We will regularly pick out top Australian cycling related websites and give our 'seal of approval'. This is not a guarantee but rather a sign that it is a great site that deserves credit.

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Cycling websites that we recommend can to display the graphics (right). All recommended sites are listed below.

Cycling Resource Centre

The Cycling Resource Centre is run by the Australian Bicycle Council (government organisation) and is, as the name says, a resource centre that features a well organised collection of cycling relevant information. From PDF documents to descriptions and links to relevant sites, the CRC website covers a broad range of fields, Engineering & Planning, Education & Training, Encouragement & Promotion, Enforcement & Road Safety, Recreation, Funding and Research.

The primary advantage is access to documents, research and reports that may previously have been difficult to acquire. In particular there is detailed documentation regarding planning and development of cycle paths and routes. Though it is not a website for everyday news, for clubs and BUGs inparticular the CRC is a great site to bookmark.

website:www.cyclingresourcecentre.org.au

Manly Bike Tours

Manly locals James van Rooyen and Jono Allara are the guides who will meet you every day at 2:15 on the Manly Esplanade in Sydney and take you for a three hour bike tour. The highlight are beach cruiser style bikes which will fit perfectly into the style of Manly beach suburb.

The site itself is still ironing out a number of bugs such as the 'tour availability' however is simple, clear and nicely designed. Aimed towards travellers, Manly Bike Tours fills a gap in the market.

(By law, helmets must be worn, bike and helmet hire is included).

website: www.manlybiketours.com.au

StoryTransect

Nick McIntosh has set himself a challenge, 20,000 km from Hobart, Tasmania, Australia to Helsinki in Finland on his bike. His aim is to visit 15 remote, least known countries and collect the stories of the locals.

His website is well designed and has blog style reporting. The journey starts in mid to late June and you can already follow his progress planning. Infact, you can get involved and sponsor a story (he even accepts donations via Paypal).

website: www.storytransect.net

GPSies - Tracks for Vagabonds

Not purely Australian, but an excellent site that uses Google Maps (maps.google.com) and allows people to submit routes, including touring, racing and mountain bike tracks.

Routes can be added either on the website directly (via mouse click) or by uploading GPS data. An array of GPS data types can be uploaded and the track will automatically appear.

Australia... has few tracks however this means you have even more freedom to add the cycle routes you use, whether it it the way up to the shops to buy a litre milk and the Sunday paper or a 200km epic day ride

website: www.gpsies.com

Bicycle Recycling Network

This site will probably not win a design award however has an admirable goal; advocating that old bicycles are not simply thrown away but rather put to better use. There are a range of organisations that accept old bikes and parts, for example, on the website three organisations are listet that take old bike frames and convert them into wheelchairs for people in less developed countries such as landmine victims.

Before you throw away the old bike, the frame or parts, take a look at the website and you will probably find a non-profit organisation who will be happy to receive them.

In addition to information about bicycle recycling, there are some great images of old bikes in the gallery.

website: www.bicyclerecycling.com

Trailflix - watch it. Ride it.

How often have you followed a loose description for riding "the most amazing trail" and got lost finding it, have taken the wrong turn or found that the trail is overrated?

As internet bandwidth is improving, watching video online is now not only bareable, but also enjoyable. Trailflix is a great aussie MTB site that has videos of trails and shows directions to the mtb trail and which route to take together with excellent and professional footage.

The site is relatively new and features four trails around Sydney however the amount of detail is incredible. There are complete trail descriptions in PDF format, lots of maps (including satellite images) and the full length and feature videos in high and low resolution (quicktime).

The idea is from Grant and Mic, two Sydney filmmakers / Mountainbikers who present themself rather anonymously, however its hard to complain with such a depth in information.

website: www.trailflix.com.au

Llewellyn Bikes- Darrell Llewellyn McCulloch

In the midst of the big name brands and custom frames from Europe, it is easy to forget that Australia also has world class frame builders. Darrell Llewellyn McCulloch is one of these and when he is not working with the Australian Institute of Sport or supporting international tours, he works alone using modern materials and tools together with "time honored best practices" to create beautiful frames individually customised for their rider.

The website has lots of images including a workshop tour and hundreds of photos of bikes, frames and lugs from the CAD (Computer Aided Design) renderings to the finished product. There is a lot of content however it is well organised making the entire site simple and easy to enjoy.

website: www.llewellynbikes.com

Oz By Bike - Anthony Mann

30,000 km around Australia to seven "extreme" locations (furtherst north, south, east, west, central and highest and lowest points) complete with a set of Garden Gnomes.

Anthony Mann is a man with time, starting on Feburary 11, 2006 it is estimated that the tour will take 18 months. The aim is admirable, the promotion of sustainable transport. The website is simple with excellent readability and an overview of all aspects of the tour and diary with photos.

website: www.ozbybike.com

CORC - Canberra Off-Road Cyclists

If you are Mountain Biking in Canberra, you won't be able to escape CORC as they are well established, well organised and cater for a whole range of MTB disciplines and riders. The nicely designed and programmed website is an excellent reference for club members and national and international visitors looking for more info about MTB'ing in Canberra or participating one of the many many events or rides, such as the very popular 24hr Race.

website: www.corc.asn.au