Steve Brine met up with a local cyclist on Friday 8th February to discuss her exciting new venture.
Bespoke Biking was set up in November 2012 by Heather Evans, who lives in Hyde. Bespoke Biking exists to get everyone on their bikes, women, families, students, the less-fit, residents and also visitors to Winchester.
Heather takes up the story: "Since its inception things have moved incredibly rapidly, and everyone is keen to get on their bikes. As well as Bikeability, which is cycle instruction for riding in traffic, we offer short, mostly easy to cycle loops around Winchester.
"We use local knowledge to find the best routes, the best views and a bit of the history and stories of Winchester too. The rides are very sociable and usually include a stop at a tea shop or cafe!"
Following the meeting, Steve agreed to lend his support in their application to become part of the Lloyds Social Entrepreneurs Programme, to provide a strong and sustainable base upon which Bespoke Biking can grow.
He said: "I know from chatting to Heather that local people and Winchester City Council have been hugely supportive. Local businesses and designers helped get the website and art work done, and the council have them a micro business grant which Heather told me has really helped."
Heather continued: "We are very much part of the British Cycling Family, we also run Breeze rides, which are free rides to get women out on their bikes, and there are usually two of these a month. As well as the Breeze rides, we currently have groups out on rides on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays, and the best thing is that Bespoke Biking is a Social Enterprise CIC so all the profits will go back into community cycling!
"It was great to meet Steve and see that he understands much of the issues for cycling today. I really hope that he can support Bespoke Biking as it seeks to attract funding to give it a strong sustainable base to build from."
Pictured; Steve joins Heather Evans from Bespoke Biking
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