The new service helping Winnipeggers store their bikes for the winter
With the temperatures beginning to drop, a new service is helping Winnipeggers store away their bikes for the winter.
The new venture is called Velotecha, and it’s essentially a bike storage valet. The business is a joint venture between the Macdonald Youth Services (MYS), Mayfair Innovations and The WRENCH, and the goal is to create meaningful employment opportunities for youth.
The way the initiative works is that Velotecha picks up your bike; stores it for the off-season in a secure location; fills your tires, completes a safety check, and wipes down the bike; and then delivers it back in the spring. People can also opt for a packages where their bike is completely serviced and returned ready for them to ride.
Nicole Barry, chief financial officer at MYS, said that through this partnership they are using The WRENCH’s expertise to help the youth gain real-world work experience.
“They’ll be qualified bike mechanics and they can go out into the workforce or they can stay with Velotecha as we continue to grow in the spring,” she said.
Velotecha offers four packages beginning at $55.99. Bookings have already begun with pickups scheduled to begin on Oct. 18.
Kate Sjoberg, executive director of The WRENCH, said the new service provides convenience as it will help people beat the rush that takes place at Winnipeg bike shops.
She added it also helps the youth gain bike mechanic skills with The WRENCH’s education lead and instructors who work with school-aged youth all the time.
“It solves lots of puzzles at the same time,” Sjoberg said.
She added that people will be happy with the service provided by Velotecha, because they won’t have to wait to get an appointment at a bike shop or wait longer to get their bike back in the springtime.
“I really encourage people to take advantage of it,” Sjoberg said.
Velotecha said it eventually plans to offer a storefront and custom build.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Mystik Dan wins the 150th Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in a three-horse photo finish
Mystik Dan won the 150th Kentucky Derby in a photo finish, edging out Forever Young and Sierra Leone for the upset victory.
Bodies recovered in Mexico likely 2 Australians, 1 American who went missing: officials
Three bodies recovered in an area of Baja California are likely to be those of the two Australians and an American who went missing last weekend during a camping and surfing trip, the state prosecutor’s office said Saturday.
No proof man lied to brother about number of kittens born in litter, B.C. tribunal rules
A man was denied a $5,000 payout from his brother after a B.C. tribunal dismissed his claim disputing how many kittens were born in a litter.
Princess Anne lays wreath at B.C. veteran's cemetery; receives 21-gun salute
Princess Anne paid tribute to veterans buried at a cemetery in British Columbia today, laying a wreath to honour the more than 2,500 military personnel and family members buried there.
Auston Matthews returns for Game 7, but Leafs minus injured goaltender Joseph Woll
Maple Leafs centre Auston Matthews returned to the lineup for Game 7 against the Boston Bruins on Saturday night.
'I just can't believe that it took so long': Body found in wreckage 3 months after deadly fire
A man accused of arson in a January Old Strathcona apartment fire is expected to be charged with manslaughter after a body was discovered in the burned building late last month.
Quebec police hand out hundreds of tickets to Hells Angels and other bikers before 'first run' meeting
Quebec provincial police handed out hundreds of fines to Hells Angels members and other supporting motorcycle clubs who met for their 'first run' in a small town near Sherbrooke, Que.
Work stoppage possible as WestJet issues lockout notice to maintenance engineers' union
A lockout notice issued by WestJet to a union representing aircraft maintenance engineers could result in a work stoppage next week.
London Drugs begins 'gradual reopening' on 7th day after cyberattack
Almost a week after all London Drugs stores across Western Canada abruptly closed amid a cyberattack, they began a "gradual reopening" on Saturday.