Italy is the Country of coffee and cycling. What’s better than bring together these two national passions?
If you like the idea of a coffee break or a happy hour just sit on a bicycle saddle, let’s go looking for the “bike bar” (bike cafè), unique for their coffee aroma, cycle-décor, equipped areas and the good company of other cyclists.
By the time, in many cities have been created a lot of these places for cyclists, which are perfect haunts for those who want to meet other people with the same passion for the “two wheels” and the “green” lifestyle.
Also abroad there are some of the most original bike cafè; for example the Velokafi in Zurich, a kind of “drive-in” for cyclists, open on the terrace of the RathausCafè. It is equipped with special places for bikes, in order to do not get off the bike when you drink a coffee or a colorful cocktail.
But there’s even more. For example the Velopresso, an invention that allows you (thanks to the installation of a coffee maker on the bike) to drink your cup of coffee also on the road. In other words, it’s a sort of mobile coffee urn, in which those who pedal can grind coffee beans. The prototype has been presented in 2012 at the Innovation Engineering Show of London, and because it is expected to have a gas system to bring to boil the water for the coffee, people are trying to find a way to make it even more green.
Also inventors of another prototype of mobile coffee maker are looking for funds; its name is Wheelys and it is eco-friendly and powered by the solar energy. It is presented with the slogan: “Cambiare il mondo una pedalata alla volta” (Changing world pedal by pedal).
However, in Italy there are about ten bike cafè.
For example the Bike Cafè Shop in Collecchio (in the Province of Parma): here, in addition to the coffee, they offer all services of a machine-shop, a place for the meetings of sport groups and the opportunity to buy accessories or spare parts.
The “BikeCafé” in Pinerolo is characterized by its bikes hanging to the walls and happy atmospheres, it’s a meeting point to talk with friends, drink a cup of coffee and read specialized magazines.
Also in Turin, that before to become the capital of cars it was the city of the bicycles, the “PaiBikery” is always packed, attracting clients with the slogan: “Le torte di Arianna, le biciclette di Daniel e un posto dove passare del bel tempo” (The Arianna’s cakes, the Daniel’s cycles and a place to spend nice time together)
Instead, in Milan, there’s the “Upcycle” that is not just a cafè, but also a North-European restaurant. This place represents the new way to think about the city and, inside, there are long tables in which people can eat together, that’s why cyclists are always ready to share an experience with other people.
Still in Milan there is “Le Biciclette Art Bar & bistrot”, but before it was only an old bicycle shop. Now, the cafè is surrounded by an ancient vocation and the bikes become design objects, attracting enthusiasts of the “two wheels” but also who loves music, contemporary art and the good food.
Close to Piazza del Duomo (Milan), in 2014 has been opened the “Bianchi Cafè&Cycles”, which is the first Italian cafè of the historical cycling house of Milan that already debuted with its cafè in Sweden and Japan. And of course, it is all painted in blue and white, the Bianchi’s brand colours.
Here you can eat from breakfast to the aperitif, among historical bicycles and the last products of the company. Inside, there are also some services for enthusiasts, such as a laboratory and a bike-fitting to find the right position on the saddle. After Italy, the next Bianchi Cafè will be open in London and New York.
One of the newcomers is the “Bike Bar Alessandria”, in Alessandria. It is an industrial area furnished with old bikes and antiques, it is opened during the night to eat a sandwich and drink a beer: the dishes of the menu are called with the name of the famous peaks of Giro d’Italia and Tour de France, with posters, videos and books.
The last one is a place in Rome and it honors the italian cinema. It’s called “Ladri di Biciclette” and it’s a pub and bike boutique.
In this way, between a glass of wine and a plate of pasta, you can admire expensive bicycle frames, dreaming challenges and adventure on the two wheels.
INFO:
www.bikecafe.org
www.ladridibiciclette.net
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