Full Cycle

‘Full Cycle’ is a Heritage Lottery funded project which champions the unique cycling heritage of Forest Gate and highlights why it is an important legacy for Newham’s communities.

‘Full Cycle’ explores this extraordinary heritage through the lens of Edward Ernest Etty, better known as Ted, the 97 year old owner of Etty & Tyler motorbike & cycle repair shop on Upton Lane E7, established, 1963. Ted has lived and worked in Newham most of his life and witnessed over 70 years of changing socio-political and cultural trends from a two-wheel perspective.

Frames of Mind worked with residents, cycling organisations, primary school children and Newham archives to co-produce a Full Cycle Heritage Bike Trail across site-specific locations in Forest Gate; 8 QR code stops, featuring short films and archive material intertwined with Ted’s stories. Inspiring new audiences to engage with local heritage and get peddling. Full Cycle Bike Trail Map

The Full Cycle project also produced, Mechanically Minded, a short documentary film which celebrates Ted’s extraordinary life and the unique family business and community hub, Etty & Tyler.

Photos from left to right:

Ted aged 19 on his Raleigh ‘Superb’ cycle. Photo taken in Field Road, E7, 1947.
Children on bikes, 1984 – Newham Archives.
Enamel sign, featuring Forest Gate Cycling Club,
with kind permission, Robin Stephenson, Veteran Cycle Club 2018 vol. 21.

Header and Footer Photographs, Ted Etty, The National Lottery Heritage Fund/Andrew Baker @andrewbakerphoto

the great bicycle bubble

As the ‘gateway’ to Epping Forest, Forest Gate was the perfect location for cycle-centric activities, fuelling the craze for wheel-based leisure, activism & women’s liberation.

Did you know that during the ‘great bicycle bubble’ of the late 19th Century, Forest Gate
produced as many bikes for women as men ?

“Let me tell you what I think of bicycling. I think it has done more to emancipate women than anything else in the world. I stand and rejoice every time I see a woman ride by on
a wheel.”

~ Susan B. Anthony, 1896

Photograph Permission: Newham Archives

The Full Cycle Heritage Bike Trail map, guides you on an immersive, cycle-safe journey with 8 featured QR stops between Upton Lane E7 and Wanstead Flats. Approximate trail time 60-75 minutes. Each QR code can also be viewed individually.

The Full Cycle Heritage Bike Trail is supported by Newham Cyclists https://www.newhamcyclists.org.uk/rides/

Trail map and accompanying worksheet can be downloaded in Resources.

Printed copies collected from:

Etty & Tyler Motorbike & Cycle Repairs, 83 Upton Lane E7 9PB

Forest Gate Library, 6-8 Woodgrange Road E7 0QH

Number 8 Forest Gate Emporium, 8a Sebert Road E7 0NQ

The Wanstead Tap, 352 Winchelsea Road, E7 0AQ