We’re really excited to be working with an artist to help us design a mural for our workshop space. In case you’ve never visited the Bikery, we’re based in the ground floor of Buchan Towers, in what used to be a flat. The space still has a definite 70s vibe (as well as still feeling a bit like someone’s house!) so we’re planning to bring the space into the 21st century – hopefully with your help!

We want to encourage people to get involved at all stages – sharing ideas, making stencils, painting the walls, and more… If you want to get creative, or just fancy getting involved in a local community project, then come along!

The first session will be next week on Wednesay 8th February 11am – 4pm (find us here). Drop in when you can or come for the whole day! Refreshments will be provided, and make sure to wear clothes you don’t mind getting a bit mucky.

So, why not pick up a paintbrush and join us!…

We’ve got a Big Bike Week coming up this month as part of Cycling UK’s Big Bike Revival!

Tuesday 16th: The Big Bike Kitchen by the towpath in Shipley

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Wednesday 17th February 10am – 5pm at our workshop in Buchan Towers. Click here for address and map. We welcome anyone who would like to come along to help us improve the space. We will be painting, making signs for the outside of the building, putting up tool boards, making better storage and sorting out the kitchen. We will also be creating a space for the Borderline Books library which will be accessible to anyone.

Any help would be really appreciated! Please just turn up or call/ email if you have any questions.

Our weekly bike repair drop-in will be launching on Wednesday 24th February! We’ll be at the workshop in Buchan Towers from 3 – 8pm and we’d like to invite you to visit to find out more, get help fixing your bike and enjoy some free refreshments (pizza party!). Facebook event here.

What’s the drop-in about? Every Wednesday from 4 – 8pm the workshop will be open for anyone to visit. We will have workstands, tools and helpful mechanics who will give you advice and guidance in maintaining and repairing your bike. Whether you don’t know the first thing about bikes or you have a good idea of what you’re doing, the Buchan Bikery workshop is open to all.

The workshop is open every Wednesday 4 – 8pm starting Wednesday 24th February 2016 at Buchan Bikery, Ground Floor, Buchan Towers, Bradford, BD5 0QS.

It’s free to use, and we have cheap new and 2nd hand parts available to buy. Just turn up, or if you have any questions email bradfordbikery@gmail.com or call 07541 093660.

We’re also looking for volunteers to help run the drop-ins and ultimately we hope that a group of people will come together to run them as a volunteer-led project. See our other post about this.

The drop-in sessions are being launched thanks to a grant from go:cycling.

The drop-in workshops are held every Wednesday evening from 4 – 8pm and are open to anyone. This is a space where people can come and learn how to fix their bike, with the help of volunteer mechanics and the use of our tools and stands. Use of the space is currently on a donation basis, however we would also like to offer a low cost membership. No one will be turned away just because they can’t afford this. There are cheap second hand parts available and affordable new parts like brake pads, cables, chains etc.

We are looking for people who would like to help develop these sessions. In the short term we need volunteers to run the drop-ins, publicise them, as well as tasks like helping to set up and maintain computer systems for membership, recording transactions and so on. Volunteering at the drop-in sessions is about more than simply fixing bikes; it means welcoming people, explaining to them how the space works, pointing them to the right tools and offering help if they need it.

In the medium to longer term the vision is for the drop-in sessions to run very much like volunteer-run drop-in nights at other community bike workshops, for example Pedallers’ Arms in Leeds. To this end we are keen to see a group come together with the enthusiasm to steer the drop-in sessions towards being a community co-operative or collective.

Experience is helpful, but not essential. The Bikery can offer you a 16 hour course in bike maintenance, accredited by the CTC, at no cost. You will also be able to purchase parts that we keep in stock at cost price.

If this is something you’re interested in becoming involved in, why not pop by one of the sessions? Just let us know you’re coming. If you can’t make it then please give Anthony a call on 07541 093660 or email bradfordbikery@gmail.com.