A Cycling & bikes forum. CycleBanter.com

Go Back   Home » CycleBanter.com forum » Regional Cycling » Australia
Site Map Home Register Authors List Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read Web Partners

New Year pedolutionists



 
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old January 5th 06, 11:59 AM posted to aus.bicycle
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default New Year pedolutionists

Back in the UK I'd take January off at the gym, it just got too crowded
when the New Year Resolutionist crowd came to town. Don't get me wrong,
I don't begrudge people striking out and trying to better their lives,
it's just that without fail the gym would be so much quieter in the three
to four weeks after Jan 1st.

While the roads are still relatively quiet it's obvious that there's a
lot of new cyclists out there. Great, numbers on the road are our best
defence.

Many of these pedolutionists have limited cycling skills. They can
barely maintain a straight course just pedalling, ask them to change
lanes or go up a hill and they're all over the place. I spent large
chunks of my journey waiting for a sufficient gap in traffic so I could
give them at least a meter overtaking. Again don't get me wrong, I'm
glad to see them out on the road. I just wish there was some easy way I
could take them down a side street and set them on the right track
without coming across as a condescending prick.

I've noticed a distinct increase in red light jumpers. Normally I just
shrug my shoulders, mentally more than figuratively. However I did snap
a bit today. I was heading up the hill on St Kilda Road, the one
between Inkerman Street and Alma Road, when I was stopped by the
pedestrian crossing in the middle of the hill. Well plow me if a
pedolutionist didn't just sail on through. ``Helloooo, it's
reeeeedddddd!'

I forgot my pass to work today, truth to tell I thought I'd lost it and
even went and got a new one sorted out (found it by the 'phone this
afternoon). As a consequence my bike spent the day outside Parliament
station.

End of the day I was getting set for the ride home and a guy on crutches
comes up and quizzes me about locking strategies. Soon as his legs
mended he intends to start riding to work. Hurrah!

Nearly home and hear that dreaded sound (no, not that one) of brakes on
rim. That's odd. Stop bike and spin front wheel. All good. Spin
back. Try to spin back. WTF?

Look at mech and the barrel adjuster's been wound all the way out,
locking on the rear brake. Not completely but enough to cause drag.
Thirty kilometers, on a day when I could actually leave the panniers at
work, all with the rear brake tearing my rim apart.

Weird day.
--
Cheers | ~~ __@
Euan | ~~ _-\,
Melbourne, Australia | ~ (*)/ (*)
Ads
  #2  
Old January 5th 06, 12:55 PM posted to aus.bicycle
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default New Year pedolutionists

On 2006-01-05, Euan (aka Bruce)
was almost, but not quite, entirely unlike tea:
Look at mech and the barrel adjuster's been wound all the way out,
locking on the rear brake. Not completely but enough to cause drag.
Thirty kilometers, on a day when I could actually leave the panniers at
work, all with the rear brake tearing my rim apart.


I found on several occasions on the tour last week that I was being
more hardcore than necessary. Brakes on rim quite a few times. One
time, the quick release had partly ondone itself!

Oh well, it made the climbs more challenging

--
TimC
In the beginning, there was nothing, which exploded.
-- Terry Pratchett, Lords and Ladies
  #3  
Old January 5th 06, 01:35 PM posted to aus.bicycle
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default New Year pedolutionists

On Thu, 05 Jan 2006 10:59:16 GMT, Euan wrote:

Many of these pedolutionists have limited cycling skills. They can
barely maintain a straight course just pedalling, ask them to change
lanes or go up a hill and they're all over the place. I spent large
chunks of my journey waiting for a sufficient gap in traffic so I could
give them at least a meter overtaking. Again don't get me wrong, I'm
glad to see them out on the road.


In principle it's great to see people out riding on the work. In practice,
though, I wish the ones on mountain bikes - nearly everyone I pass - would
either pick another road (than the one I happen to be using!) or ride them
in the mountains they were designed for.

--
Home page: http://members.westnet.com.au/mvw
  #4  
Old January 5th 06, 01:45 PM posted to aus.bicycle
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default New Year pedolutionists


Euan Wrote:


I've noticed a distinct increase in red light jumpers. Normally I just
shrug my shoulders, mentally more than figuratively. However I did snap
a bit today. I was heading up the hill on St Kilda Road, the one
between Inkerman Street and Alma Road, when I was stopped by the
pedestrian crossing in the middle of the hill. Well plow me if a
pedolutionist didn't just sail on through. ``Helloooo, it's
reeeeedddddd!'Yeah me too (ignore them), but Fu_k! One guy got on my nerve hardcore

this morning along Wellington St Collingwood. Serial offender. Every
fu_king light! Rode past him and gave him the biggest 'evils'. I'm sure
he didn't get it. I used to run reds BIG time in my miss spent youth. So
now I feel like I can't pull others up on it.

Jay "bites lip as he *used* to run reds too" Woo


--
JayWoo

  #5  
Old January 5th 06, 09:29 PM posted to aus.bicycle
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default New Year pedolutionists


Euan wrote - .

While the roads are still relatively quiet it's obvious that there's a
lot of new cyclists out there. Great, numbers on the road are our best
defence...[but]... Many of these pedolutionists have limited cycling
skills.


I think this might be the point at which the various State cycling groups
could actually do some good if they understood their function better -
people have made the effort to get a bike, get out of the car and ride on a
city road. That commendable start will very likely IMHO fail because they
will get sore or scared or fail to find kindred spirits on the road which
add so much to the enjoyment of cycling..

If you can remember back to that time we all went through when it was all
new and confusing, probably with the wrong bike and making mistakes galore I
recall the best thing that happened to me was to find a bunch that were
friendly, gave sage advice and who really made you feel welcome and who I
wanted to ride with - that got me hooked and the rest is history.

Its picking up those new to cycling with encouragement and giving them
cycling nous which will add permanent numbers out there - not sure how to
organise that but that is I think the critical stage between creating a
cyclist as opposed to just adding more unused metal lying around garages.

best, Andrew


  #6  
Old January 5th 06, 09:54 PM posted to aus.bicycle
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default New Year pedolutionists

In aus.bicycle on Thu, 05 Jan 2006 20:29:24 GMT
Andrew Price wrote:
If you can remember back to that time we all went through when it was all
new and confusing, probably with the wrong bike and making mistakes galore I
recall the best thing that happened to me was to find a bunch that were
friendly, gave sage advice and who really made you feel welcome and who I
wanted to ride with - that got me hooked and the rest is history.


You are describing motorcycling before compulsory training

Then, it was traditional for experienced riders to stop and chat with
learners, and help them and give them tips. If you saw an L plate
then you felt it was your duty to encourage and help them.

Harder for cyclists of course - no L plates!

Compulsory training has changed a little of that I think, as it's
obviously no longer so needed.

I think the idea of the bike clubs doing more is a good one. But how?
If you build it will they come? Will people take time to go to some
place for help, or do the current experienced riders need to seek out
the inexperienced and work to be their friends?

Zebee
  #7  
Old January 5th 06, 10:07 PM posted to aus.bicycle
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default New Year pedolutionists


Andrew Price Wrote:


If you can remember back to that time we all went through when it was
all
new and confusing, probably with the wrong bike and making mistakes
galore I
recall the best thing that happened to me was to find a bunch that were
friendly, gave sage advice and who really made you feel welcome and who
I
wanted to ride with - that got me hooked and the rest is history.

Its picking up those new to cycling with encouragement and giving them
cycling nous which will add permanent numbers out there - not sure how
to
organise that but that is I think the critical stage between creating a
cyclist as opposed to just adding more unused metal lying around
garages.

best, Andrew


I've been very lucky to have the benefit of Euan's help to get me back
riding and all it took was about 20 minutes of riding around the local
netball courts doing various drills and a little bit of time on the
road explaining where I should be riding to feel confident and safe on
the road. I think in a hour you could get most people riding in a
reasonably competent manner. Maybe some additional reading on road
rules that apply to cyclists and send them on their merry way.

I think it's time Euan and I got involved with our local BUG. The BUG
doesn't meet again until February and are more into the touring group
they run than in bicycle advocacy as far as I can tell. If we can
weedle our way in to the group I'd be interested in running some local
bicycle education courses. Would there be liability issues with doing
something like that?


--
SuzieB

  #8  
Old January 5th 06, 10:33 PM posted to aus.bicycle
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default New Year pedolutionists


SuzieB Wrote:

If we can weedle our way in to the group I'd be interested in running
some local bicycle education courses. Would there be liability issues
with doing something like that?


Take a look at Bike Ed
www.bikeed.com.au
It's a bit more kids-orientated but does also include
training-for-trainers
OR
http://www.travelsmart.gov.au/toolkits.html

The UK Sustrans program is worth a look too


--
flyingdutch

  #9  
Old January 5th 06, 10:57 PM posted to aus.bicycle
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default New Year pedolutionists


Zebee Johnstone Wrote:

You are describing motorcycling before compulsory training

Then, it was traditional for experienced riders to stop and chat with
learners, and help them and give them tips. If you saw an L plate
then you felt it was your duty to encourage and help them.

Harder for cyclists of course - no L plates!

Compulsory training has changed a little of that I think, as it's
obviously no longer so needed.

I think the idea of the bike clubs doing more is a good one. But how?
If you build it will they come? Will people take time to go to some
place for help, or do the current experienced riders need to seek out
the inexperienced and work to be their friends?

Zebee


Yes, if you do build it, they will come.... and ask for more!! Brag
Alert: Warragul Cycling Club has several initiatives (one for which it
won a Vic Sport & Rec award in 05) to do just this, both for juniors
and adults. We will recommence and expand these activities in February
this year (Cycle Skills, recreational group, more social/training rides
etc), partly in response to the many requests we have received late last
year for more. (so stay tuned to the local rag, or contact the club if
you are interested in participating!)

So, absolutely, build it (and build it so that it is quality, and is
meeting the needs of the participants) and they WILL come.


--
warrwych

  #10  
Old January 5th 06, 11:03 PM posted to aus.bicycle
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default New Year pedolutionists


Euan wrote:

Nearly home and hear that dreaded sound (no, not that one) of brakes on
rim. That's odd. Stop bike and spin front wheel. All good. Spin
back. Try to spin back. WTF?

Look at mech and the barrel adjuster's been wound all the way out,
locking on the rear brake. Not completely but enough to cause drag.
Thirty kilometers, on a day when I could actually leave the panniers at
work, all with the rear brake tearing my rim apart.


How did you manage to ride home (30km) without noticing your brake was
on?

Talking of red light runners ... riding to the Williamstown crit on
Wed, some old bloke on a roady, in an aust abalone jersey along
Footscray Rd .. "boom" through at least 2 red lights. He wasn't
colourblind, he stopped at the T intersections ! Arsehole ... We'd
catch him, he'd sail on through ... then when the traffic got tight
around the trucks the old turd chopped me almost into a truck. This
was no novice, just one of those ****s who's sure that the rules don't
apply to him.

 




Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

vB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
LeJog year Brian G UK 0 October 2nd 05 01:12 PM
Have your hurricane in a swing state in an election year 41 Techniques 81 September 10th 05 04:03 PM
One year on LSMike UK 9 July 5th 05 05:52 PM
Want to know what year... anything will help bear General 1 November 30th 04 12:15 AM
One year ago today - progress calendar fattyjules Unicycling 5 June 1st 04 05:04 AM


All times are GMT +1. The time now is 04:11 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.6.4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Copyright ©2004-2024 CycleBanter.com.
The comments are property of their posters.