By Bridie Sullivan

Bridie Sullivan

When the sun peeps out, visit your local bike shop.

This month’s column from the Guildford Bicycle User Group (G-BUG) is celebrating those of Guildford’s cycling community who have braved the pandemic to keep their businesses open.

As restrictions start to lift and the evenings get lighter for longer, now is a good time to get ready.

Tonight (March 28), the clocks go forward an hour, marking the official onset of British Summer Time, a welcome milestone as the pandemic continues to unfold.

It’s also the first seasonal signal that it’s time to get back on your bike. For many of us, this also marks a change in the weather, planning for the Easter break and longer days, thanks to the lighter evenings. Many commuters consider it the perfect time to park their car and cycle to work whenever possible.

If you have brushed off an old bike from the back of the shed in need of new parts, or tried to buy a new one, you won’t be surprised to learn that, following unprecedented demand, our local bicycle shops have struggled to replenish their stock since the pandemic began.

The strain on the cycling industry supply chain is worldwide. So all the more miraculous that so many shops are still open and here to help, regardless of your budget or brand.

Evans Cycle Shop

Guildford has cycle shops and schemes to suit all budgets. Decathlon in North Street, Evans on Woodbridge Meadows, and Halford’s at Ladymead all offer a selection of their own bicycle brands among others, plus maintenance and servicing.

In addition, Bike Bros. now based on Woodbridge Hill, also sell a good mix of brands from Scott Bikes to Rocky Mountain.

Brand specialists such as Electric Bikes Guildford, Woodbridge Road, or Giant, Epsom Road and also Ace Cycles, for Specialized on London Road, Burpham have on-site workshops that offer services from a full build to repairs and demos. Plus a window into the direct supply and demand for the full mix of brands they stock.

If you want a second-hand bicycle, Surrey Lifelong Learning has created the Bike Project Surrey, at Woking Road Depot. The homegrown charity refurbishes and sells bicycles, as well as providing accredited training for the community.

The Bike Project is based in GBC’s Woking Road Depot

All services there are delivered by only two members of staff and a large team of local volunteers. It’s a safe and supportive environment for disabled adults or youngsters to learn a life skill, while also providing Alternative Provision education for schoolchildren.

It’s also occasionally possible to pick-up a bargain on e-bay, Freecycle or any other local noticeboard.

The national charity Cycling UK is based in Guildford. They are dedicated to inspiring more people to cycle. They have run very successful campaigns, targeting employers, communities, driver education or the government changes to the Highway Code.

Membership gives free third-party insurance, a bi-monthly magazine and the chance to join local cycling groups.

You also have G-BUG. If you would like to join a local group that campaigns for better cycling infrastructure, that’s us. We too are on a mission to encourage more individuals, families and commuters to cycle for fitness, fun, school or work.

All of our local experts have a website and presence on social media. Our advice would be, get to know your nearest and pop in when you can.

As life in lock-down starts to look up, be the first to hear about locally-led rides, demos or workshops through what will hopefully become, a summer we can really look forward to.

SafeCycling G-BUG

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