BikeBiz Bicycle and cycling retail news
Social enterprise bike shop Future Cycles is crowdfunding to raise cash to open a cycle cafe in Leicester city centre. As well as serving caffeinated beverages – and cake, natch – this venue would promote "Leicester’s cycling culture, new developments and all things cycling."
Future Cycles was founded in 2010 and has carved out a niche selling refurbed vintage cycles and parts. It trades from premises on Market Street, and also sells recumbents, trikes, tandems and cargo bikes. The shop started life as a mechanics’ training scheme, and also operates a seven-days-a-week cycle parking facility in Leicester’s Town Hall on behalf of the city council.
"We also operate a cycle maintenance training facility," said director Tim Hudson.
"During term time we work with schools to train pupils as part of an alternative curriculum. Outside of these times we also offer training to the wider public."
Future Cycles employs eight people, most of whom were previously long-term unemployed.
In a 2015 profile of the business, BikeBiz said the store "profits from 1950s-1970s zombikes brought back from the dead."
The shop’s crowdfunding campaign is seeking £9,974 and has so far received pledges of £130 from four thirsty backers.
