The 2009 Australasian Cycling History Conference was hailed as a great weekend by participants. A wide range of topics presented by excellent speakers in a magnificent setting as well as an opportunity to view the Farren Collection made for a great event.
Our speakers on Friday evening, who reminisced about cycling in the 50s and 60s and the trials and tribulations of building a significant bicycle collection, set the scene for a great weekend. The evening featured a pasta night, and more talking, hosted by the Farren's and sponsored by the Vintage Cycle Club.
Saturday was a day spent in the grand old Treasury Building, now home to the City Museum and the Registry Office. A series of interesting papers on a very diverse range of subjects held the interest of everyone. Some of us went out to dinner that night too, not having had enough of talking about old bikes!
On Sunday the Vintage Cycle Club held a swap meet at Abbotsford Cycles; on Saturday we had been talking about Stevens Cycles, an almost forgotten bike shop in Sydney Road, and on the Sunday there was one of their frames for sale. Workshops on topics such as rolling lengths of steel into penny farthing rims, building frames and then painting and lining them, topped off with almost endless supplies of good coffee and cake, made for a fantastic Sunday at the Farren collection.
These were taken by Peter Horsley and the page opens with small images, click on them to reveal the full size, but be warned, they are big files!
There will be pictures of the Saturday sessions coming soon.
Thank you to all the presenters, who gave so willingly of their time, to the delegates who made the conference a success, and to the small band of organisers who created and guided this year's event so well.
The next Australasian Cycling History Conference is due in 2011, in the meantime this site will develop and become a resource for cycling history.
Canberra Bicycle Museum to close
The Canberra Bicycle Museum and Resource Centre will close due to non-renewal of funding. In an effort to preserve significant parts of the collection and library a new group is proposed.
Those interested in the history of cycling and the preservation of historic bikes are invited to meet on Sunday 8 February, 9.00am start at the Acton Ferry Terminal for a short ride. Bring your older bikes, ride about 20km round part of the lake to the National Museum, for a 10.30 coffee stop and take time for a meeting and discussion about the proposed new club and to discuss future activities and venues.
Annemarie Driver of the Museum has expressed her thanks to all friends and supporters in the past and she hopes that a continuation of interest in cycling history in the A.C.T. region can be maintained.
Ride to the Conference
A ride is planned in the days leading up to the 2009 Australasian Cycling History Conference. It will be conducted along similar lines to the ride last year, ie a no fuss, minimal organisation ride. It will be wonderfully enjoyable.
Basic planning has begun • numbers will be limited • modest daily distances (max 80km) • van and trailer for support - each rider will need to take a turn in driving • BYO bike • motel accommodation will be booked for those who confirm by end of January.
Proposed itinerary
• Sunday 12 April Start in Castlemaine - travel there by train from Melbourne - ride to Maldon 30km • Monday 13 April Maldon Easter Parade & maybe racing the steam train again • Tuesday 14 April Maldon to Talbot • Wednesday 15 April Talbot to Daylesford • Thursday 16 April Daylesford to Gisborne • Friday 17 April Gisborne to suburban train line (prob. Sunbury) arriving in time for the start of the history conference
Contact
For more information and to express your interest in being a part of this great ride, contact Charlie Farren, 03 9827 4453
Call for Papers
The Australasian Cycling History Conference invites you to join us in examining the theme “People, Organisations and Events”. Proposals to present conference papers, discussion panels, displays, demonstrations and workshops will be accepted until March 13th 2009. Abstracts not received by that date cannot be published in the Bulletin of Sport and Culture. Proposals should be email to the Convenor, ACHC '09
Papers on other cycling topics are also welcome.
General instructions for submission of abstracts • The abstract must be for an original paper. • Abstracts should be between 150 and 250 words. • The presenting author should include full address details and will be the main contact for information prior to the Conference. • Submission of an abstract implies the author’s agreement to provide a full paper for inclusion in the Conference Proceedings. • The program Committee will referee all abstracts received. Comments will be forwarded to the presenting author. • All presenters must register for the Conference. Normal registration fees apply.
Conference dates Friday 17th to Sunday 19th April 2009, following on from the Vintage Cycle Club's ride from Maldon, in Central Victoria, to Melbourne.
Conference Venue The conference will take place at the City Museum @ The Old Treasury, in Spring Street, Melbourne Registration costs will include attendance at all sessions with tea/coffee and lunch. All presenters will receive a free copy of the Proceedings.
