SPIN LDN - The Urban Cycling Show
Spin London is like the short-cut to recognising all that is on point in urban cycling today. This year’s show didn’t disappoint - this time exhibiting at The Sorting Office on New Oxford Street, the vibe was sweet and the exhibitors, kings and queens of urban cycling cool.
Luke McLaughlin and the team put on an incredible show, from the virtual reality world of ebove by Activetainment (never before seen in the UK) to the Vélowland Shiny Demon time trial bike, to the wooden bikes of Flat Frame Systems and the ultra-fun, ultra-modern Swifty Scooters, they genuinely had some of the trendiest and innovative products I have ever seen.
What separates Spin from other shows is its selectiveness in who exhibits in its shows. Far from elitist, the end result is a really intimate display of absolute gems, showcasing some of the best in homemade talent (think Hill and Ellis, 8Ball Bicycles and Ally Campellino), and examples of works from leading designers (Tokyobike, Bicycle Taxidermy and Brooks to name a few) presented without frilly gimmicks and the faff often encountered at other bike shows (not naming any names!).
One of the stand-out exhibitors for me, was a company called Funked Up. Their single-speed bikes were stunning and the staff were awesome; I’ve never been a part of the fixie ‘thing’, but now, it’s all I can think about. To fixie or to single-speed, what colour do I want my….everything?! Seriously, check out their website with the highly addictive ‘Design your Own’ feature.
An extra shout out to FunkedUp for creating a FUNKEDUP bicycle to raise money and awareness of LGBT equality - this is pretty damn cool…..
Founder, Olaf O’Moore said, “We have created a mycharity.ie page, where we hope to raise as much money as possible for Yes Equality, helping them to maximise their wonderful campaign. And one lucky person who donates will win this super unique custom made bike.”
It’s just €5 per entry to the raffle and all proceeds go to Yes Equality. Donating couldn’t be easier, simply log on tomycharity.ie/event/funk4equality They’ll be announcing the winner on their Facebook page on 29th of May so be sure to include contact details with your donation.
For more SpinLdn loveliness to those who didn’t manage to catch the show, you best check out the brands on Instagram, using the hashtag #SpinLdn.
