tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4722577198846525438.comments2010-07-21T08:44:31.570+10:00Up and down some hillsNickOhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09230735764301006734noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4722577198846525438.post-7800508341357631772010-07-21T08:44:31.570+10:002010-07-21T08:44:31.570+10:00"But none of them seemed to have that "I..."But none of them seemed to have that "I'm a cyclist, keep away from me you pedestrian / car / bus" look that we have on our faces when we ride in Melbourne"<br /><br />This 'look' is something I really noticed on my 6 days cycling (hired great bike from the Humble Vintage) whilst in Melbourne, March this year - a very aggressive & very exclusive experience!!! In fact one completely different to Sydney, whose fast-growing & eclectic group of cyclists has created a very inclusive mode of transport.<br /><br />It's hard to define 'cyclist' and it's probably a pitfall best avoided because cycling truly isn't the domain of the male, young, & sporty - in fact your post has provided evidence for why Australia finds itself in such a dire 'cycling' position today - sadly we allowed the sport of cycling to hi-jack cycling some 20 years ago...<br /><br />...basically cycling is for 'everyone & anyone' who wants to grab a set of wheels to 'mosey-on' down 'wherever'!!! - even if they don't possess a certain 'I'm a cyclist' look!!Freedom Cyclisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11187400454555241935noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4722577198846525438.post-9279737039481105772010-07-21T05:11:13.846+10:002010-07-21T05:11:13.846+10:00An equal number of bikes are stolen here (in NL) o...An equal number of bikes are stolen here (in NL) on a regular basis. Bikes also have right of way over pedestrian and automobile, so there's no need for cyclists to have the same fear of motorists as they do in other countries.Alisonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15146330219157289776noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4722577198846525438.post-68808403486343611862010-07-21T04:24:01.082+10:002010-07-21T04:24:01.082+10:00"All I had to do was turn right as I left the..."All I had to do was turn right as I left the hotel, then turn left at "the cubist buildings on the next corner". OK, I'm not a total architectural idiot, but doesn't that imply a level of education that perhaps not everyone has achieved?"<br /><br />Architecture is taught during compulsory education in a lot of European countries, a great idea, don't you think, seeing as buildings are something with spend a lot of our life in and around?<br /><br />They're not all necessarily 'cyclists', but isn't that something to be celebrated? We need more 'people on bikes', casually enjoying cycling, not more cyclists.Tom Youngmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15879051461879705835noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4722577198846525438.post-11112083711979903272010-07-21T01:54:38.772+10:002010-07-21T01:54:38.772+10:00Seriously, you need to get out of the basement mor...Seriously, you need to get out of the basement more.felixBChttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02504052743999451995noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4722577198846525438.post-58180570988154582622010-07-21T00:23:35.114+10:002010-07-21T00:23:35.114+10:00They're not "cyclists" in the "...They're not "cyclists" in the "all lycra'd up on a carbon frame" sense. They're just people on bikes, and (if they're anything like Mikael Colville-Andersen of copenhagenize.com) they're probably *proud* to be so. That's if they even think about it - it's just a form of transport, which is how I wish more places treated the bike.<br /><br />I can't work out if you're disdainful of the Dutch relationship with the bike, or just punch-drunk from seeing a different culture :)Tim Beadlehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17958070871462777000noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4722577198846525438.post-85212397187435759982010-05-14T07:44:29.198+10:002010-05-14T07:44:29.198+10:00Racing is tough enough without having to worry abo...Racing is tough enough without having to worry about competing against a higher grade / cat.<br /><br />Or maybe, it's "whatever doesn't kill me (drop me?) only makes me stronger (faster)" ??NickOhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09230735764301006734noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4722577198846525438.post-89036954188449397502010-05-13T20:33:52.415+10:002010-05-13T20:33:52.415+10:00We don't have a similar catagory system. We ca...We don't have a similar catagory system. We call the begineers Cat4 instead of D, but its just a name. <br /><br />Unfortunately there are very few Cat4 only races. Most races are either Cat3/4 or more commonly around here Cat 2,3&4. So you're often racing against Cat 2 riders.<br /><br />Needless to say with such a high level of oppersition, even when you are paying attention, the group has this this nasty habbit of surging forwards without you. <br /><br />I used to think I'd had a good crit race if I survived to the flag without getting lapped.Red Bikehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10286933264663629749noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4722577198846525438.post-81778537371525491672010-03-12T16:18:29.845+11:002010-03-12T16:18:29.845+11:00I have worn the same watch for more than a year, m...I have worn the same watch for more than a year, more or less (because a) it's easier to read with my failing eyesight than the dozen precious -to me- mechanical watches I don't wear and b) it was $70 -I could care less if I break it). While it keeps excellent time (bloody quartz) I can't say that timing accuracy has ever been all that important to me.<br /><br />Mind you I drive an automatic, use a Macintosh and have never bought a Chronograph because they have too many buttons.<br /><br />I've always looked at it like this. A hand made watch is by it's very nature inherently flawed: I know it needs to be serviced regularly because stuff wears out or comes loose. So it follows that it will be out, to some degree, at any given time (except two moments each day).<br /><br />I have a Rolex I haven't worn more than twice in 5 years, not because it slips a few seconds over a week, but because it has a lousy clasp that I'm too mean to replace (yes I've tried to have it repaired - it's a "known issue" with these sir). But the watch still gives me pleasure when I see it, because it is a real piece of watchmaking craft, external aesthetics aside.<br /><br />And since your test is about mechanical movements, I will be keeping watch. (wrong time to pun?)Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10058292452422214558noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4722577198846525438.post-78480723903248514832010-03-11T21:26:46.817+11:002010-03-11T21:26:46.817+11:00Ok, I think you've got the basis for a fun tes...Ok, I think you've got the basis for a fun testing regimen there.<br /><br />One other thing to consider would be purchase of a watch timing machine which can give you some pretty good time keeping information about each watch in a short space of time.<br /><br />A couple of good overviews are these:<br /><br />http://www.fix-printer-problems.com/printer-errors-problems/watch-timing-machines<br /><br />and<br /><br />http://www.fix-printer-problems.com/printer-errors-problems/timing-machines-on-the-watch-maker%E2%80%99s-table<br /><br />Of course these machines are expensive. An alternative to purchase that I have used is to take some of my watches to a preferred watchmaker who has a timing machine and see if he or she can spare the time to do it for you. It's most fun to have it done in front of you, and he or she can give a commentary and explanation.<br /><br />Like you, I own a number of watches. We've already established that my standards of date keeping are lax compared to yours i.e. I usually don't set the date on the watch I wear on any particular day to save stem and tube wear.<br /><br />My current personal attitude to accuracy is that I'm not too fussed. I'm never disappointed in the accuracy of my watches I never wear the same one 2 days in a row unless travelling and I deliberately don't check how the watch has been going 24-hours after setting the time. That way I don't get upset if it's lost 30 seconds, or even a couple of minutes.<br /><br />New morning, a different watch.<br /><br />Mind you, I have to make sure I'm always 5 minutes early for any appointment so if the watch is running slow there's no embarrassment.<br /><br />But that's just me.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4722577198846525438.post-12470212564438326412010-01-07T21:56:48.710+11:002010-01-07T21:56:48.710+11:00At least it can be repaired and it's a relativ...At least it can be repaired and it's a relatively in-expensive part. Things could have been much worse!Red Bikehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10286933264663629749noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4722577198846525438.post-68189520940988176882009-07-21T22:06:20.137+10:002009-07-21T22:06:20.137+10:00It sounds as though you had an excellent ride even...It sounds as though you had an excellent ride even though you had a few mishaps and didn't stay ahead of the broom wagon. <br /><br />An average pace of mid to high 20's sounds extremely quick to me!Red Bikehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10286933264663629749noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4722577198846525438.post-13801480292808084312009-07-21T17:55:44.534+10:002009-07-21T17:55:44.534+10:00Good effort Nick.
This sort of thing makes you rea...Good effort Nick.<br />This sort of thing makes you realise how damn good the pros really are. Let me know next time you are over and let's meet up.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4722577198846525438.post-12321546047040996252009-07-20T00:41:10.531+10:002009-07-20T00:41:10.531+10:00Best of luck for tomorrow.Best of luck for tomorrow.Red Bikehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10286933264663629749noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4722577198846525438.post-46369169106455578292009-07-08T00:09:12.232+10:002009-07-08T00:09:12.232+10:00Oh, what a Farce!Oh, what a Farce!Lost Sheephttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16246425421451507874noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4722577198846525438.post-57483058510400073362009-07-04T13:35:31.389+10:002009-07-04T13:35:31.389+10:00Apparently that's what happens each year - too...Apparently that's what happens each year - too many people think they're much better/fitter/stronger on the bike than they really are.NickOhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09230735764301006734noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4722577198846525438.post-59619669025294912702009-06-29T17:39:22.539+10:002009-06-29T17:39:22.539+10:00"The organisers are expecting that 30 to 40% ..."The organisers are expecting that 30 to 40% won't make the finish line."<br /><br />Blimey, why so many?<br /><br />Saying that I have the Mt Ventoux DVD for the turbo trainer and i've never rode it all in one day.Red Bikehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10286933264663629749noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4722577198846525438.post-76350108627952665272009-04-17T20:56:00.000+10:002009-04-17T20:56:00.000+10:00Its too easy, the mailto blog thing, not sure why ...Its too easy, the mailto blog thing, not sure why you want to ride up a that mountainous thang? My thoughts will be with you while I am taking kids to ballet.Big Davehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16741926879714665710noreply@blogger.com