The Loss of a Cultural Establishment
- Miles Baker-Clarke
- May 27
- 6 min read
I woke up on a morning in April and subjected myself to the usual social scroll - not a habit I relish - but one that is deeply ingrained in my routine.
But this morning was unlike every other, this morning I woke up to the heartbreaking news that a pillar of the cycling community - Brixton Cycles - in the southeast of London, was for the last time, shutting up shop.
Brixton Cycles announced on April 2nd, that it had succumbed to economic headwinds after years of battle, being forced to lay down its proverbial sword and step away from the fray.
I felt compelled to write this, as despite a limited personal association with Brixton Cycles, its staff and its owners, I hold Brixton - and all it stood for - in such a positive light that I felt deeply saddened by the news. People I know had been nurtured by the team there, found their place in cycling through their community.
But why does this particular closure matter? Being uncomfortably realistic, this is not a shock - bike shops have been struggling to make ends meet for a years - but this matters because Brixton Cycles was so much more. Practically, the shop was just that, a shop, but layered upon bricks and mortar, there to sell bikes and service, was - is still - a community hub. A place where members of the riding community, particularly those from the underrepresented groups, that Brixton has historically had in abundance, could gather, learn, connect and ride.
Overnight, that will disappear. This is a tragic loss to the Brixton riding community, the black and brown riding community at large and the London cycling scene as a whole. The outcry on social media tells the story well, and in tragic detail, with hundreds of comments from people who - at one time or another - had been helped by the team at Brixton Cycles.
People left comments like: "So sorry to read this. You’ve been a wonderful part of the community. 😢💔 Thank you for everything you’ve done for the south London cycling scene." from @diversityincycling
And: "Mad love to you guys. Thanks for looking after me when I was a kid!!" from Alec Briggs (@alecpedelar)
There are hundreds more where those come from, making it abundantly clear that this loss will be felt deeply by the community that Brixton Cycles has touched over the last 40 years.
A brief history
For those of you who don't know Brixton Cycles and I'll confess to only know it from a cultural relevance perspective, having not been to Brixton in 15 years, I feel a brief history might be useful for setting the wider context. To caveat this, I'm no historian, and it's been almost two decades since I listened to reggae music and ate freshly baked Jamaican patties in Brixton Market, but I'll try to give you an overview.
Brixton Cycles opened its original doors on Coldharbour Lane, in 1983 as one of the first co-operatives in London cycling. Likely inspired by the Edinburgh Bicycle Co-op that sprung up in the late 70s, Brixton Cycles was born from a desire to serve the local community. This was a trend in business at the time, following periods of not insignificant social and economic unrest in the UK.
What is a cooperative?
Google defines it as:
"A cooperative, often shortened to "co-op," is essentially a business or organization owned and democratically controlled by its members."
My experience with the business model, suggests that coops are people-centred businesses focusing on serving their members and their customers with equity, inclusivity and solidarity. This feels superbly relevant to the ethos of Brixton Cycles' community-first attitude that has become synonymous with the shop.
Brixton Cycles quickly established itself in the place that gave it its name in no small part because Brixton itself has its own complicated and rich history.
Following World War 2, Brixton became one of the key places where the Windrush Generation settled in London, workers - mostly black people - came to the UK between the late forties and early seventies to help in the rebuilding of the UK. Sadly the history surrounding that colonial ship is far too deep and layered with injustice to address here, but it's safe to say that London and the UK as a whole were not a place of equality for black people during this period.
With the shop's founding years taking place shortly after the Brixton Uprising, it quickly established itself as a positive beacon of positivity and hope in the community, providing a highly important service and a welcoming home for south Londoners, particularly those from Caribbean or African backgrounds.
In times of hardship, Brixton and its workers provided support for those feeling it most, providing a community space as well as affordable repairs for bicycles - one of the most economical forms of transport at the time - as well as a safe haven for those who were facing persecution.
As a continuation of the community spirit that had built within the shop, Brixton Cycles began to extend from its four walls, introducing the cycling club that bears the same name. The club can be seen riding and racing all over the country resplendent in red, gold, green and black the colours of Rastafarianism, as a way to honour Brixton’s cultural identity.
Both Brixton and the club have changed in the decades since, with over 300 members the club is made up of people from all walks of life, all colours, and all creeds, and they continue to wear the colours as a reminder of the connection to the Brixton community and of the need to carry forward the original vision: to help make cycling more open, inclusive, and diverse by breaking down barriers to entry and making Brixton a welcoming and safe space for everyone.
Lisa Okawa, Cycling Culture Club contributor and proud long-term member of Brixton Cycles CC said:
“Our club only exists thanks to the shop and everything it has done for the community over the years. Its closure marks a significant moment in our club’s history and we will strive to continue honouring its values and our shared heritage. We remain committed to promoting an inclusive, welcoming club that champions diversity in cycling.”
The store has faced significant headwinds for years. In tandem with the increasing gentrification of Brixton, rising property prices, a slumping economy and cycling industry and a forced relocation to Brixton Road, the team have been put under pressure to survive and that is a battle you simply cannot fight forever. Quoting the team on their social media channels
"We gave it everything. For years, we have been at the coalface, all the while trying to keep cycling accessible in a city that doesn't always make it easy."
The team finished by saying that sometimes love and hustle simply aren't enough to keep something alive. It requires huge, unimaginable energy to continuously battle every day and that's one of the saddest things in my view.
A pillar of the community
Reading back through my own narrative, I realise that I've done as so many do, managed to skirt around the significance of this particular shop to this particular community.
Brixton Cycles was a place for black people. While never exclusive - of course - it was a space where the Afro-Caribbean community of Brixton and its surrounding boroughs could feel safe, represented and welcome and it's for that reason - more than any other that I've written down here - that this shop holds a place in a hearts of so many of London's black riders.
What's next for Brixton Cycles?
The loss will be felt most deeply by those who were closest. Its team, its members, its club and the local cycling community that call the shop home.
I reached out to a few names after writing this, to see if anyone was ready to share a comment, but understandably, no response as yet. Should one materialise, I'll be sure to update this article.
To the team who created such an iconic space, I commend you and wish you luck in the endeavours that follow.
For more on Brixton Cycles, https://brixtoncycles.cc/, which I hope will continue in perpetuity.
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