Comments on: What You Missed This Morning – North Road Ride

By: Gramps

Gramps — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 09:01:16 +0000

See this is exactly my point… I’m not an example. I’m just another person on the road. If I go through a red light, that’s me… just like if a car speeds, that doesn’t tarnish every car driver. So yeah, I roll ‘em at walking pace occasionally, but I don’t do NRR, I single file if a car wants to pass me in the hills, I don’t push up the front of queued traffic and I rarely if ever cop complaints from cars (normally about 10:1 thankyou waves as against aggro looks). People who want to race should go racing.

By: jay pee

jay pee — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 05:37:43 +0000

checkout http://www.skcc.com.au/index.php?id=270 for local training rides
thats the St Kilda Club Cycling site

By: jay pee

jay pee — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 05:35:27 +0000

as long as you look like one!

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 05:29:23 +0000

Can anyone just ‘turn up’ to a bunch ride like the NNR? Just arrived in Melb and my bikes get here tomorrow, so pretty keen to meet a few like minded peeps. However I’m no ‘Pro’ :)

By: cyclingtips

cyclingtips — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 06:03:02 +0000

Thanks for your comment FST. Definitely some valid points in there.

However, before you call me a hypocrite I suggest you read my posts in their entirety and understand what I’ve written.

Thanks and ride safe this weekend.

::WW

By: FST

FST — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 03:51:40 +0000

You need to turn these rides into training rides from the usual mentality of “i think im Lance Armstrong for a day” and maybe more people might take you seriously. Honestly…you want a work out, two abreast, ride through some turns at 50-60kmh and you’ll feel better for it. No need for a sprint at the end, leave it for Glenvale or Sandown….In one post you want respect, in another you show the worst (selfish) skills in a ride…and im sure you cut out the real worst of it all….bit of a hypocrite Wade!

By: Twoeee

Twoeee — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 10:02:07 +0000

That’s cause you were at McCafe

By: Paul

Paul — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 07:27:54 +0000

Hey Gramps, its easy! Don’t go though red lights!!! Be a good example!

By: anonymous

anonymous — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 07:24:51 +0000

that would be gold

By: Brenton

Brenton — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 06:31:25 +0000

Awesome video – even got to see myself a few times (in the yellow Tinkoff gear-having a go at the sprint lol!)

As a regular NRR rider, I think it has the potential to look worse than it is. One of the things I find very encouraging is the constant communication in the group. I know when I can go fast or when I need to display caution as everyone abides by the terms, “Rider”, “Car Back”, “Car Up” etc. Obviously a video (with a soundtrack) doesn’t portray that aspect, however the reality is you are concentrating on those messages and abiding by them.

IMO the group has gotten far better at abiding by lights in the last year as well. There was some bad patches (particularly one time when there was a crash in the THIRD lane of the Nepean highway at an intersection), however overall “Rolling” is only used when it is clear. Pedestrian lights etc are called WELL in advance as “Lights Up” / “Stopping” and the group works well to slow down and stop.

As for the sprint, I admit I have a go at sprinting almost every NRR. It is practice, against a group of skilled riders in an environment where risks are mitigated as much as possible (ie, if the lights ahead are red, you back off, same with staying clear of slower cyclists). I’ve never had an issue in a sprint and I have confidence in those around me at those speeds.

Anyway, fantastic helmet cam! Brings a great element to the ride. I would finally add that cycling and the NRR in particular, is one of the few pursuits where you can give your cardio a huge workout WHILST ALSO utilising your fine motor skills. I’m also a rally driver, and find this a massive benefit to concentrate on being wheel-to-wheel whilst also using every bit of muscle power I have! :)

By: Gramps

Gramps — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 03:09:43 +0000

Also, f this, abuse me, but I run red lights all the time (at walking pace after looking both ways… like every pedestrian in the known universe). It’s illegal and if I get caught, there ya go, I’ll pay my fine. But not every cyclist agrees on it. 99% of the rest of the bunch can look down on me, but I’m not the one that might cause an injury or death. That bunch… riding that sloppy is really dangerous and could get someone badly hurt (how many ambulances on hell ride and nrr in the past three years?). I don’t want a part in that. And if you are a competent, sensible bike racer/rider, but you’re caught up in something on those rides, well you were just in the wrong place at the wrong time, right? Yeah, exactly, those rides are the wrong place to be if you want to stay safe. Something needs to change for those rides to become safe again. I don’t know what.

By: Gramps

Gramps — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 03:00:43 +0000

The guy in the b+w Capo kit around 1:35 who sneaks up the inside of, I think, Chris, is beyond idiotic and exactly why I don’t do that ride anymore. And for what? To get the wheel in front? It’s not a race you freaking weekend warrior clown muppet fruit loops. Ahem. In conclusion: why can’t people ride in an orderly and sensible fashion?