New Plymouth Bike Kitchen - free community bicycle workshop

15/03/2026

We should be a little easier to find on Liardet st with our new shop bling from Greg at ‘Sure Signs’ https://www.facebook.com/share/14bEYcHSpEg/?mibextid=wwXIfr

07/03/2026

🔧 This guy is what the bike kitchen is all about! He came to us with an unrideable bike, a willingness to learn and keen to turn tools.
By lunchtime he had rebuilt his own wheel, derailleur and chain with a little volunteer help, some recycled parts and the bike kitchen tools. Kindly left a koha too, ka rawe!
If you’re stuck with a bike you need tools or knowledge to enjoy, the bike kitchen is here to get you rolling: Weds 5-7pm, Sat 10-1

02/02/2026

FYI, we have got an immaculate, classique ladies bike in at the moment. Available for $100 from Wednesday onwards. Please note that we are a bit short-staffed coming Saturday (7/2), so if you have any repairs or questions please come to the Wednesday session. We will be open Saturday, but only with a skeleton crew. Thanks for your patience.

19/01/2026

Kia ora, we have got another second hand Smartmotion city bike in. We have fixed this fairly old bike by using parts from a number of other ones. It works at the moment but, as usual, we never know how long they last. We offer it for $100 which is basically the value of the (decent) battery. We would buy the bike back for the battery if it were to fail soon. It will be at the shop from 5pm tomorrow so come and have a look at it if you want a bit of cheap electric fun this summer. Ask for Robert. Sorry, no reservations/requests by messenger or FB.

16/01/2026

The weather is warm and we are swimming in bikes! Pay only what you can afford and take home a freedom machine for the summer. Open Saturday 10-1, Wednesday 5-7.

26/12/2025

Open today 10-1 a range of adults commuter bikes on offer to workoff christmas dinner and meet your New Year’s resolutions (while you still have them 😉)

20/12/2025

Style isn’t the most important thing and shine doesn’t last. Bikes are about freedom

In the Netherlands, the best way to protect your bicycle is not a lock.
It’s the bike itself.

Walk through any Dutch city and you’ll notice something strange: countless old, scratched, slightly rusty bicycles everywhere. Heavy frames. Faded paint. No branding. Often an omafiets — a classic, upright bike that looks like it has lived several lives already.

This is not neglect. It’s strategy.

Dutch people cycle every day. To work. To school. To the supermarket. In rain, wind, and darkness. A bicycle is not a fashion statement — it’s basic infrastructure. And that mindset shapes everything.

Flashy bikes attract attention. Old ones don’t.

An omafiets is cheap, sturdy, easy to repair, and most importantly: unattractive to thieves. It blends into the endless sea of similar bikes. Stealing it makes little sense when hundreds of identical options are parked next to it.

There’s also a deeper layer of practicality. Dutch bikes are built for comfort and durability, not speed. Heavy frames. Enclosed chains. Upright posture. Minimal maintenance. They’re designed to survive daily abuse, bad weather, and careless parking — not to impress.

Of course, locks are still used. Often two. But the real deterrent is cultural. A bike is expected to get scratched. Rained on. Bumped. Loved through use, not protected like a luxury item.

In many countries, people ask: How do I keep my bike from getting stolen?
In the Netherlands, the answer is simpler: Don’t make it worth stealing.

Style doesn’t matter.
Shine doesn’t matter.
Practicality does.

19/12/2025

To the lady that was in this morning I found a couple of smaller bikes

19/12/2025

🚴‍♂️ We’re off! For a bit… Today is your last chance to visit The Bike Kitchen before Christmas.

🎄Our hours over Christmas/New Year are:
Sat 20 Dec - OPEN 10am - 1pm
Wed 24 Dec - CLOSED
Sat 27 Dec - OPEN 10am - 1pm
Wed 31 Dec - CLOSED
Sat 3 Jan - OPEN 10am - 1pm

📍See you at our NEW address is 56 Liardet Street, New Plymouth.

20/11/2025

Thanks to the heaps of volunteers today's move went very well and we are set up (enough) to open on Saturday at 10am from our new building at 56 Liardet Street (opposite the Z petrol station and the Hour Glass bar). Hope to see you soon!

18/11/2025

We're moving!! All going well we will open on Saturday 22nd in our new shop at 56 Liardet St, New Plymouth. We hope to have most services available from 10am - 1pm that day, with a grand opening yet to be scheduled.
This Wednesday 18th from 5-7pm will be the last day in the current store.

Photo credit: Peter Cockrem

29/10/2025

To all our customers. Bike Kitchen is still in Metro Plaza at the regular opening times (Wednesday 5 to 7pm and Saturday 10am to 1 pm) at least until 24th November. However, outside our opening hours the big roller door in Devon Street is shut so it looks like the whole place is closed. We have almost confirmed the place we are moving to (56 Liardet Street) but there is still a bit of work to be done before we can move. Will keep you posted.