Holy Chic

(the above image remains the property of the people who shot it, in this case, Knog)

So, Knog is a bicycle accessories company that has just opened a store on Chapel St.

If you don't think bicycles have crossed the threshold into the world of 'designer accessory', think again.

That's all well and good mind you - Crumpler have been weird for years now, and fashion bikes are still bikes so long as someone rides them - but my question is this; do you really want to buy a bike no one else in the country sells (Swobo), from a store that doesn't appear to have a mechanic? How can you have a relationship with your bike store if your only interaction with them is to buy new accessories? Eventually, you're gonna have them all, and then what?

Having said all that, Knog Lights are very, very nice.

Monash-CityLink-West Gate Upgrade

http://www.bv.com.au/change-the-world/40630/

Bicycle Victoria has been in ongoing discussions with Transurban, VicRoads and the Monash Alliance regarding the Monash-CityLink-West Gate Upgrade project and the impact on riders.
The Victorian Government is working on a $1.4 billion project which includes major upgrades to CityLink's Southern Link, the Monash and West Gate Freeways.
22 May 2008 There a number of locations and implications for this important bike network corridor, ranging from short term diversions to long term improvements. We have been busy trying to ensure that riders can still use this corridor and potentially recieve an improved outcome from the project.
Great Valley Rd to Burke Rd
The Monash Alliance (a consortium doing the work) will need to close the Gardiners Ck Path between Great Valley Rd and Burke Rd while they expand the M1 and extend the eastbound on-ramp from Burke Rd.
There have been message boards up on the path for the last 2 weeks announcing this project. Bicycle Victoria has met with the Monash Alliance and Boroondara City Council to review the proposed detour.
This involves turning north along Great Valley Rd, turning into Haynes Crescent and going through Howard Dawson Reserve. The path through the reserve will be upgraded to accommodate the high volumes.
While this diversion will be practical for the large number of commuting riders who may feel comfortable riding in traffic along the very busy Great Valley Rd, it does not offer a viable solution for the large number of weekend recreational riders including children who will view this as a gap in the trail.
We are pushing for the path to widened on either or both sides of Great Valley Road.

H A Smith Reserve / Glenferrie Rd precinct
The path is due to be realigned between the Hawthorn Velodrome and the approach to H A Smith Reserve during June to accomodate the M1 widening project. This should have a minimal effect on users as the existing path will not be removed until the aternative is in place. There may be some temporary issues at both ends where the new and old alignments join. Please help us keep an eye on it.
This will be a long term improvement for the path and will help alleviate the poor sight lines near the velodrome.

US Presidential Hopeful Supports/Panders-To Cyclists

Front-running (and at this point you'd have to say presumptive) US Democrat Party Nominee Barack Obama was busy shoring up votes in Portland, Oregon last week - throwing his support behind their public transport and cycling initiatives.

Maybe it's the green equivalent of baby-kissing, or maybe it's legit. It certainly didn't hurt Portland Mayoral candidate and commuter cyclist Sam Adams - following Obama's speech he won Tuesday's election with an impressive 17% margin.

UPDATE: Not only does Barack Obama like your new bicycle - apparently he is one...

cold mornings r here

a bit cold this morning huh....do parts of your face hurt where there is only skin and bone with that freezing wind chill (eg: cheek bones!) here is some cheap advice on what you can do to help lower that wind chill factor, i smear vaseline on my cheek bones (my face cheek bones that is) and around the base of my nose!
not so much that i shine like a porcelain doll just a small layer to protect it from the cold.
or for you girls if your worried about grease in your pours and ruining make up, you could add a shit load of foundation to lower the wind chill factor and by the time you get to work the extra layer would of blown off and you would look like you have just stepped out of a make up salon!!!

cheers guys and girls.......jp

Ride the Eastlink Freeway

A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity has arrived to ride the EastLink Motorway before it opens. Be the first to ride the new EastLink Motorway and join in the festivities of the EastLink Roadshow on Sunday 15 June. Enjoy this magnificent wide road with a beautifully smooth surface that allows you to get maximum benefit out of every stroke of the pedal ...with no motorised company! Enter the EastLink Motorway rides by Friday 6 June and you will go in the draw to win a new Argon18 Plutonium Road bike valued at $1499 and two tickets for the 2008 Great Victorian Bike Ride valued at a total of $1550.

To celebrate the opening of EastLink we are offering you the chance to ride the EastLink Motorway car-free, and raise funds for the Cancer Council Victoria while you're at it. There are three options, all starting and finishing at the Tom Wills Interchange (Monash Freeway).

EastLink Family Ride - 10km
The perfect EastLink ride for you and your kids. Free to enter!

EastLink Fun Ride - 30km
Feel the sun on your face as you effortlessly pedal 30km with your family and friends along EastLink. Free to enter!

EastLink Cycling Challenge - 65km
Ride the full 65km loop and compare yourself to your friends and elite riders from professional cycling teams who will be racing the same course before you. Register now to secure your position on the start line and your automated timing! Entry is $39 for individuals or$108 for a family. At least $15 from each individual entry and $40 from each family entry is donated to the Cancer Council of Victoria. Enter Now!

Remember - you can ride the EastLink Motorway only once, but you canride the newest sealed bike path in Victoria for the rest of your life - Check out the The EastLink Trail!

Go to www.rideeastlink.com.au for more information on the rides, or visit the EastLink Roadshow for more information about other activities on the day.