Winter wheels roll on: community cycling joy at MaxTrax

It might be early spring, but Afrocats’ recent Winter Wheels event at MaxTrax brought together local participants for a day of cycling, creativity, and shared achievement, proving that not even drizzly weather could dampen enthusiasm on (or off!) the track.

Balance bikes gave younger children their first taste of cycling, while others took part in grown-up riding sessions and ‘learn to ride’ opportunities, with some building confidence on two wheels for the first time.

But the rainy conditions only made the warm, supportive atmosphere inside feel even more welcoming!

A standout feature of the day was The Workshop, where participants had the rare opportunity to build two bikes from start to finish under the expert guidance of maintenance coach Tim Spencer.

This hands-on experience proved especially popular with a group of young participants who stayed engaged throughout, showing real focus, curiosity, and pride in their work.

Alongside cycling activities, a shared craft workshop created a relaxed space for everyone to come together around one large table during lunch with some arts and crafts with Manchester-based award-winning artist Tina Ramos Ekongo.

Alongside a tasty hot meal, MaxTrax became a natural hub for conversation and collaboration, with people of different ages and backgrounds connecting and working side by side.

And feedback highlighted the energy and connection throughout the day, with the visible boost in self-reliance among participants learning new skills on bikes:

‘It was wonderful to see so many people gaining confidence on two wheels! We hope to see you again in the near future.’

Kerrie Rimmer, MaxTrax founder

We are proud to have delivered an event that brought people together, supported skill-building, and encouraged joyful movement, whatever the weather.

Find out more about the amazing activities at MaxTrax here.

And get involved: if you’d like to take part in future Afrocats events, workshops, or community programmes, visit our 'Join Us' page or follow us on social media to find out what’s coming up next.