THE wheels are turning in Maribyrnong’s cycling revolution as The Cycle Saloon prepares to swing open its doors in Pipemakers Park.
The not-for-profit community bicycle workshop on the Maribyrnong River is the brainchild of keen cyclist Glen Mason.
It was inspired by a similar volunteer-run operation at Brunswick’s Centre for Education and Research in Environmental Strategies.
Mr Mason said the bike workshop contained workstands, a wide range of tools and donated second-hand bicycles and parts.
“I was running my own business for the past couple of years, mainly fixing up old bikes, and thought it was something I could take in the not-for-profit direction,” he said.
“I saw it as a good opportunity to get involved in the local community.”
The Cycle Saloon will provide instructions on building, repairing and servicing bikes. There will also be workshops on specific skills such as building wheels.
“There has been a cycling culture developing in the west; there are a lot more people riding in the area,” Mr Mason said.
He wants to draw upon the industrial history of the area and the park itself and get people “hands-on”.
Another motivation is reducing the number of old bikes ending up in landfill.
The saloon will also be a hub for information on cycling routes such as the nearby Maribyrnong River trail.
The saloon, housed in a revamped bluestone factory, will be launched on August 26.
For details or to be involved in a working bee ahead of opening, visit: cyclesaloon.wordpress.com
