SPOKE CC, STEVEN AGE

A quirky rural cafe and workshop where the staff ooze enthusiasm and expertise

Mention Stevenage and most people think of the New Town’s 1960s urbancycleway network, and its underpasses. But the gentle Hertfordshire landscape around it is fine cycling territory. A destination stop for many club- and day riders from Luton, Hitchin, Watford and north London is Spoke CC: a countryside cycle cafe a couple of miles out of town, with a workshop that does fits and builds as well as repairs.

It’s not bad for a former pig shed. Cafe manager Poppy’s family own the farm of which Spoke’s spacious hut is a part. It started as a bike shop in 2017; the cafe was added in 2019, and lockdown was an opportunity to expand the cafe and workshop space.

They’re proud of their workshop (“probably the largest and best-equipped workshop in the area”) and of their vanbar. This vehicle sits inside the cafe, supplying Belgian beers next to the counter, but sometimes heads out, serving coffee at events such as the Smithfield Nocturne. Poppy and co also wax lyrical about their locally supplied bread, milk and cheese, and events such as their regular Wednesday gravel rides. We wonder what the pigs would think of it all… spokecycles.cc

SIGNATURE DISH

Sourdough cheese toastie £3

SHOWSTOPPER

Weekend special homemade cake (varies) £3

I’M A COFFEE SNOB, HOW’S THEIR FLAT WHITE?

Top class, from Campervan Coffee Co £2.70

KEY STRAVA SEGMENT

Climb to the Sue Ryder turn, 1,260 yards (1,152m), average grade 3.6%, elevation gain 135ft (41m), 58,002 attempts by 10,182 people

KOM

Douglas Coleman 1.57, 20/07/2014

QOM

Bethany Hayward 2.13, 10/09/2014

“Best bike place there is! Great atmosphere and great food/drinks” C Patrick P “Quirky and very friendly... super-friendly staff and lovely hot chocolate brownies!” M Ramandaj “Spoke is unique and a great find” Bomb Bay “Amazing staff, superb coffee and the best lemon drizzle cake” Uta Jenny