“I never thought it’d turn into a business, I just love to ride.” Patrick pauses and laughs as the memory of where it all started comes to him, “My dad had a bike, I’d steal it to go cycle…I guess I’m just passionate about bikes!”

It’s clear, his face lights up and his story pours forth without much prompting. The proprietor of Green Cycle, an eco-friendly business focused on upcycling used bicycles, truly is passionate about cycling. “I believe every kid should have a bike, they should grow up riding, playing, falling down and getting up again; they’d learn life skills and have a happy childhood.” Patrick’s idea was born from this, to get his own kids out and about, and so in his backyard he begun with children’s bikes. Soon word spread, and as an avid cyclist himself, his friends wanted to know where he had gotten his bicycle and the rest as they say, is history.

Green cycle as the name suggests, is an environmentally conscious brand, where used bicycles go to find new homes. In a courtyard shaded by mature trees and lined by foliage covered fences, a wide array of bicycles stand assembled in neat rows. Here they are repaired, re-sold or leased, making the dream of owning a bike or taking up cycling much more accessible to everyone due to their affordability.  “I think people are realising it’s much better for our planet, as well as healthier to cycle as compared to driving, especially those who hold daily 9-5 jobs. Also, it’s more fun cycling outside as compared to in a gym!” Patrick says with a chuckle.

Green cycle is socially conscious too, both in its support for charities as well as its training of boys. They regularly donate bikes to various charities as well as providing free bicycles annually to the Extra Milers (who cycle to raise funds for children’s tuition). They also temporarily employ boys interested in cycling, who benefit from learning the mechanics of bicycle repair. “They come in, learn some skills, ride the bikes, meet like-minded new friends and generally hang out…I get inspired by the youth I help,” Patrick adds enthusiastically.

What’s his dream we ask, what’s next for Green Cycle? “I’d love to expand and have a workshop that’ll be a meeting place as well as a training centre…a bigger space to accommodate more people and more activities. I want to make bicycles more locally available, get more people into the cycling culture,” he pauses as he come to the end of his story, then looks up and smiles broadly, “I think bicycles are the most beautiful thing!”  

Wapi? Green Cycle.