London Bike Kitchen

For those who are unfamiliar with London's most stolen bike, the folding Brompton bicycle has been around with us since 1979 (it’s as old as me!)

Nothing short of an engineering marvel, what you get in convenience, you'll compromise in rigidity and maintenance:

Rigidity: This bike is not laterally stiff, it is just compliant in all directions. Flexy AF. BUT - and this is a big butt - it is one of the most reliable and smallest folding bikes out there. I don't mean one of those rinky dinky clown bikes, but an actual useful and race-able (if you really want to) bike.

Ease of maintenance: There's a whole lotta cable routing going on! Add to that a hub gear, the mouse trap chain tensioner, and small wheels, conducting a Brompton rear wheel puncture repair is like getting a Schwalbe Marathon Plus onto a 16" rim (read: it’s not easy).

That's where our new class comes in! I present to you…

✨ Brompton Puncture Repairs! ✨

Check our website for more infoooo 🔗

🎶 Ooohhh just a little bit closer 🎶 We are getting thisclose! Donate £10 and please share widely 🙏 Word of mouth is still the best way to SPREAD THE WORD 💌 Thank you friend! ✊

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Thank you for having us at the 'Share the Joy' bike event with 🍋‍🟩

Our 'label the bike' activity was super well received and enjoyed by many 👩‍🔧

It was great connecting with all other amazing cycling organisations paving the way for the cycling industry to be more inclusive and accessible like and along loads more!

So fun! Thanks for the plaque! 🙌

Silvi 🤙

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Storytime: The Bike Frame That Started LBK

Once upon a time, in October of 2009, I was helping a friend out at a small spooky music festival in Camden. My hare-brained idea to get dozens of pumpkins for a carving extravaganza fell flat. Londoners were just not interested in making jack-o-lanterns (back then!) Instead of wallowing in self pity, I wandered over to the other stalls, and one guy was having a jumble sale. My eyes immediately gravitated towards a shiny black lacquered bike frame. Reader, I wanted it. My friend and her boyfriend came by later and I told them about the frame - the boyfriend automatically volunteered to have a look for me and let me know if it was worth anything. He reported back that it looked like it was in great condition, and it was just my size! (Note: it was not "just my size" - which is why I'm selling it.)

I bought the frame, and the seller also threw in a mug commemorating Prince Charles and Diana's nuptials.

The frame then gathered dust in my room for almost a year. I had NO idea where to start. I asked a couple friends, who asked their boyfriends because of course I didn't know any women who knew anything about bikes. They all came back with different intel: start with the wheels - no - start with the cranks - no - start with the handlebars - STOP! "Why isn't there a class where I can learn how to do this??" I lamented.

A friend mused that she thought she had heard of someone taking a course somewhere to build her own bike - but a frantic googling session unearthed nothing. My new flatmate (a fellow Californian), asked if London had a bike kitchen. "What's a bike kitchen?" I asked. Another frantic googling session revealed that they were big open workshop spaces where people could fix their own bikes, and there's loads of secondhand parts, and volunteers around to help. "I'm gonna set up a bike kitchen." I thought, and my soft marketer's hands started typing out a business plan.

So Jean Claud van Frameset is now a free agent and ready to find its next home. Could it be under your butt? 🍑

Email Jenni directly: [email protected] (no DMs)

Ride on ✌️

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... without prepping these 6 things first! 🫣

☠️ DUN DUN DUN (RUN)

For the uninitiated, the Dunwich Dynamo is a 185km / 115mi night ride that takes place on the Saturday in July closest to the full moon. This year it will be on the 20th of July.

I've done the Dun Run 3 times now, and I am going to share with you all the mistakes I've made along the way. If you have useful mistakes to share, please pop them in the comments!

I have had too much bad luck over the years with the weather, so I'm now a fair weather Dun Runner. I won't go again unless it is absolutely guaranteed not to be raining, and also when I prepare all these following things:

1. Body
When I first did the Dunwich Dynamo in my 30s, I was unprepared and paid the price each time. Now in my 40s, I know better! Train with long rides, get a proper bike fit, and don't underestimate the challenge.

Learn from my mistakes: If you're a potato like me, maybe think about preparing your body well in advance! Pain points reveal themselves (6-8 hours) so you might want to try different saddles (like in our saddle library) DO NOT DO THIS ONE WEEK BEFORE!

2. Kit
(This includes what you wear plus what you carry!)

Wear Layers: Hot days can turn into chilly nights. Always bring a jacket.

Chamois Cream: A must for long rides to keep you comfortable. Especially important if you've not done long rides before and are unsure how your nether regions will react.

Route Prep: Download the GPX file on your phone. I was a bit of a wild one and just followed people, now I would use my Beeline! (I love Beeline, this is not an ad - it's so simple, I never could figure out Garmins).

Carry Tools: Unless you have solemnly sworn a blood oat to not separate from your group, bring your own tools!

3. Bike: Service your bike a month in advance. Check cables, brakes, and gears.

4. LIGHTS - MY GOD, YOUR LIGHTS: Invest in a strong front light and carry spare batteries.

5.Stomach: 'Never miss a chance for a wee and to fill your water bottle - not at the same time' - Jenni. Hydrate and snack on lots of savory foods. DIY energy drinks are lifesavers!

6. Return.... For more, read our latest newsletter! 🔗

What do you call a flock of Mamils? A SPORTIVE!

There is a rumour cycling around that the percentage of women participating went down this past Ride London.

(I’m trying to find exact stats, if anyone has those, send em over).

Kind of unsurprising considering it was held in Essex, den of self-centred petrol heads. I once had a person drive AT me while in Epping. I quit road cycling after that.

Disturbing news emerged after : a car had driven into someone causing live-changing spinal injuries.

(The irony is that it was a ford and the event was sponsored by …🤔)

Essex Police (along with the ) have still not sorted out their passive tense writing style for road collisions. (At least they used collision and not accident?)

And a flock of cyclists rode into a solo woman rider, putting her in the hospital with a broken arm. They did not stop to check on her.

Funny how the driver and the cyclists in these instances behaved exactly the same way. It's almost as if it's not the vehicle that's the factor here, but the person operating said vehicle.

Listen, I am all for changing our road infrastructure to make it safer for people cycling or walking.

But if you've got a gremlin in your head telling you that other people's lives aren't worth as much as your own, the problem starts there.

I can’t think of any solution to this other than be excellent to each other and look out for one another. We’re all human beans.

💥 WE ARE LESS THAN £5K AWAY FROM REACHING OUR GOAL of £15K! Donate £10 and please share widely 🙏 Word of mouth is still the best way to SPREAD THE WORD 💌 Let’s do this! ✊

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💥 WE ARE LESS THAN £5K AWAY FROM REACHING OUR GOAL of £15K! Donate £10 and please share widely 🙏 Word of mouth is still the best way to SPREAD THE WORD 💌 Let’s do this! ✊

THANK YOU FOR EVERYONE WHO'S ALREADY DONATED AND HAVE BEEN SUPPORTING US ALL THE WAYYYY 💖💪

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LBK inches towards 75% funded 🐛 Plus new July classes are live!

If you haven't yet had the time to donate, now's your chance!

If you have already sent some dinero our way, we are ever so grateful - would you be so kind as to share our gofundme page with a bike loving pal?

In a social media saturated world, it's still word of mouth that actually gets the word out and has the most impact ᕙ(`▿´)ᕗ

We thank you for your support, in whatever shape/form it comes in 🙏

🐌 HELP US INCH A LIL BIT CLOSER 🐛

LINK ON BIO! 🔗

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Why should LBK exist? 🌟 Crowdfunding Alert: We’re 1/2 funded and need your support to reach our goal to open in July! Donate £10 and spread the word!

Jenni: "LBK is a rare gem in the bike industry - staffed entirely by women and non-binary people. It's a haven of respect, freedom, and support."

Jamie: "LBK’s cooperative environment fosters trust and flexibility. We share values and camaraderie, making it a more humane and inclusive space."

Amie: "At LBK, we value people over profits. We respect and trust each other, allowing for freedom and creativity. It’s a caring, supportive environment unlike any other bike shop."

Silvi: "LBK is an empowering, ego-free zone. We cater to those often excluded from cycling spaces, creating a welcoming bubble for women and non-binary people."

Join us in building a better cycling world. Donate, volunteer, and share our mission! 🌍❤️

[Link in bio]

We use DIY because it's a common term that people understand straight away. But what we do is different. It's DIT.

We really can't do this without you 🥹

Please share or donate by 2 June to see us reopen in July! 🌞

Hey everyone, it’s Jenni from LBK. In my latest newsletter I wanted to share my story with you and ask for your help to reopen our beloved community DIY workshop 🔧

💥 Our GoFundMe is LIVE! We’ve reached 25% of our goal, but we need more support. Even a £10 donation can make a big difference.

When I started LBK in 2011, I was determined to create something different. Many bike kitchen projects I visited relied on unpaid volunteers, leading to instability and inequality. I wanted LBK to be a place where everyone is paid fairly for their work. I dream of giving young people (esp young women and NB/Trans people) a different future, a different way of being, a different way of working, a different way of living.

Money has always been a challenging topic for me. LBK doesn't have any money. We live hand to mouth, paying back Covid loans, paying all our bills and dealing with the rising costs of bike parts. We’re not backed by corporate sponsors; our strength comes from people like you who believe in our mission.

Despite the challenges, I remain committed to our values. I believe in transparency and fairness, and I want to create a space where women and non-binary folks feel welcome and empowered.

With your help, we can:

*Reopen our workshop.
*Ensure fair wages for our dedicated mechanics.
*Continue building an inclusive community where everyone is valued.

This isn't just about fixing bikes; it's about creating a better, fairer future for all of us. Your support means everything to us.

🔗 Link in Bio to DONATE! 🌟 (And for our latest newsletter!!)

Thank you for being part of our journey and helping us make a difference ❤️

(Picture from left to right you can find Jenni, Jamie, Silvi and Amie)

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