Mottainai Cycles wants to help you. Nov 2017 Melbourne the riding city.

When you think about it, there is really no downside to riding bikes, in many ways it is the future and reclaiming/recycling bicycles makes perfect sense.

We intend our shop to epitomize old-world charm, our workshop is open, so everyone can see how we work and can chat with the mechanics, we are happy to explain anything and everything about your bicycles. We also help to train mechanics. We believe intensely that good quality vintage bikes are wonderful both aesthetically and functionally and are still very relevant today. We believe in preserving and using beautiful vintage bikes by restoring our own collection for sale and also customers’ bikes that they bring in. We can also upgrade a vintage frame with contemporary parts as a “best of both worlds solution”.

 

Mottainai Cycles is a bicycle workshop, we service and repair all bicycles and specialize in restoring and building vintage steel lugged bikes. We sell restored bikes and love to build custom bikes for you. We are closed on Tuesdays. We are open Monday, Wed, Thurs and Fridays from 8.30 to 5.30 and open weekends Sat and Sundays from 10.30 to 6.00. Find us at 23 rear Johnston Street Collingwood, down the lane-way and opposite Jim’s Greek Tavern.

Contact:    mail:    catrethowan (at) yahoo.com or mottainaivintagebikes (at) gmail.com,

PH: (zero four)66670316 or (zero)448884051

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dawes Mixte reynolds 531 tubing, perfect touring bicycle.

Unknown (probably Italian) lightweight frame built up with full Campagnolo groupset Sti shifters etc, pretty pimp bike!

Peugeot single speed conversion and a zippy Shogun

Guerciotti track frame, Columbus tubing, Campy cranks, hubs etc. super light.

Vintage Oakley sticker, Shimano 105/rx100 groupset

Peugeot singlespeed conversion

Classic restored 80’s Ladies stepthrough DeCarlo

Superlight Repco build, Shimano 105 groupset

Lawrencia single speed resto build.

Blurry arty pic, floating bike, single speed custom build

One of the regular characters that frequent Mottainai

Cool touring custom bike with canti brakes etc Shimano deore/105 groupset

Colnago Super late 70’s with Campy groupset Nuovo record, original paint

Lovely burnt orange Gitane (Gypsy women) French late 70’s all original restoration.

 

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Spring time, riding in style! Mottainai Cycles 2017

Life is way too short to ride shit bikes! Ride with style…… I believe Melbourne in general has a vintage consciousness that evolved through both, Eco awareness and a focus on aesthetics. We are not necessarily bedazzled by the new and recognize that vintage objects often are far better quality and stylish than new things. Mottainai offers an alternative to buying a new bike pumped out of Chinese factories with no regard for the environment nor passion for cycling.

We intend our shop to epitomize old-world charm, our workshop is open, so everyone can see how we work and can chat with the mechanics, we are happy to explain anything and everything about your bicycles. We also help to train mechanics. We believe intensely that good quality vintage bikes are wonderful both aesthetically and functionally and are still very relevant today. We believe in preserving and using beautiful vintage bikes by restoring our own collection for sale and also customers’ bikes that they bring in. We can also upgrade a vintage frame with contemporary parts as a “best of both worlds solution”.

 

Mottainai Cycles is a bicycle workshop, we service and repair all bicycles and specialize in restoring and building vintage steel lugged bikes. We sell restored bikes and love to build custom bikes for you. We are closed on Tuesdays. We are open Monday, Wed, Thurs and Fridays from 8.30 to 5.30 and open weekends Sat and Sundays from 10.30 to 6.00. Find us at 23 rear Johnston Street Collingwood, down the lane-way and opposite Jim’s Greek Tavern.

Contact:    mail:    catrethowan (at) yahoo.com or mottainaivintagebikes (at) gmail.com,

PH: (zero)481254643 or (zero)448884051

 

French Vichard frame, Columbus Tubing with Shimano 105 groupset sti shifters, Nito stem, very light.

Lovely Wheeler frame with RX100 Shimano group sti etc.

Pretty sweet nude, bare metal clear coat race frame, Sturmey Archer 3 spd rear hub shifting, bull horns, Velocity rims, Sugino cranks, Schwalbe tires

1950’s Cecil Walker frame, custom build, coaster rear brake, Shimano 105 cranks, very stylish whip.

Gazelle frame, Full Shimano 105 group, Velocity rims. It’s alive!

Malvern Star restoration, full ground-up resto keeping the original paintwork with a clearcoat over it. Amazing 5spd Sturmey stick-shift. Happy childhood memories rekindled.

Gazelle custom-build, Sugino cranks, arx mechs, bar shifters.

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If you like our blog site please donate bitcoin, using above address or QR Code below, much appreciated…

Sunny Winter in Melbourne, Tour de France, Mottainai Cycles July.

The Tour de France is upon us again, inspiring us mere mortals to shrug off the cold and stay steadfast cycling through this winter. Already half way through….. On another tangent: if you don’t love and adore your bike, if it isn’t beautiful, then head into Mottainai Cycles to change your reality. We have a shop full of elegant bikes that embody both form and function. Don’t waste your precious time on a piece of crap, built with no heart.

Mottainai Cycles is a bicycle workshop, we service and repair all bicycles and specialize in restoring and building vintage steel lugged bikes. We sell restored bikes and love to build custom bikes for you. We are closed on Tuesdays. We are open Monday, Wed, Thurs and Fridays from 8.30 to 5.30 and open weekends Sat and Sundays from 10.30 to 6.00. Find us at 23 rear Johnston Street Collingwood, down the lane-way and opposite Jim’s Greek Tavern.

Contact:    mail:    catrethowan (at) yahoo.com or mottainaivintagebikes (at) gmail.com,

PH: (zero)466670316 or (zero)448884051

A lovely Russian couple from St. Petersburg dig vintage bikes

Cute Japanese couple picked up two very cool bikes, a Bridgestone 5 speed and a custom Malvern Star 2 speed kickback Sturmey.

Another cute bike, a 70’s Raleigh 24″

Nice Hallmark 10 speed build.

24″ BMX cruiser Kuwahara, wicked cool bike.

Repco 80’s road bike 10 speed.

Green Peugeot Mixte 80’s custom singlespeed build.

2 Star Malvern Star restoration, BSA cranks, sweet frame, notice the derailleur hanger.

1920/30’s Gazelle 3 speed Sturmey

Full restoration of this customers childhood bike.

Bates build with era correct French parts, Simplex, Stronglight etc

Gorgeous Gazelle, huge frame, massive guy!

Custom build, concept was colourful 80’s commuter.

 

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If you like our blog site please donate bitcoin, using above address or QR Code below, much appreciated…

Melbourne vintage steel bicycles Mottainai Cycles Collingwood

Life is way too short to ride shit bikes! Ride with style……

Mottainai Cycles is a bicycle workshop, we service and repair all bicycles and specialize in restoring and building vintage steel lugged bikes. We sell restored bikes and love to build custom bikes for you. We are closed on Tuesdays. We are open Monday, Wed, Thurs and Fridays from 8.30 to 6.00 and open weekends Sat and Sundays from 10.30 to 6.00. Find us at 23 rear Johnston Street Collingwood, down the lane-way and opposite Jim’s Greek Tavern.

Contact:    mail:    catrethowan (at) yahoo.com or mottainaivintagebikes (at) gmail.com,

PH: (zero)466670316 or (zero)448884051

 

1950’s frame Hartley built up with a Sturmey Archer 2 speed kickback rear hub, Brooks saddle….. gorgeous Irish Setter

Rossin build, campy blingness

Lovely Lawrencia originally hand-painted by Ken Dickie, Campagnolo groupset with supermighty cranks.

Little Peugeot 24″ restoration, missing chain guard unfortunately.

Very minty Cecil Walker restoration. Campy groupset

Cool custom bulid, Malvern Star 1960’s built up with cool parts, 2 speed Sturmey Archer  kickback hub.

Design classic, french Mixte 10speed

Best of both worlds, classic steel frame with contemporary Campagnolo 11 speed groupset, STI brifters.

Classic urban single speed build

Custom Healing 1950’s frame built with Sturmey Archer 3 speed hub and nice alloy parts, great ride.

Rob Special 1940’s gorgeous path racer, original paint work brought back to life and preserved, loved this resto.

Malvern Star 12 speed restored being ridden off with a delighted new owner.

Bridgestone, Japanese frame with Shimano 105 groupset, Ambrosio rims. Raleigh 12 speed, good looking whip.

Mid Summer riding in Melbourne, Mottainai Cycles 2017.

There are whispers circulating that Melbourne is becoming one of the Steel bike meccas around the world, particularly vintage steel bikes, I guess we at Mottainai always had an inkling that this was the case but still it’s kinda cool for it to become universal common knowledge. I believe Melbourne in general has a vintage consciousness that evolved through both, Eco awareness and a focus on aesthetics. We are not necessarily bedazzled by the new and recognize that vintage objects often are far better quality and stylish than new things. This is why we (Mottainai Cycles) exist, thanks to this concept and you guys.

Sooooo, if you are tried of cheap shit Chinese bikes that become landfill after one season and you yearn for something created to be as good as it can be rather than a bike made only to make profit, then…… come and see us in Collingwood.

Mottainai Cycles is a bicycle workshop, we service and repair all bicycles and specialize in restoring and building vintage steel lugged bikes. We sell restored bikes and love to build custom bikes for you. We are closed on Tuesdays. We are open Monday, Wed, Thurs and Fridays from 8.30 to 6.00 and open weekends Sat and Sundays from 10.30 to 6.00. Find us at 23 rear Johnston Street Collingwood, down the lane-way and opposite Jim’s Greek Tavern.

Contact:    mail:    catrethowan (at) yahoo.com or mottainaivintagebikes (at) gmail.com,

PH: (zero)466670316 or (zero)448884051

Really rare Japanese bike restored with loads of stainless steel all through it, 1970’s, has the stickers on it from high school, great surprise present!

 

Contact:    mail:    catrethowan (at) yahoo.com or mottainaivintagebikes (at) gmail.com,

PH: (zero)466670316 or (zero)448884051

British Holland, entitled Suzanne, British lightweight built up with mainly Campagnolo gear. Lovely single speed, one of the best we have built gone to a good home.

70’s Puch custom build, the brief was to create a sturdy bike that could carry long bits of timber etc as the owner is a furniture designer. Front rack is attached to the headtube so when the handlebars are turned the rack stays straight.

&0’s Viscount made in England custom build single speed conversion. Shimano 105 cranks, Velocity deep rimes, very clean lines.

Pink Blutcher Tange 3 built up with nice Japanese alloy parts, sweet mixte!

Fully restored but original paint, Peugeot PR-10L very very nice piece of steel.

Groovy AF single speed conversion Silverton Shimano 105 cranks NBS (No bull shit) Velocity rims etc

Full restoration on this 1930’s Hartley, came out a treat. Full repaint and re-chrome. Pic doesn’t do it justice

As we call them ….Pug or Peugeot restored, all original 1980’s Japanese alloy parts, new owner seems rather chuffed.

French Meral (rare in OZ), Nevar cranks, Hurret mechs, Mavic rims etc. Nice finessed roadie.

Another Pug (Peugeot) Stunning condition and colour-way, hitting the summer tar.

Silly season, bicycle mania in Melbourne 2016 Dec

If you love beautiful bikes then you will adore our shop. We have created an oasis of aesthetic velo delights. We believe a bike should be an equal balance of form and function. We delight in being able to build our creations and to collaborate with our customers building custom bikes. Below are pictures of customers picking up their new rides.

Mottainai Cycles is a bicycle workshop, we service and repair all bicycles and specialize in restoring and building vintage steel lugged bikes. We sell restored bikes and love to build custom bikes for you. We are closed on Tuesdays. We are open Monday, Wed, Thurs and Fridays from 8.30 to 6.00 and open weekends Sat and Sundays from 10.30 to 6.00. Find us at 23 rear Johnston Street Collingwood, down the lane-way and opposite Jim’s Greek Tavern.

Contact:    mail:    catrethowan (at) yahoo.com or mottainaivintagebikes (at) gmail.com,

PH: (zero)466670316 or (zero)448884051

 

Lovely customer now mobile on her Repco de-ville, 10speed

Full restoration on this Malvern Star Moscow, bunch of mates got together to return a childhood bike to it’s owner fully restored as a surprise.

Another restoration maintaining original paintwork etc. Bike is Porshe early 80’s.

Single speed conversion build 1970’s Madison, pin-stripped.

Cool young chap wanted a vintage bike with just the right patina, this Raleigh caught his eye, 3 speed Sturmey Archer reconditioned.

One of our sweetest frames, 1960’s Bates hand painted, absolutely stunning, custom build…. Sturmey Archer recondition 3 speed rear hub, Hplusons b14 rims, Shimano arabesque 600 cranks etc etc….

Detail from the Bates custom build, Shimano 600 Arabesque cranks, Sugino drilled Chainring

Gorgeous Peugeot Mixte custom build, all upgraded LX derailleurs, Shimano crankset, original Normandy hubs, stem shifters.

Our favorite touring bike custom build to date. Dawes 531 reynolds touring frame, Sakae triple crank set, tx733 Araya hybrid rims, mavic hubs, touring bars, LX Shimano canti brakes……. Ready for the long haul

Classic 80’s Ladies Step-through bicycle has found a new home with her delighted new owner.

Mottainai Bicycle heaven

WE love beautiful bikes, we adore building them and of course finding new relationships for them, the relationship between a bicycle and it’s rider is an interesting one. The bicycle in some cases becomes almost an extension of the rider. If you are seriously looking to fall in love with a bike come on in so we can introduce you.

Mottainai Cycles is a bicycle workshop, we service and repair all bicycles and specialize in restoring and building vintage steel lugged bikes. We sell restored bikes and love to build custom bikes for you. We are closed on Tuesdays. We are open Monday, Wed, Thurs and Fridays from 8.30 to 6.00 and open weekends Sat and Sundays from 10.30 to 6.00. Find us at 23 rear Johnston Street Collingwood, down the lane-way and opposite Jim’s Greek Tavern.

Contact:    mail:    catrethowan (at) yahoo.com or mottainaivintagebikes (at) gmail.com,

PH: (zero)466670316 or (zero)448884051

Mixte revamp back on the streets with some sweet upgrades

Malvern Star rebuild

Very cool Pug custom rat-rod build

1950’s Braszell track bike from Ballarat, rechromed cockpit.

Custom touring bike Sportivo, ready for some long hauls

Sweet arsed urban single speed conversion, Unknown Italian frame.

Ladies step-through from the 80’s, five speed

Fluro 6 speed Ricardo

Olympic 12 full resto back in action

Very nice Farleigh frame swap

Darccordi reynolds 653 custom build, Sugino cranks, Shimano 105 group

Miyata magic, Shimano 105 groupset, Rigida wheelset

Gaston’s new whip. Cannondale R700 tt 650 wheelset, Shimano 105 sti’s, Ultegra mechs, Sugino cranks, Bespokechainrings, ITA stem and bars and Turbo saddle.

The British Eagle, Hanna’s little urban whip

Custom built bikes Mottainai Cycles

Mottainai is gearing up for the peak riding seasons. We are ready to offer you the bike you have always been looking for, whether it is a custom build or a restoration or one of the many beautiful bikes we have already restored and are waiting patiently for their new owner to come in.

Life is like riding a bicycle; we have to go ahead before we know we are right. Our knowledge is very limited, and we walk mostly by faith. ~G.R. Dodson, 1908

Mottainai Cycles is a bicycle workshop, we service and repair all bicycles and specialize in restoring and building vintage steel lugged bikes. We sell restored bikes and love to build custom bikes for you. We are closed on Tuesdays. We are open Monday, Wed, Thurs and Fridays from 8.30 to 6.00 and open weekends Sat and Sundays from 10.30 to 6.00. Find us at 23 rear Johnston Street Collingwood, down the lane-way and opposite Jim’s Greek Tavern.

Contact:    mail:    catrethowan (at) yahoo.com or mottainaivintagebikes (at) gmail.com,

PH: (zero)466670316 or (zero)448884051

 

Custom build, Brooks saddle and grips on bull-bars. Happy happy happy. Love this shot!

Dogarama ….. Mottainai is extremely dog friendly. Nice little whip of a build, sti, rx100 group.

Farleigh build with Shimano 600 groupset and Shimano Claris sti shifters. Rolls Ti saddle… yumbos

Same Farleigh build with it’s new owner, stoked

Europa build, bull-bars, Velocity rims, Shimano groupset etc

Lovely French Mercier build single speed conversion.

Sweet hardcore commuter build, Velocity rims, XT Derailleurs, San marco saddle, Avid brakes etc… tough as nails.

RSW Raleigh late 1960’s restoration. Coolness!

Peugeot Mixte in great nick came in for some lovin.