Local business develops a scheme to cure the fitness needs of the local community.

Located in South Gosforth, M. Steel Cycles have been providing the north east with bicycles for over 80 years.  In this time, the shop has built a reputation for selling high-quality, specialist cycles and equipment; becoming popular amongst more experienced cyclists.  M. Steels have now developed a service that they hope will allow them to provide assistance and support for those with all levels of cycling experience.

The cycle shop found the perfect remedy, enlisting the help of their Bicycle Doctor, Dave Buchan.  He explains how his role led to a new initiative:

“I’m extremely excited about my new job as Bicycle Doctor.  It involves fixing customer’s bikes to ensure they’re at the highest working specification possible; this way they can get the most out of their cycling experience.  This job came as a natural progression from my job fixing bikes in the shop’s workshop, which I then extended to night sessions to enable customers to bring their bikes to us after work.

“For our new initiative, we are taking this free Bicycle Doctor service out of M. Steel Cycles and into the general public.  I am visiting businesses, schools and events where I want to fix and improve as many bikes as possible.  I also bring sample bikes with me to the venues for visitors and guests to try out if they wish.  We are aware that people who don’t have much cycle experience can find it intimidating to come into the shop and ask questions; we hope that this will be another way they can access help and advice.”

Bicycle Doctor Dave has already started working with the north east public, beginning with with local festivals and events.  He recently attended the Watt Festival in Ashington, and last month he was present at the Green Festival at Leazes Park in Newcastle.  As the Green Festival promotes environmental protection, Dave was on-hand to look over the bikes of those who had ridden there.  He will soon be working with the National Trust, assisting at their Pedlar’s Picnic.

M. Steels are also helping businesses who want to make it as easy as possible for their employees to cycle to work and leave their cars at home.  Dave has been working closely with companies within the Cobalt Business Park, where there are over 7000 employees.  To incentivise the employees to ride to work, Dave is available to spend time with them; checking over their bikes and answering any queries they have.

Not alone in their attempts to get the region back on their bikes, M. Steels are working alongside Sustrans to bring this service to local schools.  Sustrans is a UK charity which provides practical solutions to incorporating cycling and walking into our daily lives.  Dave goes with the organisation into the schools before lessons begin and ask the pupils to cycle in.  They then host a breakfast where the pupils can get their bikes checked over and can try out the sample bikes Dave brings with him.

Dave explains how delighted he is to work with schools:

“I’ve been working with Morpeth Road Primary School in Blyth; the head teacher there encourages a fit and healthy lifestyle for the children.  To prompt this, 10 children from the school are doing the Coast to Coast, from Whitehaven to Tynemouth.  I’ve been advising the children on what food to eat and clothing to wear, as well the maintenance of their bikes.  I’ll be acting as Trail Cycle Leader for the trip, which will take four to five days, and promises to be excellent fun.  We hope that the key skills in healthy eating, exercise and interest in the environment will remain with the children in the future, too.”

Although Bicycle Doctor Dave is running the scheme, Managing Director of M. Steel Cycles Joe Waugh, is emphatic that the entire shop are behind it:

“We hope that taking the Bicycle Doctor service out to the public will enable those who wouldn’t usually seek help with their bikes to receive a fantastic cycle experience.  All of us at M. Steel Cycles are passionate about bikes and riding, and we want as many people to be able to feel the same way; we hope that we are on the road to achieving it.”

To know more about how the Bicycle Doctor service can help you, please contact Dave by email on david@msteelcycles.co.uk, or telephone on 0191 285 1251.  Alternatively, visit the shop at 6-10 Bowsden Terrace, South Gosforth, NE3 1RX.