I mentioned in my last post that I had bought a bike. Here’s the picture of it again:
I purchased it from Mamachari bicycles, based in Island Bay. You can read all about them on their website and I recommend doing just that. If you don’t have time to click through the gist of it is that they are importing and fixing up second hand commuter bicycles from Japan. Their aim is to increase the number of people cycling in Wellington, here’s a direct quote from their site: “It is our long term goal to see more New Zealanders using a good comfortable, practical bicycle for their daily commutes, which ever city, town or countryside they may reside in.”. A pretty noble goal right?
I had been a ‘fan’ of their facebook page Beautiful Bikes for Wellington for a while. I live in Newtown and wanted a bike for running little errands in the neighborhood. It seemed like the mamacharis fit the bill so I ended up picking this pink champagne coloured one. I haven’t seriously ridden a bike for years, not really since I used to bike to intermediate school. I’m still pretty nervous about riding in Wellington but I think experience is the only thing that will fix that! 
I’ve included a couple of pictures of Libby and Arabella trying out the electric bicycles that my uncle and aunt have for hire from their business Akaroa Dolphins in Akaroa, Banks Peninsula. The motors were pretty helpful on some of the steeper Akaroa streets. My new bike doesn’t even have gears so I will be staying on the flat for now!
You may have seen Jane’s beautiful pink ‘Cosmopolitan’ bike in our vintage photos. It is a very handy way to get around the vineyard. Here’s a pretty picture of it:
I need to get a basket for mine and something more substantial for the back carrier so I can pick up my groceries. I like this picnic basket idea. My cousin Claire is a bit of a role model for us in living in a consistent and conscious environmental life. She wrote a good entry about cycling on her blog a while back.
Anyway, hopefully as I become more confident I can leave my car at home more and more. Any tips and comments from cyclists new or experienced are welcome!
-Meg


















