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

Pancakes in the Park

There is NO Sunday Session this weekend. Hobart Bike Kitchen has been invited to participate in the Pancakes in the Park Event which is happening Sunday Morning.

Event:

Pancakes in the Park, Sunday 22nd Nov, 10am – noon.
D’Arcy St Park, South Hobart.

What is it:
“The event is from 10AM – 12 on sunday 22nd.
The idea is for people to come along and eat free pancakes and get to know their neighbours. It is also for people to begin to learn what skills people have locally and to sort of set up a skills fair. So i might babysit your child if you cut my hair and made me a cake.
The event is aimed at those living in south Hobart, but its not exclusive so even if people are not in the area  is is still ok to come.
its a big social experiment which may fall flat or may be a roaring success.”

The thought of free pancakes was too much to resist.

If your about it would be great to drop in, especially if you live in or near south Hobart.

We are going to bring along a good set of tools and will be working away but won’t have access for all the spare parts etc we have at HBK HQ.

I’m considering running a 5pm onwards Session on a weekday to make up, get in touch if you’d be interested in this.

Also if your without a bike we now have so many different bikes that I’m sure we could find you a suitable project to work with so no excuses, come along.

Tata
Gus