Could you be our new Editor?

We really want to keep publishing Chain Reaction, and for that we need a new Editor.

Di Lawrence is no longer our Editor, having stepped back from the role for health reasons.  We now need someone – or perhaps a few people – to take it on.

Chain Reaction is very popular with our members, who often send in articles about cycling trips they have been on, cycling news, items for sale and so on.  It is a wonderful way to share our passion for cycling.

It is hard to imagine Bike North without our weekly emailed newsletter.

So would you like to become our new Editor?  Or do you know someone who would be suitable?  We would be very pleased to show you how it all works and train you in the various steps involved.  Di is very keen to share with you the tricks and shortcuts she has developed and discovered, which streamline the process.

What makes a good Editor?

 Able to develop confidence using the ClubExpress publishing process: we would teach you how to use it and help as you build experience and confidence

• An eye for detail and design: the articles need close proof-reading for spelling and grammar
• Able to help communicate messages: knowing what people need to hear and how to say it well
• Willingness to publish on time every week: until now we have published every Wednesday and we would be happy to negotiate a weekly deadline that works well for you.

What is involved?

In brief, these are the main steps in preparing and publishing each issue.  Typically, members send articles to editor@bikenorth.org.au, ideally with an image or two, that makes the article more appealing to readers.  The Editor transfers those articles into the pre-prepared template, adjusts the formatting and proof-reads the text for typos and grammar.  Once the email is complete, the Editor then uses ClubExpress to send it to all our members.  Di says that with practice, it takes about 3 to 4 hours a week.

The Editor is an important part of the Comms Team, which includes the Communications Coordinator and the Social Media Gurus.  Occasionally that team communicates or meets by Zoom to discuss publishing issues and opportunities as well delivering any specific campaigns that align with strategies developed by the Executive Committee.  So you won’t be alone, but part of a small team delivering comms to our members, stakeholders and others.

Would you like to know more?

To find out more or express your interest, please be in touch at editor@bikenorth.org.au or contact me at president@bikenorth.org.au.

Phill Hart, President

Art in the City and Pyrmont – A new ride review

Last Sunday’s ride with Wendy was NOT your typical Bike North ride. Wendy led her inaugural ‘Art in the City and Pyrmont’ ride around the backstreets and alleyways of Sydney. Along the way, Wendy acted as tour guide, pointing out artwork from minute birds to tall skyscrapers as well as buildings and features relating to Sydney’s early history.

Some of the artworks are well known but some, like the ‘Patchwork of Light’, were new to me. This work highlights our city’s Aboriginal, European, political and sporting histories and celebrates female empowerment. Wendy arranged access to the foyer of the Capella Hotel, which is the old Dept of Education building, where there was a large display of upside-down flowers in a work named ‘Meadow’. These flowers blossomed and closed intermittently making a spectacular display.

And of course, no Sydney art tour would be complete without the Angel Arcade ‘Forgotten Songs’, which highlights the songs of 50 birds that have been lost from central Sydney, and ‘Waiting’ at Australia Square.

All in all, this is a thoroughly enjoyable, different Bike North ride. The ride time itself is short, but the tour will have a duration of 3 to 4 hours with stops and coffee. You do need good bike handling skills as you are sometimes riding slowly on shared paths with pedestrians and there are several sharp turns.

The ride will typically be run on quiet Sundays to avoid the crowds so keep an eye on the Bike North calendar.

Thank you, Wendy for this great new ride!

Advocacy Update

Here is the first of what will be a monthly advocacy update.  Highlights from the past couple of months include:

• David Thomson, Carolyn New, Tony Stanley and BNSW met with Tim James, State member for Willoughby, who undertook to write to relevant Ministers about the Warringah Freeway Upgrade project
• On 13 December 2024, the Greenwich Point ferry wharf re-opened, featuring a number of design elements proposed by Bike North. Tell us what you think!
• The cycleway from Naremburn to the Brooks St ramp, which is narrow and dangerously close to the freeway, is to be improved.  You may have noticed all the work being done there.
• Work continues on the ramp at the northern end of the Sydney Harbour Bridge.  Construction is scheduled for completion late 2025
• David Thomson and BNSW participated in a workshop to address transport for the new Transport Oriented Development (TOD) in Roseville.  The workshop was very hopeful, including proposals for a separated bike path and 30kph zone near the stations.

Advocacy Co-ordinator

advocacy@bikenorth.org.au

Only 30km to go!

Tour de Cowra is definitely “all about the bike”.

Now is the time to book your pre-Easter bike service, so your bike and tyres are in top working order for the Tour. Book now! There can be a long lead time for a service by your favourite mechanic.There is no bike shop in Cowra. If something were to go awry, the nearest help is in Orange, (180km return) however, there is no guarantee that they will be open over the holiday period.

Check out the Bike North Tour de Cowra event page  for full details of the Tour. Questions? Email the organisers at cowra@bikenorth.org.au

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