Hobart Bike Kitchen

Hi everyone, I was going to phish you with a wonderful tale of free fuel and dollars in your pocket bonuses from getting back on your bike but the truth is you know that already.

What we also know is that you should never let a good crisis go to waste.

We recognise that the fuel and cost of living impacts that are hitting people hard will lead to greater interest in cycling. Some of that is already leading to increased sales of conventional and e-bikes, and we can expect to greater interest in the work we do.

That means more people at Sunday Sessions which is great, it’s what we do this for.
But it doesn’t immediately lead to more chefs and volunteers to deliver the services.

More than bike donations, more than tools we need people who can help us be the biggest and best bike kitchen we can be.
Of course, we’d love people with basic bike maintenance skills to join us and become chefs, and I’ll say again you don’t need to be an advanced bike mechanic. If you can change a tyre, repair a puncture or replace a set of brake pads you’re already able to help others.

But you don’t even need to get your hands dirty.
Could you lift our game on the socials?
Could you help with inducting volunteers?
Could you be a Welcomer at a Sunday Session to make people welcome and explain how a session operates?
Could you project manage building our new bike racking and storage?

Any help in these areas would be greatly appreciated and frees up others.

Does volunteering force you into a roster or a commitment of time?

No. it’s very much from each according to their ability, to each according to their needs.
Whatever time and commitment you’re able to make comfortably is all we ask.

Do you have any questions, would you like to put your hand up?
We’d love you to get in touch at (you guessed it) hobartbikekitchen@gmail.com

Bike Love,
HBK

Hopefully you’ve been to the new site by now.
We’re loving the space and have great plans.

If you’re interested in being a part of HBK to help us deliver on those plans, please get in touch.
It doesn’t need to be bike skills, it could be project management, building, welding, training, communications or anything that you would like to contribute.

We’ve been making the most of summer with a steady stream of donations and people putting them to good use.

Last weekend we were really pleased to be able to help Hedda and Marte, 2 students from Norway who came to find out if they could get bikes.

Chef for the day Mike told them to have a look out the back and grab anything without a tag.  They fixed up the bikes, made a donation and left as very happy punters.

How good is that, sun, cycling and making the world a better place in one afternoon?

Congratulations to South Hobart Sustainable Community on the South Hobart Resilience Fair 2025, a terrific day of sharing and learning.

It was great to have HBK involved with the ever engaging Lance and volunteers showing the basics of bike maintenance and answering questions.

We know that every bike ride, whether it’s to school, shops or work, is another pedal towards making Hobart a better, more resilient city with kids that are independent, adults that exercise, communities that need less cars, have less pollution and fewer car accidents.

We’re back in business, cooking up fresh bikes at our regular Sunday sessions (check the Upcoming Sessions page) at our new location – South Hobart Tip Shop/Resource Work Cooperative.

Find us here

We’re looking forward to seeing old and new faces.

Please come get involved and join us become a chef, an organiser of tools and parts, a welcomer, … Whatever your skills or interest there is sure to be a way you can make Hobart Bike Kitchen better and help us deliver more bikes to more people and make Hobart more liveable.

Grand Reopening 
Hobart Bike Kitchen 

Sunday 21 September, 2025 
12:00 – 3:00pm 

30 McRobies Rd, South Hobart
(the original Tip Shop Shed at McRobies Gully Waste Management site) 

Please come and join us as we celebrate the move to a wonderful new space. 

We acknowledge the support of Resource Work Cooperative and Hobart City Council. 

More information: hobartbikekitchen@gmail.com 

How can the Bike Kitchen be nearly back?

The good news is that we have our insurances and agreements sorted out and we now able to open the shed doors and run some Sunday Sessions.

We haven’t been able to work on some of the things we need to do, such as workstands and bike racking, so we don’t have the space as fully functional as we’d like it to be.

That said Lance ran a great session last weekend.
The RWC crew had two trolleys of parts they wanted to give us.
We also received some great donations, met a new volunteer, answered some curious questioners and talked to some potential donators.
All in all it was a cracking first day!

However, it’s unlikely we’ll be able to run a session every weekend currently.

We need more chefs.

That doesn’t mean experienced bike mechanics. As has been mentioned before that’s not really our role.
We’re there to provide a welcoming space with bikes, parts, tools and advice while people work on bikes themselves and learn new skills.

As chefs we certainly help wherever we can, and Yes you will learn a lot if you become a HBK volunteer but you don’t need to be an experienced bike mechanic to join.

You also don’t need to commit any more time than you’re comfortable with.
Once a month, once a quarter it doesn’t matter it all adds up to more sessions.

If you would like to help Hobart Bike Kitchen grow please get in touch at hobartbikekitchen@gmail.com, or come along to a session and have a chat.

Tonight

Wednesday 9th July 2025 5:30pm

Upstairs in the Loft at Botanica Bar, Salamaca

All the usual business of an AGM and special business for the opening at the new site.

Hi everyone, it’s been good to hear that people have been asking what’s happening, and when we’ll be open.

As you may know we were planning to open at the beginning of March, and at the last moment were unable to.

We have now been able to address the additional requirements and are restarting our planning process to set a new opening date.
So, there’ll be more announcements to come once we have a date, and you’re all invited to celebrate with us when we do.

If you would like to be involved in helping with the opening, or become a chef with us please email.
By the way you don’t need to be an experienced bike mechanic to be a chef. If you’re interested in being a welcomer, sorter, learner mechanic, photographer, social media lead, …. there are many roles and everyone is welcome.

Come and see us at the Big Day of Circular Living Ideas and get the bike you know you need.

Five bikes – Five very happy people

Have a look on the page below and get in touch or come and see us at C3 Convention Centre on Saturday 22nd by 12:45

Auction Bikes – 2025

We’re excited to be a part of the Big Day of Circular Living Ideas being put on by our friends at Sustainable Living Tasmania.

It’s Saturday 22nd March 2025 at 10am – 3pm at the C3 Convention Centre, South Hobart.

You can see the full plan at https://slt.org.au/the-big-day-of-circular-living-ideas/

“Exhibitors, speakers, community groups, chefs, entertainers, artists and sustainability enthusiasts will all converge to showcase initiatives, share their experiences and knowledge, participate in panel discussions and facilitate workshops lead by our special guest ABC’s War on Waste host, Craig Reucassel.“

But the news you’ve really been waiting to hear is that we’ll be holding our famous bike auction again.
It will be a quick-fire round of five bikes with something for everyone.
The details of the auction bikes will be up next week, so keep your eyes peeled and get your bids ready.