Commuter Bike from Tasmanian Bike Collective
Switching my 19km e-bike commute for a road bike, I found the perfect ride through Tasmanian Bicycle Collective. This charity refurbishes bikes to mentor young people and matched me with a sturdy, lightweight bike ideal for the Channel Highway commute to Hobart. Ready for the challenge!
For some time, I've been contemplating getting a road bike and taking on my normal 19km e-bike commute using my own energy, for glory and fitness.
Wanting something decent quality at a low price, I contacted Tasmanian Bicycle Collective through their Buy a Bike form, providing my height and what I wanted to use the bike for: commuting on the Channel Highway to Hobart with my work gear.
TasBC uses bikes and workshops to mentor and train young people, developing work skills, confidence, resilience, healthy character traits and attitudes. They receive donated bikes which are refurbished by young people and volunteers, then every bike is inspected by an experienced mechanic before it's sold to the public. TasBC are committed to delivering working bikes, providing a 14 day warranty.
Tasmanian Bike Collective is a registered charity. Find out more about the great work they do on their website and Facebook page.
Kev, the mechanic, got back to me quickly with details on a bike that was currently being worked on that I could try out once it's ready in a day or so. It turned out to be PERFECT! A sturdy frame with mounting points for luggage, slightly less skinny tires for the tracks around my house, and still much lighter than my mountain bike to make Bonnet Hill more doable.
This bike cost $360, but they sell a wide range of bikes from simple $100 bikes to high end mountain and pro triathlon bikes.
I've managed to test it out on tracks through the Peter Murrell Reserve and to/from the bus stop and it has been great. Those hanging bike racks finally make sense...
I'll be out conquering the Channel Highway soon!