How Big Bike Revival and Bike Week have helped a cycle project in Stockport

CeraCycloan had a phenomenal response to the activities they ran as part of The Big Bike Revival, with a large number of broken bikes and bike parts donated so the company could repair and revive them, giving local people from deprived communities the opportunity to cycle.

Brian Pendlebury, Director of CeraCycloan said: "We have been blown away with this year's Big Bike Revival. We've seen 60-70 new people through the door, lots of customers buying refurbished bikes, using our Dr Bike checks or looking for repairs as well as a greater number of people just knowing we’re here – it’s been brilliant.”

CeraCycloan has been running since 2014 and has recently moved to a bigger premises. Originally the “CYCLOAN” project, working within the youth justice arena, the company is going from strength to strength ensuring their cycling activities are accessible to anybody wishing to access them. Brian said: “We have always found young people love reviving bikes, they take an interest in learning about bike repairs that starts during Big Bike Revival but continues long after.

"Even with this great interest in bikes, we have found many young people don’t join in organised rides so we’ve sat down with them recently to ask what they’d be interested in doing. The feedback provided some great ideas including forest, road and pathway rides, so we’re looking forward to expanding our activities further with the local community’s help.”

We have always found young people love reviving bikes, they take an interest in learning about bike repairs that starts during Big Bike Revival but continues long after.

Brian Pendlebury, Director of CeraCycloan

The company is an inspiring example of how reviving bikes and cycling provides so much more than a social activity. Brian explains about one customer whose experience had a very positive impact on his life. Brian explains: “We received a referral to help a local man get back to work by providing him with a bike for transport. When he came to see us, it turned out that he was new to the area, feeling incredibly isolated and was suffering with depression.

"By spending time with him, making him feel really welcome, giving him practical tips to keep his bike maintained and cycle rides he could get involved in so he could use his bike socially – not just for work – all made a big difference.

"No-one had really had spent time talking to him and listening to his experiences and fears, but by us doing that he felt he wasn’t alone. He described the day he spent with us as 'unbelievable', and we provide this support to anyone who comes through our door.”

Activities extended beyond just refurbishing and ranged from a local business commissioning CeraCycloan to create a bike sculpture to display in their office window; to donated 1940s and 1950s bikes being authentically renovated and on display! Local people are stopping by Swallow Mill Business Centre in Higher Hillgate, just to have a look at the classic bikes on show.

For more info about CeraCycloan and the support it provides, email info@ceracycloan.co.uk. And to find out about all the great cycling events taking place all over the UK throughout the year, visit our events page.