As autumn starts to kick in around Christchurch, I hope you’re still finding plenty of reasons to get out and about on your bike (and there are always ways and means to work around it being cold or wet). In case you need a bit more inspiration; here are a few more bike-themed events coming up this month:
- In the build-up to the first Major Cycleways being built this year, Christchurch City Council are promoting a Cycle to your Library Day this Tue 14th Apr. Bike along to any CCC Public Library on Tuesday, show them your helmet, and receive a handy free reflective backsack to carry your books!
- As previously mentioned, don’t forget about the Cycle Touring Info Evening also on Tue 14th Apr. Find out from the experts how to travel the world via our favourite mode of transport!
- Speaking of touring, on Thu 16th Apr, Swiss travellers Céline and Xavier will present tales of their cycle adventures around the world all the way to New Zealand, in “Nomadic Life on a Bike: From the Swiss Alps to the Southern Alps”. Starts 7.30pm in CPIT Lecture Theatre S169, 60 Madras St; entry by koha.
- For something a little different, art and cycling lovers may like to visit the Madras Lounge exhibition, between 9th-19th Apr at ArtBox (270 St Asaph St). This is a ten-day impromptu community collaboration, in support of the Christchurch City Mission’s Women’s Night Shelter, bringing together exceptional local artistic talent and also some stylish cycling options (courtesy of Via Cycles & ArchiBikes).
- Next weekend, Frocks on Bikes have a St Albans Park to Redwood Springs ride on Sun 19th Apr from 1-3pm. Meet at St Albans Park on Barbados St opposite Ris’tretto Cafe at 12.45pm for a very leisurely ride mainly along relatively quiet residential roads and cycle paths up to Redwood Springs and back. Everyone welcome.
- For those who are interested in how cycling fits in with good urban design, you might like to attend a coming seminar by Canadian “urban experimentalist” Charles Montgomery. How do cities make us “happy”? Charles explains how cities influence how we feel, behave and treat each other in ways most of us never realise. Tue 21st Apr from 6.00pm (doors open 5.30) at Chch City Council; a free talk but you need to reserve your spot by Apr 16th.
- I hear rumours of an Anzac Day Dawn Ride on Sat Apr 25th – more to come…
- The Lazy Sunday Cycle Christchurch team also have one more Lazy Sunday ride coming up for Sun 26th Apr – check out their webpage for details.
- Another April date for your calendar is midday Tue 28th Apr when submissions on the City Council’s Long Term Plan close. Very important to submit on this as it locks in cycleway funding for the next 10 years! Spokes Canterbury has already provided some useful guidance for making submissions. More details to come in a later post.
- As always, RAD Bikes will also continue to provide bike maintenance/rebuild support to the community throughout April, with the High St shed open on Wednesday evenings and Sunday afternoons.
- Finally, it’s a bit further away, but one to put into your calendar now is this year’s Winter Solstice Ride, Sun Jun 21st from 5.30pm. This is starting to become a regular fixture on the Christchurch cycling calendar; last year saw a great turnout. If you need some help to create some lighting “bling” for your bike this year, get along to Science Alive’s Celebration of Light festival this week (11th-17th Apr, CPIT Madras St) where staff there can help you to decorate your favourite bike with the latest in light technologies. More info to come later…
Phew! So many things on; it’s a shame I’m not able to enjoy them from halfway around the world at present. But I hope you do!
What events are you looking forward to?