This extract from a UK blog is worth a read, along with the comments that came from it. The advice is worth taking note of here in Toowoomba where some of our drivers are not as 'country friendly' as many in the city would have us believe. In particular, note the advice to take the registration number and ring the police. Our Toowoomba police take road safety seriously, and they do take action against road users, and not just car drivers remember, who breach the law.
The full blog can be found here: http://www.trenholm.co.uk/?p=88
Never, ever get into a fight with a “bike-hater”.
This is the motorists who is angry with you, or who is angry with his spouse/boss/kids/world and you are the nearest target. The warning signs are erratic or aggressive driving, rude hand gestures, verbal abuse. This is the person who deliberately blocks bicycle lanes, or who passes you with only a hair’s breadth between his wing mirror and your handlebars, then shouts abuse if you complain. Very rarely, it can escalate to objects being thrown at you, car doors being opened in your path, sometimes even to full on ramming. Don’t let it get that far.
The only way to tackle a bike-hater is not to tackle him at all. Simply get off the road to a place of safety as quickly as you can. If you feel threatened, get help. If that means walking up to the nearest building and ringing the bell, or walking into a shop to ask for help, do it. As soon as it is safe to do so, ring the police with your location and the car’s number plate.
You will want to fight back, your pride will be hurt, but never let that tempt you into escalating a confrontation. Let’s be clear about this: you might be in the right, but your antagonist has over a ton of metal at his disposal. When a cyclist mixes it up with a motorist, the cyclist will always lose. Just let the motorist go.
Wednesday, 15 April 2009
Sunday, 12 April 2009
Highfields Community Cabinet meeting
We see that Anna Bligh is to bring her Cabinet to Highfields to allow we electors to bend their ears on what concerns us in the local area.
This is too good to miss, what with the reluctance of various arms of government to come to grips with cycling in this immediate area.
Maybe the new Transport Minister will notice the lack of cycle lane markings in Highfields, on all that roadwork that seemed to go on for so very long. Or, should the fleet of petrol guzzling American sourced government cars follow the highway up from Toowoomba, perhaps the Minister will notice the lack of a cycle lane in all that great expanse of bitumen from Toowoomba to Highfields, and back?
Maybe the new Minister will inspect the Ruthven Street road works and wonder at the too-narrow cycle lane at Alderley Street, or the lack of any cycle lane markings on the new work elsewhere, from James Street back?
Who knows what Ministers notice, especially when their MRD and QT officials seem not to notice all the discrepancies between what policy says and what they actually deliver themselves, but anyway, it may well be worth our while to point all this out, along with some photos of TRCs engineering prowess when it comes to putting BAZ signs in the gutter, power poles in the middle of footpaths, and providing concrete car parks along West and Nelson Street for residents to park on, where cyclists are supposed to be able to cycle.
Should you wish to have some particular cycling issue raised, please email the TBUG and provide all the necessary details and we'll add it to the list.
Photos or Googlemap coordinates make life easier when it comes to explaining these matters, so consider sending them both if possible.
This is too good to miss, what with the reluctance of various arms of government to come to grips with cycling in this immediate area.
Maybe the new Transport Minister will notice the lack of cycle lane markings in Highfields, on all that roadwork that seemed to go on for so very long. Or, should the fleet of petrol guzzling American sourced government cars follow the highway up from Toowoomba, perhaps the Minister will notice the lack of a cycle lane in all that great expanse of bitumen from Toowoomba to Highfields, and back?
Maybe the new Minister will inspect the Ruthven Street road works and wonder at the too-narrow cycle lane at Alderley Street, or the lack of any cycle lane markings on the new work elsewhere, from James Street back?
Who knows what Ministers notice, especially when their MRD and QT officials seem not to notice all the discrepancies between what policy says and what they actually deliver themselves, but anyway, it may well be worth our while to point all this out, along with some photos of TRCs engineering prowess when it comes to putting BAZ signs in the gutter, power poles in the middle of footpaths, and providing concrete car parks along West and Nelson Street for residents to park on, where cyclists are supposed to be able to cycle.
Should you wish to have some particular cycling issue raised, please email the TBUG and provide all the necessary details and we'll add it to the list.
Photos or Googlemap coordinates make life easier when it comes to explaining these matters, so consider sending them both if possible.
Ipswich information
The TBUG has been contacted by Bernie Ripoll's office about the Brisbane to Ipswich challenge.
Here is the information sent through to us:
Calling all Cycling Enthusiasts
The Brisbane 2 Ipswich Challenge is on so get on your riding gear and be part of supporting some great causes. Over the years the race has already raised close to $100,000 for the Royal Children’s Hospital Foundation and Ipswich Hospital Foundation
Formally the Mall 2 Mall Challenge this ride has been a magnificent success and gets bigger and better every year.
What: 2009 Goodna RSL Services Club Brisbane 2 Ipswich Challenge
When: Sunday 26 April 7am start arrive in Ipswich from 9am
Where: Starts Moorland Park, Toowong and finishes at Queen’s Park, Ipswich
Who: Bernie Ripoll MP and 1000 cyclists
Cost: $40 adults and only $20 kids under 16
Why: For a great community cause and some fun on the bike
Register online at www.brisbane2ipswichchallenge.com
For more information email bernie.ripoll.mp@aph.gov.au or call 3818 3900.
Here is the information sent through to us:
Calling all Cycling Enthusiasts
The Brisbane 2 Ipswich Challenge is on so get on your riding gear and be part of supporting some great causes. Over the years the race has already raised close to $100,000 for the Royal Children’s Hospital Foundation and Ipswich Hospital Foundation
Formally the Mall 2 Mall Challenge this ride has been a magnificent success and gets bigger and better every year.
What: 2009 Goodna RSL Services Club Brisbane 2 Ipswich Challenge
When: Sunday 26 April 7am start arrive in Ipswich from 9am
Where: Starts Moorland Park, Toowong and finishes at Queen’s Park, Ipswich
Who: Bernie Ripoll MP and 1000 cyclists
Cost: $40 adults and only $20 kids under 16
Why: For a great community cause and some fun on the bike
Register online at www.brisbane2ipswichchallenge.com
For more information email bernie.ripoll.mp@aph.gov.au or call 3818 3900.
Helmet hair: how to keep it dry
This Easter the rain came in buckets, rare enought these days to make riders forget it exists.
Thankfully, it does but isn't it 'orrible when your head gets soaked, your hair drips and your glasses, already wet from riding into the rain also have rain dripping down from the holes in your helmet?
Solution?
A raincap on the helmet.
We went looking for one some time ago and found none in local shops or even further afield.
Here are some urls to find a suitable helmet cover:
Carradice of the UK panniers and saddlebags fame make a complete set of rain gear:
http://www.carradice.co.uk/rainwear/pro-route-rainwear.shtml
Avanti make a 'night gear' cover that shines in the dark:
http://www.night-gear.com/-strse-494/STRETCH-HELMET-COVER%2C-REFLECTIVE/Detail.bok
The black or flouro lime waterproof one is here:
http://www.night-gear.com/p/reflective-clothing/382/Waterproof-Helmet-Cover-by-illumiNITE.htm
The famous Goretex peole turn this one out:
http://www.backcountry.com/store/GBW0043/Gore-Bike-Wear-Helmet-Cover.html?CMP_ID=SH_BZR001&CMP_SKU=GBW0043&mv_pc=r111
And here's a review of a breathable waterproof yellow cover:
http://www.bicycleclothing.com/Waterproof-Breathable-Helmet-Covers.html
If you know of any others send them in and we'll add them to the list.
Thankfully, it does but isn't it 'orrible when your head gets soaked, your hair drips and your glasses, already wet from riding into the rain also have rain dripping down from the holes in your helmet?
Solution?
A raincap on the helmet.
We went looking for one some time ago and found none in local shops or even further afield.
Here are some urls to find a suitable helmet cover:
Carradice of the UK panniers and saddlebags fame make a complete set of rain gear:
http://www.carradice.co.uk/rainwear/pro-route-rainwear.shtml
Avanti make a 'night gear' cover that shines in the dark:
http://www.night-gear.com/-strse-494/STRETCH-HELMET-COVER%2C-REFLECTIVE/Detail.bok
The black or flouro lime waterproof one is here:
http://www.night-gear.com/p/reflective-clothing/382/Waterproof-Helmet-Cover-by-illumiNITE.htm
The famous Goretex peole turn this one out:
http://www.backcountry.com/store/GBW0043/Gore-Bike-Wear-Helmet-Cover.html?CMP_ID=SH_BZR001&CMP_SKU=GBW0043&mv_pc=r111
And here's a review of a breathable waterproof yellow cover:
http://www.bicycleclothing.com/Waterproof-Breathable-Helmet-Covers.html
If you know of any others send them in and we'll add them to the list.
Monday, 23 March 2009
March 29 BUG ride
The next BUG ride is on Sunday 29 March.
Please note the change of time.
No longer 6.30 a.m.
Leaving the Art Gallery Gardens at 7.00 a.m. and finishing there later with coffee and talks at the Oxygen Cafe.
Please keep the Highway Code (and law) in mind and do not ride more than two abreast.
It seems that 59 percent of Toowoomba drivers are 'uncertain' how to pass a cyclist.
Which helps explain why they cross double white lines to get past, overtake then turn left just in front of you.
Anyway, two abreast is legal, four and five is not.
Please note the change of time.
No longer 6.30 a.m.
Leaving the Art Gallery Gardens at 7.00 a.m. and finishing there later with coffee and talks at the Oxygen Cafe.
Please keep the Highway Code (and law) in mind and do not ride more than two abreast.
It seems that 59 percent of Toowoomba drivers are 'uncertain' how to pass a cyclist.
Which helps explain why they cross double white lines to get past, overtake then turn left just in front of you.
Anyway, two abreast is legal, four and five is not.
Bicycle book for women
When I first started cycling and made the decision to purchase an actual road bike, I walked into the bike shop blissfully unaware about what I needed. All I knew was that I required something with curved handle bars and skinny wheels. I walked out with a women’s specific frame (size small) that was fitted with a 110mm stem and 42 cm handlebars.
A few years later when I moved from touring to racing and began looking at actual race frames, I quickly learned that I should have and could have felt quite a bit different on the bike. I was constantly shifting around, shrugging my shoulders and stretching my back to get comfortable. Just because I was a small woman did not mean the woman’s small bike was a good match. With narrow shoulders and a short torso (I’m 5’5) I found a shorter stem and handle bars to be much more comfortable and effective for my riding. For my next bike, my seat post was raised and my stem dropped.
Read more here: http://www.dailypeloton.com/displayarticle.asp?pk=14282
A few years later when I moved from touring to racing and began looking at actual race frames, I quickly learned that I should have and could have felt quite a bit different on the bike. I was constantly shifting around, shrugging my shoulders and stretching my back to get comfortable. Just because I was a small woman did not mean the woman’s small bike was a good match. With narrow shoulders and a short torso (I’m 5’5) I found a shorter stem and handle bars to be much more comfortable and effective for my riding. For my next bike, my seat post was raised and my stem dropped.
Read more here: http://www.dailypeloton.com/displayarticle.asp?pk=14282
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