This was too nice to keep to myself. This photo I took last Friday (8th April) at lunchtime. The weather was fantastic.
I would strongly recommend people get out there whilst the weather is so good.
April 12, 2010
April 10, 2010
Cyclists shouldn’t have to ride on Motorways…
Seeing stuff like this makes me never want to ride on a motorway, and with good reason.
It’s becoming an old story. Another truck hits something because of fatigue. It seems almost inevitable that most bad road accidents are caused by tired truck drivers. But what really is the problem here?
First of all, infrastructure. If we had proper cycleways following all our motorways and freeways, just as they do in many other states, the cyclists would never have to use the emergency lanes in the first place.
Second, cruise control. I believe these accidents happen because drivers can chuck the engine into “auto-pilot” and get used to thinking that there’s little else they have to do after that. It means drivers do not drive to conditions, and if they do become tired and lose consciousness, the vehicle will not keep travelling at top speed.
Third, combating fatigue management with something other than paperwork. Making equipment such as fatigue detecting devices compulsory, and also implementing compulsory alcohol and alertness tests on interstate routes (e.g. at weighbridges), could make a huge difference.
Lowering speed limits and perhaps outlawing the use of cruise control for trucks within 100km radius of CBD’s, along with better fatigue management practices might improve the track record for trucks on our roads, but by far setting up real cycleways following (but not part of) our motorways would guarantee that horrible incidents like this never have to happen again.
My deepest thoughts and condolences go out to Mr. Williams and best hopes for the 3 other cyclists in recovery.
March 14, 2010
Misty mornings at Bobbin Head
It seems that Bobbin head is becoming a regular ride for me. The hills have gotten smaller and I’m not getting as lost as I used to. This certain morning in particular I had left home at around 6:30am and reached the valley by 7:30. What a sight it was, I’m not sure whether it was fog or low lying cloud but it was magnificent watching the air move over the water. The pictures don’t really do it justice.
January 3, 2010
The trip to Bobbin Head
I don’t really know why people love hills. The trip from Meadowbank to Bobbin Head has two of the biggest, scariest hills I have had to climb. Kissing Point road is a 6km climb with a 17% incline right at the end of it – just when you’re all but drained of energy. The next obstacle is getting out of the valley at Bobbin head. The trip to the north is a hard 5km climb with undulating hills and the climb to the south is a steady 4km climb.
This is my third trip out this way. A constant drizzle and a chilly wind from the east made the ride even more entertaining.
However, once the destination was reached it felt somewhat ‘worth it’. Once in the valley, a quick diversion to apple tree bay revealed a nice spot to rest and watch the water go by, the sounds of the bush in the air and the occasional fish jumping out of the stream made it all the better.
I cannot admit this was the best day of my life, in fact it was probably the worst. I left home for this trip in the worst state possible – I was looking fir pain. However a few minutes by this stream seemed to make all the world’s problems disappear.
December 7, 2009
Magpie Evasion Strategy Part 3: It works!
Some of you may remember my earlier post from over a year ago regarding the cable tie helmet:
Magpie evasion strategy part 1: The cable tie helmet
Well, I can gladly say that I went for a whole season without being hit by a bird, with much help (I believe) from the cable tie helmet. I have been followed and squawked at, but unlike last year before I discovered the cable tie helmet, I have not been hit, once!
Furthermore, I see more and more people adopting the cable tie helmet – so I suspect it works for them too?
I also suspect part of my strategy was about being more aware of nesting birds and how they might come to attack. I have kept my distance from known sites and have not tried to “wave off” or look back at swoopers – simply keep the ears open and look to the shadows!
I found an interesting site on swooping birds today: http://www.trevorsbirding.com/do-blackbirds-swoop-how-to-deal-with-aggressive-bird-behaviour/. Interestingly enough, the Indian Minor does not get a mention. I find these birds to be the most aggressive of all – however I have never been hit by one, they did set off a rather aggressive magpie I passed last year.
October 9, 2008
Magpie evasion strategy part 2: It seems to work
So far it’s been 4 weeks (or more?) since I cable tied my helmet. I haven’t been swooped once yet. Well, not by a magpie at least. I did get swooped by an indian minor on the way home last week – all I noticed was the pure shock of the bird as it hit my spikes. Some nasty squawks and a ruffle of feathers and he was gone.
Using your gears
Since the warmer weather came to Sydney and the days become progressively longer, there has been an influx of pedestrians and cyclists on the streets, making my once quiet ride to the city a rather busy one. For the most part this is ok, except for the occasional braindead pedestrian that freaks out when they hear my bell or the occasional ‘competitive cyclist’ trying to make me feel insecure, it’s mainly good.
But if it’s one thing I cannot stand, it’s the cyclists who don’t know how to use the gears on their bike – and this mainly goes for the road cyclist types, and the occasional noob. In my mind, if you don’t use them, lose them. Go single speed, or whatever, then you have an excuse for lifting off the seat, tearing all your leg muscles and risking an accident.
The ironic part is that it doesn’t make you go faster – the optimum pedaling speed is around 90rpm1 – which is not possible to do at length going uphill in a high gear. Often I can just go straight past these people that don’t gear down without blinking
Today a stupid cyclist tried taking off in high-high and almost stacked it right in front of me as we were crossing a reasonable busy road. I told him to use his gears – he muttered something back at me when we next passed – probably that he didn’t need them. Eh, tell me that while you’re getting knee surgery after being hit by a car because your chain snapped at the next intersection…
September 24, 2008
Driver / Cyclist education
This is a comment I made against an ignorant journalist’s article regarding the conflict between drivers/cyclists on our roads.
I ride almost 20km to and from work every day (meadowbank-sydney). I see a lot. I have almost been run over on two occasions in the last two weeks – both in the same area, near birkenhead point. A lot of “rat runners” drive through here to avoid the congestion on Victoria road. I always used the alotted cycleway to the left of the road.
On both occasions, drivers have unpredictably driven into the cycleway (where I ride) to avoid speed bumps. The first time I had to slam on the brakes so hard that the rear wheel lifted (and I was going uphill at that). The second time I was going downhill and saw it coming so avoided it by slowing down so I was behind the car when they did so.
Even so, motorists should be aware that it is *by law* that they should never use emergency lanes, cycle lanes, bus lanes, footpaths etc to avoid speedbumps. They should also be aware that *by law* they need to give way to other vehicles on the road (including cyclists).
On the same note, cyclists should be aware that they need to give way to motor vehicles as if they were driving a motor vehicle. Cyclists should also be aware that they need to give way to pedestrians.
In my mind, there should also be permanent cycleways on main roads – I am talking about Victoria Road in particular. I often use the footpath when following this road as I have had too many close calls from ignorant drivers who speed past. In my mind there should be bus lanes following the entire stretch of this road from Parramatta to the city as it would make the ride for cyclists all the more safer.
In reply to some of the comments made by others, cyclists are regarded as road-worthy vehicles by the RTA. They are only regarded as pedestrians when they dismount the bike. Team cyclists are annoying, agreed, but just be patient. Any abuse or misconduct towards them would effectively be breaking the law so get used to it.
September 5, 2008
Magpie evasion strategy part 1: The cable tie helmet
Well it’s not 100% obvious to me why magpies freak me out so much. After all, the worst the could to is make a nasty cut – it’s not like they could kill me – cars, gravity, and cancer can all do that easily – but for some reason I don’t find any of those as scary as the magpie.
Anyway, to avert the possibility of me not being able to ride for the next 6-8 weeks, I did some research and found some useful tips:
1. Avoid the area of known agressive individuals (that one was obvious)
2. Put a flag on the back of your bike (sounds good in theory but it’s hard to find a flag and somewhat impractical to ride with)
3. Put cable ties on your helmet
When I saw option 3 I thought it was a little stupid, but after reading more about it, it actually made sense. For example, if you look around in public areas, you will most likely find spikes on top of lights, signs, and other objects which birds are likely to sit and crap on. And these spikes stop the birds! Alright!
Anyway, I went to jaycar and found a pack of 15 60cm cable ties for $5. Awesome. I fitted two at the to in a V pattern, two going out laterally from the side and one straight out the back for good measure. One problem though, they were far too long, stupid looking, and impratical to get through doorways, tunnels, trees, etc. So I shortened them:
At the top: 30cm
On the sides: 22cm (to match the width of the handlebars)
At the back: 30cm
So, while I did get some stupid looks on my first trip, I didn’t get hit by any maggies. Let’s see how it goes in the future…
September 1, 2008
Gah! Magpie Season!
Ok, the first time I get to ride in almost 2 weeks and I get swooped. There is just one corner in my trip where it happened but it was enough to freak me out and make me wonder why the hell I ride to work anyway.
I knew what was going to happen as soon as I turned into that corner – there were a bunch of birds gathered on the ground underneath a tree. The minors start their usual squawks – yeah whatever, they never hurt – and then I hear it, the war-cry of the magpie, “ka-kaaaark, ka-kaaaark!”… oh shit.
This black and white apparition of satan himself followed me for about half a kilometre, snapping his beak and squawking away. I wave my left arm over my head and it stops. “He’s gone”, I think to myself… and then, “KA-THUD”, the little bastard had gone for my helmet. I start pedaling faster, faster until I am out of gears. The bird leaves me alone and there I am sailing down the road at 55kmh (which is fast for my bike).
I have a bit of a browse around and see that bike flags are a good deterrent, and are recommended by councils throughout Australia. Although somewhat nerdy they sound like a great idea as they can either become a distraction or a hindrance to the magpie. Though I still have my doubts.
It seems that bike shops don’t sell them (ironically) though I have heard around the traps that you can get them at K-mart. I’d be interested to know if they work.