In our latest instalment of blog posts about the recent Skerries Eco Festival, Michael McKenna (Skerries Cycling Initiative) writes about their Skerries Community Bike Workshop Open Session, aka the Skerries Bike Shed.

Skerries Cycling Initiative (SCI) was delighted to be involved in the Eco Festival through their Skerries Community Bike Workshop open session held 11-4 p.m. on 3 September and their presentation: Tips on Bike Repairs, Safety, and All-Weather Cycling in the Little Theatre. 

We carried out lots of minor repairs on adult and children’s bikes ranging from raising saddles and handlebars to mending punctures, fixing brakes and tuning gears plus lots of pumping tyres and oiling chains. It was great to pass on a donated bike to a woman whose bike was stolen recently in Skerries. Five people signed up to our WhatsApp group which will notify opening times to members. Email Skerriescycling@gmail.com to get added yourself.

Most importantly, in chatting to people we got lots of positive vibes about the Community Bike Workshop idea which is a space where people can learn how to maintain and carry out basic repairs to bikes.  Through repair and re-use we are reducing waste and also promoting a healthy and low carbon way of getting around.

We have a full set of bike tools available to use free of charge, and parts at reasonable or zero cost.

Visitors on Sunday saw how we  “Learn by doing”,  in a friendly supportive atmosphere.

We want more people involved so that regular sessions all run by volunteers, can happen.

We are non-profit and all donations are used to buy parts/tools.

We would like to thank Jake Gildea for skilfully capturing the action with his photos.