5 ways to get pedal ready in MCR

35% of residents in Manchester want to cycle more, so get ready to hop back in the saddle with these 5 exciting ways MCR is becoming the best place to pedal!

1. Bike maintenance sessions

Fixing and maintaining your bike just got a whole lot easier. Biking and wheeling is one part of your cycling journey. As you begin to explore places further a field that niggling feeling and ‘what if’ questions start to arise. What if I get a puncture? What if my chain snaps? How do I fix it? Luckily, there are ways to squash those worries.

Transport for Greater Manchester (TFGM) are offering bike maintenance sessions and courses to help you get to know your bike a little better. You can book onto sessions by following this link. Sessions are held in mixed small groups, costing £5 for 2 hours (women-only sessions are available).

2. Building your confidence on the bike

Cheaper than the car, faster than your feet. There are lots of cycling courses available for people living or working across Greater Manchester.

Whether you’re looking to feel more confident riding near traffic, or building up your confidence to explore new routes with the family or finally getting around to having a go on an adapted bike, there’s something out there for everyone.

Places that have wheeling and cycling free sessions:

Transport for Greater Manchester: Bee active
Cycling UK sessions – based at Khizra Mosque in Cheetham Hill and Stretford Public Hall
GM Active

3. Cycle hire is on the move

Manchester’s Bee bikes are easily accessible across many places in the city. Handily located close to trams, trains and buses meaning they are great for everyday commuting or sight seeing. You just need your phone, the app, a payment method and 5 mins. Watch our 2-minute ‘how to hire’ video.

Click here to download the Beryl app.

Electric bike hire

Thanks to Cycling UK, you can now hire electric bikes (e-bikes) for free, with one-month loan schemes available. See here for more details.

4. Cycling and wheeling groups for all

People from across the city are now wheeling in any way they wish. From trikes to cargo bikes, folded bikes to adapted ones, mountain, road, hybrid, electric…there are so many options. And all abilities and experience are welcome, from groups that explore local parks to adventure cyclists travelling further a field, there is a group out there for everyone.

Here’s 5 to get you started:

5. Planning your route

Whether you're City centre or elsewhere, there are lots of great cycling and wheeling spots all across Manchester - from short Sunday spins to longer challenging adventures - explore our 5 favourites here. ⁠

(Top tip: Download the Komoot app (free) to access maps that give you turn by turn directions. Making it easy to navigate whilst you are out and about.