Words by Hema Chumber
Pype Hayes Community Cycling Club (CCC) is a local non-profit organisation that runs cycling activities and group sessions for people of all ages and abilities.
Affiliated with the national sports charity Cycling UK, Pype Hayes CCC has been providing cycling opportunities to people of all ages and abilities since August 2022. Previously called the Cobble Café/Easy Riders, the club works on a volunteer basis with members donating their time to support its activities.
With its primary Bike Hub based at Paget Primary School on Paget Road, the club now has a total of 116 members, with 50 actively participating in its ‘Learn to Pedal’ sessions which take place every Sunday at 10am.
The ‘Learn to Pedal’ programme is open to people of all age ranges, with the youngest participant being three years old and the oldest being 93. The sessions are designed to help individuals build confidence and develop basic cycling skills, with the option to progress to a Bikeability certification – in line with the government’s national cycle training programme.
Pype Hayes CCC welcomes people with varying levels of experience and the pace of learning is adapted to each person’s needs – also running ‘Led Rides’, providing opportunities for people to cycle together in a social, group environment.
The club has a second Bike Hub at the Witton Lodge Community Association Eco Hub on Witton Lakes, where additional ‘Led Rides’ take place weekly. These group rides usually include stops at local cafes, to give members a chance to socialise and to support Erdington’s local community spaces.
Outside of the group activities, Pype Hayes CCC lends bikes to people who do not own a bicycle but want to embrace a healthier and greener way of transport – allocating spare cycles from both Bike Hubs at Paget Primary School and Witton Lakes Eco Hub.
It also offers a servicing initiative called ‘Mr Fix It’, where local residents can access bike repairs and maintenance to ensure their bike is safe to use – encouraging more two wheel travel and allowing more people to participate in the club’s activities.
With support received through a grant from the National Lottery, Pype Hayes CCC has been able to expand its bike stock and improve essential equipment.
The funding has been significant in enabling the club to offer its wider range of services to the Pype Hayes community and neighbouring areas.
Gareth Jones, National Standard Cycling Instructor at Pype Hayes Community Cycling Club, said: “Cycling is one of many great ways to get active and enjoy the outdoors, but it is also about supporting one another in the group and the wider community.
“It is very rewarding to see people overcome their fears by taking part and achieve something they did not think was possible at all. We are able to support anyone who wants to join in, learn, or ride socially with other people.”
He added: “We believe our club is unique, because people do not need to know how to pedal straight away – we encourage all of our members to take things slowly in the beginning and then learn at their own pace.
“We welcome people from many different backgrounds and with different abilities. All of the Bikeability instructors here are registered and are SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) trained too.”
For more on Pype Hayes Community Cycling Club through the Cycling UK charity visit www.cyclinguk.org/group/pype-hayes-ccc-formerly-cobble-cafeeasy-riders
To get involved with Pype Hayes CCC directly, click here to follow the club on Facebook or join the group on WhatsApp via 07950 876 406.
For ‘Learn to Pedal’ inquiries, email [email protected] – and for all general inquiries email [email protected]
Watch out for more COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT features from Erdington Local, online and in our monthly newspaper.
If you are from a community group or an active volunteer anywhere in the Erdington constituency then we want to hear for you. Please email our Community Reporter Hema Chumber at: [email protected]
