Cycling in Melbourne Australia

Any stores servicing utility+cargo market?

Folks, can anyone recommend a bike store with products to cover utility and cargo bikers?

For instance:
* sell bipod stands
* sell bike trailers and hitches, eg Hebie towball
* sell steering stabilisers
* have workbikes in stock - real ones with frame-mounted racks and brakes that don't fail in the wet, eg Monark Truck

It should have staff who know the market - so they know a bike using a one-legged stand will tip when being loaded, and hopefully less-obvious things too.

Store locations - I'm situated near Geelong but hit Melbourne occasionally.

Cheers and thanks,
-Gav

Tags: utility

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Anne Jovi on May 5, 2008 at 5:02pm: Vince at St Kilda Cycles is a utility cycling enthusiast. It would pay to give them a call first though.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by ChrisS on May 5, 2008 at 7:56pm: St Kilda Cycles gets a vote from us, Abbotsford Cycles at Richmond Station and Human Powered Cycles have trailers occasionally in stock and the staff could probably assist you. Also try contacting either Greenspeed or Tim's Cargobikes as well.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Gav on May 7, 2008 at 12:38am: Hi ChrisS, thanks for the reply. I'll try to catch several of those places on a Melbourne trip - I especially like the look of St Kilda Cycles, and find myself uneasily attracted to HPC. Thanks again.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Gav on May 7, 2008 at 12:29am: Thanks Anne, that's a place I've never spotted before, and their website looks really promising. One trip to St Kilda, coming right up. Cheers, thanks a bunch.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Hielke on May 5, 2008 at 11:02pm: Gav, you can try Peter Santos from psbikes.com.au. He is not some major shop, but he has a workshop and imports the Christiania trikes and Velorbis (both from Denmark). He himself rides a Monark Long John occasionally in the city. If you go to his website and email him he may help you further. I have a utility bike but the whole point of it is it is service free. At least, I hope so! Please post if you found something because I would be interested too. Cheers, hielke; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Gav on May 7, 2008 at 12:19am: Thanks Hielke. I've spotted psbikes.com.au online, reckon the Velorbis looks uncannily similar to a Monark Truck. It's on my list of places to try - thanks again.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Anne Jovi on May 6, 2008 at 9:16am: I think the reason you dont see more Utility/cargo cycling specific shops is because, an LBS needs to cater to the mainstream of cycling to stay afloat.

To pay their overheads on a day in day out basis, the average bike shops needs to sell the kids BMX and the the full carbon bling to appeal to the masses.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Gav on May 7, 2008 at 12:27am: Yup, agreed Anne: rent and salaries certainly concentrate the bikeshop priorities. Occasionally I wonder whether someone will take aim at the "milk and bread" market, instead of limiting themselves to recreation and commuting.. but naah, it would need deep pockets and crossed fingers, not a good combination. Cheers, thanks for the reply.; ▶ Reply to This