Blog.

2022 and beyond

Live By You - Actress & CASISDEAD
Closer - Smith & Mighty
After Laughter (Comes Tears) - Wendy Rene
Tearz - Wu-Tang Clan
Pulsate - Alix Perez
Народ задыхался от боли - KAMILL'FO
Blow the Whistle - Too $hort
lit - Lado
Rinse Out - Criso
Immortals - Shades, Alix Perez, Eprom & MC GQ
Dezires (Remaster) - Aquasky
Waiting for a Meaningful Title - Mark System
Night Train (Instrumental Mix) - Appaloosa
Lovebombs - London Elektricity, Catching Cairo & Dunk
Want - Shadow Club & Need For Mirrors
Zero Line - Blade
Falling Down - Workforce & Tyler Daley
V-Rally - Pizza Hotline
Watching You - Instra:mental
Being with You - Foul Play
Curse of the Pharaohs - Arcane
We need Jungle I'm afraid! - Leopold Kroll
Remember The Roller - DR S Gachet
Scottie - Subnation
Babylon - Splash
Black - DJ Ss
Rumble - Total Science, Digital & Spirit
Rotary Motion (Calibre Remix) - Technimatic, LSB
Black Cloud - Royalston & Victoria
Connector (2026 Revisited Edit) - John Rolodex
The Calling - Technical Itch & Kemal
Mess Up (Kyrist Remix) - R3IDY
Hornets - Omadhaun
Tryna Get This Money (Got None VIP) - DLR
Danja - DLR
Arcadia - Ed Rush
Embedded - Killbox, Ed Rush & Audio
Mr Happy - DJ Hazard & D*Minds
Time Tripping - DJ Hazard
Bad Boy Bass (Radio Mix) - TC
Riot Gear Romance - QZB
How They See It - Workforce
Shella (Halogenix Remix) - Kings Of The Rollers, Chimpo
I Told Ya - Halogenix
Dub Special - Sustance & Mad Sam
Badman - Dom & Roland
Terminating Cliché - Quartz
Neck Funk - Savage Rehab, Saxxon & Balistik
Lambo VIP - Need For Mirrors
Lose Control (2020 Remaster) - Marcus Intalex & ST Files
Galactic Gary - Thys & Samurai Breaks

Hori on a Hoiho - Troy Kingi
Mass Appeal - Gang Starr
Keys - VELLE
Strange Attractor - Ivy Lab
Memory Loop - Gaszia
Rajah - Ivy Lab
Mumble - HIJINX
Chop Dat (Amy Kisnorbo & Sam Binga Remix) - Sister Zo
Pipe Up - Deft & COIDO
Always You - dBridge
Luv - Kid Drama & Skeptical
Should I - DJ Marky
Hell Hath No Fury - Klute
Unity - Visages & Alix Perez
We’re All Dying - Klute
Voyager - Tyrone & Minus
Good Good Rhythm - MC Fats & Inja
Breathing Underwater - DJ Counselling
Old House New - Jay Wellmax
Alright - Wingz
Rodigan - Mr Joseph & David Rodigan
dontletgo - 4K & Olivia Rose
18% - Particle & Catching Cairo
Take Cover - Sustance
Moruga - John B & Digital
Seizure - Bad Company
Stigmata - Drumsound & Bassline Smith
Squadron - TRACE & Nico
Mind Overload - Ram Trilogy
Decoy - Stakka & Skynet
Cylinder - Conrad Subs
Jiggery Pokery - Conrad Subs
Bad Boy Sound - HLZ
Who Dis - Unglued
Underscope - Enei
Next Record - Waeys
Selecta - IAMDOOMED
The Drill - Genic
Ain't No Joke - Genic & Trakker
4MYPEEPS - Kyrist
Rattle Your Bass Bins (Original) - Subduction
Artisan VIP - Lomax
Blimp - Skeptical
Anglo Saxxon - Jayline
War For '94 - Badman
Just a Little - M-Beat
Give Me A Dubplate - Rude & Deadly
R-Type - JO
The Dubplate (Final Plate) - Ray Keith
Pass The Dutchie - RCola

Your Love - Frankie Knuckles
Mine To Give - Photek
French Kiss (The Original Underground Mix) - Lil' Louis & The World
Edony (Radio Edit) - Africanism, Martin Solveig & Hossam Ramzy
Gym Tonic (Wh0 Remix) - Bob Sinclar
Percolator (Original Mix) - Cajmere
Moonraker (Original Mix) - Foremost Poets
Don't Laugh - Josh Wink
Flash (Original Mix) - Green Velvet
Mushrooms (Justin Martin Mix) - Marshall Jefferson, Noosa Heads
Plastic Dreams - Jaydee
Energy Flash - Joey Beltram
What Is This? - Patrick Lindsey
It Doesn't Matter - The Chemical Brothers
Higher State of Consciousness (Dex & Jonesey's Higher Stated Mix) - Josh Wink
Grindhouse (Dubfire Terror Planet Remix) - Radio Slave, Danton Eeprom
Frank Sinatra - Miss Kittin & The Hacker
Andreaen Sand Dunes - Drexciya
Sharivari 2013 (Aux 88 Digital Mix) - Aux 88 & A Number Of Names
Cigarette Lighter - Japanese Telecom
The Bells - Jeff Mills
Pornoactress - Dopplereffekt
Space Invaders Are Smoking Grass - I-F
Groove La Chord - Aril Brikha
Clocked It Got Long (Bonus Track) - Bailey Ibbs
Skylined - The Prodigy
I Don't Kno - Yo Speed
Boss Town Killaz - Amadeezy
Badboy Sound - Window Kid & Sir Spyro
Between the Sheets - The Isley Brothers
Sheets - SHY FX & T. Power
Sonar (Mark System Revision) - DJ Trace
Model Collapse (Basic Rhythm Remix) - Sully
The Real - G Jones & Eprom
Hide U (Decoder & Substance 12 Remix) - Kosheen
Give You Anything - Wingz
Half Life - Dub Phizix
Crux - Waeys
Devious - Simula
Miami flashback - Bad Company UK Nitrous (Audio Remix) - Bad Company UK, DJ Trace
Like That - Contact Point & Wigman
Rear View Mirror - Kasra & Waeys
D For Danger - Voltage
Live On Your Smile - Ivy Lab
Wub Merchant - Johnny Mahon
Carrier - Fierce & Cause4Concern
Whiplash - Future Cut
EZ - Kasra & Samurai Breaks
Hord 39 - Decoder
Funktion - Ed Rush & Optical
Duality - Montee

Life Is An Experiment - New Age Doom & Lee Scratch Perry
Братан - Людмил Огурченко
Location (feat. Burna Boy) - Dave
Protein - Jeshi & Obongjayar
Angela - Boutross & Juicee Mann
Toast - Original Koffee
One Leg - Mina & Bryte
Panti Y Colale - DJ Chulo NYC, El Cherry Scom & La Greña
Wicked - Juls, Knucks, kadiata & Sam Wise
Octobers Gift (Soul Wun Remix) - Who Is Arcadia
Números - Bombo Rosa
Nice + Slow - Lamsi & Saidah
Tell Me What's In Your Head (Charlie Shell Remix) - Lollie
NY Girls - kLap & Don Low
Bonker.s - msft
Break of Dawn - G Jones & Eprom
Sósia - Villager
Get Dark (Silas Remix) - Low End Activist, Razor
Topper Top (feat. Teddy Bruckshot, Lady Chann & Killa P) - Sir Spyro
Call Off - Demz & Scripted Art
Skeng - The Bug, Flowdan & Killa P
Hagakure - Visages & Drone
Rules of the Dance (Kahn Remix) - Mungo's Hi Fi & Charlie P
Revenge - MYTHM
Midnight Skunk - Jungle Rootz
Dark Guru - Visages
Instant Death - Raphaël Dion
V Dub - DE-TÜ
Marked - Criso
Fluro Biotica - Sub Basics & Headland
NOSLEEPBUDDY - Kollaba
Left Right Left (Charlie Shell Remix) - Eloquin
Take Me Away - Sam Deeley & Sensa
Machina - Cirkle
Blip - James Shinra
Fuck the Police - Moodrich & Sketchy
Drop That Thang - 1 9 0 5 & Former City Records
Somebody That I Used To Know (DnB Version) - John B, Wyld Dogz & The Young Punx
Watching Windows (DJ Die Gnarly Vocal Mix) - Roni Size, Reprazent & DJ Die
I Need Your Loving - Dope Ammo, Benny Page & Cat Mctigue
Everlasting Days - Nu:Logic & Lifford
millennium - dot
Where Did You Go - Mohican Sun
Ascension - KOAN Sound
Higher Source - Teej & MKJAY
View From Nowhere - Peter Lix
Politix - Jonny L
Spaceman (QZB Remix) - Kasra, Gardna & QZB
Told Em - ENiGMA Dubz & Dread MC
2 Clicks - Amoss
Never Let You Down - Invadhertz
Introspective - Chris Lorenzo & Bru-C

Мamo - Kyivstoner & Шлем
Yemaya - Donsurf
Find Me - Dominic B & Jem Haynes
BUSY - Sentimento & Nadia Rose
Come Close - Bakey
Dead Mans Alley - Footsie & D Double E
Forever - Verses GT, Nosaj Thing, Jacques Greene & KUČKA
Greasy off the Racing Line (Midnight Version) - Daniel Avery & Alison Mosshart
The Nighttrain - Kadoc
Beware - DJ Zinc & Duppy
Fold - Freeza Chin, MoreNight & Manga Saint Hilare
Soft Reset - Pura Pura
Medieval - En:vy
Holy Ghost - Zero
Dubplate Fly - Zero & Riko Dan
Bally On - XTEN, AM & Skengdo
Technique - Y U QT, Bullet Tooth & Flydat
Vanity Project - Jolliffe & Terror
Pripyat - Amit
Outer Rim - Park Shadow
Vigilante Kru - Mandidextrous & Samurai Breaks
Maia Maia - Nia Archives & Clipz
The Angels Fell (2015 Remaster) - Dillinja
Ja Know Ya Big (2015 Remaster) - Dillinja
Bad Boy - DJ Gunshot
Clamber - Napes
Something Special - Submarine
Radioactive - Need For Mirrors & Wagz
Familiarity - Objectiv
Incarnate - Charlie Power
Five.One - Maysev
1999 Dub - Serkus
Mudcrab - Monrroe
All the Time - Macca & Vector
10 Minutes - Crystal Clear & Sweetpea
Introspective - Chris Lorenzo & Bru-C
Grounding - Submarine
Javelin - Banzai & Indigo MC
Know Wha Gwan - Dawn Raid & Word Of Mouth
Blade - Particle & Atmos
Absent - Skantia & SMG
Metal Detekt - Rufige Kru, Goldie & Submotive
Shrine - Gray & Diagnostix
Can't Decide - Hedex, Jozzy & e.motion
La Kasbah - Bou
Champion Ting - Voltage
Dustup (Mefjus Remix) - Noisia, The Upbeats & Mefjus
Stompbox (Spor Remix) - The Qemists
Where's My Money (Aries Remix) - TC & Aries
Morning Light - Concord Dawn
Icarus - 1991 & Tw3lve
Body Love - Splatmusicofficial
Hurricane with Teeth - Eraserhead & Beans
Race Finish - Batta Malanga

100 - Shy FX, Kingh
Gimme Some More - Busta Rhymes
England Is A Bitch - Gallegos
Natalia's Song -Zomby, Reark
Gopnik - Mareux
Voyage Voyage - Desireless
Everywhere - Fleetwood Mac
Wall Of Death - Eptic, Marauda
Facilita (Mc Dricka remix) - Fred again, Caribou, Menor Teteu
Warehouse - Boddika
It Isn't What It Isn't - Michael Mayer
Bulldoze - Walton
Rude Boy Giddy Up - DJ Tameil
Meet Her At The Loveparade - Da Hool
Bona Fide - Pugilist, Mystic State
At Least (Instra:mental Remix) - Mount Kimbie
Cafe Del Mar (Thre 'N One Remix) - Energy 52
Ouuu - Ghoulish, C3 Boogie
Godzilla Dub - ZeroFG
Wot Do U Call It? - Wiley
Jah War (Loefah Remix) - The Bug, Flowdan
Skunkworks - Alix Perez, SP:MC
Knights Of Jaguar - Rolando
Evil Twin - Alix Perez, Hijinx
Afraid - Biome
Open Up - Breakage
Blind Man - Nomine
Backchat - Enigma Dubz, Mystic State
Hangover (BaBaBa) Caspa Remix - Buraka Som Sistema
Any Weather (AÆE remix) - sbakarma, Sam Binga, Sir Hiss
Vacant - Sepia
>>> Body (Remix) - Tion Wayne, Russ Millions, ArrDee, etc...
Mercy - Somah
I Can Feel U - Yo Speed
A Made Up Sound - Source Direct
Beachdrifta - Rufige Kru
Soul Beat Runna - Boymerang
Tokyo Dawn - Doc Scott
Acid Rain (Breakage Remix) - Breakage
Warhead (Steppa Mix) - Krust
Sex Tune - Bow Street Runna
Tunnel Effect - Park Shadow
New Soul (VIP) - Adred
Grimey (Need For Mirrors Remix) - Dillinja
Buss It - Rockwell, Lakeway
Killer Driller - Amit
Stepped Outside - Loadstar
Chant - 1991
Loved U So - Breakage
Nothing Feels The Same Anymore - Thing
Legendary Status - Sigma, Danny Bird, Kurupt FM, Natty D, Klaudia Keziah

Intro - Bakey, Sgt Pokes
Anti War Dub - Mala, Spen G
The Sensual Woman - The Herbaliser
Great Day - Madvillain, Madlib, MF Doom
Club Les Chrysanthèmes - Cosmos Sound
Twinz (Deep Cover 98) Instrumental - Big Pun
Machine Gun Funk - The Notorious B.I.G.
It's Murda - Klashnekoff
Blow The Speaker - fakemink
Get Your Head Down - Luke Vibert
Since I Left You - The Avalanches
>>> Felicita - Al BanoAnd Romina Power
Где я - serdechko
A Real Hero - Electric Youth, College
Witch Hunt - Zomby
Heal Yourself And Move - Theo Parrish
>>> This Track Kills Fascism - Modeselektor
Come Into My Life - Move D, Nathalie Capello, Rose Lonergan
Living The Life feat Seth Troxler - Art Department
Dreams - Fleetwood Mac
Glamourama - Photek
Philistine Wavelengths - Shackleton
Twoc (Actress Remix) - Low End Activist
Absurd (Whitewash Edit) - Fluke
Hyperfunk - Antonio
Do It Your Way - Mood II Swing
Revolution 909 - Daft Punk
Smack Yo' - Beltran
Where Is Home (Burial Remix) - Bloc Party
Pula Parereka - Doctor Jeep
Tradition - Dusk + Blackdown
Truth - Mumdance, Logos, Mao Ra Sun
Turn The Page (Overmono Remix) - The Streets
Tribute - Bakey
Tuff - Kaval
Hive Mind - Main Phase
Movin' - Neumonic
>>> I Would Die 4 U - Prince
Gangster Groove - Neumonic
Seen - Jamakabi, Footsie
Edge It - LUCY
Baby Let Me Finish - Nathan Micay
The Speed Of Light - Teffa
Skeng - The Bug, Flowdan, Killa P
Bushkin - Truant
Lookacha - Jook
Tri Fusion - Dylan Beale
Where Were You - Vier, Machinedrum, Thys, Holly, Salvador Breed
Sade Like A Tattoo (Skep's Jungle Edit) - Skep
X-Rated - Cheetah
Steelyard - Molecular, Particle
You (Miss) - Creatures, Wingz
Whip Slap - Dimension
The Specialist Funk - DJ Die
Come With Me - Seba, Paradox

Amanda - Bryte, Le Motel
Moning'guetin (Gafacci Remix) - Max Le Daron, Joey le Soldat, Gan Gah
XYLA - Champion, Mina
Soundbwoy Rudebwoy (Bianca Oblivion Remix) - DJ co.kr
Apashe - Don Low
Bota Nela - kLap, Mina
57% Burnt - Fork and Knife
Plastic People - Mak & Pasteman
Weh Dem A Do (Coki, Digital Mystikz & Underground Ice Remix) - Mavado
Cut End - Goth Trad
Rush Them - Alix Perez
Goblin - Coki
Militant Don - Mala, Magugu
Hedd Banger - Skream
Pattern - Plastician, Trajbrown
Inhale - Synkro, Faib
Blinded By The Lights (Nero Remix) - The Streets
Gone - Waeys, Innate MC
HMS Dubstep - Zero
Kalawanji - Kromestar, Cessman
Surgery - Kromestar
Lurker - Aloka
Like A World I Never Knew - Smag På Dig Selv
Inner Disbelief - dBridge
Forsaken - Alix Perez, Peven Everett, SpectraSoul
Open Page - Lenzman, Riya
20 Questions - Ivy Lab
I Fall - Phase
Mek Quake - J:Kenzo, Basic Rhythm
Veiled Fathoms - Park Shadow
Make Sense - Aaron Payne
Raygun (Digital & Killjoy Remix) - Spirit
Down That Low - Quartz
They're Wrong (Calibre Remix) - Break
Marka - Dub Phizix, Skeptical, Strategy
Let Me Be Your Fantasy (Dope Ammo & DJ Hybrid Remix) - Baby D
Herbal Trees - Alibi, Sub Criminal
Step Forward - Marcus Intalex
Satisfaction (Netsky Remix) - Benny Benassi, The Biz
True Romance - dBridge, Vegas BCUK
Shadow Tones - Quartz
Until The World Ends - PNC, State of Mind, Black Sun Empire
Hooligan - Jappa, Teej, Mtek
Turn The Lights Off - John B, Magellan Starchild, The Young Punx, Brendan Reilly
Desperado - Artificial Inteligence
Even If - Calibre
Universe - Marcus Intalex, ST Files
Electronics - Kasra
Sycophants - Quartz
Grubby - DRS, Turno
Salvation - Total Science, Digital, Spirit
Temperance - Marcus Intalex
Click Clack (Kleu & Gui Remix) - Deekline, Specimen
Кирилл Нефтерев - Девушка Мечты

Stressed Out (feat. Faith Evans) - A Tribe Called Quest
Keep Their Heads Ringin' - Dr. Dre
I Don't Give A Fuck - DJ Rashad
Phone Call - Henry Wu
The Devil's Dancers - Oppenheimer Analysis
Theme From Q - Objekt
Bring In The Katz - KW Griff, Porkchop
How We Feelin' - Fonzo
Follow Me Ghetto (Acid) - Parris Mitchell, DJ Funk
Luvli Dae :) - DJ Swisha, OSSX
Da Bomb - DJ Deeon
Thirst - Bodhi
Break Ya Self - Lil Noid
Didn't Cha Know - Bluestaeb
Functions On The Low - Ruff Sqwad
Steeze Factory Cypher 6 - Toddla T, Roll Deep, Steeze Factory
Firin' Line - Danny Breaks
What A Rush - Fracture, MC Freddie Supreme
Set It - Dream Continuum
Point Of Origin - Future Forces Inc.
Load The Matic - Marswalkz
Champion Sound (DLR 2016 Jungle Refix) - Q Project
Push It To The Limit - Qo, Trilo
Chopper Gunner - Napes
Balaclava (feat MC Spyda, D Double E & Frisco) Skeptical Remix - Shy FX
No Face No Case - Gray, ozone, Diagnostix
Leng Riddim - Bish
Mike Selecta - Crossy, Diagnostix
Trouble - Scorpio
No Stress - L-Side
Solitary Native - Alix Perez, Sabre
Murk - Teej
Freezer - T>I
IWY - Submarine
Imperial - Skeptical
Warp Speed - Minor Forms, Kublai
Fair Warning - Molecular
Bonesman - Fierce, Zero T
Keep Breakin - Conrad Subs
Pon Di Sound (Bish Remix) - Rahmanee
Jigsaw - DJ Looney UK, G Dizzle
Bomboclat - Deadcode
Explosion (DC2 & Nuwei Remix) - Kalwi & Remi
TEK (Jappa Remix) - Nasser UK, Addicted, KIlla P
Ragga Dagga - Prdk
Lightweight - Teddy Killerz
Badness - Zoro, Addicted
Sticky Moves - Miii Yao
Inta-National VIP - Ulterior Motive
Blaze And Fade Out - Seba

Sky's The Limit (Instrumental) - The Notorious B.I.G.
Pump Pump - Snoop Dogg
Pat Earrings - CASISDEAD
Изнемог - Наставшевс / Лубенников
Muffins In The Freezer - Tiagz
Changa - Addison Groove
Unspoken Thoughts - Rad&Co
Liquor Store (feat Nate Dogg) - Kolter
Na Onda Da Babylon - BADSISTA
Steptronic (Conducta Remix) - CASISDEAD
Infinite Content Loop - Plastician
Locked On (2-Step Mix) - Bushbaby
Eh Wut - Addison Groove
>>> Welcome To Brixton - SR
Sex Life - Tracey, Riko Dan
Last Rites - Alix Perez
Antimatter - Cartridge
Wha Happen - Pinch, Neffa-T, Trim
6AM - rSUN
Selena - LeoStayTrill
Tina Turner - Risky
OK - Stef de Haan
Junkin Da Trunk - Ron Mercy, Philthtrax
Stunt 151 - Totems
Naina - Aku
Laguna - Addison Groove
Your Sound - J Majik
Tuff Luv - Kloke
The Tree Knows Everything Revisited - Adam F, Kirsty Hawkshaw
So Fine VIP - Necrotype
It's Ōtepoti's Fault (Totems Remix) - Dudley Benson
Roller 170 - Marcus Intalex
Shadow Boxing (Om UnitRemix) - Nasty Habits
Phantom Force - Digital
Ghost - DJ Remixx, Mr Quest
Pain Train - Serum
Dojo - Gouki, G3MC
Bella Ciao - Conni, Niall T
Here Comes The Warrior (feat Gia Santho) - Kings Of The Rollers
Sientelo (Soda & Circadian Remix) - Mefjus, Camo & Crooked
Drugs from Amsterdam - Urbanstep, Kleu
Worse and Louder - Anna Sunnet, Electrosoul System
Balaclava Park - Napes
Light Up - Wingz
Blowin Up - Phibes
Bruce Lee Riddim - Szeto, Stranjah, Toronto DnB
Bayou - Automatic
Missed Call - Annix, MC Madrush
Vent - Rockwell
Dark Rain - Current Value
Warhead - Despersion
Gherkin - Myth
Time Moves Slow - BADBADNOTGOOD, Samuel T. Herring

From Fixed Gear to Burnout: Why I Rode Out of the Bike Industry"

When I moved to London, I thought the hardest part would be finding a job. Turns out, the real challenge was figuring out what kind of job I actually wanted to do.

Ever since I was about 14, bikes were my thing. Riding them, racing them, occasionally fixing them (usually badly at first). I heard that old saying: “Do what you love, and you’ll never work a day in your life.” Sounds great… until you realise that saying probably came from someone who’s never worked retail in a bike shop.

Still, I went for it. I pounded the pavement, emailed every bike shop I could find, and got ghosted harder than a bad Tinder date. I landed a few trials, but nothing stuck—maybe because my English wasn’t perfect, or maybe because a lot of bike shop workers seemed to carry the vibe of “I ride a £10k bike and I’m better than you.” At the time I thought I was just being dramatic. Spoiler: I wasn’t.

Eventually, I scored a job driving a van, redistributing London’s Cycle Hire bikes. Honestly? It was a vibe. Cruising around London, moving bikes, being part of this cool new transport initiative. Long shifts, but decent money and four days off to recover. I moved up to assistant manager, but I never stopped peeking into the workshop like a kid outside a candy shop.

Meanwhile, I was commuting everywhere on a brakeless fixed gear and throwing myself into alley cat races. Pure chaos. Loved it. Then I discovered Herne Hill Velodrome—sunny days, friendly faces, and world-class talent. I ended up racing alongside names like Ethan Hayter, Fred Wright, and Alec Briggs. It was surreal.

Eventually, I got my dream gig: a mechanic in the Cycle Hire workshop. I was stoked… until I realised I’d basically be working on the same bike, with a different serial number, every single day. I became a pro at it—like, blindfold-level pro—but it got stale fast.

So I levelled up. Got my Cytech Level 3 certification and started fixing all kinds of bikes—mine, my mates’, randoms. I bounced between independent shops and big-name retailers. Kids' bikes, electric commuters, carbon road rockets—you name it, I spun a wrench on it.

The best part? Problem-solving. I loved being the go-to guy for “no one knows what’s wrong with it” cases. I also sharpened my customer service game, which is code for “learned how not to sound like a grumpy mechanic when someone asks if their puncture is covered under warranty.”

Then came wheel building. I joined a race team and started building wheels for one of our sponsors. Loved it. Calculating spoke lengths, cutting, lacing, truing—it was satisfying in a way only fellow nerds will understand.

But life shifted gears. My partner and daughter were moving to New Zealand, and after years of hustle, I realised I wanted more nature, less noise. I’d had a good run in London, even started my own business building custom bikes for boutique frame builders, but the call of fresh air was stronger than my love for pubs and crowded tube rides.

Before the move, I sent out job applications and got some interest—but no one would hire a guy who hadn’t even landed in the country yet. Fair enough. So when I arrived in NZ, I jumped on a job at Torpedo7 as a Workshop Manager.

Day one? Same story: chaos, mystery tools, unlabelled parts, and a legacy of “organised” mess from previous staff. I cleaned it up, made the space usable, and tried to modernise the workflow. But this was a big corporate chain, and every change required approval from someone four managerial layers above me. They promised a pay review. It never came. They made changes that didn’t make sense. I started to question my sanity.

Then, Evo Cycles came along, offering a Store Manager role. I took it. But morale was low, staff were leaving, and the workshop was understaffed. I was hiring, training, reorganising, and being watched by a dozen security cameras at once like I was in a low-budget spy movie. Despite being “the boss,” my hands were tied by endless policies, no proper support, and unrealistic expectations.

I brought in a junior mechanic and somehow kept the wheels turning (literally), but the burnout was real. There was no training, the pay didn’t match the pressure, and electric bikes kept frying their own wiring. I was done.

So I left.

Now I work outside the cycling industry, with better hours, better pay, and my evenings to myself. Do I miss the bikes? Sometimes. But I don’t miss the grind, the corporate nonsense, or being treated like a cog in the machine.

To anyone dreaming of turning your passion into a profession—just know that sometimes, it works. Other times, it’ll chew you up and spit out your torque wrench.

As for me?

I still love bikes. I just don’t want to work in retail.

14/07/2025