Hi there, welcome to another Waughy’s Word with me, Joe Waugh!

Bike Week is a national event that comes every year to highlight the various benefits of cycling. Whether these are social, environmental or economic, the advantages that cycling has over other modes of transportation or hobbies, are often overlooked. It’s a great time for keen cyclists, weekend hobby riders or those who haven’t rode for years to get on their bikes and have some fun!

The camaraderie aspect of cycling has always been something which has made cycling stand out above other sports or hobbies, for me. Whether you compete or simply ride for fun, there is a social aspect to cycling that I personally feel is very hard to beat.  A friend of mine has asked me to join him in a two-man race at the end of April – No this is not the biggest come-back in history since Take That, but hopefully will be a great deal of fun.

Cycling has been a major part of my life for many years, as regular readers will know. From starting out having fun with my friends and family, to competing in the Commonwealth Games and the Olympics and finally owning an independent bike shop, I’ve never lost the love for the sport. I think one of the main reasons for this is the friendship element that you get with cycling, which is absent from most other sports and hobbies. The emphasis on competition and one-upmanship is almost none existent when you’re out having a ride with your mates or family members. This may already make it preferable to you and that’s without mentioning how great exercise it is, how good it is for the environment and how it can save you a bob or two!

In fact, if you needed evidence that cycling really does change your general health, then you should not look any further than me.  Since January I have been cycling to work three to four times a week, which as I live in East Boldon, is a healthy cycle for someone of my age and fitness.  At first it was quite hard, however I have persevered with it and am now a lot fitter, have saved a fortune in petrol and, this is the best bit, have lost an amazing two stone in weight, without dieting!

As far as family activities go, cycling is unbeatable! It’s a sad state affairs, in my opinion, that a lot of people’s idea of a weekend treat is traipsing around a shopping centre or sitting in front of the television all day. Now that the weather is finally brightening up a bit, why not round up the family, get some fresh air, spend quality time together and most of all have a whole lot of fun?! There are some fantastic cycling routes across the North East which will take you to some amazing views and unspoilt areas of the region. Surely this is better than some busy, stuffy shopping mall and it will definitely get those feel good endorphins pumping through your veins!

Bike Week runs from the 13th to 21st June with events across the country. Take a look at their website on www.bikeweek.org.uk and see if there are any events near you that you can take part in! Even if nothing on there takes your fancy, I hope I’ve persuaded a couple of you to discover, or rediscover, the sport that has meant so much to me for so many years!

Five reasons to get on your bike:

1. Over half of our car journeys are less than 5 miles – swapping them for an easy 30 minute bike ride can save you a small fortune in fuel costs
2. Cyclists live on average at least two years longer than non-cyclists and their fitness levels are equivalent to being ten years younger – so forget nip and tuck, think pedal and push!
3. Cycling is the ultimate family activity; it’s free, healthy, fun and encourages children to be independent
4. Cycling gets you out and about and you’re more likely to find that cute little delicatessen or beautiful park you never knew existed than when you’re cooped up in a car
5. In a hurry? During rush-hour, a bicycle is twice as fast as a car - good if you hate traffic jams! Even better, you won’t spend a penny on parking

If you want to have a chat about anything bike related, then pop into the store! The address is M. Steel Cycles, 6-10 Bowsden Terrace, South Gosforth, NE3 1RX or give us a call on 0191 285 1251.

We’re also available on the web at www.msteelcycles.co.uk and on Facebook! Add us as a friend for all the latest news and updates from the M. Steel Cycles camp!

Until next time, happy riding!

Hi, Joe Waugh here again!

We’re all feeling the pinch a little, aren’t we? My family and I have been making a few cut backs here and there at the moment, as have a lot of people I know. With the light at the end of the tunnel so far away, it looks we’re going to have to continue scrimping and saving where we can. I bet you can’t guess what my top tip for saving a bit of money is!

Those who read this blog every month will know I’m a self confessed cycling nut, but even I have neglected my bike a little bit in favour of the car in the past. With the ‘R-word’ looming, this has all had to change and I’m now cycling almost as much as I used to in the past. I’m feeling much better for it too! I’ve also managed to shed all of the weight I put on over Christmas, and more!  At least I’ve managed to find something positive out of this whole Credit Crunch debacle!

From chatting with some of our customers at M. Steel Cycles, I think quite a lot of people are blowing the dust off their bikes or looking to buy a new one to replace a few car journeys a week. As a fanatic, I’m obviously going to agree, though you’d be hard pushed not to see sense in their reasoning. Running a car can be so expensive. Tax, insurance, petrol, not to mention the money we have to fork out if something goes wrong with it – it can seem like there’s no end to the money that we shed for our four wheeled friend!

Public transport links in Newcastle are particularly good, with decent buses and trains as well as the Tyne and Wear Metro Service. Using public transport is another obvious way to save a few pennies. At M. Steel Cycles, we’ve just got a range of Brompton fold away bikes in stock which are perfect if you’re looking to combine cycling and public transport. These are the only bikes that are allowed on the Tyne and Wear Metro as they become so compact when you pack them away. They’re nifty little things and have almost cult following about them! We’re really happy to be stocking them as they add something completely different to the range of bikes we have at the shop.

I’ve mentioned it before but Cyclescheme is now more relevant than it ever has been. Cyclescheme allows you to get a tax free bike to use to ride to work. This can save you a pretty penny, as well as helping you to get fit and ease a bit of the traffic from the roads. The first step for companies who are interested in offering these discounted bikes to their staff need to register with Cyclescheme on their website, www.cyclescheme.co.uk. Then the staff members wanting a bike need to call into a shop, (preferably M. Steel), that runs the scheme. Once the bike they want is chosen, a voucher will be issued for you claim your bike. The price of the bike, minus the tax, will be deducted for the employee’s wages over a few months. You can use the bike immediately to ride to work and will all yours once the final payment as been made. There’s not been a better time so get on your bike, get fit and save a bit of money in the process!

We recently donated a bike to support the great work done by the doctors in the Northern Oesophago Gastric Unit at Newcastle’s RVI. The bike will be used to auction and raise future funds for the unit. Though many people may not realise it, Oesophageal (gullet) cancer is the fourth most common cancer in the UK and the highest incidence of this disease in the world is in the North East of England and Scotland. The unit was set up by Dr. S Michael Griffin MD FRCS in 1989 and is now the largest of its kind in Western Europe. Cure rates are improving as a result of research into this type of cancer so constant support is needed for them to carry on the great work they do. Newcastle’s RVI are a big supporter of Cyclescheme so it was fitting they should receive something back from us.

Until next time, happy riding!

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