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Cycling in Mayfair – pedalling in style

Cycling in Mayfair and other prime central London areas can be a more relaxed affair than one might imagine, taking in some of the city’s most cultural and artistic sights. There are a wonderful selection of attractive tree-lined streets and vast expanses of green parks and spaces with cycle paths meandering through.

From the courtyard of Westminster Abbey School, which offers a privileged view of Westminster Abbey and some of its hidden quarters, it’s just a quick ride to Horse Guard’s Parade, a historic sporting ground where Henry VIII once hosted jousting tournaments, followed by a pedal through Hyde Park, Henry’s private hunting ground, before Buckingham Palace was built.

Factor Bikes

A growing culture of cycling in Mayfair, an area normally associated with luxury shops, galleries and exclusive clubs, is illustrated by the fact that it is also home to cycling cafes and bespoke cycle shops. While there has been an increase in the demand for London’s hire bikes which are available to anyone, the rise of cycling in the capital and the UK in general has also seen the growth in the world of luxury cycling. Foremost among the high-end bike manufacturers in this market are Factor Bikes.

Factor Bikes was conceived from a commitment to innovation, speed and performance through advanced engineering; our soul lives in technology and integration and our heritage is derived from advanced motorsport and aviation

Factor Bikes is the brainchild of designers Baden Cooke and David Millar – British Road and TT champion and Australian multiple Grand Tour stage winner. The new generation of innovatively designed Factor Bikes focus on our innovative heritage and luxury performance using only the very highest quality materials, fit, and finishing. Originally a spin-off of b1systems, a leading engineering firm in Norfolk dedicated to working at the highest levels of design with some of the fastest, most prestigious brands in the world including Ferrari, Aston Martin, Lamborghini, Maserati and many F1, Moto GP and WRC teams.

Baden Cooke comments: “We work closely with BF1 Systems on a lot of the technical parts of the design and engineering. We want to bring that race heritage into that technology already established by BF1 systems, to make the best bikes in the world”.

Originally BF1 Systems was looking to involve a more critical, race-proven, eye. It was the perfect opportunity to start working with Tour de France Green Jersey winner Baden Cooke. Baden was a top professional for 14 years winning over 50 races. In 2003 Baden sprinted his way to a stage win and the overall Green jersey in the Tour de France beating the likes of Robbie McEwen and Erik Zabel. Baden, an Olympian, rode for powerhouse squads such as Orica GreenEDGE and Saxo Bank.

Joshua Buckley of H. Barnes & Co. and Baden Cooke of Factor Bikes

Baden’s experience and feedback working with the b1systems design team made him passionate about what Factor Bikes http://www.factorbikes.com/ was seeking to achieve and the epiphany came when he took the Vis Vires out for a test ride. This culminated in Baden developing a partnership with some cycling industry experts and, along with Rob Gitelis, purchasing Factor Bikes from bf1systems. Baden Cooke says: “Now that I am retired, for the first time in my life I can actually ride whatever bike I want. One of our main goals at Factor is to create a bike so good that everybody will aspire to ride it”.

Bespoke Cycling in Mayfair

Joshua Buckley at H Barnes & Co says: “London is a great city for cycling; The Thames affords some of the best views across the city, with level safe cycling routes stretching across the capital and of course the green spaces and parks mean you can cut through and feel like you’re a million miles away from the urban hustle and bustle.

Our office is in Mayfair and so I’m always checking out interesting retailers and Bespoke Cycling in Jermyn Street is one of my haunts. Bespoke is all about the fit of a bike; every purchase begins with a comprehensive fitting session, as well as fits for existing bikes. Achieving a correct fit is crucial for not only performance but also comfort, efficiency and preventing injury. The fitters use 3D motion capture to gain highly accurate data. Another key element is Bespoke Cycling’s biomechanics, involving a physical assessment to adapt the bike to a rider’s ideal position as a future goal.”

by Joshua Buckley

Massimo Listri – Master of interior photography

Massimo Listri - Italian Master of Interior photography — Massimo Listri

Florence born Massimo Listri discovered his passion for photography at the age of 16, motivated by the books and magazines that his father, a literary critic and journalist, used to receive at the family home. Massimo has become a world renowned master of interior photography having had access to some of the most unique and restricted places such as The Vatican Museum in Rome, Palazzo Pitti in Florence, The Morgan Library in NYC and Versailles.

Influenced by Piero della Francesca and Vermeer, Listri’s photographs have an incredible sense of depth due to the extended use of perspective and are able to transmit an almost deafening silence, as if time has stopped. As Massimo says ” My photography is an expression of tranquillity and silence in this chaotic society – a sense of perspective and equilibrium. This is therapy for the soul. Every time I take a photo it is like the first time a treasure is revealed, a first emotion, be it an empty room or the greatest treasures of the Vatican.”

Listri’s photographs are extremely decorative and have the capacity of filling a room and creating a sense of depth and volume even in a small space. Interior designers absolutely love his work as they fit so well in both contemporary and classic settings, plus his price point is very fair considering the artist’s extensive career – the most expensive piece being £20,000.

Massimo Listri is one of the most talented photographers of our time, not only for his ability to capture unique spaces but also because of the sense of cultural elevation one gets from looking at his work which is timeless and sophisticated.

For more information please visit www.massimolistri.com

This article first published on Wild Free Innocent by Olivia Innocent Buckley

Olivia Innocent Buckley says “Massimo and I have been working together for approximately four years. I am his official UK representative and have arranged many exhibitions and collaborations for him. One of these was an event with Italian brand Etro in their Bond Street store where fashion and art met in an incredible setting during Frieze Week 2012. The exhibition was a huge success and his photographs sold out in one night.

For any and all enquiries for Massimo Listri pieces please contact Olivia Innocenti – Oliviainnocentibuckley@gmail.com

by Joshua Buckley

Factor Bikes launches new bike for World Tour

At the Rouleur Classic in London, Factor Bikes unveiled their new bike which will be used by French team AG2R La Mondiale for next year’s World Tour. Factor have teamed up with David Millar to create a limited edition of 51 of these bikes which will be available retail for approximately £10k.

Factor Bikes new 2017 World Tour bike for AG2R La Mondiale

Factor Bikes Test Pilot, David Millar said: “I hope the bikes and experience we bring can help AG2R La Mondiale and Romain Bardet, one of the most exciting racers in the peloton, win the Tour de France.”

David Millar Factor Bikes CHPT3 — David Millar Factor Bikes CHPT.III

Launching the new bike, hosted by his new enterprise, CHPT.III (chapter three), cyclist David Millar talked about the three chapters of his career; before his doping ban, after his doping ban and now – the third chapter.

Millar explains- “I started working with Castelli in 2006, developing pro race apparel, we worked together, all the time pushing the envelope, and in the process becoming the benchmark for racing tech. As my career came to an end I realised I would no longer have that relationship, I’d have to wear clothing somebody else had designed.

I didn’t want that. I wanted to create cycling clothing that was constructed for my new life as a non-racer, only designed for riding, not racing, but still with the latest tech and with a collaboration that I’d always known. This is the third Chapter.”

Brompton Bikes has also created this special edition everyday bike in collaboration with CHPT.III. Each Brompton is handmade in London with many customisable parts to make it perfect for you. Its ability to fold into a small, portable package make the Brompton ideal for city living.

The connection between CHPT.III and both Factor and Brompton offers cycling at both ends of the spectrum. Factor is at the cutting edge and forefront of racing technology and Brompton is a bike that represents lifestyle with an access all areas approach.

by Simon Barnes

Michelangelo Pistoletto at Blenheim Palace

There is an incredible exhibition currently on show at Blenheim Palace of Italian artist Michelangelo Pistoletto who is the extraordinary artist considered the founding father of the Arte Povera movement and who has continually pushed boundaries since the 1960’s with his provocative and playful works.

This solo exhibition showcases over fifty of Pistoletto’s individual works spanning from paintings, sculptures and site specific installations. Classical antiquity is seen to be colliding with post-war consumerism in his Venus of the Rags piece ( see image below) where the classical goddess is leaning against a large pile of waste material. This work clearly exemplifies the artists anti establishment use of cheap materials to make high art, a provocative move which started an artistic revolution and cemented him as one of the most influential artists of the 20th Century.

This is the third exhibition organised by The Blenheim Art Foundation which was founded in 2014 with an inaugural show by controversial Chinese contemporary artist and activist Ai Wei Wei . Following the success of Ai Wei Wei’s exhibition the foundation in 2015 showcased a solo exhibition of Lawrence Weiner, considered the founding figure of Conceptual Art.

The non profit organisation established by dedicated collector of contemporary art Lord Edward Spencer Churchill aims to challenge convention by breaking away form the “white cube” gallery way of presenting contemporary art today. The foundation engages and excites visitors with unique contemporary bodies of work against the spectacular background of the Palace creating an ever so trending blend of classical and contemporary. Set in 2000 acres of parkland, the Palace is a UNESCO world heritage site since 1987 and was famously known as Sir Winston Churchill’s birthplace.

Michelangelo Pistoletto at Blenheim Palace runs from 15th September – 31st December 2016 – please visit website HERE

This article by Olivia Innocenti Buckley first appeared on the website Wild Free Innocent

by Simon Barnes

Zenith Aviation bespoke aircraft services

Zenith Aviation hosted an event at Biggin Hill private airport showcasing two brand new Bombardier Learjet 75 planes. The new 75 is the fastest “private/business jet” in its class which the aviation company had just bought. Along with the 75s were other jets in their fleet , and cars from a private collection were displayed. These included a Ferrari Dino, a Ferrari Daytona and a beautiful Ferrari F12.

Zenith invited a number of other like minded companies luxury brands, each of whom provide a uniquely personal, bespoke service to a select number of private clients to co-host the event: Patek Philippe watches, a selection of brand new super cars such as the new Aston Martin DB11, which was the first time, the car had been seen outside the AM factory and the Lamborghini Huracan lp610-4 Spyder.

Simon Barnes from H Barnes & Co commented that “events like this are a great opportunity for like minded individuals to experience and discover new and bespoke services on offer similar to that of Zenith Aviation”

Josh Buckley from H Barnes & Co adds: “The type of client that chooses to fly with a personalised service such as Zenith is exactly the same style of client we are typically engaged with at H Barnes & Co. Events such as these simply amplify how likeminded business such as ourselves operate within the luxury market”

About Zenith Aviation

Zenith Aviation offers a bespoke charter aircraft service: Charter flights for business or leisure, experienced maintenance of your private jet, professional aircraft acquisition and sales service and tailored management solutions.

Zenith Aviation’s charter service offers luxury, flexibility and control – wherever you wish to go. We cater for a range of requests and pride ourselves on our attention to detail, ensuring we are your first choice for charter.

Click for more information about Zenith Aviation

Factor Bikes

Bespoke Cycling in Mayfair

For any and all enquiries for Massimo Listri pieces please contact Olivia Innocenti – Oliviainnocentibuckley@gmail.com

About Zenith Aviation

Contact H. Barnes & Co – Tel: 020 7499 3434