It really feels like not so long ago I was typing out the last newsletter. Another month must have flown by and now we find ourselves in the thick of the cycling season… “wow!”

We’ve had a stack of recent events plunging us into the deep end. I’m talking bike swap meets, Blessing of the Bike, Around the Bay and of course trusty old Ride to Work Day… “what a blast!”

Oh yes, another fun gig in October was the Go Bike festival. We spent some time down there showcasing the Gazelle Dutch bikes with Alex from Gazelle Australia. Note the 2010 Gazelle range is now viewable online. Alex dropped in to the Human Powered Cycles cultural epicentre and was so impressed with the shop and our range of Gazelle bikes that he’s now advertising and recommending us as a Gazelle select dealer with a “large range of Gazelles and expert advice”… Exactly!

So now we’re in the thick of it. We’re madly planning for our contribution to this year’s Bicycle Film Festival (see below or drop in for a copy of the program). And another thing on the radar will be our first anniversary in December. Keep your eyes to the ground and your nose peeled as we finalise the party plans with a “spectacular lineup” and put out invites right across town. We’ll crank out some stupendously insane specials in the lead up and generally “smile heaps” too.

One last thing before we move into this month’s nitty gritty: check down below on the 22nd November. HPC mechanic Cat is holding a bike maintenance workshop for women at this year’s LadyFest festival.

Happy spring peddling and smiling,

Bill and the crew

BFF09/Melbourne

The program is packed full! More film screenings, competitions, events and after parties than a single cyclist could possibly freewheel
between.

We reckon one of the most exciting features will be the good folk at the Human Powered Cafe working hard to Keep It Local. That’s right, we’re hosting a satellite event out in the wilds of Thornbury featuring a stunning program of local shorts featuring the humble bicycle. We’ll have repeat screenings on the 13th and 14th of this month. With free entry of course. The party kicks off at 6pm for drinks with the first screening at 6.30pm. Drinks and nibbles for the in betweeny then a second screening at 8pm… one for the early birds and one for the late crew on each night.

Check the BFF site for details of what’s on offer or drop in and pick up a program.

First Australian National Hardcourt Bike Polo Championships

Mark it in your diary, book your flights. 28-29 November 2009.

Held in conjunction with the 2009 Bike Film Festival, Melbourne. More details here.

Planning is underway, representatives from Brisbane, Sydney, Perth, Adelaide and Castlemaine are collaborating with Melbourne.

Urban Donkey bicycle exhibition

Synergy Gallery 253 High St Northcote
November 17-29th
Pedalling machines brough to life for merrimental pleasure. Bicycles by
Matt B, Paintings by Johnny K.

Darebin Mayor’s Event 2009 – Unmask a Cure for MS

We reckon this is well worth supporting and, with the kind assistance of
Allegro Bikes, have donated an Allegro City 3 commuting bike as a raffle
prize. (check the City 3 at http://www.allegrobikes.com.au/City.htm)
See http://www.darebin.vic.gov.au/Page/page.asp?Page_Id=6708&h=0 for
details of the event and how to support it.

Next Darebin Bicycle Users Group meeting

At Franko and Loui’s pizza on High Street
7.30pm start
See http://www.darebinbug.org.au/

Cycling Promotion Fund Annual Report

The Cycling Promotion Fund is committed to promoting and encouraging
cycling and advocating for policies and investments to make cycling
accessible, safe and convenient. To find out more about our objectives,
achievements and priorities, read our annual report online or order a
hard copy from our office – www.cyclingpromotion.com.au.

Bicycles for Humanity say: Give your old bike a new life!

Upgrading your wheels? Got a trusty ol’ steed lying idle in the back
of the garage? Why not set it free and make a fundamental difference in
some of the poorest nations in the world?
Bicycles for Humanity is a world wide organisation providing critical
transport solutions through the redistribution of secondhand bikes.

In 2009 Bicycles for Humanity Melbourne sent its first shipping
container of 409 bikes to Namibia. The shipping container itself becomes
a bike workshop, providing skills training, business opportunities and
employment to benefit the community for many years to come. Clever huh?

We’re now seeking bikes for the 2010 container. Please get in touch if
you’ve got an old bike ready for a new life.

The whole story can be found at bicycleforhumanity.com

BikeFun

And of course here’s a fantastic collection of events coming up
forwarded from BikeFun (see http://bikefun.org)

******************************************************
Reasonably Fast Rides – Thursday 5th November and every 1st Thursday
******************************************************
6:30PM North Melbourne Town Hall. Riding about 20km & faster than your
average
bikefun ride – on roads. Organiser: Stevie.

******************************************************
Northside Knowledge 2009 – Saturday 7th November
******************************************************
2pm, The Rotunda, Edinburgh Gardens. How observant are you? Use photo
clues to
identify sites within a 3km radius of The Gardens.
Ride to the sites and answer a question! Teams of 2 to 4 riders. You
decide the
route. Points available, ranging from 2 (short distance) to 8 (longer
ride).
Finish at a local pub at 6pm Not a race! Prizes, giveways and fun fun
fun!
Organisers: CrazyBear & MrWheels

http://www.cbdweb.net/personal.nsf/files/bikefun/$file/northside%

20flyers.pdf

******************************************************
Melbourne BUG ride – Sunday 8th November
******************************************************
10am – 1pm Meet North Melbourne Railway Station, Railway Place, West
Melbourne
(Melways Ref: 43 C6)
Cost: Free, please bring money for punt and coffee. Suitable for:
Babies in
seats, 7 – 10 y/o, 11 – 15 y/o, Over 15s, Adults.
Join this quiet family ride which is mostly on off road bike paths. We
will
travel from North Melbourne to Footscray, heading to the punt at
Spotswood.
>From there, we will cycle to Beacon Cove for a coffee break. Return
along the
Port Melbourne light rail path to Docklands and back to North Melbourne
Railway
Station. The pace is slow (suitable for primary schoolers) and we should
be
back in North Melbourne by 1pm. If the weather is bad (wind and rain)
check
for a last minute cancellation by ringing 9329 9757 after 8am on the day
of the
ride.

******************************************************
Sweet Ride BFF Art Show Opening – Thursday 12th November
******************************************************
7pm to 9pm, Thousand £ Bend, 361 Little Lonsdale St, Melbourne. Valet
Parking
provided.

******************************************************
BFF Local Bike Shorts – Friday 13th & Saturday 14th November
******************************************************
6pm to 10pm, Human Powered Cycles, 562 High St Thornbury … “YO!!”

******************************************************
Goatage – Friday 20th November
******************************************************
Location: Mountain Goat Brewery, Cnr North St & Clarke & St, Richmond
Come celebrate a love of the amber liquid, talk bikes and general guff.

******************************************************
Rainforest ride – Saturday 21st November
******************************************************
http://www.rainforestride.com/Default.aspx (Jellyware) is thinking of
hiring a
mini van and trailer for the weekend so get in touch 0411 437 137

******************************************************
BFF Ring of Fire Party – Saturday 21st November
******************************************************
1pm to late, Pony Bikes, 87 Capel St West Melbourne. Free, pay to play

http://www.ambiguoushorse.com/bicyclefilmfestival/

******************************************************
BFF Opening Night Feature – Thursday 26th November
******************************************************
7pm, Kino Cinemas, 45 Collins St Melbourne. $17/$15.50
9pm, Fun Bike Shorts. $17/$15.50. Bike Valet Parking provided at Kino.

http://www.ambiguoushorse.com/database/wp-content/uploads/wpsc//2009/10/bff_filmprogramdetails.pdf

8pm – 12:30am, Opening night after party, Thousand £ Bend, 361 Little
Lonsdale
St, Melbourne, Free.

******************************************************
BFF Friday Night Feature – Friday 27th November
******************************************************
7pm, Kino Cinemas, 45 Collins St Melbourne. $17/$15.50
9pm, Fun Bike Shorts. $17/$15.50. Bike Valet Parking provided at Kino.
8pm – 12:30am, Friday night after party, Thousand £ Bend, 361 Little
Lonsdale
St, Melbourne, Free.

******************************************************
First National Hardcourt Bicycle Polo Championships – Saturday 28th &
Sunday
29th November
******************************************************
10am Flagstaff Gardens Melbourne.

******************************************************
BFF Treadly Awards – Saturday 28th November
******************************************************
3pm – 6pm, Commuter Cycles, 14 Prentice St Brunswick.

******************************************************
BFF Saturday Night Shorts – Saturday 28th November
******************************************************
7pm, Kino Cinemas, 45 Collins St Melbourne. $17/$15.50
9pm, Encore Feature. $17/$15.50. Bike Valet Parking provided at Kino.
8pm – 12:30am, Friday night after party, Thousand £ Bend, 361 Little
Lonsdale
St, Melbourne, Free.

******************************************************
BFF Tweed Ride – Sunday 29th November
******************************************************
12pm State Library, ride to Street Party.

******************************************************
BFF B.est F.riends F.orever Street Party – Sunday 29th November
******************************************************
12pm – 5pm, PS Bikes and surrounds, Cnr Peel & Cambridge Sts
Collingwood. Bike
Valet Parking provided. Free.

******************************************************
BFF Bikes Rock Closing Party – Sunday 29th November
******************************************************
5pm – 11pm, The Tote, 71 Johnston St, Collingwood. $15 door. Bike
Valet
Parking provided.

******************************************************
REGULAR EVENTS:

******************************************************
Bike Polo!
******************************************************
Venues are in flux, check at web http://www.bikepolo.com.au/
Melbourne Bicycle Polo Club:
email melbourne.bicycle.polo.club at gmail.com
list http://groups.google.com/group/melbournebikepolo

******************************************************
Darebin Bug Social Rides – Tuesdays and Thursdays
******************************************************
9:30 a.m. corner plant and union street, northcote. 40 -60 km rides
mainly on
bike paths and quiet streets for experienced cyclists. Bring lunch,
snacks and
water. Contact Norm on 9484 4767 to confirm start time and location
(usually
departs from Jika Jika). http://www.darebinbug.org.au/rides.html

******************************************************
Darebin Bug Port Melbourne Ride – Saturdays
******************************************************
9.30am Meet at Jika Jika Neighbourhood House, cnr Plant & Union Sts,
Northcote.
Slow ride suitable for beginners.

http://www.darebinbug.org.au/rides.html

******************************************************
The Crosskeys Crusiers – Strathmore – Friday rides
******************************************************
The Crosskeys Crusiers are a group of retired men and women who meet in
the
Crosskeys CarPark near the Strathmore station at 9am on Friday
mornings.
The rides are decided each Friday and the adventure begins. Some riders
go till
morning tea while others ride till lunch and then home at about 3pm. New
members most welcome to chat and share the experience Telephone Max
93783501
or John 93707829

******************************************************
Cyclic Bikes to Mountain Goat – Fridays
******************************************************
6pm sharp Cyclic Bikes, 56 Pin Oak Cres (opposite Newmarket Station)
Ride from Flemington to Mountain Goat Brewery (Richmond). Different
route each
week, faster than your average bikefun ride.
******************************************************

******************************************************
YarraBUG Radio – Every Monday on 3CR
******************************************************
Broadcasting every Monday at 10-10.30am on 3CR Community Radio 855am

http://www.yarrabug.org/radio

Have an idea, want to be interviewed or have program feedback? We
welcome your
contribution, after all YarraBUG Radio is here for you to help you make
your
cycling safe, fun and infectious for others. YarraBUG Radio- streaming
live on
the web at: http://www.3cr.org.au/3CR_streaming

******************************************************
Along For The Ride – 3RRR
******************************************************
3RRR’s bicycle podcast is riding along every fortnight! Download the
newest
podcasts at http://www.rrr.org.au/programs/podcasts.

******************************************************

To have your bike events added to this newsletter, email them to
bill@humanpowered.com.au

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subscribers are eligible for discounts at Human Powered Cyles.

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–

–
Bill Bretherton
Managing Director
Human Powered Cycles | Highest quality servicing and repairs
bill@humanpowered.com.au| Great range of new and second hand bikes
(03) 9029 6504 | Commuting and touring parts and accessories
www.humanpowered.com.au | Bike maintenance training courses

Melbourne’s commuter and touring specialist in the north