some bike thoughts for a Friday
Last week I met with Lord Mayor Clover Moore and some of her team to chat bikes.
via chicksandbikes
I have to hand it to Cr Moore. She simply wanted to get feedback from me (bikes lanes? Has to be done; the world will adjust and get over their issues with them), and pick my brain on what more they can be doing to get people on bikes (they’re doing some pretty cool stuff already…but my suggestion is to keep making it cool, accessible; not daggy). She listened and took notes.
If you have ideas, and want them heard, you might like this:
$10,000 grant for a great bike idea:
City of Sydney is giving out Matching Grants to folk with great community ideas (bikes and beyond). They are designed to support neighbourhood based groups with the purchase of materials or supplies that will assist them to facilitate small and simple projects that bring the community together.
Project examples could include:
- Organise free bike fixing workshops for the local school children
- Build bike trailers which are available for loan to the local community
- Organise group riding tours for the locals
They’re looking for projects that involve and inspire local residents to get to know each other whilst bringing the City of Sydney’s local villages to life.
Submission Forms and Guidelines for the Matching Grants Program are available on the City’s website . It’s best that anyone who is interested makes contact with Ashley (project manager) before applying. She will be able to help assess the project, and help with the application. Her email is aheath@cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au or call her on 02 9265 9171
A few extras:
* I’ve been getting rust on my forks, which has been distressing. The solution? A gorgeous boy at the Byron Bay Bike shop suggested Mr Sheen sprayed on the metal bits – the silicone keeps things at bay.
* A little reminder I thought about on my way up the hill to my house the other day: it really is important to cycle from the hips, not the knees. I consciously relax my knees to do this. Got any tips you’d like to share?? Please do below.
* While we’re health-tipping, there’s a new saddle out to protect your bits. From the article (haw haw) “Five saddles to save your penis from your bike”.
* Something new in Bondi! BBC (Bondi Beach Cruisers) – check it out…
* Also in Bondi, Chappelli Cycles have a sexy new range of fixies and internal hub geared bikes.
* Hey Melbourne. Apparently you can “roll up” for some bicycle valet parking as of July. Details here on where it is and how it works.
And finally, if you’re looking for love, apparently you need a bike… there’s nothing like true love’s kiss…
Oh and this…
Happy Friday… ride on!
Something that works just as well for yoga as it does for cycling is to focus on moving from the bones, not your muscles. When cycling, if i think of my bones doing the action, I find my legs are less tired and I automatically engage the right parts of the body.
Love the Mr Sheen tip!
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When cycling try to relax your shoulders, arms and hands. People grip too tightly which causes the shoulders and neck to strain, which leads to a loss of energy. Next time you go out for a spin, focus on using your hips and pulling your legs up whilst relaxing your upper body and you’ll be far more efficient! Safe Riding!
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July 8th, 2011 at 4:24 pm
An added bonus of this is that it places much less strain on your back. Better not just for efficiency but for your long term health.
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I love it…Making cycling more cool!
When we are 6 years old getting a bike for Christmas or your birthday is THE coolest present! What happened to that idea?
Some of the coolest cities in Europe are centered around bikes and cycling. In Amsterdam cyclists have more rights (or at least more respect on the roads) than drivers, even while they’re carrying their bunch of flowers in one hand whilst holding on with the other. And some of the best sightseeing (on some of the COOLEST bikes) I did throughout my travels was by bike, you get to see a lot more in a lot less time without feeling like your feet were going to fall off by the end of the day.
Any program or project that helps boost the profile of cycling has got to be a bonus in a city that complains a lot about their public transport system and the quality of their roads.
Also a little tip for those that have fixed feet /pedals- the pulling up action of cycling is as important as the pushing down, helps recruit the glutes and hamstrings a lot more so that the quads and hip flexors don’t do all the work
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I really love this community and bikes thing. My parents are from the country and have that view of Sydney being big, scary, rushed and not that nice. Most older people from rural areas think this as I did too growing up up the coast. So many people say to them why would u live in Sydney. So last time they came we all hired bikes from centennial park and followed the WONDERFUL bike paths to bourke st and had a lunch at crown st park watching my daughter play. We passed bourke st bakery with it’s gorgeous smells and line up. And rode under the trees. They had the best day ever and opened the innercity hipsters up to them and they fell in love with this magical city and it’s serenity and energy. Instead of seeing Sydney, they see distinct communities. The beach culture of coogee, the funky surry hills. Now they tell everyone Sydney rocks!!
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The link to the City’s website address for more info on grants doesn’t work?
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July 8th, 2011 at 12:50 pm
thanks for the heads up – I’ve fixed it
x
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haha. I love it. I got engaged while cycling around New York last year. My husband is a keen photographer and had his camera ready to snap the “yes” kiss, with a one-handed click. It’s cool cause we’re on a park bench and our bikes are in the background. I love that shot.
Love Clover and what she’s doing for cycling. Go Cloves!
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My bike gets me outta my head and grounds me purely and simply. I work with kids and trauma and the joy I get from riding around the ‘hood day/night good or bad weather is priceless. A clear road is an opportunity to do the big beautiful swoops from one side to the other! ♥♥♥
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Nice comments and photos there Sarah.
We really need to have a rethink about the helmet laws we have in Australia. It’s going to be difficult to get more people seeing cycling as cool, accessible, safe and fun while we have this obsessive focus on the risks of getting hit in the head!
And sorry to say, there is nothing more daggy that having to wear a foam helmet on your head because of the 1 in 10 million chance of having an accident. Unsurprisingly whenever I look at all the Cycle Chic websites I don’t see a lot of cool-looking people wearing stack hats…..being forced to wear them really detracts from the fun and relaxed side of riding a bike.
The sort of riding you’re talking is perfectly safe to do without a helmet, it’s no more dangerous than riding in a car or crossing the street without one. You don’t have to wear them in any part of Europe and they don’t seem to have a problem with injuries.
It would be so good if we were able to choose for ourselves….sometimes you just want to ride with the wind in your hair.
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Good point. If you are riding in a bike lane and not on the road, there is no need to wear a helmet is there? What’s the worst thing that’s going to happen to you on a bike track? Running over a gumnut? The red tape in this country in fucking ridiculous.
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Hey Sarah…a warning about Zumba
http://www.news.com.au/national/chiropractors-warn-dancers-to-take-care-after-spike-in-zumba-related-injuries/story-e6frfkvr-1226090966078
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I’ve just moved to London and bought a cheap town bike to get around on. You don’t have to wear a helmet here – I’d forgotten what it was like! I felt like I was in primary school again the first few times. I’m on my bike all the time now – absolutely loving it. It’s great to just jump on it without a second thought of ‘needing to get anything’.
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In the words of Lance Armstrong ‘full circles!’ I cycle fixed and have cages on my pedals so I focus as much on the uplift of my pedal rotation as on the down. Great for strong legs and sexy, toned muscles not to mention speed
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Hey Sarah & other folks,
I’ve been riding in Sydney since I moved here in 2007. And I have to say, my commuter bike is possibly the ugliest thing on two wheels – its nicknames ‘The Transformer”. That said, the mud guards, racks, and other bits of kit mean that cycling pretty much everywhere is easy as and I’m not too gross when I arrive.
On the weekends however, I like to pull out a glam vintage bike, race or single-speed
(I have a ‘quiver of cycles’ – there are currently 6) to suit the mood. It’s nice to change up the pace now and again and you meet different ‘tribes’ of cyclists which makes the whole thing much more fun.
And if you really like a slow and leisurely pace I can recommend the Tweed Ride as a really fun way of being glam and getting some confidence on a bike http://www.tweedride.com.au >>O-O
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If you’re itching for some old world glamour on two wheels come along to the Tweed Ride http://www.tweedride.com.au
Super perfect if you’ve been thinking of getting on a bike for a while but not 100% sure – this is a slow, well-mannered ride for dapper gents and fancy ladies and a great way to meet people and build your confidence.
>>O-O xJ
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Just came across your chat about bikes and have to comment that we recently visited the Gold Coast and they have a good thing happening with bike paths! All along the beach front (does help that it is flat) you can ride very safely including roads of which half are a two way bike lane! We need more of these on the Northern Beaches of Sydney where we live. I was on a bike for first time in years and loved and it and was wishing I was riding more with my kids around my local area but it just does not feel very safe! We need councils to push the boundaries and start setting up our road systems so we can convert to bike riding as a real alternative to cars – its the way of the future!
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Hi Sarah,
There’s an elephant in the room!
Helmets.
I’d like you to advocate for repeal of the ridiculous and totally counter-productive mandatory helmet laws we had foisted on us in Australia 20 years ago. Because it’s (falsely) portrayed as “safety” nobody has the political will to do so.
All cycling promotion ideas in Australia are doomed to fail until this happens.
Cheers,
Henry
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