Community Postcard Series
Hand-delivered just across the park from us in London, our last community postcard of the year comes from Alex and Paul.
Alex and Paul first met on a dating app back in 2017. Paul being the keen cyclist, he turned up in full lycra on their third date. At the time, Alex wasn’t quite sure what to make of it and “couldn’t stop laughing”, being more of a runner herself. Thankfully for Paul, this wasn’t enough to put her off.
After around six months together, Paul treated the two of them to a holiday in Mallorca. Unaware of the heritage and relationship the island has with cycling, Alex thought this would be a beach holiday to enjoy together. Little did she know that Paul had packed his lycra, shoes and helmet and rented two bikes on the island for them to use. Wearing just her gym leggings and trainers, Alex partook in her first-ever ride that led to the lighthouse in Cap de Formentor. From this point on, she was hooked.
London is a special place for both of them. They equally enjoy living in big cities and rising early on Sunday mornings to enjoy the normally busy streets all to themselves. “You get all the roads almost to yourself, you can see famous landmarks and beautiful buildings. Plus discovering new neighbourhoods in search of coffee stops, it’s fascinating!”
Paul settled in London after moving around the UK numerous times after he landed a job as a designer and project manager. It had always been a dream of his to live here; the diversity of creative people, with the city being a visually and mentally stimulating place. For him, it has got it all, even after being fortunate enough to experience a plethora of other cities in the US and Europe.
Alex moved from France just over twelve years ago, with the ambition to better her English. After a year of living in the city and improving her English, Alex moved on to Colombia to go travelling. Another year passed with countless memories made, but the draw and buzz of London were too much. She just had to move back. “I guess I feel like everything is possible here. London gave me incredible opportunities and I am very grateful for it.” Before her and Paul started up Moloko Cycling, Alex would teach French to children and spent her summer holidays backpacking in Asia, Africa and South America. “I feel very happy when I am somewhere I have never been before - and it doesn’t have to be far away!”
Their focus right now is on their growing and thriving cycling business. “Moloko is, in a way, a guide to cycling with a flexible bike rental service at its core. The affordable rentals were the idea that got us started since affording a bike seemed to be the first barrier to entry. Really quickly, however, we realised that people needed more than this. They wanted friendly people to ride with.
We now offer group rides, guided tours and are starting to organise cycling trips abroad. We also work hard to create a safe space where people can ask absolutely anything, from how to get clipped in on the bike, choosing the right pair of bibs, fueling on a ride, knowing where to cycle, fixing a puncture, cleaning your bike and more. Cycling can be complicated and intimidating, especially when you don’t have anyone close enough to you to ask anything without feeling stupid.
In a nutshell, our mission is to make cycling easy, affordable and fun. We want more people on bikes and are willing to keep removing the barriers to entry to make this happen. Cycling has changed our lives in many ways and we want everyone to have the same opportunity.”
When they are not riding around their favourite streets of London, you can find Alex and Paul out enjoying the gravel paths around the Surrey Hills. With the views so spectacular they find it hard to believe they are so close to home. When they have time to travel further afield, the Lake District is somewhere special to them. Discovering it only this summer, they instantly fell in love. Their love for the Lakes has now inspired them to plan a ‘Moloko Escapes’ trip there in 2023, so they can share the experience with others.
Slowly and surely, Alex and Paul are working their way through the coffee shops of London during their rides. It’s hard for them to go out without stopping by at least one. Below is a list of their favourite places to stop when in the city.
For a cinnamon bun, make sure to stop at Fortitude bakery. “The baked goods are to die for. We love the vibe around that area and all the beautiful photography locations that come with it.”
If they fancy having a wander around a shop and enjoying a welcoming cycling environment, then VIA is their pick. “VIA is perfect to leave your bike inside and browse inspiring bike stuff when drinking your flat white. Next door is Vermuteria where the food is simply amazing.”
Taste of Joy in Holland Park is another favourite. With the option to safely store your bike inside and enjoy one of their “to die for” éclairs.
Lastly is Four Boroughs in Coldharbour Works. A perfect spot to finish a Kent ride or to hang out. The sourdough swirls come strongly recommended.
Finally, we asked Alex and Paul what they would suggest someone does with only 24 hours in London.
“We would tell them to start their day with a Richmond Park ride at sunrise, a few laps to stretch the legs and see the deers. It always feels special. Then for brunch, it has to be EggBreak, before wandering the cute streets of Notting Hill.
From there, it’s a 5km walk through Hyde Park to go to Covent Garden – don’t miss the cute Neal’s Yard and have a delicious finger doughnut from Longboy in Seven Dials. We would also use the photobooth cabin, this is something we always do. Trafalgar Square is now just around the corner, perfect to visit the National Gallery.
After such a busy day, it’s time to go for a drink in one of the local pubs to soak in the London vibe. We would then end the day with dinner at Nopi, one of the Ottolenghi restaurants. The menu is seasonal and always changes, but the aubergine dishes are always a safe bet. It’s a real treat for dinner, but if you prefer something cheaper and more simple, Rosa’s Thai is our go-to.”
We have now come to the end of this postcard, but before sign-off, Alex and Paul wanted to share one last message:
“In 2022 we left everything to start our own business and it has been incredible. We have met amazing people all along the journey, who we can now call friends. Of course, it has its challenges but we feel so lucky to live from our passion and to share it every day with others.
It’s just awesome to see someone trying a road bike or gravel for the first time, the smile on their face, the feeling of freedom and empowerment. It’s also amazing to see friendships coming to life ride after ride, with everyone embracing the no-drop culture and looking after others. There is so much to come in 2023 and we are super excited to grow.”
We would like to thank Alex and Paul from Moloko for taking the time to share what it is like to live, ride and move in and around the city of London. If you are interested in finding out more about Moloko, head to molokocycling.com or connect with them via the link below.
If you would like to get involved and send us your Postcard in the new year, drop us a DM on Instagram - @universal.colours
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Alex and Paul
@molokocycling