31-07-2025
Cycle specialist from Newmains shortlisted for industry's top mechanic award
Connor Mooney has been at the forefront of a number of community cycling initiatives
A bike repair specialist from Wishaw has been shortlisted for an industry award.
Connor Mooney, who runs Cairney Cycles in Newmains, has been at the forefront of a number of community cycling initiatives in North Lanarkshire over the last few years.
He launched his own bike repair business in 2020 after being told there was a three-month wait at Halfords, where he had previously worked.
Connor, 32, is now looking forward to the BikeBiz finals ceremony in Birmingham later this year, where he is in the running for the Bike Mechanic of the Year Award.
BikeBiz delivers trade information to the entire cycle industry and has been running for over 25 years. BikeBiz offers a Daily Newsletter, delivering breaking news direct to readers' inboxes and is the dominant site for trade readers and those with a professional interest in the cycling industry.
They cover everything from product updates to marketing messages and serious industry issues.
The Lanarkshire man will be joined in the finals by fellow Scottish entrants – FEL, a Scottish environmental charity, based in Forth Valley has been shortlisted for their cycle advocacy award, the winner will be decided by judges vote only, and Pedal Power in West Calder who are in for the Independent Bike Dealer of the Year Award.
Connor runs cycling repair programmes, teaching young people how to repair and maintain bikes.
His ambitions for a dedicated facility in the local area haven't yet been fulfilled due to a shortfall in funding required to get it off the ground, but he's hopeful that will happen in the future.
He said: 'I'm self-employed and I work in partnership with Newmains Community Trust but we don't have a facility there.
'If we're training young kids then there needs to be somewhere for them to work at.
'It is difficult, getting volunteers and people to support what we're trying to do, longer term. You've got to have a passion for it. But we're getting there.
'Things are going really well, all the work we're doing with the schools is really good. I do really like what I do.'
He hopes that his customers from over the years he's been in business will cast their votes for him.
'I had to put in a submission for the awards. It's exciting to be in the top six, on the shortlist. I'll be going down to Birmingham for the awards in October. It will be good for networking on the industry side of things.
'I'm trying to promote the Scottish entries in the awardsas well, a shout out to Pedal Power for being shortlisted in the Independent Bike Dealer of the Year award category, and FEL Scotland who are shortlisted for the Cycle Advocacy Award.'
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