Over the last decade, cycling has turned
from a pastime into a passion, with bike
sales rocketing and more people than ever
choosing to hit the road. Roula is a young
company capitalizing on this fast-changing
landscape, offering travelling cyclists a
premier concierge service with access to
state-of-the-art equipment.
FAREWELL, FAIRWAYS
When a cycle ride can offer non-competitive
camaraderie, numerous mental and physical
health benefits, and a reasonably short time
commitment, it's little wonder cycling has
overtaken golf as the executive sport of choice.
“It’s the new way to network,” says Roula
founder and CEO, Mark Voysey, “and amateur
cyclists are grasping the freedom and discovery
that a bike affords them when they travel, too.
When you want to see a city and its surrounding
area properly, do a 20 – 70-mile bike ride and
you’ll see it through a different lens.”
CLICK, RENT & RIDE
Roula launched in the summer of 2018 to make
cycling abroad as efficient and enjoyable as
possible. “Roula avoids the hassle and pain
points of you dismantling, transporting and
potentially damaging your prized possession
when you travel,” explains Mark, “We enable the
bike of your dreams to hit the road when you’re
on the road.” Using a network of handpicked
independent local retailers and manufacturers
(and Roula’s own cycling cafés) the platform
allows clients to book a bike and accessories to be delivered to them at their destination.
Whether it’s a Colnago C64, Serotta or the
Pinarello Dogma (Team SKY’s bike), cutting-
edge superbikes can be test ridden by Roula
clients while they soak up the scenery of say,
New York City, Barcelona, Paris or Hong Kong.
PEDAL POWERED REVOLUTION
The company’s flagship location is on the
renowned Hudson River bike path in New York
City and includes a cycle café to complete the
experience for ardent fans (Roula is currently
working on café hubs in the key cycling markets
of San Francisco, Los Angeles, Miami, Barcelona
and Taiwan). Many of New York’s top hotels –
Soho House, The Greenwich, the Mercer and
Four Seasons – have teamed up with Roula
and, through the company’s collaboration with
Brompton Bicycles, are offering folding bikes
in guest rooms. These can then be ridden to
Roula’s location where the client can switch to
their preferred road bike for a pre-breakfast
power ride. Or, Roula’s fleet of customised
Vespas can simply deliver the elite bike –set up to your fit measurements – straight to your hotel.
In true concierge style, if a client requires more guidance than their ready-fitted Garmin, Roula can organize a personal ‘domestique’ guide. Popular guided rides in New York City include 20 miles within Central Park and 35 miles along the Hudson River road. The adrenaline, serotonin, endorphins and euphoria associated with cycling can now meet you wherever, whenever – without the baggage. “In a world in which customers are increasingly looking for great experiences rather than ownership, Roula fits that changing model,” says Mark, “ and it serves an increasingly fitter and healthier audience base looking to perform at their peak.”
