Sustaining Dunbar's Dr Bike's Blog

First phase of workshops in Dunbar and East Linton were a great success. Lots of positive comments – demystifying how a bike works.

Dan Waters (tutor) – getting to grips with gears

Anna servicing brakes

“I didn’t know Bike Maintenance could be so much fun” Gill Robertson.

We are planning on running some more specialist workshops focusing on bearing servicing. If you can overhaul a rear hub you should be able to do any other bearings on your bike.

Watch this space for more workshops in East Linton and Dunbar.

Dr Bikes are next in East Linton this Sunday 14/4/2013 14:00 – 17:00. It is free and all are welcome.

The last time the Dr Bikes were in East Linton we had a great time meeting some cycle enthusiasts and Mr David Gray has kindly commented “Found the first session very helpful and a good building block.  Covered the “M” check – which takes in the whole bike – and looking forward to the next steps including replacing a spoke.”

There is nothing more unsafe when on a cycle tour and a spoke goes! You could be stuck in the middle of nowhere, thinking…I wish I knew how!

This is a chance to find out hands on.

Sustaining Dunbar run free basic bike maintenance courses that enable you to feel more confident riding your bike. By giving your bike a safety check you can make sure your bike is roadworthy. You will learn how to do basic road/trail side repairs; change a tube/ mend a puncture and make basic adjustments to gears and brakes. Just join up to the Household Canny Project and you can get free instruction. The classes have two enthusiastic tutors, Dan Waters and Mark James and have a learn by doing focus.

Just bring along your bike to the Community Hall in East Linton.

More booking and info: email mark@sustainingdunbar.org tel 07914 602123 or dan@sustainingdunbar.org

Dr Bike will be at the Bleaching Field centre this Friday 12.15 to 13.15. Dr Bike will safety check your bikes and give out prescriptions. Dr Bike does not fix bikes but can help you keep your bike safe and on the road. If time allows Dr Bike will optimise brakes, gears, tyre pressure and body position to make your bike safe and fun to ride.

The weather’s improving, its time to get out the bike from the garage or shed. Sustaining Dunbar run free basic bike maintenance courses that enable you to feel more confident riding your bike. By giving your bike a safety check you can make sure your bike is roadworthy. You will learn how to do basic road/ trailside repairs; change a tube/ mend a puncture and make basic adjustments to gears and brakes. Just join up to the Household Canny Project and you can get free instruction. The classes have two enthusiastic tutors, Dan Waters and Mark James and have a learn by doing focus.

Just bring along your bike to the Stables, Belhaven Church or Bleachingfield Centre

There are three dates for the Spring courses;

• Friday April 19^th 9 – 12 noon, Stables
• Saturday April 20^th 9 – 12 noon – Bleachingfield
• Sunday April 28^th 2 – 5pm – Bleachingfield

More booking and info: email mark@sustainingdunbar.org tel 07914 602123 or dan@sustainingdunbar.org

Learn to do a Bike Safety check with your kids.

Cyling games.

Off-Road Bike Ride.

P1 to P3

Friday 8^th March 2013      12.20 – 13.30

Find out more here.

The weather’s improving, its time to get out the bike from the garage or shed. Sustaining Dunbar run free basic bike maintenance courses that enable you to feel more confident riding your bike. By giving your bike a safety check you can make sure your bike is roadworthy. You will learn how to do basic road/ trailside repairs; change a tube/ mend a puncture and make basic adjustments to gears and brakes. Just join up to the Household Canny Project and you can get free instruction. The classes have two enthusiastic tutors, Dan Waters and Mark James and have a learn by doing focus.

Just bring along your bike to the Community Hall in East Linton.

There are three dates for the Spring courses;

• Friday March 22 9am -12noon,
• Sunday April 14^th 2 – 5pm,
• Saturday April 27^th 9am -12noon

More booking and info: email mark@sustainingdunbar.org tel 07914 602123 or dan@sustainingdunbar.org

Thanks to Ruairidh and Robby of The Bike Station who kindly came out to Dunbar to train us.  Well done Gail, Fi, Wendy and Dan on passing despite some interesting weather conditions.

There are going to be more flapjacks at John Muir campus tomorrow!

If you cycle into school in the morning with your kids you will get another tasty flapjack.

Remember that tyres pumped up correctly make it much easier to pedal. So pump them up nice and hard. You will find the pressure range to pump them up to on the tyre sidewall. If you do not have a pump you can buy one at Belhaven Bikes. There is also a pump in the Be Green shop on the West Port. Just ask to borrow it for a minute and your bike will seem like a new machine.

If you have any mechanical questions about your bike, please get in contact with us – Ask Dr. Bike a question.

The pressure range is indicated on the tyre sidewall. Stick to that rating. Usually it will be 35-65 psi for a MTB tyre, up to 75 psi for a hybrid tyre and 90-110 psi for a road bike.
If you don’t know the range ask a bike mechanic.

The Big Pedal is a race that the Dunbar schools are entering to win some great prizes, from cycle storage to bike stunt displays. The more journeys by bike or scooter to school will get us nearer the finish line and closer to the prizes.

The big pedal 2013 will run from the 28th February to the 20th of March. The kids did excellent coming 7th last year, but to win we need parents to ride in with their children, as this will also count in the race. So now is the time to dust your bike or scooter off Mums and Dads. If it needs a service Belhaven Bikes have a great discount at the moment.

Together we can win this. Get your bikes sorted and get riding with your kids.