Treadly and Me

Pitfalls, the avoiding thereof (1)

Cyclists slow down to avoid crater-sized ‘hole’…and swerve into the canal. [twitterer]

Pitfalls, the avoiding thereof (2)

Tips and advice on buying used bikes—Peugeot=no go.

Vulnerable

According to the World Health Organization:

The first global assessment of road safety finds that almost half of the estimated 1.27 million people who die in road traffic crashes every year are pedestrians, motorcyclists and cyclists. While progress has been made towards protecting people in cars, the needs of these vulnerable groups of road users are not being met.

There’s an impressive big report to explain it all: Global status report on road safety

Incentives?

Dave Hill has tried cyclng in London and finds lacking the incentives to cycle:

Even my instructor, undoubtedly a prudent and peaceable road-user, said that at times you have to “be a warrior” out there. I can’t see that changing much, even if, as some in the cycling community say, motorists in London are becoming more mindful of cyclists’ needs. Most of us, I think, don’t want travelling round our city to involve the risks and adrenalin of battle.

Keep your chin up

Too fatigued to hold up his head, Paul Danhaus’s support crew did an extreme bike modification on the Race Across America—never seen an on-bike chin-rest before! [twitterer]

Semaine Fédérale en Australie

Semaine Fédérale is coming to Australia in January. And where else would you choose to ride in January but Bright?

“Well I can’t do it when I’m dead, can I?”

Good attitude: 85yo eyes off Australian cycling record.

Gotta love folding bikes

• From “No go” to “Well, OK then”.

• Popular Mechanics has just reviewed three folders. [twitter]

Bare head = sackable offence

Royal Mail fires helmetless posties:

A Royal Mail decision to sack three postmen in a week for not wearing helmets has been condemned as ‘draconian’.

He’ll be riding alone now

Having vetoed his state’s safe passing bill, methinks Texas Governor Rick Perry might have trouble finding people willing to go riding with him.

Barking about parking

Parking: How to get your own way [twitterer]

Compare and contrast: Cycle parking ‘needs more funds’

MTB looks like fun

I’m keen to do some MTB, but not until I get a helmet cam—wouldn’t want to miss the highlights.

DIY

• Re-cover an old bike seat

• VeloAce: turn your Palm into a bike computer

Bike lanes

• New Oxford cycle lane really does give you the hump! What were they thinking? [twitterer]

• These might make drivers take bike lanes seriously—and they might also cause some serious bike crashes. [twitterer]

Design

The Kenzo is a belt-drive concept bike that will keep your dacks clean.

Pumgo is “the world’s first pedal-powered scooter”:

After sitting all day in the office or at school, step out on the Pumgo Scooter to stretch and strengthen back and core muscles. Instead of leaning forward as on a bicycle, stand up straight and relieve the pressure on your back while achieving an efficient workout. Relive your youth and have fun outdoors. A cool gadget for the whole family!

Not really my cup o’ thingy but the Pumgo Skateboard—whoa! That’s just bonkers!

TopUp Head Protection “for cyclists and walkers is an exploration of the honeycomb pattern and device a protective gear for the head”. Ah, yeah. That’s a folding bike helmet to you and me. [Sydney Bodyart Ride]

A bit dense

Is bicycling bad for your bones? In a word: no.

most recreational cyclists probably don’t need to worry too much about their bones. “The studies to date have looked primarily at racers,” Smathers says. “That’s a very specialized demographic. These guys train for hours at a very high intensity. They sweat a lot. They never go for runs. They don’t usually do much weight-lifting,” to avoid adding bulk. “They’re strange.”

Who hasn’t done this?

Yehuda Moon amused at his own thoughts.

Cycling is the new gardening

Why gardening is more dangerous than cycling.
(Such a good title for an article—I wish I’d thought of it!)

No cars in Sydney CBD?

Clover Moore moves to ban cars from heart of Sydney CBD.

[Photo: Bike in the barn by chad davis on Flickr]

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Cycling and the job search

Jeff’s Ten Reasons to Start Biking While Looking for Job

Cycling and the retired footballer

Ex-Wallaby, the gorgeous George Gregan has taken up mountain biking

Bike parking at work?

Commuters and would-be commuters, have a bash at Bicycle Victoria’s bike parking workplace audit 2009.

Two-wheeled paramedics

Paramedics cycle to emergency patients:

A spokesman for the London Ambulance Service said: “We have increased our use of fast response cars, motorcycles and bicycles to navigate London’s busy roads.”

[twitterer]

Cool and rugged

Can a folder bike be “cool?” Yeah, I think the Dahon Mμ UNO probably counts as cool.

On the other hand, the Montague Paratrooper is “the tactical mountain bike that folds.” Whoa! (There’s also a civilian version.)

Go and ride

Among the rides mentioned by YarraBUG radio, the Mums & Dads on Bikes Rides caught my eye:

Kids in bike seats welcome! Kids in trailers welcome! Kids on training wheels welcome! Kids on tag-a-longs welcome! Kids on own bikes welcome! Want to ride with your rides for fun, exercise and socialising? Join us on one of our easy rides to one of Melbourne’s many child-friendly destinations. Rides take place the first Sunday of every month. Rides leave from Jika Jika Community Centre, Plant Street, Northcote, Contact Kathy kbrunning@bigpond.com.

How cool is that?

It’s a fair cop

The Londoner’s stolen bike double-take

“Mr Fletcher? This is Fulham police station. We think we may have recovered your stolen bicycle.”

Braving a budget bike

Helen Pidd is trialling “Britain’s cheapest new bike”. It will be interesting to see how that goes.

That reminds me of Steve’s Bike of Doom and BT Humble’s Budget Bike.

Gadgets

• B.iCycle: iPhone as cyclometer
• Building a strong flexible bicycle trailer coupler
• I first mentioned the Gyrobike a few years ago and I’m pleased to see that it’s soon to be released for general purchase. This is a good thing.

Get off the grass

What’s stopping the bamboo bike from shooting into the mainstream?

I hypothesise that it’s a lack of a high-profile race winner on such a machine. But if ever there’s a bamboo bike Tour de France winner, it will become the bike material du jour for the ‘new golf’ set.

“Angular, dude”

The Bau Bike provokes some hilarious comments at MetaFilter

Doyle’s dream down the drain

The Lord Mayor of Melbourne had a dream of returning cars to Swanston St. A recent survey of options rejected that idea whole-heartedly, with most respondents preferring Option 6 “Decreased motor vehicle access”.

I’d caution excitable cyclists that this wouldn’t necessarily make Swantson St a pedaller’s paradise—avoiding tangling with pedestrians could become even more a factor than it is now.

World’s biggest, deepest velodrome

Hydroelectric power station Avce - Fixed gear heaven [via A Woman and a Fixed Wheel and Bottles and Chains]

Attitudes?

• Questioning attitudes towards cyclists
• I think this guys is confusing “civil disobedience” with “complete dipshittery” [twitterer]
• How Do You Respond to Bicycle Haters? [twitterer]
• Bike safety public service announcements “Are ads like this counterproductive to cycling advocacy?”

Biggest winners?

Government subsidies for people to lose weight and get fit [twitterer]

Biggest losers?

Connex and Yarra Trams dumped in favour of MTR and Keolis

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As I jumped into the lift at the salt-mine one morning this week someone said, “How was the ride today?”

With a huge grin and in all honesty I was able to reply, “Bloody marvellous.” [If someone asks, I’m more than happy to share the bike love.]

With a dubious look my non-cycling questioner observed, “A bit cold though.”

Eh? Confused, I mumbled something like , “Yeah, I suppose it was.”

It only occurred to me later that folks who don’t ride, just don’t get it. They step out of an overheated car or train or tram and get a blast of cold air. Naturally, they think the cyclist is going to be even more chilly.

But my heating comes from inside—and at the end of my commute I’m nice and toasty. Chilly conditions were the last thing on my mind when I was asked about my ride!

And here’s the rub: no-one believes you when you tell them that winter cycling is a joy. But let’s face it, winters in Melbourne are really pretty mild. It’s unusual for overnight low temperatures to get below 4°C, snow never falls in the city, and it hardly ever rains these days (seriously, it never rains). Of course, I reckon autumn is the best time for cycling in Melbourne, but winter has it’s charms too.

Sure there are foggy mornings, but fog just acts like a big blanket—it stops things getting too chilly and (best of all) wind and fog rarely occur together. Visibility issues aside, I like foggy mornings.

As for those gorgeous winter mornings with no wind, blue sky and a gentle sun—sublime! Of course they don’t happen every day but they happen often enough to be rewarding. These are the days on which I seek out sunny patches and bask when stopped at traffic lights.

But enough of all this. What advice have I on commuting by bike in winter? Here are three pearls:

• rug-up,
• light-up, and
• drink-up

1. Rug-up

Of course, you need to dress for the conditions. This means:

• keeping the body’s core warm (ultimately, that’s for survival)
• keeping the extremities warm: toes, fingers, ears and nose—if these are cold, you won’t be comfortable
• layer dressing: allows you to easily adjust your coverage to suit the conditions

Dressing for the conditions needn’t be difficult or expensive. For a climate like Melbourne’s there’s little need to buy fancy specialist gear—some of my best cold-weather kit came from places like Best and Less and Aldi. And what does my kit include? Well, I wear cycling clothes for my commute, so my base layer is just my usual warm weather gear (jersey, knicks, bandana). From there I simply pile-on extra stuff to suit conditions.

Long-sleeve T-shirt or rain jacket
I know the experts say not to wear cotton in cold and wet conditions because it becomes hopelessly clingy and cold when it’s wet. But it has the advantage of being cheap and available everywhere, and for a short run to/from work it makes a perfectly acceptable second layer. If it looks like rain, I’ll pull on the rain jacket instead.

Arm-warmers and headband
The arm-warmers and headband are great for fine-tuning the comfort level. Both are home-made (thanks SuperGran). I rarely wear a headband these days, as I find that pulling my bandana over my ears keeps things warm enough.

Gloves
My thermal gloves are some nice Thinsulate ones that I picked up at Aldi a year or two ago. (And I picked up an extra pair when they went on sale again recently.) Soft and comfortable yet strong, they’re a bit bulky but don’t interfere with handlebar grip or operating brake and gear levers. Oh yeah, and they retain warmth when wet. All for about $10 per pair.

Tights
For the legs, some of those stretchy tights of the type worn by lithe gym-goers—fortunately they do come in generous sizes, for those of us who aren’t particularly lithe. Mine are nothing special, straight from some department store or other. My favourite pair are long enough that I can pull them down below my heels and tuck them into my shoes, which covers the ankles nicely.

Socks
Chilly feet are the worst, I reckon, so socks are important. I’ll admit to lashing out for a few pairs of thermal polypropylene socks, over which I pull an ordinary pair of thin cycling socks. But I have been known to put a freezer bag over each foot, which does the trick for my commute but I wouldn’t pull that trick on a longer ride.

Other stuff
I always wear eye protection when riding, but in winter it’s not so much about keeping critters out and more to stop cold air blasting straight onto my corneas.

I also try to have an extra layer to put on in case I have to make an unexpected stop (e.g. to fix a flat tyre). That’s usually my rain jacket, so it hardly counts as a extra layer if I’m already wearing it…

If you dress to the conditions, winter riding is just as comfortable as any other time of year. In fact, it’s far easier than riding in the height of summer. And if you live close enough to your workplace, it’s perfect for riding to work in your office attire—you certainly won’t get all sweaty.

2. Light-up

Another important consideration in winter is lighting. Of course, it gets dark earlier at this time of year but lights aren’t only for use at night. Gloomy overcast days and fog reduce visibility on the road, so switch on the flashers well before it gets completely dark.

Also consider the drivers’ conditions—frosty mornings may often be bright and clear but car windows will always be icy and steamed. If your lights are on, you are far more likely to be seen through a streaky windscreen.

3. Drink-up

In cooler conditions it’s easy to forget that you’re exercising and you need to keep drinking. A few years ago, Doc Homebrew found that he was getting leg cramps on rides home in mid-winter, an odd time of year for such a problem to crop-up. It turned out to be a hydration issue and he solved it by making sure he drank more on those rides.

So there you have it—my thoughts on bike commuting in mid-winter. But don’t take my word for it: rug-up, light-up, drink-up and discover for yourself that bike fun doesn’t stop when the warm weather does.

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I noticed recently that wurple has discovered folding bike love:

All I can say… what a fun bike to ride and it’s soooo comfortable. That’s not just due to the Thudbuster. The natural flex of the frame inherent in a folding bike also provides some form of suspension. Sure it’s not as fast and efficient as my road bike, but I think I could ride this bike all day.

Oh yeah, fun is what these contraptions are all about, I reckon. (And everyone seems to be getting into the act and even calling them cool!)

Anyway HYG’s observation reminded me that I have a development to report on an earlier post about buying a folding bike from a supermarket, in which I said:

Of course, critics may claim that cut-price supermarket bikes take business away from small local bike shops. Maybe. But someone who is going to fork out $199 for a supermarket bike probably isn’t ready for what most bike shops have on offer anyway. And although they probably hate working on them, some of these supermarket bikes will end up in bike shops for repair—by which time the owner is a convert and the bike shop has a new sales prospect for accessories or parts or even a whole new bike.

Well I hate to say “I told you so”, but “I told you so”. A few weeks ago, I was riding along with the same commuting cyclist who’d bought the supermarket folding bike last year. And until she mentioned it, I didn’t notice that she was riding a brand new folding bike—which she’d bought from a real local bike shop. In fact, it was her second non-supermarket bike—having bought a hybrid but found that it didn’t suit her, she went right back to her hinged-bike ways.

And why not? Those things are just so much fun!

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On Monday I had a puncture on my way to work. It wasn’t so bad—I wasn’t required urgently at the salt mine and there was a convenient sunny patch on a nearby low wall where I could sit and do my repair. So I sat down and got on with it.

While I was sitting there, I was able to observe an interesting and sad phenomenon that I wouldn’t have noticed just riding by. At that time of the morning a constant stream of cars pulled-in to the kerb-side parking spots along the street. At first I didn’t pay it much attention. I just assumed that the clock had ticked-over the end of the clearway and the parking spots were naturally filling.

Then I noticed that people weren’t jumping out of their cars and leaving. They were sitting in their cars or just milling about near the ticket machine. Slowly it dawned on me that these people were getting in early: parking before the clearway time had ended so they would get a space for their car and then hanging around until parking time opened so they could buy a parking docket. And all of the parking spaces were full before the ticket machine opened.

For some reason I found it really rather sad that these folks were either making themselves late or arriving unreasonably early for whatever their business was, just so that they could have the privilege of parking their cars conveniently.

Oh well, each to their own. I didn’t let it spoil my day. I was enjoying the sun too much.

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What would you do?

Here’s an interesting scenario: you bash on the side of a van as it cuts you up in a roundabout. The van driver then pulls up and blocks the bike lane ahead of you, jumps out and extends his arm to get you to stop.

Do you:
(a) stop to exchange pleasantries,
(b) do whatever you safely can to avoid any further conflict, or
(c) get violently pushed to the ground by the driver

Coffee and bike

Coffee Bike=one cool coffee cart.

vidvidvid

• My goodness, CYCLEFILM makes some nice videos.
• “These fixie people need to take themselves less seriously” [twitterer]

Free bike

Bike giveaway at Inhabitat. Hmm, wouldn’t mind a Strida… [via cyclelicious]

The importance of signage

Designer Joseph Prichard is quoted at Fast Company:

“Unfortunately all too often the role of signage is overlooked during the design of new bicycle routes,” he writes in his introduction. Even better, he says, good-looking signs can work as an advocacy campaign for biking alternatives. “Effective widespread signage can be a powerful tool in convincing people to take up cycling as a mode of transportation.”

See the above link or Pritchard’s signage examples to see what he’s on about.

Basket hack

Two Go, a very fancy milk crate hack.

Girth growth

The Sydney Morning Herald reports that junk food and weight loss are two industries on a growth curve.

Nutritionist Jenny O’Dea’s comment sums it up nicely:

“If people really wanted to lose weight they should close their gob and go for a walk, which is free.”

[twitterer]

Tweet, tweet

• Tweet to log at I Did My Bestest: “Tweet your distance, time, and notes and we’ll chart your data, compare to other users, etc.” [twitterer]
• Not cycling, but I did enjoy these Artic Circle cartoons about Twitter. (And yes, Alex does tweet.)

So glad Dave’s back

I’ve said it before, but I’m happy to repeat that I’m so very glad the Dave Moulton has returned to blogging. Take for example this terrific observation on how old bike designs die hard. I don’t know about you, but I find that really interesting.

When he gave it away last year, Dave said that he’d “run out of things to write about, or rather worthwhile stuff that people want to read”. Clearly—thankfully—he was wrong!

Think and act BIG

The Theory of BIG or How to claim your space on the road:

A scratch on your shiny new years model Fraud Mundano GLTXi turbo is like turning up to a formal dinner in shorts and baggy-T. Unthinkable. It says ‘even though I have a great car I am a crap driver’. And cyclists do a lot of damage when you hit them. They have lots of sharp sticky out bits that can remove wing mirrors or scratch body work. Definitely to be avoided.

Hmm, turns out I’m BIG.

A fool and his bike…

… are soon parted. [twitterer]

The Surly and the Jerk

A nicely setup Surly LHT over at Cycle Jerk

Get your hand off it

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and Handlebar palsy are two rather nasty conditions that you can develop from leaning on your handlebars, particularly for long periods.

It helps if you set up your bike so as to avoid injury

Tenuous cycling connection

Flight of the Conchords ‘Mutha Uckers’—well, they’re riding bikes in the clip… [twitterer]

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I was the Good Samaritan yesterday. I made myself late (ahem, later) for work by stopping to help another cyclist who had a flat tyre. She had no patch kit, no tyre levers, no spare tube, no pump, no clue how to fix the problem—a dirty big nail hanging out of her tyre.

The funny thing is that she told me that she’d had a few flats in the last few weeks and the she’d been “meaning to get one of those” (that is, a patch kit). She also had an odd theory that having had a few flats, that she’d had her turn and now she’d be in the clear for awhile.

Don’t get me wrong, I was more than happy to help but it reminded me that if there’s a repair that every cyclist should know how to do, it’s fixing a flat tyre. This means every cyclist should carry the following kit:

• tyre levers: you’ve got to be able to get the tyre off
• spare tube: if you’re in a hurry, it’s easier just to throw on a new tube and fix the hole later
• patch kit: umm, sometimes you run out of spare tubes. Yeah, it happens.
• pump: make it a good one—if it don’t work, you don’t get air back in your tyre
• tools: any tools required to get the wheel off and/or back on

And, of course, the cyclist needs to know how to use this stuff. I can help a bit on that point but really, there’s no substitute for having a bash at it.

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A few weeks ago I shared this thought on Twitter:

Why is it that I can go for weeks without any serious trouble on the road, then all on one afternoon every second driver tries to kill me?

And here are the collected thoughts of those who responded:

@mareenotmariemareenotmarie:

I get that too, except its often in the mornings. Yesterday I had two taxis consecutively cut in front and park in bike lane.

@tamyka:

Perhaps it is to make you appreciate all of those weeks, and warn you to not get too comfortable?

Ah, a paranoid conspiracy theory. I like it! :-)

@Wuss912:

check your back someone might have put a hit me sign on it

Not necessary-that’s already implied when you’re a cyclist :-(

@woowoowoo:

full moon ;-)

@clogwog52:

There must be a common moment when all car drivers have a brain snap.

@AdrianMcK:

Everything comes in cycles :)

@John_the_Monkey:

Not sure - happens here too. Do they have a chip in their heads that gets a secret signal, or something?

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If it’s one thing I really can’t stand it’s a smart arse

[twitterer]

City cycling

How to bicycle safely in the city [twitterer]

Hauling cargo

There are utility cargo bikes, like the Madsen or the Mundo, and then there are utility cargo bikes!

Designs

• The “Pilen concept is a race bike inspired by early Le Mans style, the concept is supposed to create a sentimental bond with the user and also give them the same feeling as if they were driving a sports car.”

• The Prelude incorporates visibility lighting into the bike’s frame. [twitterer]

• Transformer Bike: is it an upright or is it a ‘bent? [thanks tom]

• 20 of the Freakiest Custom Bikes on the Road. [Thanks tom]

Gadgets

• VeloComputer uses a mobile phone as a cycling computer.

• Nice flaps: Honjo-Koken mudguards.

• Is this PVC and Milk Basket Bike Basket taking the milk crate thing just a bit too seriously?

• QWERTY handlebar grip. I wonder if you can get it the Dvorak layout for the geeks? [thanks flipsockgrrl]

Yehuda awakes

"’Yeduha Moon and the Kickstand Cyclery’ returns June 17". Woohoo!

Breakaway sprints not allowed

According to Telegraph.co.uk

Close to 200 prisoners will take to the open roads as they cycle around France [this] month in the first penal version of the Tour de France, though they will be accompanied by scores of guards on bicycles…

“It’s a kind of escape for us, a chance to break away from the daily reality of prison,” said Daniel, a 48-year-old prisoner in the western city of Nantes, at the official launch of the event…

“This project aims to help these men re-integrate into society by fostering values like effort, teamwork and self-esteem,” said Sylvie Marion of the prison authority.

Avoiding trouble

Check the sixth, seventh and eighth photos in this photo set from the 2009 Clarendon Cup—how does rider no. 163 stay out of trouble?

Oh yeah, and there are some really exciting shots there.

Inviting trouble

There goes this nutter with his jet-powered bike again…

Another beauty contest I didn’t win

Top 50 cycling blogs. Dang, I must’ve come in at number 51…or not.

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I wouldn’t want you to think that Melbourne cyclists lack class when it comes to bicycle baskets. My previous bunch of photos on the subject could lead you to think that it’s all about nicking plastic crates. But that’s to neglect the prevalence of the stylish and classic wicker basket:

But even the wicker basket has come to take on a streamlined, modern look:

And there’s always room for innovation, take the wicker fishing basket adaptation:

When it comes to aesthetics, I think that wicker has it over other baskets. But let’s not forget the ruggedness and pure utility of plastic. In this case, a cheap utility box makes a great addition to a pub bike and also provides a higher than usual light mounting point:

And plastic boxes come in all shapes and sizes, so with careful selection you can find one of suitable dimensions for frequently carried cargo:

Just right for a trip to the market.

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And you thought fixie tricks were something new… [via MetaFilter]

Sad stories of bike theft

Someone stole my bike!

Loonies on the loose

According to thewest.com.au

Vigilantes are stringing wire between trees and hiding spiked planks on a Mundaring bush trail in a dangerous bid to ambush illegal dirt-bike riders.

Rangers claim the traps are also threatening walkers, cyclists, horseriders and others who are allowed to use Railway Reserve Heritage Trail between Glen Forrest and Chidlow.

[twitterer]

Can anyone explain to me the rationale for attempting to indescriminately and randomly maim and kill people?

<cough><cough>Matthew Parris<cough><cough>

Drive less, save more

Check out these videos for Drive Less Save More, a campaign in Portland (USA) to promote alternatives to car trips. All made as entries in a competition, the winners are going to air as TV ads. [via Bike Portland]

And speaking of videos, this is a good ‘un: Gas pumps are so last century [twitterer]

All-in-one

Bike Handlebars With Built-In Basket [Thanks tom]

Maxims and truisms

Cycling Proverbs:

Junk food that you “earned” by riding all week tastes far better than junk food normally does. (Also applicable to beer, chocolates, takeaway curry, chinese food &c).

A bit more than a pannier

Bee3 POD:

POD is a innovative multipurpose carrier. It will carry an inner bag (for shopping), a laptop bag and even a suit carrier.

A bit more than a trailer

Midget Campertrailers are pop-up campervans for towing behind bikes.

Blank screen moments

Bicycle Wallpaper. Rather good, I think.

DIY

• Contactless dynamo powering bike safety lights (Can you say Reelights?)
• From a decrepit old 70’s Raleigh Twenty Granny shopping bike “something a bit different”.

Study Tour

Bike and Trains Study Tour, Netherlands:

The bike is the grease that keeps the traffic system, and with that the economic system, flowing.

A promising sign?

Twice as many children cycling to school in UK:

Nearly twice as many children are now cycling to school in the UK compared with five years ago, according to sustainable transport charity Sustrans.

And in related news:

Eight-year-old Nigel Williams from Maidenhead will tomorrow step into his family’s history books when for the first time he will attempt to walk alone along the three hundred-metre route from his home to school.

[via CAN]

Mythbusters

Let’s Bust The Bike-Commuting Myths

What we’d like you to know

The Drive Safe, Cycle Safe page on the UK’s Department of Transport web site offers tips on “What cyclists would like motorists to know” and “What motorists would like cyclists to know”. [via Chris Gerhard’s Weblog]

Hire helmets also?

No explanation on how Victoria’s compulsory helmet laws will be satisfied by the operators of Melbourne forthcoming bike hire scheme. I’m not sure I’d be all that keen to stick my head into a hired helmet…

But why?

Aurumania offers a nice gold bike with Swarovski adornments for a cool €80,000. I guess you’d want a good lock for that. [twitterer]

Self destruction

Bicyclism ponders what leads people on the path to Self Destruction and how a little cycling is an antidote:

I know the experience, the reality, of loosing weight. Two years ago, after 20 years of too little cycling, I weighted 104 kg (231 lbs)…I took to the bike like a dehydrated desert survivor to a water trough. One kg. Two kg. Five. Ten. 20. 30! Gone. I am alive again. Free. There was no diet. No regimen of pain. No militaristic martialing by personal trainers or gymn instructors. Just the pleasure of pedalling and pedalling again. Day in day out, every day. The more I rode the better it got and the better it got the more I wanted to ride. Life affirming, life confirming. The ecstasy of fitness. The ecstasy of reborn bodily flexibility and the capacity to participate in any physical adventure I choose.

Get organised

How to organise a full moon ride. [Thanks Bike Fun]

And if you find yourself organising a ride, lynnef’s Cue Sheet Recommendations are worth a read.

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Widespread sweeping measures have been taken in Mexico and other countries to halt the spread of the so-called Swine Flu. To date this virus has killed less than 50 people in the current outbreak.

On the other hand, the World Health Organization estimates that in 2004, 1.27 million people died from road traffic accidents. Just in my home state of Victoria, the number of road deaths this year at 113 puts the worldwide death rate from Swine Flu into the shade.

Where then is the near-panic response of governments and people to such a widespread yet easily preventable cause of death?

I’m prompted to put these thoughts down today, having been pointed to this press release from the Commission for Global Road Safety:

Lord Robertson of Port Ellen, Chairman of the Commission for Global Road Safety, said:

“Five million lives are at stake over the coming decade. We have the tools and the vaccines to save these lives. Now we need the international community to demonstrate the political will to succeed…We must respond to this preventable epidemic with urgency and determination.”

[via Bike For All, twitterer]

In response to the Swine Flu, US President Obama said:

“Because we have it within our power to limit the potential damage of this virus, we have a solemn and urgent responsibility to take the necessary steps. I would sooner take action now than hesitate and face graver consequences later.”

When the impact of road deaths is demonstrably far more widespread than that of the Swine Flu, there must also be a “solemn and urgent responsibility to take the necessary steps” to make roads safer. We have it within our power to limit the actual damage of road trauma. And the consequences of road trauma are already grave. Surely now is the time for action.

More information: Make Roads Safe.

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How would you like to come across this in your bike lane?

Now try it without any prior warning. And in the dark.

This is in Malvern Road, East Malvern, and that’s exactly the conditions under which I encountered this road hazard last night.
[By the way, I do mean that I came across this in the pitch dark. When I took these photos tonight, it was still twilight.]

Here’s another view, from the other side:

You can see that it’s a substantial ditch by how much of the concrete access pit that’s exposed. But in case you’re having trouble (and without wanting to labour the point) here’s a close-up:

What is wrong with this?

I can think of at least three things.

Firstly, a hole in the road surface like that should never be left unfilled. Even temporarily filled with packed gravel it would be considerably less dangerous.

Secondly, if this hole had been a metre further out into the road—over there where the cars drive—there is absolutely no way it would have been left unfilled. But clearly whoever put this hole here didn’t think that it was important enough to fill in properly, presumably because it’s just the bloody bike lane.

Thirdly—and most obviously—just one damn orange cone? What kind of traffic management is that? Again, if such a traffic hazard were located where the cars drive, you can bet your gonads that there would be more than just a single bloody witch’s hat marking the spot! At the very least there would be a couple of advance warning signs, and one or two of those tall portable bollards would probably be part of the setup too.

Why then is it adequate to mark a serious traffic hazard with one single cone—which could so easily be stolen by some prankster—simply because the hazard is in the bike lane?

Quite frankly, whoever put this hole in the road has completely failed in their duty of care.

If someone hasn’t already been hurt at this spot, it won’t be long before it happens.

I sincerely hope I’m not the only one who’s complained about this.

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