aus.bicycle FAQ Version 1.0.0, Last updated 03-NOV-2003
Welcome to the aus.bicycle FAQ
This is a compendium of Frequently Asked Questions from the newsgroup aus.bicycle, some of
them even have answers. The lastest version is always available from:
Text maddogsbreakfast.com.auaus.bicycle.FAQ.txtOpen ↗
HTML maddogsbreakfast.com.auaus.bicycle.FAQ.htmlOpen ↗
This document is Copyright (c) 2003 Kingsley Turner. Permission is granted to
distribute this document on the criteria that it is remains unmodified, and it is not
sold for profit.
1 - Internet Bicycling
1.1 What other bicycle newsgroups are there?
2.2 What are some good cycling websites?
3.3 What are some good mailing lists?
2 - Riding
4.1 Miscellany
5.2 Kids
5.1.1 What are the options for carrying (non-riding) children by bike?
5.2.2 Which is better: child seat or trailer?
6.3 Touring
7.4 Organised Rides
7.1.1 Clubs & BUGs
7.2.2 Polaris
7.3.3 Road Racing
7.3.1.1 The TdF: What do the coloured jerseys mean?
7.4.4 Critical Mass
7.4.1.1 What is Critical Mass?
7.5.5 Couriers
8.5 Accidents & Road Rage
8.1.1 I've been involved in an accident, what do I do?
8.2.2 I've been a victim of road rage, what do I do?
3 - Gear
9.1 Miscellany
10.2 Shopping
10.1.1 What online bike stores are there?
10.2.2 Can I save money by importing gear myself?
11.3 Frame Building/Builders
11.1.1 Does anyone know a good framebuilder?
12.4 Parts & Maintenance
12.1.1 Miscellany
12.2.2 Lights
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13. Internet Bicycling:
14.1 What other bicycle newsgroups are there?
15. aus.bicycle
16. uk.rec.cycling - Much like aus.bicycle
17. rec.bicycles.marketplace - Bike stuff for sale
18. rec.bicycles.misc - General bike discussion
19. rec.bicycles.off-road
20. rec.bicycles.racing
21. rec.bicycles.rides - About touring, but sometimes not
22. rec.bicycles.soc - The social ascpects of cycling
23. rec.bicycles.tech - Technical Q&A
24. alt.collecting.bicycles
25. alt.rec.bicycles.recumbent
26.2 What are some good cycling websites?
27. Cycling News: www.cyclingnews.com - Packed with news & reports.
28. Audax Australia: www.audax.org.au
29. Bicycle Fish: users.chariot.net.au/~gloria - Australian Bicycle Touring.
30. Aussie Cycling: www.aussiecycling.com.au/cycling - Books, links & forsale.
31. Tandem Club of Australia: home.vicnet.net.au/~tandem/
32. Bicycle Victoria: www.bv.com.au
33. Bicycle NSW: www.bicyclensw.org.au
34. Pedal Power ACT: www.pedalpower.org.au
35. Bicycle SA: www.bikesa.asn.au
36. Bicycle Tasmania: www.biketas.org.au
37. MTB Review: www.mtbreview.com - User reviews of bike gear.
38.3 What are some good cycling mail lists?
39. Phreds Bicycle Touring: www.phred.org/mailman/listinfo/touring - Bicycle
Touring, and sometimes unrelated topics (can be very high volume).
40. Hobbes Tandem List: www-acs.ucsd.edu/home-pages/wade/tandem.html - Tandem
Everything (moderate volume).
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41.2 Riding: Kids
41.1.1 What are the options for carrying (non-riding) children by bike?
This mostly depends on your childs age and capability:
Child Seats: There are two types of child carriers, the ubiquitous rear-rack mounted
seats, and the seats that mount on the handlebars so that the child sits between the
arms of the rider.
Trailer Bikes: A trailer bike is basically the back-half of a diamond-frame bike.
There is no front wheel, but a tow arm that commonly connects to the seatpost or
under the seat. These require some bike riding skills and balance, but not steering.
Trailers: These are typically tethered to the bike by a socket-jointed tow-arm to
the left chainstay. They can hold one or two children, who are held in with a
seatbelt, but are still requried to wear a helmet. It's common for trailers come
with instructions that specify the minimum child age of 1 year.
41.2.2 Which is better: child seat or trailer? Kingsley Turner wrote in aus.bicycles:
Both of these have pros and cons:
Both:
* Child needs decent head control, approx 1 year old although I read about
someone who strapped their car capsule into a trailer.
Seats:
* cheap - sub $100 for rear model, around $200 for a front.
* back & front (Bobike mini) available
* child is exposed to the elements
* child goes over with the bike in a crash (seen this happen twice)
* you can talk quite easily with your child
* must be cautious that legs are properly strapped in (and not near
spokes / wheels)
* weight?
Trailer:
* expensive ($500-$1000)
* can hold 2 kids (Trek models up to 45kg)
* bike can stack, but trailer stays put
* slim chance of rolling it if you clip a gutter in exactly the wrong
way at speed
* difficult to talk to your kids, near impossible with the plastic
weather-shield down
* child is not exposed to the weather (don't forget hot sunny days too) and
is toasty warm in winter/rain.
* weighs about 10-12kg depending on the model
* has plenty of 'boot' space for nappy bags, drinks, food, spare change of
clothes, big doll, and the other doll.
* food & drink tends to get trampled into the floor (but you can just about
hose it out)
* high wind-resistance
* makes your bike into a wide load, watch the bollards on bike paths!
* weight of children is not directly on the bike
* can convert some trailers into a stroller (very important for touring)
As you can probably guess most of my experience is with trailer. We towed both the brats
1200km touring last year (and many km since) When they weren't being towed, they were
being parambulated with the stroller conversion kit engaged.
For quick trips, the seat is probably better/quicker but for longer ones the
trailer is great.
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41.3.4 Riding: Organised Rides: Road Racing
41.3.1.1 What do the coloured jerseys mean? Yellow - The daily overall leader by general
classification (time minus bonuses). Green - The sprint leader, by points awarded at
specific locations throughout the stages. Polka-dot - The 'King of the Mountains', awarded
by points are awarded for each climb. White - awarded to the fastest rider aged under 25.
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41.4.4 Riding: Organised Rides: Critical Mass
41.4.1.1 What is Critical Mass?
"Critical Mass is a monthly bicycle ride to celebrate cycling and to assert cyclists'
right to the road."
For more information visit: www.criticalmass.org.au or criticalmassrides.info
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42.5 Riding: Accidents & Road Rage
42.1.1 I've been a involved in an accident, what do I do?
43. You must call the police if anyone is injured. Whether or not you must call them for other
circumstances varies from state to state. You may be legally required to give
identification details to the other parties involved. You may also have to report the
accident within 24 hours.
Get name, address, and licence (if a car) details from the other party, you may also want to
collect details from a witness.
43.1.2 I've been a victim of road rage what do I do?
44. Report it to the police, try to include details like the rego number
45. Claire Petersky wrote in rec.bicycles.misc:
Quoted message said:One car-full of passing geniuses suggested that I get off the
copulating road.
Quoted message said:Only they didn't say copulating. I was a bit surprised that the
road could
Quoted message said:do that -- that asphalt certainly doesn't look like it reproduced
that way.
No, no, you misunderstood their intentions. The road does not copulate with itself. Rather,
it is *you* who is partnered with the road.
Have you not had a day, where you get out there on your bike, and there is the road before
you, warm, inviting? It feels good, it smells good, it almost seems to taste good to be on
it. Some days you start out eager, knowing what lies ahead. Other days you start out a
little reluctantly -- surely you have better things to do -- clean the house, mow the lawn
-- but here you are anyway, your bike and the road together, and after a little bit you know
its going to be a good time.
There are days when you dominate the road. It does your bidding. You groove on your
control. There are other days when the road is your master. You submit to its demands. You
get a perverted pleasure from the pain of your burning legs, your oxygen-starved lungs
screaming for air.
In any of these instances, though, you with your bike, and the road, are lovers. The term,
"get off" as we all know, is a slang term that means to "derive pleasure". Thus, the
encouraging, if
"Enjoy yourself as you and the road make beautiful love together".
To take this a step further -- in many mystical traditions, the physical act of love is
understood as a metaphor for the spiritual union of human with the Divine. Can you ride as
if you and the Road are One?
The mudra of the single upraised digit is a reminder of this oneness: unity in Christ
Consciousness, being at one with the Tao, La illaha Il' Allah, Adonai Echad. Thus, when
someone makes this gesture at you, you should understand that they are wishing you the
experience of this ecstatic union.
The horn that is honked as the mudra is made is a meditation bell. Like a church bell, like
the call of the muezzin's voice, it calls you into this sacred space of union, of you, your
bike, and the road, as One.
Thus, when the motorist honks his horn, raises the single digit, and makes his sincere
invocation, you have but one response: to smile, to wave, and return to the joy of riding
your bike.
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45.1 : Gear: Shoppping
45.2.1 What online bike stores are there?
Limited to web sites where you can actually complete a purchase online:
* Phantom Cycles - www.phantomcycles.com.au
* Dean Woods Direct - www.deanwoods.com.au
* Cecil Walker - www.cecilwalker.com.au
* VicMtb - www.vicmtb.com.au
* Wooly's Wheels - www.woolyswheels.com.au
* Ferntree Gully Cycles - www.ferntreegullycycles.com.au
* Bicycling Direct - www.bicyclingdirect.com
* Netti - www.netti.com.au
45.3. 2 Can I save money by importing gear myself?
46. Well, sometimes yes.
Local stores must charge you GST, and have already paid most of the shipping.
Depending on the value of what you import, you will be charged GST by customs and
perhaps customs duty too.
Before you buy, ensure sizing and specifications are absolutely correct, and for
electrical equipment (e.g. battery chargers) are compatible with the local system.
Also work out what will happen for warranty returns.
So factor in shipping, GST, possible customs duty, currency conversion charges
(especially with credit card transactions), compatibility and then compare the cost.
Less calcuable costs are warranty return problems, and discounts you might accrue
via shop loyalty. Certain shops will also give a significant percentage discount to
state-bicycle-body members, for example: BNSW card holders can get 5-10% off gear
most places.
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47.3 Gear: Frame Building/Builders
47.1.1 Does anyone know a good framebuilder?
* Name and address here
* Name and address here
* Name and address here
* Name and address here