This month we celebrated providing 30 bikes to  people in need via our Wheels 2 Work partnership with South Gloucestershire Council. We also welcomed new volunteers Rob and Sandi to the team. We launched our Women on Wheels sessions and celebrated volunteer Juliet completing the epic NC500 ride (read on below for more details!).

With the bank holidays and good weather we’ve seen a flurry of interest in our bike library with rave reviews from borrowers and volunteer Rob has kindly offered to help with the admin so we should be in fine fettle to take bookings through the summer.

We also love to help with more unusual requests such as loaning bikes for two teenage visitors, Lunga and Akhule, who were visiting from South Africa with their choir as part of Project Zulu.

In team news we bid farewell to our mechanic Adam which means that we will be looking to take on a new mechanic and coordinator over the summer.

We also need volunteers, particularly for our busy Saturday open hub sessions, so if you think you could lend us some hours please drop us an email to join the team. We are trialling a new day for our monthly volunteer meeting (Monday 9th) so please drop us a line if you’d like to come along (we meet at the Tesco community room not at the Hub!).

John and Edouard of Warmley Wheelers

Lunga and Akhule learning to ride their YCBH loan bikes during their visit with Project Zulu

Finally look out for our friends Edouard and John from Warmley Wheelers will be ending day two of their Miles for Milestones challenge riding a side by side tandem across the counties of Wiltshire,  South Glos, Bristol and N Somerset.

Love, peace and bicycle grease,

Rebecca & the YCBH Core Team

Follow us! All our socials are listed here: YCBH linktree

We were pleased to host Will and Sirkka from South Glos on 7th May to celebrate the success of the first round of the Wheels 2 work Scheme. Since the extension was agreed last month we have prepared a further 10 bikes which makes 40 total this year so far!

Tales from the North!

Volunteer Juliet returned with tales from her cycle round Scotland following the NC500 route. Here’s what she had to say:

“My route actually added up to 468 miles when I totted it all up on the train home. I had fantastic weather, and my bike got all the way round with no problems whatsoever. I didn’t even need to add any air to the tyres!

I had a few nasty ticks to remove along the way, probably picked up while I was sitting on the roadside eating my second breakfasts. My other main issue was loud snoring coming from the tents of motorcyclists who always seemed to pitch too close to my tent.

I cycled early in the morning to avoid the campervans and had a lovely time. I’d recommend the route as a great adventure.“

We have scheduled two sessions per month (one evening and one daytime) through the summer with instructor Karen. Book your space using the Eventbrite QR code below or follow this Rusty Riders link to book any session.

This month’s dates are:

Wednesday 4th June 10:30 (meeting at the Abbotswood Inn)

Wednesday 11th June 10:30 (meeting at the Abbotswood Inn)

Trying out the cargo bike!

Having considered getting a cargo bike for their family Alex and his partner loaned our electric cargo bike and electric bike for two weeks this month as a trial run. Here’s what they thought:

“We’ve loved using the gazelle cargo bike and Raleigh E-Bike. The day we collected them we rode straight into Bristol with both of our children. Albert 5 and Evie 2. We made the most of the cargo bike and it was fully laden with both children, Albert’s bike and a picnic. 

“I enjoy sitting in the front of the bike to eat snacks on the way to the park!” Albert.

We’ve used them for many journeys around Yate and Chipping Sodbury rather than using one of our cars, we’ve now progressed to having our dog Nellie with us for most trips. 

We’ve previously spoken to Rob from Really Useful Bikes about a front load cargo bike and been on the fence whether it will be suitable for our family life. The use of the Gazelle has got rid of any worries and we will be using my Cycle to Work Scheme to order one as soon as possible.”

We think that’s a great success!

Women on Wheels

We had a lovely first meet up of the WoW group. Wine was drunk, ideas and experiences were shared with lots of possibilities / plans a foot for encouraging more women to ride.

Relevant WoW Conversations and events will be shared via a WhatsApp community please use this link to join https://chat.whatsapp.com/K5s4JhUBN8r2CRH6a3kFmO

Caroline and Jo at Sodbury Cycle Sport are hosting a beginner’s ride on the 14th June. It will be an easy no drop ride in a small group to help build confidence riding in a group.

If you’ve ever wondered about club cycling but didn’t know where to begin this will be a fabulous intro!

Email sodburycs@gmail.com for more information and to book your place.

4th June – Daytime Rusty Riders skills session, Booking Link

9th June – Volunteers and Co-ordinators Meeting 7pm (Note this is a Monday!)

11th June  – Evening Rusty Riders skills session, 6.30pm Booking Link

14th June  – Beginner’s ride with Sodbury Cycle Sport  

15th June – Miles for Milestones! Arrive in Yate (afternoon, time tbc)

17th June – Gear up! Maintenance Course 7-8.30pm Booking Link

24th June – Bike Maintenance Practice session 7-8.30pm Booking Link

28th June – Bike to Parkrun! (last saturday of the month through summer)

28th June – Saturday Dr Bike, 10.30-14.30