The Broken Spoke Bike Coop

Getting a flat tyre is one of the most common issues for cyclists, so it's no surprise that our Fix-a Flat and Get to Know Your Bike is one of our most popular courses! 🚲

Learning to fix a flat yourself can save you money on simple repairs while giving you the confidence and independence to handle them on your own. Understanding how your bike works also makes it easier to tackle maintenance and improve your riding experience.

Our courses are set in a relaxed, supportive workshop environment where we want you to feel empowered to get stuck in and ask questions. We also offer a community-supported tiered pricing structure to help make sessions more accessible.

So if you’d like to take control of your bike maintenance, we’d love to welcome you to the workshop! 😀Our next course is on Sunday, 21st June and there are still some spots available. If you can’t make that date, there are more upcoming sessions available to book via our website. https://www.bsbcoop.org/service-page/get-to-know-your-bike-fix-a-flat-1?referral=service_list_widget

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Broken Spoke is proud to be an accredited Oxford Living Wage Employer!

We’re committed to fair pay and have raised our hourly rate to the new of £14.06 for 2026-27. By investing in our team, we're helping build a stronger local community here in one of the UK’s most expensive cities. This represents both an investment in social value and a commitment to the well-being of our wonderful team. 🧡

Learn more about Broken Spoke here: https://www.bsbcoop.org/about (link also in bio)

It’s Volunteers’ Week, and we wanted to say a huge thank you to all of our amazing volunteers at Broken Spoke 💛🚲

Volunteers are at the heart of everything we do, and we really can’t overstate how important they are to the co-op. From hands-on support in our workshop and out in the community to offering valuable advice, support and governance, their contribution makes a real difference.

Monday last week, we welcomed more new faces at our latest volunteer induction session, something that always inspires us and reminds us how much passion, skill, and generosity exist in our community. 🤗

To every one of our volunteers, including our brilliant board members who give their time to guide and support us: thank you. We couldn’t do it without you.

To learn more about volunteering, please visit our website, and if you’d like to come along to one of our induction sessions, simply fill in the form on our volunteer page and we will get in touch! www.bsbcoop.org/volunteer

📣Board updates at Broken Spoke!

Firstly, we wanted to say a huge thank you to outgoing Chair Kate Roll, for her wonderful contribution to Broken Spoke. We’re so grateful for all she’s given and know she’ll remain a valued part of the Broken Spoke community. 🧡🚲

We’re delighted to say that current board members Kristina McClendon and Andrea Schiavi have stepped into the role of Co-Chairs, working alongside Tim Doole as Secretary, Tom Bowtell as Treasurer, and our newest board member, Tom Maull. Together, they bring a wealth of experience, and we’re excited for what’s ahead here at the Spoke.

Following our recent drive for new board members, we are also pleased to say we will be welcoming even more people to this fantastic team very soon! Applications will remain open for the foreseeable so there's still plenty of time if you’d like to get involved. We would love to hear from you! More details: www.bsbcoop.org/workwithus (link also in bio)

Image: A picture from our last strategy day - Outgoing Chair Kate (far right) and new General Manager Loïse (3rd from right). Current board members (left to right) Tom B, Kristina, Tim, and Andrea.

We’re delighted to be working with our good friends at Aspire on a new community outreach program, currently in its trial stages. Aspire is an organisation dedicated to empowering people facing homelessness, poverty and disadvantage to find employment and housing. Aspire Oxford

Through this collaborative project, individuals referred to us by Aspire are offered a complimentary bike from Broken Spoke, complete with essential accessories such as a helmet and lights - providing them with an affordable means of transport. Recipients learn to refurbish their bike alongside our team, gaining valuable skills and knowledge which will also help maintain it going forward. For those who would benefit from additional support, we also provide free cycle training lessons. Our first referral, Shawn, now cycles into town rather than paying for the bus and plans to join more sessions at the workshop. 🚲😀

We’re keen to grow this project and are actively seeking funding to continue the work and broaden our impact. Stay tuned for updates and meanwhile, you can support our efforts by donating https://www.bsbcoop.org/donate

Got a broken spoke, a wobble in your wheel, or brakes rubbing on the rim? Or just want to know how to fix it if and when you do? Then our Wheel Truing course could be just what you need! 🚲🔧

A reminder that our next course takes place on Sunday, 7th June, and we’ve also added a September date if you can’t make June.

Book now to secure your spot: https://www.bsbcoop.org/service-page/wheel-truing?referral=service_list_widget (link also in bio)

We’d love to welcome you to the workshop! 😀

There’s always a great atmosphere at our group bike recycling sessions, with volunteers getting stuck into bike refurbishment and recycling. From building foundational skills through our specialist programme to developing more advanced restoration experience, there’s something for everyone!. 😀

We offer a wide range of volunteering opportunities here at the Spoke and we’ll help you find the path that’s right for you!

If you’d like to get involved, or find out more about volunteering with us, get in touch via the form on our website: bsbcoop.org/volunteer (link also in bio)

Our volunteer induction sessions take place on the first Mon of each month (5.30-6.30pm) - with the next one coming up on Monday 1st June. Simply fill in the form and we will send you all the details!

Images: One of our Monday afternoon recycling sessions with some of our brilliant volunteers, including Anna, who uses her leatherworking skills to help restore some of our old saddles.

📣Calling all creatives! We’re always searching for volunteers, but it’s not just bike mechanic skills we need. In fact, an exciting project is on the horizon that has nothing to do with mechanics, and we could really use your talents!

We need help designing some additional front signage and making our wonderful space even more welcoming. We have decided to form a small volunteer group to brainstorm and bring ideas to life. If this sounds up your street we’d love your input to help make the space inviting and encourage more people to drop in.

To get involved, simply register your interest via the form at the bottom of our volunteer page: www.bsbcoop.org/volunteer, and we will get in touch with you to discuss in more detail. Already a volunteer? Have a chat with our General Manager, Loïse, at the next session, and she will be very happy to provide further info.

Thank you in advance for giving your time and talent to Broken Spoke. You are appreciated! 🌟

Exciting News! We’ve teamed up with Riders Oxford (formerly JoyRiders), part of Avanti Cycling Trust CIC, to make cycling more accessible in our community! Together, we’re providing subsidised bikes for riders taking part in their cycle training at Rose Hill Community Centre and Barton Neighbourhood Centre ( Community). These learn-to-ride sessions are all about breaking down barriers and giving more community members the confidence to get riding! (check out the details on these sessions above!)

Following on-road training, New Riders Oxford is providing trainees with subsidised bikes, with Broken Spoke proudly contributing to this effort. By working together, we’re making it easier for participants to afford a bike and start their cycling journey.

Broken Spoke is also still running bimonthly Dr Bike sessions at Rose Hill Community Centre (1st Sat of every other month 10am-1pm), offering basic maintenance and advice to help everyone keep pedalling.

These Dr Bike sessions, as well as the work we are doing with New Riders to provide subsidised bikes, run from our own community outreach resources, and we can only keep going with help from our wonderful supporters. To donate or find out about other ways to support please visit our website: https://www.bsbcoop.org/donate

Let’s make cycling accessible to all. Thank you for being part of our journey! 💚

On Thursday 4th June, Beryl's Night will be all about Brakes! Come along and learn how they work and what to do when they don't! 🚲

We'll cover rim brakes and disc brakes (but not including bleeding hydraulic brakes), and maintenance tips to keep them braking nice and sharp.

Book in on our website or rock up! https://www.bsbcoop.org/service-page/beryls-night (link also in bio)

Beryl’s Night is a monthly session for women, and all non-binary and trans folk, on the first Thursday of the month. The aim of Beryl's Night is to create a space to learn, fix, teach, hang out, laugh, help each other, high five, ask for help and make friends. 😀