Pedal Power is the New Punk: Shire Teens Spark Underground ‘Retro Bike’ Movement

Sienna Rivers | Lifestyle & Trends Reporter | Sutherland Shire Gazette

4 March 2025

In a shocking twist that no one saw coming, non-electric bikes—yes, the old-school, 100% human-powered kind—are making a comeback in the Sutherland Shire, thanks to a group of rebellious teenagers who have declared e-bikes “too mainstream.”

The movement, which started as a quiet act of defiance, has now gained serious traction, with local teens proudly pedalling around on what they call “retro rides.” These vintage contraptions, also known as bicycles, require the user to exert actual effort to move—a concept many had forgotten existed.

“You wouldn’t understand, it’s a vibe,” said 16-year-old movement leader Jake Harrison, adjusting the vintage bell on his 1998 Shogun Trail Breaker. “Anyone can ride an e-bike. But only real ones know the grind of an uphill battle.”

Parents, however, are struggling to keep up—both physically and emotionally.

“I just spent $2,500 on an e-bike for him last Christmas,” said confused mum, Kelly Dawson. “Now he’s riding around on a rusty mountain bike from my childhood, calling it ‘authentic.’”

Local bike shops are also noticing the shift. “We used to sell out of e-bikes in minutes,” said a baffled sales assistant from a Kirrawee store. “Now kids are coming in asking for steel frames, friction shifters, and something with ‘character’. One even asked if we had bikes that ‘looked like they’d been left in a shed for ten years.’”

As this underground movement gains momentum, some locals predict a total resurgence of non-electric transport. Others, however, suspect it’s only a matter of time before these teens rediscover hills and go crawling back to battery power.

Pedal power bike movement