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Date: 10/2/2024
Subject: Bike North Newsletter 2 October 2024
From: Bike North



   2 october 2024              Your Bike North News

We were certainly Activ8ed!

The statistics tell the story - 136 members rode 422 times and covered over 22,700km! That equates to cycling around Australia 1.5 times on Highway 1! Below are moments from just some of the rides in the last week of September. Well done and huge thanks to the Ride Leaders. 

Did You Activ8?

September has come to a close and so has Activ8.

For those who were still hibernating through September, what was Activ8? Bike North wanted our members to shake off the winter blues and get active during the first month of Spring, when the weather is traditionally warmer and drier. We asked Ride Leaders to put on at least two rides each and select some less used rides to increase variety. We also challenged members to join at least two rides during the month, so they could start to develop  healthy habits. There were even articles on how to ensure both you and your bike were ready for the challenge. So how did we go?

Lots of members also participated. In fact 136 members participated a total of 422 times, (an average of 3 rides per participant for the month) and covered over 22,700km! That equates to more than 1.5 times the distance around Australia on Highway 1! Great work!

So what did you think of Activ8? Should we try it again next year and what improvements do you suggest? Let us know by emailing your ideas to info@bikenorth.org.au.

And don’t forget, it is never too late to Activ8!

Your Executive Committee at work

The new Executive Committee has settled into the new year’s strategic planning and decision making.  You will be hearing more about the Strategic Plan, which guides us in determining how we will be using our energies.
This year's Executive Committee is:
  • President: Phill Hart
  • Secretary: Tom Rubin
  • Treasurer: Melody Guo (not pictured)
  • Advocacy Coordinator: David Thomson
  • Rides Coordinator: Brian Lynne
  • Communications Coordinator: Sarah Gillis
In the photo, from left to right:  Tom, Sarah, David, Andrew Elliston (who has offered to give significant support with the Rides Committee and Routes Library), Phill, Di Lawrence (the Editor of Chain Reaction) and Brian.

We would love to have you join us, especially if you are interested in giving specific support to members or helping people build their cycling skills.  Email me if you'd like to discuss this.

Phill Hart, President, president@bikenorth.org.au

It's a Bike Party!

A few weeks ago we had my daughter's birthday party down at a local park. There were about 50 people in attendance and way too much stuff to fit in the car alone (particularly with all the presents coming home). The solution was to also bring the bike trailer on an ebike with a 160L waterproof tote box from Bunnings, some foam mats and a few tie down straps. The best part was that even though I left home last, I was still first to the park table by more than 5min because I just rode straight to it and didn't need to park and carry.


I got a great deal on the trailer second hand so spent <$300 all up but even buying everything new would be <$700. A week later, I rode 3km each way towing 2 kids bikes on the trailer to the free bike servicing at the Northside Produce Markets in North Sydney. I was able to ride straight up to the stall. You can’t do that with a car.


Future uses will include biking to Saturday morning sports games and training with bulky equipment, bulky shopping trips and picnic events that are too far to walk to. Towing a quality bike trailer is much easier than most people would think – particularly with hydraulic disc brakes being the norm now. You don’t even realise you’re towing anything except when you get to a steep hill – and an ebike takes care of that.

If you have a regular ebike (or even a regular bike with some mountain bike gearing) and aren't quite ready for the jump to a cargo bike, this is a really cheap and easy way to add a lot of carrying capacity to your bike for the occasions when you need it so that you can continue to leave the car at home for even more of the <5-10 km local trips. Oh - and you can use it for "sled rides" that every kid said was the BEST party activity ever!

Tony Stanley

No Trains so will Bikes Help?

With the impending closure of the train line between Bankstown and Sydenham, the ABC posted an article about the changes and the lack of a dedicated alternative cycle route. Read the article here

It's worth highlighting existing corridors which traverse some of the Bike North routes along the Cooks River Greenway etc. Click this link to view information about southwest routes. 

For information regarding cycleways and shared paths across Sydney go to this site
Franc Vaccher 

Next Ride Kiama?

Now that you've enjoyed Activ8 how about riding to Kiama. Check out this video of the ride. 
https://vimeo.com/1013338537

For Sale

Pacific 3 bike platform rack for sale.
Good condition
Price is $160
Contact Ron Warren on 0409902286



CHAIN REACTION ARTICLE DEADLINE

Bike North members are keen to hear about your rides and ideas. Send your article, either within an email or as an attached Word document, and separately attached images (jpeg files please) to news@bikenorth.org.au by 4pm each Tuesday for publication in our weekly newsletter Chain Reaction or for your article to be added to our News library.
Before sending your ideas please read the Guidelines for Contributors .

Submit your article

BICYCLE NSW DISCOUNT

Did you know that membership of Bike North entitles you to a 15% discount on a membership to Bicycle NSW? Use code 15NORTH when you join or renew. Bicycle NSW members receive global, comprehensive (personal accident and public liability) rider insurance and a range of other benefits as well as advocacy and legal support.

Find out more

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info@bikenorth.org.au
ABN 54 709 768 966