Shop stories: Vicious Cycles Athens

Located on a gritty little street in central Athens, Greece, Vicious Cycles Athens has been part of the city’s cycling scene since 2010. What started as Athens’ first fixed gear shop on a “sunny street for shady people” has grown into a rider owned hub known for custom wheel building, apparel, one off builds, and doing pretty much everything your favourite bike shop should do.

Co-owner Jimmy Koutsovasilis says they have built a vibrant and loud community, with lots of things happening around the shop. That community is probably what sets them apart from other bike shops in the city.

We’re organising local events, self supported bikepacking events, alleycat races, and our infamous punk rock shows in the shop. Anything can happen on our little street. Since day one we try to do things a little bit different. Different is good.

In a city where cycling infrastructure is rare, if not nonexistent, visibility is not a 'nice to have', it is an absolute essential, whether you ride in traffic or head out into the backcountry. Vicious Cycles Athens has stocked Bookman lights since the early days.

The simplicity and functionality of Bookman matches our aesthetic and our need for good visibility, in urban spaces or out in the wild. My personal favourite is the Volume light. I love the big knob, the replaceable battery and the high lumens. The design is just perfect, and that is a word we don’t use too often these days.

VCA is rider owned, and maybe that is one of the reasons they have built such a loyal following. A quick look at their Instagram makes you realise the shop is not your regular bike shop. It is a meeting point for the community, with rock shows, races, beers, and their own merch and stickers. And they also love dogs.

If you’re in Athens, make time for VCA. If the doors are closed, they’re likely out riding, bikepacking, or racing ultras. If they’re in, you’ll find dot watching, a good book, music in the background, and dogs around the shop.

It’s always been about bikes and rock & roll.

Follow their feed for bikes, chaos and rock & roll. And next time you’re in Athens, you know where to go.