Top 10 Cycling Cafes in the UK

Cycle cafes, like cycling itself, are booming. They're a great place to meet other riders, get advice and repairs - while you tuck into great coffee and food

Cadence Performance, Crystal Palace, London

Relaunched this January with a new mezzanine floor for its cycling fitness studio, Cadence is an all-in-one venue for people who take their cycling, fitness and gear seriously. Still, once you've finished your Watt bike session and are done browsing their high-spec bikes, you can relax with a cake in their cafe, where they show all the classic races on the big screen along with themed dishes. Located in Crystal Palace, it's not far from another cult cycling haunt - Cafe St Germain, a regular meeting spot for local riders.
• 2a Anerley Hill SE19, 020-8676 8825, cadenceperformance.com. Open Mon-Fri 11am-8pm, Sat-Sun 8am-6pm

Roll for the Soul, Bristol

Part-funded by a crowdfunding campaign, Roll for the Soul is a buzzing non-profit cafe serving Bristol's cyclists. The cafe opened last July and it's a great addition to a particularly community-focused scene that already includes the fantastic Bristol Bike Project - who are partners with the cafe. The bright hangout features locally-roasted coffee and local beer and a food menu that includes burgers, khobez wraps and cakes. There's also a workshop and events that range from live music to yoga for cyclists.
• Unit 2, St Lawrence House, Quay Street, 07596 917946, rollforthesoul.org. Open Mon-Tues 8am-6pm, Wed 8am-9pm, Thurs-Fri 8am-10pm, Sat 10am-10pm, Sun 11am-5pm

Velo Cafe, Brighton

Brighton got its first cycle cafe last November when the Velo opened as part of the multimillion-pound redevelopment of the Level park. Founded by entreprenuer Nigel Lambe, who hopes to open more branches around the country, its bi-weekly rides have seen it adopted by the local cycle community; but with its outdoor seating and fresh and healthy-focused menu you don't have to arrive by bike to enjoy it.
• Rose Walk, The Level, 01273 270707, velo-cafe.co.uk. Open daily 8am-5pm

Route 2, Topsham, Devon

Named after the National Cycle Network route that is being developed by its local council along with Sustrans, this eco-cafe is the perfect pitstop for cyclists exploring the West Country. As well as offering repairs and home-baked food to fuel your ride, Route 2 also offers cycle hire for visitors to the area and is right on the beautiful Exe estuary trail.
• 1 Monmouth Hill, 01392 875085, route2topsham.co.uk. Open daily 8am-6pm

Ronde, Stockbridge, Edinburgh

A classy cafe-cum-shop stocked with fashionable cycling accessories, Ronde is a place that will definitely appeal to the style-conscious road cyclist. Passionate about promoting cycle culture in the broadest sense, the shop also has an exhibition space to display photographs and prints relating to the two-wheeled pursuit and holds regular events, from quizzes to club nights.
• 66-68 Hamilton Place, Stockbridge, 0131 260 9888, rondebike.com/culture. Open Mon-Wed, Fri-Sat 9am-6pm, Thurs 9am-7pm, Sun 11am-5pm

Velocity, Inverness

This cycle cafe has a workshop for its members so they can do their bike repairs on the cheap while they enjoy a coffee and a cake. Membership is free and there's a small fee to book a workstand. For a bit extra you can even get a mechanic to help you out, meaning it's a great place to learn how to take care of your set of wheels. The cafe also runs film nights, music evenings and pop-up dinners.
• 1 Crown Avenue, 01463 419956, velocitylove.co.uk. Open Mon, Weds, Fri-Sun 9am-5pm, Tues 10am-5pm, Thurs 9am-9pm

Look Mum No Hands!, east London

With its cosy courtyard and cool interior - adorned with easy on the eye cycle paraphernalia - it's no surprise that Look Mum No Hands! has established itself as the go-to joint for east London's cyclists. It also recently opened a branch on Mare Street, Hackney. As well as having a cafe-bar, there's a bike workshop that hosts regular maintenance courses, as well a calender of regular evening events. Major cycle races are also shown on the big screen for those who want to enjoy the sport surrounded by fellow fans while sipping on a bottle of local craft beer.
• 49 Old Street EC1, 020-7253 1025, and 125-127 Mare Street E8, 07985 200472, lookmumnohands.com. Open Mon-Fri 7.30am-10pm, Sat 9am-10pm, Sun 9.30am-10pm (Old Street) and Mon-Fri 7.30am-11pm, Sat 9am-11pm, Sun 9.30am-10pm (Mare Street)

Rapha Cycle Club, central London

The Marmite bike brand (cyclists either love it or hate it) opened a plush cafe in the West End of London in 2012. The Rapha Cycle Club aims to be a hub for it's well-groomed followers, serving up coffee and pastries for you to snap for your Instagram feed, as well as acting as a meeting point for regular group rides.
• 85 Brewer Street W1, 020-7494 9831, rapha.cc/clubs. Open Mon-Fri 7.30am-9pm, Sat 8.30am-7pm, Sun 10am-6pm

The Cycle Hub, Newcastle upon Tyne

A social enterprise as well as a cafe, the Cycle Hub promotes cycling and cycle skills in the community. By the side of the Tyne in a modern building with a terrace overlooking the river, it's the perfect pit stop for cyclists on the Coast to Coast trail. The Hub also runs cheap self-guided rides with drop-offs and transfers - such as a ride past the Angel of the North - for anyone keen to explore the local area.
• Quayside, 0191 276 7250, thecyclehub.org. Open Mon-Fri 9am-5pm, Sat 10am-6pm, Sun 10am-5pm

Zappi's Bike Cafe, Oxford

Since Italian ex-pro cyclist Flavio Zappi first set up a cafe in the Jericho area of Oxford in 2009, (the already vibrant) cycling culture in the city has gone from strength to strength. Now above the Bike Zone bike shop, the cafe continues to be the base for Zappi's cycling club, which meets there for regular rides. Cyclist or not, the cosy cafe, decorated with memorabilia, is a great place to soak up the local scene.
• 28-32 St Michaels Street, no phone, zappisbikecafe.co.uk. Open Mon-Sat 8am-5.30pm, Sun 10.30am-4pm
Photo: Cadence Performance. Crystal Palace