Berlin Bicycle Fair

Exactly a month ago, we were at the Kolektif Berlin Bike Fair with the entire Antymateria team. Today, we're sharing a photo report, previously announced on our Facebook page. Berlin can be a source of envy in many ways. The city, which only 20 years ago evoked rather unsettling emotions (we write more about the city and sightseeing here), has changed incredibly. But it's difficult to talk about Berlin as a single place. Due to its spatial layout, which was only partially "stitched together" after reunification, it's more accurate to speak of interconnected city-districts. In this context, perhaps Warsaw is similar to Berlin in some way. You can spend an entire day in Żoliborz or Saska Kępa and have no need or desire to move further. It's similar for residents, but also for tourists, in Berlin. It's more interesting to hide away for a whole day and poke around Kreuzberg, for example, than to try to rush through other districts. After the fair, we wandered around the disused Tempelhof Airport, on bikes of course. We also discovered a great vegan restaurant there. We think their business model (open buffet for a fixed price) will need further scrutiny after the visit of four cyclists from Warsaw.

Cycling culture

Last week, we had the opportunity to attend a similar event – ​​the BIKE EXPO bicycle fair at the National Stadium in Warsaw. There were booths there and there. Both were mainly bicycles. But the atmosphere and vibe were completely different. I think this is largely due to the location. But also to that difficult-to-define freedom and nonchalance that perhaps stems from greater affluence and slightly different traditions. The Berlin event was ticketed, but everyone contributed what they felt was appropriate. The large former factory hall and post-industrial buildings created a completely different atmosphere than the scattered booths on several levels of the National Stadium. All of this made us feel like we were at a huge, open-air cycling picnic in the German capital. The bikes themselves, while important, were treated with reserve (see the 36-inch wheel model ). However, a lot of space was taken up by those who love bikes, and perhaps don't necessarily insist on making money from them. After all, how much can you earn from handmade wallets made from old bicycle inner tubes? Of course, there were also exhibitors representing well-known brands (Brooks, Oakley, Pelago Bikes, Rose Bikes, and Canyon). However, the dominant presence was that of small bicycle manufacturers and niche suppliers of cycling clothing, saddlebags, and bags. Our hearts leapt with joy at the distinctive bikes from Poland (NS Bikes with the Rondo brand). We hope we managed to capture the atmosphere of this cycling festival in the photos below!