Prize winner Nicky celebrates her own Big Bike Revival
By Tony Upfold
Monday, 26 October 2015
Big Bike Revival winner Nicky with her new cycle
Nicky was shocked her battered old Raleigh cycle was pinched after she chained it to a metal fence outside her workplace, Multipack Logistics.
The following day her husband, Guy, attended The Big Bike Revival event in Darwen, Lancashire, completed a CTC survey to enter the prize draw…and ended up winning a sparkling new Raleigh cycle of Nicky’s choice.
Nicky said: “Guy took our children, Evie (14) and Christo (11), to get their bikes fixed through The Big Bike Revival at our local Bike Recycling centre, Cotton Town Bikes in Bolton Road. The previous day I’d had my old bike stolen – although I can’t imagine why, it was in a dreadful state.
"I was stunned when we learned a few weeks after the event that Guy had won a new bike, simply by filling in a survey the day after my tatty old one had been stolen.
"It’s absolutely beautiful and I cannot tell you how grateful I am. I’ve got seven gears now too, which is handy when you live in such a hilly area as we do!”
My new bike is absolutely beautiful. I’ve got seven gears now too, which is handy when you live in such a hilly area as we do!”Nicky Hargreaves, Big Bike Revival prize draw winner
Thousands of people up and down England took part in CTC’s Big Bike Revival – a two-week campaign supported by the Department for Transport aimed at getting thousands of forgotten bikes fixed and back into use.
Launched in Manchester by former EastEnders and Love Actually star Martine McCutcheon, The Big Bike Revival involved 1,645 family-friendly events at more than 100 Active Centres throughout the country in the summer – including Cotton Town Bikes.
Ian Richardson, CTC’s Head of Cycling Development, said: “The aim was to get that unloved bike out of the shed and back into use, learn how to look after it yourself by mending simple things like a puncture, and rediscover how much fun cycling can be.
“People could donate old cycles or buy a recycled bike, while 100 brand new Raleigh bikes and 1,500 cycling accessory packs were on offer in the prize draw.
"There were also 5,000 annual memberships to CTC up for grabs, giving exclusive access to thousands of rides and routes, information to help get the most from your cycling, and great discounts in hundreds of cycle and outdoor shops across the UK.”
Nicky, who has lived in Darwen for 12 years, added: “The kids’ bikes were badly in need of a little TLC and to get them fixed through The Big Bike Revival was brilliant. It seemed really successful locally and I hope it becomes an annual event.
“It is too easy to be lazy and not go out on your bike if there is something wrong with it – even if it is something minor and easy to adjust, like the gears slipping. But if the bike is looking good and working well then it’s all the incentive you need to get out there and get fit.
“It almost felt like having my old bike stolen was meant to be, although my son now keeps warning me to watch out for the granny-bike stealer!”
