Cycloperativa mandate to teach basics of bicycle mechanics

©Barry Sandland/TIMB – Cycloperativa mechanics are on hand to help guide- but the work is yours.

Part of the Cycloperativa mandate is to help riders learn more about their bikes. There are mechanics there to help, to guide, to undertake the harder work, but the riders are encouraged to do the work and learn more about how the bike works.

Small repairs can be the largest hurdle

©Barry Sandland/TIMB – Repairs can be the smallest issue – but still keep you off the road

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Cycloperativa and their overflow zone for any and all repairs

©Barry Sandland/TIMB – Sidewalk repairs and the “standing room only” mechanical repairs

“People pay for new parts. Or they usually do. If it is a kid, or someone who looks like it is too much for them, we let it go. The used parts, the second-hand equipment, is

The best free-bike-shop-only-open-on-Mondays in Brussels

©Barry Sandland/TIMB – Free bike repairs are hard to come by, but so essential

On a street just one simple kilometre from my house is a small bicycle collective that offers free bike service to locals. Bring your bike and Cycloperativa mechanics, volunteers who are either amateur or professional

Cyclehack and the barriers to overcome

 

Barry Sandland/TIMB – A gathering of city cycling advocates

Cyclehack is having its annual event this weekend as cyclists, with their own pet peeves and ideas for improving cycling by decreasing barriers to the activity, gather to share ideas and work on project development. It is a worldwide event, so you

Hardcore riders can create any bike they want

Barry Sandland/TIMB – 50 kms per day commuting makes any rider hardcore

“I ride every day. I live about 25 kilometres from Brussels but, even at that distance, I spend less time riding than in a car. In a car, the trip is one hour 20 minutes. On the bike, it is 55 minutes, just about the same time as

That moment to be mesmerised by street performance

©Barry Sandland/TIMB – That unnoticed art of street performance

“I am from Portugal and do this every day. There are a few of us who work on this corner.”

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Notes: I have a love for street performers. In the UK, they are called buskers. Brilliant performance people. This was at the corner

Bike theft and the refusal of paranoia

©Barry Sandland/TIMB – A splash of rolling colour in Brussels

“I found the bike online. I really fell in love with it when I saw it. Everything was included. It came just like this. It has an old-school

Trikes, bikes and coping with illness

©Barry Sandland/TIMB – Recovery on three wheels with a tricycle.

“I was sick and so I have to get exercise. Two, two and a half hours especially if there is sun. I have diabetics, heart issues, epilepsy. Last year, I had an epileptic attack and was in hospital 36 days. I had the attack and fell badly so I can no longer

Instagram banned my nude cycling photo

Barry Sandland – The barred image as seen in the square, Instagram format. Whether it was the tattooed man in front or the retouched man in the mid-ground is unclear. Both have been edited for standards.

If you want to see the banned image, it is one my website – but so is the complete, unedited photo, as well as a more explicit version, so fair warning applies.