Bicycle riders

[Trevor_S]

Good on you Prawn. I encourage all to start riding old bicycles, without wearing helmets, and be free and healthy.

The more of us who are on the bikeways the better.

The problem with bikeways locally is they are often useless, okay for MA and PA kettle out for a Sunday toddle but no good for commuting. eg on the one beside the river that goes into the city... I have collected pedestrians who walk 3 abreast, been strung up by idiots walking their dogs on leads stretching across the trail, dinged my bell (no longer do this, too dangerous) and had startled pedestrians turn, and step into my line ! Most pedestrians are oblivious with their ipoods anyway. Not to mention having anti car devices, turning negotiating the cycleways on a bike into some sort of trails event !!! .

Speaking of trails events, this guy is amazing what he can do on a bike ! Was Aunt Lil this good ?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z19zFlPah-o

I only race MTB bikes, not road bikes. I ride my road bike often but never in a peleton, they are too dangerous. Cars aren't allowed to follow that closely, either should road bikes... I am not sure why they aren't l booked for following too closely, as any car would be ? I once passed a small peleton on my road bike and copped an earful

I agree that compulsory helmet laws are anathema, but we've had this debate before... I would always wear one but believe it should be individual choice.

Helmets are also why concepts like the mass cycle temporary hire concept that works in France, Spain etc that they are developed in Brisbane are a nonsense, helmets will be their undoing. I think the idiots who ok'd it all think that mainland Europe has compulsory helmet laws like we do here ?

 

[Trevor_S]

An article in todays SMH:

http://www.smh.com.au/national/roads-to-nowhere-leave-cyclists-fuming-20090426-ajd2.html

Which was just reinforcing what I was saying about the uselessness of most cycle paths, which is an impediment to many taking up cycling as they are scared of traffic rather then confident but respectful and need that security of traffic separation before they would even consider cycling as a legitimate form of transport.

At the northern approach to the Harbour Bridge the bike path comes to an abrupt end and pedal-pushers are forced to dismount and negotiate 55 steps by walking their bikes down a narrow ramp before continuing.

"Give me one example of a Sydney road where the driver has to get out and push his or her car for 10 metres?" cyclist Chris Virtue asked yesterday.

Sydney's cycleways are not so much an organised network as a fragmented collection of winding paths and half-finished ideas. Most were built or designed when cycling was viewed as a pleasant pastime rather than a practical form of travel and are now poorly suited to commuting.

"Councils have tended to build bike paths with the interests of their residents rather than a consistent network for all cyclists in mind," he said.

"In the RTA's case the paths have been built project by project - so the path stops where that project stops."

 

[Trevor_S]

http://www.smh.com.au/national/whee...s-and-motorists-are-at-war-20090427-akn2.html

He found that an alarming number of motorists did not know some of the basic road rules relating to cyclists, such as when cyclists had right of way.

"Thirty-seven per cent of motorists didn't know that cyclists were entitled to use a whole lane, and 69 per cent didn't know they were allowed to overtake on the left of cars," Professor Rissel said.

"Eighty-one per cent didn't know cyclists were allowed to ride two abreast and 13 per cent didn't know they were allowed to use the roads at all. That is definitely a contributing factor to the level of tension and danger on the roads."

Unfortunately they don't give any details of this survey they refer to.

 

[Aussiejeff]

i upgraded from 3x12V 7AH lead acid to 1x36v 10AH Li-po and the performance increase was very noticable. My range increased from around 5km to about 20km (unassisted on relatively flat grounds). Weight reduction was about a third. the new li-po are rated at around 3000 charges.

I weigh 92kg. I had an EVS 36v 200W front hub motor kit with 10AH Li-Po battery pack fitted to my Jamis Dakar MTB a few months back. Initially, a was a tad disappointed with the range I got on the first few rides from Wodonga West to Barnawartha and back (mainly flat with a few rolling hills to contend with). I was only getting around 25k @ ave 20kph, at which point the Low Voltage cutout on the battery pack would be triggered - with no more juice available from that point.

I had a think and decided my big, 2.75" low pressure (40psi max) trail tyres were a prime suspect for the poor range (lots of road friction). So, I took a punt and pumped 'em up to 60psi to see what would happen. *BINGO* Range increased to around 30k and I was now averaging around 22kph - a significant improvement. Downside was the big tyres were like rocks and transmitted every bump like crazy at those high pressures!

So, I decided overpressuring to increase range was not the best thing to do and swapped the big rubber for some skinnier 1.5" trail tyres rated at 70 psi. When I first rode on these, I immediately noticed the ride at 70 PSI was actually less harsh than with the larger tyres. On the road, I also noticed I was maintaining a much higher ave speed around 26kph! Since the EVS kit is speed governed to cut out power assist at 30kph+, in a nutshell, the closer you can get the average speed to that figure, the greater the range you will get. At the end of that 48km run, I still had half power and had averaged 26.5kph!! Amazing!!!

So, definitely, the higher pressure you can run in the tyres, the better these little 200 watters like it. I reckon it is the best thing I have bought in a long while. My arthritic knees have been weeping with joy ever since.... and the looks on some 'dedicated' road cyclist's faces as I pedal past them on moderate up-inclines at 25kph+ is a never-ending source of some amusement...

I'm looking forward to when the next gen batteries can pump out about 20AH for the same weight.... might get to the magic 100km range then....

Chiz,


aj

 

[Garpal Gumnut]

The sooner they ban those ridiculous bicycle helmets, the fitter the nation will be.

gg

 

[Trevor_S]

The sooner they ban those ridiculous bicycle helmets, the fitter the nation will be.

I don't think they should be banned, I would still wear one but they should be optional for all those >18

 

[Garpal Gumnut]

I don't think they should be banned, I would still wear one but they should be optional for all those >18

Fair call.

gg

 

[Aussiejeff]

Fair call.

gg

LOL.

gg, you would have to have a skull and ears made of reinforced concrete to ride around here without a helmet right now - the Kamikaze Maggies are baaaack!!

 

[Banana]

Just noticing that most of the cyclists on this forum are on (Road Bike) old pieces of crap but just don't know it, if anyone is interested in cycling and actually enjoying it, I suggest getting a bike that is the correct size and have it professionally fitted. $2000 can get you a pretty nice set up, It will roll along Like nothing else, there will be minimal back pain shoulder pain, your **** can still gets sore though, that is where the Lycra comes in with the chamois insert to minimise the chafing. Helmets, buggar me guys, come off at 40km/h and your going to wish you have one on. This post is all aimed at people wanting to actually ride, not just go down the shops for the Sunday paper.

 

[Ashsaege]

Just noticing that most of the cyclists on this forum are on (Road Bike) old pieces of crap but just don't know it, if anyone is interested in cycling and actually enjoying it, I suggest getting a bike that is the correct size and have it professionally fitted. $2000 can get you a pretty nice set up, It will roll along Like nothing else, there will be minimal back pain shoulder pain, your **** can still gets sore though, that is where the Lycra comes in with the chamois insert to minimise the chafing. Helmets, buggar me guys, come off at 40km/h and your going to wish you have one on. This post is all aimed at people wanting to actually ride, not just go down the shops for the Sunday paper.

I agree, if you are a serious rider you will definitely need a helmet.
I did a 72km ride the other weekend, and when you start traveling over 60kms down a hill and your bike gets the death wobbles it's almost suicide by not wearing a helmet.

Here is the elevation of the ride. Started in Tanunda and ended up at Swan Reach (River Murray)

 

[Trevor_S]

Just noticing that most of the cyclists on this forum are on (Road Bike) old pieces of crap but just don't know it,

Hmmm I ride road (infrequently) and have a Orbea Onix CF road bike. I ride XC Mountain Bike often (trails are very close by) and have a Santa Cruz Blur LT 2.

I wouldn't classify either of these as old nor pieces of crap. That aside, there us nothing wrong with old bikes per se, only if they are in poor condition or poorly maintained.

Helmets, buggar me guys, come off at 40km/h and your going to wish you have one on.

I would never ride without one but I don't agree they should be compulsory, we're Adults, let us make our own decisions. Most of the countries in Europe where cycling is HUGE, helmets are NOT compulsory. You can still wear them if they're optional !

 

[Aussiejeff]

Hmmm I ride road (infrequently) and have a Orbea Onix CF road bike. I ride XC Mountain Bike often (trails are very close by) and have a Santa Cruz Blur LT 2.

I wouldn't classify either of these as old nor pieces of crap. That aside, there us nothing wrong with old bikes per se, only if they are in poor condition or poorly maintained.



I would never ride without one but I don't agree they should be compulsory, we're Adults, let us make our own decisions. Most of the countries in Europe where cycling is HUGE, helmets are NOT compulsory. You can still wear them if they're optional !

Do they have Kamikaze Magpies in Europe? I suppose Euro-plovers can still be a hassle, eh?

 

[Garpal Gumnut]

My only reason in getting involved in this thread was to encourage the masses to get on bicycles to improve their health and save money on petrol and lower pollution.

I have no wish to parley with small nutted, lycra clad, narcissists on expensive bikes who clog my local coffee shop of a Sunday morning with their sweaty bodies and ridiculous helmets.

Cycling at a leisurely pace is good for everyone.

Loons who ride in aggressive packs of a Sunday are not bicyclists in my opinion. They are people in search of testosterone from ever diminishing stores, the latter being crushed against ridiculously small hard seats.

As for magpies, the best way to keep them at bay is to wear a lone ranger type goggle mask backwards on your head. They only attack from the rear and the eyes staring at them freak them out.

gg

 

[jonojpsg]

I agree, if you are a serious rider you will definitely need a helmet.
I did a 72km ride the other weekend, and when you start traveling over 60kms down a hill and your bike gets the death wobbles it's almost suicide by not wearing a helmet.

Here is the elevation of the ride. Started in Tanunda and ended up at Swan Reach (River Murray)

Nice climb at the start there ash Mate I'd love to be able to go on longer rides with a bit of variation but we're a bit limited here in Hobart, at least on the Eastern shore. That last half looks like it would be a nice cruise

 

[Trembling Hand]

Anyone out there still riding? Anyone race? If so what type? I'm training for a bit of a stroll across Greenland and have started to do some miles that I haven't clocked up since I was in my 20s. Had an epic ride on Saturday. Completely broken by the finish! But what a ride. 3100 m of vertical!

 

[CanOz]

Shoot Rudy, thats one helluva ride. I know that area quite well, brown trout country

 

[5oclock]

Good ride TH--- best i do is Rail Trails---nice one near LakesEntrance , goes through the bush along an old tramway beside a creek---its a LOT shorter than your ride!!!!! Sounds like your fitness level is pretty dam good,,well done!!!!

 

[Trembling Hand]

Something for the fatties to think about,

New Physical Activity Guidelines

Doing any physical activity is better than doing none. If you currently do no physical activity, start by doing some, and gradually build up to the recommended amount.
Be active on most, preferably all, days every week.
Accumulate 150 to 300 minutes (2 ½ to 5 hours) of moderate intensity physical activity or 75 to 150 minutes (1 ¼ to 2 ½ hours) of vigorous intensity physical activity, or an equivalent combination of both moderate and vigorous activities, each week.
Do muscle strengthening activities on at least 2 days each week.

On your bike people.

 

[rumpole]

What do you call bicycle riders ?

Pedalphiles

 

[5oclock]

Bike riding is the second best physical activity you can get too !!!!!