At a nondescript Scout Hall in Brisbane’s north, volunteers of Brisbane Bikes4Life, Inc. (BB4L) sort and service a stream of donated bicycles. Under an awning out the front of the shed, nearly half a dozen bike repair stations are a flurry of activity. The shed is full to the rafters with tools, whole bikes, wheels, helmets, and countless boxes labelled for the specific parts they contain. It is far more organised than a hoarder’s paradise, and is more akin to the backroom of a family bike shop where nothing goes to waste.

Some of the bikes are destined for young children and teens, newly arrived people under refugee status, homeless people and others experiencing disadvantage in local communities. Others may travel a lot further – Sierra Leone, Nauru, Tiwi Islands, Normanton, for example. But all will find a second life through the group’s blend of sustainability, repair culture and grassroots social work.

The BB4L crew has operated for the past 10 years with a few intertwined purposes in mind: to help alleviate disadvantage and reduce landfill by rejuvenating used bikes and donating them to disadvantaged people, and in so doing, to provide a place for people to come together for companionship and achieve a sense of contributing to society.

Repairing the bikes is not an issue at all, with skilled hands on deck and a lot of volunteer hours given. But the inflow of donated bikes is large, causing storage issues in the small space available, and finding sufficient new homes for the bikes can also prove challenging at times.

Donated bikes arrive in all kinds of condition. Some are nearly new. Others are missing parts, caked with rust, or barely salvageable. Bikes that aren’t fixable are stripped for parts that can be reused for repairs, and the frames sent to be recycled, along with replaced broken and worn-out parts.

The BB4L volunteer crew meets once a week. “We usually have five to ten volunteers, sometimes a couple more,” said John Gamble from BB4L, “but we could always use more help. New volunteers can join even if they don’t yet have much knowledge about bike repair and maintenance. Training is provided within the BB4L team. We do as much as we can to fix and rehome what comes in.”

Sometimes the group gets unusual donations. “We’ve had recumbents, adult tricycles and a unicycle, as well as a specialized time trial bike and a touring bike that had been ridden across America. “We get lots of adult bikes, some children’s bikes, and all sorts in between,” John said.

You only need to look into the shed that Brisbane Bikes4Life works out of to understand one of their largest challenges. “Storage,” John said. “We get a lot of donations, which is great—but we don’t always have room to store them while we sort through and repair them.” “Sometimes we get offers of 20 or 30 bikes, but we can’t always accept them as we don’t have available space.”

Still, the team keeps going. “It’s a good crew,” said John. “Everyone’s here because they want to help.” Genevieve, another volunteer, added: “It’s great to see bikes get a second life. And it’s nice knowing they’re going to people who really need them.”

“Late last year we provided 28 bikes plus helmets and spare tyres and tubes to a school at Normanton, the Gulf Christian College. About half of the 28 bikes, came from a power company here in Brisbane who built them up as a team building exercise for their apprentices.”

“After they finished that exercise, they passed those bikes onto us, and we’re a grateful recipient because they’re new bikes needing only to be checked over and new homes found. And they do it pretty much every year.”

Of course, sending bikes around Queensland (or beyond) is not cheap, and as a charity it’s not something Brisbane Bikes4Life can fund themselves. The project in Normanton had local support as well as support from a transport company that made it work.

“It was initiated by the school and by the local councillor” confirmed John. “And there is a transport company that goes up from Brisbane to Normanton a couple of days a week, and they were kind enough to transport the bikes for us at no cost. There’s a good relationship between the community and the politician in the community and we were more than happy to take up the opportunity to assist with some bikes.” A similar transport arrangement helped make a consignment of 25 bikes to a school in the Tiwi Islands possible.

Brisbane Bikes4Life also supports skills development, aiming to help people become familiar with bikes and servicing, which can be a way to gain employment. They are currently working to develop a program with Bracken Ridge TAFE, and have been donating bikes to that TAFE as well. But that’s just one program.

“We also support a group called Picabeen, which helps kids who can’t deal with classrooms to gain skills in different areas. As part of that program Picabeen asked us to help the kids learn basic bike skills such as how to set up a bike for safe riding and, you know, service bits and pieces on the bikes, and at the end of each program we give a bike to each of the kids.”

“A couple of the kids showed interest in becoming involved in the bike maintenance area, so we’ve spurred on a little bit of interest.”

The bigger projects that have support around transport can move on a lot of donated bikes, and the more frequent smaller local projects, the transport needs of which are manageable by the group and/or a conduit charity contribute to moving on other bikes. However, the large influx of donated bikes throws up day to day challenges involving storing bikes and finding enough new homes for them. Those are real challenges given the group is overflowing their location at Boondall. It’s a delicate balance to manage – a steady inflow of donated bikes is needed, matched to volunteer capacity, but which also must be matched to finding suitable recipients who would benefit from having a bike. Otherwise, the whole workshop becomes clogged up with too many bikes at one end or the other of the process.

“We are lucky that the group works quite well, and we see ourselves as being like a community workshop, so that we benefit from the interaction with other people. It keeps everyone stimulated as well instead of sitting at home watching television.”

Brisbane Bikes4Life is a very committed group of volunteers who are keeping bikes out of landfill, providing transport to those in need and training, while also being able to offer camaraderie to like-minded community members. But, as mentioned earlier, with major constraints on space could benefit from support in the form of extra space and help in identifying new homes for the fixed bikes.

You can find out more about Brisbane Bikes4Life on their website: https://bikes4life.com.au/brisbane/

In 2025 Mater’s Brisbane to Gold Coast Cycle for Cancer takes place on Sunday 12 October. The 100km charity ride travels from South Bank to South Port, and over 5000 riders will take part in the challenge, raising vital funds for cancer research and cancer treatment. Entries are open now – if you’re a Bicycle Queensland member check your email, we sent a code for a 50% saving on full price!

You do need public liability insurance for B2GC – if you sign up to Bicycle Queensland before the event, we can email you the discount code so you save on the B2GC entry – email membership@bq.org.au

If you’re wanting to sign up but aren’t sure about riding 100km, we have put together a basic 8-week training plan you can follow that will help build your endurance and comfort on the bike. This should help you gradually increase the amount you are riding, while adding in some stretching and group rides, so you can get used to what the ride will be like on October 12. We hope to see you at the finish!

Imogen Smith has been part of the cycling scene for more than 25 years, with a long history of racing bikes across a variety of disciplines. Based west of Brisbane, Imogen joined Bicycle Queensland in October last year ahead of riding the Brisbane to Gold Coast.

‘I’ve known about BQ for years,’ she says. ‘I’ve always seen them out there at events and doing the advocacy work – but I’d never actually been a member. Signing up ahead of the B2GC as a Household of two membership with my partner just made sense, especially with the insurance included.’

While Imogen may not be chasing podiums as much these days, bikes still play a big part in her life. Whether it’s rolling out from home for a long solo gravel ride, bikepacking the Mawson Trail in South Australia, or exploring the forest trails in the D’Aguilar Ranges west of the city, she’s still clocking plenty of hours in the saddle.

‘I’m riding a little less competitively now, which has actually opened up more of Queensland for me to explore. I’ve been loving some of the quieter routes and less pressure to “train” all the time.’

With that shift in mindset has come a new appreciation for the benefits of being a Bicycle Queensland member – especially when it comes to peace of mind.

‘It was the insurance that made me join, to be honest. I’ve had an AusCycling licence, or Cycling Australia or MTBA licence when racing, but that’s not a membership I need anymore. However, I’ve seen friends have accidents or close calls, and it really made me think. Knowing I’m covered if something happens gives me the confidence to ride more. So the insurance that comes with BQ membership is really valuable to me.’

Since becoming a member, Imogen has also taken a deeper interest in the work BQ does behind the scenes. From connecting cycling communities across the state to having a voice in national discussions about bike safety, she’s realised there’s a lot more going on than most riders might notice.

‘Once I joined and started getting the newsletters and seeing what BQ’s working on – especially around infrastructure and safety – it really hit home how important that advocacy work is,’ she says. ‘It’s not just about insurance. It’s about safer roads and better access for everyone on bikes – on road and off.’

And while advocacy and insurance were front of mind when she joined, there’s another benefit that’s caught her by surprise.

‘I didn’t expect to get so much value from the discounts!’ she laughs. ‘I’ve already saved over $300 on gear I was going to buy anyway – from sun sleeves to nutrition to a new pair of Bont shoes. That was a real bonus.’

For Imogen, being part of BQ now feels like a natural extension of her riding life – one that brings reassurance, community, and new discoveries.

‘I wish I’d joined sooner, honestly. There’s a lot more to it than I realised – and I think any rider, no matter how experienced, can get something valuable from being part of it.’

If you ride through spring in Australia, you know the sound: the sudden, sharp clack of talons on helmet plastic, the furious flapping of wings, and the unmistakable screech of a territorial magpie. For many cyclists, it’s a rite of passage. For Leo Boesten, it became a call to action.

Leo, the founder and designer behind PieProof Helmets, had what you might call a very bad magpie season while breaking out of Post-COVID Melbourne in 2022 for a rail trail ride.

Leo experienced a relentless barrage from airborne aggressors. “It was just abominable,” he recalls. “I was just pounded.” True to form, Leo found a way to inject some humour into the experience. “I kept score like an Aussie Rules match. Points were near misses, goals were hits. I logged it all on Strava.” (Final score over 3 days; Magpies 78-213-681 : Leo 0-0-0  

“I ended up with a bloodied ear and a bleeding head,” he says. “I had a look around to see if there was some sort of helmet or solution… but there wasn’t anything out there.”

This was a tipping point for Leo.

“I thought, there’s got to be a better way,” Leo says. With experience in product development and a growing itch to create something meaningful, he started toying with an idea: a cycling helmet designed specifically to reduce or even eliminate the chances of magpie-related injury.

From talon trauma to tangible tech

The design process for the PieProof helmet wasn’t about reinventing the wheel, but about evolving what already works. “Most helmets are built for crash protection, which is essential,” Leo explains. “But they don’t do anything about aerial attacks from behind or above. That’s where magpies hit.”

The result? A unique helmet designed with magpie behaviour in mind. PieProof helmets feature a series of features to disrupt a magpie strike. The design of the rear vents stops beaks and claws from entering, and all vents have a strong mesh covering – which is throughout the whole shell. There are removable covers for the ears and a visor (coupled with glasses) for added eye protection. There is also a small rechargeable red LED light in the helmet, and a really adjustable retention system and straps. With three sizes available, it’s easy to get the perfect fit. A helmet isn’t very safe if it doesn’t stay put.

The whole design is discreet but functional—and unlike the cable ties, streamers and googly eyes often used as improvised and rudimentary magpie-defence helmets, PieProof helmets actually look good. But that didn’t happen overnight.

As the concept solidified, Leo partnered with experienced industrial designers and consulted with cyclists who had their own swoop horror stories. He worked with safety consultants to ensure that the added magpie defence features didn’t compromise the helmet’s crash protection or comfort.

While the first prototype that came from the factory just didn’t meet the criteria, once Leo sent them a series of videos showing how aggressively magpies swoop, the designers understood the brief completely, and the second iteration is essentially what you can now buy.

Real-world results

Since launching PieProof, Leo’s received a wave of gratitude from riders across Australia—particularly those who ride in known magpie zones, some now even look forward to an attack! We reviewed a PieProof Helmet last spring – with great results!

While the helmet doesn’t guarantee immunity, the results speak for themselves. Riders report  less anxiety on known magpie routes, and greater confidence heading into spring.

“People have messaged to say, ‘I went through my usual route and didn’t feel the need to fight off the bird,’ or ‘The bird tried to scare me off, but just gave up after a while because I was able to ignore it.” Leo shares. “That’s the goal: reduce the damage, reduce the risk, stay calm and focus on the road or path rather than trying to fight off the bird and possibly crash.”

“It’s not magic,” Leo says. “But it’s purpose-built for a uniquely Australian problem. That’s what sets it apart.”

Beyond the beak

Here at Bicycle Queensland, we reviewed the helmet in the spring of 2024. And while the added safety features around protection from magpie strikes are great inclusions, the PieProof helmet is a fantastic helmet in its own right. Given the design means your chance of injury from a magpie is just about nil, the added safety of not being distracted or crashing while fending off a magpie is something that cannot be underestimated.

With the helmet now in full production, Leo’s focus is shifting to awareness and distribution. PieProof has partnered with Bicycle Queensland as a BQ Alliance partner, making the helmet more accessible to members and supporting education about riding safely during magpie season. PieProof helmets are available in three sizes, in either black or white, at a variety of bike shops around Australia. Of course, they are stocked more where magpies are more active!

For now, he’s proud of what PieProof has achieved. From bleeding ears to a helmet brand, it’s been a wild ride—one that proves the best ideas often come from the most frustrating problems.

“It started because I just wanted to ride without getting my head opened up,” Leo laughs. “Turns out, a lot of people wanted the same thing.”

PieProof helmets cost $109.95, and are available in select Queensland bike shops including EPIC Cycles, Pedal Inn Bicycle Garage, GVRT Cycles, Border Bikes or online: pieproof.com.au

In the heart of Brisbane’s bayside, Pedal Inn Bicycle Garage is more than just a shop – it’s also a gravel rider’s dream basecamp, a bikepacker’s planning station, and a warm, unpretentious hub for anyone chasing adventure on two wheels – for kids young and old. Founded in 2019 by Nick and Michelle Sando, the store grew from a shared frustration: a lack of bike shops that truly understood everyday cyclists and those chasing off-the-beaten-track experiences.

“We were sitting around a fire one night, pondering our future,” Michelle says. “Nick wasn’t happy in his job and missed being on the tools. A friend planted the idea of opening a bike shop. We both love riding, it just made sense.” That night, the idea for Pedal Inn Bicycle Garage was born, a dream to create something different — approachable, expert-led, and community-focused.

When the shop opened, their goal was simple: offer honest servicing and advice to fill a clear gap in the local area. But it didn’t stay small for long. Demand surged during the pandemic, with customers craving reliable repairs, hard-to-find components, and real advice. Michelle soon left her job to work in the business full-time – and she’s never looked back.

“It’s fun and it’s rewarding,” she says. “We talk bikes all day and help people discover adventure – what’s not to love?”

That sense of discovery is central to what makes Pedal Inn unique. While they serve a broad mix of cyclists, they’ve become a magnet for riders looking to escape; explore long routes, and build bikes as unique as their ambitions – and personalities.

“Off-road is where we really shine,” says Nick. “We live and breathe it. Our own bikes are constantly evolving, and we test everything. We know what works because we ride it ourselves.”

Their experience spans multi-day off-grid bikepacking adventures, credit-card touring, mixed terrain epics and backyard overnighters. It’s no surprise riders travel from the Sunshine Coast, Gold Coast, and beyond to get advice – and gear – they can’t find elsewhere.

“People come in with questions like, ‘Can I use this bike for an overnighter?’ or ‘How do I carry gear on a carbon frame?’ and we can talk through all of it — racks vs bags, tyre clearance, gearing, all the fiddly bits that make or break a trip,” says Michelle. “That’s where we really help.”

They also help customers build from the frame up — an increasingly popular option for people wanting a truly personal setup. This has covered bikes for urban adventures, dream builds for mountain bikers, and of course bespoke builds for off-road adevntures.

“We often end up solving problems that aren’t addressed in stock builds,” says Nick. “Someone might want wide tyres, flared bars, and a dynamo hub — but also be under a certain budget. We make it work.” These types of bikes are not found in stock builds, but Pedal Inn are frequently working with riders to create what they want and need.

Pedal Inn doesn’t just stock popular brands, they curate gear with intention, favouring products that perform when the bitumen runs out. Whether it’s a custom steel tourer, a lightweight gravel race bike, or a hybrid build that can handle school drop-off and dirt trails, they approach each customer with deep listening and tailored guidance.

“We’ve built bikes for local Rail Trails, Hunt 1000, Tour Aotearoa and even European winery tours” Nick adds. “You don’t have to be an ultra-endurance rider either — we love helping people get started with just one bag and a sense of curiosity.”

Through their online store, they’ve become a go-to for hard-to-find parts like alternative handlebars, clever mounting solutions, and gear that thrives in dusty, bumpy conditions. It’s all backed by first-hand experience — something that sets them apart in an industry increasingly driven by algorithms and warehouse logistics.

“We’re not just selling a bike or a bag — we’re selling confidence,” Michelle says. “People know they can ask us anything, from tyre pressures to where to camp.”

Pedal Inn’s alignment with Bicycle Queensland’s mission made becoming a BQ Link retail member an easy decision.

“Bicycle Queensland’s advocacy work supports what we care about — safer infrastructure for riding, better access for all kinds of riding, not just commuting,” Michelle says. “Gravel and bikepacking are growing fast, and we need to protect and support the places people want to ride.”

As a BQ Link partner, they enjoy extra exposure and community connection, but the real value comes from shared purpose.

“We want more people on bikes — not just for sport, but for life,” Nick says. “If we can help someone plan their first overnighter or fall in love with dirt roads, that’s a win. And being part of BQ means we’re part of something bigger.”

Six years on, Pedal Inn continues to grow — not by chasing trends, but by doubling down on what they do best: helping people discover the joy of riding, one custom build or trailhead conversation at a time.