Mel Allwood is a director of Brixton Cycles in South London. She has worked in bicycle shops since the age of 15. During the course of many rides, both epic and frivolous, she has executed a multitude of roadside repairs and fixed an uncountable number of punctures. She contributes regularly to cycling and mountain biking magazines and has written a number of books on the subject, including The Complete Bike Book, Pocket Mountain Bike Maintenance and The Complete Do It Yourself Bike Book.