Last week we were lucky enough to speak to Sarah Berry, a self-described "joyful travel campaigner" who does incredible work to make cycling accessible to all.
Sarah kindly donated her first bike to us to be rehomed with a refugee and we got to chatting about her cycling campaigning work and why she donated her bike to us.
Read the interview below:
Please introduce yourself.
My name is Sarah Berry, I'm 30 years old and cycling is a relatively new part of my life. After learning to ride a bike one a TFL cycle confident course, I bought my first bike in 2020, the same day my local council announced a low traffic neighbourhood would be introduced in my area. I was petrified, but I told myself if I don't do this now, I'll never do it.
When did you hear of The Bike Project?
For much of my career I worked for an organisation whose mission was to help protect civilians in war zones, working with humanitarian and human rights organisations to push world powers to adhere to the rules of war and stop targeting civilians. Many of the friends and contacts I made during that time eventually became refugees themselves, ultimately finding it too dangerous to stay in their home country. So when I started getting involved in active travel advocacy, The Bike Project was one of the first organisations I came across -- naturally being drawn to an organisation that combined those two aspects of my life.
Why did you donate your bike to us?
The bike I donated was such a transformational part of my life. It changed the way I saw my city, my body, and my own capabilities. It made my life bigger, and I always imagined I'd keep it forever -- as a reminder of this remarkable time in my life. But the longer it spent in storage, not being used, the guiltier I felt. Ultimately I decided it was more important to enable someone else to experience that transformation than it was to have a memento.
Can you explain the work you do as a travel campaigner?
Since starting to ride myself, I've been passionate about advocating for other people to be able to experience the joy of cycling. One thing I noticed was that before I started riding, the gap between where I was and where I would need to be to match the people I saw riding out and about seemed totally unpassable. But once I started, I very quickly realised that the gap was much, much smaller than I realised. I wanted to speak to the people standing on the far side of the precipice, feeling like they couldn't possibly get to the other side, and be really candid with them about how easy it could be to build up the confidence and the skill. That's been the focus of my activism -- speaking to the people who want to ride but feel like they could never -- and being candid with them about the things that got me from one side to the other. I've been really blown away by the response, and the opportunities I've had to advocate for new cyclists.
Why do you think cycling and access to cycling is important?
I always find it hard to answer this question without sounding cliche, because cycling gives people all the things they say it does -- freedom, independence, agency, joy, fitness. If I had to sum it up in a way that sounded somewhat original, I guess I'd say that the reason cycling is so important is because it makes your world bigger. It gives you the ability to move around unencumbered, quickly and, with the right infrastructure, safely. And as a mode of transport, it allows for discovery. It's so much more porous than travel via car or public transport, because if you see something that looks interesting you can stop and check it out. Walking gives you the same, but the radius in which you can travel is so much smaller. But it also makes your world bigger because you get to really use your body for a functional purpose. As someone with a desk job this was so liberating. It felt so transformational to use my body to get me somewhere -- especially when that somewhere is far away.
What is your favourite cycling memory?
My favourite cycling memory is a seemingly very simple one. It was early in my time riding, while I was still getting my confidence up to do anything other than riding a bike in the park. It was a Sunday morning, and my partner was in the shower while I was drinking a coffee in bed. I was thinking how nice it would be if I could surprise him by having fresh croissants for breakfast ready for when he got out of the shower, but I knew there was no way I'd be able to walk to the bakery half a mile away and back before he was out of the shower. Then, without even thinking, I grabbed my bike and cycled there. I was there and back within 15 minutes. It was the first time I'd ever ridden on the road by myself, something I'd always been too terrified to do, but the convenience of the bike was so tempting that I'd done the thing I was scared of before I had the chance to be frightened. A couple of days later I cycled to Crystal Palace Park with a group of friends, 4 miles away. And from then on my rides just getting longer and longer.
Why do you think others should support The Bike Project?
Refugees are afforded so little freedom in the UK. They were generally afforded so little in their home countries. Having a bike gives them a little bit of that freedom back. But more importantly, it gives them agency. They get to have control over where they go and how they get there, without having to worry about cost. It's a small thing, but it can really make a difference to someone who has so little control over their own situation. Even if you don't have a bike to give, cash donations go a long way!
In a perfect world, how would refugees be supported in the UK?
I would love to see refugees simply welcomed and supported in the UK. An approach that favours trust and compassion rather than suspicion could go a long way. It's the way many communities across the UK already support the refugees in their neighbourhoods, but something the government can't seem to do.
Thank you Sarah for your bike donation and we are sure your old bike will be enjoyed thoroughly by its next owner.
]]>A local pop-up managed by a volunteer
Although cycling was a big part of Cinderella’s life as a young child, it took a backseat to her life during the Syrian war. It can be difficult to navigate the culture of cycling as a woman in Syria, but the continued instability also created a crumbling infrastructure that led to more difficulty safely cycling.
So when Cinderella arrived in the UK and connected with The Bike Project, she was over the moon to receive a bike in June 2019. Not only did cycling become her main form of exercise, it was her main method of travel.
“Having a bike gave me so much more self-reliance. For the first time in a long time, I felt like a whole human being who could depend on herself!”
A bike recipient receiving their bike
Then the world changed with the outbreak of Coronavirus. At first, Cinderella found herself bored, then isolated. After the novelty of studying and working remotely wore off, she was quick to realise she was missing her freedom of movement and the sense of connection it brought her with her community.
“In Syria, freedom of movement changed with the war. I was really glad to be able to move around London so freely, but with Coronavirus it felt like my world got really small.”
Then The Bike Project started Cyber Cyclists. A program with lessons every day, centred on the bike, all hosted by The Bike Project staff or volunteers. From bike maintenance to cycle-focused fitness sessions, the Cyber Cyclist sessions are open for all beneficiaries who are keen to sign up.
With classes on every day – and some days twice a day – Cinderella has taken part in cooking, fitness, yoga and even road safety classes.
“I love the energy of the instructors, and I can’t believe it’s all completely free. That’s not normally the norm for classes. It’s a great way to stay connected while in lockdown.”
Having taken part in the classes, Cinderella has noticed she feels more confident and optimistic. “There’s a real sense of solidarity on the platform, when we’re all taking part in Cyber Cyclists together.” She adds that it has been easier to cope with the isolation.
Cinderella’s favourite classes are those focused on road maintenance and safety, as it is so informative, although she is also fond of the fitness classes.
For anyone who wonders how to support The Bike Project during this time, Cinderella wants to stress the importance of what Cyber Cyclists classes do.
We continue these class in 2021!
]]>
We have chosen to highlight four difficult routes, and over the next few days we'll share these stories here on our blog and within our social channels.
It was a small boat, and at the time it felt as if there were over a thousand people there. Now, thinking back as an adult, I know there couldn’t have been more than 200 (Jamila, recounting her journey from Zarzis to Pozzallo)
By choosing one of our Refugee Routes and riding in solidarity with refugees, our fundraisers are supporting them on their new journey.
https://refugee-routes.raisely.com/signup
Every penny raised helps us give away more free bikes so that refugees and asylum seekers can make the best of life here in the UK.
Choose from four Refugee Routes, each of which represents how far migrants must travel to reach safe harbour.
With riding distances suitable for everyone from complete beginners to experienced cyclists, Refugee Routes is the fundraising challenge where you're in control.
Even better: team up with friends, family or work colleagues and all your miles will be counted together.
Read more about the challenge and the routes. And when you're ready, please sign up!
(Names have been changed to protect privacy)
]]>We’ve just about made it a whole month into the new year - and the new decade. How’s it going with that well-intentioned fitness resolution that you promised this year you would actually follow through on?
Don’t ask, you say?
Well, if your commitment is fading on these cold winter evenings, don’t worry: we’ve got just the thing that’ll keep you on the straight and narrow.
After a super successful foray into RideLondon last year, we’re back again - and bigger than ever. Although we can’t yet fully announce our exciting RideLondon news, we can say that we’d love for you to ride with us.
The thought of RideLondon may conjure images of tight pelotons and even tighter Lycra but it really isn’t like that, we promise. It’s not even a race!
RideLondon is a once-a-year chance to see the capital from the saddle of your bike with absolutely no traffic on beautifully closed roads. How amazing is that?
And, with crowds of happy people cheering you on, the 46 miles fly by. This unique event is perfect for anyone wanting to dip their toe into road biking. And take it from us, the cycling bug is easy to catch!
If you’re already a big fan of cycling or fancy more of a challenge, you can take on the RideLondon 100-mile route.
(From left) David Morrissey (The Bike Project patron) with Cielo Amezquita (The Bike Project volunteer)
Very soon we’ll be on the look out for riders to join our team, so how about it?
If you want to see what you’d be letting yourself in for, the route is available now on the RideLondon website and below are just a few of the photos that were taken last year. See - smiles all around!
If that doesn’t convince you, this year we’re creating a special training plan endorsed by double Olympic gold medallist Joanna Rowsell. We’ll also be hosting a group training ride to give you a chance to meet the rest of the team before the big day, and help you stick to your fitness goals.
In a couple of weeks we’ll be launching our RideLondon 2020 campaign with a little help from our patron, David Morrissey. You might have seen some teasers on our social pages already.
Once launched, you’ll be able to sign up on our website, but to stay ahead of the crowd, make sure you’ve followed us on Twitter and Facebook, where we’ll be posting the news.
(From left) The Bike Project mechanic Marta with her PruGoals buddy Ahmad, just after crossing the finish line.
The one and only Romain, another of our super mechanics!
Another happy Bike Project mechanic across the line - well done, Resom!
]]>On Sunday 4 August, Iranian refugee Mahbube will cycle the furthest she's ever cycled, taking part in the RideLondon 46 mile sportive through the closed streets of London and Surrey.
RideLondon is a weekend festival of cycling for the whole spectrum of riders, from elite professionals to family day-trippers and everyone in between – including refugees like Mahbube, who were given their first bike by The Bike Project.
It's been a long journey for Mahbube, from her childhood in Iran to the start line of RideLondon in the Queen Elizabeth Park. “I want a challenge in my life,” Mahbube says. “That's why, when I heard about RideLondon, I had to sign up.”
Mahbube arrived in London as an asylum seeker 10 months ago and a friend quickly recommended The Bike Project to help her save money on transport costs. “When I went to get a bike from The Bike Project, my first reason at that time was money,” she says.
With government financial support of just £37.75 per week, Mahbube couldn't afford to keep spending money on bus fares. “I needed to save for food and clothes. That's why I was thinking it's a good idea to have a bike so I can travel without any cost.”
After getting her bike, Mahbube started to volunteer at our workshop as a mechanic. “When I went to get my bike, I asked the mechanics if they needed someone to work for them.”
Now she comes once a week and helps fix bikes for other refugees. It's thanks to ace mechanics like Mahbube that we recently managed to donate our 5000th bike to a refugee.
“The bicycle is something to make me more strong and more confident,” Mahbube says. “It gives me more confidence and I try to use my bike every day, when I go to work or for shopping.”
Training for the long miles of RideLondon has already challenged Mahbube's cycling skills. “Last week, I went to Richmond Park with a friend. We rode 30 miles together, but after I said bye-bye to my friend I rode until I did 40 miles.”
That ride was the furthest she'd ever cycled, but on Sunday Mahbube will need to go 6 miles further. Does she reckon she'll make it all the way from the Olympic Park to the cheering crowds on The Mall? “Yes, I'm optimistic!” she says, laughing.
Mahbube's got one more training ride planned before the big day, an epic cycle from her friend's house in South London to the beauty parlour where she works in Ilford, and then looping back to her own house in Woolwich after work.
“I think that's around 40 miles,” she says. “This is my plan – if I'm not too tired from work!”
Mahbube is a confident young woman, throwing herself into life in a strange new city. So what's next? “I want to run a marathon,” she says. “This is my dream.”
~
If you'd like to support the wonderful people raising money for The Bike Project by doing ridiculous cycling feats like Mahbube, then head over to our JustGiving home page and chuck them a tenner.
They're going to need every encouragement when the hills hit! Thanks :D
]]>
And we all wanted to say thanks.
]]>We are seeking to fill a couple of volunteer roles in our Deptford workshop. We are currently full for bike mechanic volunteers, however we do need help with other tasks at our Thursday evening donation sessions, providing direct support to refugees and asylum-seekers. Perhaps you could be our Helmet Honcho or our Master of Maps?
Welcoming people and journey planning
Tasks include:
• Welcoming beneficiaries as they arrive, helping them to a cup of tea and having a chat
• Journey planning to ensure our beneficiaries know how to get home safely with their bikes
- Involves using Google maps, Citymapper and other travel apps
- Using our resources for pre-planned journeys
• Carrying out surveys with beneficiaries
• Talking to beneficiaries about our other projects which they might be interested in (Pedal Power - women’s cycle training and Bike Buddies – our cycling befriending scheme).
Giving out accessories to beneficiaries who’ve received a bike
Tasks include:
• Helping to give out bike accessories to our beneficiaries: a lock, helmet, gloves, high-vis vest
• Demonstrating how to properly fit a helmet (we’ll show you first!)
• Demonstrating to beneficiaries how to securely lock a bike
• Talking to beneficiaries about our other projects which they might be interested in (Pedal Power - women’s cycle training and Bike Buddies – our cycling befriending scheme).
Volunteering can either be weekly or on a more ad-hoc basis. Volunteers need to be able to arrive for 5pm and sessions finish by 8pm on Thursdays at our workshop in Deptford.
If you are interested, please email leila@thebikeproject.co.uk telling us which role you're interested in and a little about why you'd like to volunteer with us.
Thanks to the unbelievable efforts of our staff, volunteers and supporters, we have now donated more than 4,300 bikes to refugees, saving them over four million quid in travel costs.
Our fabulous online bike shop has also helped us secure the long-term future of the project so that we can keep on getting refugees cycling.
Now we're in a position where we can look further afield, because London isn't the only place where refugees need bikes!
Why? Because Birmingham's beautiful, of course!
Also because there are more than 6,000 asylum seekers in the city and public transport is expensive.
Just as in London, many refugees in Birmingham cannot afford to access essential services such as legal and medical assistance, Home Office appointments or psychological support, and are at risk of social isolation.
So let's get bikes to Birmingham!
We don't have many more details to share right now, but if you live in Birmingham (or know someone who does), then prepare to get excited!
Applications are now open for our West Midlands Operations Manager, check out the details on our jobs page.
Soon we'll be hiring the rest of our team from the local community, including:
Our ridiculous January Sale ends on the 31st. Bargains galore with up to 30% off. Click here to go to our shop right now!
]]>Do I hear you yelling, 'IT'S CHRRRRRIIIIIIIISTMAS!' Yes, I think I do.
And don't forget Hanukkah, Hogmanay, Human Rights Day - and it's probably someone's birthday soon. What on earth are you going to do with all that gift-giving?
Introducing... (fanfare please) ... The Bike Project Gifts for Refugees.
Gifts for Refugees is our way of helping you make a charitable donation to get refugees cycling on behalf of someone else. The gift of a gift!
The idea is that you choose a gift that roughly corresponds to the cost of providing one of our services to refugees.
We'll send you a very special PDF gift card to give to your loved ones, while we take your money and use it to get more refugees cycling this holiday season!
Gifts for Refugees are officially the number one way to support refugees and The Bike Project this Christmas.
]]>The Bike Project would run out of bikes in about three seconds flat without the vital work of our network of bike drop-off points.
These synagogues, schools, cafés and community centres act as drop-off points for bike donations all over the city.
The more drop-off points in our network, the more bikes we can collect, and the more refugees we can get cycling. Like we say: they are vital.
Vineyard 61 is a community church that runs a few great compassion projects - including the Bike Project drop-off point that was set up in early 2017.
We asked Operations Manager Stephen Peter Rowe why the church decided to help us out. 'We thought their mission was brilliant,' he says, 'It aligned perfectly with our values to help refugees in the city of London.'
So far in 2018, Vineyard 61 has taken a spectacular 70 bike donations for The Bike Project.
'We have been amazed at the generosity of the people in this city,' Stephen Peter says. 'We have seen a wide range of quality bikes come through, from high-end brands to vintage bike frames – we have also seen families come in and donate up to 4 bikes at a time!'
In Balham, the end of summer seems to be the busiest time for donations – 'As people transition in and out of living in the city,' Stephen Peter suggests. 'We're actually expecting 3 more bikes this weekend.'
If you are 'transitioning' in or out of London and want to donate your old bike, then hurry along to our website and find your nearest bike drop-off point.
Vineyard 61 can be found at 53 Rowfant Road, London SW17 7AP and they are open for bike donations every Sunday 9-11am & 6-8pm and every Monday 1-3pm.
Any other last thoughts, Stephen Peter? 'We want to thank The Bike Project for being such great partners,' he says, 'and hope we can continue to help refugees in the area for years to come.'
Aw, right back atcha!
~
If you're wondering why the heck you haven't got a nearby Bike Project drop-off point, and you'd like to look into setting one up (Spoiler: it's easy), then surf on over to our info page.
Who knows, next month it could be you...
]]>The BBC came down to the workshop on Tuesday to film a segment for a programme about the National Lottery Awards.
They told us that they were filming such segments for each of the finalists and that it was nothing to get excited about.
Cameras duly arrived, volunteers duly gathered, and we all tinkered about fixing bikes in the background while Jem rabbited on about our work to camera.
Then the camera crew slapped on some loud pop music ('for background,' they said) as Jem and Ali fiddled about with the brakes on a knackered old Raleigh.
The song ended and, weirdly, was back-announced by Roman Kemp (pictured above) from the Capital Breakfast Show.
This is very strange, we all thought - it's 1 o'clock in the afternoon - but carried on fulfilling our role as background artistes.
Then Roman on the radio said something extremely weird: 'And the winners are... The Bike Project!'
Cameras still rolling, we look at one another, utterly confused. 'Is this real?'
Finally, Roman himself bounds in, all smiles and handshakes, and the penny drops.
The Bike Project, your Bike Project, have really really won the National Lottery Award for Best Charity project!
'Was that a surprise?' Roman gleams. For everyone (apart from our cunning Marketing Manager) the answer was a resounding HELL YES, swiftly followed by DO WE HAVE ANY CHAMPAGNE?
But, of course, winning this award wasn't a total surprise. After all, we already knew that we had the greatest platoon of volunteers in the history of volunteering, as well as an awesome staff team. Now it's just confirmed.
THANK YOU.
If you'd like to get involved with volunteering for The Bike Project, we've got a fancy new system that makes sure you get the skills you need to fix bikes like a pro. Awesome.
]]>Our wonderful chair David Janner-Klausner is stepping down from his position. So much of his work over the past 5 years has been behind the scenes, leaving too much of the glory to show offs like me. Now it’s his turn to take the limelight.
David has been an absolute rock since the very beginning of The Bike Project. Since before the beginning in fact – he essentially co-founded The Bike Project with me back in 2013. Without his steady guidance in those early days, I'm sure it would not have become the success it is today.
David has given me an unbelievable amount of his time, answering emails and phone calls at all times of day and night. He’s given up whole weekends to discussions over operational systems management - and there can be no higher testimony to the man’s integrity than that.
His understanding of how organisations grow and develop is second to none. David has taught me more than I ever thought I'd want to know about how to build operational systems, how to manage staff, and how to build organisational resilience.
Under David's chairmanship, The Bike Project has grown from the merest kernel of an idea into an organisation that employs dozens of people, has built a refugee cycling support network across the capital, and - most importantly - put bikes into the hands of nearly 4,000 refugees and asylum seekers.
It would be no exaggeration, therefore, to say that David's work has changed the lives of thousands of people for the better.
When I attended David’s farewell do at his last job, I remember his old boss saying that it was rare to find someone who could play at the highest level and still have immaculate values. That is more true of David than anyone I have worked with.
For that, David, and from everyone who has ever crossed the threshold of The Bike Project, we say a sincere thank you. Take a bow.
]]>The Spire Cafe is perched at the peak of Harrow Hill, just off the famous Capital Ring bike and hike trail. It's run by Sarah and Nick, who turn their brunches and lunches into gold to pay for repairs to the old church roof.
Looking out over the surrounding city, the cafe is the perfect spot for a refreshing cup of tea, a refuelling slab of cake – and donating a bike to The Bike Project!
Because, as well as keeping the cyclists of Harrow well victualled, the Spire Cafe is also one of our heroic bike drop-off points.
They've taken in dozens of bikes for us, all of which have been either refurbished and donated directly to refugees or given the snazz-ma-tazz treatment and sold to help fund our work.
Hold onto your bladders, folks, our cosmically renowned annual comedy fundraiser is back. Jokes and Spokes promises much and delivers more, with five of the funniest people on the planet courageously taking to the stage at the Union Chapel in Islington.
At stake: nothing more than the fate of the galaxy. ...And also our annual drive to get more and more bikes into the hands of refugees around London.
Last year, gigglers just like you helped us smash our target of 3,000 bike donations. This year, we're looking for 4,000. Only your laughter (and money) can get us there.
Headed up by the fearless Sara Pascoe, their names ring out like heroes of yore: Robin Ince, Andy Zaltzman, Phil Wang, Rachel Parris. (Will more be added to the bill at a later date? It would be careless to let that slip...) These are true giants of the funny-bone-tickling hoards.
If you doubt me, then doubt no more: I've hunted the length and breadth of the internet to bring you a selection of the devastating humour peddled by our line-up.
So laugh long and loud and, while you do, open up your wallets and buy hundreds of tickets for you and all your friends and enemies. I hear your postman is obsessed with Phil Wang. This year we want to fill the balcony as well!
Sara Pascoe is an absurdly intelligent standup. Her 2016 book Animal: The Autobiography of a Female Body is a hilarious investigation of the biology, sociology and psychology of what it is to be female in our day and age – a topic that isn't so much striking a chord right now as jumping all over the piano. Sara won an episode of QI, for goodness sake. So even if you don't find her that funny, at least you'll get an education. But you will also find her funny. As this Live at the Apollo segment demonstrates unequivocally.
Twitter: @sarapascoe “The only mouse in comedy.”
Robin Ince is another brainbox comedian, although perhaps most famous for playing the village idiot alongside the BBC's resident genius Brian Cox on Radio 4's The Infinite Monkey Cage. Expect science and political satire. To show off his twin talents of standing up and talking, he did this comically enthusiastic TEDx talk about super massive black holes and Brian Blessed. Robin will be playing master of ceremonies for us, so you'll get multiple injections of funny from him. Medics will be on stand-by for any comedy overdoses.
Twitter: @robinince “Currently on tour both with and without Brian Cox.”
Andy Zaltzman is one of my absolute favourite comedians of all time (based on a limited knowledge of comedians from 1982 to the present day). Andy founded political satire podcast The Bugle, alongside Greatest British Political Export (TM) John Oliver. He also writes funny things for the internet, including this review of 2017 for the Guardian, and this completely accurate review of 2018 for iNews: “2018 has brought joyous global unity, as fears for the present and future melted away, leaving the polar bear of progress splashing around happily in its constantly-expanding sea.” You might also have heard The Zaltz as cricket scorer on Test Match Special, so don't be surprised if instead of comedy you get a complete list of the 25 batsmen who have been run out in both innings of a test match.
Twitter: @hellobuglers AND @zaltzcricket (greedy) “Born in 1974. Still not dead yet.”
Phil Wang's Wikipedia page tells us that he grew up in Malaysia and took his GCSEs in Brunei, but I'm not sure that's particularly relevant to the salient fact that he's an exceedingly funny young man. Luckily, Phil does a much better job than Wikipedia at introducing himself on this episode of Live at the Apollo. He's also part of sketch group Daphne, whose 2017 BBC radio series caused an unprecedented break out of good humour across the nation. Phil's comedy is reassuringly opinionated and hopefully at Jokes and Spokes he won't (just) find himself “performing to a sea of angry boners”.
Twitter: @philnwang “Thought I'd have more followers by now.”
Rachel Parris is absolutely smashing it at the moment, as the viral queen of satire on The Mash Report. Her bit on how not to sexually harass someone is, I believe, now part of the mandatory security briefing for visitors to the House of Commons and banned in 14 states of America. She has long been part of illustrious comedy troupe Austentatious, famous for improvising Jane Austen novels such as 'Strictly Come Darcy' and 'Mansfield Shark' to sell-out audiences all over the country. "If you're laughing, you're learning."
Twitter: @rachelparris “Comedian/Actor/Muso.”
So don't delay, buy your tickets today! Or tomorrow if you hate rhyming advertising slogans.
]]>Plastic is horrible. We've known that for decades, but it's taken the Chinese to prick our conscience and make us actually take action to cut down on our addiction to single-use plastics. Now the internet is buzzing with lists of the 9 best reusable coffee cups and stories about South Pacific hermit crabs making homes out of our garish plastic throwaways.
But instead of sending our recycling abroad, or delegating the job to homeless crabs, what if we made use of our own old tat? In recent years, a whole doing good industry has bloomed around the growing realisation that recycling and reusing isn't just kinder to the environment, it also makes our brains bigger and our wallets heavier.
So here's our bandwagon-jumping list of five awesome projects that turn dirt into gold.
The Restart Project (in Bermondsey, but the movement's global) is a social enterprise that teaches ordinary folks how to fix broken electronics. When your phone goes dead, what's better – to shell out £300 on a new handset, or to learn that it's a dodgy connection in the charger and can be fixed with a 5 minute soldering session?
Winners: You, your brain, your wallet, the nice people in the recycling factory who don't have to bother taking your phone apart, the planet. Their next Prepare to Repair Restart Party is on Sunday 28 January at the Goodlife Centre in central London.
My new favourite recycling intervention is Smalls For All, who take your 'gently worn' bras and give them to under-underweared women in Africa. According to their Pantometer, they've redistributed an astonishing 523,141 items of underwear since 2010. Pantastic!
Food is one thing that should never be wasted, and yet... Every year we throw away about £13 billion of edible food. The People's Fridge in Brixton is on a mission to stop that crime against cuisine. You can leave your still-good-to-eat nosh on the fridge shelves, and anyone with a rumble in their tummies can stop by and dine out.
Turning to the topic of our beloved bikes, social enterprise Cycle of Good employ Malawian tailors to transform your burst inner tubes into brilliant new purses, wallets and cases for pencils and glasses, simultaneously helping to support children's centres in one of the world's poorest communities.
And of course at The Bike Project we take old bikes that last saw action in your misspent youth and turn them into modern machines of love and steel, ready to liberate another generation. Donate yours today!
(What? You didn't think we'd miss out on a chance to plug ourselves, did you? 😀)
]]>Are you a Uni-cyclist, a freshers flyer or a college climber? Being a student is an expensive business these days, so what better way to welcome in the new academic year than with 10% off a Bike Project bike. No, we're not shipping them without brakes – that's 10% off in money!
Whether you're a speed freak, an off-road adrenalin junkie or just looking for transport, your next new bike is waiting just around the corner.
Why all students need a Bike Project bike:
TRANSPORT
Start with the obvious. Now the taxi of mum and dad is no longer in service, who else is going to drive you to lectures, footie practice or back home after a long night out? Hint: You are. And that's no bad thing – it's not for nothing that the Suffragettes called bikes Freedom Machines.
MONEY
Even with a student travel card, you can easily spank £50-100 a month on travel to and from college or university. Over the next 9 months that's going to add up fast. A bike is a inspired investment that'll save you big bucks in the long run. And that's even before our special student discount.
FITNESS
Cycling to and from your lectures could help you burn an extra 500 calories every day. That's a plate of cheesy chips and a beer. (Note: We do bikes, not dietary advice.) Flicking through Instagram on the bus just doesn't match up. So why shell out on gym membership when you've got one under your ass?
BRAINS
Aerobic exercise like cycling supersizes the hippocampus, the brain area involved in verbal memory and learning. Buying a bike (and using it) will make you cleverer. Fact. On top of that, exercise lowers cortisol stress levels – pretty handy at exam time.
CHARITY
As if that wasn't enough – you'll also be supporting an award-winning social enterprise. The Bike Project came into being when our founder Jem Stein was himself a student and made friends with Adam, a refugee from Darfur. When Jem saw how badly Adam struggled to afford public transport on his measly government allowance of £36 a week, he hit upon a simple solution. It was sitting, unused and unloved, in his brother's shed. An afternoon's tinkering later, Adam had free travel to all his Home Office appointments and – even more important – a real sense of independence.
Four years later, every penny we make by selling bikes is ploughed straight back into our mission to get refugees cycling. Last year, we gave away over a thousand bikes to refugees in London. We also run a massively successful women's project that teaches cycling skills to female refugees who might have never been allowed a bike of their own. Freedom!
Don't just take our word for it
“I have just received delivery of my Ridgeback Motion Hybrid Bike.....and I AM ABSOLUTELY DELIGHTED! It is in amazing condition and all the necessary bits replaced…it rides absolutely perfectly – the gears, the brakes, everything – better than new. Brilliant. I have been cycling for fifty years and this is by far the best bike I have ever owned.”
Well known genius Albert Einstein tragically didn't live long enough to buy a bike from The Bike Project, but he did come up with his Special Theory of Relativity while cycling. Not bad, Bertie, not bad.
So come and join the noble history of cycling students and buy a Bike Project bike today. Just use the code STUDENT10 at the checkout to enjoy 10% off.
(Photo credit: Stew Dean on Flickr)
]]>Get into or back into cycling in 2018 with a brand new secondhand bike (not a contradiction) from The Bike Project. All of our secondhand bikes ride as good as new, thanks to our magical mechanics (not actually magical, but sometimes they seem like it).
If you need some inspiration (or an excuse) here are 18 New Year cycling resolutions to make sure your 2018 is totally awesome.
And remember that every penny you spend with us goes to getting refugees cycling. We couldn't do this without you and your love of bikes, so here's to an awesome 2018 for you – cheers!
(Photo Credit: R4vi on Flickr)
]]>The post Teaching refugees to cycle with confidence appeared first on The Bike Project.
]]>How do you teach something that you find instinctive?
That’s the question Leila asked when she started volunteering at our Women’s Project, which teaches refugee women how to ride a bike with confidence.
“When I started helping out, I was struck by how supportive the environment was. But I found as a cyclist that it was quite challenging to break down how to ride.”
Cycle Confident offered The Bike Project a place on a 4 day training course to become an NSI Cycle Instructor. Leila was the perfect candidate.
“As a car driver you have a driving test, but there isn’t really a cycling equivalent. It was quite an exhausting 4 days but it really helped my confidence. As soon as I had completed the course, I could work as a fully qualified instructor.”
Combined with this formal training and her own experiences of gaining confidence in cycling, Leila is now an absolute cycling guru, empathising with the women’s fears and helping nurture their skills.
Leila’s cycling journey
“My own journey began when I learned to ride as a child. As a teenager I rode a bit, but as an adult I wasn’t cycling. About 8 years ago, I got in with a group of friends who rode everywhere, and I was having to catch up with them by bus! They had something good going on and I wanted to be part of it. I grew up in London, but the idea of riding here was quite intimidating to me.”
After taking some cycle sessions provided by her borough, Leila learned how important training is to confidence. “Since those sessions, I’ve cycled everywhere!”
Now that she’s fully qualified, we employ Leila as an instructor. She’s grateful that Cycle Confident gave her the opportunity, and so are we – along with all of the people she helps train.
“The sense of achievement at the Women’s Project is palpable – the sessions are always rewarding, every week it surprises me when someone starts pedalling. It reminds me each time why I do it – it’s a privilege to part be part of that.
“Last week, one of the women in our group, who had been quite quiet, said as she left, “It was such a great session, I feel like I’m 16 again.”
The post Teaching refugees to cycle with confidence appeared first on The Bike Project.
]]>“Hiplok was founded by myself and a uni friend, Ben Smith, back in 2011. We used to go mountain biking together and chat about random ideas we had for bikes (or other things). Our background is in product development (we studied industrial product design together at Coventry). Ben was working in the bike industry whist I worked for a product development agency in Windsor.
]]>The post More Space Please! appeared first on The Bike Project.
]]>The Bike Project is looking for more space! Ideally a warehouse and an office within London.
Please contact caz@thebikeproject.co.uk directly if you know of anywhere which fits the brief below. Please give the brief a careful read before contacting us as whilst we are very grateful for any leads, we are a small and busy team and ideally want to prioritise our time with those that best match our needs.
The main space will be used to check the bikes in, assess and repair them, and redistribute them. We will also use some of the property as an office.
What we’re looking for:
We know that this is very specific therefore we will consider properties slightly outside of this brief. We will also consider making renovations to adapt the property to our needs.
We are a charity and our budget is limited but we are prepared to consider reasonable commercial rent prices.
We are ready to move.
Our mission is simple: to get refugees cycling!
We are a community of refugees, mechanics and volunteers. We receive donations of second- hand bikes, fix them together at our workshop, and then donate them to asylum seeking refugees. A small proportion of the bikes that we receive are sold through The Bike Shop to generate funds, the proceeds of which support The Bike Project, which ensures our long term sustainability.
The post More Space Please! appeared first on The Bike Project.
]]>It was a week ago that I lined up at the alarm-clock destroying time of 5.44 a.m to try and complete the Prudential Ride London in 4 hours and 15 minutes.
Since then I’ve had many naps, eaten lots of food and wept every time I had to climb more than three steps in one go.
But now I’m fully recovered and just wanted to let you know what happened on the day and to say a last thank you for your amazing generosity.
Here’s a (not at all) brief insight into my weekend.
The day before the ride I carb loaded like a crazy person (my favourite part of a long distance cycle, eating my own bodyweight in pasta) and went to bed as early as I could manage. Just as I turned my light off, a thumping bass line kicked in. My light switch didn’t normally do that. I flicked it a couple more times to see if it would stop. It didn’t. My heart sank. I had to face the truth. On that night of all nights, my neighbours were having a party.
This made me sad.
I jammed earplugs so far into my ears that I think I actually touched my brain. But it was to no avail. I could still hear the M.C (oh yes, they had an M.C) and the pounding bass. I think I managed to get a bit of sleep, but it was all too soon that my alarm went off at 3 a.m. Which incidentally was the exact time the party stopped and they turned the music off. I’d have found that funny if I wasn’t so weary.
I bet Chris Froome doesn’t have to deal with that kind of action.
]]>
It was a week ago that I lined up at the alarm-clock destroying time of 5.44 a.m to try and complete the Prudential Ride London in 4 hours and 15 minutes.
Since then I’ve had many naps, eaten lots of food and wept every time I had to climb more than three steps in one go.
But now I’m fully recovered and just wanted to let you know what happened on the day and to say a last thank you for your amazing generosity.
Here’s a (not at all) brief insight into my weekend.
The day before the ride I carb loaded like a crazy person (my favourite part of a long distance cycle, eating my own bodyweight in pasta) and went to bed as early as I could manage. Just as I turned my light off, a thumping bass line kicked in. My light switch didn’t normally do that. I flicked it a couple more times to see if it would stop. It didn’t. My heart sank. I had to face the truth. On that night of all nights, my neighbours were having a party.
This made me sad.
I jammed earplugs so far into my ears that I think I actually touched my brain. But it was to no avail. I could still hear the M.C (oh yes, they had an M.C) and the pounding bass. I think I managed to get a bit of sleep, but it was all too soon that my alarm went off at 3 a.m. Which incidentally was the exact time the party stopped and they turned the music off. I’d have found that funny if I wasn’t so weary.
I bet Chris Froome doesn’t have to deal with that kind of action.
Anyway, I tried to not let myself get too worried about the lack of sleep. To be honest, this was fairly easy as when I got up I was far more worried about the weather. As forecast, it was absolutely hammering it down. It was SO wet. And it wasn’t due to let up until around 6 a.m. By which time I would have been out in it for two hours cycling to the start line and then waiting for kick off at 5.44.
This also made me sad.
So it was here that I made one of the few decisions in my life that I’m 100% sure was the right thing to do.
I panicked and called a cab.
The thought of getting utterly soaked on the WAY to the start, and then riding in wet and cold kit was too much for me to deal with. I was going to arrive dry or not at all.
Driving from south east London to the Olympic park with my bike squashed in beside me, I felt guilty and a traitor to my kind by riding in a car to the start. I watched other riders heading in the same direction. None of them looked happy. Most of them looked cold. It was making me shiver a bit in sympathy. So I asked the driver to turn up the heating and I stopped looking out the window. I found I felt OK after that.
I arrived at the start, put my kit in the lorries to be transported to the finish and then made my way to the start line for my wave. I eyed up the other riders. Trying to pick out who would be the lucky few that would have the privilege of towing me to the finish. I was pretty confident of a good time if I got a decent start with a good bunch of riders. The key would be making sure that I didn’t lose them early on. I marked out some likely candidates and then settled in to wait for the off.
Some twenty or so minutes later, the commentator was counting us down and we rolled out to “London’s Calling” by the Clash. I allowed myself a moment to take a breath. I was relieved. I felt good. I’d made it to the start, I’d trained hard, I had an early start time and I was pretty sure I could get myself in a good group and speed towards the finish.
Confidence surged. I was going to do it.
And then I went round the first corner and punctured instantly.
I knew straight away. The front wheel was completely gone. I couldn’t believe it. I rolled to the side of the road, watching my group sail away from me. I looked at my Garmin bike computer. I’d been riding for less than a minute.
LESS THAN A MINUTE.
Now, I’ve been a cycle courier for many years, I’m a competent mechanic and I’ve raced and ridden bikes for a while now. I’m pretty good at changing inner tubes at speed.
But not that morning.
Its fair to say I had a minor meltdown. In my attempt to sort it out quickly, bits were flying everywhere and my fingers stopped working. I was picking stuff up and then putting stuff down. But doing nothing with it in the interim. I was flapping like I’d never flapped before. I could hear group after group go by me on the road as I struggled and tussled with my tyre. Each whir of wheels going by made me more and more anxious.
Finally I gave myself a talking to, took some deep breaths, stopped faffing, got it done and got back on the road in what felt like about four lifetimes, but was actually only about ten minutes. I re-joined the ride and hammered on the pedals to start my race against the clock. I knew that my hope for 4.15 was pretty much done for. Now it was about damage limitation. But I didn’t want to go all guns blazing and then fall apart at the end. I started overtaking people, trying to catch up to a group that were going at a decent speed. But unfortunately, it seemed like all the fast people were way ahead being fast without me.
Then, finally, before Tower Bridge, I was caught by a fairly sizeable group going at a decent lick. I jumped on the back and settled in.
I was really grateful for this group sheltering me from the wind, but I realised pretty early on, that they weren’t quite going as fast as I needed them to. They were going at a good pace (around 38kph average) but on the early sections I knew I needed to be going quicker. It was also dominated at the front by five members of the same team, that, quite reasonably, wanted to ride at the front together dictating the pace, not wanting anyone else to take a turn and disrupt their rhythm.
And this was then my dilemma.
Did I stay with this group, definitely get nowhere near 4.15, but have a fairly good ride and definitely make it to the finish? Or do I leave them and go solo in a death or glory charge to try and get the fastest time that I could in the circumstances?
I just couldn’t decide. So I did what I normally do in these kinds of situations. Nothing. I fretted and fretted but didn’t take any action or make any decisions and just stayed riding with this group for around an hour and a half. But before we got to the start of the climbs I realised that I had to make a choice.
And the choice had to be to go solo.
So I worked my way to the head of the group and then, after taking a deep breath, I attacked and left them behind me.
Straight away I felt a wave of relief. I really should have done this much earlier. I didn’t care if it meant that I might blow up before the end. I didn’t want to have any regrets. I was going to go as fast as I possibly could for the rest of the ride, even if it meant that I had to do it as a solo time trial.
I looked behind me. No one had followed. The group clearly thought that I was doing something very silly. To be honest I thought I might be doing something very silly. But I felt good. I felt pretty strong and I knew, because I’m light and fairly good at going up hills (and the next section was full of them) that I was probably going to be able to stay away and even maybe have a go at catching up with some people in front.
So I put my head down and settled in. Pushing just below my threshold to make sure that I didn’t go too hard and collapse. Sure enough I started catching people going up Leith Hill, the longest of the three climbs of the ride. I kept on pushing, going up and over the top, down the descent and then up Box Hill. By this time I’d caught a fair few riders and as we crested the top of the last long (ish) climb of the route, I’d collected a new group behind me who seemed keen to push the pace to the end.
I was enjoying myself by now. Which probably explains why I attacked off the front of this group as well. Too be honest I was probably getting a bit overexcited. I’d been riding with them for about fifteen minutes when I thought I may as well go for it and on a slight incline I put some power into the pedals and off I went again.
This was then one of the most fun parts of the ride for me. As well as the most painful. There were hardly any riders in front of me so I could properly pretend that I was in a romantic (and doomed) solo breakaway in the Tour de France. Riding as hard as I could on my own to escape the chasing pack.
And escape I did. For about fifteen miles I kept going and going. Having a lovely old time. Even though it hurt I definitely had a big old grin on my face for most of this bit. To anyone watching I probably looked like someone had dressed up a village idiot in full lycra.
But still I kept driving onwards, looking behind me every now and again to see if there was anyone in pursuit.
And around the 87 mile mark I realised that there was.
A big group, much larger than the one I’d initially left, was about twenty seconds behind me. But they were gaining fast. I quickly decided to sit up, stop pushing and wait for them. In no time they’d caught up with me and I tucked into the front of what was now a twenty strong bunch. There were some big guys at the front pulling huge turns and I did my best to join and help. There were probably only about five of us actually doing any work on the front, the rest content to follow us home, but the people that were working, were working pretty hard. We were going much faster than I would have been able to go on my own. The miles flashed by and before I knew it, we were crossing the bridge at Putney, hitting the north side of the Thames and onto the home straight. Knowing that we were close to the end gave me a new lease of life. I was hurting, but I know this area so well and so knew, with each passing landmark, exactly how close we were getting to the end. We kept the pace high, all the way down the embankment, past bridge after bridge, past Parliament square and then we hung a left onto the mall and the sweetest sight ever loomed into view.
The finish line.
I crossed the line and slowed to a stop. I’d made it. Woohoo!
I checked my official finish time. It was 4 hours and 21 minutes. My Garmin bike computer put me at 4 hours 12. So the puncture had set me back by about ten minutes or so. Its easy to say, but I know in different circumstances I could have gone faster. But 4 hours 21 was a respectable time, and even with the puncture, it didn’t put me too far over my target.
I’ve attached photos of my split times at the various checkpoints and you can see how the first half was a tiny bit too slow (that bit is very flat and should have been over 40kph average really), and how we ramped it up towards the end. There’s also a picture of my ride on strava to show that my “moving” time was under my 4 hours 15 target!
Here’s the link to my ride on strava if you fancy having a look.
https://www.strava.com/activities/1109087412?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss
So that was it. I was initially a tiny bit deflated, I really, really wanted to get under my time without having to rely on any “moving time” shenanigans, but the early puncture put paid to that. However, I was really pleased with the rest of the ride and I can honestly say that I have no regrets at all and genuinely gave it everything that I could on the day.
And the reason I was able to do that was because of the support of you guys. Thank you so much to everyone that sponsored me, everyone who sent me their support, everyone that took the time to read my stupid long emails, and everyone that took the time to have a little look early that Sunday morning at the dot that represented me on the app. It meant so much having you all in my corner and what you’ve helped raise will make a huge difference to the bike project. Your generosity will mean that the Bike Project can get more refugees on bikes, riding towards a bright future.
You’re all awesome.
Thanks again
Much love and happy riding
James
P.S my fundraising page is still active so please feel free to forward this link to any rich people that you might know…
http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/JamesWebb17?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss
The post A message from James appeared first on The Bike Project.
]]>The post Why I’m pledging my ride appeared first on The Bike Project.
]]>On the 30th of July I’m taking part in the 2017 Prudential Ride London. A brilliant event that will see thousands of cyclists roll around the closed roads of London, giving it their best impressions of Bradley Wiggins or Laura Trott. (I’m always Laura Trott, just so you know. Not sure why. I just feel I’m more a Trott than a Wiggo).
I’m raising money for The Bike Project which, as you know, is a wonderful charity that refurbishes bikes that have been abandoned, thrown away or left to rust and then donates them to refugees and asylum seekers.
Anyone who cycles will know what owning a bike means to them. For me it’s the feeling of personal freedom. Sitting on a bike gives me the feeling of possibility. That I have the potential to go anywhere. It’s a powerful thing. So being able to give a bike to a refugee or asylum seeker who has faced many hardships and who has very little is not only hugely practical (saving each recipient masses of money in travel costs) but is also a potent symbol of freedom and ownership.
I’ve volunteered for the charity for over a year and now work for them as a freelance mechanic, so I’ve seen first hand the good work it does and what it means to the recipients of the bikes. I’m very proud to be riding for them in this event.
Onto the ride itself. I love riding my bike, and although riding 100 miles is always a challenge, I’m pretty confident that I could take it steady and get around the course and probably have a lovely time doing it.
But where’s the fun in that? I want to earn your money. So, to make sure I don’t take it easy, I’m going to commit to doing the 100 miles in under 4 hours and 15 minutes. To hit that time, I’m going to need to average about 24mph over the whole course. Ouch. I genuinely don’t know if I can do this. But I’m going to give it a go.
And for a little bit of extra motivation and to put my own money where my mouth is, I promise to donate a fiver for every minute I go over my set time, so this could go spectacularly wrong for my bank balance. But if you’re donating some cash, then the least I can do is risk some of my own (On a side note, your donations aren’t affected by me achieving this time or not. It’ll only affect how much I personally throw into the pot.)
Small print, we’ll take the time from my Garmin bike computer, and it’ll be my “moving” time we use, not my “total” time. Basically, my Garmin will not count any time I spend stationary. I don’t intend to stop at all, but this will mean that I won’t go bankrupt if I get held up due to things beyond my control. I hope that’s acceptable to all.
Right, that’s it. Thanks so much for taking the time to read this. If you are able to donate then please click on the link below and it will take you to my fundraising page. Thanks in advance for any donations you can give. It’s hugely appreciated.
James Webb
http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/JamesWebb17?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss
Find out more: http://thebikeproject.co.uk/pledge-my-ride/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss
The post Why I’m pledging my ride appeared first on The Bike Project.
]]>The post Saddler well appeared first on The Bike Project.
]]>Invented over 100 years ago by lavishly-bearded John Boultbee Brooks, you can still spot a Brooks saddle by its unique leather design today. John wasn’t always into bikes. He started out as a saddle maker for horses, and it was only when his horse died that he decided to give cycling a go. It’s safe to say that his first ride left him less than impressed and more than a little sore. So, as the Victorians were in the habit of doing, John got down to inventing and created the Brook leather prototype saddle in 1878.
Brooks perfected his saddle, and didn’t stop there – the Brooks company have been responsible for all sorts of weird and wonderful inventions over the years. In their 1926 catalogue alone you can find ‘handlebar muffs’, ‘snap-on leggings’ and a side car screen.
You won’t see any of those in their latest catalogue, but you will spot a few of John’s original seats, almost exactly as he designed them over 100 years ago. Made with top notch leather stretched over a sturdy frame, Brooks saddles have a rep for comfort, longevity and style. And thanks to their sturdiness, we’ve got some fantastic second hand specimens in our shop. They’re still in amazing condition, and are so comfy they’ll have you dancing on your wheels.
Find our second hand Brooks saddles in our shop.
The post Saddler well appeared first on The Bike Project.
]]>The post Cyclists on a mission appeared first on The Bike Project.
]]>“Hiplok was founded by myself and a uni friend, Ben Smith, back in 2011. We used to go mountain biking together and chat about random ideas we had for bikes (or other things). Our background is in product development (we studied industrial product design together at Coventry). Ben was working in the bike industry whist I worked for a product development agency in Windsor.
One day I cycled to a friend’s house, left my bike up the drive outside his house in a quiet suburban street only to return 15 mins later to find it had gone. I’d had bikes stolen before (you’d have thought I would have learned my lesson) but this was the catalyst which got me thinking about a better way to carry a bike lock.
Taking inspiration from the way many bike couriers carried their locks, I approached Ben with the idea and the concept of Hiplok was born. Ben was living in the US so we’d work on prototypes, send them back and forth, and talk on Skype most days for about a year before launch. Five years later the wearable lock idea has now grown into a wide range of bicycle security products and we now sell in over 20 countries worldwide.
I first heard about the Bike Project via a close family friend, Sarah Payne. Sarah is one of the trustees of the charity. She knew I was involved in the bike industry and said I should check them out.
Hiplok is donating a number of bicycle locks for The Bike Project. We will also be supporting the project in a number of other ways over the coming months, so keep an eye out.”
The post Cyclists on a mission appeared first on The Bike Project.
]]>The post We asked, Blaze answered appeared first on The Bike Project.
]]>One of the wonders who got in touch turned out to be a bit of a blast from the past. Based in Shoreditch, Blaze create clever bits of tech to make cycling safer. You might have spotted green bike symbols projected onto the pavement from the London Santander Cycles – that’s them. We first met them a few years back and, after reconnecting over Bike Hubs last week, Rachel from Blaze tells sent us this lovely email:
“Setting up as a bike hub was as easy as saying the word ‘yes’. It’s really exciting to be involved and we’re looking forward to meeting more of our neighbours as they come to donate their wheels. We’ve even been talking about getting in some treats of the edible kind to sweeten the deal, as many of us will do anything for chocolate!
We’ve been following the project from afar via The Bike Project’s newsletter for some years, after Jem came to visit our office when Blaze was in its infancy. We read that you were looking for new Bike Hubs and the timing was perfect – we have just moved from our own tiny ‘bike shed’ in Bethnal Green into a larger ‘home’ where the Kingsland and Hackney Roads join. We have the space, and we heard the call to arms
Why are we a good match? We are a bike light company, and our workforce is made up of cyclists. We all ride bikes, and in fact it’s probably the one common feature that the 13 of us share. Like all of us we want to do more to help others where we can, and it makes sense to partner with the Bike Project as hopefully we will be able to introduce our customers and stockists to the work that you do as well.”
Thank you Rachel and everyone at Blaze – and to all of our other amazing Bike Hubs.
You can find the Bike Hubs on our Bike Hub map, along with lots of other places you can donate any unwanted bikes.
Want to become a Bike Hub yourself? You can find out how here.
The post We asked, Blaze answered appeared first on The Bike Project.
]]>The post Become a Bike Hub appeared first on The Bike Project.
]]>Becoming a Bike Drop-Off Point for The Bike Project is an easy, wonderful way to support refugees and asylum seekers in London.
You can find out how to become a drop-off here. And to give you an idea of why it’s so brilliant, have a read of what drop-off hosts Jon and Jonathan have to say below.
The Jesuit Refugee Service is one of our bike donation drop off points and a partner in our Women’s Cycle Training scheme. We caught up with Jonathan from the JRS to hear about his experience of hosting a drop-off for The Bike Project.
“We were very happy to support The Bike Project by becoming a drop-off point as we had seen how much they had motivated and encouraged our refugee friends.
The Bike Project is a wonderful initiative which continues to prove that solidarity and hospitality make our lives and communities better and more fun; I’m pretty sure that the refugee friends The Bike Project has made are a big reason for its success.”
“Seeing our refugee friends getting around on the donated bikes, the freedom and excitement cycling uniquely allows, just shows why it is a privilege to act as a drop-off point. So do join up and play your part!”
“Once the racks are installed or the storage arrangements fixed, being a drop-off point does not call for too much effort – though, when you’re preoccupied with something else, don’t forget to give a big ‘thank you’ and smile to the donors!”
Jon and the Finchley Reform Synagogue have supported The Bike Project for years, and recently became one of our drop-off points.
“As one of our main charity partners, FRS members have donated money towards The Bike Project for over 3 years. We also wanted to provide practical support to a charity that improves the lives of London’s refugees and asylum seekers in tangible and sustainable ways. Being a drop-off point in North London has allowed many more donors to give their unwanted bikes to this valuable cause.”
“So many bike donors are delighted that their once-loved machines will be put to such good use. When people bring in bikes with wheels falling off, broken brakes and rusty chains, they are amazed that we will still accept the donations, as we explain that their bike could be repaired, used as a training machine, or saved for spare parts.
Most synagogues in London are surrounded by high fences and have regular visible security patrols. Although we wish to be a welcoming place, the necessary security steps sometimes give off a different impression. Many bike donors are stepping into a synagogue for the first time when they bring their bikes, and it is a great chance to have a friendly conversation and ensure those barriers are broken down.”
“It really is a simple, hassle-free way of making a big difference to the quality of people’s lives in our city. The Bike Project team make it really easy to arrange pick-ups when our bike store is full. We sometimes have to turn away donors because there is no drop-off point near them, and they are unable to bring bikes to Finchley. The more drop-off points there are, the further reaching the project will become.”
]]>The post Happy New Year! appeared first on The Bike Project.
]]>Along with ‘exercise more’ (which is the usual top spot), loads of other common resolutions are Bike Project friendly. So if you’ve chosen any of these 3, we reckon we can help you keep it for the whole year round.
This is an easy one – you’ll want one bike, a route to work and Bob’s your uncle. The best place to get that bike? Why, The Bike Project, of course. Our shop is full of fantastic second hand, expertly fixed up bikes for you to choose from. And every penny goes back into supporting refugees in the UK. You can even find the helmet, lights and high vis you’ll need for safe January cycling, too.
This is an even easier one, because you just do number 1 again. You’ll be very surprised at how quickly you make back the cost of a bike (especially compared to a season ticket on public transport). And of course, as all of our bikes are second hand, they’re a complete bargain so you save money compared to buying a brand new bike. And it’s even more of a bargain when you take into account our amazing professional mechanics who fix our bikes up to be as good as new.
Every Thursday you can pop along to The Bike Project HQ to give us a hand with fixing up the bikes that will be given away to asylum seekers. Our workshops run from 5-8pm at 12 Crossthwaite Avenue, Denmark Hill, SE5 8ET. There’s no need to book or have any knowledge about how to fix up a bike – you just turn up and muck in.
If you’re not able to donate your time or you live a bit too far away and you’d still like to support The Bike Project, you can make a one off financial donation here – any amount is greatly appreciated.
The post Happy New Year! appeared first on The Bike Project.
]]>The post A Little Help from our Friends… appeared first on The Bike Project.
]]>Last summer we donated 15 bikes and ran a safety session for teens at Young Roots based near Croydon.
In January we trundled to Tooting to donate 15 bikes to CARAS, a community outreach programme, and to run a safety session for teens.
At the beginning of the year, we travelled to Coventry to pair up bikes with over 30 kids.
In May we ran a fun safety session for kids at the Children’s Society in East London and donated 20 bikes.
This half term we’ve been to the Children’s Society in East London again, with another 20 bikes and a safety session.
It’s been a busy week – we also went to Asylum Welcome in Oxford to donate 15 of our fixed-up bikes.
The post A Little Help from our Friends… appeared first on The Bike Project.
]]>The post A lovely article about refugees in The Guardian… appeared first on The Bike Project.
]]>And, extremely excitingly, we’re in it. The Guardian have highlighted the amazing stuff that asylum seekers and refugees do once they make it to Britain. Amongst the chefs, journalists and nurses, there are our very own bike mechanics and volunteers.
As Kirstie Brewer writes, ‘Since launching in 2013, the Bike Project has given away 1,800 bikes. Today it’s very busy. Volunteers and staff mill around, introducing visitors to their bikes and kitting them out with helmets, bike locks, reflective jackets and maps of London. Then they’re taken out for a spin around the neighbourhood to get acquainted with their new wheels and learn about road safety.
…
Maizer, a Sudanese genocide survivor, says his bike has restored some dignity and independence to his life. “It’s like I have new wings.”’
We’re really proud to appear alongside such amazing charities who are also helping refugees find confidence and to reach their full potential. You can read the whole article over at The Guardian.
The post A lovely article about refugees in The Guardian… appeared first on The Bike Project.
]]>The post Ben Abrahams appeared first on The Bike Project.
]]>Ian Verber, Ben’s father-in-law, had the following to say about Ben: “Ben Abrahams loved life, loved his family and loved cycling. When a car crash ended his life after 32 years packed with activity it left a huge gap in many people’s lives. It is hard to think that he will never see his two boys, Freddie and Arthur grow up. He cared passionately about their happiness, but he was also concerned about the welfare of other children and families who did not have their advantages. So it is not surprising that his wife Kate, his parents Sue and Roger, brother Greg and sister Lucy, together with Kate’s family and his many, many friends should decide to make a contribution to The Bike Project in his memory – combining as it does Ben’s two passions – love of family and the joy of cycling. We hope that many disadvantaged families will have a better future with the help of bikes provided by The Bike Project and we know that it would be a project close to Ben’s heart.”
So far, they have raised almost £2,500 for us which is incredibly helpful for a small charity like ours.
We are extremely saddened by the premature death of such a wonderful person in such tragic circumstances. We have been moved by the extraordinary generosity of Ben’s family and friends, we are eternally grateful for the support they have given us, especially at what must be an incredibly difficult time for them. It is a testament to what a wonderful man he was.
Our board, staff, volunteers, and the refugees we work with are eternally grateful for the support and we are honoured to be associated with him.
Rest in peace Ben.
The post Ben Abrahams appeared first on The Bike Project.
]]>