Promotions and Information

1 pm at corner High St and Cashel City Mall to pick up stuff stored overnight, otherwise 1:30 pm at 12 Bath Street (Parade HQ) which is near corner of Moorehouse and Colombo. 

Bring your bike trailers (if you have one).  Wear fine attire - we are trying to communicate message that anyone can cycle in even their best clothing - cycling does not have to be done dressed like we're going to battle Martians.  If you don't have a townie bike and prefer cycling gear, wear a Cycle Advocates Network (CAN) t-shirt or one of the green cycle t-shirts made by 350.org or RECYCLE (Chalky Digits).  Ideally we'll all be clearly communicating a message, which is the only way to be in the parade - if we don't have a theme then we could be denied entry to the parade.   

The Kennett Brothers and The Cycle Trading Company,

would like to INVITE you to attend the launch of a biography on
New Zealand’s most outstanding cycle tourer,

Louise Sutherland

at
The Cycle Trading Company
27 Manchester Street
Christchurch

7:00pm, Thursday, 18th November, 2010

Drinks, nibbles and cycling displays provided.

Books will be signed by the author.

Louise was a small woman with a big heart. She knew virtually nothing about bicycles, except what really mattered, and so became a cycling legend without winning a single race. Instead Louise Sutherland planned her own route one that was far longer and rougher than any Tour de France. She was the first person ever to cycle right across Brazil, through the Amazon Jungle.

The day she arrived in Brazil in 1978, government officials told Louise that her plan was "Quite impossible!" The Trans-Amazon Highway, connecting one side of Brazil with the other, had just been bulldozed and passed through remote areas inhabited by primitive people and wild animals. The idea that this petite woman from New Zealand could ride a bicycle slap bang through the middle of such wilderness was absolutely crazy.

But Louise wasn't any ordinary cyclist. She had already pedalled through 50 countries and solidly believed in the best of human nature, especially in indigenous peoples around the world she had found them to be the most hospitable. In fact, she was sceptical of modern civilisation. Travelling alone, her small stature and humble mode of transport presented no threat to anyone. And loneliness didn't worry her: "I was never lonely while I was cycling. I had my bicycle to talk to".
 

Swing into Spring with...

Frocks on Bikes - Froctober 2010

at Hagley Community College, Hagley Ave.

Frock up and celebrate cycling in style! Guys welcome, wear your good gear.

Spot prizes; free swing dance lessons; dance demonstrations; frocks market; vintage and retro bicycles to test ride; food stalls.

For more information visit http://www.frocksonbikes.org

Souped Up Cycles - Free Bike Maintenance Workshop

Hosted by Te Whare Roimata and the Linwood Community Art Centre,
cnr Stanmore Rd and Worcester St
Date: 1:00 to 4:00pm on Saturday 12th June 2010
Contact: Jenny 379-5134 or email steve [at] cycletrailers [dot] co [dot] nz

A group of enthusiastic volunteers is running its third free bike maintenance workshop from 1:00 to 4:00pm on Saturday 12th June at the Linwood Community Art Centre (cnr Stanmore Rd and Worcester St). Bring along your bike and give the tyres a pump, fix the punctures, oil the chain, tweak the brakes, re-grease the bearings etc.

We would appreciate the donation of any old bikes that can be restored to be given away, or that have useful parts. If you have bike maintenance skills come along and help out. Other non-mechanics are welcome to help with the yummy soup, taking photos etc.

Public Space Public Life Study for Christchurch

A Presentation of the Gehl Report

On 20th May 2010 at 7:30pm.

Upstairs at the George Hotel,
50 Park Terrace,
(between Kilmore and Salisbury Streets.)

Hear Hugh Nicholson - Senior Designer at the Christchurch City Council, give a presentation of renowned Danish urban designer Jan Gehl's Public Space Public Life Study for Christchurch.

The Christchurch City Council recently released a report commissioned from Gehl Architects which strongly recommends making Christchurch's CBD more people friendly by making it more cycling and walking friendly.

This report joins a prestigious list of world class cities that Danish urban designer Jan Gehl worked with, including Perth (1993), Adelaide (2002), London (2003), Wellington (2004), Melbourne (2004), Copenhagen (2005), Sydney (2007), and New York (2008). The case for walking and cycling friendly-communities is world wide.
Check out the report here (but be warned they are big downloads).

• Part 1
• Part 2
• Summary
  

This one hour social occasion / presentation will showcase the "best of" photos of cycling in overseas.  Presenters include Penny Kemp, John Lieswyn, and Pedaller's Paradise author Nigel Rushton.  Sure to engender lots of discussion should be fun for all.  Followed by an optional social ride along the river.

FLYER ATTACHED - Has been posted around town, ECAN, and centre city bike shops

Slip on a sun frock, slap on a helmet and slop on the sun block - Christchurch Frockers are heading to Sumner!

January’s ride takes our intrepid riders on a 12 and/or 6 km journey from central city east through Avonside, Linwood, Ferrymead and Redcliffs to the welcome waves and gelatos of Sumner.

Here’s the plan:

1.30pm: The 12 km option. We’ll meet at corner of Barbadoes and Kilmore where you can fuel up the body with a treat from Piko Wholefoods.
We head out east beside the Avon and then all the way down Linwood Ave to the sea. (We can pick you up at Eastgate at around 1.45pm.)

2:00pm: The 6km option. Riding all the way from Linwood is a bit extreme? Then join in at the very cycle friendly Café Le Tour de France, 1091 Ferry Road, extreme end of Ferry, beside the new apartment blocks. Tres bon crepes, café au lait. Claudine and Pascal are sponsors for Bike Challenge, The Bike Challenge.htm who in turn sponsored our Frocker November Ride

Depending on winds (and according to in cycling lore a wind shared is a wind halved) we should arrive in Sumner about 2.30pm. 

Another cool option

Tried the bus bike racks yet? http://www.metroinfo.org.nz/bikeRacks_Main.html
If you want to ride one way or part of either way you could catch the #3 bus which leaves for Sumner from the City at 26 & 56 minutes past the hour between 12-4pm. Returns from Sumner half hourly.
NB: You need to get on the bus at a stop after the Bus Exchange, as bikes are not allowed into the Exchange due to space limitations. The best stop to catch the bus from the central city is on Lichfield St just past the intersection with Madras St. Returning you have to get off at the stop before the Exchange.

Destination: the lovely Tart Café, 25 Marriner Street, where Adrianna has promised us tarts and gentlemen a discounted coffee. Save the swimmers a seat!

Bring: Your togs, sun block, appetite, money and your friends. Unfortunately, as this is an on-road ride we can’t really recommend this ride for kiddies, unless they are really road savvy.

Frockers rules: We go at the pace of the slowest rider and at all times we must look gorgeous, elegant and stylish!

http://www.frocksonbikes.org for more info

While Frocks on Bikes is more about cycling for utility trips, check out http://www.sarahulmerbrand.com/events/christchurch-31-jan-2010/

Frocks On Bikes

Spokes Canterbury members are supporting the launch of the Christchurch Chapter of the FROCKS ON BIKES as part of the 350.org international day of climate change action. The launch is on Labour Weekend, Saturday 24th October (2-5pm) at Victoria Square.

There's a City cycle promenade leaving Victoria Square at 2.30pm, (catch that Train!), “Catcycle” think fashion parade featuring fantastic newly imported “Dutch Style” bikes, and Chalky Digits' clothing plus interesting fashion categories (such as rejigged skirts/dresses), entertainment, and spot prizes including clothing, baskets, & a lovely retro style recycled bike. There will be food stalls and coffee. The MC is social media guru and environmentalist, Kaila Colbin of Missing Link. http://www.missinglinknz.co.nz

Spokes Canterbury will have a presence helping at the event. It's hoped the event encourages more women to think about cycle commuting as the obvious transport option in our beautiful Christchurch FLAT urban landscape. Men are invited wearing stylish, everyday clothing. Frocks on Bikes aims to raise awareness that cycling can be done in NORMAL and beautiful clothing and to debunk the perception that in order to cycle commute you need specialized clothing. Guys are welcome - wear your good garb.

For more information email frocksonbikeschristchurch [at] gmail [dot] com or visit http://www.frocksonbikes.org including for other upcoming events around New Zealand.

Thanks to the Wellington Frocks on Bikes for use of the logo and support for our event. Auckland women are also planning an event see the Frocks on Bikes website for more information.

Want to help out?

• We need marshals for the bike promenade (need to be able to fix punctures)
• People to do basic bike checks and maintenance (punctures, tyres, chains)
• People to help out on the Spokes Canterbury table (to talk about the City Maps & routes for people keen to get back on their bike, possible help organise a bike buddy scheme)