model that hangs from the ceiling or the handlebar that serves as a doorknob to realize that here the bikes are just another guest. With the premises expanded since September, in this independent business they have an obsessive care for coffee. The result: superb and delicious flavors that take us straight to heaven . An essential place for coffee lovers who do not want to leave their bike parked on the street.
8. TO ENJOY ART
THE BIKE CYCLING CAFE & WORKPLACE (_San Ildefonso, 9) _
A hipster and very versatile space. This is La Bicicleta, a meeting place where you can work with free Wi-Fi or eat a Danish sandwich. It is also a good place to have a drink or enjoy exhibitions on urban art_, graffiti_ and street art of young artists. And all with the possibility of parking the bike inside . The personality of this place revolves around the culture of two wheels, coffee and good food. Its vintage furniture and its C_hester_ type sofas invite us to stay longer than we thought. But that's not all: The Café Bike is also a space where we can tune up our bike or fix a puncture , consult a cycling publication or attend a talk about the world of the pedal. Pay attention to your calendar of events.
La Bicicleta, a good meeting place
9. FOR LOVERS OF PIZZETAS
AIO RESTAURANT _(Lower Sliding San Pablo, 25) _
Aió is an Italian restaurant that brings us a piece of Sardinia to the neighborhood of Malasaña . Their artisan Sardinian pizzetas (folded pizzas to eat comfortably) are their specialty. behind the bar are Marcello and Andrea, two Sardinian friends who have wanted to mix the flavors of their land with bicycles in this restaurant . We say this not only because of the bike rack they have on the ground floor, but also because of the Italian Abici jewels that decorate their walls and which, by the way, can be purchased on request. The same goes for vintage furniture, much of it from the 1930s. Here everything (or almost everything) is for sale. From their menu, you cannot leave without trying the homemade pesto pizza, the Malloreddus pasta or the traditional fregola.
10. FOR CRAFT BEER CRAZY
THE PLACE (_Novitiate, 16) _
In front of the Ciclos Noviciado store we find a small restaurant for true gourmets with bike racks inside : ThePlace. With a simple but delicious menu, this place decorated like a Berlin cafeteria serves breakfast with Italian coffee and snacks with loaf bread sandwiches, as well as toast, Iberian cold cuts, cheeses and original salads to snack on. And for dessert, homemade cakes. Their Domus craft beers are crazy . It has an interior lounge with a fireplace, wall piano -where they hold concerts- and a small library full of poems.
Bikes and craft beers
AND FOR BEGINNERS (OR NOT)...
eleven. PLACES TO LEARN ABOUT URBAN CYCLING
In Madrid there are many initiatives that seek to promote the use of the bicycle as a sustainable means of transport. Places like ** El Matadero ** _(Paseo de la Chopera, 14) _ organize courses on different topics: from basic mechanics for bikes, to Bike School sessions, where they teach people who have not been on the saddle for a long time to recover balance and pedal again.
In the Courtyard Wonders (Pez, 21) organize Ciclococina workshops, where they share knowledge on how to disassemble bicycle parts and their maintenance. They also hold barter markets with parts, recycling bike workshops and recovery and loan activities for donated bikes. ** La Casa Encendida ** (Ronda de Valencia, 2) is another place where they teach courses and workshops on pedal culture, in addition to organizing bike rides around the city.
*You may also be interested
- For when a cycling Madrid? - Look mom, without walking! Europe by bike with the 'City Cycling' guides - Guide to finding the bicycle you need - Cafés addicted to bicycles - Cicloviajeros: the world seen from a bicycle
Love for urban cycling