PH2 at Bike Shed

Get shedded this weekend! PH2 has a poke around that London bike show...

If you are stuck for something to do this weekend, then it is well worth taking a wander down to Tobacco Dock on Saturday or Sunday to have a poke around Bike Shed's London Show. Even if you aren't really into bikes, this show is far from your average motorcycle event and is far better thought of as a collection of moving artworks that happen to have two wheels.

For the uninitiated, the Bike Shed Show is now in its fourth year and is basically a collection of customized cafe racers, scramblers and motorcycles of every description that have been modified - if it is totally standard it isn't allowed to be displayed. To be brutally honest, most have been made considerably worse dynamically than when they left the manufacturer's factory, but that's not the point - they now look unique. This is a show displaying what can be done when some really creative, and often incredibly talented, engineers get their welders and grinders out.

Now I know what you are thinking at this point, and I also assumed that Bike Shed would be full of irritating hipsters and trendy types; but while there are certainly quite a few sporting ridiculous facial hair, the show also attracts families (kids go free), mainstream bikers, those who haven't even got their test and those probably never will. It's simply a really interesting event and one that you can easily spend a few hours walking around and admiring the bikes on display for their engineering and creative prowess, not their ability to go around corners!

As well as over 200 bikes on display, Bike Shed also has a few nods towards the cool scene: so, yes, you can get your beard trimmed and your hair cut by an overpriced barber and, yes, you can also get a tattoo from one of the on-site tattooists and, yes, there are 'artisan' food stalls and hipster clothing retailers - but you don't have to get sucked into all that. Spend a bit of time walking around the bikes, chat to some of the really interesting guys who actually built them (most are hanging around near their creations) and have a bite to eat as the food is really good and about as far removed from an NEC dog burger as you can get!

The show is open 10am to 10pm on Saturday May 26 and 10am to 6pm on Sunday May 27. Tickets cost £20, are valid on Saturday and Sunday and kids under 16 get in for free. There is onsite motorcycle parking and a free coat check. For more info go to www.thebikeshed.cc

Here are a few pics we took at the preview event to give you a taster of what to expect - enjoy!