What to wear on your bike and eat from a truck (ice cream, mostly) at the City of London cycling event this weekend.

It’s that time of year again: on the weekend of 10 June the City of London is playing host to the capital’s premier cycling event, the London Nocturne. Anyone who joined MR PORTER at the Nocturne last summer will know what to expect from the 2017 edition – food, drink and hair-raising bike races, starting with the silly but fun Concours D’Elegance (in which amateur entrants are judged on their outfits) and culminating in the nighttime Elite Criterium Race, featuring some of the UK’s top professionals. This year, however, there is a crucial difference: cult cycling brand Rapha has become the headline sponsor, and is turning the race from a one-off event to a “World Series” of international races, with the next leg taking place in Copenhagen on 19 August. Of course, this will do nothing to diminish a more casual enjoyment of the London event – it’s even still possible to register at some of the earlier races (you can check the Rapha Nocturne website for details). MR PORTER will most definitely be there, and would encourage you to do the same – scroll down for five things in particular to look out for.

Among the storied professionals competing at this year’s Nocturne are Olympic Champion Mr Ed Clancy, who also won the race in 2015, and last year’s winner Mr Chris Lawless. They will be taking on an international field including WorldTour riders from Cannondale-Drapac, Messrs Wouter Wippert and Will Clarke.

As in previous editions, a range of food and drink suppliers (see below) will be in attendance at the London Nocturne – head to the Riders Village to check them out. But the ultimate experience for visitors is perhaps the one on offer by new hotel The Ned, which is located right next to the race’s finishing straight. The Rapha Nocturne Spectator Stay package at The Ned includes bed, breakfast and dinner for two at the hotel as well as a 60-minute Cowshed massage at the Barber & Parlour spa. See full details here.

Is there something about watching hundreds of grown men and woman exerting themselves to their utmost that makes you feel like pizza? Good news: the food at this year’s Nocturne includes Neapolitan, wood-fired pizza-sandwich truck Sfornato, as well as tasty wraps from Laffa and banh mi from Bitten Club. For washing down all the carbs (and/or congratulating yourself after a particularly strong showing, if you’re racing), there will also be drinks from official partners Vedett, Cono Sur wine and Karma Cola, as well as a refreshing cocktail – served by the carafe – from premium spirits brand Sipsmith.

Alongside the World Series concept, which allows riders to score points at both the London and Copenhagen legs of the Nocturne and be given an overall ranking, the Rapha Nocturne has added a couple of new races to make the whole thing a little more inclusive, most notably an over-forties Masters Race challenge. A fine time for the dads of London to prove just how heroic they really are.

Yes, best of all, MR PORTER will be in attendance. When the heat gets to you, make sure to drop by our very own ice cream truck in the Rapha Village, where you’ll be able to pick up a copy of the very latest MR PORTER Post, and enter a competition to win £500 to spend on site. And also eat ice cream of course. Don’t forget the ice cream.