Author Topic: Cadence at Crystal Palace  (Read 491 times)

jane

  • Mad pie-hating female
Cadence at Crystal Palace
« on: March 31, 2012, 07:38:11 AM »
Anyone visited this yet?  http://www.cadenceperformance.com/cafe/My boss told me about it.  Sounds like it's aimed at roadies from the name, but they say welcome to anyone interested in cycling and they have a cafe! Also open from 7am at weekends so possibly hoping to grab a bit of the pre club ride trade from Cafe St Germain.  I may head over tomorrow to have a look.

Re: Cadence at Crystal Palace
« Reply #1 on: March 31, 2012, 07:48:08 AM »
I'd been told about it by a friend and went up there last Tuesday - I don't think it was open yet... at least it didn't look it.

It's in what used to be SG Smith's Mercedes dealership at the top of Anerley Hill.

Half a dozen turbos with road bikes along one wall, and a err..... cyclist specific cafe along the other.


itsbruce

  • Lavender Bike Menace
Re: Cadence at Crystal Palace
« Reply #2 on: April 17, 2012, 12:47:23 AM »
I have visited it a couple of times.  They serve good coffee, very good cake, tea and will make savoury sandwiches to order.  Plenty of seating space in the cafe area.

The place itself is a bit sterile, though; very much aimed at the testosterone-fuelled roadie who wants to dream of winning the Roubaix while spinning on the rollers.   Feels like a cross between the waiting room in a private clinic and a car showroom.  Not nearly enough bike bits on sale.  Some of the staff are determined to make the venue more friendly and welcoming, though.
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jane

  • Mad pie-hating female
Re: Cadence at Crystal Palace
« Reply #3 on: April 17, 2012, 06:10:52 AM »
Have now also visited it along with a friend who used to ride with DP.  It was a Sunday morning and quite a few DP'ers were trotting in after their Sunday morning ride.  It is a bit sterile but we chatted with the young woman there (they have some links with Brixton Cycles) and they have lots of plans, but obviously it's early days so they are not going to be overstuffing themselves with stock.  The coffee was excellent and the cake was good, so that's probably a good start.  I wish them luck, as they seem a nice bunch, and I have been thinking for a long while that we need a good cycle cafe in SE London.  I'm not sure about the site though.  The building is grotty, and while it's good for hauling in club cyclists, I would think a position where you might catch a good deal of commute and utility cycling traffic would be better.  Not many of those at the top of one of South London's steepest hills.  That's surely one of the reasons LMNH and Lock 7 are successful.  Their position.  But I hope the Cadence lot make a go of it.