Reading Virtual Cycle Hub

This page aims to provide links to the many cycling activities and resources available in Reading.

Cycle Training

Avanti Cycling offers Adult cycle training and led leisure rides. These activities are free of charge, as they are sponsored by Reading Borough Council. https://avanticycling.co.uk/adults/

• Learn to Ride
• Rusty Riders
• Commuter
• Leisure Rides

And for children, Avanti Cycling offers the following courses in schools. These need to be booked by the school:

• Bikeability Levels 1 and 2 – a two-day course – free of charge
• Bikeability Level 2 Refresher – held over one day – £20 per rider
• Bikeability Level 3 – a one-day course – free of charge

You can book your own cycling courses for children held after school and in the holidays. https://avanticycling.co.uk/holiday-courses/

Free Bike Maintenance and 2nd Hand Bikes for Sale

Reading Bike Kitchen is a volunteer run, not-for-profit organisation founded to encourage cycling by providing low cost bicycle maintenance.
Reading Bike Kitchen (readingbicyclekitchen.org)

• ‘We-help-you-fix-it’ bicycle workshops – Saturdays, 10am – 2pm, but check the website
• FREE Bike Maintenance Courses
• Bicycles for sale on Gumtree with RBK in the title

Look out for FREE Dr Bike sessions around Reading. Bring your bike along and Dr Bike will check and tune-up your bike, undertake free minor repairs and diagnose more complex repairs.

Independent Bike Mechanics

Not an exhaustive list, but local mechanics that have helped us out – and in no particular order:

Family Bike Rides

Kidical Mass Reading organise family-friendly mass bike rides, designed to increase families’ confidence in cycling together, and to highlight the need for better cycling infrastructure so that our kids can cycle to their schools, parks, doctors, etc.

Monthly rides alternating in Reading and Wokingham. https://kidicalmassreading.co.uk/our-next-rides/

Social Bike Rides

Cycling UK Reading (formerly known as Reading CTC) is a thriving, friendly club which is part of the Cycling UK organisation. They provide a wide range of social cycle rides and encourage people of all levels to enjoy being out on a bike:

• A variety of Road & Off-Road rides each week
• Every Sunday: morning and all day options
• Wednesday daytime plus evening pub rides
• All cycling levels catered for – choose a ride to suit your choice of speed and distance
• Great local scenery you never knew was there!
• Friendly & social atmosphere

https://www.cyclinguk.org/local-groups/reading

Cycle Routes and Maps

Reading Borough Council has produced maps showing the major cycle routes through Reading:

• RBC Cycling Map – a downloadable cycling map
• RBC Cycling Leaflet and Map – a downloadable cycling leaflet and map
• Reading cycle and walking routes interactive map – with this map you can:
  • view all up-to-date cycling and walking routes and interact with them to get more information
  • plan your journey by combining cycling and walking routes to key locations

You can also plan a cycle ride from/to Reading using the National Cycle Network on the Sustrans website.

Reading Cycle Festival

Sunday 8th September, 11am – 4pm, Christchurch Meadows
Celebrate cycling with a great line-up. FREE entry and bike parking

Come along to explore new ways of cycling, find out how to look after your bike, and meet local groups offering advice, maps and guided cycling activities. You could even join rides at the festival.

https://readingcyclefestival.co.uk

Finally, we’re Reading Cycle Campaign and we’re working to make Reading a better place for cyclists. Read more about us here: https://readingcyclecampaign.org.uk/about-us/

If you’re a local group helping Reading cyclists and would like to be added to this page, please email publicity@readingcyclecampaign.org.uk