In 2011 Nocturne and Brooks England will bring Penny Farthing racing (properly called ‘Ordinaries’) back to the streets of the City of London. Competitors from across the globe will descend on the historic Smithfield Market to battle it our across two action packed races:

RACE 2: The Brooks Ordinary Trophy
With an illustrious history the Grand Old Ordinary Trophy will once again be decided on the streets of the City of London. Our daring riders will race for 30 minutes and 5 laps across the challenging London circuit as they bid for glory and the coveted trophy.

Well this looks like fun!

More.

Rapha’s 2nd running of the North London ride event celebrating the famous Paris–Roubaix road race held on the same day in Northern France. 100km through darkest Hertfordshire including 20 gravé sectors. All finishers were treated to free beer and frites and big screen Eurosport to watch Johan van Summeren become king of the cobbles.

The full flickr set is now up!
Go peep.

There they were, blasting along gravel roads, the odd bit of pavé and what were meant to be ‘mud tracks’ and not a grimace in sight, not even the hint of one. To be honest hell looked pretty good to me. Even a fellow who had encountered 4 punctures in his first 50km was as chipper as Gene Kelly underneath an umbrella. Hellish? Hmm, *looks left to right* not round here.

Hold tight for a full report and a stash of photographs over at Rapha later this the week.

Big thanks go out to Joe and Kieran.

if you are down ‘that London’ next week be sure to get over to ‘look mum no hands’ for the launch of issue 5 of the brilliant Ride Journal.

NC Cycle mag from 1985 spotted at the TFG flickrspot.

Photos sent in to me by my good pal and London correspondent, Kieran Young.

From what I gather this is the Rapha Cycling Club’s latest exhibition of ‘beautiful machines’ that were at some point ridden in the grand tour. Anyone want to correct me on that, feel free.

Either way, lovely bikes and that Raliegh has me salivating no-end.

Cheers for the link up K.

On the 8th May Rapha Cycle Club will open in London. A combination of gallery, shop and café, the Cycle Club is a meeting place and hub for road riders. Unlike most ‘pop up’ stores, the Rapha Cycle Club will be more than just a retail space. With live screenings of road races and a full calendar of exhibitions and events, the Rapha Cycle Club will be a home for the sport and culture of road racing. This is the ultimate Rapha experience.

An extensive range of Rapha products including a limited edition collection of Cycle Club items, as well as food and drink. Various screenings and exhibitions will take place including every stage of the Giro and the Tour, and exhibitions celebrating Fausto Coppi and the centenary of the Col du Tourmalet.

Definitely need to check this out.
More info.

This looks fantastic.

An exhibition showcasing all that is great about Britain and its hands. Lots of nice photographs about the bike frame building business in Blighty.

On now at 14 Bike Co so if you are about go and see it.

More images here at Jonathan’s Flickr spot.

Read all about the great things that Rapha plans to do this coming year… Here.