ÉCHAPPÉE LONDON Old world aesthetics meet modern metropolis. Pre-dawn hill efforts to watch the sunrise over the city from Alexandra Palace. Brunch at Vermuteria in Coal Drops Yard, chat laps around Regent's Park, then heading back into the city. Grabbing takeaway vegan sandwiches from Gail's Bakery and donuts from Crosstown Doughnuts before finding a spot by the river to have a picnic. No matter your route, it would be punctuated by coffee (Rosslyn Coffee near Mansion House, bike-friendly Four Boroughs at Crystal Palace, and Workshop in Marylebone). All good rides end with a cold beer at Rotate in Shoreditch. London is a city of neighbourhoods, and it’s hard to pinpoint one place that makes it all tick. Hampstead is one of our favorite spots, crisscrossed by hidden backroads, cobbled lanes and gravelly paths through the Heath. Plus climbs that by urban standards could be considered long. Highgate is home to the famed Swain's Lane (the site of the annual Urban Hill Climb), but Hillway (one street over) will reward you with views of the city. It's hard to beat cycling over Tower Bridge or along the cobbles in front of the Tower of London, or down the Mall and Constitution Hill past Buckingham Palace. Winter in London can be bone chilling, with damp air, grey skies and harsh winds. Liberating. Rewarding. Humbling. It’s the best (and the fastest) way to get around. Vermuteria, Coal Drops Yard There are pieces of the city’s soul to be found all across town, from Soho to Shoreditch. Within the core of Greater London, you're either going up (hills) or in circles (Regent's Park and Richmond Park). Cycling here requires confidence and unflappable calm. You have to find your rhythm amidst the chaos of white vans, black cabs, and towering double-decker buses. London, though beautiful and iconic, can be viciously urban. Whether you're commuting to work, training for an Audax, riding cyclocross in the dark, or just looking to share some laps around the park, you will find someone to do it with you. The community is the single thing that elevates city riding from a chore to a delight. London has a massive community of cyclists ready to inspire you. Tokyo Échappée Cycling is a part of everyone’s lives in Tokyo. People of all ages and gender ride the mamachari. VIEW MORE New York Échappée Cycling in the city that never sleeps. Waking up as the sun rises to meet up friends for a ride. VIEW MORE Paris Échappée Each neighbourhood has its own energy, you can find what you like by riding from one street to another. VIEW MORE Berlin Échappée The diversity, the polarity, the edginess, the colourful, the creative, the craziness, the normal. Berlin by bike or not by bike. VIEW MORE

Échappée Tokyo Cycling is a part of everyone’s lives in Tokyo. People of all ages and gender ride the mamachari to go to work, go buy groceries, pick up children from school. Then you have the roadies riding for sport, and the fixed gear and messengers who ride for the culture. It’s a sunny day in Autumn. I get up early for a big loop along the Tama river enjoying the view of the mountains to the West. After the loop, I ride back into the city towards Yoyogi Park and have a chill coffee time in one of my favorite cafes. After stopping by Blue Lug Yoyogi, I ride further west towards Ueno Ameyokocho and find a nice spot for early afternoon beer and Yakitori. Riding in the metropolitan area of Tokyo is quite a special feeling. You sense you are in one of the world's biggest cities and you feel a part of it. If you want to feel the urban side then the loop around the Imperial Palace is good. Close to the key spots such as Ginza, Roppongi and Akihabara, you experience the wide open sky of Tokyo riding and then, just a few kilometers later, you become immersed in the hustle and bustle. If you have confidence in your ability and want to enjoy long scenic cycling roads, then Inagi-city and Hachiouji-city on the riverside of Tama River are the best. You are out of the center but the river provides an unending cycling road where you can see the city to your right, and the mountains of Yamanashi to you left. Two of the most popular rides are the “Onekan” route and the “Okutama” route. Because the bicycle is so deep within the culture, the fashionable part of riding a bicycle is as important as the practical use. There is a bike messenger scene here so you can see them sliding through traffic and buildings. There are so many bike shops varying from race-bike to city bike. An old yet trendy neighborhood with fashionable small stores and amazing dining spots. Exciting, feeling and discovering. Tokyo is a city mixed both historically and culturally in different parts of the city. In Shinjuku, Shibuya or Ginza areas, you can feel like you are part of a futuristic sci-fi movie. And the style of people there matches the atmosphere. But areas like Asakusa with the old temples and shrines or Yanaka and Nezu are where you can find quiet local streets, beautiful small shops and street vendors. In the Koto District, east of the city center is a shrine named "Tomioka-Hachimangu". This is the best street food spot, everything from Takoyaki and Yakisoba to all kinds of small authentic Japanese desserts. Tomioka-Hachimangu is also famous for being the birthplace of Sumo-wrestling. New York Échappée Cycling in the city that never sleeps. Waking up as the sun rises to meet up friends for a ride. VIEW MORE Paris Échappée Each neighbourhood has its own energy, you can find what you like by riding from one street to another, from one neighbourhood to another. VIEW MORE London Échappée Old world aesthetics meet modern metropolis. Pre-dawn hill efforts to watch the sunrise over the city from Alexandra Palace. VIEW MORE Berlin Échappée The diversity, the polarity, the edginess, the colourful, the creative, the craziness, the normal. Berlin by bike or not by bike. VIEW MORE

THE INVENTOR OF THE ALPES-MARITIMES In Saint-Etienne-de-Tinee, at the foot of the Col de la Bonette, there's a street called Boulevard Victor de Cessole. Go east across the mountains to Tende and every February an Alpine ski competition called the Trophée Victor de Cessole takes place in the surrounding peaks that form the border with Italy. In between those two high mountain locations, if you hike to the top of the beautiful Gordolasque valley you'll arrive at the Refuge Victor de Cessole, aka the Refuge de Nice. Back down in town, just beside the famous Negresco Hotel on the Promenade des Anglais, keen eyes can find the Bibliothèque du Chevalier Victor de Cessole. Who is Victor de Cessole? Answer : he’s the ‘inventor of the Alpes-Maritimes’. Cessole is the person credited for pioneering the mountains that form the last chain of the Southern Alps before the mountains dive into the Med. He was an aristocrat, Niçois born and bred. A privileged education was not wasted on his inquisitive mind and he excelled at everything from legal studies to botany. A medical condition of rheumatism sent him to Saint-Martin-Vesubie as he turned 40 years old. Fresh air and exercise were the doctor’s prescription. He chose La Madone de Fenestre, 10kms up the valley that lies northeast of Saint-Martin-Vesubie as his base camp. The dead-end road from the town to the refuge at the top is now called Boulevard Chevalier de Cessole. If you haven’t been there, you have to go. It sits in the shadow of the Cime du Gélas, the highest peak of the Alpes-Maritimes in a location that says two words : Alpine beauty. Cessole was awed and inspired. A 30-year quest began. He walked, he climbed, he made notes, he took photos, he drew maps and he hatched plans. He joined the Club Alpin Français (CAF), established just 20 years before, to learn the tricks and the trade of alpinism. Through his passion and a never-ending drive to explore and document this over-looked section of the Alps, he would become the president of the regional section of the national organization. With his co-explorers they commissioned the building of refuges, upgrades to the shepherds huts they had been using, which would form base camps to scale the peaks. Those peaks reach above 3,000m. The three ‘majors’ are the Gélas, the Malédie and the Clapier. The Malédie was one of his conquests as Cessole pushed himself higher and higher to become the first pioneer to reach its peak. Other notable firsts included the western wall of Agentera and the Corno Stella in 1902. It gained him fame in the international mountaineering community. In the end, he opened nearly 200 new routes and peaks in the Alpes-Maritimes! To read his written accounts of the thousands of explorative hikes is to follow step by step, sense by sense, in the shoes of the man. It is almost too much. More accessible are the 10,000-odd photos he took. Like cycling and Instagram, Cessole considered photography as the best medium to partner with his expeditions. Over the course of 30 years from 1896 to 1927, Cessole made nearly 10,000 photographs. A total of 7200 of those were dedicated to mountain expeditions. They are all numbered, dated, captioned. The vast majority of photos reveal either the mineral mountain, pure and hard, with its peaks and ridges, scree slopes and snowfields, or the climber's reward: the view from the top, proof of his victory. It brought to life his notes and was a perfect illustration to show the landscapes and the pioneers’ difficulty in scaling the peaks. It wasn't only through his photography that Cessole brought the Alpes-Maritimes to the people. Presumably it was a combination of his academic background and sheer excitement after each successful expedition that drove the desire to share his knowledge and experiences. Not only did he help name and map the previously un-scaled or undiscovered peaks of the Alpes-Maritimes but he grew the membership of the local CAF to over 500, he established ‘school caravans’ to bring teenage kids to the mountains and together with the help of the army he created the first ski competitions on the slopes and peaks between Piera-Cava and Camp d’Argent, respectively below and above our beloved Col de Turini. To say Cessole left a legacy is an understatement. Riding high into the Alpes-Maritimes you might notice the wooden or yellow waymarker signs at the side of the road. The network of hiking trails is a goldmine for outdoor lovers. And it was paved by the pionner that was Victor de Cessole. He rests now in the graveyard at the foot of Nice’s Castel, but it is said that his soul remains ever-present in the mountains. Merci Victor. Thanks go to the Bibliothèque Chevalier de Cessole for providing and authorising the use of the scans of the original photographs taken by Cessole and his pioneering counterparts.

Échappée New York Cycling in the city that never sleeps. Waking up as the sun rises to meet up friends for a ride. As you cross over the Williamsburg Bridge the sun is just perfect – painting the city skyline a perfect glowing red. The streets are still empty so you can blast through the city without any worries of traffic or pedestrians. After 10 miles you make it across George Washington Bridge to escape the city. Not long after, you’re on beautiful River Road riding along the Hudson River. You do a quick loop and after an hour you’re back in the city. The city is now awake and now you have to maneuver your way downtown. A quick stop, to get some tacos and then back home. It’s only 1pm and now you have the rest of the day to enjoy. Bomb down Broadway and you’ll see all of NY – from Financial District, Soho, Midtown, Uptown, The Bronx and even all the way upstate ending at Sleepy Hollow. You’ll never know what to expect whether it’s pedestrians, car doors, or potholes. Discover Doyers street in Chinatown. It’s narrow, old, and feels and looks like a movie set. Nothing beats riding over any one of the bridges and seeing the iconic Manhattan skyline. In the winter it’s less about riding from dawn till dusk. I recommend, Grey’s Papaya their hot dog has the best “snap” Be confident while riding through traffic and always looking a block ahead of you. Crowded, vibrant, beautiful. Rides are more local like park laps or River Road. NYers are the soul of this city – the diversity in food and culture is almost unparalleled. I recommend, Grey’s Papaya their hot dog has the best “snap”. But my favorite post ride food is hidden in Chelsea Market – Los Tacos No 1 or Los Mariscos if you’re craving seafood. These tacos are hands down the best in the city. NYers only really eats two meals – brunch and dinner. Can’t really go wrong with both. Best brunch – Marlow & Sons for their pastries and farm to table menu. Best dinner – Kopitiam – casual Malaysian food in Chinatown. Paris Échappée Each neighbourhood has its own energy, you can find what you like by riding from one street to another. VIEW MORE Tokyo Échappée Cycling is a part of everyone’s lives in Tokyo. People of all ages and gender ride the mamachari. VIEW MORE Berlin Échappée The diversity, the polarity, the edginess, the colourful, the creative, the craziness, the normal. Berlin by bike or not by bike. VIEW MORE London Échappée Old world aesthetics meet modern metropolis. Pre-dawn hill efforts to watch the sunrise over the city from Alexandra Palace. VIEW MORE

Designing A Bike For An Undefinable Discipline? Since the start of 2020, we’ve partnered with Cervélo to provide the perfect bikes to ride the roads and routes that inspire our clothing, including the new Áspero. But how do you begin to design a bike for a discipline that defies definition? We asked Maria Benson, Director of Product Management and one of the main brains behind the head-turning machine, how they squared the circle CDC : Cervélo is a brand with a history in racing and a main objective to go fast – why build a gravel bike? MB, CERVELO : We had been spending the last several years jamming big tyres into our R5’s and riding the gravel roads all over the greater Toronto area. At the same time, we noticed that with each new crop of gravel bikes they were getting taller, slacker, slower handling.  All of which are very well suited for a particular type of riding.  But, highly competitive events such as Dirty Kanza were being won on Cyclocross bikes and it became clear to us that a focus on speed in the gravel segment was not yet being addressed. We were in the perfect position to make a gravel race bike. CDC : Based on that, what are the most important elements of design in the Áspero MB, CERVELO : For us, it was simple.  The bike needed to be fast.  Due to the broad range of types of gravel events, riders are using various setups depending on the event, or simply their riding style preference.  The larger the overall tyre diameter gets, the slower the handling of the bike.  Our Trailmixer flip chip in the fork allows the rider to adjust the fork offset to result in the same quick handling no matter what wheel and tyre size combination they are running. We also knew that our customer was likely going to be running a lightweight setup, thus didn’t need additional mounts on their bike for bags, racks or fenders.  The exception being the top tube bag mount and the third bottle cage.  These features were a clear must, given the very long-distance events that are growing in popularity. Finally, the bike has to look good.  We, as riders, are inspired by the aesthetics of a bike.  Not only is Áspero a fast bike, it also looks fast! CDC : What are the differences between the design of the Áspero and the R5? MB, CERVELO : The Áspero definitely takes some design cues from R5. R5 is the benchmark for ride quality and much of that ride quality comes from the shapes of the tubes themselves.  You might notice that the Áspero downtube shape is nearly identical to that of the R5. The R5 was designed for the high mountains of a Grand Tour with an emphasis on stiffness to weight performance, and it wouldn’t be a Cervélo without also being aerodynamic.  For example, the R5 fastback design is an efficient way to manufacture the top tube to seat stay junction, resulting in very low weight and a high level of stiffness.  Additionally, the rider position and handling geometry are low and quick, respectively. The Áspero was developed for a much different use case, and rider comfort over long distances was key.  You can see this in dropped seat stays which add compliance, lower stiffness figures, and an additional 8mm of frame stack compared to R5. CDC : Where do your designers look for inspiration? And do they look outside of cycling? MB, CERVELO :This question could be answered in a couple different ways: 1. Frame design 2. Graphic design. Here’s what our Senior Designer, Jonathan Strack, has to say about frame design inspiration: “While a lot of my inspiration does come from the cycling industry and community, what inspires me most is not so much what other manufacturers are doing, but what riders are doing. How are they using their bikes? How are they customizing them and making them their own?  I also spend a lot of time looking at concept sketches from other industries, whether that be automotive, architecture, or consumer products . I try to absorb themes and stylistic cues from other designers, and how they communicate the purpose of their design through sketches and illustrations. Lastly, graphic design, and typography in particular, has a huge influence on my design. The time and attention to detail that goes into type design is truly inspiring. The parallels between type design and product design prove that scale, balance, and proportion are fundamental in making something look and feel right, and ultimately beautiful.” Here’s what our Graphic Designer, Alain Lanusse has to say: The auto industry is a great resource for color and finish and we tend to have a similar relationship with our bikes as riders as a supercar fan would with their car.  Also, any high-performance products serve as valuable inspiration, particularly in industries that adapt to market changes quickly, such as footwear and electronics.  In general, though, inspiration can come from anything that creates that “wow factor” or makes you excited.  Sometimes, you don’t necessarily even know why. CDC : What are a bike brand’s thoughts on the design in the clothing sector? MB, CERVELO : We see that there is a wide variety of cycling clothing style, particularly in the gravel sector.  Ultimately, clothing has to be functional but aesthetics definitely influence the purchasing decisions for clothing. A high quality chamois and a forgiving leg compression band will create loyal customers. Personally, sock height is a clear expression of style. CDC : What do you think are the most interesting or important developments in design on the horizon for gravel bikes? MB, CERVELO : There are many things being experimented with on gravel bikes: tyre size, tread patterns, suspension, motors, adjustable geometry (ie. our Trailmixer fork).  This is largely due to the fact that gravel riding is different depending on the type of rider you are, and where you are around the world. In my view, these things can’t be prioritized, but rather all should be taken into consideration for the evolution of gravel. I hope there is never a clear definition of gravel riding and what exactly a gravel bike is…the interpretation is what makes this segment so much fun! The Cervélo Áspero gravel bike as well as the R5 road bike are available to rent from our Nice café.

The Best Pan Bagnat In The World The Best Pagnat In The World comes straight after the Best Lunch Ride In The World. The Best Pan Bagnat In The World is something you may never have heard of if you haven’t visited or weren't paying attention in the boulangeries of Nice. The Best Pan Bagnat In The World is, like the Best Socca In The World, a niçois specialty and its source location is a matter of opinion amongst the locals. The Best Pan Bagnat In The World has all the right ingredients just like the ride that precedes it. Packed inside is a salade niçoise - hard boiled eggs, tuna, tomato, onion and radish. Anchovies are an optional extra for those with a taste for the sea. The Best Pan Bagnat in The World wasn't always so famous. In the 19th century, it was the meal of the poor, prepared with stale bread then softened under a trickle of water to embellish a raw salad. In the local Niçois dialect, "pan bagnat" means "wet bread". The Best Pan Bagnat In The World is now no longer bathed in water but instead generously drizzled with olive oil. Prepared with care and love with raw vegetables from the Marché de la Libération, it is the king of sandwiches. The Best Pan Bagnat In The World feeds the hunger after climbing through the olive groves of Parc du Vinagrier, out past the Eze observatory and up the glorious gravel of the Route Stratégique to Col d’Eze itself. The Best Pan Bagnat In The World is street food that started out as a snack for workers and fishermen. Purchased from the Tintin kiosk on Place de Général de Gaulle, beside the Marché Libération the Best Pan Bagnat In the World should be eaten portside, with feet hanging over the water just outside Café du Cycliste. Read more about the perfect soul food for cycling in our the best of series.

Marianne Marianne is a french national icon. She has been in the nation's eyes since the French Revolution in 1789. She was the carer and saviour for the people rising up against the monarchy, inspiring and guiding them to continue the fight for liberty, equality and fraternity.  Marianne is a symbol of freedom. Marianne is a woman of the people. Her name is a combination of the two most popular female names at the time, Marie and Anne. Marianne is a strong woman, depicted with bare breast to show her beauty and symbolise her nurturing of the population and the national spirit. She is an emancipated woman at the head of society and her red bonnet is a Phrygian cap, aka a 'Liberty cap'. Marianne has been on French stamps since 1849. Post-war premieres from Charles de Gaulle onwards have adopted her placement on the national stamp as a matter of presidential responsibility. It's a populist tactic to galvanize a nation and win votes. A bust of Marianne is in every town hall and court house around the country, in various different forms and moulds, all of which are styled on the original. Since 1969 Marianne has taken on the features of famous women such as Brigitte Bardot, Catherine Deneuve, and most recently Sophie Marceau and Laetitia Casta. Marianne stands in the Place de la Republique on the border between the 3rd, 10th and 11th arrondissements in Paris. She holds an olive branch aloft in the air at the centre of a large square which, fittingly, has been redeveloped as a space for Parisians to enjoy freely. Marianne adorns the Special Edition Francine Bastille, in a unique design that pays hommage to the face of the French Republic.

THE CLIMB   “A rare contemporary American comedy” The Hollywood Reporter Two summers ago the cycling and cinematic worlds came together on the Col de Vence, all thanks to Michael Angelo Covino and Kyle Marvin. Their successful short film had become the first scene of a full length feature bearing the same name – The Climb. Mike had discovered Café du Cycliste at NYC Velo, the Big Apple’s best bike shop. Like all directors he had a clear vision and a colour palette in his mind’s eye and, after a social spin up Col d’Eze, we were more than happy to help design the kits needed for the cycling scenes in the movie. Prototype production led to a Café du Cycliste peloton joining the shoot on Col de Vence at the end of the 2018 summer season. Less than a year later, lycra was replaced by formal attire for a walk up the red carpet to the film’s premiere at Cannes Film Festival. To top it off, Mike and Kyle returned to America with the Coup de Coeur prize under their arms. The Climb hits cinemas worldwide this summer, starting in Los Angeles. To celebrate, the limited edition capsule collection of the jersey, as worn by Mike, together with specially designed caps and bidons is now available to buy exclusively online.   SHOT ON THE COL THE CLIMB Cycling analogies can be applied to almost any element of every day life. The Climb, as its name suggests, covers the uphill battle of a friendship tested over many years and through different relationships to the conclusion that, if you just keep a good sense of humour and keep pedalling, maybe it will all be alright. But don’t trust us, watch the trailer. THE COL The Col de Vence lies at 962m, above the bustling town of Vence and if you can tear your eyes off your stem in the final kilometres, you’ll have a great view of the Mediterranean from Italy to Cannes and beyond. VIEW THE COL IN CONVERSATION #1 / THE KIT MASTER Mike and Kyle have important questions on everything from customer profiles, kit design and male modesty for our co-founder and creative director, Rémi Clermont. Go behind the scenes and into the cycling minds of the movie’s main characters as they investigate what makes Café du Cycliste tick. WATCH IN FULL IN CONVERSATION #2 / THE MOVIE MASTERS After a return ride to Col de Vence and before suiting up to go to Cannes Film Festival, we dug a little deeper and asked Mike and Kyle about the movie-making process. Listen to the audio to find what it took to produce The Climb.

Mallorca’s beating heart has arts, culture and a big menu of re-fuel options behind its Moorish façade. Make the switch from Mallorca’s colls and lanes to the city’s backstreets.  

POUR EUX PARIS : Riding With Purpose #2 Photographer and cycling adventurer Sophie Gateau found herself confined in her home town of Paris. Just like Kong Fufu, she found a way of riding with purpose by joining the Pour Eux movement. As a cycling volunteer, she connects individuals who prepare food parcels with those in need, those whose welfare is directly threatened by the Covid-19 crisis. The movement was born as soon as confinement started, and spread across many towns and cities in France and Belgium. As of the 30th of April over 10,000 meals had been delivered in Paris. Whilst delivering the meals, Sophie takes the opportunity to photograph the empty and confined capital. So here is a rare, and somewhat eerie view of a deserted Paris as seen through Sophie's lens.

ÉCOLE DE SKI Retro ski style cannot be recreated, but it can be reinvented and the essence captured in a new form for a new function.  Inspiration : the process of being mentally stimulated to do or feel something, especially to do something creative. The internet information overload of the 21st century means inspiration is easy to find these days. Remote digital inspiration has its place but real-life experience, living through a particular period of time leaves a bigger impression. Go back three, nearly four decades, to the slopes of the Alps and the Pyrenees (or any ski destination for that matter) and memories of an era and an activity with its own colour palette and a definitive aesthetic flood back. The world of alpine skiing has such a rich history that it provides a kaleidoscope of references from the height of slope style. What makes it so special? Colour. Brightness and fun and contrast against pure white slopes and oxygen rich deep blue skies. One piece suits and two piece ensembles, but it was the onesies that made the bigger impression in popular piste fashion. And, evidently, one piece didn’t mean one colour. Ski pants, or ‘fuseau’ in French. Sleek and stretchable, sometimes with built-in padding around the knees. It was lycra but not as we know it. And, bien sûr, in every available primary colour. Up top, big goggles and aviator-style glasses, like French manufacturer Vuarnet's classic glacier with side profile light blockers that were good enough for James Bond. All available, of course, in great big colours. Aprés-ski as crazy and extreme as the actual activity, whilst still suited up. Maybe the most multi-coloured party you ever went to. The clothing was a visual celebration of the freedom and fun of the activity itself. The parallels with cycling are obvious and at the very heart of both sports is a love of the outdoors. It could be argued with the growing popularity of col-hunting, pavé searching and cross-continental bike-packing, cycle tourism has become the non-slip version of skiing. Maybe that’s why during the creative process, the core memories and influence of a sporting era that’s etched on the brain find their way on to the drawing board. Leonie wears its inspiration on its wind-breaking, insulating, three layer core front section and is now available online and in-store in two slope-style colours for men and women.

TO THE TOP Up north, up high the climb of Norway's Galdhøpiggen mountain leads to a path, that leads to a door, that leads inside a glacier. It epitomizes the human desire to conquer the earth's biggest bumps. If that desire is hard to explain, the world’s best alpinists sum it up best. “You have to be honest with yourself that in the end no one really cares - you do it for yourself. Everyone must decide for him or herself how much risk he or she wants to take. Risk is not measurable and is always dependent on the individual. You need to know that it is impossible to indefinitely push your limits: higher, faster, better. Eventually you reach a peak and then it goes back down. I believe it’s important that you don’t lose your passion and that you enjoy the outdoors and challenging yourself, no matter what your level is.” ― Steve House “No single mountain ever came to me...so I always go to them” ― Erik Tanghe “All my life, I have never felt as happy on Earth as when I'm getting closer to the sky.” ― Erhard Loretan 'Mount Everest, you beat me the first time, but I'll beat you the next time because you've grown all you are going to grow... but I'm still growing!' ― Edmund Hillary 'Why do you want to climb Mt. Everest, Sir?' 'Because it is there.' ― George Leigh Mallory

THE BEST CRÊPE IN THE WORLD The best crêpe in the world is almost invisible, such is the amount of sugar based ingredients that sit on top of its perfectly fine form. The best crêpe in the world does not come with a health warning, because it's a moment of pure indulgence that should be enjoyed as an escapism like the bike ride that justifies this calorie tsunami. The best crêpe in the world was invented in and can only come from rugged, coastal and rural Bretagne. Home of fishermen, farmers, and The Badger and almost flat as a pan... crêpe. The best crêpe in the world is the sweet sister to the savoury galette. The best crêpe in the world comes from a carfeully-oiled billig or crêpière - the simple circular piece of cast-iron where the crêpe maker performs magic with the wooden t-shaped rozell that defines exactly how fine the end result will be. The best crêpe in the world is served in an old stone-walled restaurant, lit like a sailor's haven in the middle of Le Conquet, the fishing village heralded as the most westerly town of mainland France. The best crêpe in the world comes after a day of leg-shredding riding through the maze of the twin tracked 'ribinoù' - Brittany's loose-surfaced answer to Paris-Roubaix's pavé. The best crêpe in the world is as French as the marinère stripes that adorn the classically styled Claudette. Just try not to spill chocolate sauce on yours. Read more about the perfect soul food for cycling in our the best of series.

London Frame Builders | ISEN Since settling into our Spitalfields store we’ve set about making new friends and finding local brands who share our values. What we found was a small community of frame builders, each offering their own bespoke experience, all sharing our love for cycling. We went and met a few of them in their workshops and asked a couple of questions. ISEN is built upon the award-winning heritage of UK custom frame builders Hartley Cycles and Talbot Frameworks. Allowing them to combine hand crafted elements with cutting edge frame building technologies, so they can deliver bikes that are at the forefront of frame geometries and are finished to the highest standard. Visit the website | Follow ISEN on Instagram What were you doing before you started frame building and what led you to it? Caren: I trained in 3D Design, specialising in metalwork, and was working as a fine jeweller as well as sculptor/visual artist. So I was working on all sorts of projects from intricate gold & diamond rings to large scale public art pieces made from cast iron and bronze that could weigh as much as 250kg! I had become dissatisfied with my career as an artist and not really sure where I wanted to go next, and keen to avoid both having to make a decision, and throw away the skills I’d spent years developing, I was cycling a lot and fell in love with the cycling community here in London. It was through that I realised that by making steel bicycles I could continue to use many of the skills I already had. Matt: I've always worked in the bike industry, initially as a bike mechanic, then began working as a trainer to bike mechanics. What is the strangest request you’ve received from a customer regarding their new frame? Caren: I was asked to make a frame in the shape of the letter ‘A’ once. But I wasn't convinced I could make the frame both like an ‘A’ and functional to the level I would want and my customers expect... so the project didn’t come to fruition! Matt: Perhaps not so much a strange request, but I've developed a niche building bikes for customers with achondroplasia, which is a form of dwarfism. They're probably the hardest but most rewarding bikes I've built, in the sense that there really isn't a product in the mainstream market that is fit for purpose if you are a person with achondroplasia. What do you think will be the next major innovation for road bikes and is there anything you’d like to see become the norm in the future for cycling? Caren: I think we're going to see a revolution in shifting. Not a small change like e-shifting, or even the ceramic speed concept, but someone will come up with something truly different e.g. a tiny gearbox that fits in a BB or something, way ahead of a Rolhoff and pinion gear boxes. Tiny, light, less fallible to to the elements. Matt: Hopefully wireless will be taken on by all manufacturers. as it lends itself to very clean builds, and structurally is advantageous for building frames. What was your favourite ride of 2018 and which ride are you most looking forward to/dreaming of this year? Caren: My favourite ride of 2018 was a birthday campout along the North Downs Way, it was just a relatively short off-road route, but it started a monthly habit of mini off-road adventures all through the winter! Escaping the city by bike, even just for 2 days, has become like hitting the factory reset button for my stress levels! This year I’m taking part in the Torino Nice rally, which is a 700km bike packing route from Turin in Italy to Nice in France, and can’t wait! Matt: We did our yearly pilgrimage from London to Paris via Dieppe. Glorious weather, glorious beer, mussels and chips, all in 24 hours. Can't be beaten. If you could build frames for a cycling team past or present, road or otherwise, who would it be? Caren: One of the Tour De France teams in the first Women’s tour! Matt: Mapei, if only for the amazingly offensive kit… and hopefully free grout.

London Frame Builders | Quirk Cycles Since settling into our Spitalfields store we’ve set about making new friends and finding local brands who share our values. What we found was a small community of frame builders, each offering their own bespoke experience, all sharing our love for cycling. We went and met a few of them in their workshops and asked a couple of questions. Inspired by some of the most demanding endurance cycling events in the world, each Quirk bike is built and designed with a purpose. Whether it’s the TCR or the Silk Road Mountain Race, Quirk work closely with each customer to ensure it suits their needs to perfection. Visit the website | Follow Quirk on Instagram What were you doing before you started frame building and what led you to it? My background was quite varied but initially I trained in Fine Art and moved to London to pursue my practice. Eventually this led me to setting on the path of Research Architecture at Goldsmiths. In the end though I didn’t continue with my studies and found I needed to work with my hands. Bicycle design had always been a passion that was growing so I threw myself into that and this is where we find me now. What is the strangest request you’ve received from a customer regarding their new frame? There’s been many over the years but probably the weirdest was a request to make a recumbent out of bamboo with a dog carrier. I politely pointed out that maybe this wasn’t my area of expertise. What do you think will be the next major innovation for road bikes and is there anything you’d like to see become the norm in the future for cycling? In terms of manufacture I think 3D printing will eventually replace machined parts as the cost of production comes down. This is why I’m developing my own 3D parts which can be seen on the bike I’m showing at Café du Cycliste. What was your favourite ride of 2018 and which rides are you most looking forward to/dreaming of this year? Without a doubt Silk Road Mountain Race was the highlight of 2018 for me even though the race did not go to plan. This is the nature of bike packing events but I still got todo a lot of riding in Kyrgyzstan regardless. For 2019 it’s going to be GBDURO, a 2000km gravel race from Lands’ End to John o’ Groats, that one will be fun. If you could build frames for a cycling team past or present, road or otherwise, who would it be? That’s a good question. I think now it’d be awesome to make a frame for Lachlan Morton, I like his approach to the sport and the fact that he’s racing Ultra events and gravel, I’m sure he’d appreciate a custom gravel whip!

FURTHER’S TDF ROOTS Camille McMillan explains how the biggest race in the world inspired the Further concept. Henri Desgrange still has his initials on the yellow jersey, but I'm not sure he would like the current race all that much. I feel he would be more interested in the The Barkley Marathons or the Transcontinental bike race. Desgrange’s dream was autonomous racing. He wanted self-sufficient riders. Riders who would find their limits as a rider and also their human limits. For him, the perfect race would have one finisher, the race would be won as a heroic solo effort. The racers however, had other plans. The battle between racers and Desgrange was legendary. The racers wanted to bunch up, work together, create teams and make deals. Codes of conduct between the racers evolved, lead outs and echelons took shape. Modern racing evolved and was born. Desgrange tried to steer, bend the race to his vision, but the power of money and ‘Professionalism’ won out. If only he had had satellites and spot trackers. Don’t get me wrong, I loved what road racing evolved into. I loved the story and rituals of the golden age of bicycle racing. The brilliant tacticians, the giants of cycling who were majestic athletes and masters of chess. I have seen the racing world shift from wool shorts to lycra, watched as the grand tours shifted from “Stars and Watercarriers”, ( Jørgen Leth ) to celebrity all stars. The age of big data, race radio and DNA. Grand tours shifted from Chess to Checkers… or did it ? Tour de France 2019, Stage 15, Limoux > Foix Prat d’Albis. I had not really looked at the Tour route. I knew it was coming to the Ariège, and a stage finish was happening close to where I live, on the Prat d’Albis but thought not much more about it. The TdF always comes to the Ariège. In fact, the reason I had moved here was because of the TdF. I came here as a photo moto and loved the place, but I had not looked at the Tour since 2012. My focus had been on mountains and living in the Pyrénées and bicycle racing was limited to The Transcontinental only. This new way of racing reached places in my imagination the TdF no longer did. Everything about it fired up my passion for bike racing again. I also wanted to make a spot tracked race. My wish is to create something that Desgrange would have liked. This is partly what Further is about. The last few months, I have been going through different routes, trying to weave a path around the Ariège. A tour of the Ariège that would describe it, a race that would convey the landscape and the location to the racers. Further is not about finding gravel to race on for gravels sake, or Hike-a-Bike because we know this is the trend. It’s about seeing what the Ariège is. When I looked at the Stage 15 route, I immediately spotted Montségur and to my great surprise, the stage was very close to my Further route. There is a big difference however. The race climbed Montségur as Further will, but the TdF turned right at Montferrier and followed the valley around the Massive of Tabe. Further, then, turns left at Montferrier. We climb to the peak of Mont Fourcat. Further goes up past the Prat d’Albis. Further goes where race support vehicles cannot go. Further is unsupported. Further is like one stage in the TdF, but a stage from 100 years ago with the twist of modern tech.

London Frame Builders | Saffron Frameworks Since settling into our Spitalfields store we’ve set about making new friends and finding local brands who share our values. What we found was a small community of frame builders, each offering their own bespoke experience, all sharing our love for cycling. We went and met a few of them in their workshops and asked a couple of questions. Saffron Frameworks is a frame builder with a passion for designing and creating truly beautiful but functional bicycles. Every one of their frames are uniquely designed and built for you. Visit the website | Follow Saffron on Instagram What were you doing before you started frame building and what led you to it? I was a Chef de Cuisine - Chronic fatigue led me out of the kitchen. I was racing at the time, my life stopped when chronic fatigue set in and depression took over. I read an interview with Darren Crisp of Crisp Titanium which was the catalyst that drew me out of depression and onto the road to becoming a frame builder. The journey started in 2009. What is the strangest request you’ve received from a customer regarding their new frame? An A frame bicycle. What do you think will be the next major innovation for road bikes and is there anything you’d like to see become the norm in the future for cycling? This is 3D printing. For carbon and steel bicycles. What was your favourite ride of 2018 and which ride are you most looking forward to/dreaming of this year? 2018 saw me off the bike mostly as i spent it recovering from worn away cartilage in my knees. At this point i will be happy just getting lost on a trail in the woods. If you could build frames for a cycling team past or present, road or otherwise, who would it be? Ha, this is a current rider, named Dan Craven. I have so much love for this man. We built him a frame to race in the Commonwealth games!

The Lemon Farmers Of The Col de la Madone Seven generations of the Tosan family have been farming lemons on the slopes where the mountains of the Alpes-Maritimes plunge dramatically into the Mediterranean in the bay of Menton. At least, it’s seven as far as current proprietors Sylviane and Jean-Claude know. It couldn’t be traced any further. That means they were farming lemons when they were more medicinal than gourmet. The Tosans used to supply the fruit to the boats to cure the sailors of scurvy when they arrived at the old port just a few kilometres below their terroir. Jean-Claude, the 72 year old patron of this particular lemon farm, started racing a bike when he was a teenager. Like many, he started cycling as a necessity - to get to school - and it turned into a lifetime obsession. He’s competed in all the local races, including Les Courses Disparues such as the Boucle de Sospel. But when asked what is his dream parcours, his wife answers ‘l’autoroute’. Because he loved speed. The current pace of movement is much slower on the farm that sits just below the more-than-moderate gradients of the Route de l’Armeé les Alpes - aka the Col de la Madone. It’s a terraced terrain covered with trees dappled with yellow bursts of zest that contrast against the almost-evergreens, but which peak in and around February each year. Just in time for the Fête du Citron in Menton which draws unexpected bus-loads of incoming tourist revenue. After introductions, lemons are cut and eaten as they are, rind included. Two terraced levels below the main house is the house where Jean-Claude’s parents lived. It remains as they left it, totally untouched. To keep this second maison on the land costs a bit in taxes, but when he needs some energy Jean-Claude goes and sits in the living room and, so Sylviane says, he comes back a new man. The taxes are more than worth it. In the toolshed attached to that house is his last competition bike – a 90’s Colnago, complete with ITM negative-degree stem and Campagnolo Athena groupset. He bought it in Monaco where they lived before the death of his parents and inevitable move to the family farm. Below that tool shed is the Garden of Eden… no … Menton. We came to learn about lemons. We found oranges, clementines, grapefruit, bananas, thyme, olives, kumquats... The list goes on and Sylviane will expand on each item with passion, if you have the time. All this is possible due to the micro-climate of the bay of Menton. The Alps create a screen behind that keeps out the cold mountain air, which usually gets trapped in the valley at Sospel. South facing, the farm benefits from la douceur de temps. But it hasn’t always been that way. Citrons depend on natural elements : le terroir – the dry rocky soil - and la méteo but of course there is also human influence. In the 1960s there was a virus that almost dried up the entire lemon tree network in the area. The Tosan family had about 200 trees. They reckon maybe six survived. Snippets were taken and replanted from remaining trees that apparently resembled the mother Theresa. The lemon soil, with the help of a little soul, helped bring it all back. And the sun that shone and the warm Mediterranean breeze that blew, nurtured the fruit. The lemon represents concentrated soleil. At least it does to us. It’s alluring and undeniable, much like like Jean-Claude and Sylviane. They burst with life, sharing those archives of knowledge and experience that haven’t been written in books but rather have been lived on these terraces. Jean-Claude is like any cyclist when questioned about his life on the bike. ‘J’ai monté à 30kmh’! But the Madone isn’t even his favorite climb, he prefers the neighbouring Col de Castillon which joins Menton to Sospel. If you come to visit that climb, try that speed on your carbon 22-speed feather-weight. It’s hard if not impossible for more than one minute. Life on the lemon farm can be hard too. The Tosans didn’t make a proper harvest last year. They continue to do produce within the stringent French ‘bio’ regultations, with the soil and the trees being controlled annually by the authorities. To do it any other way requires an intensity and a method which does not match the family history, nor the family spirit. It’s not sustainable anymore so production is only what comes naturally and the results are sold at the market in Menton. Jean-Claude and Sylviane do it as respect for their parents and grand-parents and as a lesson to those generations below them. They know in the modern world this way of life is over-powered by other forces. They adapt and continue, just like Jean-Claude puts his bike in the small van and descends to the coast to continue riding. The lemon farmers of Menton will keep producing the best lemons in the for as long as their traditional artisanal métier permits. “People buy land to make money and then sell, we keep it for heritage and to keep our roots. If we lose our roots we have lost everything.”

The Ariège : Further Into The Pyrenees It's a Department of France with a reputation for being wild. Camille McMillan digs deep into coffers of the landscape that riders will traverse during the inaugural edition of the Further Race. Ariege - from the latin AURIGER : which contains, which carries gold to ( possibly ) Gold was collected from the tributaries that flow into the Ariège by placing the fleeces of sheep under the water and holding them down with rocks. The gold would get caught in the wool creating a golden fleece. Another way to collect the gold was to make ‘friends’ with the water nymphs that lived in the River Saurat in a village called Bédeilhac. If one was untrue to the Bédeilhac nymphs, the gold would turn to worthless stone. The Ariège is full of myths and truths like all places, however the Ariège is particularly packed with both. Above the village of Bédeilhac on one side is the Grotte de Bédeilhac , dating back 20,000 years. Prehistoric painted hand prints and art works still exist deep inside the cave. At the entrance of the cave there is no art work and this is where the village of Bédeilhac holds their Summer Fete. These village parties happen every year in every village in France, so not unusual, but it’s certainly a surprise that this one happens where presumably cave men did a dance 20,000 years before them. The cave entrance floor is particularly good for dancing as there is a large expanse of concrete. Nazi occupying forces in WW2 dug out the entrance of the cave and filled the first few 100 meters with concrete. They set to work in this natural bunker building Aircraft. Aircraft would fly out of the Grotte and go to war. How this timeline of human history can exist under one rock, I don’t know. It is something I find extraordinary. If you stand at the mouth of the cave you look across the village to ‘Le Calamès’. This crag is a mecca for climbers because of it’s sheer wall and there is a small ruin of a Cathar tower at the summit. Back when this region was a Cathar kingdom, it was said a crystal bridge spanned from this summit to the another nearby, where another ruin, ‘La Tour de Montorgueil’, still stands. This crystal bridge would have been an archway into the Saurat valley, with the Col de Port at its head. Another myth of the area, is the Cathar treasure. It is buried nearby. Apparently, six men escaped the castle siege of Montségur with the Holy Grail and hid it somewhere in the Ariège ( Probably wrapped in a golden fleece ). While the Nazi’s built their Aircraft, another division of the SS was out looking for the Holy Grail. Maybe as a race director I should dress like Indiana Jones. The truth of these ruins at Bedhiac is that they were the castles of the Counts of Foix, probably built at the end of the 12th century or the beginning of the 13th, at the end of the so called era of the Cathar. They fell into disrepair and are part of the landscape. Yes, there is real cave art in the Grottes, and the area was a crucible for modern man. Yes, there is an aeroplane inside the grotte where a French man landed his plane in 1972 and could not get it out again. What is real, and known of the Ariège is that it was at the heart of the Industrial Revolution of France. Blast Furnaces were cooled by the Ariège in Tarascon, the Great Forges were powered by the water of the Ariège. Foix, the capital of the Ariège prospered from the mining here, metals and stone. Farming in the mountains was kept simple in the old ways with terraces up the mountains creating pasture for cattle. The population collapsed after the great war as most of the young men were killed and the mining and industry declined. The Ariège pretty much returned to the wild for most of the 20th Century. Maybe gold still flows down the Ariège, maybe not, but there is definitely an invisible gold, the gold that is the electricity that the EDF generates from the rivers power. There is also the gold of ideas. For generations people have come here to get lost, to find themselves, to create a new self. This gold, is the gold of romantic ideas that have been fertile for centuries.

Tour de Cannes : A Première Before The Première "Some stars and directors come to the Cannes Film Festival by boat, others by private jet. Michael Angelo Covino and Kyle Marvin pretty much cycled their way into Cannes." - The Washington Post - It could be suggested that Mike Covino and Kyle Marvin wrote The Climb as an elaborate excuse to buy beautiful Speedvagen bikes and half the Café du Cycliste collection before ‘jumping the pond’ to ride the roads of the Côte d’Azur. Making a film that ended up winning the Coup de Coeur in the Un Certain Regard category was simply a nice by-product. After Festival Director, Thierry Frémaux, used The Climb as a prefix to talk at length about cycling in the region and Eddy Merckx's 50th anniversary of winning the tour during the official selection announcement, it was mutually agreed the inaugural edition of the Tour de Cannes had to happen. Everyone talks about cycling in films, but what about films (or their makers) in cycling? With agendas full of meetings, press interviews and free bars the premiere parcours was kept coastal, away from the slopes of the arrière-pays. The best escape from the Festival buzz is to head west along the coast to the Esterel, or the Corniche d'Or as its known locally. For The Climb production team, it was a welcome break from the intensity of festival business and a chance to connect with local riders, like the Icard family - father Michel, son Florent and brother/uncle Marc have a local heritage in the regional cycling scene like no other. Broken french meets broken english meets the joy of cycling on the Côte d’Azur. Hand gestures and false sprints up each rise bridge the language barrier. Any aller-retour needs a good turnaround point. Agay is a good one because (a) there's a roundabout and (b) beside that roundabout is a café serving the best tarte aux pommes - or if you're an American film maker – apple pie. Here Mike and Kyle answer questions on the film, why it involves the bicycle as a theme and why they choose the Col de Vence as a location for the first (and for some critics the funniest) scene. They also ponder extending the ride instead of turning back to make the first meeting of the day. On the return the Tour de Cannes peloton comes upon one of the regular mid-week rides of elder cycling statesmen, one of whom is sporting World Championship bands. 'If you can beat him up the hill, the film will win a prize.' And with that Mike was off. American film director (maybe with some slight ‘festival fatigue’) plays 50 something Azureéan cyclist. Let's just say.... it was the right result for both riders. Returning to the Croisette, the roll was called for a photo in front of the red carpet of the Palais des Festival where the film premiered the next day. After which it set the online review world on fire, after which…it won the Coup de Coeur prize in the Un Certain Regard Category. Before that however, it was agreed that even if Mike and Kyle don’t have another movie in next year’s Official Selection, they’ll still be there for the second edition of Tour de Cannes next year.