About Us
About us
A Brief History
Bon Velo Herne Hill was established in 2010 and Bon Velo Norwood in 2015, both with full service centres, nice selection of bicycles and great staff to help you get started in cycling and to keep your bikes in great shape.
We hope to encourage cycling in our community, from young to the not so young. So please come in and see us, make us smile.
Meet The Team
Meet the people behind Bon Velo, the bosses and the expert cycle technicians who will take care of you and your ride.
We believe in good cycling – fast, friendly and stylish! Our shops our designed to be bright, fun and shopper friendly.
John
John wanted a Raleigh Chopper as a young boy but his parents were oblivious and he got a copy with no three gear shift stick, he was crushed! Never mind. Always a bike freak, he bounced around on a put together “scrambler” bicycle till BMX came to town. Racing Kuwaharas and later Redlines, he never won a race. Acquiring a track bike from a mate, he would pedal across the little island of Singapore on a fixie chasing buses, as there were no velodromes and if there were he would probably not win any races there either.
John
Karina-Bon-Velo
Karina was never afraid to try something new, building a custom hard tail she entered a downhill race in Germany. Pointing the bike straight down hill and never touching her brakes she bombed down with a grin on her face. Coming back to England in 2007, she took up road bikes and after having her son Eddy (named after Merckx) entered her first Olympic Distance and completing it in an outstanding time! With her never say die and uncompromising attitude, she almost single handedly raised the Bon Velo shop from the ashes. And what a shop! So in the autumn of 2010, Bon Velo Herne Hill opened, giving the local area a friendly, family run bike shop and five years later in 2015 Bon Velo Norwood opened its doors, this one offering coffee! Having survived flooding, covid, cost of living and various bike trends we are still here but just. Keep your local independent bike shop going, come by to see us, make us smile!
Karina
Ben
Been at Bon Velo since May 2023 but been in the Industry since 2008. Love going out on the Pace Hardtail in Swinley or longer rides and commutes on the Cinelli Zydeco. Live with my wife Laura, and two cats Rupert and Rosie in Crystal Palace. Love football, Arsenal supporter and play 5 a side with the guys from the shops, otherwise in the nice weather looking after the plants in the garden. See you when you pop by the West Norwood shop!
Ben with a Beard
Scottish-Ben
The most recent of the Bens to join Bon Velo! Growing up on the east coast of Scotland, Ben (Woolf) has always been fond of the outdoors. Since moving to London in 2017, he has found his outdoors time in fixing and riding road bikes. Coming from an engineering background, Ben puts his MEng to good use in the workshop. He has been with Bon Velo for 2 years, and can be found looking after the Herne Hill shop when John isn’t around
Scottish Ben
South-African-Ben
I’ve been working at Bon Velo since the end of 2021 and I’ve been working in the bicycle industry since 2006. Mountain biking was and still is my passion, it’s what got me involved in fixing bikes and it’s what has kept me motivated throughout all the years. I was lucky enough to learn from some seriously skilled mechanics and bike shop people from the start. In other words I know a lot about bikes.
South African Ben
Josef
Josef Berg is a skilled mechanic with over 10 years of experience in the cycling industry. Passionate about keeping bikes running smoothly, he combines technical expertise with a deep appreciation for cycling as both transport and lifestyle. Based in London, Josef believes that cycling is the best way to navigate the city’s streets. Outside the workshop, he enjoys good food, baking, climbing, drawing, and making things by hand
Josef
Rueben-Bon-Velo
Sweet and kind Reuben came to us initially for work experience from ElmGreen School and loved it so much he joined us straight after he finished school. Since then he has gain so much experience as a bicycle mechanic and also how we work in Bon Velo. He loves bicycles and probably has more bikes than any one person can ride in his lifetime.
