Where it all began...
The idea of the Workshop was conceived long time ago, on a remote island in the Carribean sea. I had flown down to Key West for a short vacation. When we met, Jakub had just purchased his first carbon bike, a BMC Pro Machine SLC01, vintage by now. I have just graduated journalism and had this naive, idealistic idea I will be a grand freelancer. The year was 2007. I knew nothing about bikes. And there he was, Jakub, jumping from happiness about a funny looking bike with golden wheels, which I would find out later were called Campagnolo Shamal Ultra Gold. It was a turning point in my existence.
So this is us: Jakub, an enthusiastic, easy-go-happy, always positive guy with true passion and drive about cycling and me, Villi, a naturally curious, observant and always looking to learn.
We stayed together. Made family. I followed him in his coaching adventures from US, to Poland and lastly Mallorca, and took mental notes of the world I observed. For 10 years.
Until one day, when I woke up and said to him: Palma needs a social club for cyclists, a place where they feel comfortable coming by bike, after a ride, to have a coffee, meet with friends and tell stories of their rides.
That’s how it all started. With passion and excitement to make cyclists feel at home!
The Workshop is the place where people meet to share ideas, but also where you can build your dream bike, or just fix your flat tire. It is the place stories of epic rides are told over a crunchy bowl of granola and steaming cup of coffee.
Behind The Workshop project is a husband and wife team, whose life revolves around cycling.”
Jakub Pieniazek
Jakub is the catalyst of the Workshop project. His extensive knowledge, experience in pro-cycing performance and thousands of kilometers on the bike naturally lead him create his own playground.
He launched his private coaching practise in 2010, starting first with amateur cyclist, and then quickly moving to professional athletes. It was in 2010, when he met, through a mutual friend, Rafal Wilk, a well-know Polish speedway racer, who had lost his ability to walk after a competition accident.
Rafal wanted to get back to professional sport. The answer was handcycling. He was looking for a coach who was ready to customise training practices used in preparation of abled athletes on to completely different type of muscles: arm and upper body ones. The challenge was set. Two years later, in 2012, during the summer Paralympic Games in London, Rafal won his first Gold medal.
Jakub has made a name for being a disruptor of old methods. He thrives best when there is challenge. He has privately trained athletes who are racing in CCC Sprandi Polkowitce, OneProCycling, Verva ActiveJet. Jakub is currently the coach of the Polish National Paracycling Team.
Jakub is currently the coach of the Polish National Paracycling team and sport science trainer in CCC Team.
Velimira Ivanova
Velimira dreamt up the concept of The Workshop Cafe + Cycles a few years ago after watching Jakub’s work. He initially thought she was crazy but designed the structure of the business in order to present to him and prove him wrong.
Her dedication for the business has seen her design the popular modern cafe-style menu and start a pop-up shop within the space supplying the best in cycle accessories. Travelling and being in the cycle world for many years, Veli knows exactly what food cyclists want and need – understanding the nutrition and even catering for private training clients.
Veli is also a keen cyclist and regularly joins group rides, but still happy remaining as an amateur cyclist enjoying seeing the world from a bike.
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Toros De Gravel
19 September 2018
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This October, join the local hot-heads in a first-time gravel challenge in Mallorca. Lots of fun and like-mined souls to meet! For more information check @torosdegravel See you there!
