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news
Malawi flag.pngGlasgow bike shop “humbled” by response to its helping Malawi cyclists
Glasgow-based independent bike shop Billy Bilsland Cycles says it has been “humbled” by the response to news that it loaned bikes to two cyclists from Malawi competing in the Commonwealth Games – and has now decided to make a gift of two Genesis Volare 20 road bikes to the riders.
As we reported on Sunday, the Malawi team took two bikes to the shop to be repaired ahead of competing at Glasgow 2014, but staff decided the riders deserved better and lent them top-of-the range road and time trial bikes for the event.
In a post on Facebook yesterday, the business, founded by former pro Bill Bilsland who competed in the 1968 Commonwealth Games, said: “We have been humbled by the amount of interest our small gesture has generated. We have decided to donate the 2 Genesis Volare 20 road bikes to Leonard and Missi.”
It also provided a link to the Scotland Malawi Partnership charity, in case “any of our lovely customers would like to help out as well.”
Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.
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26 comments
What a great story this is - love it!
Also worth noting there's not a single cynical comment on this story, just a torrent of warmth and humanity all round.
(cue cynical comments
)
It's good to hear they are doing well from such a generous gesture. Virtue has its rewards.
Lovely gesture, nice to see a good news story!
I popped into Billy Bilsland's yesterday to get some cleats. There was almost a queue out the door, Neil has been amazed with the response his gesture has got. Yet even as I was in there he was fixing up a lad from Belize's bike, replacing worn out break pads with nice new swissstop ones...
Good! I hope he makes some decent money off all this in return.
Paying it forward, putting out good karma, just being kind because you can... however you choose to describe it, it may be a surprise to some but in this cynical world there are still people who have a generosity of spirit that puts the rest of us to shame.
As well as marvelling at their kindness, perhaps we should each try to find a way to do similar things. There are lots of things you can do that won't cost anything, just a little thought and a little more time.
There's a bonus too: it makes you, the benefactor, feel great too.
Wouldn't it be great if TEAM MALAWI went home with a Meddle
It would. They'll have to peddle very hard though.
Looks like their website is down. Would this be down to an increase in traffic or has it been down for a while?
If anyone from the shop happens to be reading, I'm in for buying a Billy Bilsland Cycles casquette or t-shirt as a way of showing support from a distance.
They even made the bbc news this morning - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-28558513
I'm glad the manufacturers have stepped in, as it's only a little place that can only benefit so much from this.
I listened to an interview with Neil Bilsland on Radio Scotland and that's not the only good deed they have done. They have also replaced the fork on a bike that was damaged in transit and have said the rider could keep that. One of their mechanics has loaned his TT bike for Thursday's race. They have also loaned bigger chain rings to a rider for the TT.
As a result of Neil's gesture, Genesis are putting together maintenance packs to keep the bikes up and running well after the games and Frog Bikes have donated a number (can't remember if it was 5 or 7) kids bikes for youngsters in Malawi.
I have personally experienced great customer care at Bilsland's, but what they have done here is exceptional. Well done guys
Great news. Refreshing to hear something so positive for a change. Well done guys. There's hope for the human race yet!
Great shop and great guys!bb
Smart move.
If I need a bike shop when I am in the area, I shall definitely go there. And maybe I will go anyway, just buy a couple of brake pads or something. Just to respond to a great gesture.
I recommend everyone else to do this.
And here's why we should support our LBS'. Because you never know when you need them to support you.
Well done Bilslands
What a thoroughly decent gesture.
Billy Bilsland's are ace.
Good for them
After all the recent nice publicity generated by the loan of the race bikes, they really didn't have to do this. Good on them. I just googled the volare 20 - unpainted Reynolds 931, Ultegra 11sp, Shimano RS61 wheels - that's a lovely bike even if you can afford it, but if you can't, it's fantastic.
Magnificent
Great ambassadors for the human race. There's hope for us yet....
Great ambassadors for cycling, well done Guys!