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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 | ~ (*)/ (*) |
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#2
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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. |
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