Men's Shed Dalry

02/11/2026

🔦 A bit of Shed creativity, with Gus at the controls! 🔦

There’s more to Men’s Shed Dalry than bikes, woodwork and planters. We also have our very own laser engraving department, with Gus at the helm and plenty of ideas coming through the door!

Gus has been busy creating all sorts of bespoke pieces for people who come to us looking for something a little different. From personalised signs and clocks to engraved designs and lettering, there’s not much he hasn’t had a go at.

You might remember some of the themed planters made by our woodshed team. Well, it’s Gus who adds his touch by engraving the outlines and designs for Andy out resident artist to bring those creations to life.

We’ve also produced bespoke clocks, including some made using reclaimed wh**ky barrel staves, along with all sorts of signs and personalised items.

Two recent examples are in the photos.

🥃 First up, a little something for The Auld Hoose.

Stevie Munn from The Auld Hoose recently installed a display cabinet for his collection of deluxe whiskies and approached the Shed to create a bespoke sign for the top.

There was a bit of thought behind the design too. As all the whiskies in the cabinet have “Glen” in their names, Stevie settled on the theme “A Journey Through the Glens” – and Gus got to work creating the wooden sign to bring the idea together.

We think it makes a cracking addition to the display cabinet!

🪧 And then we have a couple of signs heading to Fairlie.

Someone got in touch looking for some personalised signs, including a fresh eggs sign and a drinking water sign. Once again, Gus was happy to oblige.

Of course, no post featuring Gus would be complete without a photo opportunity! He’s never one to disappoint when asked to pose, although his interpretation of the classic wartime “Kilroy was here” graffiti character might need a little work! 😂

☕ Fancy a look at what else goes on at the Shed?

We’re open today from 10am–3pm, so why not pop in, have a look around and join us for a chat and a cuppa. Everyone is welcome, and the kettle is always on!

🔨 Repair • Reuse • Ride • Connect

31/10/2026

🚴‍♂️ Friday Cycle – Castle Semple 🚴‍♀️

Another Friday, another outing to Castle Semple, and a good turnout for our regular weekly cycle!

It was great to welcome a few new faces this week, making it something of an international gathering, with Scots, English, Welsh and Ukrainian riders all joining the group. A bit of a United Nations on two wheels! 🌍

We did have one unscheduled stop along the way, when we came across another cyclist who had suffered a puncture. With farmers busy cutting the hedgerows at this time of year, the roadsides can be full of thorns, making punctures an all-too-common hazard. Of course, we were happy to lend a hand and get them back on their way.

That’s all part of our usual cycling code: nobody gets left behind – and that includes anyone we pass who might need a little help along the way.

A good morning’s cycling, new friendships, a bit of teamwork and the usual good company. What’s not to like?

Same time next Friday! 🚴‍♂️

13/10/2026

Just a reminder to everyone about this fantastic free event tomorrow.

If you live in the Garnock Valley, why not drop into the Healthy Hearts Event on Wednesday 14 October, from 10.30am to 6.30pm at Dalry Primary School (please use the KA Leisure entrance).

- Free heart screening
- Health checks and wellbeing advice
- Information on reducing your risk of heart disease
- Meet local organisations offering health, wellbeing and community support
- Free refreshments available
There will also be a range of free wellbeing taster sessions throughout the day, including CPR training, chair exercises, relaxation sessions, Tai Chi, strength and balance activities, a guided walk, brain health advice and more.

You an find more information on stalls and taster sessions here: https://www.nahscp.org/news/healthy-hearts-garnock-valley

No appointment is needed, simply drop in at a time that suits you.

09/10/2026

🚴‍♂️ Men’s Shed Dalry – Friday Cycle 🌦️

The weather forecast wasn’t looking too promising today, but that didn’t put off 9 hardy cyclists from donning their cycling gear and heading out into the wind, with the odd wee spot of rain thrown in for good measure! 💨🌧️

Our weekly excursion to Castle Semple was on again, and we managed to dodge the heaviest downpours along the way. A welcome bit of shelter, a well-earned cuppa and a friendly smile from the staff at the visitors centre in Lochwinnoch made it all worthwhile. ☕😊

Some of our other regulars were sadly missing this week, having been struck down by the dreaded lurgy 🤧🤒. Hopefully, they’ll be back fighting fit and ready to join us again soon!

Best of all, this week’s ride was incident-free — no punctures, no mechanical dramas and no need for a roadside repair crew! 😂🔧

Another great morning out, with everyone proving that a bit of Scottish weather does little to deter the group from getting out.

Well done to all 9 cyclists who braved the elements! 🚴‍♀️🚴‍♂️👏

03/10/2026

🏆 Dalry Community Awards – What a Night!

Everyone at Men’s Shed Dalry would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who helped make the Dalry Community Awards such a brilliant evening.

A special thanks to Dalry Community Council for organising the event and to Dalry Parish Boundary Trust for funding the evening and helping bring everyone together.

We’d also like to thank Beith Theatre Group for providing some fantastic entertainment on the night. 🎶👏 And to Peter J. Stevenson Photography for capturing the event and giving everyone some fantastic memories to look back on. 📸

It was a particularly proud night for us, with Men’s Shed Dalry nominated for Team of the Year and our own Gus nominated for Citizen of the Year. It was great to see both recognised alongside so many other deserving nominees. 👏

And of course, to all of the winners:

🏆 Young Person of the Year – Lilly Caig
🏆 Team of the Year – Dalry Community Sports Club
🏆 Citizen of the Year – Evan Fairns
🏆 Special Contribution Award – Elaine McCummiskey (For the Love of Gifts)

A huge well done to all the winners, and to everyone who was nominated. 👏

The evening was a brilliant reminder of just how much goes on behind the scenes in our town and beyond. There are so many community groups, organisations and individuals who give freely of their time, skills, energy and talents, often simply because they want to help others.

It was also great to see such a mix of people enjoying the evening — young and not so young! 😊

From everyone at Men’s Shed Dalry, congratulations to all the nominees and winners, and a massive thank you to everyone who helped make it such a great night.

Well done, Dalry! 🙌❤️

02/10/2026

🚴‍♂️ FRIDAY CYCLE – WHO KNOWS WHAT WILL HAPPEN TODAY? 😂

It’s Friday again, which means the bikes are getting wheeled out of The Coach House and the usual suspects will be gathering for another Men’s Shed Dalry adventure!

We’re leaving The Coach House at 10am today. 🚲

Last Friday we had 10 cyclists leave Dalry, picking up another 2 regulars at the Hub in Glengarnock, making 12 riders in total heading for Castle Semple for the traditional combination of cycling, tea, coffee and cake. ☕🍰

Of course, no Men’s Shed cycle would be complete without a little bit of mechanical drama! 😂

We had a particularly nasty puncture after one of the bikes went over a piece of broken glass from a bottle. Not exactly the sort of obstacle you want to find on your cycling route!

But this is where the Men’s Shed cycle rules come into their own. Our rider with the puncture was instructed to stand back and do absolutely nothing while the rest of the team took over. 🔧😂

After all, getting a puncture is stressful enough without having to fix the thing yourself!

With a combination of tyre levers, a mini-pump, a replacement tube, a bit of determination and plenty of expert advice from people who may or may not have known exactly what they were doing 🤣, the bike was soon back on the road.

There were also a couple of other little mechanical adventures along the way, but that’s all part of the fun.

Nobody gets left behind, nobody has to fix a problem alone, and there is always someone willing to lend a hand. That’s what these Friday rides are all about. 👍

So if you’re thinking about joining us, why not come along?

🚲 10am – The Coach House, Dalry
☕ Tea & coffee
🍰 Cake
🔧 Mechanical assistance (whether you asked for it or not!)
😂 Plenty of banter
🤝 Good company
🚴‍♂️ And hopefully more cycling than repairing!

Everyone welcome — see you at the shed!

21/09/2026

☕️🚲 Men’s Shed Dalry – Come In, Have a Cuppa & See What We’re About!

A wee reminder that Men’s Shed Dalry is open today from 10am–3pm, and again on Wednesday – with the kettle on and a warm welcome for everyone. ☕️🍰

You don’t need to be there to make something or work on a project. Sometimes it’s simply about getting out of the house, having a coffee, sitting down for a chat and enjoying a bit of company.

Around the shed’s social area there’s usually plenty going on. You might find the Two Bobs working away on the bicycles, Tony concentrating on his fly tying, or Gus moving between the laser engraver and a good blether with the guys. 🚲🪰🔧

That’s really what the Shed is all about – bringing people together, reducing social isolation, sharing skills, making new friends and giving something back to our local community.

So whether you fancy getting involved, watching what’s going on, or just sitting with a cuppa and having a chat, pop in and see us.

Everyone is welcome – come through the door, the kettle’s on! ☕️😊

Men’s Shed Dalry – Repair • Reuse • Ride • Connect

19/09/2026

Hi folks, we’ve been asked to share this on our page.

🗣️ Community Valley Voices – New Members Welcome!

Do you have something to say about the things that matter to older people in the Garnock Valley?

Community Valley Voices is looking to welcome new members and is a great opportunity to meet others, share ideas, talk about the things that interest you and help make sure the voices of older people in our local community are heard. 🗣️💬

📅 Starting Wednesday 23rd September
🕐 1–3pm, every fortnight
📍 Kilbirnie Library, Avils Place, Kilbirnie

Whether you want to join the conversation, share information about what’s happening locally, or simply find out more — you’ll be very welcome.

If you think this might be something for you, why not come along and give it a try? 👍

📧 [email protected]

Please feel free to share this post and spread the word. 💙

13/09/2026

🚴‍♂️ Men’s Shed Dalry member Chris takes on the Tour de 4! 💙

A huge well done to our own Chris, who recently took on and completed the Red Ride at Sir Chris Hoy’s Tour de 4 in Glasgow.

The Red Ride is certainly not one for the faint-hearted — a challenging 56-mile (90km) route starting and finishing at the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome, taking riders out towards the Campsie Fells and over some testing climbs along the way.

It’s a serious distance, with plenty of hills and a few moments when the legs are definitely asking “Are we there yet?” 😂🚴‍♂️

But Chris dug in, kept those pedals turning and successfully completed the full Red Route — all while riding for a fantastic cause.

Tour de 4 was founded by Sir Chris Hoy following his own stage 4 cancer diagnosis, bringing thousands of cyclists together to raise awareness, inspire hope and raise much-needed funds for cancer charities.

This year’s event brought together more than 3,000 riders and has already raised over £2.7 million for cancer charities. (Cure Leukaemia⁠)

From everyone at Men’s Shed Dalry — a massive well done, Chris! 👏👏

Another great example of one of our members getting out there, taking on a challenge and showing that sometimes the best way to tackle a hill is simply to keep pedalling! 💙🚴‍♂️

11/09/2026

On a Friday after our weekly outing on the bikes our man Gus gives a report in his own words on the group chat. It keeps anyone who missed out updated as to what we got up to.

Here’s a version for anyone wishing a little insight into the shed chat and who might wish to join us next Friday. -

🚴‍♂️☕ Friday Café Ride — Men’s Shed Dalry ☕🚴‍♂️

A lovely day for our Friday café ride. Four of us left the shed at 10:05, picking up Chris, Bob and Davie at the Rue de Bollarde, before meeting Leo, Curly and Davy Rae at the Hub.

A slight delay at Longbar when Wattsy took the wrong turn and cycled up someone’s driveway — only realising his mistake when he spotted a garden shed in the middle of “the road”! 🤣🤣

A good pace along the track, with a bit of caution for the falling autumn leaves, got us to the café at 11:05. The Bibster was waiting as usual, along with a surprise visit from Stewart Beck — yes, that Stewart Beck! SMSA royalty himself, choosing to spend some time with MSD. 🩵💙

After coffee and the usual banter, we headed back towards the People’s Republic of Dalry, arriving around 13:05 with lots of happy wee faces.

And as for the photo… we’re not entirely sure whether we stopped for a group photo or some of us forgot how to stand. 😂😂

Another great Friday ride, good company, plenty of laughs and some truly questionable photo posing! 🚴‍♂️🤣

🩵💙