Australian Cycling Forums - Bicycles Network Australia

Had a run of poor weather plus I've been slack and enjoying the heater in the car. Turns out it's been a month since last commute. Two days back to back and my legs felt it. Pleasant enough, but a couple of chilly hollows on the way in this morning.

Yesterday arvo I got passed by an ebike as I was cruising up hill. He looked to be going quite quick. Was near the crest of the hill and the other side is a nice run down where I can fairly easily exceed 35. My inner commuter cup racer kicked in and I put in an effort and picked up to 40-45 and he was still pulling away.

At the next traffic lights I asked and he said it was a Stealth bike. No wonder, not an e-bike at all, an e-motorbike with pedals.

bychosis wrote: ↑

Fri Jul 26, 2024 2:05 pm

<snip>
At the next traffic lights I asked and he said it was a Stealth bike. No wonder, not an e-bike at all, an e-motorbike with pedals.

And we can assume he didn't have any plates?

Richard

Definitly not registered. I do wonder (now) if he even knew about the legality/rules or was sold 'its just an ebike, ita all good'. I'd want to know I was rising something highly illegal and make the choice accordingly. I would absolutely want the seller to tell me it wasn't legal. I much prefer to know the rules so I can't make decisions on the consequences amd not be caught having no idea.

bychosis wrote: ↑

Sun Jul 28, 2024 6:19 am

Definitly not registered. I do wonder (now) if he even knew about the legality/rules or was sold 'its just an ebike, ita all good'. I'd want to know I was rising something highly illegal and make the choice accordingly. I would absolutely want the seller to tell me it wasn't legal. I much prefer to know the rules so I can't make decisions on the consequences amd not be caught having no idea.

Having a few acquaintances in the 'real' e-motorbike world (registered. insured etc) I can say that they have a real problem with folk giving them a bad name. He might need to be careful in which pubs he mentions his transport preferences down there on the Lake.

fresh with a chunky tail wind this morning. this afternoon won't be much fun

WyvernRH wrote: ↑

Sun Jul 28, 2024 8:50 pm

bychosis wrote: ↑

Sun Jul 28, 2024 6:19 am

Definitly not registered. I do wonder (now) if he even knew about the legality/rules or was sold 'its just an ebike, ita all good'. I'd want to know I was rising something highly illegal and make the choice accordingly. I would absolutely want the seller to tell me it wasn't legal. I much prefer to know the rules so I can't make decisions on the consequences amd not be caught having no idea.

Having a few acquaintances in the 'real' e-motorbike world (registered. insured etc) I can say that they have a real problem with folk giving them a bad name. He might need to be careful in which pubs he mentions his transport preferences down there on the Lake.

Although I know nothing about him really, he was middle aged, dressed as a MTB cyclist had a helmet and stopped at the red crossing light. Not the typical ratbag teenager carving up pedestrian malls. That is, unless you saw him travelling at pace, he'd appeared to be a legit e-bike rider. Still illegal, but not a redflag carrier.

I managed to cork my calf 2 weeks ago & still not recovered, so it was another e-bike commute for me. After spending most of June & July off the bike, I really feel like I'm starting from scratch again.

Lately I've been commuting more than riding recreationally since for now the commuting alone is enough to put a decent load into my Strava tracking. Put two hours in yesterday + most elevation gain I've done, and I did the bridge twice with no Events besides an older roadie stopping to warn me about riding it with MTB bars.

A bit of commuter cup on the way in - rider would get away on the flats & I'd haul him in on the hills - the addition of around 200W (whatever power 3 gives) significantly improves my power to weight ratio, at speeds up to 25km/h anyways

good to be back commuting after last week (2 days WFH, 1 public holiday, and 2 days working at a different location)

got my gravel bike back yesterday. just in time for some heavier-than-expected wet weather and drizzle this morning. standard advantage with wet weather applies - pleasantly, only 2 PMD riders seen. 1, on a private device was going a lot quicker than me in a shared path zone where they have a speed limit of 12 was doing well over 30....

jasonc wrote: ↑

Tue Aug 20, 2024 7:23 am

got my gravel bike back yesterday. just in time for some heavier-than-expected wet weather and drizzle this morning. standard advantage with wet weather applies - pleasantly, only 2 PMD riders seen. 1, on a private device was going a lot quicker than me in a shared path zone where they have a speed limit of 12 was doing well over 30....

A little rain each day keeps the morons away

find_bruce wrote: ↑

Tue Aug 20, 2024 8:32 am

jasonc wrote: ↑

Tue Aug 20, 2024 7:23 am

got my gravel bike back yesterday. just in time for some heavier-than-expected wet weather and drizzle this morning. standard advantage with wet weather applies - pleasantly, only 2 PMD riders seen. 1, on a private device was going a lot quicker than me in a shared path zone where they have a speed limit of 12 was doing well over 30....

A little rain each day keeps the morons away

amen

Almost another month of being slack. Weather amd vehicular requirements stopped cycle commuting again.

Yesterday was warm. Had been so long since I logged anything my watch couldn't remember how to GPS. Track HR, but no distance recorded. It's only half on strava. Did I commute or not?

This morning had a winter chill back in the air again. Got startled by two dog walkers just around a corner. I'm not used to seeing others out.

The magpie en route hasnt kicked off again yet, but I used the anti swoop route for two mornings. Alert and alarmed!

Been riding my wife's ebike since I broke my ribs in June then severely tore my calf in July. I've been gradually backing of the power assistance & decided to take the plunge & go back to riding my commuter. Yes it's a bit harder, but I was pleasantly surprised that I haven't lost as much fitness as I feared. I mean I'm still old fat and slow, but not as slow as I thought I would be. Even made it up Lilifield Rd hill - only 42 s off my best commuting effort of 1:08

We're in trouble. It's AUGUST. The average temp for the commute home was 31

Geelong to Fitzroy with train + bike, first time in 2 months after massive rail duplication works.

The usual traffic-choked roads (Collins Street, Victoria Parade), crowds with their smokes and vapes and truly, breathtakingly arrogant pedestrians crossing roads while traffic has a green light — this aint Hanoi, but Collins Street where heavy, impatient traffic is seemingly a minor inconvenience, but potentially with fatal consequences to the stupid and inattentive.

Interesting weather to wrap up a fairly dull winter, the last few days notwithstanding!
Surprisingly very warm and not windy in Melbourne CBD — lots of sun until 2pm; a bit deceptive because westward, a rain-laden cloud bank was creeping up to rain on the sunny parade. Anyway home time, and the entirely predictable, sardine-like cramped 3.30pm train deftly skirted around the storm, only for me to arrive home in clear skies with a 12°c blustery wind! Reality check.

Next week as Spring springs forth, it is more regular commuting by bike (MTB).

jasonc wrote: ↑

Thu Aug 29, 2024 5:22 pm

We're in trouble. It's AUGUST. The average temp for the commute home was 31

It's meant to cool down next week. Average temp this afternoon was 32. Legs were smashed. Hard week on the bike

I had a nice quick spinnaker run on the commute home for a few days with these westerlys.

In other news the EOT facilities in the new office building finally have soap dispensers mounted in the showers, a month after opening. And I don't think the GHD hair straightener in the male change room has been used yet!

In the bustling metropolis of Pyrmont, where steel and concrete reign supreme, a tale of survival unfolds. Here, amidst the feeble light filtering through tall buildings and the gentle murmur of the western distributor, a solitary bike, a magnificent creature, has shed its pedal.

This pedal, once a symbol of strength and virility, now lies abandoned in the gutter, a relic of a journey cut short.


We track the bike's movements along the path, following the faintest of clues. And finally, our efforts are rewarded. We catch a glimpse of the magnificent bike, standing tall against the backdrop of the ancient trees.

In near perfect and all the same delightfully stable, almost warm-ish weather, I have made record time riding from Fitzroy to the city (similar to this am) in typically light (for Tuesday), orderly traffic. Today's smile-inducing weather is far, far removed from yesterday — everything is calm, paced and generally well behaved. The ride home, all of 20 minutes, nondescript but with increasing traffic.

Found the source of the annoying creak on my commuter



That'd be N-1 for me.

My live in metallurgist was soooo helpful - that'd be metal fatigue, right along the weld line. What a surprise

Yikes. Aluminium strikes again.

Yep if aluminium flexes it will crack sooner or later. To be fair it’s more than 20 years old & had a tough life