Meet Dan Owen – The New Face in Our St Austell Workshop!

From 23 years in the RAF to breathing new life into bicycles, meet Dan Owen, the latest addition to The Cornwall Bicycle Project team!

We're delighted to welcome Dan to our St Austell workshop, bringing with him a wealth of mechanical experience, a lifelong passion for cycling and a great sense of humour!

We caught up with Dan to find out a little more about his background, his love of all things two-wheeled and what he's looking forward to most about joining The Cornwall Bicycle Project.

From the RAF to the Workshop

Born in Devon and raised in Wiltshire, Dan spent 23 years serving in the Royal Air Force before eventually settling in Cornwall.

But his love of cycling started long before his RAF career.

"I got my first bike when I was five. Growing up in a small village, my bike was my freedom – visiting friends in neighbouring villages or building tracks in the woods."

That sense of freedom and adventure has stayed with Dan ever since.

Having spent years working on his own bikes and those belonging to friends, Dan spotted an opportunity to turn his hobby into something more.

While completing a resettlement course towards the end of his RAF career, he came across an advert for a cycle mechanics course.

With his mechanical background and lifelong love of bikes, it seemed like the perfect fit!

More Than Just Fixing Bikes

For Dan, becoming part of The Cornwall Bicycle Project is about much more than repairing punctures and adjusting gears.

"Riding bikes and fixing things have been a constant in my life. I would like to be able to pass these joys on, either by supplying someone with a refurbished bike, repairing a bike to get someone back on the road or passing on a bit of knowledge to allow someone to repair their own bike."

And that fits perfectly with what we're all about!

At The Cornwall Bicycle Project, we believe cycling should be accessible to everyone. Through repairing, reusing and refurbishing bicycles, we're helping reduce waste, encourage sustainable travel and create opportunities for people across our communities.

Dan is particularly passionate about giving old bicycles a second chance.

When asked what he finds most satisfying about restoring a bike, his answer was simple:

"Knowing that the bike is going to get another chance and not become scrap metal."

It's a fantastic reminder that a bicycle which might otherwise be discarded can still have years of adventures ahead of it!

Life in the Workshop

One thing Dan loves about being a cycle mechanic is the variety.

"No two jobs are the same!"

And he's certainly worked on some interesting bikes over the years.

His most unusual repair? A penny-farthing!

Although, as Dan admits, the best part was getting to take it for a test ride!

He's also got a particular soft spot for mountain bikes from the 1990s.

"Getting to test ride a bike that I used to drool over in MBUK is always a special moment."

For anyone who remembers flicking through the pages of Mountain Biking UK dreaming of their next bike, we're sure you'll understand!

Once a Cyclist, Always a Cyclist!

When he's not busy in the workshop, there's a good chance you'll find Dan out enjoying Cornwall's trails and lanes.

A keen mountain biker, he's also getting into gravel riding and hopes to head off on some bikepacking adventures in the near future.

His favourite local riding spot?

Cardinham Woods is a firm favourite when time is short, although he equally enjoys heading out to explore unfamiliar lanes and tracks.

And if money were no object, what would his dream bike be?

"A titanium Stridsland Beachcomber – as everyone knows, 26 ain't dead!"

Clearly, those retro MTB roots run deep!

Getting to Know Dan – The Fun Stuff!

Of course, we couldn't introduce our newest team member without asking a few slightly less serious questions!

Tea or coffee?

Tea, apparently – but only because the workshop coffee isn't up to standard!

"Who drinks instant coffee?!"

We may need to review the coffee situation...

Biggest workshop pet hate?

Untidiness! So we know who'll be keeping the workshop organised.

His three essential tools?

A 5mm Allen key, a crosshead screwdriver and... a big hammer!

We're hoping the hammer doesn't get too much use!

Something you might not know about Dan?

When he's not busy with bicycles, Dan enjoys all forms of surfing and getting out on his motorbike. He's even had a go at motorcycle racing, competing for a couple of seasons – although, in his own words, "not very well!"

And how would he describe himself in three words?

Reliable, resilient and witty.

We reckon he'll fit right in!

A Little Maintenance Advice from Dan

We couldn't let a cycle mechanic escape without sharing at least one top tip.

Dan's number one piece of advice for keeping your bicycle running smoothly?

"A clean drivetrain is a happy drivetrain."

Simple, effective and something every cyclist can benefit from remembering!

Keeping your chain, cassette and chainrings clean can help your gears run smoothly, reduce wear and extend the life of your components.

Looking Ahead – Building Communities Through Cycling

What excites Dan most about his new role is the opportunity to meet new people, share his knowledge and help others along their cycling journey.

And it's this community-focused approach that makes him such a welcome addition to the team.

"It's exciting to be part of something that is bigger than just a shop, and hopefully to be able to offer advice and guidance that will enable others to experience all the joy that the humble bicycle can bring."

We couldn't have put it better ourselves!

Whether it's helping someone get their much-loved bicycle back on the road, giving a donated bike a new lease of life or teaching someone the skills to carry out their own repairs, Dan will be playing an important part in helping us build a more sustainable and inclusive cycling community here in Cornwall.

Welcome to the Team, Dan!

We're really excited to have Dan on board at our St Austell workshop and look forward to seeing the difference he'll make.

With his experience, enthusiasm and passion for keeping bicycles rolling, we're sure he'll be a fantastic asset to The Cornwall Bicycle Project.

If you're popping into our St Austell workshop, be sure to say hello to Dan!

And if anyone has a decent coffee machine going spare, we think we know someone who'd appreciate it!

The Cornwall Bicycle Project – Creating sustainable cycling communities for people and planet.