Author: hobartbikekitchen

Full moona in Taroona

Sometimes you gotta break the rules. Like crossing on a red man. Not locking your front door. Walking backwards up an escalator. Wearing odd socks with pants that are too short. Wearing odd pants with socks that are too short. And so on.

Well, add one more to the list – Finishing a HBK session after 5 o’clock. After a spiritual afternoon giving the people of Hobart all the bike learning our bones had to offer, the skies darkened and we realised the error of our ways, the witching hour was here and there was no stopping it. While we had busied ourselves with work the whispers of night had crept into our very minds and now compelled us to new tasks.

So by the light of a bicycle chain oil lamp, we set about the city inserting spoke cards, repairing tyres and correcting the braking clearances of any innocent bicycle left alone.

At least thats what I heard.

Some people say it never happened.

– Better go check your bike… –

Continue reading Full moona in Taroona

Grind Away Your Blues

Careful with that grinder Eugene

Yeah well, um, Sam here, what did happen today? umm, ahahah, you know got on with the kitchen didnt we? We churned out.. nah, how many bikes did we churn out, 5. 6. 10? Plus the premier came in, nup. synopisis, maybe he did, I dunno. Cassy is comin in next week. My brain doesnt flow like this, not since uni. Ok I’ll put up the pics. Continue reading Grind Away Your Blues

HBK back with the MRC

It was sweet. We packed up the trailer, picked up some crew in town and headed to the Pulse centre in Glenorchy.

Just about all the bikes we brought along rolled out the door in operational order with a smiling customer aboard. A couple of projects that people brought along were also rejuvenated successfully.

At it again next week. Check out the pics.

Ewan, of the new Bike Kitchen crew

Continue reading HBK back with the MRC

Australia Day Weekend Session.

Last weeks Bike Kitchen was possibly the biggest yet. The backyard was filled with Bikes, Bike Kitcheners, Kids and a Dog.

Mark and his father with their completed Apollo which was gorgeous. It took a few sessions to get all the niggles out but all the effort was worth it!

Ollie built up another Apollo frame which I found a few bocks from HBK HQ on hard rubbish day. This frame was a full on racer and really light. Currently running ‘Ghetto’ single speed, (2 Chainrings and Cassette remain) this bike is the perfect steed for getting around town and to Uni.

Whats been happening

Okay I’ve finally got my laptop back, so I can fill you in with what Hobart Bike Kitchen has been up to over the Festive Season.

Firstly the Sunday Sessions have still been in full swing (with a one week gap due to Christmas.)

Last session before Christmas saw a few gifts being ‘cooked up.’

This lovely step through bike is waiting to be claimed as a project bike by someone. It already has had its chain cleaned!

Anybody can come along and find a bike for themselves, its free! Usually we have all the parts you need.

Though sometimes it takes some effort to find them.

Over New Years I was helping out CoolPool Tas Promote Carpooling at the Falls Festival. This is the CoolPool walking car which attracted a lot of attention from the punters.

This turned out to be heaps of fun. Everyone should go register at Coolpool as even us bike riders sometimes need a lift and of course some of us drive.

HBK has teamed up with the Migrant Resource Center to set up some bike-related activities in their school holiday activities program. Over the first two weeks of January we had a bike maintenance session at Youth ARC, a group bike ride to Cornelian Bay and two mini Bike Kitchen sessions at Pulse youth center in Glenorchy.These actives proved popular and it was great to see many of the participants already had good bike spannering skills, all that was needed was some tools and they were right into it.

Some built up a bike kitchen bike for themselves.

The last session ran a few hours over time, as more and more bikes appeared. In the end there had to be a cut off point. As usual the few photos I snapped off don’t show the number of participants we had drop by over the two sessions.

By popular demand, we have an encore session Friday(22/1) from 2-4:30 If anybody is interested in helping out, get in contact. Beyond the scope of the summer holiday activities we are hoping to organise a portable Bike Kitchen happening possibly once a month in this location.

Okay thats enough for one post, consider yourself updated.

Gus