Bespoke Bicycles 'Hebrides' Ltd

Would you like to win a £350 voucher to spend in Bespoke Bicycles? Am chuffed to be working with Lewis Wind Power and The Lochs Show to offer you the opportunity to win a voucher along with a cake and coffee in our Hub cafe. To be in with a chance of winning, visit the Lewis Wind Power stand at The Lochs Show this Saturday 27th and have a go at their free to enter competition. Good luck and we look forward to seeing the lucky winner in the shop soon.🤩🥳 Kerry MacPhee

DAY 3 - Butt to Barra 2019 And so the trip draws to a close.... Weather much improved... Moods much improved... (although that could have been the stop at the Borrodale or the stop at Am Politician). Slight tailwind, and clearing skies made for happier cyclists. A cruise in to the ferry terminal and a hope that all the vehicles would get on (which we did thankfully), followed by a leisurely tour of Barra and that was the end of this year's incredibly charity run. Thank you @Butt to Barra 2019 for inviting me along, it was a blast. Till next year (if you'll have me again)

DAY 2 - Butt to Barra Charity Cycle 2019 (a tad late right enough) Well day 2 started out with alot of tired bodies, and the mist didn't really help.... But the troop soldiered on with poor visibility heading south. A brief stop at the Scarista golf course and a break in the mist along with some heat in the air bouyed everyone for the run to the ferry. Which was delayed due to the weather, giving us time to quickly warm up and refuel. As the day went on, the weather improved and by the time we got to Benbecula for the next night stop there were alot of tired faces but all managing to muster smiles all round. Although there was nearly a rampage as the pub was shut.... Still very few issues and no punctures which is a novelty compared to last year....

Day One - Butt to Barra Charity Cycle 2019 Overcaste start at the Lighthouse for the start of the 2019 butt to barra charity ride, that I was honoured to be ask to support. 30 riders started, and with a valiant catch up sprint by a delayed rider, 31 ended the day after a soggy misty breezy long day. Longest section out the way ending in Tarbert with a stop off for Lunch in at The Hub. Was great to see the place buzzing with the group. Total is almost up at 15k which is an incredible amount for the chosen charities... Got to break the 15 barrier.... Thank you to all who have donated and supported the Challenge.

What an absolutely incredible amount raised from the Butt to Barra Charity Cycle 2019 team... And it is going to get much larger as the trip goes on.... Well done to everyone who has contributed 9ne way or another to get where it is..

**NOTICE**NOTICE**NOTICE**
Hi Hi, Due to a management error, I booked myself out to support this years Butt to Barra Charity Cycle 2019 and somehow let Mairi Nicolson go off on her wanders as well...Leaving me short staffed from Wednesday 10th and the decision to close down until next week, so all OPEN again from Monday 15th July.
... So to confirm, THE HUB including the shop, workshop and Cafe WILL BE SHUT from Wednesday 10th and REOPEN for business on Monday 15th July.
Seriously sorry to anyone looking to get fed or fuelled up! Back to normal next week.
Thank you everyone,
Alistair
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So I had thoughts about keeping the Cafe and the Bike business together on facebook, but I don't want to spam bikey folk with whats going on in the cafe, and vice versa.
So the decision was made to create a separate facebook page for the Cafe..But stress not, you won't be bombarded with loads of pictures of Latte art (mainly 'cos I am all about the taste, and less so the look!), and bowls of soups and cakes....
This page will be for what the specials are, what cakes we have in and any promotional events and/or any other ideas that come to fruition....

So by now, alot of you will have read the news that unfortunately due to Grahams' health, the decision has been made to permanently shut the NICE "n" Chilled at the HUB cafe. I know it was a horribly hard decision to be made, but you can't put anything before Health and Well-being!! I wish all the best and success for Graham in the future and in whichever path he chooses to explore ....Without a doubt, Glen House, BeSpoke and myself personally, have alot to be thankful for wh...en Graham came on-board with The Hub, there will always be his page in the History book of Glen House, Thank you and really...All the Best...
What is going to happen now? Well, it is and has to be business as usual at The Hub and Glen House. BeSpoke is still operating as normal in all respects, Grahams' business operated separately from mine and so his closure is not affecting the existing bike related services.
With regards to the Cafe upstairs... Well, everyone knows I need good coffee to be able to function normally, and so whilst the machine is powered up for me, it might as well be powered up for you out there as well....I need just a little time to get things in place, but the plan is to re-open from:
SATURDAY 9th Feb (ie...This saturday coming) at 10am until 5pm,
and from then, Monday to Saturday 10am to 5pm. Sunday will be closed as usual.
These hours will remain until I have got my feet under me and I can see what is what, and what can be managed.
The Cafe will be run by BeSpoke although I am pleased to say that Mairi Nicolson is staying on to see to your needs, with the intention of supplying some of the best coffee and tea in town (a bold claim for sure, but wait 'till you try them!). New suppliers have been tested so that I can be confident that the highest quality hot drinks are being served. To compliment the highest quality teas and coffees (and hot chocolates), The Hub Cafe will also carry an amazingly mouth wateringly delicious Cake menu. Although I am cutting back on the hot/cold prepared food, the Cafe will also be serving hot soup with fresh, local chunky bread on the side. Breakfasts and hot food will make an appearance once things have settled in a wee bit....But for now, the focus is on quality coffee, tea, cakes and soup.
So come on in, all and sundry, and experience The Hub in all it's wondeful glory.
Thank you all, and lets see where this adventure takes us!
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Mental Health and Mountain biking has been a hot topic this last year and it was well highlighted at the Mountain Biking Conference I attended last year. This article is really well written and peaks my interest massively...
Anyone who has been out biking in ANY of it's forms knows how great it makes you feel, how it focus's the mind and draws your attention away from the multitude of thoughts racing around in the mind. Getting out on the bike makes such a difference to me, a...nd to so many of my fellow riders I can fully accept that it has huge benefits to those that struggle.
The wheels are slowly turning in motion in my mind as I think this is an area to be explored...Watch this space as things develop...
https://www.adventure-journal.com/…/ped aling-away-from-an…/…
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A must watch adventure on 2 wheels of Hebridean Way done by professional cyclist Hannah Barnes last year. Beautifully filmed and perfect for whetting the appetite for our Hebridean Wonderland...
BeSpoke offers the best in bike hire, both normal and e-bikes, along with the only emergency call out service on the island that will keep you rolling...or should the weather turn for the worst, BeSpoke can pick you up wherever you are and drop you at your next accommodation. Bespoke also operates the only true return service to get you and your bikes back to Castlebay for your trip home. All of this for the cheapest fares, the best in banter and a friendly smiley face. Flexibility is the aim here...
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=9lTKx1wvzz8

Boy does Christmas come around quickly!!
Don't forget that BeSpoke offers Gift Card options for those cyclists that have everything.
You can charge the Gift Card with any amount, on a card that handily fits in your wallet. Redeem any amount and keep the card until the balance is used.
... Balances can be used on any items in the Shop. At the moment, the Workshop is not included, but hopefully this will change soon. Please note that the Cafe can't accept BeSpoke Gift Vouchers either.
So, if you are struggling to think of a gift for that cycling friend/family member...Get them a BeSpoke Gift Card...
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Kate Lewis and the Scaladale Centre crew do great things for biking in the Outer Hebrides, I can certainly vouch for the biking that is available in Harris as being TOP NOTCH..so why not come on over and experience some of the BEST biking available....

One of the important elements of The Hub was that it would be an information point for cyclists both local and visiting, in alot of cases Glen House is one of the first places you hit as you come into Stornoway and as such I wanted there to be details on places to visit, stay, things to see and do, and for the bikers asking where to cycle, details of where is good to go.
I have had the map of the Castle Grounds Trails for a while now, and have an electronic version for anyon...e who wants it e-mailed to them, and now I have my large map of Lewis and Harris. The idea with this is for us locals to come in and mark up their favourite routes directly on the board so that others can see where is worth exploring and to build up a catalogue of trails for everyone.
So if you have a favourite route that you think others would enjoy, please do pop in and mark it up on the wall for everyone to enjoy.
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This was posted up a while ago admittedly, but my page has grown significantly since and thought new members might be interested in the Document below.
When I got the keys for Glen House, I was always interested in the Historical Buildings of our Islands (spawned from working with a restoration architect for nigh on 10 years I suppose!) and I really wanted to find out what Glen House had been through in the years previous to my occupation. I knew Dr Ali Whiteford had an inte...rest in the building due to it's involvement in the Lewis Chemical Works and so I asked him if he would be interested in looking into the background of the house, to create a timeline as it were and to discover as much about it as possible.
I was expecting a few pages of detail, but what I got back just blew me away, Dr Whiteford had delved as deep as he could and came up with the attached information. I often take 5 mins to re-read it's contents..kind of like a reset button for me..a moment to reflect on what this house used to be and a boost to remind myself that i am LUCKY to have been given the chance to breath new life into an old building.
It is such a fascinating read and has been perfectly written in Dr Whiteford's inimitable style.
The entire experience of renovating this building has allowed me the chance to meet some incredible people who have some beautiful stories of this place, and I feel honoured that I have been given the opportunity to allow people to relive those memories and to share them with me.
Happy Reading...
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On the screen AGAIN!!! This time a wee promotional video of the goings on in The Hub.... A snapshot of what is available at The Hub and within the Castle Grounds itself.
The biking on offer on our doorstep is just awesome. Perfect for beginners and those looking to boost skill levels and confidence, and there is a little for the more advanced rider as well...Great fun in ALL weathers!!
... Andrew Reeve has done an awesome job bringing together lots of dodgy shots (well, I was in them is what I mean!) and created a cracking wee movie to promote The Hub and Bespoke.
Have a view and enjoy!!
Cheers
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A great piece about 2 great up and coming bikers, Thomas and Aodhan. Brilliant job done by both. Next year is going to be really interesting for them I think. Well done both, and big ups to Gavin Earons for his support for the riders and for the sponsors, without which the 2 guys would never have the chance to compete.
Well done lads.