0034 936243920 elciclobcn@gmail.com

We’re very happy with the article on the Ciclosfera website about El Ciclo. Ciclosfera is a magazine for (urban) cyclists and (urban) cycling community. You can get your Ciclosfera for free at El Ciclo. 

You can read the original article on the website of Ciclosfera, but since it was published in Spanish, we’ve made an English translation. 

El Ciclo: magic and cycles in the heart of Barcelona

Special people often work in special places. Ramiro Sobral is one of those people and El Ciclo, the business he started and runs in the heart of Barcelona, is a place each bike lover should know!

Entering El Ciclo is like entering another world, a place filled with bicycles, old bike parts and magic. El Ciclo opened its doors in July 2013, but the history goes way back; the cement of the building dates from 1538. This place was an old ceramics factory in the 16th century, later becoming a butcher shop and then fell into abandonment for many years… until Ramiro took over.

Ramiro Sobral, born in Tucumán (Argentina) and adopted as a ‘Barcelonés’, is El Ciclo’s creator. “I’ve always liked bicycles”, he says, “I repaired them to sell on the internet. And when I decided to start my own business, my partner advised me to focus on cycling. First, I thought about looking for a small working place and selling repaired bicycles on the internet, but when I saw this place, I knew that it was the perfect opportunity to do something more.”

In the end, that ‘something more’ became something quite unique. El Ciclo is not ‘just’ a workshop. It’s a shop where you can buy lamps, jewellery and other objects, created with recycled parts of old bicycles. El Ciclo is also a place to rent a bike and be part of a unique and personal tour through Barcelona. “When clients visit the shop, they will discover the little details. And of course they can buy my creations here.”

It’s a cave filled with treasures, talent and hundreds of working hours, that reflects in projects like ‘Bicycles that saw the light’, a collection of dozens of lamps made out of recycled bike parts. “I started making the lamps right after opening the shop. I had so many pieces on my terrace that I decided to make five lamps to decorate the shop and soon afterwards, an Australian bought one. People from South Africa, Ireland and France have also bought my work. All lamps are unique and exclusively made with recycled material. I don’t fix bicycles anymore, but instead focus on making lamps and other objects.”

If you want to discover Barcelona in a different way, El Ciclo organises tours through the beautiful Catalan capital. “The tours take three, four or five hours. Our Kalkoff-bikes have 3 or 7 gears but it’s also possible to go on a bamboo bike. I look after all of the clients, welcome them personally and advise them when necessary. Everything is very personal. We offer our tours in Spanish, English, Dutch, German or French and our guides are experts of the city. The tours are personal and customised for our clients as they don’t have to share a tour with people they don’t know. Whether you’re looking for a historical tour, an art tour or a tour focused on architecture or Gaudí, we adapt to the wishes of every single client.

Bike lovers should come and pay a visit to El Ciclo.

Getting to know Barcelona is already something unforgettable and discovering the city by bike is even more spectacular. “The ones who try, will come back happy”, Sobral promises. “It’s the best way to get through the city. Even when you think you know Barcelona, you will discover it in a total different way. Barcelona is a big city where lots of things happen, but it’s also relaxed, safe, has a beach, mountains and lot of diversity. Also, Barcelona is respectful and harmonious with cyclers.”

Ramiro Sobral himself radiates respect, harmony and kindness. He’s someone to trust and a couple of minutes is enough to become friends for life. This text is not just publicity: it’s to introduce you a marvelous place and to recognize the work of a good man. Also, of course, it’s to recommend an unsurpassable place to get Ciclosfera. “When I immersed in the world of bicycles”, Sobral tells, “I discovered your magazine by the articles my friends posted on Facebook. I started to follow the page, and people told me about the paper version and recommended me to distribute it. So here we are.”