I have a confession to make. I've been a bicycle commuter for 21 years now. And I'd never changed a tyre.

I've been lucky not to have had many punctures while I've been riding, and usually when I have I've been able to pump the tyre up enough to get home. Since I've moved back to Ballarat though this has become less practical, as I'm now doing more riding out in the country, where I can be too far away from home to limp back, and too far away from public transport in an emergency.

Goldfields Track

I opened the Courier today to read "From Bad To Worse, morning commute at Mt Clear getting messier", which didn't surprise me.  However it's such an easily solved problem, there are some really pretty bike tracks following Main Rd and Geelong Rd.  Taking some of those cars off the road and getting people riding on their bikes would be the quickest, cheapest way to unclog that road.

I have to say that roundabouts are one of my pet hates.  Roundabouts are designed with cars and trucks in mind, making an intersection more dangerous for cyclists and pedestrians.

Where I can I choose a route which avoids roundabouts.  One thing I love about using a bike to travel around  is that I can use side streets and short cuts.  It's often safer, more scenic and faster to use quiet side streets and paths.  Travelling to work cycling I would use completely different roads to if I was driving in a car and taking the most obvious route along main roads, which nowadays are often congested as well.

Imagine my excitement on turning up at the BREAZE Birthday Bash in November last year and seeing two cargo bikes parked inside. One of the musicians who played for us at the party, Kristen Rule, has just done her "Slow Ride Album Launch" where she creates music using a cello and a loopstation. How does she carry all her gear?

On a cargo bike of course!

She had ridden down from Castlemaine that day. The owner of the other bike, Andy, makes the solar trailers that they use. These give the bikes an extra boost if they need it going up hills for instance, as well as powering Kristen's loopstation and PA when she plays concerts where there is no power available.