Bike Maintenance Workshop

Two people fixing bikes

Do you have a problem with squeaky brakes, slipping gears or noisy chains? Would you like to learn how to change a tyre or mend a puncture? Well get yourself down to our FREE bike maintenance workshop at Ace Space in Newbury on Saturday 4th October between 1pm and 4pm. Ace Space is located at the end of St Nicholas Road, off St Michael’s Road in the West Fields area of Newbury (the postcode is RG14 5PR).

Our friendly, trained mechanics will be on hand to advise and assist you and answer your questions. We will provide all the tools you need together with workstands and a stock of the basic parts that wear out regularly (e.g. brake pads, cables, inner tubes, patches, etc). If you need anything else, then Banjo’s is just rounds the corner and Spokes members get 10% discount on bike parts!

Where possible, we ask that you book a 30 minute slot so we don’t keep people waiting. For further information and to make a booking. contact Caroline on 07712 470405 or email training@westberkshirespokes.org.

Northcroft Lane Link Resurfaced

Northcroft LaneAs reported previously, Spokes has given West Berkshire Council a list of priorities for improving local cycling infrastructure. As you would expect, this included several big schemes like constructing a cycle route on the A4 between Lower Way and Turnpike Road.

However, it also included a number of smaller schemes like resurfacing the western end of Northcroft Lane, which links to the cycle track at the side of Goldwell Park. This may not seem important, but this short stretch of road was so riddled with potholes that it had become quite uncomfortable to cycle on, and we are delighted to report that the Council has just resurfaced this section.

This is just one example of small-scale changes that can be implemented quickly and easily and which make a genuine difference to local cycling journeys. If you have any schemes that you would like us to lobby the Council to implement, then please get in touch. We can either raise it through the Cycle Forum or separately with Council officers.

Dr Bike

Spokes are running another Dr Bike session at Newbury Farmers Market on Sunday 5th May, where we will be doing bike checks and carrying out routine maintenance FREE OF CHARGE.

Our bike doctors can check and sort a variety of minor problems such as: punctures; noisy chains; slipping gears; squeaky brakes; and frayed cables.

If we can’t fix it on the spot, then we will tell you what needs doing and point you in the direction of your local bike shop. Remember that Spokes members get 10% discount on parts.

Dr Bike

We will be holding our first Dr Bike session of the year at Newbury Farmer’s Market on Sunday 3 March between 9am and 1pm. We’ve got several members qualified to National Standards for bike adjustment and bike fitting who will be on hand to help with routine maintenance and advice.

So if you’ve got a bike with flat tyres, dodgy brakes, or slipping gears then come and see us. If we can, we’ll fix it for FREE. If we can’t fix it, we can at least tell you what needs doing and point you in the direction of your local bike shop, where Spokes members should get a 10% discount on parts.

Reporting Potholes

It’s at this time of year when most potholes occur. Water gets into cracks in the road surface, freezes and expands, causing the surface to fracture. Large potholes can present a real threat to cyclists’ safety, so it’s important to report defects when you spot them.

Fortunately, there’s a great new website and smart phone app that lets you do this quickly and easily called Love Clean Streets. When you report a problem, they refer it to the appropriate local authorty and then let you know what’s being done about it.

It only takes 40 seconds to make a report. Simply take a photo of the problem with your smart phone (the app will automatically register the location) then choose the report category and submit. It’s that simple! You can then log on to the website to track progress.

You can also use it to report other problems such as missing signs, defective streetlights and overhanging vegetation. We really like this app and would encourage all Spokes members to give it a try.