Saturday, September 2nd, 2006
On Your Bike
For almost 3 years I worked with CRAFT (That’s me with the apron) as the manager of On Your Bike .
CRAFT is a Recycling and Reuse Project giving both employment and training opportunities to the local community as well as providing a service supplying refurbished and reusable goods back to individuals and groups on a low income.
Its a fantastic place filled with real people who love their job. As cold and as ramshackle as the present premises are!
I started working at On Your Bike as the project was soon to close down and well, it would have been a shame, so after putting in a good number of late nights and long weekends myself along with the many skilled volunteers and staff we produced something quite unique.
Along with the quality recycled bikes that are sold in a well stocked shop, On Your Bike offered training to adults and school excluded children alike as well as running cycle courses and rides with trained leaders. On Your Bike also had, if I would be so bold, one of the best cycle hire fleets in mid wales.
The aim was to have a real impact on increasing cycling in Aberystwyth and I think we succeeded, more bikes on the streets and a decent alternative to driving
And the strange looking bike on the left? That’s the recumbent cycle. Unique and guaranteed to draw a crowd!
I even managed to squeeze in installing a Content Management System for CRAFT, Email, selling products online and organising the installation of Thin Clients into the new, much delayed premises.
And all of this done in the wonderful wilds of deepest Wales… fantastic.
