This week we saddled up with the boys at Maison du Vélo to find out what keeps the wheels spinning…
Steeped in rich history and wrapped in romance, cycling is intrinsically linked to Surrey, thanks to local legendary landmarks like Box Hill.
A well-established destination in any local cyclist’s black book, Maison du Vélo, set up by Tom Hough and Dan Flynn in 2013, is a veritable favourite for artisan coffee, delicious cakes and cycling know-how that is second to none.
This week I had the pleasure of catching up with Tom Hough, alongside (store manager & Senior Bike Fitter) Paul Drake to discover more about how it all started and their new postcode.
Tell me how Maison du Vélo started… where did the idea come from?
Tom:
Dan came up with the idea for MDV as we were both Reigate based cyclists and recognised that cycling and coffee went together, although the coffee was often a single kettle in ramshackle shed somewhere.
Coffee is the only legal performance enhancing drug allowed in the cycling world (to a point) so it’s a big favourite amongst cyclists!
We thought we’d combine the two together, building a coffee shop for the cycling community and a specialist cycling store where we could indulge our collective passion for everything bike related.
We thought if Five Guys could do it – we’d have a go!
Since we started MDV loads of other cycling coffee shops have sprung up, it’s now part of the traditional landscape for cyclists.
So, 10 years later you’re still here, more popular than ever with a new street address. How is the new location?
Earlier this year we relocated to The Old School House on Effingham Road, where our physio had been located.
We moved the massage clinic to its own entity further down on Lesbourne Road and set up the coffee and bike shop in the Old School House.
From the moment our first customer entered, we realised what a fantastic space this is. It lends itself perfectly to what we want and what our customers need. We’re really, really pleased - even the outside area has the sun from 11.30am, and it’s on a quiet road, our previous outside space never got the sun. We can’t believe our luck.
What’s the culture like around cycling?
Tom:
There was a misconception when we first opened that we only sold expensive top-of-the-range kit and weren’t here for the newbie or your ‘average’ cyclist.
Truth be told, we love helping people who are new to the sport. Most people arrive in our store with 90% of the knowledge they need to purchase a good quality road bike, and our team helps to fill in any blanks and make sure, ultimately, they leave with a bike that’s the right size for them. That is the biggest error made when buying something off the shelf or online, getting a bike that doesn’t quite fit you.
Our passion is for cycling and there’s nothing more rewarding than introducing someone into the sport and getting them excited about it, guaranteed they’ll be back in upgrading, or buying those shorts they swore they’d never wear!
Paul:
Cycling is a pretty unique sport. You can watch the Tour de France one week then travel to the Alps and track yourself on Strava cycling the same route as the professionals. It’s like watching Formula 1, then getting to drive on the same racecourse, measuring yourself against the pros – it gives you a real insight into exactly how talented they are.
When cycling events take place, they aren’t ticketed, you can rock up and watch the pros fly past, so it’s an exceptionally accessible sport. There really is no other sport that operates at this level, where you have real access to the pros.
I’ve been away cycling in the Alps only to find myself behind the professionals, stopping off at the same coffee shops, following the pro Peloton team up a hill – that’s not unusual, but it’s quite magical when you’re fans of the sport like we are.
What’s your best-selling item?
Probably our bike servicing and maintenance services – we help maintain bikes of all descriptions, from old mountain bikes that have been sat in a garage for five years to the latest piece of carbon perfection. We’ve got an exceptionally experienced, talented team of bike geeks who love fixing problems and helping our customers get back on the road. As cycling enthusiasts, we like nothing more than helping someone stay or get back on the road.
How can I get involved? What’s a good starting point?
Tom:
I’d suggest joining one of our group rides. These are seasonal and run in the summer months.
They’ll be starting up again once the clocks spring forward. Unlike a traditional bike club, you don’t need to buy the jersey or subscribe. If you have a drop handlebar road bike, come and join in. People are sometimes nervous about this, but we have group D which are nice sociable sessions up to group A who go hell for leather, both followed by a beer back at the shop. They’re a great starting point for anyone wanting to ride with others.
So, if money were no object, what bike would you get?
Paul: - Scott Addict RC
Tom: - Anything Lightweight, Black and Cool
And finally, our quick-fire round:
Mountain or road?
Paul - Road
Tom - Road
Tea or coffee?Paul - Coffee
Tom - Coffee
Gel or block?Paul - Gel
Tom - Block
Fixed wheel or free wheel?Paul - Free wheel
Tom - Free wheel
Cake or toastie?Paul - Cake
Tom - Toastie
Favourite post ride snack?Paul - Boiled egg
Tom - Pizza
Favourite event?Paul - The Marmotte in the Alps
Tom - The “Gran Fondo Pinarello” in Treviso, Italy
A huge thank you to the team at Maison du Vélo; we couldn’t help getting caught up in their contagious passion for cycling… it’s very clear that their authentic enthusiasm has kept them as a cyclist’s favourite destination.
No padded shorts for our team just yet… but watch this space!
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