Tag Archives: Bike Week

Celebrating Bike Week 2025!

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From Monday 12th May to Wednesday 14th May, Bike Week took place in the Boiler House. The event was hosted by the Sustainability Team in collaboration with WATBike and Cycling UK. Each day, colleagues and students could be seen queuing up outside the venue, bikes in hand, ready for servicing. Read on to find out more about Bike Week, its outreach, and what our campus cyclists said…

Image: The Bike Week set-up on day one, taken a few minutes before the crowds arrived.

Event Lineup

Across the duration of the event, WATBike offered three services each day:

  • Dr Bike – Free bike check-ups
  • Second-hand Bike Sale – Affordable pre-loved bikes
  • Maintenance Advice – Handy tips from cycling experts

Thanks to generous funding from Cycling UK, all services were completely free of charge!

A Successful Outcome

We’re delighted to report that Bike Week was a huge success. A total of 58 bikes were serviced by Dr Bike, 17 pre-loved bikes found new homes, and many students and colleagues left with practical tips for keeping their bikes in top shape.

Here is what one Bike Week attendee had to say:

“This was really useful, thank you to all for hosting and organising the event. The advice and help I received on Wednesday was brilliant.”

Bike Week was also a hit on social media earning a spot on the @NewcastleUni Instagram story and amassing 12,000 views!

Image: A collection of bikes waiting to be repaired by the helpful WATBike team.

University Cycling Services

Did you know that Dr Bike takes place every fortnight? Our next session is taking place at Devonshire Walk on Tuesday 27th May. If you want to add upcoming Dr Bikes to your diary, please refer to the Dr Bike 2025 events page.

Alternatively, if you want weekly reminders of upcoming events, you can join our Bicycle Users Group on Teams. To join, just email us at sustainable-campus@newcastle.ac.uk with the subject title “Join BUG.”

If you’re searching for more tips on storage, cleaning and repairing your bike, read our Bike Maintenance Blog

Thank you to everyone who got involved and helped make Bike Week such a success. More cycling events are coming soon – watch this space for updates!

Bike Maintenance: Handy tips to keep your wheels on the road 

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We’ve all been there – the sun’s shining, you’ve got your cycling clothes on, water bottle filled, ready to hit the road…only to discover an issue with your bike. Whether it’s a flat tyre, faulty brakes, or grinding gears, we’ve teamed up with our friends at WATBike to share some simple maintenance tips that’ll keep your bike in a roadworthy condition. 

1. Bike storage 

Where you store your bike matters. Storing your bike in a safe place is not only important for security reasons, but it can also help keep your bike in good condition. Leaving a bike outside for extended periods (such as in a garden/backyard over winter) will expose your bike to the elements which, over time, will cause the parts to corrode and eventually lead to failure of the gears, brakes etc. 

Tips for smart storage:

2. Tyres

Your tyres are a critical component of your bike’s performance and safety. Maintaining the correct tyre pressure and regularly checking their condition is vital!

Tyre care tips:

  • Check tyre pressure regularly, ensuring the PSI is at the required level (these can be found on the tyre wall).  Ensuring the correct pressure helps to prevent punctures. 
  • Keep a small hand pump with you to ensure you can always pump your tyres. Or you can use the University cycle repair stand near Hatton Gallery (location shown in our map). This stand is equipped with allen keys, screwdrivers, spanners, adjustable fit bike pump and a tyre iron.
  • Inspect your tyres for cracks or holes – replace tyres if they’re showing serious wear.

3. Bike Cleaning

Regular bike cleaning will prevent rust and corrosion, helping your bike parts last longer and be more effective.

Cleaning checklist:

  • Use a hose (light pressure!) to rinse off loose dirt.
  • Scrub with bike-friendly brushes, especially around the chain and cassette (gears). It is also important to keep the braking surface of your wheels clean and dry.   
  • Check out this 5-minute bike wash tutorial on YouTube, or if a deeper clean is needed, this 30-minute bike wash tutorial.

4. Chain Care

One of the easiest and most effective maintenance tasks: lubricating your chain. It ensures a smoother ride with less clunking when changing gears and extends your bike chains lifespan. There are two main types of chain lubricant; wet and dry, and it depends on the type of riding you do and the time of year as to which lubricant you should use.  

Choosing the right chain lube:

Dry lube: Best for people who mainly ride on roads. It’s thinner and won’t pick up as much dust in the summer.

Wet lube: Designed for wet, muddy conditions. It is thicker than dry lube, which helps it repel water and keep your chain lubricated. 

If you’re not sure which to use, ask at a local bike shop, or at our regular Dr Bike sessions.

5. Loose parts 

If something on your bike feels loose (especially pedals) – don’t ride it! Bring it to a Dr Bike session or bike repair shop straight away. A quick tweak when a problem first arises can save big mechanical issues in the future if you leave it unresolved.

Maintenance at Dr Bike

If you require more help with bike maintenance, our regular Dr Bike sessions on campus are a great place to start. Whether it’s a quick fix or a maintenance question, expert advice is always on hand.  WATBike are here every two weeks throughout the year and are happy to help.

We’re also excited to announce Bike Week, taking place at The Boiler House from Monday 12th to Wednesday 14th May, in partnership with WATBike and supported by Cycling UK.

During Bike Week, Bike technicians will be available on campus from 10:00-14:00 each day to provide more detailed support on how to maintain your bike, with guidance and advice from the team at WATBike. There will also be a sale of lovingly refurbished bikes across a range of styles and sizes across the event. Buying second hand is not only great for your wallet, but also for the planet!

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