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Date: 3/12/2025
Subject: Bike North Newsletter - 12 March 2025
From: Bike North


12 march 2025	Your Bike North NewsLETTER

Please Consider

Healthy organisations know when time comes for renewal, refreshment, change. After five years as President, it is time for me to stand aside and let new ideas flow into Bike North. I will not be standing for election at the AGM in August.

It is enormously rewarding helping run this organisation, supporting the huge health and social benefits it offers members through the generosity of all the contributors. I have made friendships that endure and thrive over the years. I have ridden on routes I had never known before - I mean that literally and metaphorically.

Please consider how you might be able to take on some role. You could join the Executive Committee without needing to take on any particular portfolio. You can take time to look over what opportunities you would like to embrace; there is no need to rush. Indeed, we can bring you on board at any time, so there is no need to delay.

Please consider, too, what role you could play in leading Bike North, even as President. I have very much enjoyed my time working with the Executive Committee and all other people who volunteer their time and energies. At last count, oversixtypeople contribute as Ride Leaders, the Rides Committee, the Social Committee, the Comms/Social Media Gurus team, the Advocacy Convenors and other contributors, tours organisers and various IT support.

I am proud to have been a small part of such a vibrant and supportive organisation that runs around 40-50 rides every month, an average of more than one a day! I am also proud that we have built our strong advocacy presence that ‘punches well above our weight’. Increasingly, we are seen as a reliable partner and contributor by elected Local and State Government representatives and government officials alike.

I would be very happy to have a chat with you about any of this, if you'd like to know more (president@bikenorth.org.au). Indeed, speak with any of the Exec. You would be very welcome to come along to one of our meetings, to see how we work together and what is involved. Our next meeting will be at 7:30pm on Tuesday 1st April. I can give you more details if you would like to attend.

I will certainly continue to participate in Bike North activities and look forward to riding more with our members.

Phill Hart

President

president@bikenorth.org.au

Open House!

You are invited to join the Executive Committee at its next meeting on (no joke!) Tuesday 1st April 2025 from 7.15pm.

There will be wine, cheese and nibbles and the chance to meet and chat to Committee members before the meeting.

Stay for an hour and see what the Committee gets up to!

Zoom link available for those who cannot make it in person!

We would love to have you there.

Put your Hands in the Air!

We have many opportunities to volunteer at Bike North and we invite you to put your hand up to do so. Whatever your interest or skill level, we have a place for you to contribute! You will be trained, supported and encouraged all the way! Be part of the team!

Volunteer for:

Social committee - bring members together for fun events
Comms gurus - get our message out there on social media or our newsletter,
Advocacy - improve cycling in northern Sydney
Ride Leaders - share your passion with others - like our new ride leader James (read article below)
Executive Committee - help make decisions that will improve the club for members.

Read below what just a few of our Bike North volunteers say.

Interested to explore further? Email Phill at president@bikenorth.org.au for a chat.

It's a great way to make social connections!

Marilyn Algeo: Ride Leader, Social Committee

Chris Byrne: Comms Guru, Interest Group Co-ordinator (Wow! Photography)

After a working-lifetime in Accounting and Finance I enjoy my volunteer role in Bike North. It’s a welcome diversion that provides me with a creative outlet in both photography and story writing.

More importantly, Bike North’s Social Media provides members with valuable updates and gives them a chance to admire themselves in photos!

Andrew Elliston: Ride Leader, Rides Committee:

Cycling with Bike North has given me a community and support. By also volunteering, I have not only helped our club and our community thrive but have also gained a sense of fulfillment, built lasting friendships, and developed new skills that have helped my career and broader life.

Contributing as a volunteer makes a significant impact, creating a more vibrant and supportive environment for all. Join us and be a part of something bigger!

New Ride Leader - James Kellas

Congratulations to member James Kellas who has successfully completed his Ride Leader Apprenticeship training and assessment!

Now a fully fledged Bike North Ride Leader, look out for James' rides on the calendar.

Don't you love this comment from James:

To me a bicycle equals freedom and with that it brings joy. It doesn’t matter to me what kind of bicycle I ride or where I ride it’s the same feeling and I love it.

WFU Bonus!

The shared user path from Naremburn shops to the Brooks St ramp is the main bike route to the city from the Epping Road cycleway and from Willoughby and all points north.

The path was narrow, close to the freeway traffic without any protection and obstructed by power poles.

Through the advocacy of Bike North and Bicycle NSW, and the efforts of Transport for New South Wales (TfNSW), the path is being rebuilt. The work was inspected recently by Bike North Advocacy Co-ordinator David Thomson and ADvocacy Convenor for Willoughby / North Sydney Carolyn New, Bicycle NSW, Transport for NSW, the contractor and council reps.

The new path is much wider and has a concrete New Jersey barrier with a fence protecting riders from the freeway. The pathway will open on 17 March.

At the end of the path, cyclists will still need to safely navigate the crossing of the Brooks St ramp. This has been narrowed from two lanes to one during the WFU construction phase and the plan is to keep that configuration, which would make it much easier for bikes to negotiate.It is the TfNSW plan to eventually build a bridge over this ramp for cyclists and pedestrians, but don't hold your breath, this would be quite some way off.

Further, TfNSW has now allocated funds from the WFU project to begin implementing the recommendations of the Active Transport Network Review of this area. This should see some work undertaken to improve active transport around this project.

This small but significant win is the result of advocacy over long periods of time - thanks to the BN, BNSW and TfNSW teams!

David Thomson

Advocacy Convenor

advocacy@bikenorth.org.au

Tour de Cowra 2025

Rides protocols

Consider coming to Cowra this Easter. You are warmly welcome. Eight days of riding with 24 rides, each day going a different direction, six rides are brand new in 2025!

Here are some of the ride protocols which will apply over the looong weekend:

Tour de Cowra features independent riding. There is no leader or sweep. To keep us all safe, ride in groups of no less than four. The mobile phone coverage outside of town is minimal to non-existent.
Each group should ideally have access to a first aid kit. As this is not always possible, Bike North leaders will be carrying their first aid kits issued to them by Bike North.
Everyone should be wearing high visibility clothing, and have their tail lights onin flashing mode.
Cat heads will instantly deflate even the toughest tyres! Ride only on the tar, and at least one metre from the edge. If it is, was, or ever could be green, do not go there!
Sign out (leaving) and sign in (returned safely) for the ride you are on, every day, so we do not have to send out the search and rescue party!

Check out Bike North Tour de Cowra Event page or all the details. Any Questions? Email the organisers at cowra@bikenorth.org.au .

John and David

Team Tour de Cowra

Skills and Safety Matters

Sand & loose surfaces

If you suddenly hit sand, or indeed any loose surface, try and ride as straight as you can. The temptation is to slam on the brakes first, but it is likely that the sand will slow you down anyway. The main thing is to make sure you don’t swerve to the side and tip over. That is best done by staying upright by keeping your handlebar as straight as you can.

Note: Risks and hazards are an inherent part of cycling. These tips are intended to help reduce those risks. Please see the risk and health warning we publish on every ride.

Have you got a skills or safety tip or query? Send it to skills@bikenorth.au and it will automatically appear in our newSkills and Safety Forum Skills and Safety Matters forum (see here).

SNAP-SEND-SOLVE WORKS!

Everyone can be an advocate for safer cycling infrastructure by using the Snap-Send-Solve app. The app allows anyone to send issues to the relevant council - even if you don't know which it is. The app will figure it out!

Here is an example from The Hills. A section of pathway had obviously been missing for some time. Within a couple of weeks of notification via the app, the pathway had been fixed!

Why not load the app to your phone and help make cycling better in northern Sydney!

The 'before' and 'after'

Riding in the Bobbo Classic not for you?

Great! That means you could help out at the Bike North stall instead?

For an hour or two you could enthuse members of the public about Bike North and cycling in general. Or rub shoulders with councillors and MPs.

Volunteer or find out more by emailing David Thomson, Advocacy Co-ordinator: advocacy@bikenorth.org.au

For Sale: Touring Tyres

Schwalbe Marathon Mondial 700x40c Touring Folding Tyres

Arguably the best expedition tyre available, features Double Defense for outstanding puncture resistance.

Retailing for around $100 each, this brand new pair still in their boxes can be yours for $100 (50% off).

Contact Paul Sorrentino 0419 309 995

CHAIN REACTION ARTICLE DEADLINE

Bike North members are keen to hear about your rides and ideas. Send your article to editor@bikenorth.org.au by 1.00pm each Tuesday for publication in our weekly newsletter Chain Reaction or for your article to be added to our News library.
Before sending your ideas please read the Guidelines for Contributors.

Submit your article

BICYCLE NSW DISCOUNT

Did you know that membership of Bike North entitles you to a 15% discount on a membership to Bicycle NSW? Use code 15NORTH when you join or renew. Bicycle NSW members receive global, comprehensive (personal accident and public liability) rider insurance and a range of other benefits as well as advocacy and legal support.

Find out more