A Sustainable Cycle

With some local funding support and help from Alexandra bike shop owner James Williamson (Willbike Cycling Central), Foggie’s first project was to build a bespoke trike for one of the pupils with cerebral palsy. That first trike off the production line was the catalyst for more projects – and not least because it made such a difference to a very happy customer who was now able to zoom around with all his mates on their bikes.

Other recipients of Up-Cycles bikes include two more diverse learners who are now up and spinning on two wheels with new-found freedom; a family of five who have struggled financially and are now all riding on the trails together; a homeless person who now has transport; and a young man who lost his driving licence and is trying to get his life back on track and who can now ride to work without relying on others or being tempted to drive illegally.

Foggie works closely with Presbyterian Support and other community groups to help identify those in the most genuine need of help.

Having spent 30-years in law enforcement, Foggie recognises that, “dealing with the aftermath of people’s poor choices has been a common theme in my life and up until now I wouldn’t have invested more time in supporting them. However, I’ve changed my point of view and realised that I’m actually able to help make positive changes for some people. I love encouraging people to ride, tinkering with bikes and so to make a difference through Up-Cycles is a really good feeling”.

Whilst Foggie is currently investing his own money in Up-Cycles, he’s in the process of setting up as a charitable trust and has received great support from the local community with secondhand bikes and parts being donated by fellow cyclists as well as ex-rental bikes provided by local company Trail Journeys, helmets from Bike it Now and other components from the Luxury Trail Company.

Foggie currently builds and repairs the bikes for Up-Cycles from a container behind his garage and next to a paddock full of very mischievous goats.

“Somebody told me that keeping goats was easy”, laughs Foggie. “Well, it’s not! Or at least not with this mob”!

The container is full of bike frames of all shapes and sizes, projects at various stages of completion as well as boxes full of old pedals, cassettes and cranks, saddles, tubes, tyres and every other component you can imagine. There are even some old classic bike frames squirreled away in the container, which Foggie intends to either sell or swap for components and other equipment once he’s fixed them up.

Whilst Up-Cycles is mostly about providing bikes for those that can’t afford them, of course the venture has other community benefits. “Recycling and repairing bicycles contributes to sustainable practices, waste reduction, and cost savings”, explains Foggie. “It also helps improve accessibility and encourages active transport. These upcycled bikes are slowly becoming a part of creating a more environmentally conscious and inclusive society”.

“But most importantly, riding a bike is fun”!

Foggie hopes that once Up-Cycles has a charitable status and access to more funding that he’ll be able to up-scale the operation. In addition to repairing bikes, future plans include skills development programmes to teach people how to fix and maintain their own bicycles as well as offering training programmes like Waka Kotahi’s “Bike Ready” road safety course to help improve people’s bike skills.

In the meantime, Alexandra’s Bicycle Repair Man continues to upcycle other people’s old junk into treasure providing freedom and fun to those most in need…. A superpower indeed!