Photography for Balfe’s Bikes

What objects shape your life? What objects have given you more than you expected?

Just like the camera has influenced my life in unexpected ways - so has a bike.

Initially cycling in London was a way to escape the nightmares of overcrowding and inevitable delays from commuting by public transport. It became my ticket to unlocking the city, finding a sense of freedom and actually being able to enjoy living in London (plus saving a lot of money!)

However as the years have gone by my experience of cycling has changed. Instead of solely ‘getting from A to B’, riding a bike has become increasingly social and I have finally discovered the thrill of owning a road bike and riding just for fun. 

So having been a customer for many years, it was a real pleasure to have been commissioned by Balfe’s Bikes to spend a day ‘behind the scenes’ in two of their stores; celebrating a new store opening and a massive refurbishment. 

The shops are spacious and filled with everything you could possibly ever need for a cycling adventure. However I found it is the people who work there and the workshops which are at the heart of it all. 

Just like every part of a bike has a role to play and needs to work together in order to make the bike work, so does the team in bike shop.  In addition to being fuelled by coffee, the team needs to be able to trust and communicate well with each other to be able to do their various roles. 

From the shop floor staff to the mechanics to the ‘behind the scenes’ operations teams, every member plays a role in creating a warm and friendly atmosphere. An environment where you don’t feel embarrassed if you have no clue how to fix a puncture - something I have firsthand experience of!

Thanks to both of the teams who made me feel so welcome and were very patient with me whilst I made minor ‘tweaks’ to the shop floor displays or stood over them whilst they worked on bikes. 

Here are to many more cycling and photography adventures!