Natooke People (Extended)

We would like to give thanks to the following people (listed in order of frame size) for their contributions to Natooke during their time in Beijing as well as their ongoing support from where they are in the world right now. We love and miss you all!


Emily – “The Bee”
Emily worked behind the scenes, ensuring that the shop was constantly well stocked with any supplies you may need! You would find her busy searching for that obscure part you wanted! She helped on the shop floor if she wasn’t busy calling suppliers or “selling/renting” employees.

A graduate in Tourism Management, she may look harmless, but don’t be fooled! She can be tough and will make sure everyone keeps in check!

She used to commute in Beijing on a bike as it is less hassle than taking the crowded subway. Even though she didn’t have her own fixed gear bike then, she went to play polo. Emily is now pursuing her studies in Xi’an with a brand new Natooke fixed gear bike, courtesy of Natooke.


Fred – “Fast Freddy”
A year-abroad Swedish student from SOAS studying Chinese, this is the craziest cyclist you will probably ever meet. Who else turns up to an airport with a bright yellow Bruce Lee fight suit to match his bright yellow bike, or ask friends to ghost ride his bike 120km when they come to cheer him on at the 42km long Great Wall Marathon so he can cycle the 120km home afterwards on his fixie!



Tiger – “The Kid”
At 19 or 20 (he’s not sure), he was the baby of the team and Dupree’s little apprentice. He likes fixed-gear bikes so he “feels good in Natooke” and that working here is “relaxing”. He also liked working here because the staff are interesting and friendly, and his big boss is a “very beautiful waiguoren”. Badman Dupree said he needed to work a bit to live up to his name, but girls: he’s well-behaved and treats his girls like he treats his bikes; with a lot of care and gentle love.



Duncan – “The Enthusiast”
An English boy from Hastings who originally turned up to hang out because he lived nearby and liked bikes but now is part of our shop and polo team! He has just finished a year studying Chinese at the Nottingham Ningbo Campus and is currently an intern for Natooke helping hands-on in the workshop as well as with media/PR. He also writes for Greening The Beige, an arts collective for eco-minded people in Beijing (www.greeningthebeige.org). A talented young man, he likes sporty girls with tattoos.



Brad – “The Radicle”
Brad from Boston was here right from the beginning when we first opened up the shop. At that time he was studying abroad. After finishing his degree in computer sciences he came back to Beijing to work in IT. After a while he didn’t really like it so he came and worked in the shop instead! The first fixed gear event in China (Fixed Gear Revolution in Beijing) was actually a leaving do for Brad and James when they were leaving Beijing so we thank them for the roots of what has grown into something beautiful!



Jo – “The Warrior”
Jo is on a year abroad from Nottingham University where she studies Spanish and Chinese. English and Singaporean with a little bit of crazy mixed in, she grew up in Thailand most of her life. Newly introduced by Natooke to the world of fixed gear bikes and bike polo, Jo is now an avid fan! You can find her in the shop working on the product list or taking pictures of our endless amount of products or find her on the polo pitch where she gets her nickname!



James – “The Graphic Designer”
A fellow bike enthusiast from England that grew up in France with a flair for graphic design, James was here with us right from the start while he was on a year abroad in Beijing from SOAS university London. He can be attributed to the awesome design of our Natooke banana logo and to the designs on the first Beijing Fixed Gear t-shirt as well as the propaganda style Fixed Gear Revolution design that so many people admire. Studying Chinese and Korean in Beijing in 2009 he has left a lasting impression on all of us here!