Buy or borrow a bike

What is the Kit Library?

You and your family can learn about and try out a range of different bikes and accessories to find out which best meet your needs. You can then borrow something from us for as long as you need it.

Aligned with circular economy principles, we aim to keep the bikes in great condition for future generations to use so that when your child grows out of the bike it gets properly serviced then passed straight onto another family.  This prevents the degrading and premature scrapping of the bike as it gets passed between families.

Where is the Kit Library?

The library is located in Woodberry Down, N4.  You can arrange to collect or we can  deliver direct to you. You first need to complete the form here so we can check if we have what you need.

What’s currently available to borrow?

Here is a list of our current stock and we can usually get hold of bikes within 2-3 weeks in case we don’t have exactly what you need right away.

How can I access the Kit Library?

We can deliver or collect bikes to/from households for a suggested £20 donation. Or you can come to visit us at Woodberry Down, N4 2BX by prior appointment only.

Is there a monthly donation or a membership option?

At the moment we have a £15 per month option (£3.46 per week) that will keep your child on the right sized 2 wheels from 11 months up to 11 years.  This can be set up as a standing order from your bank account.

Do you have other things in the library?

We also have a tag along (ages 5+) and other  front and rear bikes seats that you can try out or borrow.

Can you bring balance bikes to our event or my child’s birthday party?

You can hire our bikes and family cycling experts for events:

£150 to bring the cargo bike & balance bikes
£50 per hour for a family cycling expert from our team

We’ve got a bike that we don’t use any more. Can we donate it to the Kit Library?

Yes! We welcome donations of good quality bikes to the Kit Library. As we’re a small charity, this is another great way to support Wheely Tots.  We can then refurbish bikes and encourage others to borrow them 🙂

If you’d like to donate a bike, please complete this form to let us know.

What are the rules?

To ensure that borrowing a bike is a fun, fair and a friendly experience – without hidden catches and sneaky small print we have 6 simple borrowing rules.

1. Bring the bike back clean. There may be a small charge if you bring the bike back dirty.
2. Keep hold of the bike until the next family wants it. 
3. And then bring the bike back on time. We don’t want the next borrower to be kept waiting.
4. Learn to use the bike and check the bike properly. Watch the ABCD check video on YouTube for pedal bikes. If you have a balance bike you just need to do the A and D check. If you have any queries about this email us for help.
5. Tell us about any damages immediately – email us so we know and can check the bike.
6. Share your feedback and stories – we would love to hear your experiences so we can keep improving our Kit Library for future borrowers. You can share on social media or by email.

Testimonials

“Karl is absolutely chuffed to bits with his new ride and getting the hang of using the gears. Thanks for all you do, it is so lovely to see your reach increasing and the difference you make to families here in N15.” Hen

“David was so incredibly knowledgeable and supportive as we picked out a first bike for our four-year-old. We have joined the fantastic bike library scheme, which means that we are looking forward to coming back to Wheely Tots every time our son outgrows one bike and moves up to the next level. The passion and vision that David has for Wheely Tots and the genuine drive to benefit the community means that borrowing bikes through this charity feels so much better than buying a bike online without the expert advice and not knowing how long that bike will last.”  Megan