Clerkenwheels

Raising money for diversity in the design industry.

A Fundraising Adventure from Plymouth to Clerkenwell Design Week

Friday 15 May, will see Clerkenwheels set off from Plymouth University to ride the 267 miles to the start of Clerkenwell Design Week  (CDW) with the goal to raise £10,000 for United in Design.

Celebrating its fifth year, United in Design was founded by interior designers Sophie Ashby and Alexandria Dauley in response to the lack of diversity within the design industry. Clerkenwheels will be raising funds for the charity’s Education & Outreach programme. This tackles one of the creative industry’s biggest challenges: too many talented young people are shut out of careers simply because they don’t know what’s possible or how to get there. The classroom-based programme aims to encourage young people from underrepresented communities and diverse socio-economic backgrounds into the industry.

Supported by kit sponsor, David Collins Studio and accommodation sponsor, IVC, Clerkenwheels will ride across the south of England over five days on its way into London. Day four will see the ride pay a visit to Porta Romana, a design studio famed for its handcrafted interior products. The ride concludes at the new Reddie furniture showroom on Tuesday 19 May in time for a celebration party and talk which is part of CDW 2026.

• 

• 

• 

 Clerkenwheels x Porta Romana x Condor Cycles

Surrey-based Porta Romana and east London based Condor Cycles have collaborated on a one-of-one Condor Italia RC to celebrate the Clerkenwheels ride. Designed by Condor’s head of design, Ben Spurrier, a CondorItalia RC has been transformed by Porta Romana, undergoing hours of meticulous preparation and finishing. Porta Romana’s team applied a gilded finish to the Condor downtube logo, paired with their rich burnt ochre paint treatment. Every detail has been carefully considered, resulting in a bicycle where performance engineering meets decorative artistry.

Kindly donated by Condor Cycles to support Clerkenwheels, this one-off bike, which was recently launched at London’s independent and handmade bicycle show Bespoked, will be raffled off to raise funds for United in Design. Raffle tickets can be bought through www.clerkenwheels.com with all proceeds going directly to United in Design.

The Clerkenwheels x Porta Romana x Condor Cycles Italia RC will be on display at the Reddie showroom for the arrival party on the Tuesday of Clerkenwell Design Week, before moving to innovation led architecture practice, Hawkins\Brown, 30 Clerkenwell Road, for the remainder of the festival.

Donations can be made through the Clerkenwheels website, www.clerkenwheels.com, where you can also find out more about the adventure. For more on United in Design and its work, including the Education and Outreach, Career Pathway and Mentorship programmes, visit United in Design, www.unitedindesign.com.