If you cycle in Waterloo, there’s a good chance you’ve been past XO Bikes on Blackfriars Road – and a very good chance you’ve met them at our monthly Dr Bike sessions.

But XO Bikes isn’t just a bike shop. Ahead of Bike Week (8-14 June), and with Dr Bike on the 18 June, we caught up with the team to find out more.

In their own words.

On what makes XO different:

“XO Bikes is not just any old bike shop. We’re the first venture from the charity Onwards & Upwards, and our mission is to boost ex-offender employment and reduce re-offending rates. We do this by running training programmes to give prison leavers practical skills and employment support to help them rebuild their lives.”

Their courses run both inside and outside prison. The 12-week training programme runs from their Lewisham workshop, and many graduates go on to work in the next-door shop, or at the Waterloo one-stop bike servicing shop. The bikes themselves are all donated – many through XO’s partnership with the Met Police – and refurbished in-house by their team (who XO call Fixers).

How it all began:

“In 2020, our founder, Stef Jones began volunteering in HMP Brixton Chaplaincy. He soon began to see released men reappear, having sworn blind that they were done with crime and prison. Their stories all had one thing in common; they’d been unable to find jobs on the outside. Either no one would give them a chance, or worse still, they didn’t believe they were worthy of a chance.”

“Having witnessed first-hand the talent and potential on the wings, Stef made a decision: if no one else was going to help them get a job, he would.”

XO Bikes launched in March 2022 as the first venture from Onwards & Upwards.

Why Waterloo:

“We landed on Blackfriars Road right on a cycle lane (win!) and in amongst a thriving hub of offices, commuters, universities and on the doorstep of the City, which is ideal.”

Tips for daily commuters

XO host our monthly Dr Bike – so we asked Nidge (head trainer) and Tray (assistant trainer) for their best tips to keep your bike going.

Tray recommends a minor service every four months and a more in-depth service twice a year, plus keeping your bike clean (especially in winter – Muc-Off is his shout for keeping mud and dirt at bay).

Nidge swears by a weekly ABCD check:

• A – Air. Keep your tyres pumped up properly.
• B – Brakes. Pull the front brake, walk forwards – the back wheel should lift off the ground. Pull the rear brake, walk backwards – the front wheel should lift. If not, your brakes need adjusting.
• C – Chain. Make sure it’s running smoothly and keep it oiled.
• D – Direction. Stand in front of your bike with the front wheel between your legs and firmly twist the handlebars. If they don’t move, your bike is good to go – if they do, get it checked.

In Nidge’s words: “If you do this test weekly, you’re smashing it!”

Catch XO at the Sustains Us Garden Party

XO will be hosting Dr Bike on Thursday 18 June, 11-2pm at Emma Cons Gardens, as part of the Sustains Us Garden Party – the launch event for a summer of activity at the gardens.

In their words:

“Two of our wonderful Fixers will be on hand to answer all your bike queries and provide checks, adjustments and tweaks to your bike. If it’s a bigger job, we’ll give you a quote with a 10% discount. Just drop your bike in and we’ll get it sorted for you. You can expect lots of XO charm, and other exciting stalls as part of the Sustains Us Garden Party!”

There’s plenty else going on at the Garden Party too – Swapfiets will be there with a pop-up, the Old Vic will be running a prosecco bar, Eden Caterers are on food, and there’ll be music, gardening and workshops across the day.

Thinking about cycling more?

We asked XO what they’d say to anyone considering cycling but who hasn’t taken the plunge.

“Just get out there and start small. Incorporate it into your daily life with short rides at weekends or by doing a couple of commutes a week on your bike.”

“London’s cycling infrastructure is better than ever now, too, with quiet ways, cycle lanes and apps that make planning rides easy, less stressful and less polluted.”

“Give yourself time to get used to cycling and build confidence. Start steady, keep practising and enjoy it. It’s great for your physical and mental health, saves money and gets you outdoors more.”

And a nice reminder that when you buy a bike from XO, you’re getting one that’s been recycled and reconditioned – “not only saving another bike from landfill, but giving a prison leaver another chance to rebuild their life.”

A few extras from XO

Swagging – launching this summer. A custom bike respray service that turns any frame into something unique. Your Fixer strips your bike, cleans it, refurbishes any salvageable parts and replaces worn components, then sandblasts and powder-coats the frame before tagging it with the Fixer’s unique ID.

Bike Week celebration: a free lock with any bike over £349.

Keep an eye on @xobikes for the latest.