By Celia Cornforth of Bicester Green

EVERYBODY has heard of Oxford as a 'cycle city', but if we look on our doorstep, we are in fact well furnished with our own bike scene in Bicester.

Yes we moan about the lack of cycle lanes and insufficient racking to lock our bikes to and all the theft that has become so prevalent recently - but those could be seen as symptoms of a healthy and growing bicycle culture.

If we explore all the elements of cycling we can see just how well furnished Bicester is should someone like to take advantage of being able to get around this relatively small, very flat town by bike.

ALSO READ: Builders go the extra yard for repair group

You can buy a new high-end or electric bike from Broadribbs at the top of Sheep Street, or find a range of styles at Halfords.

Or you can buy secondhand bikes, which have been fully refurbished, from people on Facebook, or from social enterprise Bicester Green, located on the Launton Road (next to the Garth).

If you lack confidence then Healthy Bicester run Bikeability courses, for adults and children alike. The next sessions, aimed at secondary school age, are scheduled for April 8 and 9 at the Cooper School, see Healthy Bicester on Facebook for details.

If you fancy getting out and about on your bike, get fit and potentially loose some unwanted pounds then join Bicester Social Cyclings’ Health Rides.

Or if you are more hardcore and like to wear Lycra and go very fast, then The Bicester Millennium Cycling Club may be more you bag.

We’ve also benefitted from the legacy of Bicester being an Eco Town with three cycle routes; The Gold route covering 13miles, the Silver covering six miles and the Bronze four miles - all with downloadable maps.

So now that you have your bike, are confidently riding it and have traversed the near and far streets of Bicester, what happens when it breaks?

ALSO READ: Bike thieves steal from Bicester Green twice in one day

Here at Bicester Green we have a supply of second hand parts for sale. However by far the best way to be a cyclist is to learn to maintain your own bike.

Bicester Green offer volunteer positions where people can learn from our mechanic on Fridays. We also run monthly Dr Bike sessions in Sheep Street, on the last Saturday of every month. Bring your bike along and we’ll carry out basic repairs for FREE. These are only possible with the assistance of Healthy Bicester and Cherwell District Council.

The great thing about bikes is how long it can last, and how far it can get you.

People are still cycling around on frames 60-70 years old. Then when eventually they have had enough, you can use the parts from one to put on another.