GCCRP Climate Change Symposium – Abstract

While participating in the Looping Masterclass earlier this year in July, Claire Tracey (my wonderful collaborator) suggested we put in an abstract for the GCCRP Climate Change Symposium.

Claire and I have produced a number of environmental/art performance projects over the years like The Wattle Festival ‘s Pop-Up ReCycle Shop (2013), Leki and the Ova (2014) and The Bio Bike: Your Future Thanks You (2018).

Recently, we have been workshopping our newest eco-performance idea.

It was our newest project’s conceptualization and development she thought would be an interesting addition to the GCCRP Climate Change Symposium program.

And of course – she was right!

So we put in an abstract and are presenting at the end of this week!

GCCRP Climate Change Symposium - Abstract. Bicycles Create — Claire and I working on our last eco-performance project ‘The Bio Bike’ for the national Sustainability Living Festival (Melbourne – Feb 2018).

Griffith Climate Change Response Program (GCCRP) Climate Change Symposium.

The GCCRP Climate Change Symposium is a research forum where HDRers and Early Career Researchers from Griffith University share their discoveries, outcomes and innovations.

It is on at Griffith Uni Southbank Friday 24 August 2018, 9 am – 4 pm

The symposium features a range of research presentations that showcase the cross-cutting nature of climate change research.

The five key research themes are:

Climate change impacts
Climate change and food security
Community engagement in climate change adaptation
Climate change policy and theory
Climate change and health

Our Symposium Abstract

Here is the abstract for the session Claire and I will be presenting:

Furthering climate change discourse and action through performative works

Presenters: Claire Tracey and Nina Ginsberg

Collaborators Claire Tracey (Visual Arts) and Nina Ginsberg (Education) use performance and audience engagement to communicate environmental issues. Through community art engagement, they aim to connect with local communities on an immediate level, furthering climate change discourse and action through performative works. Their work links Climate Change and Environment Science themes with performance, design and community- art interaction.

This research explores the intersection of climate change research and artistic interpretations of how to convey complex environmental issues to communities in a proactive and engaging manner. Their work seeks to increase community awareness about climate change issues in ways that are novel, participatory and educational. Their projects are informed by feedback from the engagement of the project itself, creating a direct relationship between the action and the sustainable and environmental issues that affect our immediate society.

The result of each performance interaction is offered with an open spirit- with the reception by the public to be determined in the moment as a collaborative process.

This session will outline a number of climate change projects we have undertaken to explain how theory and practice are enacted, using archetypes such as a feminine ecological shadow warrior, whose presence echoes of hope and perseverance derived from historical ideas of female protection, nurture, power and subversion.

About GCCRP

The Griffith Climate Change Response Program has been leading Griffith University’s research into climate change adaptation and mitigation since 2007.

GCCRP leads Griffith University’s research into climate change adaptation and mitigation.

As climate change issues cut across many fields of study its research projects are transdisciplinary. The program brings together the wealth of Griffith research expertise from across the University, enabling climate change problems to be addressed in a comprehensive manner.

GCCRP has successfully developed a number of strategic domestic, regional and international partnerships in the area of climate change adaptation and attracted significant external research funds.

The result is a growing portfolio of research and applied research projects where GCCRP works in collaboration with other research institutions, governments, international bodies, NGOs and communities to effectively understand, plan and respond to the adverse effects of a rapidly changing climate.

GCCRP now has a strong platform from which Griffith University’s research and expertise can influence the climate change policies, plans and actions required for effective adaptation and mitigation.

I’m excited to be part of this discussion!

I’ll let you know how Claire and I go!

19/08/201825/09/2018

Trail Troll – MTB Art

How often do you see art installations when you are on a bike?

Road riders see the most given they’re on roads and bike paths which have more art in public spaces, but it is rare for trail riders.

So how to bring more art to MTB trails?

Easy – have an arts festival in an MTB forest.

That way you can promote the outdoors, trail use (biking/walking), sustainability, community and the arts all in one place.

The annual Breckenridge International Arts Festival (BIFA) is one such event that showcases how exceptionally well the trail-art unity can work.

And this year BIFA’s trail art installation was particularly impressive…..

Trail Troll- MTB Art

This year Danish artist @thomasdambo created the most awesome thing I’ve seen in a long time on an MTB bike trail (aside from the actual wicked bike trail systems themselves).

A massive Trail Troll made from out of wood from the surrounding forest.

The best part of this part of this Trail Troll?

Hidden inside is a heart-shaped stone the local kids gave the artist when he was building the installation.

And – only those who ride (or walk) up the trail can access the sculpture.

For those who want to see it: Start at the trail sign at the east end of the Northern parking lot and walk up the trail to stairs. At the top of the stairs take a left and then a right onto Moonstone Trail and hike up the trail for 20-30 minutes.

The Trail Troll installation, BIFA and @breckcreate collectively, are brilliant models of how the trail using community (riders, walkers and others) can collaborate with industries to extend and innovative tourism, sustainability and public/arts opportunities and access.

What is the BIFA?

This festival is held annually in Breckenridge, Colorado (USA).

It is a unique meshworking and celebration of all things active, outdoors and creative.

Inspired by themes of environment and mountain culture, the Breckenridge International Festival of Arts brings together a variety of performances, installations, exhibitions, screenings, workshops, talks, and surprise collaborations, with an eclectic mix of music, theatre, film, visual and street arts, and family entertainment.

BIFA 2018 was held August 9-19th.

The festival’s key themes are:

Music & Performance
Visual Arts
Multidisciplinary
Film and Cinematic Arts
Contemporary Circus
Acoustic Flow
Workshops, Talks and Demos
….and most importantly for MTBers- the TRAIL MIX program!

What is the BIFA Trail Mix?

Trail Mix combines art, music, hiking and biking along the trails of Breckenridge through free outdoor concerts and environmental installations, featuring pop-up performances throughout BIFA. Featuring artworks by Nicole Banowetz, Thomas Dambo and Edina Tokodi. Co-presented with Breckenridge Music Festival.

The Trail Troll was a key part of this year’s Trail Mix Offering.

So if you are in the area – grab your bike and get on Moonstone Trail to check it out.

For those who are not in Colorado – perhaps the Trail Troll will fire up the imagination and action for an installation for your local trail.

I can’t wait to see what you come up with!

Happy Trail Trolls!

09/08/201813/08/2018

Thigh Bicycle Tattoos

Bicycle Tattoos - on thighs. Bicycles Create Change.com 9th August, 2018 — Source: Swoopsworld Pinterest)

Many cyclists are fanatical about bikes.

There are umpteen ways for bicycle enthusiasts to exhibit and share their love of bikes.

One of the most permanent commitments is to get it tattooed on your body.

I posted my first bicycle themed tattooed blog post here on bicycles create change back in August 2016, called Cycle Ink (Part 1).

I wanted to give a snapshot of the variety of bike tattoos and to showcase some of the standard and more unusual styles of bicycle tattoos around.

However, permanent tattoos are not everyone. So, my next bicycle tattoo blog post, was on Bicycle Temporary Tattoos (April 23rd, 2017).

Thigh Bicycle Tattoos

For this post, I wanted to see what kind of bicycle tattoos there are out there specifically on thighs.

I’ve seen a wonderful array of individual, quirky and incredible cycling tattoos over the years (go to a Singlespeed World Championship and you will know what I mean!) and I love how bold and unique they are.

I chose the tattoos below, not because they are the best looking tattoos, but because they show a good range of personalities and styles (both in riders and tattoos!).

I divided them up into 4 categories.

Here’s what I found….

1. For the fun of the ride

The first group of thigh bike tattoos include those that are fun, light, playful and a little bit sexy.

2. Colour and movement

Other people prefer some colour and movement in their tattoos.

3. Each part is a thing of beauty

Tattoos also celebrate the mechanical nature of ‘the parts of the greater whole’ and various types of bikes.

4. The hard truth about cycling power

For others, it is the raw pedal power that excites and motivates.

And there are many others!

Love them or hate them, tattoos are here to stay.

Some riders have bike tattoos and some riders don’t – maybe someone you ride with has one – but you just can’t see it.

So next time you are on a ride, keep your eyes open for a cycling tattoo gem and have a chat with someone who has their tattooed love of bicycles on display.

05/07/201810/07/2018

The Cyclo Knitter

Dutch cycling enthusiast and designer George Barratt-Jones has created a human-powered automated bicycle-knitting machine called the Cyclo Knitter.

The Cyclo Knitter is essentially a bicycle-powered loom that is activated by light exercise.

George’s modification of a standard bicycle attached to a wooden frame and loom is such that when a rider cycles, the automatic loom attached to it will knit a fully completed scarf in 5 mins.

To launch his invention, the Cyclo Knitter was installed on a Dutch railway platform – as homage to the original inspiration for the machine, which was how to use the spare time waiting for a train in a productive manner.

A train platform is also an ideal place to showcase the Cyclo Knitter given that many commuters are already waiting on the platform for trains to arrive, so they had a spare 5 mins – and the novelty bike was a welcomed curiosity.

Best of all, those who trialled it were also rewarded with their very own ‘bespoke’ cycle-made scarf (*Aww DAD!! Not in front of my friends!!*).

Design and functionality

The Cyclo Knitter is a remarkably neat and compact invention. It is functional, quirky and innovative and is also very beautifully crafted and skillfully designed.

The Cyclo Knitter is set-up so that when the pedals turn, the spinning front wheel powers a knitting machine placed on top of a wooden tower at the front of the bike. As the rider pedals, they can watch in real time, as the knitted fabric comes from the top of the tower and is woven into a brand-new custom-made scarf. Awesome!

When George set up the Cyclo Knitter, the sign alongside it read:

Bored? Cold? Create!

Genius!

Here’s a quick video of what happened on the train platform…

Cyclo Knitter by George Barratt-Jones from George Barratt-Jones on Vimeo.

Of his video, George states:

“Imagine it’s the midst of winter. You are cold and bored waiting for your train at the station. This pedal powered machine gets you warm by moving, you are making something while you wait and in the end, you are left with a free scarf! That you can decide to keep yourself or give to someone who needs it more. Its all about spreading joy and making those boring moments more fun.”

To see more of the Cyclo-knitter and how it was made – click here.

Why is it so good?

Go Dutch – lead the way!

It is great to see such an innovative design, fun and functionality coming together in this unique bicycle modification.

It has a sleek design and aesthetic, but the whole assemblage also folds down into a convenient and portable flatpack item, which is ideal for moving between locations (see below).

It is wonderful to see such a refreshingly new utilisation a bicycle – and an approach that makes cycling AND knitting more interesting -and accessible – to the general public.

The added bonus of a free rider-made scarf is genius.

I hope we see more creative and community orientated bicycle projects like this in the future.

Image: Colossal

All images are still from the Vimeo video, except last two as indicated.

26/06/201810/07/2018

The Art of Looping

I had a great time at Queensland College of the Arts (QCA) this week at an intensive workshop with some of Griffith’s most talented artists. Here’s an overview of what we did for our 2-day The Art of Looping Workshop – Enjoy!

@victoriawareham

Day 1

I arrived at the QCA Southbank Design Studio and met my usual partner in creative crime, Claire Tracey. I’ve not been to the studio before and was impressed with the setup. The room had workstations set up with screens and we were issued with extra equipment and tools like speakers, MP3 recorders and other technical materials we would need. We all had mobile phones and a few, like me, had their laptops as well.

There were 19 participants in total, three of whom I knew. So it was a good mixture of mostly new and some familiar faces.

After an intro from the organisers, our presenter Alex Murray-Leslie showed us some of her latest work which explores electronic footwear, lights, environs and video – very interesting!

Then we went around the group and introduced ourselves and our art practice.

We then moved to a different space and took notes as each person read aloud a section from one of the texts they had bought. The readings ranged from textbooks, academic journals, song lyrics, children’s books and people’s own musings. We did a free writing activity and then got into set up in our “looping’ groups” just before lunch.

My Looping team consisting of three other amazing artists: Xhaohui Yang, Paula Payne, Hannah Reardon-Smith and me. Paula is a terrific painter, Hannah is a flautist with the Conservatorium and Xhaohui brought a few of her amazing pieces with her and we ended up using them every day.

After lunch, we all visited fellow Looper Karen Stone’s exhibition and heard her speak about her work. My team ended up staying in the exhibition space to continue filming – and we got a number of impromptu vignettes there …like…

Then we had free time to start shooting short videos. Our team spent the rest of the afternoon trialling and erroring ideas, discussing, designing and investigating how things could work when looped.

We spent the rest of the afternoon working on little projects in pairs and as a group. It was good fun to work with other people and it was a deliberately open format, so we could self-direct and follow ideas as much or as little as we wanted.

I was pretty tired by the end of the first day. Once I got home, I did a 29 min Teacher’s Tech crash Youtube course on DaVinci Resolve 14. I have had this editing software on my computer for some time, but have not made the time yet to use it. As we were one of the groups that didn’t have a video expert, it was the ideal time to learn new skills. The crash course was just enough to hack together a few ideas – perfect!

Day 2

Most people brought ‘extras’ on the second day: costumes, makeup, props, jewellery, pieces of our own art – and I brought in Leki. We started out by going on an ‘excursion’. Those with outfits put them on, others lugged gear and props. We wandered around Southbank and heading over The Goodwill Bridge and into the Gardens on the other side shooting scenes and scenarios as we went. It was great fun.

We explored lawns, garden beds, went up trees, into drains, through car parks, down flights of stairs, sat on rocks and cause some happy mayhem along the way. All the while in colourful costumes, sprouting text and being directed by fellow Loopers – much to the curiosity of random passerbys.

On one particular sortie, Claire, Alex and I found ourselves on Level 6 of the QUT Law building, whereI rode Leki across an overpass while poor Law students undertook a Law exam next door – we were quietly respectful, but the contrast between the two groups was palpable- good luck students!

After our excursion, we all headed back to the Design Studio and spent some time collating, editing and exporting our Loops. They were raw, rough and fun.

As you would expect, each team produced totally different loops. They varied widely in concept, production and technical delivery. It was really interesting to see what others had been working on and what were we able to produce in such a short space of time.

As a final showcase, filled every screen in the Design Studio with team loops, so we could walk around and see what people had been working on. Quite a few academics also came down to see our final presentations – it looked awesome.

Take-aways of time spent Looping

I was really inspired and impressed by the work and skills of my Looper team and the other participants.
It was great working on set with Claire again – we have such great creative synergy. It reminded me that public art and performance are so engaging and fun to create, but also that it is hard work.
I really enjoyed the variety of activities: I liked the warm-up intro, reading and writing that lead to the group work – it worked well to orientate us and get the creative juices flowing.
I liked that the open format pushed me to relax into whatever was happening, to relinquish the idea that ‘I need to know what I am doing’ or always have structure – the learning was organic.
I learnt a new skill (DaVinci Resolve Software) enough to put together an experimental short clip – which I would not have done in such a way if I had not done the workshop.
It was also great to have designated adult play-time – what a joy! So precious!
My team were easy going, innovative and everyone brought something to the table – and it was lovely being in a space where there was no right or wrong ideas or actions – just ‘seeing what might happen if we do this’ or ‘Let’s try X here’ – such a rare delight!
It was also great to get about and about in Brisbane to do some live shooting. I was very proud crossing The Goodwill Bridge with my fellow Loopers and being part of this beautiful, courageous, colourfully-dressed band of creatives exploring the city streets, buildings and gardens of Brisbane.

Looper Awards of Excellence

For a finale, Claire and I awarded each of our fellow loopers (and fearless leaders) a custom-made recycled Looper Award of Excellence medal, each of which we had made out of an array of recycled materials like bike inner tubes and parts, beer caps, repurposed bits-and-bobs, jewellery pieces and other found objects (see below). Just doing our bit to get more bikes in the creative arts!!

Thank you!

A massive thank you to Beck and Sue for organising this event.

To Alex for running the workshop – we had a great time!

To my team for being right there with me – you were awesome!

To all our other fellow loopers … for being equally amazing!

I can’t wait for the next workshop!

21/06/201823/06/2018

Looping with the Chicks on Speed

Hooray! Exams are over for students – Congrats to all! As a reward for a busy week marking exam essays, I registered for a wicked 2-day creative workshop called The Art of Looping run by Alex Murray-Leslie (from Chicks on Speed – OMG!). I am super excited and can’t wait! Here is what we’ll be doing.. (no…not wrestling bike monsters like the Gif below – although it is a loop..below, below!! NG.)

Source: @electriccyclery via GIPHY

Looping with the Chicks on Speed

This workshop is a unique opportunity for a small, select group of Griffith HDR creatives. I wanted to come not only for the creative experience and to gain new skills, ideas and motivation, but also as it was a great chance to meet and work with Alex -who is a seemingly inexhaustible artistic icon and source of craftspiration.

This session especially was super popular, so I was happily surprised I was able to register as it booked out very soon after! Lucky!

For this workshop, we will be working in the Design Studios at QCA South Bank Campus. We need to bring three diverse texts we find engaging for our current practice and a mobile phone with video editing capabilities (if we have it).

The Art of Looping: Ephemeral and tangible experiences expressed through costume, performance, spoken word, sound, choreography and action!

What we will be doing – The workshop seeks to create new understandings and opportunities to encounter and exchange using mobile phones as a tool to foster interaction between participants and collective works using audiovisual looping as an artistic method.

Organised in an experimental and engaging format (we decide together at the start of the workshop) the different student groups create a theatre of making; processes of learning and unlearning, performed, documented and edited on the spot with their mobile phones.

Our stages will be the neighbourhoods surrounding the university and the final composition will be informed by chance encounters over the 2-day workshop.

Our presenter – Alexandra Murray-Leslie conducted her PhD research at Creativity and Cognition Studios, The University of Technology, Sydney. She is co-founder of Chicks on Speed, an internationally renowned art ensemble. Alex’s current practice-based research is Fashion Acoustics: wearable musical instrument design for live-art performance focussing on the development of computer-enhanced footwear for aerial dance practice and musical composition with possible health applications.

Looping with the Chicks on Speed. Bicycles Create Change.com 20th May, 2018 — Source: Alex performing at the 2017 Wear It Festival (Berlin).

Attendance – This 2-day masterclass is offered by the Griffith Centre for Creative Arts Research for Queensland College of Art & Griffith Film School Higher Degree Researchers only. Limited registrations.

Organisers – this event has been organised by Professor Susan Best, Director GCCAR and Dr Beck Davis, HDR Convenor QCA & GFS. (A big thanks to them both! NG).

I’m keen to meet some new people, learn some new tech skills and have some designated time set aside for some serious creative explorations – wooohooo!

More about Alex and Chicks on Speed

Below is a great ABC Arts segment that shows just how awesome Alex and the Chicks on Speed are.

Alex Murray-Leslie is an artist/researcher and curator, working in the areas of computational foot-wearables, digital music instrument design, Pop Music & Live-Art.

Alex recently completed her PhD in the Faculty of Engineering and IT (Creativity and Cognition Studios, UTS) and is the research fellow at Art and Design Research Incubator (Dept. of Sports Science (Penn State Uni.) and The Music Tech. Group at University Pompeu Fabre (Barcelona).

Recent projects include: Curator of the worlds first wearable technology in Fashion Film competition, Diane Pernet presents ASVOFF 9, Centre Pompidou, Paris, 2016.

Alex performs, curates, lectures & exhibits internationally, alongside writing for scientific journal and book publications.

10/06/201817/06/2018

Beat Plastic Pollution – on your bike

Plastic is a systemic global issue. As a local Morton Bay rider, I regularly see first-hand the terrible environmental and sealife impact of plastic pollution in our oceans and waterways.

I hope that cyclists and bike riders are active role models – both on AND off the bike – for their families, teams and communities of individuals who are taking positive steps to address the plastic pollution problem.

What do you do as a bike rider to promote a more sustainable, plastic-free future?

Beat Plastic Pollution on your bike! Bicycles Create Change.com 10th May, 2018 — Garbage covers the beach days after an extended storm hit the shoreline of Zouq Mosbeh, north of Beirut, Lebanon, on January 22, 2018. Environmentalists say the winter storm pushed a wave of trash onto Lebanese shores, stirring outrage over a waste-management crisis that has choked the country since 2015. Image: Hussein Malla- AP

Plastic pollution is a major social and environmental issue.

There is a growing global awareness of the collective action now needed to deal with the amount of plastic that already exists, and greater pressure for people to take more immediate and direct personal and community responsibility to reduce current single-use (and use in general) plastics.

This week was a perfect case in point, with two major international commemorative dates spotlighting the growing worldwide plastic issue.

June 5th was World Environment Day. The theme this year was ‘Beat Plastic Pollution’. For me, the most compelling evidence for World Environment Day came from a series of photos curated by Alan Taylor, (some of which are shown here) which details the disturbing importance, scope and severity of impacts of plastics in various places around the world.

Then, a few days later, on June 8th, it was World Ocean Day. The focus was again was on plastics – but this time on preventing plastic pollution and encouraging solutions for healthier oceans.

Beat Plastic Pollution – on your bike.

So what has plastics got to do with cycling and bike riding?

A few cyclists have really taken this issue to heart

In her article for Adventurers Against Plastic, Helen Taylor showcased a number of athlete/activists who are working to raise awareness and clean up of plastics. Of these, there are two cyclists from London who are combining their creativity, ingenuity and love of cycling to tackle the plastic issue head-on. Here is what Helen said about the two bike-inspired eco-projects:

1. Dave Cornthwaite.

Dave is the founder of London-based social enterprise SayYesMore, has organised a 1,000-mile community relay along England’s rivers and canals, where a different person each day will ride a specially-made aquatic bicycle whilst removing plastic rubbish from waterways.

He aims to remove one million pieces of rubbish in 25 counties engaging youth groups, schools, and local clean-up initiatives along the way and says: “All in all, not one group, individual or project can solve all aspects of the issue, but it takes a communal mindset to instigate change. Using an innovative adventure relay to get more people outside will help with this – ultimately if people don’t walk or paddle along rivers they don’t care about what’s going on there. If they see for themselves bottles and crisp packets floating alongside wildlife, they’re more likely to take action.”

2. Dhruv Boruah.

Dhruv is also using a quirky handmade bamboo waterbike to solve the plastic crisis at the source. As part of his Thames Project, Dhruv has been engaging the public in the issue by using his eye-catching waterbike contraption to collect plastic litter.

Dhruv realises that reactive cleaning isn’t the solution to the problem, but sees the project as an educational process: “Cleaning up is a good way of showing people what’s in the canal, it’s a good way to get people involved, when they come and see what’s in the canal they go back home and think twice – adventure activists need to go in and interact with local communities, engage with them and get them out in their spaces and on the waterways.”

Dhruv has also been lobbying policymakers – environmental charities, London councils and the Mayor of London’s office, the BBC, and large supermarket chains – to encourage them to change their single-use plastic habits, as well as promoting a circular economy.

Such bicycle projects are admirable.

But not all cyclists need to go to such lengths to take action.

I like to think that my fellow cyclists make their own regular and impactful contributions to improving the environment and reduce plastic waste.

This may be making your own power snacks that forge the copious amounts of packaging used in gel packs, to picking up pieces of rubbish during a ride where possible and putting them in the bin at the cafe at the end of a ride. Seemingly small actions like these are not only needed and necessary, but also demonstrate that cyclists are taking definitive action to reduce plastic pollution.

So next time you are out riding, think about one easy step you are comfortable that will help to reduce plastic dependency and that shows cyclists and bike riders actively care for our beautiful environs.

May all your rides be plastic reduced!

All Images sourced from Adventure Uncovered, Canal Boat.com & The Atlantic

30/05/201814/10/2018

Bicycles and the Stargazing World Record

Regular readers of this blog know that I have a particular love of the night sky. Each night before bed, I take my dog Zoe for a walk under the heavens to get my daily/nightly quota of starlight.

For me, this is as equally important as the recommended necessity of daytime sunlight.

This blog has posted on a range of fun (and often unexpected) ways that bicycles and our solar system are connected.

For example:

Stargazing World Record

This week was a very special week for those who love the cosmos.

On Wednesday 23rd May, Australia attempted to break the current Guinness World Record attempt for the most people stargazing at the one time.

And it as successful!

Final figures are still yet to be released, but so far it is confirmed that from over 250 registered locations, around 40,000 people joined in the 2018 attempt, which trumps the old record of 7,960 from 37 sites set in 2015.

There were many ‘stargazing parties’ across Australia and you needed to have been registered to have been ‘counted’ in the attempt. Brisbane had a massive contingency on the night in the heart of town – and it was great to see so many locals out to support it.

So, in celebration of this amazing feat – here’s a quick look at one way that bicycles are used in space.

Cycling onboard the International Space Station

Astronauts’ bodies have to withstand a zero-gravity environment. While in space, they often lose between 1 to 2 percent of their bone mass each month, so they have to exercise regularly to keep tone and mass.

On the International Space Station, astronauts are advised to exercise between 90 to 120 minutes every 24 hours (more than on Earth) to maintain fitness in zero-gravity. In order to achieve this, cycling is one of the most popular exercise choices for astronauts.

The astronauts use a purpose space-built stationary bicycle to use. The video below features Astronaut Doug Wheelock explaining the features and equipment used for cycling while on board the International Space Station. (Forward the video to 4’30” if you want to skip the explanation and go straight to the cycle harness demo. NG).

And a few other random ways bicycles and space come together…

09/04/201816/04/2018

DR Congo: Chukudu bikes

Chukudus are very unique Congolese wooden bikes.

They resemble an elongated kick bike.

In Goma city (eastern Democratic Republic of Congo), Chukudus cost around $100 to make. These bikes are made out of scavenged motorbike and other recycled parts, with the bulk being hand-crafted out of wood.

Increasingly, young men in Goma are using chukudus as a way to earn money.

DR Congo: Chukudu bikes

Although these bikes provide income generation opportunities, they are also incredibly dangerous. Roads in DR Congo have hazardous conditions and are precarious as driving is unregulated and there is a lack of driver etiquette for other road users, which means increased road traffic accidents and deaths.

This is a major issue because in the past, the DR Congo rated as having one of the highest road fatality rates in the world.

For people living in poverty, especially youths, transportation is critical. It is the key to access basic services such as health, education, and is a means to improve current and future livelihood opportunities.

Why is this film important?

Horaci Garcia Marti’s film (above) How DR Congo’s wooden bikes drive profit in Goma is a valuable and important work for a number of reasons.

The film centers on a local young man Tumaini Obedi. With a duration of only 2 mins 37sec, it packs a lot of food for thought by providing Tumaini’s personal experiences riding his Chukudu – and of poverty, urban living, road safety, family and hopes of the future – issues that many people can relate to.

There is a real elegance to the coasting scenes in this film, where the riders are flying along seemingly effortlessly.

Watching this film, I can’t help but think of the exorbitant amounts of money charged by Western bikes companies. But bikes don’t need to be top of the range to make this contrast challenging.

Once you have seen a Chukudu, you’ll view pretty much any bike thereafter differently.

That’s why I like this film. It is short, relatable, and tells an impactful story.

Not only is it important for this story to be told in and of itself, but further, it will give riders specifically pause to think – and be grateful.

All Images from: How DR Congo’s wooden bikes drive profit in Goma

18/03/201818/04/2018

Bicycle Short Film People’s Choice Winner

Hooray!

Great news!

Our short film ‘Leki’ took out the People’s Choice Award at the 2018 Brisbane Bike Short Film Festival on Friday night!

For this film, I collaborated with Isabel Turner, who is the spunky, young designer who really made this film happen.

Thanks to all!

Bella and I wanted to say a big thank you to all those who people who voted for us! We very much appreciate your great sense of humour and for supporting more inclusive, active and colourful (cycling) communities. We need more happy people out there like you! Thank you!!

Congratulations also to all the other entrants who made a great effort and contributed their stories and creativity! It was wonderful to see such multiplicity in their approaches, themes and celebration of bikes in Brisbane.

A big thank you also to the organisers, volunteers and sponsors who worked so hard to make this a memorable and fun night.

Without further ado – here is this our 2018 Brisbane Bike Bites People’s Choice film. Enjoy!!

Click here to find out more about the lead-up to the Festival here.

Click here to see the finalists films.

‘LEKI’ Brisbane Bicycle Short Film People’s Choice Winner!

The night started out with a Style over Speed ride for those who could make it (I had to teach). Then there was a boisterous welcome by the bike band on arrival at the Kangaroo Point Multicultural Centre.

It was great to see lots of bikes parked outside for the event. Inside, people milled about eating pizza, drinking and chatting. Then the bell sounded for us to take our seats.

First up was a screening of the six short film finalists. I loved the diversity of each entry – they were all completely different.

I really appreciated the effort and thought that had gone into each entry. I especially liked the moving simplicity of The Route and the down-to-earthiness and kool kustom bikes (and lit-up allure) of Anthony’s Ride your bike. Free your soul.

Before interval, the Spaces for Cycling Brisbane judges announced their top prizes for first, second and third.

A special award went to Tegan Methorst for being the youngest film-maker to enter with her film It moves you.

Then it was time for intermission. More drinks, socialising and pizza. This is where the audience got to cast their votes.

The second part of the night was a filming of the film Why we ride. This is a documentary from Copenhagen exploring the ideas and experiences of a range of cyclists in the Netherlands. It was super interesting and had lots of ideas that have stimulated and progressed very interesting conversations since! (See the trailer for this feature film trailer below.)

The People’s Choice Prize was awarded at the end to close.

What a night!

The making of Leki

At the end of January 2018, Bella moved to the UK for work.

So as a final farewell collaborative project, we decided to put together a bicycle short film entry about my flower bike Leki. Bella did all the hard work behind the screen (scene?) that made this film happen.

We had a great time doing the filming in and around our community.

The interactions and conversations we used were all total strangers that I accosted on the street then and there to interview. We wanted an authentic and true, unedited representation of what local people thought and said about Leki.

It was a little daunting going up to random strangers and asking them to go on film to talk about Leki, but our community was super supportive and up for it.

We filmed around Bayside Wynnym Manly area in Brisbane.

We had many ideas about what we were going to put into it. We discussed doing some of the stories about Leki in animation and adding in some more creative aspects to show off Bella’s skills.

However, in the end, we wanted it to be no-fuss, low-key and accessible, so opted for a straightforward vox pop and storytelling format.

We wanted Leki and the community to speak for itself without ‘jazzing it up’ with any frills – just take it as it is – and enjoy!

We wanted to include a few local sites around our community to up the ‘Brisbane-ness’ of the film (I talk about riding in Melbourne at one stage), so we wanted to be sure people knew we were specifically located and riding around in and around Brisbane.

Local Cycling Community Hero – Richard @ Crossley Cycles

We included an interview with Richard Crossley from Crossley Cycles (Manly, Brisbane) as well. This was important to us for a number of reasons; Richard is not only a wonderful friend and constant supporter of me personally (he loves to chat about my PhD bike research and see what I’m making next out of recycled bike parts and inner tubes, so I am often in his workshop on Saturdays tinkering and chatting with him as he works on his bikes), but he is also a local hero to the Manly cycling community.

Richard has been serving local riders and BMXers at his shop in Manly for 47 years – and he is well loved and well respected by some very big names.

So having Richard in our short film was our way of recognising and honouring his contribution to the range, colour and life of the local Brisbane cycling network. Thanks Richard!

Thanks Bella!!

A massive big thanks to Bella Turner for all her hard work on Leki – and for all the other work we did together. Congratulations…. and best of luck in the UK!!