Mon to Fri 8am - 6pm, Sat 9am - 1pm
14 Prentice Street Brunswick VIC 3056 (map) info@commutercycles.com.au Ph. 9388 1319
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.
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.
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:
More information on the 2009 Melbourne Bicycle Film Festival -here
Download our 2009 Treadlys poster for your fridge - here
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:
If a bicycle is your main form of transport, you should consider a dynamo to power your lighting system.
Dynamos use the turning of your wheels to generate electricity, which can be then used to power your lights (or mobile phone, if you wish to get ambitious). Using the same system employed in windfarms, the dynamos now available have very little rolling resistance compared to those of yesteryear.
We stock both the excellent value Shimano hubs (the new 3N80 is brilliant), and the top shelf Schmidts (the SON 20R is THE dynamo hub). All will give you many years service, and mean less acid batteries end up in landfill.
The virtues of these dynamos are too numerous to mention, so drop in for a chat on how you can go battery free.
for more information on these Dynamos
Schmidt Dynohub
One more thing – Because these dynamos are part of the hub, this nifty device will require you to replace your whole front wheel. A complete wheelbuild will cost around $300 with the Shimano hub dynamo.
Once you’ve settled on a dynamo, you’ll have to pick out some lights to go with them. 
Again the Germans are at the forefront of this technology – their Busch and Müller lights give you fantastic bang for your buck.
Unlike a lot of cheaper L.E.D. lights available, these aren’t just to give you visibility on the road, they’ll illuminate the road ahead of you. Perfect for late night rides down the Merri Creek bike path.
Once you’ve seen these in action you won’t be able to go back.
Headlights typically in stock:
Tailights typically in stock:
We also stock the E-Werk power supply, which allows you to charge and power any device you can think of using your dyno-hub.
As always we’re happy to get in other models to order.
Plenty of information and images are available at the Busch and Müller website.
We also love Schmitd and Supernova lights. The Schmidt Edeluxe is a deluxe version of the IQ Cyo and the Supernova E3 is the brightest thing going.
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
With Melbourne’s recent cold snap and the dark falling on commuters ride times, we’ve got a few new items in-store that will keep you safe, snug and seen on the road.
It’s easy to overlook your hands when rigging up for a frosty morning’s ride. Considering you need your fingers to control your brakes, it’s best to keep them warm and working. We’ve now got an excellent range of gloves -10 different styles, and in a range of sizes – for you to try on and take home.
The added bonus is that we’ve put the TUFF brand front and centre. An Australian Company, TUFF (by name AND nature) have been designing and selling gloves and cycling socks since 1990.
So if you’ve got frosty phalanges, pop in and have a look.
Prices range from $30 to $45.
More about TUFF, over on their website
We’re always banging on about bicycle safety, so we should give a plug for some of the high visibility jackets and jerseys we’ve got in store. Netti, an Australian company have been producing bicycling clothing and helmets for over 60 years, make up our current range.
On our rack, and in various sizes we have a selection of tops suitable for a variety of conditions. All with night riding in mind, they’re perfect as the days shorten in ‘Old Melbourne Town’. All garments have long torso size, and over-length arms, perfect for the reach to your handle bars.
A lightweight Jersey that can be worn on it’s own or snugly over your daily garb, is made from breathable micromesh fabric. It has a Sun Protection Factor of 50 plus, so is ideal all year round.
Deep rear pockets are perfect for your phone and wallet, and a 30cm chest zipper, means added value for this simple and elegant jersey.
More information at the Netti Site
Sunshield: S-XL – $60
The Netti shift jacket is the sort of thing you’d like to have in your pannier for those unexpected moments: you’re caught out after dark, Melbourne’s weather lives up to it’s reputation or you need a second jacket. Showerproof, windproof, and underarm ventilation, it’s quite roomy and is ideal as a shell.
More information at the Netti Site
Netti Shift Jacket – S -XL – $60
If Tenzing Norgay were riding round Brunswick, in the cold and wet, we reckon this would be the jacket he’d wear. This jacket with it’s heat sealed seams and front zipper guard, has all the marks of quality and is built for all conditions. The Netti D3 jacket with its breathable and waterproof fabric, is ideal for those who don’t use rain as an excuse not to ride to work. It even has a hood (that is detachable) for those really heavy downpours.
Double Plusses:
This jacket has just about everything built in, and only weighs 370 grams, so would be ideal for touring cyclists too. This is about as heavy duty as they come, so if the weather’s too heavy for this jacket, you probably shouldn’t be riding.
More information at the Netti Site
Netti D3 Jacket S -XL $230
By now, you’re probably familiar with the Dutch Gazelle Bicycles we’re so proud of, with style and function in one package. 
Now we’ve got some bike bags and baskets that fit the same template. Basil, also from the Netherlands, have a huge range of pannier bags and baskets for every sort of shopper, commuter and touring cyclist. They even make a basket specifically for your dog, cat or iguana. No more searching for a car park at the vet!
More information on Basil range can be found online at the Gazelle website, or read on to see the selection we currently have in stock.
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….
If you’re after a bike that gets you to work, and down the coast or into the hills on weekends, this bike is for you. The Long Haul Trucker is a rock solid bike that’s built for doing the heavy work, and it doesn’t weigh a tonne.
The LHT, built by Surly, has a solid steel frame with the sort of geometry that allows for relaxed riding. It can be built up for touring – it’s designed to take loaded front and rear pack racks – and full mudguards. It even comes shipped with spare spokes clipped to the frame! Perfect if you break a spoke in a town with a bikeshop that only has minimal supplies.
We’ve just sold one of these workhorses to Casey, who rides from Coburg to Yarraville daily. And as you can see, he needs a bike that doesn’t complain when it’s carrying a full load.
We can also get the Long Haul Trucker frame naked, if you want us to do a complete custom build.
Price: $1700 – with 3 months free servicing
Full Specifications: at Surly’s website
Recommended accessories: Topeak Super Tourist Rack, Axiom Mudguards
Even as we move to spring and more pleasant weather, it’s still dark for many commuting cyclists. Safety during these dusky hours is paramount, so decent lights are a must on your beloved treadly.
Introducing ‘Blinky Superflash!‘. Sounds like a 1970′s cartoon character we hear you say. But there’s nothing retro about these beauties, they’re state of the art, and they are BRIGHT!
The weather proof design also clips off easliy from the enclosed mount, which includes two ring sizes so you can fix them anywhere. We have extra mounts ($5) so you can securely attach them to packracks and baskets.
Each light set comes with AAA batteries included. The supplier, Planet Bike, donates 25% of their profits to Bicycle Advocacy, which is good for everyone. We’re right behind folks that go the extra mile and do things like that.
Blinky also has siblings in the range. Little sister Blaze includes a 1/2 watt led that comes with a helmet mount, perfect for the Yarra or Merri creek bike trail, where a moment in the darkness can mean the difference between a ride and a swim.
Blinky Superflash: $35
More Info: Planet Bikes
Produced for over 116 years in the Netherlands, Gazelle Bicycles are the ultimate commuter bicycle. Gazelle is regarded as a pioneer in the bicycle world. For instance, they first sold electric bicycles way back in the 1930′s. Today Gazelle produce quality commuter bicycles in vintage style.
You may have seen bikes like this on Melbourne roads, but most are cheap copies of this time-honed design. These bikes feature an upright riding position and come with quality parts and accessories - bikes are sold complete and ready to commute straight off the shelf.
Of course this means the price tag isn’t cheap, but if you add dynamo lights, a quality lock, mudguards and a sturdy rack to the cost of a standard bike, this stylish setup represents excellent value. They even have a chain-guard and skirt-guard so you can ride in a stylish getup!
We’ll be getting a few of these beauties in October ’08, but if you can’t wait that long, we’ll pop down to the docks and bribe the wharfies to get you one sooner. Put your pre-order in now to make sure you don’t miss out.
Specs and Details: Gazelle Australia Website
Price: $1,000+ (see RRPs on Gazelle website)
Christmas has come early at Commuter Cycles. Cathy from Ron D Swan dropped in today with their latest invention – the Commuter Pannier. 
Aside from looking the business, it has an ingenius mounting system and shoulder strap which means that the pannier doubles as a funky bag when it’s off the bike. It also has a PVC inner making it completely waterproof, and a front pocket so you don’t lose your wallet and keys.
All Ron D Swan gear is handstitched in Melbourne and made from a combination of reclaimed and new materials. Learn more here.
We’re also stocking their great legbands and reflective vests. The legbands come in a range of colours and all feature two reflective strips, so they save your life as well as your trousers. The vests have an extra large waist strap so you can wear it over you back pack. Clever really.
Commuter News 
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