Church Stretton Youth Club

Over the last couple of months we have been working with Shropshire council to deliver a cycle maintenance course to the Church Stretton’s youth club. We covered cycle safety checks, general maintenance and basic cycle repairs including puncture repair.

At the end of the course over the Easter half term break we took the group out over the Long Mynd mountain biking, which, due to the weather conditions we added a snowball fight to the route but didn’t quite make it to Pole Bank due to the snow drifts. Find out more about Church Stretton’s Youth Club here.

2013 Ragley Bikes Initial Thoughts

Last week we had our first drop of Ragley 2013 frames including the New Blue Pig, Piglet and Big Wig. As we are only really interested in the steel frames we probably won’t get to see a Marley.

Initial thoughts from our first delivery, all frames were pre-sold and our demo frame is yet to arrive so observations on preparing the frames for our customers to take away are as follows: Externally, fundamentally all three frames seem to share the same technology and features with changes in geometry and colour. For 2013 the frames all have a 44mm headtube allowing flexibility for fork steerer type and ability to adjust your stack height. Ragleys “3 finger” chainstay brace is back to improve stiffness and clearance plus the addition of an ISCG 05 mount. Bolt on cable guides are provided so you can keep the muck out and run full length outer cable. A couple of nice details are the addition of the Ragley “R” logo on the dropout and seatstay brace. The paint finish of the 2013 frames seems much glossier than the old frames. We are not 100% about the new graphics but it is in keeping with Ragleys crazy approach.

First 2013 Piglet custom build below, builds from £999 on the Piglet.

Over the past few years our demo fleet has had a mk1 Blue Pig, mk2 Blue Pig X and a couple of Piglets so we are keen to have another Pig in the fleet and will let you know how it handles.

New electric bikes for Shropshire Wheels 2 Work

As Church Stretton’s local bike shop we are very happy to get involved in anything linking the community and cycling from supporting charity events to help training young people in cycle maintenance, and selling, hiring and fixing bikes of course. When Wheels 2 Work got in touch we where happy to help not only with new Electric bikes but advice and support for the charity and thier customers too.

Job seekers in Shropshire have the chance to power over hills and arrive fresh for work, thanks to the purchase of new electric bikes (e-bikes) by Wheels 2 Work, part of leading local charity Shropshire RCC.  The scheme has just purchased seven new e-bikes, including three from Church Stretton’s Plush Hill cycles and are launching a competition to name them.

Competition to name the new bikes

The e-bikes bought by Wheels 2 Work, will be loaned to those in need of transport to get to work, whether to take up a job offer or because they are at risk of losing their employment due to transport difficulties.  The Raleigh Dover bikes purchased from Plush Hill Cycles, come complete with a lithium battery with a range of about 30 miles and safety gear such as a helmet and high viz vest.  Members of the public are invited to submit names for each bike – with preference given to meaningful or funny names.

Chris Mason is a 29 year old manual worker from Clungunford. He was walking up to 15 miles a day in order to work at the Shropshire Spice Company in Clun. Chris joined the scheme in with November 2012 and has been trialling electric bikes for the scheme. The heavily subsidized loan has enabled him to save money for an e-bike – which he bought last week.

Davina Allen, Development Coordinator for Wheels 2 Work, said: “We work with our clients during their six month e-bike loan, giving them support and guidance they need to save money for their own transport.  Chris has been a fantastic client and I’m so pleased he’s now been able to buy an e-bike of his own.  We were really impressed by the service provided by Plush Hills and the quality of the bikes they provide”.

Since opening Plush Hill Cycles have been supplying quality electric bikes and service to rural commuters that demand reliability in all conditions. As a mountain and electric bike hire centre they have been promoting environmentally friendly pedal powered transport to local customers.  Plush Hill Cycles say: “We are delighted to be involved in such a worthwhile initiative that can literally change the lives of people living out in rural areas seeking independence and employment”.

Contact Wheels 2 Work by telephone on 01743 237885 or on twitter @ShropsW2W.

Find out more about Wheels 2 Work

Shropshire Wheels 2 Work, part of Shropshire RCC, helps around 200 people each year get to work by providing transport advice and lending bikes, electric bikes and mopeds. The scheme was given a ‘Big Society Award’ by the Cabinet Office in February 2013.  To find out more about the scheme visit www.shropshire-rcc.org.uk/transport or telephone 01743 237885.

Shropshire RCC is a leading local charity working with groups and individuals to improve quality of life and to strengthen communities in a rural county.

Allen Timbrell from Plush Hill Cycles and Davina Allen from Wheels 2 Work, pictured with Raleigh Dover electric bike.