Tillie & Coco

We have moved!

2011-07-25T18:21:00.003+10:00

Visit us at our new home: http://tillieandcoco.wordpress.com/

Back on the Bike

2011-07-01T16:35:00.000+10:00

Dear Tillie,

did you miss me? I've been MIA for a while now, I know. Sorry! Well the secret is out- I'm pregnant!

The past few months have been spent sleeping, eating, and vomiting. Add to that a flat rear tyre and there was not much cycling going on! Now that I'm in my forth month the morning sickness has passed and I finally had enough energy to walk my bike over a couple of suburbs to get the rear tyre fixed I'm back on the bike! Yay!

In celebration of my return to the bicycle I bring you this amazing YouTube video (also available on iTunes!):

Le Velo!

Love Coco xx

Riga Bicycle Tours

2011-06-05T19:03:00.000+10:00

Hi Coco,

I have just come back from a week in my home city-in-law, Riga, which is currently showing all signs of high summer: three shades of lilac, high grass and mosquitoes-of-death. To my surprise, since my last visit Riga has become a burgeoning city of cyclists. Sweeping bicycle lanes have been built, and there is even a Baltic Bike share scheme (though it doesn't appear to be very popular). On a self-devised tour of the Art Nouveau district, I came across this rather nice flyer for Riga Bicycle Tours, which promises "the most honest impression, not just the city the guidebook shows. The good the bad and the ugly!" Awesome. I was already missing cycling, especially seeing everyone sailing about on their two wheels, and I also wanted to learn more about Riga.

I caught a very pristine new tram into the old town in time for the 3pm tour on Saturday. The flyer says to join the tour from the Town Hall Square, and to look for the sign. I couldn't find an office anywhere, so waited by the Tourist Office, who reassured me that I was in the right place. Shortly after 3pm a guide and a bike showed up, and waited next to the statue of Roland ("That's the guy holding the sword!", confirms the website) with the promised sign. The tour guide, hilariously, was an Australian called Marcus - originally from Geelong - who has been in Riga for four years. The tour consisted of myself, Marcus, and a gentleman from San Francisco. The tours are divided between Marcus and a local colleague, and each costs 10 LVL (about £13) for two hours. It is a very clever little operation run under an umbrella company called EAT Riga, which offers all sorts of interesting tours including "Retro Riga" and "Beer and Balsam". The bikes are kept in a cafe a short walk away from the square; and whilst they're not the cherry red cruisers shown in the website image, they're sturdy Dutch-style bikes and easy to adjust.

Marcus took us out of the cobbled old town into the Moscow District, via the markets constructed in Art Deco style with the recycled roofs of zeppelin hangars. The Moscow District was constructed along the Moscow Road, and was the first suburb of Riga outside the Old Town, which was reserved for the elite German merchants. It's still one of the poorer areas of the city, with a particularly tragic history in the form of the Jewish Ghetto. Today, this area is quiet and ramshackle, belying its violent past, and the cemetery has been converted to a shady green park.

From there, I'm not actually sure where we went, but we somehow circled back into the city proper, towards the Art Nouveau district. Even though I'd already been a few days previously, this time I learned that there are more Eisenstein buildings than I first thought (Sergei's dad was an architect!); and that if the gates are open, these buildings are in fact publicly accessible - even though there's not a great deal to see, I found this new fact quite charming. I also learned that if you take the time to press your forehead to the glass and look inside the foyers, you will be delighted to see the original Art Nouveau tiling adorning the stairwells.

In Riga, you are allowed to cycle on the pavement as long as you don't disturb any pedestrians. Unlike in London this isn't a problem because the pavements are so capacious. In the old town cycling is difficult due to cobbles, but you're better off walking those streets anyway, just to take it all in. I really love this slight sense of lawlessness, mainly because it absolutely works, and to me pedestrians and cyclists are more alike than cyclists and cars. (I still find it absurd that cyclists are not supposed to use the pavement over Chelsea Bridge, because it's perfectly wide enough, and the road has no proper shoulder anyway.) Moreover, no one bothers with helmets. I was amazed by how accommodating pedestrians were of cyclists sharing their space in Riga. As we were cycling across an intersection, our SF friend lost his bag, and a kindly man chased after him to return it. The only confrontation I observed in a whole week was a car beeping at a cyclist as she was (legally) crossing the road - on a pedestrian crossing at that! It seems that the attitude of drivers still needs some work.

The cycle tour was easily the highlight of my trip. It was such a pleasure to be introduced to a side of Riga I didn't know about, and of course to see it by bicycle! Cycling on wide-enough pavements was a particular treat.

Love Tillie

Psychic Bike

2011-05-23T15:54:00.000+10:00

Dear Tillie,

So I was wandering the streets of Newtown today, on foot as I still haven't fixed my flat, and I came across this lovely bike:

It belongs to Psychic Sarah, a tarot reader who works at Pure Botanicals in Newtown. I've seen the bike many times and have even had a couple of readings by Psychic Sarah (she's awesome if you're into that kind of thing btw) but I'd never thought to snap a pic of her bike before. Unfortunately the lighting was all wrong so I couldn't get a good photo without running onto the road. Luckily she has some much better pictures on her website and even goes on to describe all the different decorations adorning her lovely bike. One thing I love is the frame covered in chunky silver glitter! And I always love flowers on baskets. The tarot cards in the spokes are a very appropriate touch considering the bike also doubles as advertising!

Love Coco xx

Bike Tram

2011-05-22T21:30:00.001+10:00

Dear Tillie,

I haven't done much riding lately as I still haven't managed to repair my rear tyre (it's tricky and I'm sick). I did, however, happen to come across this little gem of a photo which reminded me of Tess' bike-on-a-bus story:

I think he took it a step further.

Love Coco xx

Friends who Cycle: Tess

2011-05-20T07:42:00.001+10:00

Tillie & Coco are delighted to welcome a guest post from Tess, who recently moved to Canberra with her lovely bicycle.

Does your bike have a name?
Why yes she does, it’s Ruby, Ruby Rose. Not named after the celebrity lipstick lesbian, but because I named her Ruby when I saw her online, and then in person I discovered she had a “tattoo” on her frame that said “Rose”, but she’s red, not pink, so Ruby had to stay.

Bell or horn?
Ruby came with a little bell, but I’m looking to upgrade her to an old-school bell.

Basket or pannier?
Ruby has a wire basket attached at the front, with a wicker basket that you can fit into that. She also has a rear rack, a pannier might come later.

Where do you cycle?
Since I don’t have a car, I cycle to loads of places: the supermarket, work, to a high tea and back the other day. Canberra is getting a bit chilly now, so cycling is getting a little tough with the wind chill factor, but if I can cycle in winter in the Netherlands (and I have), surely I can kick it in Canberra.

What is your favourite pose when stopped at lights?
Left leg up and right on the ground, trying not to fall off.

When and why did you start cycling?
I was moving to Canberra and thought I would need some wheels and since Canberra is so flat, everyone had talked about cycling. Of course I had cycled as a kid, but that was a while ago.

Tell us about cycling in Canberra
On first arrival to Canberra it seems at once cycle friendly, there are obvious cycle ways all over the place, well-publicised cycle maps, and most interestingly, buses with a rack out the front that you can put your bike on and then get on.

So one day I decide to take a big adventure to Waramanga, which is about 20 kilometers from my house to go to a bird sale to buy a new finch for my bird cage. I’ve never been there, but on the basis of the bus route map and the bike route map I figure I can get the bus out to Woden and then cycle to Waramanga and back, and get the bus back from there.

I get to the bus and the first challenge is figuring out how to put Ruby on the bike rack. There are some fairly self-explanatory instructions on the rack, but with the driver and a bus load of people watching I’m just stumbling around trying to do it as quickly as I can, and not doing very well. The bus driver eventually gets down and helps, you push the bar down, fold the rack out, put the bike on in a certain direction and then pull a spring loaded clamp like thing over one wheel to hold it in place. Thank goodness he’s helped, Ruby is on the rack and we’re off. Getting Ruby off the rack is much easier, now I know how it works a bit better.

The ride from Woden to Waramanga is kind of cool, it’s pretty suburban area, but still has some pockets of bush land, juxtaposed with a massive highway running down the middle of it. There are bike paths most of the way along the highway, but in parts I’m riding next to the traffic, but it isn’t as scary as it seemed, and very flat. Then I have to turn off into a reserve and cut across to get to where the bird sale is. Although there are some moments of steep hills that in my state of fitness require me to jump off and walk, it is really nice to ride through some Aussie bushland.

I get to the fair, get my new bird, and then debate whether I ride back to Woden with the bird in the basket or wait for a bus on a Sunday. I opt the ride option, and we cycle most of the way back via the highway, so it’s less bumpy for Akoko, my recently purchase cordon blue finch. We make it back to Woden and when the bus comes I’m thinking that it will be much easier to load Ruby on the bike rack, but of course now I have a bird in a box to handle too. Needless to say the driver came to help again, but we got the bus all the way home and introduced Akoko to Winnie, a good cycle trip all in all.

There are a few things that Canberra hasn’t done greatly for cyclist, such as a lot of the cycle ways are on major roads, which is a little intimidating most of the time. The street lights are shocking, so you have to stick to major roads at night, or risk riding into some unseen pothole or dog. Then of course there is the bogan element of Canberra which have already yelled abuse at me while riding my bike and have reportedly slapped cyclists on the butt from a moving car as they drove past. I suppose all cities have their pros and cons, even when it comes to cycling. I am really looking forward to a proper cycle around the lake, so I’ll let you know how that goes if I can brave the Autumn chill.

Tillie & Coco Flashback! Flat tyre woes (2010)

2011-05-20T02:10:00.000+10:00

Hi Coco,

It's great to have you back on the blog! A delight tempered of course by news of your flat rear tyre caused by cycle lane glass sabotage. What kind of world is this? I hope you are able to get it fixed in time for WOOP!

A flat tyre can easily be taken personally. I've only had one flat tyre incident (so far - touch wood), which is lucky considering how much debris collects on the shoulder of roads in this city. I've ridden through a great deal of broken glass in London, and each time I hold my breath. My flat tyre happened last year in midsummer, just as I was gaining enough stamina to cycle to work five days in a row, and it was a huge inconvenience. Luckily for me it happened only a few metres from home, but it was nonetheless a horrible moment. I still remember the awful, heart-sinking sound of escaping air and the slow lowering of my back wheel as the tyre flattened. I had veered to the side of the street to avoid a speed hump, as I did every afternoon, but there were some particularly sharp shards in the gap which I didn't see in time. Even my puncture-proof tyres were no match for their nasty bite.

Of course I wanted to rectify this situation as soon as possible - I couldn't bear Blackie looking so crippled and unroadworthy. I lugged her up the stairs to the safety of the store cupboard, and then power-walked as fast as I could over to my nearest Evan's Cycles for advice/tools/spare parts, only to discover that they didn't stock Pashley-sized tyres or inner-tubes, despite the fact that they sell many a Pashley (they were selling a Princess Classic even as I was waiting in line). No, they said, I'd have to order my tyre and inner tube 'special' and it would take two weeks. What!! I stormed home, composing a complaint letter in my head the whole way, and quickly ordered my supposedly bespoke parts on the internet - at least that way I wouldn't have to wait a fortnight - determined to make the repairs myself.

The tyre and inner-tube appeared in an oddly-shaped parcel on Saturday morning. I quickly converted the bedroom into an Extreme Bicycle Maintenance Workshop, instruction manual and some shiny new tools on hand. Balancing Blackie on her seat and handlebars, I set to work, worrying the entire time that I was going to put everything back on in the wrong order. Unsurprisingly, the back tyre is really annoying to change. Removing the chain case was a palaver all of its own. After hours of yelling, wrenching, worrying, and swearing, I managed to get the new tyre and tube onto the wheel and the wheel back on the frame. Well proud of self, I celebrated with a big soapy wash of hands, a cup of tea and an iced bun.

Least-easy-to-follow instructions ever. The book actually says "remove the screw marked with a black arrow"... Huh? Which black arrow would that be? Oh, the one printed in black on black. Right.
But I did learn some hilarious new bicycle part terms:
"sliding barrel nipple" (!)
"torque reaction arm"
"brake torque arm bolt"
"gear shift toggle chain"
"forkend"
"anti-rotation tab washers"

The corner shop/hardware store profited greatly from my flat tyre. At least I'm tooled to the hilt for the next incident.

Extreme Bicycle Maintenance Workshop.

I did it without you, Evans!

Happy Mothers Day!

2011-05-10T17:03:00.000+10:00

Dear Tillie,

I was so lucky on Sunday. My mother came to Sydney to have a picnic lunch with her adoring offspring. My sister and her husband picked her up from the train station and I rode down to the park. My rather hungover brother made it down a little later.

We had the most wonderful picnic lunch! My sister, Sophie, is THE best cook! She made a platter of gorgeous sandwiches- cucumber, salmon, chicken with pistachio, and egg. She even made a little plate of special sandwiches for little old gluten-intolerant me! There was sparkling wine and sparkling water for those of us driving/riding.

After sandwiches I presented my contribution to the fare- chocolate pavlova with raspberries! It was the first time I made a chocolate pavlova and I was pleased with how it turned out. It wasn't perfect but it was delicious!

After our desert my sister borrowed my bike to ride to the café at the other end of the park for tea & coffees. When she returned she commented on how everyone looks at you when you ride my bike. It's true, you do get a lot of stares on my bike. I think it's because people are not used to upright bikes, the only kind of cycling people in Sydney know is the lycra clad sporty type. I like to think just being seen on an upright is educating people, challenging their perceptions.

Oh and the highlight of the day? My mother decided she was not to be left out of the bike riding fun so she hopped on my bike! It was her first ride in, oh, at least 30 years? She looks like a natural! And of course she loved it.

Go Mum!

Love Coco xx

PS. I rode the whole way there and back sans helmet. I kept it visible in my front basket but as I didn't ride on the road at all (shared paths the whole way) I thought I'd get away with it. And I did. I even rode past two police women on the way home and they didn't give me a second look. Maybe things are changing? Here's hoping!

Long time no talk!

2011-05-09T15:48:00.000+10:00

Dear Tillie,

So sorry it's been ages since I've written! Naughty, naughty Coco! Let me fill you in on what's been happening (admittedly not that much).

For Easter my husband and I went away with my parents, sister, and brother in law. We drove out to Lake Cargelligo, central west New South Wales, where my Mother's side of the family live. It's about an eight hour drive inland from Sydney and we shared the drive with my sister and her husband so we had to pack light, that meant no bikes. There is actually a lovely bike path that runs along the side of the lake (in case it wasn't already obvious the town is built on a large lake, hence the name) but the only people I saw on bikes in the whole time we were there were visitors staying in the caravan park. Sad really. The town is quite small and a bike would be an ideal way to get around. You can walk around the whole town in about an hour, and it's flat, so riding everywhere wouldn't be a problem. Even though I missed my bike I was able to occupy myself with some fishing (we only caught carp, an introduced pest) and trashy magazine reading.

My husband's favourite POV

Hugo really getting into the fishing

This is the smallest fish I caught and of course the only one my hubby took a photo of!

A highlight of the trip was catching a glimpse of the new Solar Thermal Power Station they are trialing 2km outside of town. I'm always curious about new green technology and this just fascinated me. Luckily my Dad had managed to meet with the head engineer a couple of weeks earlier and was able to explain it to us (I have no idea how Dad manages to rock up at a secure site and not only get invited in but get a private tour!). Basically large blocks of refined graphite (think the size of shipping containers) are mounted onto stands with the bottom of the graphite block exposed. Surrounding the blocks at ground level are mirrors which reflect and focus sunlight onto the bottom of the graphite blocks, heating them to an immense degree. The refined graphite is unique in its thermal properties, i.e. it heats up quickly but loses heat very slowly, which means it can hold high temperatures for days, even if it's cloudy. Inside the graphite blocks are pipes which pump through water, which is turned into steam by the heat, that steam then powers turbines which feed electricity back into the grid and power the town. It's brilliant!

Driving back to Sydney we also spotted some wind turbines. It was great to see green energy options being implemented.

If only more people used our favourite form of green transport- the humble bicycle!

Love Coco xx

Post from Mum

2011-05-06T06:52:00.000+10:00

Hi Coco,
Last night I came home to find this newspaper clipping from my mother in the mail. What a treat! I like the tulip-lined envelope. "Elegant Cycling" is nice and all, but isn't "Cycle Chic" the phrase we know and love?

Richmond Park

2011-04-25T00:21:00.000+10:00

Hi Coco! Summer has struck.

I heard somewhere that the temperatures over Easter are a whole 10º above average for this time of year. It feels like Australian weather! Yesterday we cycled to Richmond Park through Wimbledon Common, which meant taking Blackie off-road, onto dusty, gravelly tracks. Thankfully I didn't fall off, which would have been very un-dashing. We went through dense woodland that felt very Coleridge - all pretty, dappled light and cool shade - and then out into Putney Vale and the A3, where there was a wide footpath part reserved for bicycles. From there we crossed over to Richmond Park, which has a very different feel to the Common.

Richmond Park is very large. It has roads for traffic, but the speed limit is 20mph to accommodate cyclists and horses. The roads and relative lack of cars obviously makes the park an attractive place for hardcore lycra cyclists, who whizz past in the blink of an eye - zhoosh! I'm not sure if this is their version of leisure cycling or whether they're all in training for something, but I was very much outnumbered, and frequently overtaken. All that off-road cycling gave me very dusty feet.

We found an ice cream truck and had a rest under a tree. A woodpecker could be heard, but sadly not seen. What a great sound it is! London was very hazy yesterday because of pollution, which just made everything feel even warmer. We'd left at 10am, and the heat of the day was very much at its height by 1pm. We caught the train home to avoid sunstroke, which took us on a scenic tour of southwest London. I've been cycling for quite a while now, but I'm still surprised by the distance you can cover on a bicycle.

Because it's lovely and warm here, I think I can safely assume that it's cooling off slightly in Sydney? I am looking forward to hearing about your cape!

Love Tillie

To market, to market!

2011-04-13T11:28:00.000+10:00

Dear Tillie,

Your Tweed Run adventure looked absolutely delightful! I hope one day I will make it over to London to join you! My weekend was not so eventful but I did manage to ride over to Eveleigh Farmers Markets on Saturday morning with my husband. These would have to be my favourite markets. The produce is of the highest quality, lots of variety, easy access to organic and gluten free food, and the setting is just so gosh darn gorgeous! The markets take place in the old heritage listed Blacksmith's Workshop alongside Carriageworks in Redfern. It just seems so appropriate to be perusing heirloom tomato varieties in such an old weathered space. There is also a gallery on site so I can combine my favourite pleasures of food, cycling and art all in one place.

As you can see traveling by bike is a popular way to get to the markets!

Carriageworks

Once I got home I had to take a couple of photos of my fully laden basket!

Nothing quite compares to the blissful feeling of riding home after eating a gorgeous breakfast at the markets, dappled shade rippling over your basket filled with flowers and fresh produce- sigh!

Well, maybe eating the heirloom tomatoes...!

Love Coco xx

Tweed Run 2011: 'Ah, what a lovely world it is!'

2011-04-12T07:16:00.001+10:00

Dear Coco,

And so it was, for the greater part of Saturday 9^th January in central London, for everyone on the 3^rd Annual Tweed Run. The fun started early when on my way to 'the shadow of St Paul's' I saw numerous dapper chaps and a dashing dame with a beautiful cape cycle past. The lovely cape lady called out 'good morning!' The city warmed up quickly, the Thames glistened, the spokes flickered, and for a few short hours cycling utopia took hold of the streets. Cars were held back at intersections by smiling ladies and gents with ‘M’ for ‘Marshall’ wrapped around their arms in, of course, tweed. ‘Tally ho!’

As the ride started forth from St Paul's to Blackfriars Bridge, a Marshall ordered, ‘no more than 5 miles per hour!’ True enough, 10.5 miles at such a leisurely pace was perfectly doable, despite my questionable fitness. (I barely broke a sweat until my cycle home through the city, when suddenly bereft of my tweed-clad mob I reverted to full tilt.)

Just over halfway through the ride we stopped for a tea break at Lincoln’s Inn Fields, the oldest public square in London, opposite Sir John Soane’s Museum. Real leaf tea (!) for 500-odd people was served from proper pots in mismatching vintage cups and saucers. The queue was so long that volunteers walked the length of the line politely offering platters of cucumber sandwiches and Cajun spiced nuts, and everyone joked about how the British love a good queue, ho ho.

Whilst waiting in line for tea I made friends with a lovely couple who own a garden centre near Turnham Green station. Did you know you should always pick basil from the base of the stem, and only water it when it starts to wilt? At other stages in the ride I met Johnny, who has a daughter called Tilly and runs a cinema/cafe/venue called ‘Time for Tea’ which I haven’t been to yet but am only too happy to plug based on the card; and Arthur from Toronto who was travelling in Europe on business which happened to coincide with the Tweed Run. He does not cycle in winter in Toronto, but does so throughout the rest of the year. I also met Alistair who is half Welsh (shh) and cycles everywhere, including to meetings. He was slightly embarrassed by his non-vintage bike, but I have to say the presence of contemporary bicycles really made the day; as did the combination of people dressed like the early 20th Century texting away on their iPhones.

On my way home I had a short conversation at the traffic lights with a dapper chap who had enjoyed the day very much, and said ‘it’s just very silly, really’. I suppose this is true; but I also hope the Tweed Run is nevertheless still a protest – albeit a very polite one – against the continuing primacy of cars. I can't tell you what a treat it was to cycle through the streets of London without the constant rumble of car engines. A notable quote of the day was 'I've never enjoyed Old Street Roundabout before!' followed shortly by 'What? No near-death experience!'

So 'Tally ho!' to more Tweed Runs and more dressed-up cyclists in general. I hope Sydney follows (tweed) suit!

Love Tillie

Priorities

2011-04-08T20:32:00.004+10:00

Dear Tillie,

I know this type of crass humour isn't really our thing but I couldn't help but have a giggle at this bloke's priorities!

Love Coco x

Tweed Run 2011 Outfit: a series of flukes

2011-04-04T02:11:00.002+10:00

Hi Coco!

As you know, I somehow fluked my way onto the Tweed Run 2011, which sold out in 5 minutes and left many people who couldn't register despite logging on at midday, very upset.*

* The web person apparently opened the registration 5 minutes early in case the website crashed. Next year they'll do a lottery to avoid the upset comments on their Facebook page. Fair enough so.

I am rider number 422. What a nice even number! I saw these gloves in Topshop before I went away to San Fran and thought "perfect for Tweed Run outfit, I should probably buy those right now!" But, having already spent most of my money on things for the holiday, I made my usual "I'll definitely come back for those at some indeterminate time in the future" promise - only to discover of course that they were no longer current stock by the time I got back. On Thursday I went to Topshop to return a faulty umbrella (bought for the rain I knew to expect in San Francisco) and flukishly found the gloves on sale for half the price, which did make me glad after all for the inferior quality brolly.

Yesterday I collected my rider pack from Covent Garden, and was delighted to finally discover the route (which I can't advertise before the fact, secret society style!) The Official Handbook says, "Now look here, proper attire is expected"; proper attire being "tweed suits, plus fours, bowties, cycling capes and jaunty flat caps". I don't own plus fours and can't see myself finding any by next Saturday, so I'm going for a colour scheme of brown and dusky pink as compensation for my less than tweedtastic outfit. I should mention that I do have a choice of tweed jackets from a whim of taste a few years ago, but no doubt I'll only be able to wear whichever one I decide on for 5 minutes before overheating. I went into Rokit yesterday looking for a scarf to suit said scheme, and fluked again with these trousers suitable for cycling that actually fit me! Awesome!

The only thing missing now is a suitable shirt. I think I've run out of flukes now, so I guess I'll have to work at this one. Wish me luck for making it the whole 10.5 miles!

Tillie x

Letters to the Editor

2011-04-02T10:31:00.002+11:00

Dear Tillie,

Yesterday in the Sydney Morning Herald there was an article highlighting the increase in middle-aged men taking up cycling and also a corresponding increase in their injuries. The article can be found here. I wasn't too impressed as it ignores the teething problems you always get with new infrastructure and increasing driver awareness.

Today in the Letters to the Editor there was these great responses to the article:

Cyclists can rely on safety in numbers

What good news that middle-aged men are taking up cycling (''Revealed: middle-aged men at most risk on two wheels'', April 1). Collectively we'll save a lot more in the health budget than we'll spend on injuries. RTA data on three major cycleway entries to the city - at the Harbour Bridge, Anzac Bridge and Anzac Parade - show growth of cycling into the city grew by 10 per cent a year from 2000 to 2008, and by 20 per cent in 2009. The City of Sydney commissioned counts early and late last year intersections that found more than 30 per cent growth in just six months.

The well-known theory of ''safety in numbers'' predicts more people cycling makes it safer for all cyclists, and we're seeing this in Sydney.

Chris Rissel Sydney School of public health, University of Sydney

The issue is whether the increase in injuries is a reflection of more cycling or inadequate road safety measures for cyclists. I suspect it is largely the latter because experience overseas shows that as the number of cyclists increases, injury rates generally decline, with the rate of decline being greatest in those nations having better conditions for cyclists. Sydney is embarking on an important and ambitious program of providing cycling infrastructure in selected areas but this must be accompanied by policies that treat cycling as a legitimate form of transport, including lowering urban speed limits, education for both drivers and cyclists, and imposing stricter levels of liability for drivers involved in bike collisions. We have done a lot to improve car occupant safety, but the trends shown your report suggests there may be a ''cycling blind spot'' in road safety in NSW.

Stephen Greaves Associate Professor in transport management, University of Sydney

I also loved this article yesterday which was really an April Fools joke but I found it made helmets look just as ridiculous too.

Love Coco xx

Road rage

2011-04-01T17:50:00.001+11:00

Dear Tillie,

I just had my first ever road rage incident! I just walked in the door and I'm still shaking! From shock, I should add, I wasn't the one raging.

I was about halfway home when I heard furious beeping behind me. Thinking something was wrong I look over my shoulder and there is a taxi less than a metre away from my bike beeping and gesticulating furiously! He was waving me to the left, which was ridiculous because I was riding in the right-lane-must-turn-right lane for a reason. I indicated, thinking maybe the penny will drop, but he kept on honking. This was even more bizarre as the lights were red and traffic stopped twenty metres ahead. I feebly flipped him the bird (that's what you're supposed to do in these situations, right?) and keep riding for the twenty metres before I came to a stop. Thought it would end there? Oh no. Not so easily. He kept honking and yelling at me even though we were stopped at the lights! I turned around and yelled "What do you want me to do? I have every right to be here!". He in turn yelled some rather nasty phrases I refuse to repeat here, and some pretty impressive hand signs. I replied with "Well fuck you too!" which elicited laughs from the pedestrians at the lights. Guess it would have looked pretty amusing coming from a chick on a ladies bike wearing a peach cardigan and pearls. I'm just really annoyed I didn't think to grab his licence plate, or cab number. I can't even remember what company the cab was.

Wow. I still can't believe that just happened.

Love Coco xx

Bondi Beach Cruisers

2011-03-28T16:47:00.000+11:00

Dear Tillie,

So I know I shouldn't post videos that are totally ads but this does kinda sum up the feeling of cruising around Sydney in summer (except I'm stuck with a helmet rather than the breeze flowing through my hair). Considering we're now heading into autumn (I totally wore stockings today!) it's nice to hold onto that summer feeling for a just a little longer, even if it is vicariously.

Bondi Beach Cruisers from +61 Collective on Vimeo.

Love Coco xx

San Fran Postcard!

2011-03-28T09:46:00.001+11:00

Dear Tillie,

I received your postcard!

Thanks!

Love Coco xx

Blackie is Back, Alright! (oh dear.)

2011-03-28T06:11:00.000+11:00

Worst blog title yet? Anyway, hi Coco! After a long cold weather induced cycling hiatus, I’m finally back. Between cold weather February and my trip to America, this happened:

And, as we all know, Spring = Cycling!

I’ve proof-rided Blackie’s seat (way overdue, I think I’m meant to do that weekly) and pumped up her tyres (ow, my arms!) It took me a whole half hour to locate my lock and key. On the 9th of April I am going on the Tweed Run, which is 10 miles (plus getting to central London somehow) and if I don’t start fitness preparations urgently I will probably not make it to the tea break. I also definitely need to avoid sweaty face chic.
Today I took Blackie on the train for the first time. It was actually much easier than expected, but as Vauxhall has no step-free access I went to Waterloo and cycled to Pimlico from there to have lunch with Megan. It was a perfect day to be cycling – neither too hot or cold and not much traffic. After such a long absence I was slightly nervous about getting back in the saddle, but needn’t have worried. It was just like, well, riding a bike!
On the train, which is actually quite busy on Sundays, I found a bicycle space in the first carriage, which had very few people, unlike the carriages further down. The bike spaces are ‘flexible’, so there is a row of folding seats if there’s no bike or pram needing room. So, I got on the train with my enormous Pashley with mega wicker basket, and there was a guy sitting in the flexible space with his iPod on, playing with his phone, and instead of vacating the area for one of the many free non-flexible-space seats, he just sat there like a blob. Er… thanks very much iPod Dude, that’s cool, I’ll just stand here awkwardly with my giant bike and block the door. As revenge, I took this surreptitious iPhone photo of him, and pixilated his face off, A Current Affair style. Haha.

After delicious crab salad and rose lunch with Megan, I found that some muppet had used my basket as a litter-bin. What part of a bicycle basket looks anything like a bin? The stupid thing was that there were real litter-bins available in the vicinity, but no, they had to disrespect my basket.

I should add that this is not an isolated incident! Last year I took this photo.

This was particularly insulting as it happened at work. Oh, and it’s an empty coffee cup, which means I could have had nasty stale milk stains in my basket! What kind of world is this?
The train ride home from Waterloo was much better. I easily found a space, and another bicycle even turned up – a folding bike owned by a very considerate woman who is obviously a much more dedicated cyclist than me judging by her many panniers. She secured our bikes with the Velcro straps and then untied them before my stop so I could get off in time.

And, because it's practically summer, the clocks have just changed. Hello, light evenings!
xx

America

2011-03-27T09:02:00.000+11:00

Hi Coco! Thanks for holding the blog fort in my absence. As you know I have been having a whale of a time in California, which was 1 billion times even more awesome than I’d expected. Of course I had a keen eye on the cycling scene on the West Coast (despite getting around in a very uncool hire car, tsk), and you will be pleased to hear that even in a country built for the automobile, cyclists are a fixture on the roads, and a stylish one at that!

This should have been a photo of a cool guy with an Electra. Instead it's a sign about Boats. But it is in LA OK?

In Los Angeles cyclists don’t have a great deal of designated space, but they do have cycle-friendly flat roads and ELECTRAS! After three years living in socially reserved London I was really taken aback by how genuinely friendly people were. It was a whole new world of street etiquette. I was walking from Abbot Kinney Boulevard (cool street names much?) back to Marissa’s house, and a very cool guy walking a blue Electra on the pavement smiled at me and said hello! I took a hit from the shyness stick at that point, unfortunately. I wish I’d asked him for a photo! The Sartorialist makes it look so easy.

Lombard Street, San Francisco. The "crookedest" (and best!) street in the world (allegedly)

We drove from LA to San Francisco on Highway One, stopping in four different cities on the way. Santa Barbara warrants particular mention as an urban nerd’s paradise! Its main street has beautiful wide footpaths, comfortable street furniture (with pot plants) and of course plenty of two-wheeled Americana. It was so nice to visit places where cycling is just a normal way to get around.

Comfortable street furniture with pot plants, Santa Barbara

You would expect a city famous for its hills to have no cyclists at all, but actually there were many people cycling in San Francisco. Of course the areas like Russian Hill where you have to park at 90º (and it still feels like the car will roll down the hill) are unsurprisingly cycle-free, in the flatter areas of town it’s a viable option. I saw this lovely bike parked outside the Museum of Modern Art. Love the knitted pole.

Fab orange bicycle, San Francisco

Greenhouse by Joost

2011-03-25T18:24:00.001+11:00

Dear Tillie,

I have enjoyed the most wonderful day. It started off with a little bit of a sleep in, then a nice lazy breakfast bruschetta, followed by a ride along the waterfront to Greenhouse by Joost.

Greenhouse by Joost is a waste free pop-up restaurant. The building itself is made using the Productive Building system developed by Joost Bakker. Think reused shipping containers, chemical free, transportable and recyclable. All produce is delivered in returnable and reuseable containers. Wheat is milled on site (see photo below) for bread and pasta, and milk is churned for butter and cheese. Everything is organic and compostable (including the cutlery!) and the compost used on the rooftop herb garden.

I could go on and on but to put it succinctly it rocks and offered me a chance for guilt free indulgence. Check out their website here, but you'll have to be quick as they're only around til the end of March (though rumour has it they'll be back later in the year with a permanent restaurant). It seemed only fitting I arrived by the greenest form of transport I know- my trusty bike Camilla.

I was rather bemused by this gate on the bike lane at Barangaroo

Approaching Greenhouse by Joost

Wall of strawberries!

My table

Looking to the right...

...and to the left

Wheat milling in action!

Morning tea

Pistachio and cherry macaroon. Divine.

Flat white

Rooftop parsley

Rooftop view of the Opera House

Rooftop view of my lonely bike Camilla

Shipping container art

Riding back under the Harbour Bridge

Graffitied car art in Walsh Bay

After my wonderful morning tea I rode back over to Darling Harbour and attended a talk by Tony Brown at the Australian National Maritime Museum regarding the new exhibition Tayenebe of Tasmanian Aboriginal women's fibre work with my gorgeous sister. Then I rode home again. Bliss.

Love Coco xx

Pedal power vs Motor might!

2011-03-24T09:04:00.000+11:00

Dear Tillie,

As I was riding to work yesterday I encountered a rather amused bikie. I was riding up Wentworth Avenue, my little legs pumping as hard as they could up the hill, when a huge bikie on his Harley pulls into my lane and rides next to me. He had to slow right down of course and he kept looking at me and yelling "You should get one with a motor!". I have no idea if he was joking or trying to intimidate me but as this was causing rather a scene I jumped of my bike and onto the footpath, blushing more from embarrassment than physical exertion. After one final yell of his catch phrase he rode on and I continued on my way to work.

Oh the joys of riding a bike!

Love Coco xx

Murphy's Law

2011-03-19T16:03:00.004+11:00

Dear Tillie,

all week (all month even) I have been looking forward to today's ARTcycle as part of Art Month in Sydney. Art Month is "... a month-long festival that celebrates the vibrancy and diversity of Sydney's thriving visual arts scene..." and ARTcycle is "... a free guided bicycle tour of art galleries, artist studios, public art and street art". Considering art and cycling are two of my most favourite things this was my kind of event. Add in Surry Hills as location and Saskia from Sydney Cycle Chic as tour guide and I was chomping at the bit.

Unfortunately we awoke this morning to gloomy grey skies. "It'll clear up!" we thought as we tucked into a healthy and hearty breakfast designed to fuel our day of cycling. Of course it did no such thing and just as we stepped out the front door it started bucketing down. We scrambled back inside and pondered what to do. The weather report was no help- a few showers it said. So how were we to know if this was the last of it or not? Eventually we spent so long deciding what to do we were too late to meet the group at the starting place so we conceded to plant our butts on the lounge for the day.

Of course once we made this decision the rain stopped, the clouds parted, blue sky and sunshine bore down on our little house and taunted us. We looked at each other and grabbed our bikes. We had just enough time to ride to the first gallery and meet up with the tour there. It was a good thing really, the gallery was closer than the meeting place anyway. It was meant to be!

We headed out and had not even made it a block from home before the sun disappeared and ominous clouds took its place. We glanced at each other. The decision had been made- onward and artward!

We met with a few sprinkles as we rode over to Darlinghurst's Liverpool Street Gallery but nothing too bad. We knew we were in the right place when we saw the bikes. Lots and lots of bikes.

We locked up and headed inside. The artist talk was great but over very quickly. While we were inside it started raining again. Hard. We decided we weren't up for a day of riding around in the rain, so we waited for it to ease up a bit and then headed for our bikes. As soon as we reached them we realised Waz had a flat. Excellent.

We eventually made it home, wet and artless.

Bloody Murphy's Law.

Love Coco xx

Rides a bike

2011-03-18T11:16:00.001+11:00

Dear Tillie,

I have found a wonderful blog and just know you will love it too! It's called Rides A Bike and is pics of movie stars riding bikes! Here are a couple to whet your appetite:

Claudia Cardinale rides a bike. Barefoot.

Alfred Hitchcock rides a bike. And signals.

Love Coco xx

Happy St Paddy's Day!

2011-03-17T13:33:00.001+11:00

Dear Tillie,

you know I'm proud to have Irish blood and can't help but thrown on some green today, but it's lovely to see Sydney rolling out the green carpet too!

Happy St Paddy's Day!

Love Coco xx

P.S. I promise to buy a camera really soon and stop using these horrible iPhone snaps!

Magazine magic

2011-03-17T13:08:00.006+11:00

Dear Tillie,

I was sitting in the tea room at work the other day and I starting flicking through one of the many old magazines lying around and look at what I came across:

The gorgeous Ms Portman in all her bicycling glory! I love the black and white photography and the bike-as-symbol-of-freedom cliché (it's only a cliché cause it's true!).

When I returned home that evening I picked up my March edition of Real Living Magazine and opened to the very first page and...

more bikes! Now it may not be the most obvious bike in the world but it was there. Just a rear wheel poking out of the right hand corner, but if you look closely you will see another bike... right on the bedding they are advertising!

Let's take a closer look, shall we?

Yep. That's definitely some major bike promotion there. But was this merely a coincidence? Two bikes in two magazines in one day? I decided to quickly flick through this magazine and see if the bike motif repeated itself. My efforts turned up the following:

That's four bike moments in one magazine! The first is rather common in home magazines these days- a bike propped up casually in the background somewhere, alluding to the owners' environmental consciousness and great design appreciation. The second is rather more interesting to me- bike as decoration. It serves no purpose other than aesthetic. Which is kinda funny considering how practical bicycles are! The third is rather lovely too. Although I have never seen anyone ride a penny-farthing in the flesh it's nice to see they are not forgotten. These "Penny" pendants are made from stainless steel by Polli and can be found on their website here. There's also Penny earrings and some other bike pendants too! You can wear your bike love on your chest, ahem, sleeve.

Anyway, darling Tillie, I hope you enjoyed my magazine studies. I really do think there's a bit of a bike movement happening in the land of design at the moment. Lets hope it continues!

Love Coco xx

Bike boys

2011-03-16T10:17:00.000+11:00

Dear Tillie,

look at what I spotted strolling through the city streets- bike boys! I love the colours of these bikes and the irreverent treatment of them. The bikes were cool but they were used. They weren't show pieces.

I hope you enjoyed my sneaky snapshots!

Love Coco xx

City Talks

2011-03-13T15:41:00.000+11:00

Dear Tillie,

The other night the husband and I attended City Talks 2011: Fostering a Green Precinct at Walsh Bay. City Talks are a part of Sustainable Sydney 2030, a Clover Moore initiative with the aim of making Sydney creative, vibrant, and sustainable. There have been some amazing keynote speakers in the past, including Former Lord Mayor of London  Robert Whitehead, New York’s Commissioner of Transportation Janette Sadik-Khan, and of course our favourite city planner Jan Gehl.

Last week’s speakers were Cate Blanchett and Andrew Upton followed by a panel including Lisa Havileh (CEO Carriageworks), Rafael Banachela (Artistic Director, Sydney Dance Company). Craig Allchin (Director, Six Degrees Architecture), and Clover Moore (Lord Mayor, City of Sydney).

Cate & Andrew spoke of their vision for the area and why a theatre company should be concerned about sustainability. A major problem for the area is transport, with light rail and cycling identified as crucial to improving access to the cultural precinct. Videos and podcasts of the night can be found here with archives going back to 2006.

One thing I love about these talks is that they’re more than just talk. For example, after Janette Sadik-Khan’s keynote address the City of Sydney Council took her advice and bought some striped deck chairs, tables and large umbrellas and installed them in the public space alongside Town Hall. They also hooked up free wifi and of course it has been an immense success with the public able to engage with their public space in a meaningful and practical way.

Another example of City Of Sydney Council walking the walk rather than just talking the talk is the free valet bike parking provided at these events.

Whether it be a City Talk at Sydney’s Town Hall, or a free concert in the Domain, the Council arranges for free secure valet bike parking manned by volunteers at all of its events. So no excuse not to ride your bike!

Waiting for the bikes to arrive

Bike collected and headed home

Plenty of takers for the valet bike parking!

Love Coco xx

Great and Green

2011-02-27T19:11:00.000+11:00

Dear Tillie,

this afternoon I was browsing in my local library and the cover of this book caught my eye

Yep. That's a knitted bike basket/bag right there on the cover! So I took a quick peek inside and some sneaky photos on my iphone to share with you.

If you're feeling crafty the book is called Knitting Green by Ann Budd and you can find it on Boomerang Books here.

Love Coco xx

For & Against

2011-02-25T08:40:00.001+11:00

Dear Tillie,

yesterday I was saddened (and bloody annoyed) to come across the following letter in the Sydney Morning Herald:

Protect children from cycle peril
If a schoolchild's safety is paramount, what sense does it make to build a cycleway between the main dropoff point and the main entrance of a school?
Is it not a hazard to children carrying school bags, music and sporting equipment? Is it not a hazard to cyclists who must brake or swerve to avoid the children? Is it not, dare I say, an accident waiting to happen, with lawsuits to follow?
This is the perilous prospect facing the parents of St Andrews Cathedral School as City of Sydney council considers the Kent Street cycleway extension past the school entrance. I was one of 150 parents who met on Tuesday night to express our strong concerns to council officers.
I challenge the mayor and the council to call a public meeting to explain how this proposal makes sense in terms of our schoolchildren's safety.
Anthony Cordato Drummoyne

Today I was pleased to see the following letters in response:

Cycleways are the least of the dangers
Anthony Cordato (Letters, February 24) fears the extension of the Kent Street cycleway will endanger St Andrews students because it will be between the school dropoff zone and the school gate. But the plan for the cycleway extension includes moving the dropoff zone to Bathurst Street.
Local and international experience shows that adding cycleways to city streets increases the safety of all road users. St Andrews is getting a safer street with a new piece of transport infrastructure right to its front door, all paid for by the council. What is there to complain about?
Colin Beck Rushcutters Bay

Anthony Cordato asks if it is sensible to build a cycleway where children are struggling with their school paraphernalia. It makes much more sense than allowing the maniacs in four-wheel-drives who constantly threaten the lives of these children while trying to ensure their own is not inconvenienced in any way.
Stephen Broderick Avalon

So Anthony Cordato, of Drummoyne, drives his child to St Andrews, in the middle of Sydney. Why? Of all destinations in Sydney, St Andrews is one of the best served by public transport. Young Cordato could catch one of the frequent buses down Victoria Road, or join the hundreds of cyclists who use this mostly offroad route. If Mr Cordato works in the city, he might find his own trip quicker using the new Inner West Busway.
Alister Sharp Hunters Hill

Ahhhh... cycleway support! Commonsense rules!

Love Coco xx

All superheroes have capes

2011-02-24T17:52:00.000+11:00

Dear Tillie,

I did a little browsing through the shops as I wandered home today and feel in love. Well lust really.

It's this gorgeous double-breasted cape from Country Road. As soon as I saw it I thought "That would be great to wear riding to and from work!".

Photo taken from Country Road catalogue

I don't know if you have this problem but I'm finding myself drawn to clothes and accessories simply because they would be great to ride in. Certain skirts catch my eye due to the way they would rustle in my self-devised breeze, tops due the way their colour would complement that of my bike, heels with ankle straps which promise not to abandon my feet as they search for the pedals, and the list goes on.

So back to the original problem: who will buy this gorgeous cape for me?

Love Coco xx

Hell yes.

2011-02-22T07:18:00.003+11:00

Dear Coco,

I will gladly join the Church of Sit-Up Cycling. I'll be prepared for the next time I am stopped by missionaries and will try to convert them! I started reading the comments on Sarah Wilson's blog and got bored after a nanosecond. Why does every counter-argument to not wearing helmets start with "if motorists did this or that...tut tut"? WOW WHAT A BRILLIANT RELEVANT ARGUMENT. Incidentally, I think I went to school with Cheryl from businesschic.com.au (her blog gets far more comments than ours does, damn!)

What a beautiful quote by Susan B. Anthony. For the benefit of anyone reading this (hello?) here is it again:

Let me tell you what I think of bicycling. I think it has done more to emancipate women than anything else in the world. It gives women a feeling of freedom and self-reliance. I stand and rejoice every time I see a woman ride by on a wheel...the picture of free, untrammelled womanhood.
Susan B. Anthony, American Suffragist, 1896.

Thank you Saskia from Sydney Cycle Chic for making my evening with that gem. I'm reminded of a fabulous interview with Josephine Chime in the first issue of the Gentlewoman, which all of you reading this (hello?) must definitely read instantly. I transcribe:

Riding a bike is quite the way forward for the modern woman-on-the-move, isn't it?

Listen, I am the future! I am someone who looks like she would love taxis and public transport and wouldn't want to get on a bike and get all hot and sweaty riding about on it. But I'm so sick and tired of public transport being so shit and expensive that I'm taking travelling into my own hands. Soon, a lot more people like me are going to be saying "fuck you" to public transport. The roads will be full of people on bikes. Just getting on your bike, going where you want to go, in your own time, in your own way - it's a beautiful thing, really.

For the full interview, which is delightful, see Modern Transport in The Gentlewoman Issue No.1, Spring Summer 2010 p.27

I have brushed the winter mould off my basket in preparation for Spring cycling season. Fuck you, public transport!

Blackie's basket rescued from the shed and de-moulded.

Love Tillie

Religious Devotion

2011-02-21T16:20:00.000+11:00

Dear Tillie,

perhaps we should join this religion: The Church of Sit-Up Cycling. It is unfortunately only in Canada at the moment so I guess we will have to start our own religions in the UK and Australia. Hopefully it will also find a loophole in our mandatory helmet laws!

Speaking of helmets there is some intense debate happening in the comments over on Sarah Wilson's blog and Sydney Cycle Chic has joined the conversation. There is also a great new website for Australian residents called Helmet Freedom. I love its tag line "Helmets are good. Helmet laws are not." Pretty much sums it up, doesn't it!

Love Coco xx

2011-02-20T20:38:00.003+11:00

Dear Tillie,

My computer is home and repaired! Be prepared for my internet ramblings to resume! Firstly, this wonderful billboard I came across on the internets:

see more Hacked IRL - Truth in Sarcasm

Love Coco.

The end of Winter

2011-02-13T06:08:00.001+11:00

Dear Coco,

Today was a beautiful winter day in London. The sky was an icy blue and the sun was bright and hazy in bare trees. We went to a gorgeous café in Bloomsbury called No.26 for double espresso and cake, which had a Pashley parked outside! The takeaway cups were decorated with a bicycle stamp. I took a photo of the cups on my phone, but accidentally deleted it whilst trying to delete numerous bad photos of me trying on sunglasses. Oops.

Bicycles are beginning to make a return to the city. Out the window of a train I saw a girl walk her bike across a park; and a woman in the opposite seat had a pannier stuffed with a high vis vest. I live slightly too far away from work now to cycle every day, so am plotting a way to weave cycling into my routine, beginning with the long-overdue purchase of a lighting kit and a rear carrier to make picnics easier (and twilight commutes possible!)

Cycling to work was one of the greatest pleasures of 2010. If I didn’t have to lug Blackie up four flights of stairs, I’d probably have cycled more short trips as well. My route to work took me past a cake factory, along a trainline, over the Thames, and through the melee of Chelsea. Some evenings I’d cycle home the long way via Albert Bridge. Built in the Victorian era, the bridge is a curious combination of cable-stayed, suspension and beam bridge – the result of numerous modifications during its lifetime because its original design was structurally unsound. Though closed to traffic for repairs last February, the bridge is still open to pedestrians and cyclists. Bikes must be walked across, and there are inspectors ready to fine anyone who disobeys. On the other side of Albert Bridge the roads are blissfully free of traffic, and from there the greater part of my commute was through Battersea Park, with its lovely dappled shade and curving, pot-holed boulevards. On weekends we cycled to the park to eat soft-serve ice cream and read newspapers.

Thankfully, it is almost March.

Love Tillie

Cycle Symphony

2011-01-28T12:00:00.000+11:00

Dear Tillie,

You like music, right? Well how about making music while riding?

One of the contributions to this year's Seoul Cycle Design Competition is the Xylophone Bridge by Yeon Jae Won and Woo Jeong Heo. When cyclists ride over the wooden beams a little hammer hits the wooden bar and it lights up and plays a note. As you ride along you play a little song. Brilliant!

Love Coco xx

A few of my favourite things (and people)

2011-01-26T14:58:00.000+11:00

Dear Tillie,

How did I forget about this? BikeSydney just shared this clip on facebook and I kicked myself! It so perfectly demonstrates the gentle freedom and adventure a bike allows. Plus it is full of my favourite things- bikes and Firekites!

Enjoy!

Love Coco xx

I want to break free...

2011-01-25T22:37:00.000+11:00

Dear Tillie,

I just love this post on Sydney Cycle Chic. Get a bike. Break free! http://www.sydneycyclechic.org/2011/01/freedom-youve-gotta-give-for-what-you.html

Love Coco xx

The New Newcastle

2011-01-20T21:26:00.001+11:00

Dear Tillie,

As you know, our darling friends Marley & Rod were recently married in Newcastle. Warren and I made the trip up for the wedding and were delighted with the Newcastle renewal currently in progress. Marcus Westbury (of Not Quite Art fame) has instigated a cultural takeover of sorts, by utilising the many vacant buildings in the Newcastle CBD for creative purposes. Details of the Renew Newcastle program can be found here, but it was a side effect of this process that had me sit up and take notice- namely bicycles.

They were everywhere! Creative people and bicycles seem to go hand in hand, and now that Newcastle has the greatest number of creative people per capita in Australia it really should be no surprise that cycling was in abundance. But I couldn't help but do a double-take as we drove into town, 'Was that a cyclist?' then 'Oh! There's another one!' soon 'And another!'. They cruised along the main streets, there were baskets, shopping, children in tow, some were helmeted, some not. I didn't see any cycleways as such, but the city seemed to accommodate them all the same. As we had the wedding of the year to attend (big call seeing as it was early January but I'm confident) I didn't get any photos of these gorgeous cyclists in town, but the next morning over breakfast I was spoilt for choice as cyclists rolled past the cafe we chose for a delightful breakfast overlooking the working harbour. I took all these photos within about 2 minutes, excluding Harold's amazing museum shop at the Newcastle Antique Centre.

Silo Café overlooking the harbour

Bike parking

Waz chatting with Harold in his authentic old store

Wish you could have been there with us!

Love,
Coco xx

Going Dutch!

2011-01-15T21:53:00.001+11:00

Tillie & Coco is delighted to present a special guest post from Imke in Holland about winter cycling. Imke is studying at the world's only university dedicated to museum studies in Amsterdam. She is shortly moving to London to complete a second UK internship.

Dear Tillie & Coco,

Although the snow is already long gone, I am finally getting around to writing a blog post for you (on Tillie’s invitation, thanks – I’m honored!) about The Netherlands, snow and most importantly, cycling.

When the first snow fell around here, I claimed to love snow cycling. This was back when almost all the cycling lanes were clear of snow and the streets weren’t shiny and glittery yet because of slipperiness – it was actually fun to be cycling around town with a lovely white view of snow-covered bushes, trees and parks.

Occasionally I had to go through crackling snow, but I just thought that was fun (I like the sounds of crackling snow). These loving thoughts about snow cycling lasted until the second week of snow.

Then, the snow just kept on coming, which resulted in messy cycle lanes with mud-like snow which was harder to get through. It seemed like the streets and cycle lanes would never be properly clean again and the snow would just stick around. The problem here is that you can never trust whether your route to work or school will be clean from snow. By taking your cycle, you immediately challenge yourself, because the cleaning of cycle lanes and other roads seems to be done totally randomly. You’ll be cycling on this nice clean cycle lane one moment, and the next you will be struggling your way through a slippery road. And the worst thing is that it seems to change by the day. One day I think I have found a really nice snow-free lane that will take me all the way to work, but the next day it will be covered in snowy mess.

The worst is, of course, when everything gets slippery and you basically end up walking about 50% of your journey with your cycle in hand, just so you won’t fall on the slippery streets. I think everyone falls off their bike in the Netherlands at least once a winter. The main conversation topic at work was where bruises from your most recent fall off the bike were. Luckily, I only fell off once this year, without bruises (yay!), but it did cause my chain to detach and I had no way to fix it quickly myself because of my enclosed chain-guard (yay for my dad, who fixed it!).

Cycling around Holland is inevitable - even during winter and snow - and I would love to have clean cycling lanes, roads and nice tours around idealistic looking snow-covered places, with no fear of falling off or being surprised to find my usual cycle lane all covered in snow. I would like to be able to enjoy the short sections of crackling snow while I am cycling along on a nice, sunny winter’s day. Cycling in winter times should simply be as beautiful as that – all of the fun, none of the trouble.

Imke

P.S. Every morning my bike looked like a little snowman-bike, because I don’t keep it in the shed. Although every morning I thought ‘this will look good in a picture’, I never actually photographed it.

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

2011-01-10T14:01:00.001+11:00

Dear Tillie,

Sorry for not writing, I have been away in the lovely land of no phone reception or internet! It was bliss! Your holiday photos are so lovely I've decided to let my photos do the talking too. Unlike your epic travel adventure Warren and I spent Christmas and New Years at our family farm up in the Nambucca Valley region of New South Wales. Once we got there we pretty much stayed put.

There was no bike riding to be had as this is rural, hilly country and the closest town is roughly a half hours drive away. I would never make it alive on my Electra! That's not to say my holiday was bike-free. My Christmas present from my Kris Kringle was a voucher for "Bicycle related awesomeness" at Cheeky Transport in Newtown. What made it even better was when my sister went to purchase the voucher and they asked who to make it out to, all she had to say was "Coco" and they knew exactly who I was. See, bike people are super dooper amazing! That sort of wonderful customer service is why I keep going back.

Anyway, on with the photos!

Coffee in Bellingen (how cute is the sugar bowl!)

Spotted in Macksville

We had hundreds of these little green friends visit us every night

We had a resident wallaby family living under the house and this little fellow still drank from its mother every now and then

Tillie they spelled your name incorrectly!

Hilarious wallaby poses

Our Christmas tree on the verandah, and yes, we cut it down ourselves!

We named this joey Wally

New Years Eve

Pimm's with a cucumber swizzle stick

Our version of fireworks

New Years Day was started by an early dip in the creek

Even I got in! It was freezing as the water had just come down the mountains!

My new favourite toy- a bean slicer! Thanks Waz!

My biggest bruise about one week after I fell down a waterfall

Giant Wood Moth
(It died after laying those eggs and I donated it to the Australian Museum)

Well there you go! Now it's back to work and of course riding around good old Sydney town.

Love Coco xx

Berlin photo essay

2010-12-31T22:09:00.001+11:00

Dear Coco,

This year we accidentally spent Christmas in a hotel in Berlin. Our flight to Riga on the 20th of December was cancelled by Heathrow, who didn't invest in enough snow ploughs after the last two years of bitterly cold winter warnings. We found a flight out of Stanstead a few days later, spent three days in Berlin, and from there flew to Kaunas (Lithuania) on Boxing Day, where we were collected in a nice warm car.

What a wonderful city Berlin is! I tend to judge cities by their transport systems, and Berlin did not disappoint. Trains are on time and capacious, with carriages set aside with extra room for bicycles, luggage, prams and wheelchairs. No one seemed to mind speaking English. One of the first things I noticed was that this is a city not afraid of the dark. We arrived late in the afternoon (which felt much later owing to the night sky) and caught the S-Bahn, which took us on a long journey through East Berlin and West. The city revealed little of itself in the streetlights, the inside of the train felt like the only lit thing.

Unfortunately for us, Berlin shut down on the afternoon of Christmas Eve, and all the places we wanted to see would not open again until the new year. Oh no! We contemplated a Christmas Kebab before happening upon one solitary bar in a street across the way from our hotel, which glowed quietly in the slushy, snowed-in surrounds of a city asleep. It sold huge schnitzels and salads with mayonnaise! Incredibly open throughout the festive season, we had Christmas dinner there the next day (goulash this time) followed by Christmas markets for Glühwein.

Here is a Berlin photo essay for you. Happy new year!

Berlin S-Bahn. Note the bicycle sign on the window.

A bicycle defeated by snow.

Glühwein, in last year's mug.

Berlin U-Bahn, with Brandenburg Gate motifs on the windows.

Berlin U-Bahn on Christmas Eve.

Gorgeous bicycle parks on Karl Marx Allee - a monumental
street built by the GDR in the 1950s in Socialist
Classicism style. I love.

Heavy traffic

2010-12-21T17:41:00.000+11:00

Dear Tillie,

I know you're probably a bit sick of my Shanghai reminiscing but I did manage to find a video of riding in heavy traffic so I just have to share it. I even added my own voiceover (you lucky thing)! As before, credit must go to my lovely husband who had the foresight to shoot this video on his ride home one evening. This was the biggest intersection he had to ride through on the way home but it was in no way scary. You can tell the traffic is calm despite being busy. It just flows around the cyclists and the drivers are very aware of them. Have a good look at the cyclists too- all ages, normal clothes, no helmets. I love that lady's squeaky bike! The plastic bags tied over the saddles are in case it rains, take off the bag and ta dah- your seat is still dry! The other great trick I learned over there was slinging the strap of my handbag over my handlebars so it couldn't be grabbed out of my basket by unscrupulous characters on motorbikes (learnt that one the hard way).

And just incase you're wondering why I returned to Sydney after living in a cycling haven like Shanghai here's a photo of the weather today- beautiful!

I rode down to Pyrmont to have coffee with my sister at lunch, then I rode around to Pirrama Park and sat under a tree with a good book. That is what I love about riding a bike, so convenient!

Love Coco xx

Snow

2010-12-18T22:06:00.000+11:00

Dear Coco,

It has started snowing again. What I like most about snow is how quiet yet dramatic it is. The other nice thing is how it makes ephemeral things visible, like footsteps! This is from last winter, but it's my all time favourite snow photo.

I like seeing cars driving around with thick snow shell. Planes are struggling to take off today. An unfortunate BBC presenter at Gatwick this morning was on camera in a blizzard, trying to report on the state of the air traffic, her eyebrows slowly collecting thick white flakes. I couldn't concentrate on what she was saying properly because she wasn't wearing a hat! Where's your OH&S, BBC?
The tree outside our window is slowly gathering a white shadow. A white breakfast seems appropriate.

Love Tillie

Cycling Celebrations

2010-12-18T11:04:00.000+11:00

Dear Tillie,

I got the job! I celebrated with a piccolo of appropriately themed sparkling wine.

Love Coco xx

Fellow bike blogger

2010-12-17T13:46:00.000+11:00

Hey Tillie,

I was just reading Sarah Wilson's blog and it's getting heated over there! As you know Australia has mandatory helmet laws and there are many people who do not agree with them, myself included. Sarah mentioned she doesn't always wear a helmet in a previous blog and she was inundated with comments, so she's addressed the issue again here.

It's well worth a read for some great information that isn't often presented in the helmet law debate. For example, did you know helmets are only tested up to speeds of 19.5km/h? Even school zones are more than twice that speed limit. Food for thought.

Love Coco xx

Riding on Water

2010-12-14T22:10:00.000+11:00

Dear Tillie,

So I found that video of my amazing husband ~~walking~~ riding on water. I still can't believe he managed to ride to work in that crazy weather. I love that the bikes just took to the footpaths and were not nearly as crippled by the flood as the cars were. Have a look for yourself (apologies for the shaky camera work but the man was riding through a flood!):

Love Coco xx

Shanghai Dreaming

2010-12-14T10:42:00.001+11:00

Dear Tillie,

the Gehl Architects' Chennai India video reminds me so much of living in...

Photo taken from the Pearl Tower overlooking the Huangpu River and Puxi

Shanghai!

The city is so expansive. I just couldn't comprehend how it stretched on forever in every direction. In keeping with the architectural theme here is a photo from the Urban Planning Museum in Shanghai

Scale model of Shanghai

Cycling is one of the main methods of transportation in Shanghai and the city actually accommodates cyclists very well. The bike lanes are enormous- often bigger than car lanes- and separated from traffic on the busiest streets with metal dividers. At major intersections there are Traffic Controllers (usually women for some reason) who direct the cyclists when to stop, turn etc. One of my favourite things- outside major shopping centres there is always plenty of bike parking (perpendicular to the curb unlike the parallel parking here in Sydney), you lock your bike up and pay the attendant (I think it was one yuan) to watch your bike. They give you a little receipt which you have to present to be able to unlock your bike and ride off when you return. And of course I felt thoroughly safe when riding in Shanghai.

Although the traffic is throbbing drivers never intimidate cyclists. They sit and wait for the riders to pass before turning, they rumble along slowly behind you until there is enough room to overtake, I never once had a horn honked at me! At first the traffic looks crazy, cars, bicycles, motorbikes and scooters going every which way, but you soon fall in with the flow. And there is a real flow to the traffic. I used to get very Zen and tell my husband "You have to be like water! Go with the flow. If there's an obstacle in your way just flow around it." and it was true!

I remember the feeling of riding around Shanghai for the first time. It was the first bike I owned as an adult and I felt FREE! I think this photo illustrates it perfectly. The wind in my hair, smile on my face- bliss!

We rode everywhere! When we moved back to Sydney it seemed so silly not to ride! How did we overlook this wonderful form of transportation as adults? Fun, healthy, cheap, green, and with such a sense of freedom! So we promptly bought bikes and continued our cycling lifestyle here in Oz.

Here's a few more photos of bikes in Shanghai. I just wish I had some of riding in the heavy traffic (I guess we were too busy riding to take photos then) and some of the crazy things people transported on bikes (whole pigs, a refrigerator, and a double mattress come to mind). I myself once rode home from Ikea with an outdoor table and two stools all on my bike. I truly felt like a local.

Fruit and plant sellers with their produce on their trikes

Riding to Wazza's office (look how wide that contra flow bike lane is!)

Heading home from the French Concession

Riding behind some unidentified form of transport...

Oh yes, it's a bike!

A shot out the window of our first apartment- see the metal fence dividing the bike lane from other traffic

And last, but certainly not least, a nice ugly shot of me with my eyes closed so you can see the faithful cyclists riding around in the rain and snow in the middle of winter

Somewhere in the depths of my (or my husband's) computer there is a video he took of riding to work during a flood in Shanghai. As soon as I find it I'll post. You wont believe it!

Love Coco xx

Gehl Architects

2010-12-13T22:29:00.000+11:00

Dear Coco,
Gehl Architects have just started a series called "Cycling in Cities" - first stop Chennai, India!
http://gehlarchitects.wordpress.com/2010/12/13/on-being-a-cyclist-in-chennai-india/
(My favourite line is "Henning Thompsen is wearing a helmetcam on this trip".)
Tillie x

Bicycle skills

2010-12-13T14:12:00.000+11:00

Dear Tillie,

I'm still learning how to embed a video on the page so for now you'll just have to visit this link to check out some awe inspiring bicycle skills. If we were in the same hemisphere I'm sure we could totally pull this off!

http://wimp.com/bicycleskill/

Love Coco xx

Very serious letter writing business

2010-12-13T09:11:00.001+11:00

Dear Tillie,

so my little rant in response to this letter was published in today's Sydney Morning Herald. You can see it here but I've also copied and pasted for you below:

I am sorry to hear Philip Dunne (Letters, December 11-12) has been inconvenienced by caring for someone hurt by a cyclist. However passing the buck of cyclist safety onto cyclists only must stop. Calls for high-visibility vests are ridiculous. When I ride to the shops or to work I am not in a race. I don't need a vest with an identifying number. I am happy to carry identification or register my bike, but I am not happy to absolve drivers of responsibility for their lack of attention.

I am taller when sitting on bike. I am also larger. No one blames pedestrians when they are hit by cars. More pedestrians than cyclists are killed by cars every year, yet there is no cry for mandatory helmets and fluoro vests for pedestrians. If you find it difficult to see cyclists I suggest you slow down, and perhaps get your eyes tested.

Alacoque Dash Ultimo

I do come off as rather grumpy but the idea that it's my own fault if I get hit by cars because I'm not dressed up like a fluoro Christmas tree will do that to a girl. That and serious letter writing before my morning coffee.

Love Coco xx

Workout

2010-12-13T03:12:00.001+11:00

Dear Coco,

Davina is much fitter than me.

This morning I made myself do Davina's 30-minute "Pump" workout, which made me remember that I hate all kinds of exercise that aren't cycling. Ow.
Love Tillie

More cup holder action

2010-12-12T10:01:00.001+11:00

Dear Tillie,

yesterday I also took a couple of photos of my cup holder in action, just because. My cup is one of those ones you can insert your own image, so after playing around for a while I came up with this:

It looks like an ordinary picture...

But it's actually a cheeky nudie pic!

Thank you Vargas. And thank you cup holder/censor bar.

Love Coco xx

Walking

2010-12-12T05:34:00.012+11:00

Dear Coco,

Mayfair Cobblers, White Horse Street

Westminster W1J 7LB

Today I collected my favourite boots from the best cobbler in London, Mayfair Cobblers! (I hope they don't mind me stalkerishly photographing their shop). My boots now have lovely rubber soles and new heels in preparation for Snow Attack Round II, which is meant to happen sometime next week.

I'M NOT AFRAID OF YOU, SNOW ATTACK ROUND II!

Love Tillie

Sophie's Birthday

2010-12-11T15:54:00.001+11:00

Dear Tillie,

it's my little sister's birthday today! Sophie celebrated by hosting a little picnic down at Pirrama Park. I rode down making the most of the opportunity to use my new rear rack! Yay!

Unloading the picnic gear.

The birthday girl and her husband Hugo.

I discovered a new function for my rear rack...

due to its slanted edges it holds a glass of wine perfectly!

Check out the new skirt guards and rear rack!

I just had to sneak in a shot of my shoes.

I hope these pics aren't making you too jealous of the Sydney summer! Truthfully today's beautiful weather has been a long time coming.

Love Coco xx

Card-carrying cyclist

2010-12-11T09:36:00.003+11:00

Dear Tillie,

I am so annoyed! Another ridiculous letter in the Sydney Morning Herald today. See it in context here http://www.smh.com.au/national/letters/review-tribunal-chief-is-off-the-mark-20101210-18spn.html I've also copied and pasted for you below.

Card-carrying cyclist

Registration of bicycles is impractical as a new one can be assembled in minutes from the components of others and you will soon find out the hard way if it is not roadworthy.

But, having spent three months caring for a person hurt by an unidentifiable cyclist, I believe cyclists must carry registration, identification and a green slip.

Everyone working on the roads is required to wear a high-visibility safety vest. Such a vest with an identifying number would also increase the cyclist's safety. After all, riders in every major road race wear an identifier.

Philip Dunne Vaucluse

I am so sick of cyclist safety being the responsibility of cyclists only! I hate this idea that if a driver hits a cyclist it's the cyclist's fault for not being visible enough. No one blames pedestrians for not being visible enough when they are hit by cars, and cyclists are much more visible than pedestrians. Anyway I've written a response so we will have to wait and see if it's published. What a start to what should be a lovely Saturday!

Love Coco xx

In praise of trains

2010-12-09T10:41:00.006+11:00

Dear Coco,

It's cold here. Here is some frost to prove it!

I love that you sip tea while stopped at the lights, as if the street is just an extension of your lounge room - as it should be! I am wound up in a routine of hat hair (a seasonal change from helmet hair), only venturing outside to be inside again in the confines of a train. The weather has been so “inclement” (Transport for London loves saying “inclement”!) that I have fallen over twice at Wimbledon Station, which stupidly has the world’s smoothest, slipperiest floors that defy even the most sensibly-soled winter boot.

I have retired Blackie for the winter after nearly giving myself pneumonia attempting a leisure ride to Wimbledon Park last month, and now the train is my transport mode of choice. Viewed from the window of a train London still looks 100 years ago – all pointed rooftops and irregular chimney pots – and even though I only travel between zones 1 and 3, catching the train home makes me feel definitely that I am no longer at work. (Proust observed that the train makes “the difference between departure and arrival not as unnoticeable as possible, but as profound as possible”.* How true that is!)

Love Tillie

Wimbledon Station's evil floors

*In the Shadow of Young Girls in Flower, trans. James Grieve (London: Allen Lane / The Penguin Press, 2002), 223-224. I never made it past the second book of In Search of Lost Time, in case you’re wondering.

Parts & Accessories

2010-12-08T16:50:00.000+11:00

Dear Tillie,

A problem you may not have encountered, seeing as your bike is so awesomely kitted out, is getting accessories to fit and match your bike. Now I love my Electra Amsterdam but I didn’t take into account the difficulty of acquiring parts and accessories when I bought her. See Electra is an American brand and they only make two shipments to Australia a year. That leaves one playing the waiting game and performing lots of weird finger crossing in the hope your local retailer will manage to get the part you’re after. That’s what has happened with my rear rack. Basically I can’t get it here. I tried, they tried, but it just didn’t happen. SO I’ve gone for the alternative- a basic Topeak rack that I am customising for my bike. The other accessory I very much wanted but couldn’t get here (they don’t import them) was skirt guards. I ended up buying them from the online Electra shop, but as they don’t ship to Australia or accept international credit cards I was forced to use a shipping forwarding company called Hop Shop Go. This meant I could get the product here to Sydney but the shipping costs were greater than the skirt guards themselves! And of course they only had them in black.

So that explains why today I spent the morning sanding off layers of paint from my rear rack and sanding on some ‘tooth’ on my plastic skirt guards in order to be spray painted to match my bike. After I had sanded, wiped down and dried my parts I tied them onto my clothesline, laid down a drop sheet and got painting! I used White Knight’s Rust Guard Epoxy Enamel in Cream. It offers ‘superior rust protection’ and is self-priming- very handy!

Now I just have to wait for the bloody things to dry so I can attach them to my bike (so impatient I know!). I was planing on stencilling something on the skirt guards (flowers, sugar skulls, pinup girls perhaps) but I couldn’t decide what and realised it simply meant more time watching paint dry (which is as boring as, well, watching paint dry) so for the moment they will remain plain old cream, but I’m going to keep my eye out for some stickers/decals. If I get inspired in the future I can simply take them off and paint again.

Anyway, what do you think so far?

Australia’s arts and culture scene has a bike helmet problem

2010-12-08T13:00:00.000+11:00

Dear Tillie,

Marcus Westbury has just uploaded a piece on his blog that identifies problems with over-regulation in both cycling and creative cultures. Have a read: Australia’s arts and culture scene has a bike helmet problem

Love Coco xx

Here's to new beginnings!

2010-12-07T19:19:00.000+11:00

Dearest Tillie,

I am so glad we’ve decided to create this blog! We both have so many small yet wonderful cycling adventures and it just seems so appropriate to share them here, where others can also marvel in the simple beauty of the bicycle.

Firstly I simply must share with you this pic of my new favourite thing- my cup holder! (Ceramic cup for demonstration purposes only)

Oh the joys of a cup of tea or coffee while stopped at lights or slowly pedalling along in the park!

Its first outing was on Sunday where Warren and I stopped at Lindt Café for take-away mochas on our way to catch the ferry to Cockatoo Island. Riding around the island was blissful. The ride was organised by Sydney Cycle Chic and there was a group of us riding sit-up bikes for a film made by Situp-cycle.com (I’ll post a link to the film once it’s completed). I managed to fit a whole picnic in my basket, including a cutting board for our cheese. Was quite a sight!

Here’s to new beginnings!

Love Coco xx

Tillie & Coco

We have moved!

Back on the Bike

Riga Bicycle Tours

Psychic Bike

Bike Tram

Friends who Cycle: Tess

*Tillie & Coco Flashback!* Flat tyre woes (2010)

Happy Mothers Day!

Long time no talk!

Post from Mum

Richmond Park

To market, to market!

Tweed Run 2011: 'Ah, what a lovely world it is!'

Priorities

Tweed Run 2011 Outfit: a series of flukes

Letters to the Editor

Cyclists can rely on safety in numbers

Road rage

Bondi Beach Cruisers

San Fran Postcard!

Blackie is Back, Alright! (oh dear.)

America

Greenhouse by Joost

Pedal power vs Motor might!

Murphy's Law

Rides a bike

Happy St Paddy's Day!

Magazine magic

Bike boys

City Talks

Great and Green

For & Against

All superheroes have capes

Hell yes.

Religious Devotion

The end of Winter

Cycle Symphony

A few of my favourite things (and people)

I want to break free...

The New Newcastle

Going Dutch!

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

Berlin photo essay

Heavy traffic

Snow

Cycling Celebrations

Fellow bike blogger

Riding on Water

Shanghai Dreaming

Gehl Architects

Bicycle skills

Very serious letter writing business

Workout

More cup holder action

Walking

Sophie's Birthday

Card-carrying cyclist

Card-carrying cyclist

In praise of trains

Parts & Accessories

Australia’s arts and culture scene has a bike helmet problem

Here's to new beginnings!

Tillie & Coco Flashback! Flat tyre woes (2010)