“There isn’t really anything I haven’t collected I think for such a young person.”

Nils Hansen is the owner of bicycle shop Woodstock Cycleworks in Cape Town. For Nils, the essence of life revolves around celebrating things from the past with a deep rooted love for restoration and the upkeep of vintage bicycles. As a devoted collector, he finds joy in the narratives woven into old cars, art, unique artefacts and yes, bicycles. “I’m naturally drawn to things that have a story to tell” he explains.

We joined Nils in his workshop followed by a cruise around Cape Town in his Porsche 924 Turbo to talk to him about his love for collecting and repairing. For Nils, this is a life long love affair with objects that whisper stories of bygone eras, some of known and some of unknown origin. Growing up, he was surrounded by collectors, artists, designers and photographers. “They thought me lessons about how simply made objects show creative ability.”

Woodstock Cycleworks has evolved into a cultural hotspot over the past thirteen years, expanding from a modest 40 square meter shop to a sprawling space bursting with vintage treasures.