The Melbourne Bikefest is almost upon us.  This year the Bikefest will form part of the Sustainable Living Festival. This means that in addition to the Bikefest festivities, there will be plenty of other interesting (non-bike related) things to see and do. It also means that it might not pour with rain for the duration of the festival!

We’re directly involved in a few aspects of Bikefest. Together with Allegro, we’ll have a stall at the Treadlie Market – a three day event nestled within the Sustainable Living Festival ‘Big Weekend’. The Bikefest Treadlie Market will feature everything you need to fuel a life of two wheels (including coffee!).

We’ll have some of our favourite things on display and there is a special track for test riding the Allegro bikes we’ll have built up. The market is at Birrarung Marr will run Friday 17th (12-8pm), Sat 18th (10-6pm) and Sunday 19th (10-5pm). The wonderful “Roll Up” Bicycle Valet crew will be in attendance, so you won need to bring three locks. Find all the details here.

We’re also running a Bike Swapmeet on the Saturday. Together with some other horders we’ll be opening up our sheds to make some room for new projects. Come down to Birrarung Marr between 11am and 3pm and you might just find yourself a bargain.

Of course, there are a bunch of other great events, so make sure you check out the full program here. See you down there.

Why would an adult want to spend their leisure time riding round and round a muddy, grassy field on something that looks like a road bike?  It defies explanation.  And yet, as we’ve said before – Cyclocross is cool.

CX in Melbourne continues to grow and here we have a grab-bag of tid-bits of news about it, photos of bikes we’ve built for it, and info about where to go and do it.  Read on if you like the idea of slipping over in the mud and hurting yourself.

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As part of the Sustainable Living Festival we’ll be doing a workshop on bike touring as an environmentally friendly alternative to a driving holiday.

We’ll be talking about the suitability of your current bike for touring, what to look for in a touring bike if your current one isn’t going to work out, what sort of gear to bring, and I’ll be going on and on about how nice it is to bike tour in Tasmania.  It’ll be very informal with lots of Q&A and show and tell.

It’s on Sunday the 27th of Feb from 2-4PM.  It’ll be held here at Commuter Cycles (14 Prentice St.).  We’ll have some bikes, parts and luggage for the show and tell, but bring your own bike and any gear you’d like to ask about or show people.  Also, please RSVP to info@commutercycles.com.au just so we have an idea fo numbers.

The Melbourne Bikefest is fast approaching, and we’ll be running a couple of the events.    The Bikefest is a celebration of Melbourne cycling culture in all its forms and there are a heap of great events on.  It’s one of the only times of year that hipsters, vintage bike nerds,  cargo bike enthusiasts and lycra-clad racers hang out together in the same building!  Check out the full list of events here: http://www.melbournebikefest.com.au/program

We’ll be running a couple of the events – the Treadly Awards and the (Second) Bicycle Black Market.  They’re both free and they’re both events that we’ve previously held here at Commuter Cycles.  This year, all the Bikefest fun – including the Treadlies and Bicycle Black Market – will be at 1000 Pound bend (361 Little Lonsdale Street), so it’s even easier to get to, and there will be lots of other interesting bike stuff to check out before and after.

Read on for more info or follow us on Twitter for updates…

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Ride to Work Day is the 13th of October this year, and as always we’ll be offering coffee, breakfast and free tune-ups for anyone riding to work.  Drop by between 7:30 and 9:00.

Zero Carbon Moreland will be here too, to talk about what they’re doing.

As I’m sure you’re all aware by now, Cyclocross is the new black.  Or the new tweed ride.  (Or something cool anyway.)  Just ask these guys….  Hipsters discussing CX

The Brunswick Cycling Club is running a great 3 race series which we’re using as an excuse to host the inaugural Bicyle Black Market – an opportunity for all of us to either fill up (or clear out in the case of stall holders) our bike parts bins.

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No film festival is complete without an award ceremony, and the Melbourne Bicycle Film Festival is no different. As part of the BFF, Commuter Cycles is hosting the 2009 Treadly Awards.

Just like last year, this event is to celebrate everyday cyclists and their bikes. We’re rolling out the red carpet, and will  be awarding prizes to the folks (and their bikes) who stand out in the following categories.

• Sexiest Commuter Bike
• Biggest Load Carrying Capacity
• Most People on a Bicycle
• Fastest Puncture repair
• Best Dressed (+ least lycra) on a bicycle

Gear from Knog and Crumpler is amongst some of the prizes up for grabs. But if you’re not entering, this will be great day for spectators too. We’re firing up the BBQ and putting on drinks, and afterwards rolling down to the Bicycle Film Festival screening in the city.

It’s bound to be a a lot of fun, we hope to see you on the day.

Details:

• 3-6pm Saturday 28th November 2009
• @ the Commuter Cycles  workshop, 14 Prentice Street Brunswick.
• Registration for Award Categories - just turn up!
• BBQ  (Vegetarian and Meats), Drinks – Gold coin donation in our Movember jar
• We’ll be leaving the Workshop for Saturday Night’s BFF Screening - Program Here

More information on the 2009 Melbourne Bicycle Film Festival -here

Download our 2009 Treadlys poster for your fridge - here

We might be closed for the Melbourne Cup long weekend, but there’s plenty of bicycle activities that we’re getting our hoofs into.

Starting on Friday, 30^th October 2009 there’s

Death Becomes Her

A ‘Girls-only’ alley cat race. Registration and ride starts at 6pm from Melbourne Museum. To  get on board bring $10 for entry for teams of two. You’ll also need your bike lock, bag and spare gold coins. As it’s Halloween, dress the part for this ‘Ghouls-only’ event. Prizes for best/worst dressed (you could even score a free service from us!).

And if you’ve still got legs, Borrow Grampa’s bike from the shed and join us on Saturday 31st November for the

2009 Woodend Annual Vintage Bike Rally

The ride starts at 2:30 at the Woodend Clocktower, and meanders 23kms to the historic gardens of the Cosmopolitan Hotel, Trentham. Refreshments are available at the halfway pit-stop - The Pig and Whistle Hotel, Trentham. For those who over hydrate at Cosmopolitan Hotel, there’s a courtesy bus to take you (and your bike) back to Woodend.

If you want to join the Commuter Cycles team, we’re getting up there a little early to make a day of it.

Meet us at the Commuter Cycles workshop for a 10:00 (sharp) departure. We’re taking the 10:35 Vline
service from Southern Cross to Woodend.

More details, Give Rus a call on 0423 388 167.

And if you’re not completely funned out, Otesha are having a

Spring Garden Party

on Sunday 1^st November, from 12 to 5pm at 79 Gladstone avenue, Northcote.

The event is a Otesha fundraiser. For $10, you get a lazy day’s entertainment and the warm fuzzy feeling that your helping Otesha and it’s youth education programs about sustainable consumption.

Performing on the day is Monique Brumby, the Unconventional Cellist, TheTaylor Project and Pete Coles.

Just bring you picnic rug, there’ll be food, drinks and plenty of other activities. Otesha guarantee there’ll be something for everyone.

More info at Otesha.org.au

See you when we open again on Wednesday!

National Ride to Work Day 2009 is just around the corner on Wednesday 14th October.

An important day in the commuter cyclist’s calendar, it’s a fantastic opportunity to encourage others to give cycling a go. For those of us already bitten by the bug, it’s a day to pat ourselves on the back and remind the bean counters that cycling is a valid form of public transport.

With some help from Moreland City Council we’re offering commuters a free tune-up, breakfast and REAL coffee.

All we ask for is that you register – this way the statistics are in that people are actually riding on the day.

So bring your bike and empty belly, and we’ll provide the fuel and chain lube to get you going for the day….

The details:

• Wednesday 14th October 2009 – From 7:30am 10am
• Hot and cold breakfast provided – Coffee too!
• @ 14 Prentice street Brunswick -The Commuter Cycles Workshop
• Register here

You are no doubt aware of the Paris end of Collins street, but did you know where the Paris end of Brunswick is? The Commuter Cycles workshop! Yes, we’re helping bring Parisian style bicycle hire to Melbourne – as part of the RMIT’s Common Bike bicycle sharing project. 

You may have read about it in recent press,  RMIT is running a pilot for Bicycle sharing, in the hope it will encourage more folks to consider getting around by bicycle, and to use the service for short trips around the city. 

The various bike hubs allow people to pick up a bike and helmet, and drop them off on the other side of town. Sure beats a taxi, or relying on Melbourne’s PT network. 

Fingers crossed, the success of this program will encourage the bean counters to take this on as part of Melbourne’s long term infrastructure. 

For more information on the project, pop in to the hub (Our Workshop) or check out the common bike website. After a $5 registration, each ride under three hours only costs a gold coin. If you drop the bike off to a different hub, or stay out for an additional hour, another gold coin covers costs. 

For more information, registration, bikes- drop into the hub at Commuter Cycles or read up on all the details at 

commonbike.com

In partnership with Moreland City Council, Commuter Cycles is helping people stay safe on the road this winter. With the loss of sunshine and the end of daylight saving, it’s time for cyclists to consider their visibility on the road.City of Moreland’s Lights on Ride On campaign is designed to do just that. We’re taking 20% off the price of our ‘Planet Bike’ light range.

Planet Bike lights represent excellent value, with a variety of lights for different uses and budgets. Tail lights, headlights and helmet mount lights are all discounted, including our favourite, the ‘Blinky Superflash ‘.

There’s also a $100 service voucher up for grabs. This Monday’s Moreland Leader newspaper (13/04/2009) has all the competition details. You can also download a voucher from the City of Moreland website. Roll into the our Prentice Street Workshop, pickup a ‘Blinky’ or one of his friends, and you’ll be in the running. $100 dollars gets you a fair bit of bike love at Commuter Cycles, so it’s well worth the effort!

UPDATE!

Simon Stainsby, Sustainable Transport Officer at Moreland City Council popped into the workshop on 6th of May 2009 to pick a winner for the competition. In great impartiality, blindfolded (almost), he announced Michael of Fitzroy to be our winner!

Congratulations Michael, we look forward to seeing you and your bike soon!

We’re preaching to the converted here about the usefulness of the humble bicycle, but in the developing world a bicycle can mean the difference between a livelyhood and poverty. Bicycles for Humanity is an Organisation that gets bicycles out of the hands of those don’t need them and into the hands of those who do.

170 Edward Street Brunswick
Saturday 21st and Sunday 22nd March 2009
Between 9am and 4pm

Bicycles for Humanity (Melbourne Chapter)  
Bicycles for Humanity (Global Site) 

As our part of the 2008 Melbourne Bicycle Fim Festival we ran an Oscars inspired awards ceremony. Despite the rain we roasted, and toasted a handful of individuals who went that little bit further and take bicycles and cycling to the next level.

The first ‘Bicycles as Transport Awards‘ were held on Saturday 22nd November,

The awards and winners were:

‘Pit lane’ award for the fastest and ‘effective’ puncture repair-

• Won by John, who showed that slow and steady wins the race…

‘Lindsay Fox’ award for the biggest load carrying capacity,

• Won by Phuong, in her entry that has helped her move the inebriated and house contents

‘Connex’ award for the most people on a bike (almost safely)

• Won by Moz, with his ability to carry 11 people across the workshop floor.

‘Mudguards are hot’ award for the sexiest commuter bike

• Won by Michael, with his top condition Australia Post bike.

‘Best dressed’ award for the least lycra clad and most visible rider.

• Won by Lord and Lady Waygood on their tandem.

Congratulations and Thank You for all winners and entrants.

A selection of photos from the day are below….

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You may have noticed some bristled upper lips in the Commuter Cycles workshop recently.  No, we’re not being cast for a remake of a 1970′s Spaghetti Western. Our mechanics – Huw, Matt and Tristram - are supporting a cause just as worthy, Movember!

Movember is an international initiative designed to raise funds and awareness for prostate cancer research and depression. The talking point of a fresh (or grubby) moustache is an excellent way to broach these traditionally taboo topics. And through sponsorship, Commuter Cycles hope to make a collection that supports the good work undertaken by the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia, and Beyond Blue.

If you are keen to help us support this important cause, you are welcome to drop a few pennies in our jar at the Movember Website. Donations over $2 are tax deductable.

• Commuter Cycles Donation Page at Movember
• More information about Movember.

If you really want to get in the spirit, you can always fix moustache handlebars to your treadly. Destined to be the next must-have bike bling, moustache handlebars are cool and weird. Currently available to us is Soma’s 3 speed bar. 

Check it here.

It’s official, Melbourne is bicycle crazy. Obviously not content as a form of transport, the pushie wants to be a movie star too! And so, seven years since it started in New York, the Bicycle Film Festival is again rolling into Melbourne. The BFF celebrates the humble velocipede by showing films where the bicycle is in the starring role. 

As part of the National Ride to Work Day Commuter Cycles ran a breakfast to celebrate the event. Lincoln from  Ray Cafe worked hard to keep people’s caffeine levels up, while Tristram, Matthew and Huw provided free tune ups on bikes that attended on the day.

We’ll be doing it again next year, so be sure to register and keep the morning free. For those who rocked up, thanks for being good sports and showing that cycling to work is a valid transport option.

More photos below….

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‘National Ride To Work Day’ is an event that encourages people to cycle to work. Considering the parlous state of the environment and peak hour crowding on Melbourne’s  public transport and roads, this prospect is becoming more and more attractive. In support of this important event, Commuter Cycles is providing breakfast for all those who will be dusting off the the treadly and braving Melbourne’s streets.

For anyone who commutes by bicycle everyday – we already think you’re wonderful – this event is for you too!

We’re offering espresso coffee (we’re getting a barista and machine in for the day) fresh fruit, and bacon & egg sandwiches. We’ll also have all our bike mechanics on hand, who will be offering free tune ups on your bike.

All we ask from you is a gold coin donation, and that you register for Ride To Work Day.

Registering is important as it lets the bean counters know that cycling to work is a popular and viable alternative to other forms of transport. Who knows, we might even get a few more bike paths as a result!

The Nuts and Bolts

When: 7am to 10am, Wednesday 15th October 2008 – Just turn up!
Where: Commuter Cycles, 14 Prentice Street, Brunswick
What you get: Breakfast, coffee, and a quick bike tune up if you need it.
Cost to you: A gold coin, 5 minutes of your time when you register before the day
Registration: At the National Ride To Work Day website (click here)
More info: There’s a wealth of information about the day at the Ride to Work Day website, and at Bicycle Victoria