Big Bike Revival gets Birmingham back in the saddle

The Big Bike Revival, the award-winning programme developed by Cycling UK, helps people to bring their bikes back into use by providing bike healthchecks, sharing maintenance knowhow and giving people more confidence in the saddle.

Urban Cycles, based on the University of Birmingham campus, has been taking part in the nationwide project, giving dozens of people of all ages and experience the opportunity to remind themselves of the fun of cycling and learn new skills.

They have run six events in Birmingham with Colmore BID, the Custard Factory (Digbeth) and the Jewellery Quarter. These have all been well attended by people who work in the three business districts in Birmingham city centre.

Andi Smith, from Urban Cycles, said: “What’s great about the Big Bike Revival at every event we meet people like Donna. Donna used to love her bike but her bike soon needed more love than she knew how to show.

Donna heard about the Big Bike Revival and popped down to see us. We not only got Donna sorted but gave her the skills to stay sorted."

Andi Smith, Urban Cycles 

“A lack of lubrication and rapidly deflating tyres left the bike feeling tired and unrideable. To make things worse Donna hates what she sees as the male dominance of mainstream bike shops, describing them simply as ‘close to hell on earth’.

“Then she heard about the Big Bike Revival and popped down to see us. We not only got Donna sorted but gave her the skills to stay sorted.

“That’s the beauty of BBR – taking real value to really valuable people. Take Donna’s experience and multiply it by 227 and that’s the story of a summer of Big Bike Revival, Urban Cycles-style!”

Vanessa Morris, Cycling UK’s Community Clubs Development Officer for Birmingham, said: “The Big Bike Revival is the perfect way to bring fun and freedom back into your life today. In fact, cycling can help you to save hundreds of pounds a year on travel costs, is a cheap form of exercise, and it’s the ideal way to make you feel good.”