West Lothian Bike Library

As part of our work at the West Lothian Bike Library, we recycle and refurbish bikes from a variety of sources, including bikes donated from the public.

As well as using these bikes for our activities (bike loans to people who need them, led bike rides and cycle training), from time to time we will have refurbished bikes on sale. All bikes are subject to a workshop inspection when they come in, and faulty parts repaired or replaced. Each bikes gets a full service and safety check before it is released and comes with a three month guarantee.

Here are some of the bikes we have on offer.  From kids’ bikes to adults’, bike prices range between £20-£60.

Get in touch with us to ask about our selection and if we have one that suits, we can arrange a time for you to come and have a look.

 

If your mail-order bike arrives flat-packed in a box, we can help!

Modern bikes are assembled on industrial mass-production lines and then boxed up and dispatched without being adjusted to suit the user or test-ridden. Someone else has to not only finish the assembly, but also grease the headset bearings, true the wheels and adjust the brakes and gears. Normally this would be the job of the bike shop, but when you buy a bike on the internet it misses out on this crucial stage of preparation and servicing, and arrives at your door in its factory box.

We offer two levels of bike assembly – we can assemble the bike fully, and we can also give it a basic service. We fit the wheels, pedals, handlebars, saddle etc.; adjust and tune the gears and brakes; check and torque all nuts and bolts; inflate the tyres; and do a full safety-check.

We also have a range of quality, recycled bikes for sale, for adults and kids.

Contact us for more information!

Volunteers from the West Lothian Bike Library went along to Polbeth & West Calder Community Garden’s Hallowe’en party over the weekend.  Our smoothie bike was as popular as ever!  (Even scary monsters need their five a day…) 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Polbeth & West Calder Community Garden is an award-winning community garden in Polbeth, working to support local people, schools and community groups to grow fruit and vegetables and take part in a range of outdoor leisure activities. The West Lothian Bike Library works closely with the Community Garden volunteers to encourage & support cycling through training, led rides and access to bikes.

Read more about this great social enterprise at http://polbethandwestcaldergarden.weebly.com/.

The Sustrans I Bike project supports young people to walk, cycle and scoot to school more often. Through West Lothian Council’s Smarter Choices Smarter Places programme (funding from Transport Scotland via Paths for All), an I Bike officer is in post and working with selected schools in West Lothian.

Volunteers are needed to help with I Bike activities at your local schools in West Lothian, particularly around the Armadale cluster. Bike rides, led walks, bike maintenance sessions, smoothie bike sessions, fun classroom activities, and more!

As well as inspiring children to be more active and gain confidence in cycling, I Bike volunteering can help enhance your skillset and keep you active! Expenses are paid, and there are opportunities to get involved in other Sustrans activities locally.

To apply or find out more, contact Amanda McKay amanda.mckay@sustrans.org.uk call or text 07748 700385.  If you want to share this with your networks, please feel free to share this post or the West Lothian IBV_Recruitment Fliers.

 

As part of the STV Appeal we took our Smoothie Bike along to Murrayfield Primary School when they were visited by Sean Batty as part of their Bikeability launch.

As usual our highly decorative Smoothie Bike attracted lots of attention. Other pupils learnt how to repair a puncture, although this quickly evolved into a competition between the boys and girls to see who could inflate an inner tube quickest!

Many thanks to the Staff and Pupils for a very warm welcome.

Our Smoothie Bike is available to hire and WLBL is ready to assist other schools in their efforts to promote cycling.

Check out some pictures from the day at the STV Appeal’s official social media sites.

Joining the cycle @wlmurrayfieldps! #backtoschool pic.twitter.com/yMTRuCVuos

— STV Appeal (@STVAppeal) October 4, 2017

Bike lending libraries were originally set up as a project by West Lothian Council’s Health Improvement Team. They saw the development of a number of community-led bike lending libraries across West Lothian, as well as an All Ability Cycling project using adaptive bikes for those who need additional support to cycle.

The project has grown with funding support from the council, NHS, Cycling Scotland and Transport Scotland’s Smarter Choices Smarter Places fund, and invaluable contributions of volunteers and community organisations across West Lothian.

We’re pleased to say the West Lothian Bike Library is now a not-for-profit community organisation, as of summer 2017. We’re excited about this new chapter in our efforts to mainstream cycling and make it an inclusive activity for all.

This website aims to provide information on the core services offered by the West Lothian Bike Library.  We hope you’ll also use it to get involved in our project, whether as a user or a volunteer. We need your support, so get in touch if you can offer any time and skills to the organisation.