Then, he transitioned his business to concentrate more on repair and sales of bikes, something he had also done while running the café.
These days, Gruff’s main focus is competing, so the bike shop is appointment only, but as he stresses, “the coffee machine is still in place and it’s always on for someone who wants one.
“Cycling is a social sport. We like getting together and it’s always an awesome idea to organise group rides which often means you can also sit down with friends afterwards and talk about anything and everything over a coffee.”
The social benefits of cycling have meant group cycling has boomed among clubs throughout Wales, but it’s not just middle-aged men in lycra who crave somewhere to sit, sip coffee and let off steam with their mates.
That’s a point Tom Overton is keen to stress, as he prepares to open The Bike Lock, a new café and bike storage venue that is about to launch in Cardiff.
It’s not about lycra, expensive racing bikes and hipster beards. It’s about encouraging and supporting anyone who might fancy getting on a bike more often, to get to work, to go shopping, or just to meet friends for a chat.
“There is a perception of cyclists that they are all middle-aged men in lycra, but I just want to attract anyone on a bike,” says Tom, a keen cyclist with a mission to broaden accessibility to cycling as an activity for everyone.
“I want to normalise cycling, like in Europe, where it’s just how you get about the place. I want that to be a frictionless experience for people in Wales.”
The Bike Lock is a social enterprise that will offer secure storage for up to 50 bikes, electric bike charging points, showers, work spaces, and top notch locally roasted coffee.
“When you are on a bike, you have time for informal chats with other people. But stopping for a coffee and having a catch up is part of that,” says Tom.
“During Covid, it was a release because things were tough for everyone and I think that feeling of benefitting from talking things through with friends has continued.
“My dream is that The Bike Lock has the feel of a local pub, but where people can stay healthy through using a bike, see friends and have a chat at the end of the day. It’s not just about coming in and getting a coffee and then rushing off.”
It’s not just cyclists, though, who will be loving their lattes, enjoying their espressos and marveling at their mocha cortados on International Coffee Day.
Porthcawl Triathlon Club members regularly meet at Grow and Grind, a coffee shop located on Coney Beach in Porthcawl, a perfect spot for a chat after a run, cycle or swim.
The club place a big emphasis on mental health and have links with local support groups such as Breaking Free, Andy’s Man Club and Mental Health Matters Wales.
So, coffee lovers and cycling enthusiasts alike – dust off those bikes, get on those cycle paths and make friends through the power of a cuppa this International Coffee Day.
