CAFÉ RACER CUP
CAFÉ RACER CUP LY D D E N H I L L
The Bike Shed in London’s East End has gone from strength to strength and has inspired a new generation of bikers to hit the streets, which can only be a good thing. They have managed to combine heritage, nostalgia and trendiness, bringing a new level of professionalism to the passion enjoyed by so many of us. John Allsopp checks out their race day at Lydden Hill.
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t was the Bike Shed’s brand new summer event held on Saturday 21st July; we were promised a packed day of Café Racer action. I can indeed confirm that they delivered. Some of the café racers I was privileged to see on the day were firmly rooted in the present and are perhaps living proof that the leathers, slicked back hair and attitude never really went away. Their forebears earned the Ton Up tag for tuning their stripped back street bikes to hit the halcyon 100mph mark around the streets of 1950’s London and beyond, racing from tea bar to coffee house before the last rock ‘n roll riff had finished.
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October-November 2018 • South East Biker Magazine