RACING bikes, fast service and strong espresso: Oxford's newest coffee shop is not for the faint hearted.

In the past four weeks, a crack team of coffee-quaffing cycle enthusiasts have transformed what was the Quarter Horse coffee shop in Cowley Road into a clattering, caffeinated club house.

Peloton Espresso – named after the main group of cyclists in a road bicycle race – has bike-themed decor and will be showing major events like the Tour de France on TV.

It opens its doors for the very first time today – and you don't have to be dressed in Lycra to get in.

Manager Matt Rees is a keen amateur cyclist and a member of the Cowley Road Condors cycling club, but has never run a cafe before.

In Peloton he said he was realising a long-held dream to create a push-bike paradise combining his two great loves – fast bikes and strong coffee.

The 47-year-old father-of-three, who lives in East Oxford, said: "Cycling and coffee have got a longstanding association: they go hand-in-hand in many ways – lots of cyclists with clubs will ride to cafes.

"We're all used to downing a quick espresso before setting off on a ride.

"Cycling has also got a very rich aesthetic, so in terms of styling the cafe we have drawn on that."

Although he doesn't have any cafe-running experience, he has partnered up with Dan Roiser, who used to run Zappis cycling cafe in Oxford city centre, but who will take a more hands-off approach in this venture.

They have given Peloton the tag line 'coffee shop and clubhouse'.

Mr Rees explained: "It's the kind of place you can come and be part of a community of cyclists."

But he also stressed that the cafe is not exclusive: pedestrians are also welcome, even if they don't own a bike.

The owners of Quarter Horse announced they were shutting up shop in December.

Nathan Retzer, originally from the interestingly-named Normal, Illinois, and who opened the cafe in 2012, said he wanted to focus on his Birmingham cafe and coffee roastery, and that the shop at 74 Cowley Road needed 'local ownership'.

Mr Rees and Mr Roiser said the timing was perfect to take advantage of the country's blooming love affair with cycling, fanned by Sir Bradley Wiggins' Tour de France and Olympic successes and wins by the likes of Chris Froome and Laura Kenny.

Mr Rees, who has until now been working in the charity sector, said he wanted to strike while the iron was hot.

He said: "Cycling is getting more and more popular, the Cowley Road Condors are just growing and growing.

"I've been looking for an opportunity like this for years."

Peloton will also be serving food, including freshly-made pastries and snacks from Sylvie's in Iffley Road.

Look out for updates at pelotonespresso.com