Team GB hero Steve Bate kicks off a summer of cycling at Edinburgh Bicycle Co-operative

Despite their name, Edinburgh Bicycle Co-operative will be hosting a series of events in their Manchester stores over the coming months to celebrate the arrival of the lovely cycling weather. Hopefully.

To get things off to a bone shakingly excellent start, Hebden Bridge based para-cyclist Steve Bate will be talking about his experience of being the first visually impaired person to solo climb El Capitan in Yosemite, California, which he did in June 2013. How do you follow that up? Steve trialled for the Great British Paralympic cycling squad, pedalling as a visually impaired athlete on the back of a tandem bike, his ultimate dream being to compete in the 2016 Rio Paralympic Games.

In August 2013, he was accepted on to the British Cycling's 2016 Paralympic squad.

On the night, not only can you hear Steve talk about his quest for sporting greatness, you can get your hands on some money-can't-buy auctioned goods which he'll be raffling off to raise money for North East Sensory Services, a charity close to his heart.

This summer, the Rusholme store is also due to play host to Great Manchester Cycle organiser, Jamie Still, founder of Science in Sport and Secret Nutrition, Tim Lawson, Twisted Spokes cycling lawyer, Jane Bedford-Mclaren, and Withington Wheelers captain, Amanda Philipson, as part of a new series of events.

Meet Steve Bate at Edinburgh Bicycle Co-operative, Tue May 19, 7.30pm-9pm. Cost? Not a penny farthing. Free, in other words... Booking required here.

Edinburgh Bicycle Co-operative can be found at 7 Wilmslow Road Rusholme, Manchester M14 5FT

Read about the Great Manchester Cycle.