Saddles and Paddles

What a lovely busy half term we’re having! So wonderful to welcome so many of you hiring bikes and boats, thanks to a spell of warmer weather 🚲 🛶 ☀️ Looking forward to seeing many more of you for the rest of the week!

With November fast approaching (how did that happen?!), here’s a reminder of our winter openings times, where we close on Wednesdays (term time only) until the end of March.

And now that the clocks have gone back, don’t get caught out without lights when cycling - pop in to see our extensive range of bike lights, hi-vis vests, jackets and accessories or visit www.freewheel.co.uk for free Click & Collect or home delivery (just nominate us when you order!)

Great to see Lucy smashing it across Devon, you're doing great! (Those hills aren't that bad 😬)
If you haven't already, it's worth following and showing your support!! She's doing JOGLE in 10 days all for (that's just over 100 miles a day 💪 what a gal!!)

Looking for something to do? Why not cycle to powederham food festival 🚴‍♂️🫒🥘🍍🥑🍿🍩🍯🚴‍♂️

🚨 EX-HIRE SUPS FOR SALE WOOP WOOP

It's that's time of year when we start selling our Paddleboards on our hire fleet 🏄‍♀️ if you've hired one with us before then you'll know how brilliant they are, for those that haven't, let me give you some info about them:

- These are the Sandbanks Style Ultimate RS iSUPs

- 10'8 long, 36" wide and 6" thick making them perfect for beginners, tourers, surfers or as the name suggests, Ultimate All Rounders 👍

- Reinforced, high density dropstitch with triple layer on the rail 🤓(technical mumbo jumbo aside they're really really tough, stiff and light 😊)

- Comes with carry bag, paddle, pump and puncture kit

- For more info visit https://www.sandbanksstyle.com/collections/all-rounder-isups/products/108-ultimate-rs

Retail for these bad boys is £479.00 and we're selling them for *only* £250!

If you would like to grab one, give us a call or pop in and its yours 🤙

Exciting to have more and more of the new 2025 Genesis Bikes arriving at our shop 🤩
Here’s the - already nabbed by owner Heather (who wasted no time fitting her own saddle 🤤)! We’re loving the new geometry, comfortable bars and this 725 frame makes this beauty very nippy to ride!

All set up and ready to go at

🚲 FREE Cargo Bike Demo Day Sat 7th Sept (11am-5pm) at Park Life Heavitree 🚲

We are excited to be joining Park Life Heavitree for their annual Fun Day on Sat 7th September to offer FREE demo rides of our fantastic range of E-tility cargo bikes from Benno Bikes

Benno offer a wide range of multi-use and multi-rider cargo bikes to cater for all your transport needs, which many families are choosing to replace a car for the school and nursery runs, plus all your other errands in between!

No need to book, just come and say hi - we’ll have fun games for the kids too. Just bring a form of ID as a deposit while you whizz around the park!

If you can’t make that day, just pop into our shop on Exeter Quay where we have a demo Benno Boost Evo 5 available to borrow and our team will be happy to talk you through the range of cargo bikes available.

The new range has officially dropped 🔥 we've got several models on the way so have a read of what BikeRadar think then come on down for a chat and a test ride! 🚵🏿‍♀️

Genesis Bikes

Genesis gives Croix de Fer its biggest update yet – and unveils new Vagabond and Tour de Fer

What a mysterious black box, I wonder what's insi...OH MY GOODNESS it's fancy Genesis stuff!!! 🥳

What an exciting way to announce the brand new range of Genesis bikes 🤙

The range has officially dropped and they are 🔥,
so come on down to have a chat and see what's new!

Get inspired by the olympics!

Visit us to hire bikes, tandems, e-bikes, canoes, kayaks or Stand Up Paddleboards!

Visit our website www.sadpad.com to plan your adventure and to book online, or give us a call

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/bmarBUMNHRuoTbWe/?mibextid=WC7FNe

It's shaping up to be a lovely weekend for a paddle! 🛶☀️

This rainy Monday seems to have killed our phone line! We’re waiting for engineers to resolve it but for now, please contact us using email ([email protected]) or message us through our social media pages.

Thanks for your patience 🙏

It's regatta day today but we're still open and running like normal, just a few extra boats on the river.... call to pre book 🛶🏞

Who would like to see a farmers market on Exeter Quay? Fill in this survey and it might happen!
We think it’s a great idea.

We have been approached by a group who are considering holding a regular weekend Farmers Market on the Quay and we'd love to get your thoughts.

It is important to note the market would not have any ready made food available, the aim would be to increase footfall for local traders not to duplicate in any way.

If you have a moment or two to complete our very short survey, we would really appreciate hearing if this is something you would support.

Click to complete the form:

https://tinyurl.com/kxc9wz5y

For the next instalment of our Retail Stories series, we had the pleasure of speaking with Exeter shop owner Heather Baker, who went from being a customer of long established local independent bike shop Saddles and Paddles to becoming its owner.

Saddles & Paddles, which has been open for business for more than thirty years, has become the local go-to place not just to buy a bike but also to hire a cycle, a canoe or a paddleboard. It works regularly with big local employers, the university, local authorities and the hospital running events and providing safety checks, all of which also helps build the business’s local profile and reputation.

Being an independent is something of which Heather is proud, she explains:

“We’re one of the largest bike hire centres in the UK so we’re a small but big business if that makes sense. I’ve always been passionate about being an independent shop but also supporting other independent shops. We practice what we preach so if we need to buy stuff, we shop locally and support independent businesses ourselves.”

“I think consumers’ understanding of the need to support independent businesses has grown over time. But unfortunately, the pandemic reset a lot of people. Suddenly, people went back into traveling by themselves in their car on their own; consumer patterns changed, and people got into a habit of having their monthly supermarket market deliveries that they’ve carried on with. So, some local shops have suffered because everyone wants to get everything delivered.”

So, having bought the business nearly twelve years ago, is Heather still enjoying the independent ride?

“I saw the shop was advertised for sale on social media and got excited because everyone in this area knows this shop. It’s been here for such a long time, it’s iconic and it’s in a great location. In fact, I’ve still got a track pump that I bought here probably 20, years ago that’s still going strong!

“Even when you have challenges, it’s still exciting and empowering. And I’ve been passionate about building the business and trying to encourage more women to take up cycling.”

Read more: https://www.independentsdayuk.org/retailstories

Tomorrow we’re back at the Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust for another for FREE bike safety checks for staff. Find us outside the RILD building from
10am til 4pm - lots of useful bike bits for sale too!

We have limited spaces available this weekend for watersports hire... make sure to call and book before it's too late!!

CHANGE OF LOCATION - NOW AT OUR WORKSHOP AT 61 HAVEN ROAD

Due to low bookings, we'll be delivering this at our workshop instead. Everyone with a booking is being notified.

Thanks all.

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We'll be heading to Double Locks for our next day of free Bike Safety checks on Wednesday (19th of June). Thanks to Cycling UK for funding them, and Active Devon for your help promoting.

You can book your free check here: https://calendly.com/saturday-sales-rideon/active-devon-dr-bike?preview_source=et_card&month=2024-06

A huge Happy Birthday shoutout to Peter in our workshop!!

Those of you who know Peter, know how dedicated, honest and meticulas he is with his work and how lucky we are to have him 💛 have a lovely (and hopefully relaxing) birthday celebration!! 🥳🎊

P.s we look forward to celebrating with a pint of Jail Ale when you're back

We’re back for our popular Dr Bike event on Weds 12th June for University of Exeter staff and students, offering free 15-minute bike safety checks, plus a range of useful cycling accessories for sale.

Find us on the Streatham campus (Forum piazza) 10:00 – 15:00

For upcoming Dr Bike events and how to pre-book one of the available slots, use the link to Sustainability Events calendar: https://www.exeter.ac.uk/about/sustainability/news/events/

Super excited to announce we're now a Restrap stockist!! Big exciting times with the Bikepacking wall 🚵🏿‍♀️🏕
Restrap handmake all their gear in the UK and comes with a lifetime warranty 👌
Some our team have some big rides coming up as well so if you fancy some advice, pop on down for have a chat

FOR 1 WEEK ONLY!!!
The friendly people at Benno have sent us a demo 46er for a week 😍 (aren't they lovely)

With front suspension, a short wheel base and massive load carrying capacity, this bike is ideal for nipping round Exeter with the family 👪

If you'd like to come take it for a spin and see how fun the new Etility cargo bikes are, call us on 01392 424241 to book a test ride 🤙

Benno Bikes Ison-Distribution

A selection of our ex-hire Ridgeback Bikes for sale - sizes for all the family, starting with a fantastic Scoot balance bike for just £50!

All fully serviced, individually priced and ready to go, sold with a 3 month warranty.

Come and test ride one today!

Important info on Double Locks access and opening times this half term holiday