Thursday, July 29, 2010

Melbourne - Day one

Melbourne has come quite a long way since I lived there 10 years ago ... there are bicycles everywhere ... proper actual styley bicycles!

Some beautiful retro ones like we have in Auckland

But also some new bicycles like this model that we saw all over Melbourne ... we found this particular model in a shop for only $399!!

"Well no wonder" I hear you say.

Every lamp post was adorned with cycle bling!

And every rack was claimed (and there were lots of them - please take note ACC)

We even spied some cargo bikes ... this is definitely a trend just waiting to happen in NZ!

(I've made contact with Feetz cycles and am working out the details for importing my 'helmet-free' tricycle ... anyone else want one?)

There were some styley riders wearing their own clothes ...

Basket bikes galore ...

And some were even enjoying the wind in their hair


Their helmet fine is pretty steep over in Australia but they obviously also have hard-working policemen, like we do, who are solving 'proper' crimes


However, they do still have quite a few of these 'cyclists' ...

And the shops ... I won't tell you how much we spent ... it will make your eyes water!

Arrhhh!! oooohhh!! uuummm!!


And then of course, there was the gathering of cycling peeps ... recognise anyone?
By at

11 comments:

  1. These guys are a few years ahead of us aren't they? But it gives me hope that Auckland can change. I mean Okastralians are even more attached to their cars than Kiwis.

    And about that last picture;
    If I wear a scarf could I be even half as chic as Mr Chic himself?
    That woman's bangle is outstanding. Like an ivory life-preserver!

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  2. @ bikefriendly - I know what you mean, I don't know how the Europeans do it ... they just look so .... European! When I lived in France, I noticed that French mothers teach their children how to be chic from an early age - shopping is almost an art form over there. I have a French friend who arrived in NZ a couple of years ago looking tres chic and has gradually become scruffier and scruffier as time has gone on ... the polished shoes have been replaced with jandals, knitwear replaced with baggy T, trousers replaced with board shorts - I think it takes more than just a scarf!

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  3. Great to meet you in Melbourne! And you certainly went to the right spot for pretty bike spotting, Flinders Lane is full of funky euro-looking student types, all with funky euro-looking bikes!

    Hope you enjoy your new baskets :)

    Joyce aka Miss CycleStyle

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  4. Unity/Jenny,

    I have an issue with this post.

    I love Melbourne, my daughter lives there & we visit often & I have cycled there, yes they are decades ahead of us.

    My issue?

    The snotty comment about 'these cyclists'

    I'm one of 'these cyclists' I have 6 bicycles, 1 racer, 2 softrides, (you would have seen one of them at the Albert park ride which I bailed on), 1 commuter complete with mudguards & racks, 1 mountain bike & 1 folder.

    I choose to ride 1 of these bikes over using a car at any opportunity & I dress appropriately, even if it involves Lycra.

    This divisive & elitist mentality will not help New Zealand become more Bike Friendly. It has the potential to become like the Single speed hipster phenomenon overseas, the next big thing & they are all out of here.

    We’re all in this together or should be, as long as someone is on 2 wheels, I’m happy.

    A bicycle is not a fashion accessory.

    I didn’t see you or your husband at the opening of the Mt Roskill bike path, do you only use your bikes to go to Uni or Britomart Farmers market?

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  5. Yes, I know, I can't add.

    I left out the GT Palomar in the woodshed which I'm restoring

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  6. Whoa dude, take a chill-pill before you press send.

    I agree with your "We’re all in this together" sentiment but I get passed by plenty of "these cyclists" and they rarely say hello.

    - Antoine

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  7. I put a link of your blog on mine!
    Hope you liked it!

    http://is2fashion.blogspot.com/2010/07/cycle-chic.html

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  8. @Hurben - so you want to have your cake and it too!. Isn't it a little hypocritical to accuse someone else of being divisive and elitist when you're sneering about the "Single speed Hipster phenomenon"?...and the "cyclist" distinction is one that was made by Mikael of CCC at the State of Design conference in Melbourne differentiating "cyclists" from people who simply ride bikes - all the photos bar one posted show people wearing everyday clothes riding a bike. Also I don't understand why a bike can't be a fashion accessory or why it matters where it gets ridden - that could be construed as you being elitist and divisive!

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  9. Could you tell me where those stores in Melbourne were where you took those pics? About to head over there in a few weeks.

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  10. @Ilex - some were just clothes stores with bikes in their display but one of the bicycle shops we went to was called the Indian Bicycle shop

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