Cycling in Sydney Australia
Postcard from Brisbane
Well this is long overdue....
Hi everyone, and Merry Christmas, I hope everyone has been having a good one!
The two months I've had since moving out of Sydney at the beginning of November has been probably the busiest time of my life. Between my main work project, a couple of others that didn't get finished up before I left sydney, recruiting, house hunting, moving, Christmas and running the website for a little boat race I've barely had time to scratch myself.... let alone ride much.
I have had a few trips out on the bike though which have been awesome. Despite what a few people had told me, and some of the locals (non cyclists) believe, Brisbane is an awesome place to ride a bike. The roads usually have a bike lane, or are wide enough to not need one, the weather is awesome (if you like it warm) and the drivers are docile pussycats.
I ended up settling a bit out of the city, on the bay in a suburb called Wynnum which I've done a bit of riding around and it looks very promising. Not to mention the 17km commute into where I'm working for the next 6 months, which, on the fixie, and carting the laptop everyday should do wonders for my strength :)
There is a really nice ride around the outskirts of the city, called the River Loop, about a 40km ride that is very pleasant.
I've done a lap or two around the local crit track at Murarrie, it's like Heffron park without all the potholes and fewer sharp corners so I'm looking forward to getting back in to some racing in the new year.
I had a funny moment while exploring Fortitude Valley on the road bike, the only heckling I've gotten up here so far, a local hipster looking dude walking down the street with his girlfriend called out "awww get a fixie!". I yelled back "I've got one" and the look on his face was priceless.
Speaking of fixies, I took mine out for my first spin on it a few days ago (it was in storage with most of our stuff for the last 2 months), I decided because I wasn't going far I didn't need to take any tools or spare tubes. Unfortunately Mr Glass had other plans and I ended up looking like one of those tools who DO have to push their fixies down the street. The Shame!
Lots of riders around everywhere up here, There are a lot of good bike lanes around the city and the drivers are patient so there are plenty of commuters around. Also it's not a crime to be seen on a road bike like it is amongst the "advocacy" scene in Sydney, so there are lots of roadie commuters, as well as on every other sort of bike. There's a great "end of trip" facility up here where a monthly membership gets you a bike rack, locker, fresh towel and a shower. I'm not working in the city at the moment so won't use it for the moment, but it's a great idea. I've got a locker and showers sorted out where I'm working, haven't started riding yet as I only moved out of the serviced apartment in the city the day I finished up for a year, but will be riding in the new year.
On the topic of my impending commutes, I needed something a little bigger to put my stuff in so bought this bloody enormous backpack from Banjo Brothers in the US. It looks great and I'll report in after using it on the bike for a while.
Oh and I've already gotten one of my co-workers on a bike, and a couple of the others who ride a bit are now making noises about new bikes and / or commuting.
With the aforementioned busyness and having to rely on very flaky 3G internet connections I've not had much time to spend on the site, I've tried to keep an eye on things but I know the spammers have attacked a few times. Quickest way to get rid of them is send me a direct message, I read those and can act on them much more quickly, but I should be back onboard from now.
Anyway, that's news from me. I'll try not to be so absent from now :)
Hi everyone, and Merry Christmas, I hope everyone has been having a good one!
The two months I've had since moving out of Sydney at the beginning of November has been probably the busiest time of my life. Between my main work project, a couple of others that didn't get finished up before I left sydney, recruiting, house hunting, moving, Christmas and running the website for a little boat race I've barely had time to scratch myself.... let alone ride much.
I have had a few trips out on the bike though which have been awesome. Despite what a few people had told me, and some of the locals (non cyclists) believe, Brisbane is an awesome place to ride a bike. The roads usually have a bike lane, or are wide enough to not need one, the weather is awesome (if you like it warm) and the drivers are docile pussycats.
I ended up settling a bit out of the city, on the bay in a suburb called Wynnum which I've done a bit of riding around and it looks very promising. Not to mention the 17km commute into where I'm working for the next 6 months, which, on the fixie, and carting the laptop everyday should do wonders for my strength :)
There is a really nice ride around the outskirts of the city, called the River Loop, about a 40km ride that is very pleasant.
I've done a lap or two around the local crit track at Murarrie, it's like Heffron park without all the potholes and fewer sharp corners so I'm looking forward to getting back in to some racing in the new year.
I had a funny moment while exploring Fortitude Valley on the road bike, the only heckling I've gotten up here so far, a local hipster looking dude walking down the street with his girlfriend called out "awww get a fixie!". I yelled back "I've got one" and the look on his face was priceless.
Speaking of fixies, I took mine out for my first spin on it a few days ago (it was in storage with most of our stuff for the last 2 months), I decided because I wasn't going far I didn't need to take any tools or spare tubes. Unfortunately Mr Glass had other plans and I ended up looking like one of those tools who DO have to push their fixies down the street. The Shame!
Lots of riders around everywhere up here, There are a lot of good bike lanes around the city and the drivers are patient so there are plenty of commuters around. Also it's not a crime to be seen on a road bike like it is amongst the "advocacy" scene in Sydney, so there are lots of roadie commuters, as well as on every other sort of bike. There's a great "end of trip" facility up here where a monthly membership gets you a bike rack, locker, fresh towel and a shower. I'm not working in the city at the moment so won't use it for the moment, but it's a great idea. I've got a locker and showers sorted out where I'm working, haven't started riding yet as I only moved out of the serviced apartment in the city the day I finished up for a year, but will be riding in the new year.
On the topic of my impending commutes, I needed something a little bigger to put my stuff in so bought this bloody enormous backpack from Banjo Brothers in the US. It looks great and I'll report in after using it on the bike for a while.
Oh and I've already gotten one of my co-workers on a bike, and a couple of the others who ride a bit are now making noises about new bikes and / or commuting.
With the aforementioned busyness and having to rely on very flaky 3G internet connections I've not had much time to spend on the site, I've tried to keep an eye on things but I know the spammers have attacked a few times. Quickest way to get rid of them is send me a direct message, I read those and can act on them much more quickly, but I should be back onboard from now.
Anyway, that's news from me. I'll try not to be so absent from now :)
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Comment by MadameBike on December 29, 2009 at 4:22pm -
Oh wow Damian sounds as if you have landed on your feet - very envious from where I stand. Best wishes to all of you!
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Comment by Neil Alexander on December 29, 2009 at 4:57pm -
I love how you told him you already got one!
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Comment by Dan on December 29, 2009 at 7:10pm -
Hey! Great to hear from you! Glad that life is good, and that Brisbane is working out well.
I have a friend in Brisbane who is sort of perhaps maybe interested in riding to work. Given that it all seems so bike-friendly, I'll spend some more time trying to persuade him!
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Comment by yogi on December 30, 2009 at 11:30pm -
groovy
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Comment by Andrew on December 31, 2009 at 8:16am -
sounds like a good tiome is being had - have a great New Years
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Comment by Kylie on December 31, 2009 at 9:07am -
I was about a week off posting a thread demanding a Brissy update ;-)
17km commute on the fixie with a heavy load, eh? Make sure you listen out for creaks! :-P
That facility looked great and then I saw the workshop....awesome!! At first I thought it was pretty exxy but that's from someone who has the luxury of being able to park and shower and store heaps of stuff at work. It's a great idea and well executed by the look of it. I'll look forward to hearing your reports as you get to know the Brisbane scene.
So how long until we see Brisbane Cyclist online?
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Comment by DamianM on December 31, 2009 at 9:27am -
Brisbane cyclist. Yes, on my todo list. Might have a chance now things have settled down AND my adsl is finally connected.
Had an awesome ride yesterday. At about 5 I headed out on a road I'd driven on and did some exploring of the back roads and cycle routes. About 5 kms from my house you're basically in bushland, water on one side and horse paddocks on the other. It was a nice 30km spin with no hassles. Even the busy roads were wide enough that the 80kmh traffic wasn't a problem.
Also dropped into a newly opened bike shop yesterday. The new giant TCR range looks pretty nice. Hmmmmmmm
yes I will have to listen for creaks ;) actually my shoulder still isn't 100%. I need to book into a sports physio in the new year
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Comment by troll on January 3, 2010 at 10:00pm -
from MASI to GIANT.. mm all class
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Comment by DamianM on January 3, 2010 at 10:02pm
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I had a giant before I had a Masi mr troll (if that is your real name ;) )
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Comment by gergory willams on April 3, 2010 at 5:55pm -
Speaking of fixies, I took mine out for my first spin on it a few days ago (it was in storage with most of our stuff for the last 2 months), I decided because I wasn't going far I didn't need to take any tools or spare tubes. Unfortunately Mr Glass had other plans and I ended up looking like one of those tools who DO have to push their fixies down the street. The Shame.
Brisbane property
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