Like the vast majority of bike riders(Does a slowish 60 ks a week qualify?) I drive which means I already pay rego and fuel excise and all the other nasties the mono commuters seem to think only they pay for. And when I'm on 2 wheels I think the vast majortiy of drivers are respectful and courteous. And then there are the dickheads, but I know that before I clip on my helmet, it's the risk you take. They're pretty rare but maybe I'm just lucky.
One thing I do know is that I am more careful around bike riders than I was 20 years ago in my primarily pre bike days. Bikes now outsell cars comfortably and lots of drivers are now riders too and I think the best cure for bike phobia is to buy a bike and go for a ride. If more did, fitness and productivity would lift and public demand for medical services and hospitals would fall. I'm biased but the first thing that I think of when I read bike bashing is "I wonder if the writer is overweight".
IMVHO too many bike riders whinge publicly about a small minority of fools behind wheels. And way too many drivers go out of their way to look for isolated instances of foolish bike behaviour to justify the generalisations that in reallity are often products of petty mindedness and straight out jealousy.
^^ Absolutely spot on and pretty much covers the argument from both sides. Unfortunately, until those "ignorant" motorists go and buy a bike and see it from "our" side, they will just never get it.
Also, taxes pay for roads, not rego. Another thing the metal cocoon brigade fail to realise...
Took this for a spin this morning. Mate's new rig, just finished being built. Bianchi Infinto 2014, Ultegra Di2, Zipp Carbon clinchers etc. He bought grouppo and frame online, LBS supplied the rest and did the build. There's some dollars in it, but rides like an absolute dream.
Very good article on maths of cycling. Not really surprising but interesting to see how it all hangs together. Probably not what you want to read just before a meal tho.
I rode about 60ks including to start and back from finish.
Cold - 11 degrees max, Wet - showers most of day with a spot of hail. One for the crazies. Festival of the beards. Memorable, in a good way.
Cobbled laneway sectors of various degrees of difficulty. Steep downhills on wet cobbles is very scary. Bike and me survived, brake pads worn down and have to be replaced. Lots of riders lost their brakes by the end. I think sandy mud in paver puddles gets on rims and then grinds down the pads. Anyway happy that was my only casualty.
Even more respect for riders who race on cobbles. It's hard to hold a line at 15 km/hr and even a hundred metres gets your body and jaw bouncing around. Several kms at 35-40km/hr surrounded by lots of other riders must be a nightmare.
Finish is at Brunswick Velodrome. We were told not to ride on banks due to them being so wet.
Meanwhile I've banished myself to the Wind Trainer on Monday nights. It was 3ºC in the shed last night, so while I was pouring with sweat simply breathing cool air on my arms was helpful! Did a Pyramid interval workout so 4/3/2/1/2/3/4 minute efforts with 2 min rest between -- and the middle minute is a max effort. That last four minutes goes FOREVER.
I've been looking at The Sufferist videos, but I don't have a cadence sensor so can't tell if I'm hitting 80/90/100rpm anyway.
0ºC this morning and I don't own thermal long bibs ... need to change that. You guys use any online Aussie store in particular? I need them here fast.
0ºC this morning and I don't own thermal long bibs ... need to change that. You guys use any online Aussie store in particular? I need them here fast.
Nah, I got mine from Wiggle. Seem to get here within a week.
0ºC this morning and I don't own thermal long bibs ... need to change that. You guys use any online Aussie store in particular? I need them here fast.
Velogear and Cell will get it to you pretty quick.
4 layers on the torso this morning @ 3deg, i'm soft but was comfy.
I've got (cheap) full cover booties, which have always done the job but I started to feel it just by the end of the ride this morning.
Meanwhile you remember that big hill climb up the Bunyas I did awhile ago? Someone I know on Strava went up it yesterday, -6º at the top! Rode home for two hours with frozen water bottles.
Was a brisk 15 degrees here this morning. Despite the sheer lunacy of it, I still went out, dressed only in standard kit. Yes, I am crazy!
On another note, which has been raised before, what’s with Strava and offering the Gran Fondo jersey for sale upon completion of the 130km ride?? Like, “Congrats on the effort, you now get to give us money! And not just money, but premium type money, usually reserved for only elite cycling gear!!”
