Pete (him / he) founded Rat Race Cycles after several years working as a mechanic in major London bike shops, working with, and learning a lot from, some great mechanics. He progressed fast, and within 18 months of starting in the industry became a workshop manager himself. He managed a number of busy workshops, for both large chains and independent shops, before setting up Rat Race Cycles’ first iteration as a mobile bike workshop in 2008.
Demand for Pete’s services grew and grew, however, and at the end of 2012 he opened his first bricks and mortar shop in Nunhead, an area very close to his heart. What formed the core of the mobile servicing business was the belief that a specialised service means knowing your mechanic, trusting their expertise and being able to rely on the quality of their work. A specialised service is personal, and to this day Rat Race Cycles’ personal service and expertise is still at the heart of what we do.
Pete holds a complete Cytech 3 qualification, and is also a qualified Cyclefit bike fitter.
Nelsy (they / he) joined us in 2018 from a track racing (and excellent cycle café) background and quickly learned the ways of gear whispering. They’ve gone from strength to strength in servicing skill and they’re planning a move to Colombia to be a bike wizard there.
Dag (him / he) has a diverse background involving software project management and cheese selling, but he’s happiest on a bike with lumpy tyres and a bivvy strapped to it, far from civilisation. He’s a whiz at running the shop and keeping us all in order.
Henry (him / he) is a classically-trained singer, Jiu Jitsu expert and fixie rider. He’s also superb at making sure your bike is thoroughly looked after and you’re most likely to see him somewhere near the front of the shop.
Billy (him / he) was actually Rat Race Cycles’ first shop employee, our Saturday kid, back in 2012. Since then he’s worked seasons in the snow, run busy and successful kitchens and helped people buy the right ski and outdoor kit. We’re very glad he’s back with us using his bike-fixing skills, at least until the next big adventure calls.
Monty (him / he) is with us part-time while doing a Masters degree, and has been wielding spanners and fettling bikes for several years in hillier and more Northern climes.
Esme (her / she) is who you’re most likely to meet at the front of the shop on Saturdays. She’s also doing her A-levels, when she’s not winning cyclocross and track races!
Stuart (him / he) is our resident Antipodean, with a background in finance and healthcare. He’s switched from BMX and MTB to cycle commuting to cycle fixing, but currently holds the shop record for “longest commute”.
Rat Race Cycles 