In April, Naomi and Scotty from the Access Bike team took 8 participants to the Bespoked Bicycle Show in Peckham, London. The show is Europe’s largest handmade bicycle show and has some of the most interesting small bike brands, component manufacturers and accessories makers all under one roof.
The group of 10 left from Stroud Train Station and headed east to Paddington, then a short tube ride to the venue. Straight into the show and looking at all the shiny things on display. Big grins on faces were immediate and they spent the whole day looking at the stands, talking to the people from the various companies and even getting to ride some of the bikes on show.
It really was an eye opener for all of them and in quite a few different ways. From the trip itself to London all the way to learning about the industry that they are so interested in and that there are many pathways to a career in it.
To top the experience off, we had entered a competition at the show called ‘The Apocalypse Build Off’. We had applied months earlier and unexpectedly got a place (all the other teams are from the companies from the show). Nonetheless, with a little help of some of the workshop staff, the kids built – The Cannonsnail out of anything they could find in the workshop, the weirder the better. The ‘race’ consisted of some timed sections whilst also carrying fairly large amounts of weight (in liquid form) and not spill. We nominated Rowan H to ride the bike (he was also a big part in the build) and he took on the challenge with full commitment. It was a great event to be part of and some great exposure for our little workshop!
Event finished, then the trip home on a lovely sunny evening back to Stroud. Everyone talking all the way back about their favourite bike, or favourite stand or how cool the Apocalypse event was and who got the most (and best) free stickers.
Off the train at Stroud to say goodbye and left with – “we’re going next year right…RIGHT?!?’. I think it was a success.
