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Fair weather cyclists

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Australia and New Zealand
Published
21 September 2004
Last activity
22 September 2004
Original author
Gags
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11
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  1. Beautiful day in Melbourne today and there were people on bikes everywhere
    for my trip home along the Yarra Trail. On my trip home I saw at least 4 or
    5 families and probably around 20 or so individual cyclists (not to mention
    the numerous joggers, walkers, dog-walkers, and dogs).

    I think that it is great that people are getting out and being active
    (especially those encouraging kids to exercise) and I am all for encouraging
    it but it raises the question.......

    "Where were they all last week?".

    At the risk of sounding like a grouch, I almost preferred it a couple of
    weeks ago when it was cold and wet and I almost had the Yarra Trail to
    myself (I was getting RSI on my right thumb today from having to use the
    bell). I am lucky that I go to work pretty early as days like today mean
    that all the bike hooks are generally taken by about 8am and then it is
    every cyclist for himself in claiming trees and wall space to lean the bike
    on. Fortunately my workplace has security guards on the gates and so we
    don't have to take too many security precautions (most people leave helmets,
    lights, computers, gloves, jackets, etc hanging on their bikes during the
    day).

    BTW, how many Melbournites are going to Fed Square for "Ride to Work Day" on
    the 6th October?? I think that I will ride the singlespeed that day and try
    to get some cred from all the fixies that show up (I am still searching for
    a suitable fixie frame).

    Ride On,

    Gags

  2. Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    >> "Gags" == Gags <gags_44nospamatnospamtpg.com.au> writes:

    Gags> Fortunately my workplace has security guards on the gates and
    Gags> so we don't have to take too many security precautions (most
    Gags> people leave helmets, lights, computers, gloves, jackets, etc
    Gags> hanging on their bikes during the day).

    Sometimes I work in the Victorian Police Centerer. I used to be able to
    park my bike in reception but refurb put paid to that so I have to use
    the Police car park.

    First time I parked there the SOG guys were doing their kit check as I
    was parking my bike up. Took out bike lock then noticed that not a
    single bike was locked. Glancing over my shoulder as weapons were
    getting checked and stuff I figured my bike would probably be in more
    danger if I locked it due to professional insult or some other such
    tosh.

    Gags> BTW, how many Melbournites are going to Fed Square for "Ride
    Gags> to Work Day" on the 6th October??

    I went last year, I'd been commuting for about two months at that point.
    Free Powerade, breakfast. Was fun :-)
    --
    Cheers
    Euan

  3. Gags said:


    BTW, how many Melbournites are going to Fed Square for "Ride to Work Day" on
    the 6th October??

    No way, the bike tracks will be full of cyclists who rarely ride, and I
    can just imagine the carnage down Collins St. That's one day I
    definitely won't be riding. Although I was interested to read in
    RoyalAuto about the "Bike Angels" who will be stationed at various
    crucial points along the main routes into the city to provide directions
    and maybe CPR if required.

    DaveB

  4. Gags said:


    BTW, how many Melbournites are going to Fed Square for "Ride to Work Day" on the 6th October??

    Free food? Damn right I'll be there! 😄

    I'm trying to get some others at work to head in too.. they are
    mostly soft though so I don't like my chances.

    hippy

  5. hippy said:

    Free food? Damn right I'll be there! 😄

    I'm trying to get some others at work to head in too.. they are
    mostly soft though so I don't like my chances.

    hippy


    Boroondara convinced our Mayor, Judith Voce to join in and she made it all the way to town and was then lining up a photo op with Mayor So and promptly slipped on the swanston tram tracks and broke her arm! : rolleyes :

    Still, she supports cycling in general, bless her.

    Definitely staying away from the paths on Oct 6.
    Caught up in a 'bike jam' last year at the burnley pontoon/divided bridge thingy and waitied as approx 100-200 riders banked up. should have had a camera!

  6. "Gags" <gags_44nospamatnospamtpg.com.au> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

    Quoted message said:

    Beautiful day in Melbourne today and there were people on bikes everywhere
    [snip]

    Quoted message said:

    it but it raises the question.......

    "Where were they all last week?".

    I know where you are coming from. In my morning bunch ride, the
    numbers have swelled up to double the winter numbers. Instead of a
    dozen or so hard core guys rolling turns it's up to over 20, with guys
    unsighted in the chill of winter cutting in, causing havoc and
    decreasing my gain:risk ratio on which I decide to abandon a certain
    training ride.

    Although I agree, there is a risk of sounding grouchy on these things

    Quoted message said:

    At the risk of sounding like a grouch, I almost preferred it a couple of
    weeks ago when it was cold and wet and I almost had the Yarra Trail to
    myself (I was getting RSI on my right thumb today from having to use the
    bell). I am lucky that I go to work pretty early as days like today mean
    that all the bike hooks are generally taken by about 8am and then it is
    every cyclist for himself in claiming trees and wall space to lean the bike
    on. Fortunately my workplace has security guards on the gates and so we
    don't have to take too many security precautions (most people leave helmets,
    lights, computers, gloves, jackets, etc hanging on their bikes during the
    day).


    [snip]

  7. I’m a half-way fair weather rider. Even though I commute virtually all year around, I have the luxury of various options to get to/from work. When it’s dark & I’m wearing my whole cycling wardrobe it’s the short 30min sprint down Footscray rd through Docklands to the city. But now I take the City bike path east past the Zoo to Rushworth station to Dights Falls & then the yarra trail around, approx an hour. This is the first year doing this route on the single speed MTB (44/18) & the climb along Yarra bend boulivard is blowing my legs badly – might whoose out & go the road next to CUB through Abbotsford, but don’t tell anyone….

    I must admit it gets hard with traffic on the paths as the weather improves. I currently don’t have a bell fitted & just hit the dirt/grass if there’s no path left for me. Might need to go rummage in the shed……

  8. "Marx SS" <[email hidden]> wrote in
    message news:[email hidden]

    Quoted message said:

    I’m a half-way fair weather rider. Even though I commute virtually all
    year around, I have the luxury of various options to get to/from work.
    When it’s dark & I’m wearing my whole cycling wardrobe it’s the short
    30min sprint down Footscray rd through Docklands to the city. But now
    I take the City bike path east past the Zoo to Rushworth station to
    Dights Falls & then the yarra trail around, approx an hour. This is
    the first year doing this route on the single speed MTB (44/18) & the
    climb along Yarra bend boulivard is blowing my legs badly – might
    whoose out & go the road next to CUB through Abbotsford, but don’t
    tell anyone….

    I must admit it gets hard with traffic on the paths as the weather
    improves. I currently don’t have a bell fitted & just hit the
    dirt/grass if there’s no path left for me. Might need to go rummage in
    the shed……

    You need an air horn.

    --

    A: Top-posters.
    Q: What is the most annoying thing on Usenet?

  9. hippy said:
    Gags said:

    BTW, how many Melbournites are going to Fed Square for "Ride to Work
    Day" on the 6th October??

    Free food? Damn right I'll be there! 😄

    I'm trying to get some others at work to head in too.. they are
    mostly soft though so I don't like my chances.

    hippy

    ....and a free massage. Here's a tip - take a bigger than usual
    backpack 😉

    --
    Nick

  10. Gags said:


    I think that it is great that people are getting out and being active
    (especially those encouraging kids to exercise) and I am all for encouraging
    it but it raises the question.......

    "Where were they all last week?".

    What gets me is the racks are full when its hot enough to melt.
    You can dress for the cold, but you can only strip so far.
    Its not as if there's been much rain this winter (Canberra),
    and if I can ride all year in sandals it cannot be that cold???

    Not exactly looking forward to more cyclists using the nice new bikelanes.
    I know its the point but I like to take the ramp off the Commonwealth Bridge shared path onto coloured bikelane at 30-40kmh - competive with the exiting cars and I'll adjust my speed to make the crossover painless. I've flashed rage with some cyclists ahead thinking 0-10 was a safer entry speed, and they were far enough ahead!

  11. Gags said:

    Beautiful day in Melbourne today and there were people on bikes everywhere
    for my trip home along the Yarra Trail. On my trip home I saw at least 4 or
    5 families and probably around 20 or so individual cyclists (not to mention
    the numerous joggers, walkers, dog-walkers, and dogs).

    Gags


    Same here in Perth. My route out of the city takes me along the bike path beside the Swan River. I don't so much mind the additional bike traffic. At least they generally don't make snap 90 degree turns after appearing to travel straight along the path like some pedestrians. And they don't join themselves together with metres of chain across the path like the bloody dog-walkers do.....

    Still, we all co-exist reasonably happily....

    SteveA

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