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 | ~ (*)/ (*)

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

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

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.

Why's that?

Jules

"Jules" asked...

Why's that?

'Cause its soooo embarrassing to get passed on you carbon latte racer by the guy with muddy shoes, coloured socks and helmet visor
on the mountain bike with big DJ forks running 2.5" tyres at 20psi and a big smile on his face ;-)

Parbs

On Thu, 05 Jan 2006 22:45:34 GMT, Parbs wrote:

'Cause its soooo embarrassing to get passed on you carbon latte racer by the guy with muddy shoes, coloured socks and helmet visor
on the mountain bike with big DJ forks running 2.5" tyres at 20psi and a big smile on his face ;-)

If that ever happens, even on my cheap alloy commuter, I'll let you
know :-)


--
Home page: http://members.westnet.com.au/mvw

'Cause its soooo embarrassing to get passed on you carbon latte racer by the guy with muddy shoes, coloured socks and helmet visor
on the mountain bike with big DJ forks running 2.5" tyres at 20psi and a big smile on his face ;-)

Parbs


haha... Precisely ;-)

Jules wrote:

'Cause its soooo embarrassing to get passed on you carbon latte racer by the guy with muddy shoes, coloured socks and helmet visor
on the mountain bike with big DJ forks running 2.5" tyres at 20psi and a big smile on his face ;-)

Parbs


haha... Precisely ;-)

I suppose if I ever bought a carbon latte racer, I'd have a chance of
finding out. But I wouldn't be taking it offroad.

Tam

On Thu, 05 Jan 2006 22:45:34 +0000, Parbs wrote:

'Cause its soooo embarrassing to get passed on you carbon latte racer by
the guy with muddy shoes, coloured socks and helmet visor on the mountain
bike with big DJ forks running 2.5" tyres at 20psi and a big smile on his
face ;-)

XC whippets get the ****s when you do that as well, but I think I might
try singlespeeding at the crits tomorrow.

--
Dave Hughes |
"The wages of sin is death, but so's the salary of virtue, and at least
the Evil get to go home early on Fridays" - Pratchett

"Random Data" wrote in message ...

XC whippets get the ****s when you do that as well, but I think I might
try singlespeeding at the crits tomorrow.

Oh no! There might be a big SS turnout, we had 3 on Wednesday night.

Parbs