Big Breeze Bike Ride (23rd / 24th June)

On the weekend of 23-24 June 2012, British Cycling are organising the UK’s first ever event to get thousands of women riding a bike at the same time.  

As part of the biggest ever campaign for women’s cycling, you can get involved by arranging your own informal bike ride using our Facebook app. Big or small; in a park or around your local area; for your friends, family, neighbours or colleagues... every woman, everywhere!

We’re encouraging everyone to swap their usual walk or get together for a fantastic bike ride instead – and to tell us all about it.  The easiest way to do this is to use our fab new Facebook app and toolkit and if you don't use Facebook, do drop us a line at 0161 274 2117 or an email here about your Big Breeze Bike Ride.

Our friends at Hull City Council are hosting a Hull Big Breeze Bike Ride event on 24 June as our flagship event. Hundreds of women will be invited to join an informal Breeze ride around beautiful East Park for family-friendly fun. If you live in or around Hull – please tell your friends and colleagues!

 More details at the Big Breeze Bike Ride website.

“Making Manchester a World Class Cycling City” ?

Manchester City Council has recently released a  consultation draft of the Manchester Cycling Strategy  "A Strategy for Cycling in Manchester 2011-2015" to members of the Manchester Cycle Forum for early comment.   The introduction explains how:

"As part of the Memorandum of Understanding signed in 2010 by British Cycling and Manchester City Council, it was agreed that a joint cycling strategy be produced. Once complete, the intention is to bring together in one place the three strands of cycling: “utility” (commuter) cycling; leisure cycling and sports cycling."

The broad vision for the partnership is “Making Manchester a world class cycling city”

The draft strategy document states that to achieve this vision, "the partnership will deliver tangible improvements by making a commitment to:

• Collaboratively develop utility, leisure and sports cycling through a co-ordinated and sustainable cross-city programme

• Build on existing investment and development programmes

• Seek out additional investment to meet existing and future needs and
 

• Learn from others who have set examples of good practice."

The document acknowledges that it has yet to be completed and highlights that  the "sections detailing plans for recreation and sports cycling are still under development but outlines of their content are included."

 

Whilst waiting for a more detailed draft version, (promised towards the end of November) interested parties are invite to bring their comments to the Cycle Forum meeting due to be held on Tuesday 13th December 2011 or send them to cycle.forum@manchester.gov.uk by 24th December 2011.

Bike Maintenance - learning to D.I.Y

The leaves are falling, its getting colder and the hours of darkness are increasing... so perhaps now is a good time to give your bicycle that TLC you have been promising it for ages...  and if your bicycle maintenance skills are not all they could be then there are a number of bike maintenance training courses on offer.  

Have listed several courses below - ranging from free to quite expensive. Have not done any of these courses so cannot comment on the quality (or otherwise) and value for money. If your organisation offers cycle maintenance and I have missed you off then please leave a comment.

Suggest you contact the organisation concerned and ask for more details to make sure the training matches your budget and skill level.

In alphabetical order

BikeRight!

Unit 8, 877 Ashton Old Road, Manchester, M11 2NA
Tel: 0161 230 7007

Email: info@bikeright.co.uk

Certified maintenance courses for beginners and the more experienced

"We currently run one day and two day courses which build up your maintenance skills step by step. By working with us you will soon develop the skills needed to keep your bike road-worthy and safe. Courses are for a maximum of 8 people so book early to avoid disappointment - dates are limited to availability. We also run bespoke courses for groups and offer maintenance contracts for bike fleet and pool bike owners.

Basic, intermediate and advanced courses 
By working with us you will soon develop the skills needed to keep your bike road-worthy and safe. Courses are for a max of 8 people so book early!" 

One day overview course – covering the basics
Two day course – the basics and more
Course costs range from £65 to £130.

British Cycling

Stuart Street, Manchester, M11 4DQ

Tel 0161 274 2000end_of_the_skype_highlighting

Learn Bike Maintenance and Repair with the Professionals British Cycling is launching bike maintenance and repair workshops aimed at beginner and intermediate cyclists. Workshops will be delivered by world renowned mechanic Peter ‘Spike’ Taylor. Courses take place at the Manchester Velodrome on Wednesday 27 October 6pm -9.30pm (Beginners); and Thursday 28 October 9.30am – 5.30pm (Intermediate) Stewart Kellett, Director of Recreation and Partnerships, British Cycling said; ‘Manchester is the home of British Cycling as well as thousands of cycle commuters, leisure cyclists and would-be regular cyclists. We know that many would like help to develop their maintenance and repair skills, giving them the confidence to take their cycling further. As the national governing body British Cycling can offer something different. We have the real inside track on maintenance and repair, and a fun, hands-on, expert approach with wide appeal.’

For more info see britishcycling.org.uk/recreation or contact bikemaintenance@britishcycling.org.uk or 0161 274 2049

Course costs range from £65 to £130.

Edinburgh Bicycle Co-operative

7 Wilmslow Road, Rusholme, Manchester, M14 5FT 

Tel: 0161 257 3897 

"And the easiest way to get hands-on mechanical experience is to spend a Saturday or Sunday at one of our day classes where you will be shown how it's done by one of our mechanics. You will then get to practice your newly-learnt skills on your own bike on a proper workstand using the right tools. Choose between the all-day Intensive Class or the half-day Foundation Course. Beginners welcome to either (though if you have a smattering of mechanical experience you might find the Foundation Course too basic)."

Half-Day and Full-Day Classes

Half-Day Foundation Course in Cycle Maintenance
All-Day Intensive Course in Cycle Maintenance
Intensive Cycle Maintenance Course for Women
All-Day Course in Wheel Building

Course costs range £25 to £49.

FW Evans

201 Deansgate, Manchester, M3 3NW.

Tel: 0161 834 6732 end_of_the_skype_highlighting

Chill Factor, Trafford Way, Trafford Quays, Manchester, M41 7JA

Tel: 

Are running FREE bi-monthly sessionson basic cycle maintenance in every store.  The staff in the shop have been trained by a Cytech mechanic to demonstrate the best methods of home maintenance and are eager to share these techniques.
The session will cover the following topics:

Punctures/Tube Replacement – some handy tips to make the process stress free! 
Brake Set Up – adjustment of your braking system and how to check for wear 
Gear Set Up – adjustment of your gear system, including how to ‘index’ your gears 
Transmission Cleaning – cleaning of the drive chain and how to check for wear
Q & A – the opportunity to speak directly with one of our trained mechanics
 

Every attendee will also receive a FREE Fix It Home Cycle Maintenance Guide
For more infromation visit: www.evanscycles.com/servicing/free-bike-maintenance-classes

Pedal Mcr

Website

Birch Community Centre

Workshop 3 (24/10/10; 2pm- 4pm): Bike Basics: Brakes- including types of brakes, changing brake cables
and brake blocks.

Workshop 4 (7/11/10; 2pm- 4pm): Bike Basics: Gears-How gears work + correct use of gears (cycling skills); Basic gear adjustments barrel adjusters +
understanding what limit screws do + no adjustments to limit screws and solving common gear problems such as erratic shifting and chain coming off.

To secure your place at the basic bike maintenance workshops please fill in
your details here:

https://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?formkey=dDZZRHIxT2E2RXFXaU9oQ2l...

All workshops are 2 hours long and cost 5.00 benefits/students etc. and 6.50
for employed people. If you would like to do pay in advance for the 4 weeks
then it will be 18/24- you can pay in advance by paypal to nesthebear_23(at)riseup.net

All tools and components (such as cables etc) are included in the cost of the
course. Drop-in is fine but where possible please let me know if you are coming so
that i can bring enough tools etc. (if we are mega short of components compared to
attendants those that have reserved a spot will take priority)

You can email info(at)pedalmcr.org.uk or text 07866734351 for more info.