Anatomy of the Perfect Event. The “Love Letter Turbo” Weekend 🖤
In 2023, around this time, I was posting my article about my weekend in Berlin for Rad Race Last Wo/Man Standing —> Rad Race on Film was Pure Chaos, and I Loved it…
And I was talking about how amazing my experience was over there, all the fun I had, etc... But this was better! Not to look down on any of my previous experiences but Love Letter Turbo has been an absolute blast from start to finish, no matter the changing weather or Parisian traffic, I just loved every minute of it. So let me share a glimpse of our incredible weekend and a few more details on what Love Letter Turbo is actually about.
Love Letter Turbo is an "Independent publication showcasing alternative cycling culture."
Hard to explain it more clearly without reading their first release, but in a podcast episode (that will hopefully see the light of day in the next few months), I interviewed Corentin, one of the creators of LLT, about how he and Stephane went on to create such a beautiful printed piece. It's also very large (280 x 340mm) therefore quite impressive, and I was just blown away by the amount of work, research, and time committed to making such a refined publication. 180 pages of cycling eye candy with an additional 20 pages of risograph, this might as well be the ultimate coffee table artsy cycling book. If you can fit it on said table...
If you're looking to buy it online, a webshop will be set up soon, but for any updates you can follow the @loveletterturbo Instagram account.
Obviously, with the release party just around the corner, we started getting together a few days before, building bikes in train stations, going on rides around Paris, and just enjoying the calm before the storm. Even if nothing went overboard during this weekend, I think I can speak for all of us here: It might as well have been the most intense and tiring (in a good way) few days I’ve had since the beginning of this year. Great release party on Friday at Stolen Garage with beers, flash tattoos, good music, and all the shenanigans to have a great time. 50km gravel ride the next morning, and an Alleycat on Sunday, mixed with more unplanned stuff that we just figured out along the way… Like twenty-five people turning up unannounced to a pizza place, hungry, tired, and ready to fight for whatever was left on a Saturday night at 10PM.
Let me talk a bit about something that meant a lot to me. If LLT is about alternative cycling culture, track-bikes might as well be right in there. Fixed gear, fixies, track bikes – whatever you want to call it – many of us were here during these few days. During the entirety of this weekend, including a gravel loop around Paris organized in collaboration with “Les Rookies” (a local gravel and bikepacking rides organizer), at no point did I hear any kind of weird or condescending comments between Fixed riders and Gravel riders. Everyone was here for a good time, with no judgment on the bike you ride or your overall cycling level.
Why would it matter so much to mention it here?
Because many rides aren’t like that. And it felt fantastic to be in such a wholesome and inclusive group. That really reflects LLT and the crowd they attract. It’s an eclectic, fun, and healthy community. Even if we don’t know when will be the next LLT event, I can safely say that I would love to be part of it again. Congrats to Stéphane and Corentin for creating such a well-thought weekend in close collaboration with Stolen Garage and again Les Rookies for Saturday’s ride.
Here are all the links you need to obtain a copy of the first Love Letter Turbo publication, or send them a message if you want more information or simply wish to express your appreciation for their work.
LLT Website -> www.stolengarage.cc
LLT Instagram -> @loveleterturbo
Stolen Garage -> @stolengarage
Les Rookies -> @lesrookies
But who is the mysterious Corima guy?
🎞: Kodak Color Plus 200
📷: Leica M6
📍: Paris
