The Bike Shed Motorcycle Club started in November 2011 as a blog about Anthony “Dutch” van Someren’s journey as modern sportsbike rider into the ‘new wave’ custom motorcycle scene.
At that time everyone was reading about online – the cafe racers, brat-style, scramblers, etc. They wrote about the new bikes and builders on the scene, especially in the UK & Europe. The blog attracted a crew of friends and contributors.
Many friends joined in, when in May 2013 the Bike Shed blog migrated from a virtual community into hosting their first pop-up motorcycle event: “a celebration of the creative scene around motorcycle custom culture”. It started as a conversation in a pub.
The first Bike Shed show featured around 70 bikes across 2 arches in Shoreditch. It attracted 3,000 visitors – not just to see the custom bikes, but to enjoy art, photography, curated retailers and great food & hospitality. There was even a barbershop, adding to the sense of lifestyle and theatre.
Bikeshed London 2018. Photos taken by Amy Shore
After the second Bike Shed show in October 2013 conversations started around whether or not the Bike Shed could be a permanent place, committed to providing a unique destination for bike riders who wanted to combine their love of motorcycles with an honest desire for hanging out with cool, like-minded people in a club-like space with great food, great hospitality and comfortable surroundings.
In November 2015, the Bike Shed motorcycle Club tentatively opened its doors on a 12,000 square foot venue across four renovated railway arches in the heart of its original home, Shoreditch, in Central London. The BSMC at 384 Old Street features a 100 seat cafe and restaurant, with bike parking on a private street for 60 bikes, along with a curated retail space, galleries for bikes and art, a barbershop and an event space, plus the BSMC’s offices.
Bikeshed Lounge. Photos taken by Bikeshed
They are now the largest independent motorcycle blog in the world, with the largest social media presence.Their annual May show continues to attract huge crowds and the finest builds from across the globe whilst further events such as the Cafe Racer Cup and Sunday Scramble put the emphasis back on riding. In 2018, 15,000 people visited their London show at Tobacco Dock and they expect an even bigger audience in 2019.
Europe’s biggest and best independent annual motorcycle was this year, from 25th to 27th of May and NEXX teamed up with the The Bike Shed crew for a limited edition helmet collection!
The ocular extravaganza “BLACK & GOLD Series” includes two unique vintage Racing helmets embellished with custom NEXX and BSMC artwork.
The XG100R is a modern re-issued of the legendary racing helmets from the 70’s. It round shape shell comes with a retro feel but the low profile technology, sets the stage for the most comfortable and best performing helmet of its style.
The X.G 200 is the ultimate helmet to go with an old-school vintage motocross bike or flat tracker! The Nexx XG200 is all ’70s to the eye, but very modern in terms of technology.
The BSMC x NEXX Helmets collaboration helmets have been so popular since the launch of it at the May Event that it have been snapped up by as many of their crew as well as customers.
Now, they are also exclusively available at The Bike Shed retail channels, worldwide.
Cover and Gallery Photos taken by Amy Shore and Mykola Romanovsky