An idea born out of a local Ecoweek.
How it all began…
Dream it.
In 2008, one of our founders had the very inspirational idea to get everyone in and around Faringdon to think about how they use energy and live more healthily. He devised an Ecoweek.
One of the 70! events was a bike ride through several local organic farms on the way to hug the wind turbines at Westmill.
Build it.
And that, my friends, was the embryo idea that hatched into Farcycles. Why not have a ride every week? And go on the lovely country lanes around Faringdon.
'Let's meet on a Saturday morning in the Market Place.' said one.
'I'll send out the route to everyone each week' said another.
Grow it.
Since then, Farcycles have developed the Saturday rides reaching a regular group of well over 30 cyclists meeting each week to enjoy a number of routes around the countryside.
The team have raised money to build a Cycle Park in Faringdon, organise regular cycle teaching classes and have now even opened a bike shop!
Supply it.
In 2020, at the height of the Covid pandemic, we decided to open a pop-up bike shop for one month where we’d accept bike donations from the community and recycle them for sale to raise money. It was a long shot given the availability of bikes at that time but, out of dusty sheds and garage clear-outs, bikes began to arrive
Teach it.
The success of our Cycle Park at the Folly Sports Park has even exceeded our widest expectations. The park has proved to be so popular, it has allowed us to organise both group classes and 1-1 lessons throughout the year.
There is nothing that generates goosebumps more than the reward felt when teaching a child to ride a bike for the first time.
Share it.
Everything we do in our community is for one reason and that is to inspire people of all ages to ride a bike.
It doesn’t matter if it’s replacing a short car journey to the shops, a towpath ride with your family, giving children the freedom and health benefits of owning a bike, or providing somewhere for a local cyclist to join up and ride with others.
The Farcycles Story told by Dhruv Hegde (Abingdon School/ Abingdon Film Unit)