Cycling in Melbourne

I've been here for 5 weeks now, with a 20km daily cycle commute. Since
you're a captive audience (and I've only had 1 brief and unhappy
motorcycle ride in that time), I thought I'd bore you with some
observations on cycling in Melbourne.

- Hand signals are a quaint affectation of a bygone era. If you *must*
make them, try to be subtle. Pointing briefly at your own pedal is
usually considered sufficient;

- Men in tradie utes/vans are, without exception, pointlessly
agressive. Whether it's because they dislike being overtaken by the
same cyclist 4 times in a 3km stretch of road, or possibly because
they're annoyed at spending 45% of their income on petrol while you
obviously are not;

- Don't oil your chain. Squeaky is the new black;

- Leave your 21-speed bicycle in high range, 4th gear at all times.
This ensures that you will wobble fashionably into the path of oncoming
traffic while attempting a "fast takeoff";

- Wear cleated cycling shoes, or use toe clips. This will encourage
you to try to never come to a full stop, and wobble fashionable into
the path of oncoming traffic while trying to stay upright (see above);

- Ride 2 abreast on the footpath;

- Wear a walkman;

- If you're dressed in full Tour-de-France kit and riding a $4000+
racing bicycle to commute to work, get all shirty when some bloke on a
cheaparsed mountain bike wearing a NON COLOUR-COORDINATED HELMET!
repeatedly overtakes you at traffic lights;
....

As usual, 500km worth of cycling has left my calf muscles looking much
the same and made my thighs go all lumpy. Oh well, such is life.


BTH

 

20K? is it that far?
(checks maps)

Oh... yeah. I've just started using a bicycle to get to work (fine
weather only). I had no idea it was that far, but I guess it looks like
about 9 k each way from Brunswick to Footisgrey.

I've found a route that only involves about 800m on the roadway, and
most of that is in a bicycle lane.

So are you one of the Upfield bikeway riders or one of the maniacs that
cycle down Sydney Road?

Moike

 

I don't know what you mean, but on the way in my route is basically:

Moreland Rd - Merri Creek - East St - Rupert/White/Rae St - Capital
City Trail - Canning St - Barkley St - Grattan St - Cardigan St -
A'Beckett St (work is on the corner of A'Beckett & Elizabeth St)

On the way home I go along Rathdowne St instead of Canning, it seems to
be slightly more downhill in a Northerly direction (although that might
just be my imagination).

It takes about 30 minutes, door-to-door.


BTH

 

If you head the other way, cross sydney Rd, there's a bikepath that runs
alongside the railway line. It takes you to Royal Parade[1] where you
have an on-road bike path to the top of Elizabeth Street. I think it
continues all the way to Victoria, but doesn't show up on the map
http://tinyurl.com/7b6uf

This map is a bit better, but doesn't cover so much.
http://tinyurl.com/9t36m

I take the upfield bikeway to Park Street, then off through Royal par,
past the zoo to Flemington Bridge, up the road a few hundred meters,
then follow a bike path along an old stockroute through a new housing
estate, then along the Maribyrnong river to the back of work. Worst
part is the hill in Royal Park, and the hill from the river up to the Uni.


Moike

[1] I haven't looked at it, but I'm pretty sure that if you stay on the
bike path past Park Street, around the back of the tennis courts, you
can take a path to the left that runs under Royal Parade and gets you
onto the correct side of the road without messing about at the lights.

 

On 25/11/05 9:13 AM, in reference to
, going by the name of

I'm sure there is a cream you can apply...

Hammo

 

Pffft! You wuss BT. http://www.wildworks.co.nz/csr/crossing_ext.php

 

Slowly... but surely... all aus.motos will become aus.bicycles ;-)

 

You've got to start somewhere, Electrocycle Boy!


BTH
(He's tougher 'n me, anyway)

 

Oddly, you are the second person I have heard of who is crazy enough to
do that. The other one had water (and possibly food) drops carried out
in advance by a friendly 4WDer.

I met him at a campfire after a 12 Hr (Noon-midnight) rogaining event.
Someone was skiteing that they had driven the Canning. He pulled a
laptop out of his backpack and showed us the powerpoint slideshow of his
journey down the Canning by bicycle. Must have been 10 years ago.

Just for the record, he said the scariest and most dangerous thing was
meeting 4WDs coming the other way at the top of sand dunes. They were
invariably sharing the same path, and the shock of suddenly seeing a
bicycle tended to slow their reactions somewhat.

He had some great pictures.

Moike

 

Moike wrote:

Oh, sorry, just realised. That's not you, is it!

Moike

 

Aw hell no! If I ever do the Canning, it will be on two wheels
alright, but not a bicycle.

 

Nah, it wasn't Moike. He's just some fat prick with a BMW.

-----sharks

 

Work smarter mate, not harder (besides my motor is broken ATM so it's
all me power for now)

Reckon he's a fair bit fitter than me too (not that that's hard)

 

Oi!!!, when was I ever a prick to you?!!!!!!!

Moike

 

Sharks is just spreading disinformation and I haven't read this thread.

Hammo

 

Don't make us send the goons around, Hammo.

(They're scared of the bouncing Tigger)

PS: I think you should rename the cat MRAA.

-----sharks

 

I reckon if they make a 2 seater... and give us the rear seat then they
can peddle us around Tim


G-S

 

pfffttttttttt!

 

faster than you realise, actually...

Nev..
'03 Malvern Star

 

~
[Stands and salutes the flag while Tim sings the anthem]