Category: Bikes & equipment

Reviews of bikes, equipment, gear, etc.

Flashback Friday: Carrying stuff by bike

Some of my work colleagues have been getting new bikes lately (including making use of the clever new WorkRide scheme). Most of these have been e-bikes (which warrants a whole post about that one day…) and some have also been …

Cycling in Singapore: A study in contrasts

I was lucky enough to spend a week holidaying with my partner in Singapore back in early August. We did a lot of fun activities around this equatorial island and mostly survived the sweltering heat.

Of course, ever the transport …

Flashback Friday – Cycling in Shanghai

Greetings to you, currently on holiday in Singapore! In fact, I was so busy getting ready to head away last week that I didn’t even remember a Flashback Friday… It’s actually Singapore National Day today, so I expect to be …

In the Spotlight: Steven Muir, showing us the way

I wasn’t sure where to start when I talked with Steven Muir. With his Sunday afternoon cycling church (and the book he wrote about it)? With his role in setting up community initiatives like ICECycles and, more recently, the Aranui …

Flashback Friday: Can e-scooters and bikes co-exist?

Perhaps I should have re-titled this “can e-scooters and pedestrians co-exist?”, as we’ve just heard that Waka Kotahi (NZTA) have decided to renew their Gazette notice declaring that “e-scooters (up to 300W) are not motor vehicles” and are thus able …

Confessions of a Newbie Cycle Commuter from Jafa-land

What’s it like to take up cycling to work when you’ve never done it before? That was the interesting test when my partner Tracey landed a new job at Christchurch Main Hospital and decided that commuting there by bike was …

Flashback Friday: Isabelle (necessary on a bicycle?)

I was showing someone around the city’s cycleways yesterday, always a fun exercise. There were a few busy sections where pedestrians and riders were mingling together and we had to slowly weave our way through. My colleague was probably better …

Flashback Friday – Guest Post: Statistics, Dollars, and the Intangible (Priceless) Benefits of Cycling

We’re all becoming a bit more acutely aware of the cost-of-living crisis, as inflation keeps pushing many prices hard. For many people heavily reliant on their motor vehicles, the recent fuel prices haven’t helped – the impending prospect of the …

Shutl brings e-bike subscriptions on demand to Christchurch

There’s a growing number of people in New Zealand who are liking the benefits that e-bikes can bring to their lifestyle, especially if they have to contend with hills, longer distances, or just poor health/fitness. But owning an e-bike doesn’t …

New 529 Garage site aims to tackle bike theft

Tackling bike theft is a perennial problem globally; it’s a particular issue in places where biking is increasingly popular – like Christchurch. We’ve talked about other attempts to address the problem before, but often the challenge is getting sufficient …

Flashback Friday: Bus Bike Racks continue to grow

As we gradually develop our burgeoning cycleway network around Christchurch, it’s useful to remind ourselves of the other way that we can expand our network around the city – by bus. Since 2008, the option has been there to pop …