Self Righteous Cyclist

Last week's post generated enough responses to stay on the theme of pedalling caffeine. Occasionally I get the feeling that everything old is new again.  If only the safari suit I've got hanging in the wardrobe became the height of fashion again, I'd be the hippest guy in town.  Yes fashion trends come and go with the seasons and it's no different with bikes.  The number of cargo and haulage type bikes on the road seems to be ever increasing.  Local cafes, bakeries and micro-breweries have embraced these bikes as genuine alternative delivery vehicles, just as they were used before the rise of the car.  It adds to the green credentials of a business who can make a point with their low carbon footprint, low food miles and also provide a mobile billboard.   Now what happens when a coffee cart collides with a bicycle?  Enter the mobile cafe on 3 wheels. Just add coffee, water, milk, sugar, coffee machine, power, a little imagination and th...

If you questioned a cyclist on word association, cycling and caffeine would have to rate highly.  The number of bikes parked outside local cafes across the inner city on weekday and weekend mornings is testimony to cyclists either getting their  pre or post ride  caffeine fix .  Cyclists in the main tend to be a fairly picky bunch and it's no different when choosing their local caffeine peddler.  In fact taking a look at St Ali one new local establishment in my neighbourhood, it would suggest that you would be very unhipster like to turn up to the cafe on anything less than a blinged up or down (depending on your preference) fixie with your courier bag and shiny sliver of a laptop or iDevice for company.  There are bike racks aplenty for those on two wheels and just 5 metres off the bike path and 5 metres from a bike shop. This could be cycling nirvana. Now what about those who in this time poor world we live in don't have time to sit and sip in ...

I have recently returned from a long weekend up in Victoria’s high country with my boys, parents, relatives and friends.  Our combined tribe of 22 (13 kids & 9 adults) between 5 and 71 descended upon what was a quiet little caravan park at   Porepunkah , just 5km from Bright, in Victoria’s North East.  As the event CCO (chief camping officer), I organise the activities, so no second guessing what was on the agenda.  The must bring item on the list this year was bikes and 19 in total came prepared to come along for the ride.  As far as cycling destinations go, this area has it all. There are cracking mountain climbs for roadies, gentle river valley trails for families and touring and it's a mountain bike mecca for those who like their cycling far from a graded trail.   The   Mountains to Murray rail trail   is one of the great assets of the region, with over 100km of off road sealed trails between Wangaratta and Bright, with an optional deto...