Tall tales: Riding high

Cyclists are perhaps the most intellectually sophisticated of road-users. Sleek in their Lycra, decked with dainty lights, they must weave their way cunningly around the city streets. So it is no surprise that the capital's one million bike users are turning their two wheels to more cultural endeavours.

The Cycle-In Cinema, developed by the Magnificent Revolution collective, is literally powered by pedals. Cycling cinéastes zip their way to screenings, hook their beasts up to the generator and use their bulging glutes to power the performance.

The aim is to resurrect abandoned corners of the city, injecting them with cinematic magic, while reducing energy consumption. Plus, it's a great way to suss someone's stamina on a first date. On 2 October, you can enjoy a screening of 1980s classic Labyrinth, starring David Bowie at Hackney City Farm.

Cycling culture continues to wheel its way into the arts world, with the likes of performance troupe Bicycle Ballet. Creative producer Karen Poley founded the company in 2004 with the aim to combine cycling with dance, circus skills, comedy and physical theatre. Their mass performances and workshops - where participants get to meet the Bicycle Ballet cast and create a short routine to perform as part of the show - have proved incredibly popular. The next London-based workshop takes place in Leytonstone on 18 September, which is, aptly enough, Car Free Day.

Meanwhile, in Minneapolis, artist Charles Youel founded ARTCRANK, using creativity to change how people look at and think about bikes, putting on shows of bicycle-inspired poster art. It rapidly grew into an international collective. Youel recently brought a show to London.

But if all you are after is a cup of tea having slogged across town on your Boris Bike, you're in luck. 'look mum no hands!' on Old Street serves delicious coffee and has an onsite workshop run by two mechanics from 7.30am to 10pm daily. It shows films and pro-cycling events and regularly holds workshops, events and exhibitions. This month the café will be exhibiting a selection of sculptural bike storage solutions. What's more, the house beer is named 'Slag', which surely makes it worth a visit.

magnificentrevolution.org; bicycleballet.com; artcrank.com; lookmumnohands.com