Sable & Argent

This shop makes me want to be a better (bike) lover.
While my beautiful cream coloured baby, with tan leather accessories sits dormant next to me inside the house while I write this, I feel bad that we haven’t seen the light of day together for some time. Mostly I feel bad that we haven’t gone on any long rides along the coast lately, especially at sunset (which is when we both like it most).

Do you know anything about bikes? I don’t.
I can ride them though, and I can fall off them, and that’s about it. Did a bunny hop on an old Mongoose BMX back when I was, oh, eleven, twelve maybe, right before I went in for some Cottees G.I. Lime cordial and some Nutella bread.
But look, here’s the thing: sitting in the little coffee lounge at Sable & Argent surrounded by gleaming pistons and carbon fibre wings and flux capacitors and whatever all that amazing technological stuff is hanging from the walls that bike riders are jacking up their 10-​speeds with these days, it makes me feel like a big man on campus. It makes me feel like I know my way around a crankshaft (assuming that’s a bike part, of course. Ignore this sentence if it isn’t). And I like that feeling. I like sharing knowing nods with the other handlebar jockeys that swing in through the big open mouth of the place, dismount and breath deep with a look of satisfaction on their faces, like they’re somewhere people *understand* them. Like they’ve come. .. home.
So. Does that make me fraudulent? A parasite? An imposter? Maybe. Maybe not. Still gonna keep coming here though. It’s a free country, man.

Surely not. A co-​office that resides in a bicycle retail and repair store. Can it be true? Introducing Sable & Argent, in Woolloomooloo, a business with the nous to set-​up a small part of their warehouse with a long dining table, a few comfy chairs, coffee and beverages.
It is a trend I’m noticing more and more — especially on recent travels. Slash spaces I’ll call them. Audio Store /​Café, Bike Store /​Café — you get my drift. It is a smart way to diversify business is a good fit for Sable & Argent’s target market — what cyclist doesn’t like drinking coffee?
My colleagues and I spent at least four hours here looking like we were at an Apple convention with all our iDevices, nevertheless, the afternoon was blissful and a welcome change of scenery.
Staff never once made us feel like we should order more or move on and even engaged in light banter with us. It made it all the more welcoming and comfortable. You’d feel at ease bringing clients here or just using it as a creative space to tap out a chapter on that novel you’re writing/​startup you’re launching /​procrastination tactic your justifying.
The whole downside is that I write this review with a sense of hesitation. You see, although not a local, Sable & Argent is one of those places you want to keep for yourself — hidden away from general knowledge. I’ll tell you rad folk, however, because I know you’ll find it as much a diamond in the rough as I did.

Two words which you can put down, flip and reverse in any way you see fit:
Bike. Porn.
It’s a concept store. It’s a repair shop. It’s a scooter stop. It’s an athlete’s dream come true. It’s a supply store. It’s a coffee shop. It’s a showroom. It’s a blown paycheck. It’s a meeting place for cycle enthusiasts and enthusiasts of cycle enthusiast spotting (like myself). And it is oh so beautiful, in a lady on the street but a freak in the bed sort of way.
If any of the above turn you on, (or you know, you pop a tyre) get here immediately.
*Note: It only took 3 minutes to convince my bicycle to stay the night.