One Last Month For The Bike Guru

Reblogged from The Hidden Kiosks:

Submitted by Mike Polom

As The Bike Guru’s three month stint at the Kiosks comes to an end, it’s great to learn that he’s been granted one final month in order to make the transition to a more permanent premises a little easier.

Matt tells me that for his final month he’s offering all sorts of deals on food and drink as well as 20% off all bike servicing for the duration, definitely well worth a look.

I visited the Cafe & Workshop to talk to The Guru himself (aka Matt Lawford) about what went well, what he’d have done differently, and how having an affordable space at such an early stage in his business really helped get his idea off the ground.

He also offers some helpful suggestions for anyone thinking of applying for a kiosk including the importance of promotion, both online and offline, as well as how a solid plan including your aims is vital for success - three months is not as long as it sounds!

I wish Matt all the best with The Bike Guru Cafe & Workshop as his business continues to grow.

Please make sure you pop down to the Hidden Kiosks this month for the Bike Guru’s last month of strong coffee and top notch bike repairs.

BÖIKZMÖIND

We were shown BÖIKZMÖIND from flexi member Matt Keeling. This is a 30 minute documentary film about riding fixed gear bikes in beautiful Bristol.

This isn’t one of your usual fixie films, this delves a bit deeper and shows the diverse cross section of riders and asks why ride bikes with no gears in a city full of hills. It also shines a light on the community and camaraderie that comes with the simple joy of riding bicycles.

This is an small excerpt from the finished film, which is now screening all over the world. We are very excited to spot that there will be a showing at the Bike Guru Cafe & Workshop in Colchester. It’s TBC, but we’re still very excited.

There will be a DVD accompanied by a photo book coming out soon. You can register your interest here. 

It’s Guru Time

If you didn’t get to make it down to the opening night of the Bike Guru Cafe & Workshop, Film Colchester’s Tristan Syrett has captured the night beautifully. A project set up by Creative Coop - The Hidden Kiosk project is kick starting new activity in the Cultural Quarter. 

Camera by Sam King, Tim King, Tristan Syrett, music by Löhstana David (Demain je change de vie)

Special thanks to
Matt Lawford (thebikeguru.co.uk)
John Wallett (movingimage.org.uk)
Jason Cobb (onionbagblog.com)

Guru Time tonight

Don’t forget to pop down the The Hidden Kiosks @ 7pm tonight for the grand opening of the Bike Guru cafe/workshop. Here is a sneaky peek of the golden beast Matthew Lawford (the guru) will be using to produce one damn good cup of joe.

There will be music, film screenings and a chance to say hello to the Guru and hear what he is all about!

The Bike Guru needs you!

Friday 30th September
7pm
The Hidden Kiosks, Colchester Bus Station  

The Hidden Kiosk Project run by Creative Coop in partnership with Colchester Borough Council is opening its door again this Friday to house The Bike Guru cafe/workshop.

The Bike Guru, otherwise known as Matthew Lawford, will be setting up a cafe serving Union Hand Roasted Coffee’s fair and direct trade coffee with a bike workshop providing bicycle servicing, repairs and maintenance right next door. It will be a friendly space where you can get your bike serviced while you wait with a brew, or just somewhere to enjoy a good cup of coffee.

Whether you’re a cyclist, a coffee lover or just someone who fancies something a little different, make sure you come down to the kiosks, located just to the right of firstsite in the building by the bus station, for the grand opening at 7pm this Friday evening. There will be fresh coffee, music, films as well and a chance to meet the Bike Guru and hear about what he is all about. Visit his facebook page for more information.

Matt is also looking for wannabe trainee to advance baristas to come and work at the cafe. There are full and part time positions available with no experience needed as training will be provided. Please contact Matt for more details on 07889124001 or email.

The deadline is Friday 30th September. Good luck and chapeu!

Brewing with the Bike Guru

Read about the exciting new pop up coming to the Hidden Kiosks run by Creative Coop. Flexi member Jason Cobb boasts an amazing blog capturing all that is creative, community and Wivenhoe - OnionBagBlog. We have reblogged his article below, all about the Bike Guru’s new venture. A winning combination of bikes and coffee to appear in the Cultural Quarter. We couldn’t be situated in a better location.

The Bike Guru Cafe Workshop is coming to Colchester as part of our latest innovative use of the social space down by the old bus station. The Hidden Kiosks are proud to welcome Matt - for he is the Bike Guru - for a highly enterprising project combining coffee and cycling.

This mix seems like the perfect approach for what we are trying to achieve at the Kiosks. We are keen for all of our partners to try and think of ways in which to use the space as a social gathering, as well as offering a local service that will benefit the people of Colchester.

Matt’s plans impressed the judges so much that we have offered him a three-month tenancy at the Kiosks. The Bike Guru Cafe Workshop will have a grand opening on 30th September, giving the Bike Guru a significant period in which to experiment and learn from his social idea, and then hopefully carry this through to a more permanent business base.

Matt has been trading around Wivenhoe and Colchester for a number of years now as The Bike Guru. He offers a mobile bicycle mechanic service, plus plenty of support in helping local folk to learn more about their bikes and how to make the most of cycling in our community.

It comes as no surprise to find out that Matt’s second passion is coffee. He has had an intensive crash course in the art of preparing the perfect cup. A traditional Italian coffee-making machine has been sourced, and soon the old bus station will add a continental aroma to the air.

Which is all perfect timing, with Matt’s new near neighbours at firstsite scheduled to open the doors of Colchester’s prestigious Visual Arts Facility a week ahead of The Bike Guru Cafe Workshop.

Matt also impressed us with his plans to use the space outside of the usual daytime schedule. This will be very much a social space, with cycling themed film evenings scheduled, as well as intimate performances from local bands.

Keep Colchester Cycling - the bike hire scheme for our area - will also find a base at Kiosks once the workshop is open. Matt is keen to set up a number of guided bikes rides around Colchester and the surrounds, to help local folk appreciate the benefits that a bicycle can bring.

There is currently a tremendous buzz about cycling in Colchester: the cycling status town has been a huge success, cycling champions are leading rides and enabling others to follow - we’ve even had the Tour of GB and the Halfords Tour Series bringing road racing to the streets of Colchester.

What has been missing to date is some form of central cycling hub that can hopefully unite all of this two-wheeled activity. The Bike Guru Cafe Workshop will be much more than a bike repair workshop and a place to sample the best coffee in Colchester.

Both activities are highly social - both will hopefully help to create a social space where ideas and future projects can be forged.

Please do join the Bike Guru for the grand opening at the Hidden Kiosks on 30th September.

Chapeau!

Reblogged from hiddenkiosks:

Submitted by Jason Cobb