Keep us Fixing and Hiring Bikes

I thought I could ride out(!) this enforced closure, but it's now proving impossible, so am appealing for whatever assistance small or otherwise you can give.

I somewhat naively thought that following the fire at Green Park, surveyors would check the roof speedily, and give it the all clear. This process has got delayed and it seems the earliest we might hear is toward the end of the month. I'm confident that as we were so far from the fire damage that the undamaged businesses like mine will get the all clear, eventually.

It's really sad for all our businesses here as we were creating a hub of mutually beneficial trades that flourished off one and other. Many times I've had customers in for a quick bike fix, and they've popped next door for a coffee whilst waiting.

It's actually been a really painful year since last September, as that's when the shop essentially got shut down from any passing trade because of building work. However one blue lining has been repeat customers who've been bringing back bikes for servicing, old faces who may only come in once every 2 or 3 years, but that's been heartwarming and good to see that people value the work done on their bikes.

However, the timing couldn't be worse as bike hire and servicing were just hitting their usual seasonal peak. We only get 5-6 months in the bike shop to make or break the year and this one's really broken things.

The funds we raise here will go a small way towards replacing lost revenue, general running costs and paying essential shop bills that I can't stop. And hopefully if we survive this we can carry on fixing all those old regular customers' bikes into the future.

Thanks for any assistance you may be able to give