FACT: Every weekend in Victoria there is a farmer’s market!

In a school, park or side street near you, a chance to buy from the grower, without the middle man, supermarket, corporation, etc.

The Victorian Farmers Market Association and Bike Fest have just put together a guide to finding out what farmers market is happening on any given weekend and how to get there by bike. Handy!

Download or print the guide here.

Nothing like seeing how many vegetables you can stack in to your basket and how much fruit you can dangle in a bag off your shoulder. Just be sure not to put ripe peaches in the bottom of the bag under potatoes…

Check out The Casual Cyclist’s Guide to Richmond –  a specially commissioned exploration of the suburb by bike in the one-off newspaper produced for The Richmond Weekender.

Taking in the best bits of Richmond and celebrating its connectivity with the river, the guide is a perfect accompaniment to day’s cycling to, from and around Richmond.

The Richmond Weekender newspaper is available on site at 22 Bendigo Street, Richmond, or around the Richmond neighbourhood in cafes, bars, restaurants etc.

For those in need of a bike, you can rent direct from The Richmond Weekender – running every weekend in March until Sunday 1 April.

Renting out bikes from interesting spaces and places is about to get a whole lot more interesting thanks to The Richmond Weekender.

Taking over the glorious old GTV 9 studios on Bendigo Street, Richmond, The Richmond Weekender is a temporary reactivation project devised by the good folk at Right Angle Studio.

Running every weekend from Saturday March 3rd, the project brings together a collection of local people doing good and fun things around town and puts them in one truly unique shell – for one month only – before construction begins on an upcoming apartment development, Studio Nine.

In the food corner, the Kent & Rob from Cavallero are behind the Weekender’s drinking & dining offering, with the Graham Canteen. With a name-check to one of Television City’s finest, Graham Kennedy, Graham Canteen will be the guys’ first venture for Fancy Hanks ...]]>

Renting out bikes from interesting spaces and places is about to get a whole lot more interesting thanks to The Richmond Weekender.

Taking over the glorious old GTV 9 studios on Bendigo Street, Richmond, The Richmond Weekender is a temporary reactivation project devised by the good folk at Right Angle Studio.

Running every weekend from Saturday March 3rd, the project brings together a collection of local people doing good and fun things around town and puts them in one truly unique shell – for one month only – before construction begins on an upcoming apartment development, Studio Nine.

In the food corner, the Kent & Rob from Cavallero are behind the Weekender’s drinking & dining offering, with the Graham Canteen. With a name-check to one of Television City’s finest, Graham Kennedy, Graham Canteen will be the guys’ first venture for Fancy Hanks BBQ – a southern US style BBQ affair, pioneering a custom built “monster” BBQ, super slow cooked meats and a pay-by-weight system that ensures democratic pricing and reminds us of ordering take away pizza in Rome. See the menu.

On Saturday nights, Ghita Loebenstien’s Speakeasy Cinema will bring the big screen to the home of the small screen, with four films screening on March 10, 17, 24 & 31. See the program.

This Saturday March 3rd, twelve of Melbourne’s most lovely artists, retailers and interesting-stuff-makers will descend to create a one-off Homemakers Market. Purveyors of fine things include Cibi, Tokyo Bike, Joost Bakker, Beci Orpin, Mr Kitly and Sticky Fingers Bakery. Info on thse guys and the others can be found here.

Finally, for those who want to make the most of the GTV 9 site’s proximity to the river but might not happen to have a bike, I’ll be having a lil’ concession with some bikes ready to hire and ride along the river to your hearts content.

BIKE AND BEER: Whole day bike rental and pot of Mountain Goat $30!

The Richmond Weekender

Location: Former GTV 9 Studios, 22 Bendigo Street, Richmond.
Running: Every weekend in March from Saturday March 3rd to Sunday March 31st.
More info: www.therichmondweekender.com.au
To book a bike: call Matt on 0432 032 450 or use the contact form above.

With ten-speed Shimano friction-shift gears, rear light, new handlebar grips basket and black quilted seat.

Bike has new cables, tubes & tires. A perfect commuter bike, freshly serviced for sale.

Pick up in Sydney only, no postage.

Email for more pics!

 $290

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A vintage women’s bike from the early 1980s, with new cables, wheels, tubes, tires and seat.

With five-speed shimano friction-shift gears,  rear light, black wire basket and chain guard…

Freshly serviced for sale, riding wonderfully. Email for more pics!

$290

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A contemporary commuter bike modelled on a ...]]>

All bicycles are riding a charm and ready to go!

SILVER MEN’S NATIONAL / PANASONIC UPRIGHT BICYCLE (SYDNEY)

A Japanese made mens vintage bike, silver in colour with chrome forks.  

With ten-speed Shimano friction-shift gears, rear light, new handlebar grips basket
and black quilted seat.

Bike has new cables, tubes & tires. A perfect commuter bike, freshly serviced for sale.

Pick up in Sydney only, no postage.

Email for more pics!

 $290

SILVER LADIES MASTER SPORTS (SYDNEY)

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A vintage women’s bike from the early 1980s, with new cables, wheels, tubes, tires and seat.

With five-speed shimano friction-shift gears,  rear light, black wire basket and chain guard…

Freshly serviced for sale, riding wonderfully. Email for more pics!

$290

BLACK UNISEX LEKKER (MELBOURNE)

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A contemporary commuter bike modelled on a timeless Dutch design! 

With 3 speed internal gears,  integrated front and rear light, super-comfortable saddle
and great upright riding position. 

Makes every ride feel like a holiday in Amsterdam…

This is a new bike: only months old, ridden a mere handful of times. 

Not pictured here, the bike has a front carrier tray making it able to move boxes of food, bags of
clothes, or perhaps even a stereo with ease.

Email for more pics!

 $550

A month long program of events running from February 17 to March 17, Bike Fest is all about the non-sport side of cycling – much like the Casual Cyclist’s Guide.

Ranging from art to food, community events to fashion and design themes, the program is covers all elements of how bikes integrate into one’s day to day life.

This weekend from Friday 17 to Sunday 19 February, the Bike Fest Treadlie Market brings stall holders from all walks of this cycling life to the hills of Birrarung Mar, adjacent to Federation Square. With distributors, retailers, craftspeople, collectors, enthusiasts, a film night, swap meet, bicycle best-in-show, kids activities and social events, there  will indeed be something for every everyday rider.

Check back each week for updates on the upcoming weekend’s activities, ...]]>

From the ashes of the Bicycle Film Festival rises the Melbourne Bike Fest

A month long program of events running from February 17 to March 17, Bike Fest is all about the non-sport side of cycling – much like the Casual Cyclist’s Guide.

Ranging from art to food, community events to fashion and design themes, the program is covers all elements of how bikes integrate into one’s day to day life.

This weekend from Friday 17 to Sunday 19 February, the Bike Fest Treadlie Market brings stall holders from all walks of this cycling life to the hills of Birrarung Mar, adjacent to Federation Square. With distributors, retailers, craftspeople, collectors, enthusiasts, a film night, swap meet, bicycle best-in-show, kids activities and social events, there  will indeed be something for every everyday rider.

Check back each week for updates on the upcoming weekend’s activities, or of course for more information, visit the Bike Fest website.

Given the city’s flat topography, rapidly increasing bike lane network (over 400 kilometers of new lanes in the past 5 years) and lack of compulsory helmet laws, its fair to say bike sharing in NYC seems like a smart move.

As does the way the city is selecting the positioning of its 600 docking stations. The city’s Department of Transport has launched a website where residents can vote for where they think a bike share station would be most useful to them.

The site allows users to simply check out a map, mark locations where they would like a bike share station to be located and offer a brief description of why their chosen spot ...]]> NEW YORK CITY is preparing to launch its bike share program this American summer, with 10,000 bikes and 600 docking stations spread across the five boroughs.

Given the city’s flat topography, rapidly increasing bike lane network (over 400 kilometers of new lanes in the past 5 years) and lack of compulsory helmet laws, its fair to say bike sharing in NYC seems like a smart move.

As does the way the city is selecting the positioning of its 600 docking stations. The city’s Department of Transport has launched a website where residents can vote for where they think a bike share station would be most useful to them.

The site allows users to simply check out a map, mark locations where they would like a bike share station to be located and offer a brief description of why their chosen spot would be a good one. Once marked, other users can “support” proposed stations by clicking on them.

Wouldn’t it be great if the State Government and operating contractor RACV ran a similar initiative before rolling out the Melbourne Bike Share?

Then, in addition to the CBD and a scattering of stations in Docklands, Southbank, Carlton, etc, perhaps there could be also be stations in St Kilda, Fitzroy, Collingwood, Windsor, Northcote, Brunswick, Footscray, Prahran, Richmond, Yarraville, etc, etc – in other words – where most Melbourne people actually live, work, shop and of course, ride.

Where would you like a bike share docking station?

While I don’t have the skills or budget to set up a map system similar to the NYC site, I’d love to offer the same outcome…

Simply write in the comments the suburb or street corner that is missing from the Melbourne Bike Share, and a few words on how that spot would actually get you using it the system more frequently if so inclined, and the info will be gathered pass it on to Melbourne Bike Share at the end of the summer.

Share your thoughts, then spread the word!

I’ll start the proceedings, below.

Many who have an eye for lovely contemporary bicycles in Sydney and Melbourne would by now be familiar with Tokyo Bike.

A small, independent bicycle company launched in Tokyo in 2002, the inspiration and ethos behind Tokyo Bike was simply to conceive a range of bikes that were the perfect way to ride around Tokyo.

Naturally, one couldn’t hope to find an area more urban than Tokyo, so its safe to say that when a bike is good for Tokyo one couldn’t hope to find a bike more suitable to everyday urban commuting.

Attractive without being showy, focused on comfort rather than speed and free of loud branding and logos, Toyko Bikes are the modern version of everything The Humble Vintage wants to provide visiting riders.

So in a meeting of like minds, The Humble Vintage is now offering ...]]> Two fine bike businesses working together

Many who have an eye for lovely contemporary bicycles in Sydney and Melbourne would by now be familiar with Tokyo Bike.

A small, independent bicycle company launched in Tokyo in 2002, the inspiration and ethos behind Tokyo Bike was simply to conceive a range of bikes that were the perfect way to ride around Tokyo.

Naturally, one couldn’t hope to find an area more urban than Tokyo, so its safe to say that when a bike is good for Tokyo one couldn’t hope to find a bike more suitable to everyday urban commuting.

Attractive without being showy, focused on comfort rather than speed and free of loud branding and logos, Toyko Bikes are the modern version of everything The Humble Vintage wants to provide visiting riders.

So in a meeting of like minds, The Humble Vintage is now offering a his and hers pair of Tokyo Bikes for hire from the Melbourne CBD.

Rates are $40 for day, $60 for a weekend or $110 for a week, including helmet and lock.

Meanwhile at Tokyo Bike, they are gifting every person who buys a Toyko Bike this December and January a copy of The Casual Cyclist’s Guide.

Click here to book or to find out more, or call Matt on 043 032 450.

Many thanks to the Lost & Found Hotel and Captains of Industry for the venue, and Hendricks, Yering and Moritz for the gin, wine and beer.

Pics courtesy of Damien Rudd.