Its been a very long time since I ran a workshop for people to make their own bike trailers, but the time seems ripe to run another one with a bit of a twist. We are mainly up-cycling old pallets …
Category: Bikes & equipment
Reviews of bikes, equipment, gear, etc.
Carrying stuff by bike
Apparently you can’t carry a refrigerator on your bicycle. I’ve seen one or two examples where that has actually been done, but I must admit I probably won’t be doing it anytime soon (nor for that matter bringing it home …
Rickshaw Charity Ride Success
Last weekend (24-25 March) Sean Pawson and Josh Geddes took turns pedaling a cycle rickshaw 250kms across the South Island from Kumara Beach, over Arthurs and Porters Passes, crossing the Canterbury Plains, and ending up at New Brighton Beach in …
Fossil Fuel Free Multisport 2018
We have done a few Fossil Fuel Free Multisport outings since 2011, ranging from 20km to 500km. This year we did a smaller version from 16-18 February, biking about 45km with our kayaks in tow from Christchurch, over Dyers …
Cycle Tour NZ with a Surfboard
New Zealand is a great place to cycle tour with a surfboard, but they can be an awkward shape to carry long distances, particularly if the wind gets strong. Now there is a Christchurch made cycle trailer specifically designed for …
A postcard from Melbourne
This post is long time coming; too many other distractions since, like Biketober… I was lucky to head across the ditch in September for a couple of week’s holiday in Australia. We started in Melbourne and then drove the coastal …
Photo of the Day: Auckland Dockless Bike Share
I was in Auckland earlier in the week attending a transport conference. Taking a bus through town, I snapped this shot while stopped at the lights (excuse the reflections from the bus window):
In case you haven’t come …
Photo of the Day: Bus Bike Rack Practice
Bike racks on the front of buses are becoming a familiar sight around the city, particularly now that they are standard on all Metro services. I’m seeing a fairly steady level of usage on the buses travelling around town, …
Fossil Fuel Free Coast to Coast to Coast 2017
The second ever Fossil Fuel Free Coast to Coast to Coast was held in February 2017 and was much more enjoyable than the 2016 outing which got hit by a weather bomb. Five participants biked from Christchurch to the West …
Are you a “one bike” or “multi bike” person?
I’ve been observing people riding to work on my daily commute and looking at what they’re riding on. Increasingly there are some pretty cool commuting bikes, including e-bikes and stylish “upright” city bikes. But it’s interesting how many still are …
Cycling and the Law: Things that can go on or with a Bike
In our earlier legal articles we considered what counts as a cycle and where you can legally bike. Now let’s look at what you can and can’t have on your bike (well you can take it from the earlier …
Cycling Road Rules getting a shake-up
Many of the current road transport regulations in place in New Zealand were drafted really only with motor vehicles in mind; trying to apply them to cycles as well doesn’t always make sense. New developments in cycling network design also …
Have mercy on me, a Health & Safety sinner
I was made to feel like an irresponsible criminal yesterday. My crime? I wanted to carry 3 lengths of stainless steel home on my bike for my latest bike trailer project. It was around 10kg worth of material in 3m …
Isabelle (necessary on a bicycle?)
An interesting initiative is being considered by the Christchurch City Council. Following a deputation to a Community Board by a dog walker, the Council has agreed to to promote and encourage the use of bells on bicycles.
The concern …
Cycling and the Law: What is a “Cycle”?
This is the start of a planned series of articles to help readers understand some of the legal ins and outs of cycling in NZ. I get lots of questions about this, and clearly there is a bit of confusion …
Product Reviews: GearBest Cycling Accessories
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And now for a word from our sponsors… well not quite, but I did receive a request from international online retailer GearBest to have a look at some of their cycling accessories (they also stock a wide range of other …
Spark Bikes bikeshare now in central Christchurch
Christchurch now has another piece in the puzzle for a cycle-friendly city, with the launch of the “Spark Bikes” public bikeshare scheme in central Christchurch last Friday. As mentioned previously, five stations have been set up across the central …
Bus Bike Racks continue to grow
As many of you will have heard, various changes were made to Christchurch bus services in December. For example, we now have a network of high-frequency “orange/purple/yellow/blue line” services across the city. One relatively unheralded outcome of the new bus …
Are bike lights becoming too bright?
It wasn’t that long ago that motorists could quite reasonably grumble about the lack of decent lighting emanating from most night-time bike riders. However, technology has moved on at a rapid pace and now you can get a decent set …
M is for Maintenance
Over the past few months, my bike has been looking progressively more haggard, with various things not quite working as well as they should. The gears weren’t shifting properly, the brakes were a bit so-so, there was a bit of …