Keep roads cycling safe and beautiful

Road-side debris like this steel rod can damage bikes and injure cyclists. (Photo Dr Aaron Anderson)

Some of us may remember a national campaign to “keep Australia beautiful” and not to spread our rubbish around.  It may well be worth re-visiting this as cyclist we are at risk to debris rubbish that finds its way onto the road verge.

The obvious is the broken glass that will pierce a tyre and tube very quickly to the bricks and large articles that if struck by a cyclist is likely to make the front wheel come out from under the rider and subsequently end up off the bike on the road.

High flying BMX

Dean Benalla gets airborne with his BMX (Photo Connectons BMX)

Do not conform your children to your own learning for they were born for another time -Hebrew Proverb
We see them on the street standing tall over small bike frames the whole time as rarely do they sit on the seat. The bikes are quite often absent of brakes as the riders create their own free style braking method of the shoe over the frame onto the back wheel.

These young riders are athletic and extremely agile and have an extreme sense of fun. They defy all cycling thinking of set up of seat height frame size and gearing yet in their own way it all fits the style of riding chosen but to the untrained eye it is just another BMX.

National Ride2School Day

Kids enjoy some exercise and independence by riding to school. (Photo Eddie Barkla)

Wednesday 25 March was National Ride2School day which is a “Go for your life” initiative with the hope building behaviours and connections to assist our youth to be healthy and active.

‘Medical experts tell us that school students should be aiming for at least 60 minutes of daily activity to beat off obesity-related diseases, including diabetes 2 and cardiovascular disease,’ according to Ms Leigh Snelling, Ride2School’s Director. Leigh said National Ride2School Day was a great way of showing how easy it is to include exercise into daily routine for a healthier, cleaner and greener future.

What steers your bike (part 2)

Cornering fast and smoothly is all about balancing forces and lots of practice. (Photo Dean Murhpy)

Continuing on the theme of what steers your bike, hopefully last week we established that a bicycle is unstable when standing still due to being a two wheel human powered vehicle.

Once the bicycle is moving forward stability increases when the centre of gravity in over the frame and wheel.  The weight being kept in balanced combined with the wheels acting as gyroscopes the forces keeps the bike upright and moving forward and is very stable. As the speed of the bike is increased cornering takes on a complete new approach to maintain the forward momentum and centre of gravity stability. 

What steers your bike (part 1)

Steering a bike is more about balance than turning the handle bars. (Photo Christian Barkla)

Have you ever wondered what steers your bike?

Most people would think that is what the handle bars are for. This is true to a certain degree and the handle bars are there to create stability and control the bike at low speed and something to hold onto at high speed to assist in steadying the upper body.

Riding a bike requires balance that in turn keeps the centre of gravity stable so as to not fall over sideways. 

It starts with a good thought

Cycling in bunches can have such a diversity of people from all walks of life culture and vocations. You may have no idea who is on a bike beside you when they are clad in lycra with helmet donned cruising along side by side in front and behind. There is little indication to their mental well being and state of their heart, but by just being there they are having a need met.

This type of group dynamics draws some back again and again despite feelings of inadequacy or intimidation by the strength and capabilities of others in the group that are sometime perceived as cycling giants and gifted with the strength of Samson or there is mountains they feel they could never conquered yet are prepared to face and engage the challenge.

When the going gets tough …

Eddie Barkla and Kevin Hall tackle the Alpine Classic

Head winds, heat, hills and long distance is not the combination that any rider would deliberately set out to face unless they are well prepared with a mental capacity that stares at these four challenges shouting loudly “bring it on”.

Most riders have a reasonably capacity of mental preparation and can get their mind around a 200 km ride but add one or two of the additional challenges this capacity may well wane somewhat.  There is an increasing call it seems of the mountains and extreme distances as a challenge for the recreational rider.

Clipless pedals add power and efficiency

All clipless pedals help you pedal more efficiently

Clipless pedals add power and efficiencies in moving the bicycle forward up hill and down dale. It is interesting to note that, road, track, mountain bike and recumberant riders use a clipless pedal system albeit they are not necessarily the same.  BMX riders use a larger platform pedal with no locking system to the pedals. The large majority of commuters and weekend family rider’s use an open platform pedals these being cost effective allowing flexibility of foot wear choice. 

Age no barrier to freedom

It's never too late to enjoy free-wheeling freedom. (Photo Eddie Barkla)

Was asked recently to share a story to encourage seniors to get on the bike and maintain a healthy life style. This brought to mind two adages: “You are never too old to start” and “If you don’t use it you lose it”.

A very dear friend of our family while in his eighties participated in his first Great Victoria Bike ride and returned each year until he contracted prostrate cancer and had to miss out yet maintained his cycling to aid recovery. His aim every week was a solo 100klm ride as well as commuting around town most days. He has now passed on still vividly hear the resonating joy of his life’s journey of being motor mechanic by trade and garage owner, an amateur photographer and member of the local photographic club and a devoted field naturalist and how cycling was added fulfilling life’s end with many hours of freedom and enjoyment till the very end.

The value of rest

Resting the two active parts: the mind and the feet. (Photo Maree Barkla)

When we are young we tend to think we are invincible and capable of almost anything and any input that comes from wisdom of age is not always acceptable for such times.  In the youthful stage of life when we are told something it is natural to think that we know better and need to experience this for ourselves as we all know this is what life is all about.

Read a quote the other day from Mark Twain “When I was a boy of fourteen, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have the old man around. But when I got to be twenty-one, I was astonished at how much the old man had learned in seven years.”My father has always been telling me to rest and slow down, something I have come to appreciate as sound advice and wisdom of age and the path to longevity.