Self Righteous Cyclist

If it's one thing that really annoys me as a Victorian it's the ongoing public debate about infrastructure.  Here's my summary of what I'm hearing right now and my responses to it. Peak motoring bodies like the RACV and Vic Roads see the answer to the city's traffic congestion woes in more roads -  Build more roads and they will drive on it   Public Transport Users Association see improved public transport as a solution -  Build more rail lines and they will ride on it   Toll road operators join the chorus ready to spruik their wares and rub their hands in anticipation of getting their hands on more public road infrastructure -  Do that on the wrong side of town and you might end up with a short political career Bicycle Victoria advocates for improved cycling infrastructure to make this liveable city of ours even more liveable and provide some viable solutions - Buil...

From what I've observed of a lot of riders around my neck of the woods, it's clear that their bikes are an extension of their personalities.  One young lady is often seen pedalling what seems more like a vase on two wheels because it has so many plastic flowers sitting in the front and rear baskets.  The young hipsters favour the fixie in its various guises.  Commuters favour hybrids for their cross purpose ability between trails and roads.  Regardless of what you ride, when sitting watching the passing parade or being a part of it, it's a great sight and makes me glad we are not all riding the same style of bikes.  Although I have read some claims that China's ride to prosperity began on the back of the mass produced bike called the Flying Pigeon that has sold half a billion bikes.  But then again the Chinese communist party has not been widely  known for encouraging individuality. As a keen bike rider I'm often asked what bike I would recommen...

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...

With four boys in the family, there's usually one of them wanting or needing to upgrade their bike at least every 12 months.  Fortunately for us there's often the opportunity to hand the bike down to the next sibling   However as the boys get older and their interests move in different directions, so too do the types of bikes they want to ride.  Liam my second eldest held high hopes for a BMX, one with "pegs for grinding" at the skate park to be precise.  With what seems the highest concentration of bike shops per capita, the inner northern suburbs of Melbourne provides well for retail cycling therapy, but this time around we  tried a different angle and headed to the Bike Shed at CERES in East Brunswick to see what we could pick up to build a BMX. The Bike Shed is a true DIY experience, so don't expect to be served in the retail sense. It runs as a co-operative and is staffed by some very knowledgeable volunteers.  They won't fix your bike...

What's black and has two wheels and bounces up and down on the freeway?  My bike after it came loose from the bike rack at 110km/h!   This year's summer holidays have been memorable for many great reasons, but watching my bike bounce up and down in the rear view mirror at 110km/h was not one of them.  The car was packed to the gills with everything we needed for the next 3 weeks of holidays.  The last thing to do was put on the circa 1995 bike rack; you know the one designed to take skinny bike frames like the old retro one left hanging in the shed.  First on was Paula's oversized Merida aluminium framed road bike and last on was my oversized Scott carbon fibre framed road bike.  We were both planning to compete in the annual   Benalla triathlon   just after Christmas.  It was clear from the outset that this rack was not designed for these bikes.  By the time I'd wrapped cloths around the frame and put the fastening plate onto the ...