Cycle Hire Assistant

Early start – picking litter, bird watching and listening to the breeze in the leaves. It’s time to open up the centre. Two schools are booked in today and, no doubt, lots of other people.

Here’s the first school and the second one too. Paperwork, safety talk, describe route, do technical explanation, ask them to behave – "Oi! No skiddin’!"

Uncle Ray can do helmets, I’ll fit them on bikes. That was a quick one, both groups in one lump. Off they go – "Oi! No skiddin’!" Phew!!

Fit in a few jobs: repairs and maintenance on bikes, phone calls, tea!

More customers...

We talk some kids into having the stabilisers off their bikes. Exciting? Scary! Parents’ unsure…but in fifteen minutes – success! Ok, a few spills and thrills, but, oh the freedom at such a tender age.

We get a young lad with Down's Syndrome up with his parents on a pre-school visit recce. Off he goes with Dad on the tandem. When he returns it's a big-grin-success. [A week later a photo-card arrives with the two of them grinning on the tandem at Howden.]

The Great Tits in the eaves fledge today, all flittering, chirruping, feathery helicopters.

The schools return quite close together. Bumpy bits, steep bits, muddy bits. They’ve seen wildlife, had lunch by a river with sheep trying to nick their butties. Back safely, they can’t believe the distance they’ve covered. Definitely a feeling of achievement coming out of them. To leave the town and city to come out to all of this. You can see how they felt.

Lots of happy people today. Soothe the apprehension, encourage confidence. Explain the route as an adventure full of twists and turns, new horizons and stunning vistas that will stay with them for a long time. It’s quite easy to give the folks a day out that was worth coming for. See them leave with a glow on their cheeks (could be the saddles) and a cheery "thank you". That means that we’re doing a good job. Now can we have some more tea?!

What qualifications and experience do I need?

• No formal qualifications necessary but written, oral and numerical competence needed.
• A mechanical aptitude and good interpersonal and communications skills are essential.