On Tuesday February 11, University students and staff took place in a free bicycle maintenance workshop as part of Go Green Week 2014.
Cycle mechanics from the National Cycling Academy in Whitefield came onto campus to pass on invaluable skills and techniques for keeping a bicycle in good shape. Puncture repair and chain maintenance were a couple of the key skills demonstrated by the mechanics as part of basic roadside repair.
Charlie Spring described how enjoyable and useful the session was: “It was a great way to meet colleagues and turn good intentions into useable skills. A general groan arose when we realised we’d have to broach our fear of taking off the back wheel, but Alex was very encouraging and we all ended up with dirty hands and confidence in our skills to defy punctures, select the right kind of lube and, crucially, get that back wheel off and on (and facing the right way!). I can’t wait for the next one!”
The session took place at the Students Union MyCycle Shop in Horlock Court, with some of the demonstration bikes being kindly provided by MyCycle from their fleet of hire bikes. MyCycle hire out bikes on a weekly, monthly or termly basis, for more information, click here.
Future maintenance sessions are planned with the attendees wishing to tackle more advanced skills involved in maintaining and adjusting brakes and gears.
The session was funded as part of Transport for Greater Manchester’s (TfGM) Local Sustainable Transport Fund (LSTF) and organised through the TfGM Cycling Team. As well as the maintenance training, the team provide a range of cycle training, from ‘learn to ride’ sessions through to one-to-one on road sessions. For full information, go here www.tfgm.com/cycling
For more information on cycling at the University click here