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Contents
Fairs and stuff	1
Working it out – on the bike	2
These shoes were made for cycling!!!	3
Your Commute	3
Sharing the Path	4
Calendar
Other Editions

Editor: Jennifer Gilmore
Production: Keith Griffin

The views expressed in Chain Mail articles are those of the authors only and do not necessarily represent either the common views shared by a majority of Bike North members, or Bike North policy as formulated by the Bike North Executive Committee.

Fairs and stuff

September is always a big month for promoting cycling at local fairs and through Bike Week activities. This year was no exception. After a warm up on August 6th with the Moocooboola Festival at Hunters Hill High School we then launched into a massive day at the Willoughby Spring Fair on September 10th. On that day Victoria Ave is closed to traffic from the Mall to Archer Street and replaced with lots of busy stalls, crowds of people and a short parade where we made our colourful, balloon clad entrance. We rarely stop talking to people at the Bike North stall and this year we had an extra attraction. Consultants PBAI are preparing Willoughby's new Bike Plan and they asked to use our stall to promote their survey on cycling. With a free water bottle as incentive, we were soon surrounded by rows of keen survey completers, many interested in knowing more about what we do and how we could help them. 170 questionnaires were completed that day and near that number of water bottles grasped by our satisfied customers.

Willoughby Spring Fair, busy Bike North stall
photo: Carolyn New

With just a week to grab our breath it was onto Bike Week. Ryde was first off the mark on Saturday September 17 with a Bike Fun Day. Despite a showery start and windy day, under Doug Stewart's expert guidance Ryde members set up a very successful 'ten skills' course over 4 netball courts. Lots of kids were kept entertained for several hours and filled up on a free sausage sizzle. Ryde Council were suitably grateful and are interested in running skills activities for kids more frequently.

Willoughby Spring Fair Parade. photo: Keith Griffin

The following day in Mosman, Le Spit Cyclery and Mosman Council ran a similar but much lower key event on Balmoral Oval. We went along to fly the Bike North flag and talk with more people about cycling.

Friday 23rd was a double bunger. From 7-9am North Sydney Council put on a bike breakfast at the Harbour Bridge cycleway steps. Pre-event publicity was very successful and council estimates around 300 cyclists dropped in on that breakfast. Food shortages were an issue as hungry cyclists grabbed whatever they could find! Bike North was there, again flying the flag, talking to cyclists about their problems, their suggestions. On display was a draft of the soon to be released North Sydney Bike Map, featuring Bike North member, Ian Doig and friends on the front cover. An hour or so later and it was time for the Willoughby Council Information Stall in Chatswood Mall. Once again the survey forms and water bottles were out, this time targeting the work day people. Another 70 survey forms were completed and more people came to talk about cycling in Sydney.

Creating the skills course, Ryde Bike Fun Day.
photo: Keith Griffin

The behind the scenes shuffle of Bike North gazebo, display boards and assorted promotional material continued and on Saturday September 24 it was Hornsby's turn to open for business in the Florence St Mall. John McGregor and the Hornsby Working Group manned a stall in the Florence St pedestrian precinct in Hornsby. Over 40 people expressed interest in our activities, our rides and collected information. It was a pleasing result and worth the effort. We go to print in the midst of our October promotions; first the Granny Smith was similar to the Willoughby Spring Fair, only placed on the closed streets of Eastwood. Then there is a special event, the Bicycling Australia Show, an indoor event where we have a booth and will be promoting Great Places to Ride in Sydney.

Most of what we do at these events is talk to people about cycling and how much fun it is. Everyone reading this knows that already, so this makes it very easy to talk to people about cycling. So easy that anyone can do it. As you can see from this article there is a lot of activity in a very short period of time during spring so we can use all the helpers we can get.

Thanks to all the people who contributed their help at these activities this year. We simply can not do it without you. If you missed all the fun this time, don't worry, we'll do it all or similar again next year. All that is required is an hour or two of your time. Put it in your calendar for next September. See you at the fair!!