[vc_row no_margin=”true” padding_top=”0px” padding_bottom=”0px” border=”none”][vc_column width=”1/1″][text_output]If I was going to open a shop it would definitely be inside a coffee roaster cafe. Or bakery. Or brewery. Chappelli’s Tom Davies chose to open his Brisbane HQ in the former. A wise move because it’s not only a great space but also less problematic for the diet (compared to a brewery or cafe).
I work from home where I tend to the flying monkeys who write this stuff. You know how they say that a thousand monkeys with a thousand typewriters will eventually knock out the works to Bill Shakespeare? Well you give a dozen flying monkeys a laptop and they knock out this guff.
I was to attend the opening night of the Blue Sky Coffee/Chappelli bicycle gallery. Then this happened.
The Blue Sky Coffee space is a big old warehouse space in the groovy part of Brisbane. (I know, it’s grown up. If your image of Brisbane is Matilda the winking kangaroo then you should revisit. It now has a groovy part. Maybe two.) Teneriffe has loads of old warehouses and converted wool stores and according to local bylaws at least 90% of them have to convert to cafes, coffee roasters and breweries. It’s the ultimate in gentrification. Where once people sweated and cursed they now order latte and some sophisticated almond biscuit whose name I don’t know. Or juice and protein balls like I did because I was already at my caffeine tipping point by time I got there.
[/text_output][image type=”none” float=”none” info=”none” info_place=”top” info_trigger=”hover” src=”644″][text_output]Inside the Blue Sky Coffee space you’ll find Tom and his Chappelli bikes. We already know that bicycles and cafes are a perfect combination. If time spent in lycra counts as training then the cyclists of Australia have clocked up some serious training time inside cafes. But to have a store where you can buy lovely single speeds (and the Nuvinci hub Chappelli I tested) while you enjoy coffee is a match made in heaven.[/text_output][image type=”none” float=”none” link=”true” info=”none” info_place=”top” info_trigger=”hover” src=”677″ alt=”Chappellii HQ in Blue Sky Coffee” title=”Chappellii HQ in Blue Sky Coffee”][text_output]If you’re not in the market for a Chappelli SS then visit for the bicycle gallery. It’s a treat.[/text_output][image type=”none” float=”none” link=”true” info=”none” info_place=”top” info_trigger=”hover” src=”647″ alt=”bicycle cafe at Chappelli Blue Sky Coffee” title=”bicycle cafe at Chappelli Blue Sky Coffee”][lightbox selector=”.x-img-link” opacity=”0.875″ prev_scale=”0.75″ prev_opacity=”0.75″ next_scale=”0.75″ next_opacity=”0.75″ orientation=”horizontal”][text_output]Tom rotates the bikes in the gallery, using a combination of his own bikes and bikes from keen local collectors. There were some meticulously restored bikes to be seen when I was there. If you’ve ever tried to restore anything then you’ll appreciate how difficult it is. And these were immaculate. You’ll have to drop in to see them because my phone went flat. (I borrowed a friend’s phone for some of these pics. I’m told it’s my fault the pictures are blurry yet I offer the jury the picture above, taken on my old Blackberry. It’s clear enough.)[/text_output][image type=”none” float=”none” link=”true” info=”none” info_place=”top” info_trigger=”hover” src=”680″ alt=”wooden bicycle”][text_output]The wooden bicycle above isn’t a restoration, it’s a new one. I’m told it’s made by a local (Brisbane) frame builder. The built bike (with gears, if you go that way) is a little over 6kg. Sounds amazing. I might have to see if I can track down some details.
If you’re cycling around Brisbane drop into Blue Sky Coffee for a refuel and check out the bicycle gallery while you’re there.[/text_output][vc_row_inner no_margin=”true” padding_top=”0px” padding_bottom=”0px” border=”none”][vc_column_inner width=”1/2″][text_output]
CHAPPELLI BRISBANE SHOP
2 Kyabra Street,
Teneriffe, 4005 (Blue Sky Coffee Building, 32 Commercial Road)
Phone: 04 5220 BIKE (2453)
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OPENING HOURS:
Wednesday to Friday 10am to 5pm
Saturday 9am to 2pm,[/text_output][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row]
