Candy Cranks

It’s great when you’re a broke uni student who stumbles across this sign on your bike in the morning. Too bad I was starving and running late for a lecture  - on the one day I didn’t ride!

I love everything about this clothing label. So often people bring out cycling gear and get it all so very wrong. However Spoke and Spool have the design, the ethics and the function all in order.

Spoke + Spool’s unique garments are handmade from recycled second-hand clothing. Designed with a focus on functionality and purpose, this is a range for the inner-city commuter who chooses to move on two wheels.

I’m not sure when my love with wood begun. But this love transfers into a deeper love for anything wooden that is a bike. Be it frames, rims, handlebars I am there to admire woods aesthetical brilliance. Obviously, this is my bike fetish. That is, something that evokes a sense of bikecitement right through every inch of my bones. I’m sort of embarrassed to admit this. However I feel this is an important introduction to allow you to understand the extent of the horror felt that I had not heard about Cerchio Ghisallo until today. At least I don’t think I have? Today I listened intently as a co-worker explained the craftsman ship behind Ghisallos spealised wooden rims. This business that has been in operation for three generations explains, “Located but a few metres off from the renon “Our Lady of the Ghisallo” Sanctuary, we are an artisan workshop of old, utterly unique in our genre. Dedicated to the production of bicycle rims with a passion, we avail of quite a range of rim and spoke hole sizes, as well as mudguards, chaincases and beechwood pack and carry racks. in faggio.” How magical does that sound?

Anyway back down to earth and reality. I must remind myself that I am a broke university student and won’t taunt myself further by looking at the price for such beauty. I will ride on happily with my wood-painted rims and pretend they are the real deal…until I win lottery.

No more bike lights. I’m seeing the future kids riding with neon lights. These brightly clothes are designed by enlighted . They were designed as costumes for a performance but I’m thinking these could be wild on your clothes or bike on a dark winters night. 

What do bikes, spoons and silver eggs have in common?

The answer: Carrying your bike up and down a steep set of stairs while balancing a silver egg on a spoon.

This was one of last Saturdays Candy Cranks Star Trek Alley Cat  - check points and my god was it a blast supervising this task!! 

For me, balancing an egg on a spoon is hard at the best of times. But add in stairs, a bike, some puffed out lungs and a down pour of rain and we had ourselves a good old fashioned laugh… I mean challenge.

 So this is how it all happened. I got to sight and met up with my check point bud, Kate. Unfortunately there was a bottle-o next to site and before the first riders had even shown up we were partying.

 As bikes rolled in and got drag up the stairs, I was amazed at everyones coordination skills. I’ve got to say all riders were in great spirits and so thank you for making such a fun night of it for us! I couldn’t count how many people thanked us for being out in the rain to serve their game. Very sweet.

 Which brings me to another point. There were a few ways to win this alley cat and one was point based. Meg gave Kate and I a bunch of cute stick on dollies that counted to 20 points. Therefore I was closely watching for a chance to gives these babies out to well deserving people. These included: first to the check point, really nice people,pitty points for riders with heavy bikes, people who cracked eggs! (only 3-4 of you) and best dressed.

 In between riders, Kate and I made a few friends of our own. Firstly there was the security guard who was very gracious of being gifted with a silver egg for his children and secondly a cute little girl being blind folded down the steps by her father. This girl had walked over a kilometer blind folded as an exercise to understand how it would feel to be blind. Kate and I awaited her at the bottom of the steps with a silver eggs as a congratulations. I’ve never met anyone so stoked to see a silver egg!      

 p.s three silver eggs were left at the bottom of the stairs as a tribute to the check point it’self- Bret Whiteley’s, Giant egg sculpture! which is situated right next to these stairs.

This image is adorable. Maybe because the kid reminds me of my brother or maybe because it’s just funny.

There is a chick riding around Surry Hills with a cute helmet that looks like this below with a white strip. Where did you get this? I’ve been trying to find it online and in the process found these helmets above which In my opinion are a hell of a lot better than the ugly usual or a splatterd head. 

50cycles

Nothing says old (but new) class like the Moto Guzzi. I can imagine a gorgeous thing riding this beauty wearing a brown leather jacket with grandpa elbow patches. mmm! 

bikeexif.com

I’ve been going to the Mitchell Road Auction Centre for a few years now. It’s a great place to pick up old school furniture and pieces on the cheap! They’ve always had a few bikes there but on my last visit I saw that they have introduced a bike auction. I would totally recommend checking this out if your after a something to knock about, ride to Uni or after a frame to build up a budget bike. Auction everyone Monday at 1.30. However you can’t make the Monday, suss it out on Sunday and cast an absent vote.

I celebrated the coming of 2010 at the Peats Ridge Music Festival with great food, beats, entertainment and bikecitment! Here are some of the snaps I managed to pick up over a crazy 4 days.

Above: Felix and his unicycle checking out the message wall at the festival.

Above: is taken from the ‘Trash Temple’ an interactive space that used performance and street theatre to spread awareness about the impacts of fuel used for our vehicles. This was a perfect spot for festival goers to lock their bikes.

Above: At the Bohemian Love Theate. Amazing costumes, energy and bikes! 

Above: I had to have a try! 

Above: My mate smashing the unicycle seriously well for ther first attempt.