From pub to cycle hub! One woman’s mission to get her town cycling

A cycle hub can spring up in the most unlikely places when the right minds are involved. Tina Martin from Reedness in Yorkshire began at her local pub...

As a keen cyclist and a firm believer in the benefits of two wheels, Tina set about creating the first cycle hub in her area, with the aim of getting bikes out of sheds and back out on the road.

‘Chance has had everything to do with the success of the Half Moon Inn Cycle Hub,’ Tina told us. ‘The previous owner wasn’t keen on cyclists stopping by, but the pub was about to change hands so I saw my opportunity to turn things around.’

‘We had 30 people turn up for a three mile ride, followed by a party for the kids in the pub. Their excitement over the ride and the party could have triggered an earthquake!’

The new pub landlord was very enthusiastic about the idea and offered the pub as a venue for a Monday night cycling night. Things were a little quiet to start with, but it soon became obvious that word was getting round. ‘Our first ride had 16 cyclists of all shapes, sizes and abilities, on all sorts of bikes,’ Tina said.

The first big event at the hub was a Halloween bike ride followed by a party in the pub, with prizes for the best dressed bike and rider. ‘30 people turned up for a three mile ride, followed by a party for the kids in the pub. Their excitement over the ride and the party could have triggered an earthquake!’

The group are already planning how to keep people cycling during the winter months. ‘We’ll be arranging a series of rides including bike-handling skills, children’s skills days, Sunday morning rides and night rides over the winter to keep us going,’ Tina said. ‘Last Monday we did our first ride in full darkness. Apparently we looked quite a sight going down the road!’

Fancy visiting the Half Moon Inn Cycle Hub? Or perhaps starting your own ride group? Find all the information you need to get started here.

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