Fog, sun, punctures and wheelsuckers. . .

I have ridden two days in a row since returning to the Easter break. Yesterday’s ride started in a light fog, which soon lifted to a glorious Melbourne morning about 20c with no wind. Traffic was light and I didn’t see many bikes on the path until I hit the city. (Click here to see the route I ride to work).  The ride home was even quieter, hardly any bikes and very few joggers. All of the training I did eating Easter eggs paid off, because I felt pretty good for most of the way and finished the ride in 1hr 7min. Click here for the ride from work.

 This morning I started off the ride with a puncture, a bit of glass in the rear wheel was the culprit. I was only 100m from the car so I walked back and replaced the tube. (I have been carrying at least two tubes ever since I got 3 separate punctures on a 10 km ride!!). The first 10 kms were uneventful, my odometer decided to take a break 1.5 km in the ride so I couldn’t tell how fast I was going, so I sat on what I felt was a comfortable pace until I picked up a wheel-sucker!  I have no problem with someone drafting behind me (let’s face it, I can block a lot of wind!) but on narrow winding bike paths it can be dangerous, I was comfortable travelling at my speed and he/she made no effort to go around but stuck on my wheel for a good 8 km until they dropped off somewhere before the Chandler Hwy.  

At what point does ‘following behind’ become ‘drafting’? What is the drafting etiquette in such  situations, should have the drafter taken turns at the front with the leader? Should the drafter ask for permission before attempting said drafting manoeuvre? Should the drafter having drafted, acknowledge the leader with a nod, wink, wave, or simple “thanks”? should the leader attempt to blow them away on the next hill Lance Armstrong style (not an option in my case!)  perhaps I should suggest we get a tandem bike next time!!

To ring or not to ring?

I am a bell ringer. . . when riding my commuter bike on the “shared” bike path,  I’ll give one short, sharp “ding” of my bell as I approach from behind a pedestrian or really slow cyclist, just to let them know I’m there and about to pass. This has invoked many an interesting reaction from my fellow shared path users. The majority of joggers have their earphones in and music blaring so don’t notice me until I have already passed them. Then there is the seasoned bike path walking veteran that will give an acknowledging wave or the occasional “thank you” as I pass by. They are in contrast to the shared path novices that jump about a metre to the left gasp and stare disbelievingly as if they had never seen a cyclist before. Occasionally I get the romantic couple holding hands, who on upon hearing my courtesy ‘ding’ instinctively go in opposite directions at the same time (hmmm, might be saying something about the relationship!). The scarier ones are the dog walkers with those extra long leads, when the dog goes left and the owner goes right and I left with the decision to, hit the brakes, jump the lead or spend the next hour getting a Chihuahua out of my spokes. But today I had my first abusive response! Middle aged, sweatpant wearing, power walking “lady”, who upon hearing my approaching “ding” turned round and let loose a barrage of colourful language that would make a sailor blush! As I passed her and one of the many signs on the path saying “Cyclists please warn when approaching”, I cheerfully wished her a pleasant day and went on my merry bell ringing way!





Invisible Bike Shorts

If you are riding the Koonung  bike trail towards the city in the morning be on the watch for the middle age guy in the thread-bare lycra bike shorts,  I have heard of serious cyclists tying to keep the weight down to increase speed but wearing shorts that look like they were made out of fly-screen is taking things a little too far!  Lacking the necessary explosive speed to overtake him  but wanting to maintain a pace to get me to work on time I thought I was destined to have to follow behind this hairy butt crack  for the entire trip when he turned off the trail.  . . I need to develop some speed ASAP!

Riding to work

Well this week I managed my first of what will be many rides to work as I ‘train’ for the 250 ATB and I must say I was pretty happy with myself! The weather was fantastic, mid 20C’s with no wind. The morning was a bit of a struggle in with a chilli 10C. (I’m not looking forward to doing this in the winter!) Having recently moved house I now live about 45Kms from my work in Melbourne’s CBD. Since I live on the rural fringe outside the burbs there was no way I was going to ride all the way to the city, so I loaded the bike on to the car and drove about 15kms to a spot near a bike trail in Donvale and set off for the 30km trek to the office. Thankfully its downhill most of the way on a picturesque trail that eventually follows alongside the Yarra River. Getting to work was the easy part, the ride home at the end of the day was simple a long slog, my legs felt as heavy as concrete but with the consistency of jelly. I found myself glancing over my shoulder half expecting to see someone hanging on to the back of the bike slowing me down. I cursed at the hills and began to rethink the whole 250km ride, then I reached my car. After I cooled down and finished yet another water bottle, I regained enough strength to reflect back on the 60km that I had ridden that day and that’s when I thought to myself, I can do this!