TEENAGERS can have a ‘wheelie’ fun time fixing up bikes at a new workshop now some old public toilets have been transformed into a cyclist’s paradise.

Community organisation Kustom Kruizers took over the former loo block in Renfrew's Robertson Park following a successful community asset transfer from Renfrewshire Council in 2019.

The project teaches young people aged 13 to 21 – often from disadvantaged backgrounds – how to strip, build and restore bikes which, once in a good condition, are then sold on.

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And after two years of hard work since securing the transfer, the group has finally opened the doors of its shiny new workshop where youngsters can learn a range of mechanical skills and gain qualifications.

School pupils will also be able to gain work experience at the takeaway coffee bar which offers hot and cold drinks alongside home-baked treats.

Dave Neill, founder of Kustom Kruizers, said he was excited to finally have the building open after a difficult period grappling with coronavirus restrictions.

“We were pretty much ready to get started with the building work just before Covid came and then we had to shut down, ” said Mr Neill.

“It was frustrating but I’d much rather have opened it now than opened it before Covid and then had to close.

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“We still managed to do plenty out in the community in the meantime servicing bikes and supplying people with bikes who had to get rid of their cars during lockdown.

“It is so exciting but also surreal to finally have the workshop open. It’s turned out 100 times better than we expected. We didn’t realise how big the space would be until everything had been taken out.

“It just looks superb.”
The building work was completed by Glasgow architects Solid Matter Projects.