Ride On’s 3000th bike takes to the road

With 3,000 bicycles put back into use since Ride On was launched in 2011, celebrations are in full swing down at the charity’s Exeter Quay HQ where a new bike give-away initiative has been launched.

Ride On – Cycling For All is a bike recycling charity; refurbishing bikes and getting them back on the road. In 2019 Ride On put 681 bicycles back into use, taking it to 3000 bicycles saved since the charity was formed.

In honour of the 3,000th bike milestone, the charity has launched a free bicycle scheme, where one bicycle is given away each month to a deserving recipient nominated by a local charity or educational establishment. 

The first lucky recipient was a student from Exeter College, Becky, who was nominated by their tutor.

Becky said: “With this bike, given to me by Ride On, I will now travel to and from college. I will also be using the bike to help get fit for a career as a combat medic. I want to thank Ride On for giving me this bike.”

Ride On’s new free bicycle scheme is supported by Exeter City Council and Saddles & Paddles, the bike shop that hires out bikes, canoes and kayaks at the Quay.

Exeter City Council Leader Phil Bialyk said: “The Council wholeheartedly supports the work of this excellent charity, and we wish it every continued success in the future.”

“It is great news to be able to celebrate the 3,000th bicycle being brought back into use and the launch of the free bike scheme. Cycling very much fits with the Council’s key priorities of encouraging people to be fit and active, reducing congestion, improving air quality and reducing carbon emissions.”

“As a keen cyclist myself, the benefits both personally and to the wider city are obvious. I strongly support any initiative which increases the opportunity for people to gain access to a good bike at an affordable price, encouraging them to use the best form of transport for getting around our city.”

Heather Baker, Saddles & Paddles owner said: “we are thrilled to support Ride On with their bike give-away programme, by donating a D-lock and helmet for the recipient of each bike. As an independent bike shop, we’re keen to do what we can to support great initiatives like this to enable more people to cycle.”

The charity has clearly come a long way since it was started in a small workshop in Teignmouth in 2011, as Martyn Laxton, Ride On’s founder recalls.

“When Adam Golding and I started recycling bicycles in 2011 to gift to primary school children for Bikeability courses, we couldn’t have foreseen how our Ride On project was to develop so successfully. Those first lonely months where the two of us beavered away in our spare time in a cold temporary workshop donated by Teignbridge council, seem a distant memory compared to the now well established premises we have on Haven Banks in Exeter.

“To build a commercially viable charity from scratch in seven years takes tenacity, vision and financial acumen, but it also needs good people with a passion for creating a friendly space and who share our vision. The success of Ride On has been achieved with the generosity of our community in providing a steady stream of bikes to recycle, a growing team of amazing volunteers, our incredibly loyal and hard working Trustee board and our great staff who now run the day-to-day operation. The future for Ride On is going to be about building on its great achievements to date and helping to create a better living environment for the community of Exeter and surrounding towns by giving access to ‘The Freedom A Bicycle Can Bring’.

For more information about Ride On or to donate a bike call the charity on  07544 314749, email [email protected] or call in at 61 Haven Road, Exeter EX2 8DP.  Opening times: Tuesday, Fridays and Saturdays 10.00am – 5.00pm. Wednesdays 12.00pm -8.00pm and Thursdays 12.00pm – 5.00pm.  www.rideoncycling.org 

Notes for Editors

Ride On is a small charity with a vision for a cleaner, healthier and more active Exeter. By refurbishing donated bikes, we deliver bike maintenance training and sell good quality, affordable bikes to the community. We also provide a weekly session for people to come and maintain their own bikes.

The name of the recipient has been changed.

Details on the free bike scheme can be found on the Ride On website here: https://www.rideoncycling.org/free-bike-scheme/

Find us on Facebook

Twitter @RideOnExeter

Instagram @RideOnExeter

Registered charity: 1174055

Ride On/Freemoovement Partnership – Press Release

PRESS RELEASE…………………….PRESS RELEASE………………………….PRESS RELEASE……………………. 

Ride On/Freemoovement partnership leading to a more active city

Ride On – Cycling for All – a local charity with a vision for a cleaner, healthier and more active Exeter, and Freemoovement, an Exeter-based not-for-profit organisation  aiming to get more people moving to benefit their physical and mental health – have been working together, along with the Exeter Cycling Campaign, to get more people active.

For Freemoovement its successful Freewheelin summer cycling programme is being celebrated this Saturday with a Christmas Santa cycle from the Quay to Starcross along the Exe Estuary Trail. People are being encouraged to come along dressed in Santa outfits or as other Christmas themed characters. There will also be an opportunity to contribute a gift to the Salvation Army Christmas shoebox appeal in support of the less fortunate.

Freemoovement Founder, Paul Mouland explains the organisation’s goals. “We are about keeping physical activity simple and supporting each other by taking part in simple activities where the focus is on fun and friendship. “There are no egos, no mirrors, no expensive fees, sportswear or equipment and no expectations, except what individuals place on themselves. Participants can join our activities and work as hard as they feel capable in each session. It’s fun, encouraging, supportive and extremely rewarding.”

The park sessions are run by volunteers and last around 45-60 minutes and can include walking, jogging and light resistance band work, push-ups, tricep dips, squats, lunges, star jumps. The aim is to increase heart rate, improve cardiovascular fitness, build muscular endurance to help strengthen the arms, legs and core and improve mental wellbeing through meeting new people and feeling part of your community.

Freewheelin’

‘Freewheelin’ ’ is a Freemoovement spin off designed to encourage people to start cycling through low level introductory social bike rides. By teaming up with Ride On, where bikes are reconditioned, repaired and sold at affordable prices, three bike rides a week are organised with up to 30 people attending the busy weekend sessions in the summer. 

Freewheelin’ participants are supported with an entry level activity to access cycling. Regular rides take place from Ride On’s base at Exeter Quay, using the Exe Cycle trail and other traffic free cycle routes. Most people bring their own bikes, but those who don’t have a bike can borrow one from Ride on.

The cycling programme is gradual and progressive and involves different activities along the routes, such as family stop offs at local play parks for children, exploration of local nature reserves, cake and coffee breaks at pubs and cafes, beach-based activities and picnics. There are also themed rides that coincide with national and international events.

“Our aim is to support people to change their lifestyles by providing a support network which enables even those who can’t afford special equipment to develop more sustainable travel choices,” adds Paul.

The success of Freewheelin’ has led to the introduction of Cycle Confidence sessions. These free two-hour sessions are on offer to adults to help them improve their cycling skills and stay safe on two wheels.

The sessions are completely tailored to individual requirements, can take place close to participants’ homes or workplaces and it is possible to request a same sex instructor.

For more information about Freemoovement and Freewheelin’ go to the Freemoovement website at freemoovement.com or have a look at their Facebook and Twitter accounts.

For more information on Ride On go to the rideoncycling.org website or Facebook or Twitter accounts.

Could You Be A Ride On Champion?

At Ride On we’re looking for local ‘Champions’ to spread the word about our charity and help us collect more donated bikes in Exeter by creating official city-wide drop-off points. Ride On is a bike recycling charity. We refurbish second-hand bikes and get them back on the road – 600 bikes were renovated in 2018! Bicycle donors come from a variety of backgrounds and walks of life, including an ex-England and Spurs professional footballer and the Treasurer of a local Cycling Club, both of whom live in the Lympstone area where Steve Morgan, Ride On Treasurer, is a Champion.

According to Steve, donors are usually people that:
• are decluttering their garden shed or garage
• have children who have outgrown their bikes
• have bought an electric bike
• don’t want the hassle of taking a bike to the tip, or advertising on Gumtree or Facebook.

“The bikes range widely in quality,” says Steve. “Some are only fit for extraction of parts or as scrap; others need only a little refurbishment before being advertised for sale by Ride On.”

The Lympstone, Woodbury and Exmouth areas are showing fantastic support for Ride On, having donated nearly 100 bikes following adverts in the Lympstone Herald, Woodbury News and Exmouth Journal. We currently have bike drop-off points in Drewsteignton, Topsham, Wonford and St Loyes and just need to repeat this success with points in the following Exeter wards: Alphington, Duryard & St James, Exwick, Heavitree, Mincinglake & Whipton, Newtown & St Leonards, Pennsylvania, Pinhoe, St David’s and St Thomas. Get in touch if you can help.

Or if you have a bike you no longer need why not donate it? To talk to us about being a Champion or to drop off a bike at Ride On come down to 61 Haven Road, Exeter, EX2 8DP. Tel: 07544314749. Email:
[email protected]

By Louise Clarke