Steel Coffee: When city life pushes you outside.
With summer slipping through our fingers and fall making everyone understand that it's time to go inside, you’re probably gonna be on the lookout for a cozy place to have a warm drink while having a look at some nice cycling/outdoor gear. (Isn’t that the best winter thing?) Well, I have the address you need! Steel Coffee is not far from my place and it honestly checks every box to grab my money. Passionate staff, good brand selection, and an assortment of gear always rolling through the seasons. No wonder they have so much success.
Let’s go back to where it started then. I had the pleasure to talk with Marc who owns the place and to my big surprise, Steel didn’t start as a cafe but as a magazine. Publishing about the cycling culture, it was soon obvious that a space was needed to present some of the brands they were writing about and to also throw some events when the time was right. So, since 2015, you can now get your carrot cake while looking at a fine selection of jerseys, bibs, helmets, and more, approved by the staff and used by the pros.
I randomly discovered the place while looking for some bike cafes in Paris and I’ve been meaning to present it to you guys for a while now. Don’t get me wrong, I absolutely love this kind of place. They are usually filled with amazingly welcoming people with the same passion as us. But I always had a thought going through my head: “As a fixed gear rider, what are they gonna think about me? Is it even ok if I don’t bring my 10k Trek Madone to get some tea and look at Rapha stuff?”.
Needless to say, I was reassured when I saw a few track bikes in front of the shop while passing by several times, as well as the bike from Team Look Crit they had in their showcase for a while.
Just to be clear, you won’t find Sugino 75s here, but you can arrive like a complete city boy and leave with an outstanding camping set for your next cycling quest in some far far away land. Or just your next micro-adventure, those are fun, new a write-up on that soon...
From pedals and frame bags to technical wear and tires, they have it all. Official Rapha reseller, they will probably know better than anyone else how to guide you to get the best jersey/bib for your specific use. While the selection isn’t huge, it is enough and it is precise. I’m glad to see people taking the time to go through the absolute mountain of cycling equipment and accessories on the market right now to make sure that only the best will get into the shop. ( Best not being the most expensive, those are two really different things.)
Ok, so, adventure on the bike is cool and all, but it’s only 50% of your trip. What about life off the bike? Transitioning from cyclist to outdoor camper. Good thing, they got you covered for that too!
We all know that traveling on your bike is also trying to find the right balance between the amount of gear for your comfort and the amount of weight you’ll have to pull during the day. It’s with this simple principle that the staff at Steel decided to think outside the box and picked ultra-light, ultra-compact wear, such as Gramicci, Patagonia, and a few others. Outdoors and climbing brands that know how to keep you comfy in the wild better than anyone else. And I haven’t talked about their bike rental program or the crazy amount of accessories they have. Glasses, coffee-making hardware, backpacks, bar tapes and so much more, but always while keeping a boutique shop vibe with only quality gear on the shelves.
You’ve probably guessed it by now, Steel is no ordinary bike cafe. It’s growing with its time, going more toward gravel and bikepacking while keeping an open mind to other riders and commuters. They are clearly aiming at getting more people on bikes, either for daily commute, weekend trips, or even long-distance adventures. Like Marc said it:
“Cycling is part of our life, it’s more than just a sport or a means of transport. It is above all a passion and a state of mind that appeals to us. As a rider's balance depends on his direction and movement, movement is where this trend will always evolve. "
If you’d like to see Steel for yourself, here is a link on how to find them, as well as their website.
Thank you to all the staff who took the time to talk with me about that welcoming place. And since I haven’t talked about the coffee yet, both baristas are super friendly and every hot drink I tried was bliss.
