Roland Seber - Volunteer Bike Mechanic

Full name, occupation, area you live in and name of group or activity you support:

Roland Seber, Cycle Mechanic and Tutor. Godalming, Surrey. Volunteered for Cycling UK at RideLondon as a mechanic and have done Dr Bike sessions on behalf of Godalming Cycle Campaign. 

What made you decide to volunteer your skills with Cycling UK or a Cycling UK registered group?

Satisfaction gained from using my knowledge to help others to cycle and enjoy all the benefits it brings.

How much time were you able to commit?

One day for RideLondon and several Saturdays for Dr Bikes.

Which activity or activities do you support?

Fixing bikes for free for participants in the FreeCycle event at RideLondon.  For Dr Bike I was checking bikes and repairing minor faults such as loose brake levers and pumping up tyres. 

What is the greatest challenge you have encountered?

Having so many people queueing up with all their bikes at RideLondon!

Of all the tasks you have helped with, what are you most proud of?

Seeing the many satisfied customers and enabling a lot more people to take part in the FreeCycle on roadworthy bikes.

What do you get out of the experience of volunteering?

With volunteering you have the opportunity to work in an particular area and make a difference for people without the potential difficulty, pressure and commitment of working in that area as your paid job. Giving my time and expertise is more satisfying than just giving money as you can directly see the results of your action.

How has volunteering enhanced your passion for cycling and do you have the chance to get out more on your bike?

Volunteering has shown me that a diverse range of people can benefit from cycling, and the benefits of cycling are very wide ranging.

Could you describe your volunteering experience in three words?

Varied, interactive, fun.

What would you say to someone considering volunteering with Cycling UK or its local groups supporting cycling?

Don’t think you have to have specialist knowledge to be helpful, or even a passion for cycling, just a natural human desire to help people and communities.

Find out more about becoming a volunteer