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Details

This is a free easy 10km guided bike ride at a slow relaxed pace (15km/hr).

New people very welcome! Max. 15 spots. Children allowed only if they are a passenger on an adult's bike. Any questions, message me or comment below :)

✨ Join us to discover four local organisations working to help reduce waste, and offering terrific services to the community.

✨ Great for most skill and fitness levels.

What we'll do
Starting at The Newcastle Pushbike Library in Islington, we will use carefully-chosen streets & cycleways to cycle a short, easy 10km loop around the city, stopping to visit community sustainability initiatives along the way:

✨The Newcastle Pushbike Library, Islington: Run by Daniel (Dan the bike man), the library is your go-to for all things secondhand bikes, at reasonable prices. You can borrow a bike for up to two years, with a cash deposit of around $50. Sell/swap bike parts. Cheap repairs, including free brake tightening! Get a secondhand rear storage rack or basket installed for $10, or test ride a bike. Cash only. https://newcastlepushbikelibrary.wordpress.com/

✨The Share Shop, Hamilton: 100% volunteer-run, this is a Library of Things! From lawn mowers to food processors, camping gear to sewing machines, for a monthly membership, you can borrow from their inventory of 200+ items. https://theshareshop.org/

✨The Full Circle Collective, Hunter St, Newcastle: shop local, ethical products, and see how their repair cafe operates (we likely won't have time on the ride to wait for items to be repaired though). Every Saturday they hold a repair cafe fixing textiles, toys & small furniture. They're also an environmental charity whose mission is to empower individuals to make a positive environmental impact. https://thefullcirclecollective.com.au/

✨ Upcycle Newcastle, Hamilton North: walk into a beautiful treasure-trove of colour, textiles, and sewing. This not-for-profit aims to reduce textile waste. You can take classes on, and shop, all things upcycled, from clothes to bags to hats. https://upcyclenewcastle.org.au/

See map of route in photos below.

😎 Be sure to bring snacks or lunch to have on the way. At about 12:30pm you can grab something to takeaway if you like, at one of the cafes while we are on Hunter St.

The timing of this ride is designed around the opening times of the places we'll visit. For example, The Share Shop closes at 12pm, and Upcycle opens at 1pm.

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Start/finish point: The Newcastle Pushbike Library, 106 Robert St, Islington, (on Google Maps, it's called Bike Love Corral)

Start time: meet at 11am for an 11:15am start

HOWEVER: if you want to talk to Dan at the Pushbike Library about bike repairs, or to test ride a bike, you should either arrive before 11am, or chat to him after the ride.

Finish time: roughly 2pm

Relative cycling fitness level: VERY EASY /easy/medium/hard/very hard

Infrastructure: 1.5km separated cycleways, 2.2km shared paths, 5km of low-pressure streets, 500m footpath, 800m of medium-pressure streets

Distance: 10km
Pace: slow, leisurely, 15km/hr on the flat

Topography: flat, apart from one steep 100 metre-long hill (can be walked)
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You’ll need:

  • cash, in case you want something at the Pushbike Library
  • bring your own snacks or lunch to have on the way
  • helmet
  • bike with good working brakes and tyres pumped to the recommended PSI
  • bike lock (for when we stop, or for if you get a mechanical issue)
  • phone & opal card in case of puncture
  • a repair kit, if you have one (spare tube, tyre levers, patches, pump etc)
  • water bottle
  • sun protection

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Getting there

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Indemnity and release of liability
By participating in this activity you unconditionally indemnify the organiser/host against any and all claims, demands, losses, injuries, damages, liabilities or other costs, whether present or future, relating to your participation and/or dealings with Bike About Town - Newcastle, including but not limited to, any accident, loss or damage to property or death or injury to any person.
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How we ride:
I give a safety briefing at the start, and lead the ride. We:

  • stick together & ride in an alert, slow manner.
  • ride in single file
  • don't hug the left but ride within drivers' fields of vision
  • do not ride in the doorzone of parked cars
  • keep a predictable trajectory & speed.
  • Given we are usually on low-speed, short streets, we mostly ride in the center of the lane (claiming the lane) in order to: encourage drivers to slow & consider what's ahead, prevent drivers overtaking too closely/quickly, to arrive in a visible position at junctions, & to turn right.
  • signal left and right
  • slow to a safe speed to pass others, giving early warning and a wide passing distance. If a safe passing distance is not possible, wait until it is.
  • You are responsible for your own safety at all times.

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If the weather is looking unfavourable, check the comments below for updates; heavy rain may result in cancellation.
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Transform your journey, ride & drive more safely, and change Newy's street culture.

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The Magic of Street Design

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Facebook https://facebook.com/BikeAboutTownNewcastleNSW
Komoot: https://www.komoot.com/tour/1831416099?ref=itd
Newcastle Cycleways Movement: https://www.newcastlecycleways.org.au/way-finding

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