Category: Announcement

We had a plan but why should that get in the way of some HBK bike loving.

As you can read below and check out the photos it was a great day to get some bikes fixed, but we do have to complete the sorting and moving of bikes, move the green waste and getting the bike racking completed.

So if you are thinking of coming to HBK this weekend please be aware that bike fixing will be a lower priority to doing the other tasks. That doesn’t mean don’t come. Please come along and lend a hand. The sooner we get the other chores out of the way the sooner we get to fix bikes.

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It was a supersized Sunday at HBK this weekend.

The sun came out and so did the cyclists seeking some HBK bike love.

Matt and Maddie did a huge job helping out the punters, we must have had 20 people there at times working on a whole range of bikes, classic ladies step through getting attnetion, a dad working on kids bike, one of the 22″ 3 speed folders going, bunch of road bikes in various states of repair and more.

We also had a assistant chef, who had got a bike recently and came back to lend a hand.

Apologies that I’ve forgotten his name, but Matt will be able to enlighten us.

Mark and Ben got the bikes moved from their previous area and roughly sorted into piles. We’ve got about the right number of MTB/flat bar cruisers, good number of kids bikes, a mixed assortment opf the retro/classics bikes but probably too many frames with a lot of work to do, and very few road bikes.

We did give a trailer load of bikes to Ant Edler and the Bikes for Africa project, though not as many as might have thought.

We also have a heap of frames which we’ll have to decide are worth keeping or not as well as a heap of kids bikes not worth retaining.

Bernd and Ben then got into the tree removal, removing the large woody weed we had many of the bikes stored under.

Hope the thumb is feeling better Bernd.

We didn’t have the time to take the green waste away on Sunday, so next Sunday when we’ll have to have a no. of tip runs.

HBK Annual General Meeting
Wednesday 14th August
6:00 – 7:00
New Sydney Hotel

If you’re interested in playing a part with HBK please come along to the AGM.

Whatever time or skills you have we’ll be happy to have you join us as we save the world one bicycle at a time.

You should be able to click the button below and let us know if you are coming.

If it doesn’t work or all seems too hard, email hobartbikekitchen@gmail.com

There’s certainly no winter lull at HBK. The new site – thanks TWS – is proving really successful and every Sunday so far has been great, plenty of you wanting to get some more bikes on the road and chefs to help out.

This Sundays session of bicycle fixing madness was just smashing. Matthew and Lance were resplendant in their chef’s hats and were admirably assisted by both Raf and little Madeline who surpassed all expectations for a young lady bicycle mechanic.

At the conclusion of our summit, the executive summary indicated that we had definitely released 3 additional bikes out into the world, (plus another possible which I did not personally confirm!) We also saw a frame head off for some home repair, and a bunch of broken old wheels roll away for some inexplicable art project.

As you can see from the photos, there was much happiness with the new machines.

But wait there’s more. Actually there are more bikes, more bikes coming in than going out, so don’t wait till summer has arrived come along to HBK get working on your new bike project now and you’ll be ready and riding as the days get longer.

I think we’ve all noticed that the days are shorter, so much so that packing up at 5:00 is all a bit hard.

So until further notice our Sunday Session hours will be 1:00 to 4:00.

It’s still best to check the event detail on the Upcoming Events widget to confirm time and location.

The Upcoming Events widget is that thing on the left, if you mouseover or click on the event description it will show more information. The mouseover shows time properly, sadly for some reason when you click and go to the Google calendar it shows time in GMT if you’re not logged in to Google – sorry.

But even though it’s winter, we’ve been having some great Sunday Sessions, the sun’s been shining, there’s plenty of you turning up and we’ve got heaps to do.

Here are some photos from last weekend.

So what’s been happening since the grander than grand Grand Re-Opening?

Well our Sundays have been full of bike fixing goodness. There’s been a great turn out each Sunday Session and the atmosphere has been terrific.

Also it’s been great to welcome some new chefs to Hobart Bike Kitchen. Dan, Paul C, Paul W, Rob, Matt, Jarod – Welcome!
A plan is useful, a space is important, some bikes critical – but it’s the people that make this thing work, and are also what makes it worthwhile.

So here are some pictures sharing the bike love.

See you soon, HBK team

Well it’s happened and it was a great success – the Grand Re-Opening of Hobart Bike Kitchen was brilliant.

It looked just like the vision – Community, Cooperation, Bikes, Sunshine, …

For all of that to have happened we have a number of organaisations and people to thank.

Hobart’s indigenous owners the Muwinina people
The Wilderness Society – for a great space, and for sharing our vision
Tas Community Fund – without them there would be no new shed, fewer tools and no trailer, and the bike racking yet to come
Rotary Hobart – for toolboard & new power tools
Hobart City Council – for the rest of the shed, the workbenchs, the lovely Park tools
Island Workshop – for making the shed sit where it’s meant to, and will continue to do so
Hazell Bros – for the concrete on which everything sits
Min. for Sustainable Transport & Leader of The Greens – for the Grand Re-Opening BBQ and for riding bikes
Jackman & McRoss – wasn’t the bread great

Greg Parssey – for all of our signwriting
Luke – for extracting the digit and getting the foundations started

Lance, Ben, Mark, Sam, Paul C, Steve, Ollie, Dan, Tim, Paul W, Rob and to those whose names I don’t know who all contributed to the organising, clearing, digging, shed building, parts stacking, bike moving, … that created the new shed.

To everyone who has been part of Hobart Bike Kitchen since we started, whether you’ve worked on the tools, made a donation or received assitance, and made what we are doing worthwhile.

Lastly, but most importantly, to our partners & families who have enabled this to happen by putting up with us, by being understanding of the amount of bikes and bike related stuff that has entered their lives and by supporting us.

I hope you’re getting excited, we certainly are.

The Shed is up, the tool bench is a picture of beautifully organised tools (long may it stay that way) and the shelves are full of bike bits.

We’ve got food and drinks, some VIP guests and a good forecast for the Grand re-Opening.

So roll on Sunday and we’ll get the shed open and our first Sunday Session on the new site.

Thanks to everyone who is coming along to help us kick off in style.

Not that everything is done. We’ve still got a big bike rack to build and fill so let us know if you want to lend a hand.

We also want to add a whole lot more of you to the HBK Chef roster to ensure we can run plenty of Sunday Sessions, expand into other days of the week and engage with a whole lot more groups who appreciate the wonderfulness that bikes can provide.

Bike love,
HBK

Its taken a long time, but at last it’s really happening!