Apart from the obvious (a bike!), please bring along a helmet and anything else to protect you from the weather such as sunglasses, a hat and a water bottle.

We know that purchasing your own bike can be overwhelming when you don’t know where to start. Consider borrowing one from a friend or family member first if you are unsure about making the commitment to buy your own. There are also dedicated online buy, swap, sell pages such as Chicks Who Ride Bikes where you can buy or borrow bikes and gear.

If you are looking to buy a bike, a good option for most beginners is a basic hybrid bike, which also come in step-through models for women who want to wear a skirt or longer garments.

There are a few questions to think about when deciding on what type of bike is right for you.

1. Consider how you will primarily use your bike?
   • Commuting to and from daycare, school, work or the shops? Or just for relaxing rides on bike trails and paths? This can help you decide what style of bike you might want.
2. Think about how much do you want to spend?
   • A good quality basic bike usually starts at around $300-$500. For electric bikes, these usually start around $2,000 for a quality brand.
   • You can choose to buy a second-hand bike for a little cheaper – there are a few reputable second-hand bike suppliers in Melbourne you can source from to make sure you’re getting something safe and good quality.
3. What size bike do you need?
   • Having a bike that is the right size for you makes cycling so much easier and more comfortable. If you’re shopping for a new bike, it’s worth asking the in-store team to adjust the bike to fit your body and whether your bike will come with a services and repairs warranty. Remember to test ride your bike before committing to buy!

Check out the map of our many great local bike shops in Merri-bek that will provide friendly service and tailored advice.

The Bike Shed at CERES in Brunswick East sells second-hand, serviced bikes with prices ranging from $100 to $350. Students are also eligible for a 10% discount.

• When: Every Saturday 11am – 4pm
• Where: Lee St, Brunswick East, VIC 3057

Brainwave Bikes also stocks quality refurbished bikes in Melbourne.

You are welcome to wear whatever you feel comfortable in for the ride. Wheel Sisters encourages women from diverse cultural backgrounds to be involved, and Islamic dress is welcome. Just remember to wear thin layers on warmer days, and wear something that you don’t mind getting a little sweaty or dirty!

Several of our riders wear hijabs, jilbabs, and niqabs and after some adjusting, they can ride with confidence. This blog post offers some more easy and practical tips for dressing. Comfortable, closed-toe shoes are also recommended.

Rides are free! Sometimes we stop for a coffee or a chai along the way or at the end of the ride, so bring you wallet if you fancy a cuppa or a snack!

It is possible to bring your children along for Wheel Sisters rides if you feel confident to do so – you can discuss it with your ride organiser on the WhatsApp group.

Kids must always wear a helmet when they’re on a bike or in a bike trailer. If you’re riding with a child under 13, you’re allowed to ride on the footpath with them. If you’re riding a cargo bike with a box or trailer for your child, you’ll need to ride on the road.

Keen to try a cargo bike and jump aboard with your little ones in tow? Merri-bek Council offer free two week e-bike and e-cargo bike hire through Fawkner & Sussex Neighbourhood Houses.

There are several options when it comes to child-friendly bike paths in Merri-bek. Why not try a ride along the Merri Creek trail to CB Smith Reserve with its newly refurbished playground?

Merri-bek has several beginner-friendly and scenic bike paths and trails, many of which pass through Fawkner and Glenroy.

To start with there is the beautiful Merri Creek trail, an off-road bike & walking path along the creek that runs from Fawkner right down to Clifton Hill. There’s also the Glenroy link to Moonee Ponds Creek Trail, a shared bike path that avoids steep hills, making it suitable for new riders. It connects to the Moonee Ponds Creek Trail, which is a relatively easy, mostly paved and flat shared-use path.

Click here to download or print a more detailed pocket map of all of our recommended bike trails and routes in Merri-bek.

We suggest downloading the Arevo: RACV’s Journey Planner app on your phone before you head off on a ride. This navigational app gives you the option of selecting low traffic & quiet routes, and has different types of bike paths in the map so you know what type of roads you’ll be on before you head off. We find it better for new bike riders than relying on Google Maps alone.

Want to get involved in a local riding group, learn more about your bike, or join a broader bike riding community, but not sure if Wheel Sisters is right for you?

There are several other groups for women & multicultural communities across Merri-bek who are craving an inclusive space to learn about and enjoy bike riding.

• Free Bike Maintenance Courses for Women & Gender Diverse people – Regular 2 ½ hour hands-on workshops run by Merri-bek Libraries with Cazz from Bike it Better to teach basic bicycle maintenance essentials for women. More information and booking here.
• Bite Sized Rides – a friendly cycling community for people of colour in Melbourne. Run by volunteers planning rides for various abilities, skill-building, and fostering friendships over good food. Visit their Instagram here.
• Merri-bek BUG – Merri-bek’s Bicycle User Group, a volunteer-run community group run by Merri-bek locals who love riding. They run regular weekly rides across Merri-bek. Check out their Instagram here.
• Ceres Bike Shed Women’s Mechanics Courses – Ceres occasionally offer more technical bike mechanics courses for women & gender diverse people that enable participants to diagnose and fix their own bike in a supportive and comfortable environment. Run at various times throughout the year, keep your eye on the CERES bike shed mechanics courses page. Mechanics Courses – The Bike Shed
• Melburn Durt – an off-road cycling community in Melbourne for women (cis and trans), trans men and GNC folk running weekly rides on Wednesday nights! Check out their website here.
• Ladies Back On Your Bike – a ladies cycling group that caters for all levels of female cyclists, from those who wish to learn to ride to 3 different levels of ladies cycling on roads and/or paths. Club members have the opportunity to join in weekly social rides, instructor-led rides, skills and bike maintenance sessions and leader-led bike tours in regional Victoria, interstate and overseas. Check out their website here.
• Bicycle Besties –  Bicycle Besties offer a space for women, trans and queer folks to access affordable bike servicing and can ask questions and learn about their bikes. Visit their Instagram here.
• Radical Adventure Riders Australia – A gender inclusivity and racial equity community for adventure cycling and the outdoors. Check out their Instagram here.

Wheel Sisters would not be possible without a number of dedicated community partners, businesses and local Wheel Sisters women.

A huge thankyou for the efforts of Faith Hunter from Merri-bek BUG and Cazz Clarke from Bike it Better for running the program since 2023 with passion, patience and dedication.

Thankyou to the incredible Fawkner Neighbourhood House and Glenroy Community Hub for hosting the program week in week out.

The beautiful Wheel Sisters artwork & design has been created by local Glenroy artist Manda Lane and designer Studio Keep.

The Wheel Sisters training program & art activation are funded by Merri-bek City Council through our Sustainability & Place Activation teams.

And to the dozens of Wheels Sisters who have come through this program over the last 2 years – we are so proud of your journey and excited for your future together, riding in sisterhood.