Mega Thread "I need to vent" thread.

[Timmy from Thomastown]

Agreed.

I raced bikes for a few years. I totally understand the buzz of getting a KOM, but taking risks on shared paths and scaring pedestrians is bad for all of us.

It's not like we're short of quiet roads with challenging gradients for roadies to test themselves, and I'm sure that's what serious cyclists do. Similarly, mountain bikers can and mostly do save it for the single track.

Newish cyclists riding their new bikes on shared trails are the biggest problem IMO. Passionate experienced cyclists are aware of the bad image that riders have and work to change it.

I had one guy hammer past me one day on a bike path commute to work, riding far too dangerously on a shared path. Dropped his chain.....didnt have a quick release on his rear wheel beacuse it was a fixie (flip flop hub, he could still freewheel)....and clearly didnt have a spanner either. Karma!!!!!

 

[TheGreatGrundy]

Agreed.

I raced bikes for a few years. I totally understand the buzz of getting a KOM, but taking risks on shared paths and scaring pedestrians is bad for all of us.

It's not like we're short of quiet roads with challenging gradients for roadies to test themselves, and I'm sure that's what serious cyclists do. Similarly, mountain bikers can and mostly do save it for the single track.

Newish cyclists riding their new bikes on shared trails are the biggest problem IMO. Passionate experienced cyclists are aware of the bad image that riders have and work to change it.

When I lived in the Dandenongs, I had to commute each day via the Mountain Highway, a two lane road winding down to the bottom of the hill which was the most popular road in the hills with cyclists. They would usually be riding in both directions when I went to work around 8am. It was really annoying, largely because of the number of drivers who were unable to pass them, and resulted on several occasions in me passing rider and driver together with a distant oncoming car in my sights. It was possible for drivers to pass without crossing the white line but so many of them were intent on leaving several metres of space, far more than was required.

 

[neilk]

When I lived in the Dandenongs, I had to commute each day via the Mountain Highway, a two lane road winding down to the bottom of the hill which was the most popular road in the hills with cyclists. They would usually be riding in both directions when I went to work around 8am. It was really annoying, largely because of the number of drivers who were unable to pass them, and resulted on several occasions in me passing rider and driver together with a distant oncoming car in my sights. It was possible for drivers to pass without crossing the white line but so many of them were intent on leaving several metres of space, far more than was required.

Obviously the 1:20 from The Basin to Sassafras. It’s very popular and we regularly ride there from North Balwyn, but only early Sunday mornings.

 

[TheGreatGrundy]

Obviously the 1:20 from The Basin to Sassafras. It’s very popular and we regularly ride there from North Balwyn, but only early Sunday mornings.

I found you annoying but nothing with which I couldn't cope fairly easily. You guys rode single file. The drivers really frustrated me - people who lived in the hills who couldn't pass on roads they knew well. The bikers used a popular cafe in The Basin as a coffee stop. Why do you call it the 1.20? I would imagine the ride down is pretty exhilarating.

 

[jathanas]

When I lived in the Dandenongs, I had to commute each day via the Mountain Highway, a two lane road winding down to the bottom of the hill which was the most popular road in the hills with cyclists. They would usually be riding in both directions when I went to work around 8am. It was really annoying, largely because of the number of drivers who were unable to pass them, and resulted on several occasions in me passing rider and driver together with a distant oncoming car in my sights. It was possible for drivers to pass without crossing the white line but so many of them were intent on leaving several metres of space, far more than was required.

Mountain highway is not my favorite road but it was a nice ride. Springvale road and Beach road are crap.

I avoided big group rides as they were frustrating to drivers. Groups of up to 6 riding single file on were my typical group rides

 

[TheGreatGrundy]

Mountain highway is not my favorite road but it was a nice ride. Springvale road and Beach road are crap.

I avoided big group rides as they were frustrating to drivers. Groups of up to 6 riding single file on were my typical group rides

What is your favourite ride.

 

[neilk]

I found you annoying but nothing with which I couldn't cope fairly easily. You guys rode single file. The drivers really frustrated me - people who lived in the hills who couldn't pass on roads they knew well. The bikers used a popular cafe in The Basin as a coffee stop. Why do you call it the 1.20? I would imagine the ride down is pretty exhilarating.

It's called the 1 in 20 (1:20) because its average gradient over the 6.3km or so is 5%, or 1 in 20.
While descending we were probably as fast as most cars, though keeping well in control.

 

[Timmy from Thomastown]

I found you annoying but nothing with which I couldn't cope fairly easily. You guys rode single file. The drivers really frustrated me - people who lived in the hills who couldn't pass on roads they knew well. The bikers used a popular cafe in The Basin as a coffee stop. Why do you call it the 1.20? I would imagine the ride down is pretty exhilarating.

That’s the gradient.

 

[jathanas]

What is your favourite ride.

Warrandyte-Healesville-Toolangi-Kinglake

Mountain bike: Forest, Wombat state forrest, Smiths Gully

 

[TheGreatGrundy]

Warrandyte-Healesville-Toolangi-Kinglake

Mountain bike: Forest, Wombat state forrest, Smiths Gully

How many kms over what kind of terrain? Nothing steep and long like the mountain hwy?

 

[TheGreatGrundy]

That’s the gradient.

I did guess as much afterwards but thought the mountain highway gradient may be steeper than that.

 

[jathanas]

How many kms over what kind of terrain? Nothing steep and long like the mountain hwy?

The first loop is about 100km.

If you go from Toolangi to Kinglake this is the climb:

Myers Creek Road Climb

Length: 6.7km Average Gradient: 6% Total Ascent: 437m Climb Category: 2 Start: Myers Creek Road - Healesville Finish: Corner Myers Creek Road and Monda Road - Toolangi Nearby: Toolangi, Healesville, Kinglake, Yarra Glen The Myers Creek Road climb is the sister climb to ride to Chum Creek Road...

visityarravalley.com.au

If you go from Kinglake to Toolangi:

Kinglake | The Climbing Cyclist

One of the most ridden and most popular cycling roads in all of Victoria, the climb to Kinglake is one that all Victorian cyclists should try at least once.

theclimbingcyclist.com

Riding on the MTB usually involves lots of climbing and descending unless one is on the yarra trails.

 

[JB1975]

Little Richard died a day ago, which at least gives me an occasion to remember what he was about. Maybe those 50s rockers (Chuck Berry, Richard, Fats Domino) seem flaky to some people, but as I get older I hear the fantastic fusion of earlier music which created rock.

The American South is filled with many questionable legacies, but its influence in music is a truly righteous thing.

Edit: Not sure why I'm posting this in 'vent' thread. I'm all shook up.

 

[TheGreatGrundy]

The first loop is about 100km.

If you go from Toolangi to Kinglake this is the climb:

Myers Creek Road Climb

Length: 6.7km Average Gradient: 6% Total Ascent: 437m Climb Category: 2 Start: Myers Creek Road - Healesville Finish: Corner Myers Creek Road and Monda Road - Toolangi Nearby: Toolangi, Healesville, Kinglake, Yarra Glen The Myers Creek Road climb is the sister climb to ride to Chum Creek Road...

visityarravalley.com.au

If you go from Kinglake to Toolangi:

Kinglake | The Climbing Cyclist

One of the most ridden and most popular cycling roads in all of Victoria, the climb to Kinglake is one that all Victorian cyclists should try at least once.

theclimbingcyclist.com

Riding on the MTB usually involves lots of climbing and descending unless one is on the yarra trails.

Reading the description, there is more climbing than I thought. I am not so familiar with the Toolangi - Kinglake section. Don't know how I ever imagined you as fat!

 

[neilk]

The first loop is about 100km.

If you go from Toolangi to Kinglake this is the climb:

Myers Creek Road Climb

Length: 6.7km Average Gradient: 6% Total Ascent: 437m Climb Category: 2 Start: Myers Creek Road - Healesville Finish: Corner Myers Creek Road and Monda Road - Toolangi Nearby: Toolangi, Healesville, Kinglake, Yarra Glen The Myers Creek Road climb is the sister climb to ride to Chum Creek Road...

visityarravalley.com.au

If you go from Kinglake to Toolangi:

Kinglake | The Climbing Cyclist

One of the most ridden and most popular cycling roads in all of Victoria, the climb to Kinglake is one that all Victorian cyclists should try at least once.

theclimbingcyclist.com

Riding on the MTB usually involves lots of climbing and descending unless one is on the yarra trails.

Usually do Kinglake via Panton Hill from the Eltham side. Right on 100km from North Balwyn return.

 

[jathanas]

Usually do Kinglake via Panton Hill from the Eltham side. Right on 100km from North Balwyn return.

Yep. Panton Hill->Smiths->St Andrews->Kinglake. Awesome ride. It's been years since I did that many kms in a day.

 

[jathanas]

Reading the description, there is more climbing than I thought. I am not so familiar with the Toolangi - Kinglake section. Don't know how I ever imagined you as fat!

My weight as a competitive cyclist in 2011 was 75kg. Now that I compete in Olympic lifting my training weight is 82kg. That's a 7kg net gain!

 

[JB1975]

My weight as a competitive cyclist in 2011 was 75kg. Now that I compete in Olympic lifting my training weight is 82kg. That's a 7kg net gain!

View attachment 873148

Someone didn't forget 'leg day' at the gym...

 

[jathanas]

Someone didn't forget 'leg day' at the gym...

 

[jathanas]

Currently on this planet.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2017/06/15/seven-percent-of-americans-think-chocolate-milk-comes-from-brown-cows-and-thats-not-even-the-scary-part/

On Pixel 4 XL using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[ottoman]

My weight as a competitive cyclist in 2011 was 75kg. Now that I compete in Olympic lifting my training weight is 82kg. That's a 7kg net gain!

View attachment 873148

That photo is obviously fake, there are no shadows being cast.

 

[jmac70]

That photo is obviously fake, there are no shadows being cast.

Totally, and I can’t see any stars ️

 

[Black_White]

That photo is obviously fake, there are no shadows being cast.

And they’ve cut out the visor.
Obviously something to hide.

 

[jackcass]

How often have you seen them crash into pedestrians? My experience on shared bike paths is that everybody cooperates well. In fact the most dangerous of all are pedestrians wearing headphones and reading their phones. And dogs illegally let off the leash. Cyclists on shared paths are generally courteous and careful. I don’t recall seeing or being involved in a stack on a bike path. ( ok that was that one time but that was just me and some mulch)

More often than they should.

 

[TheGreatGrundy]

My weight as a competitive cyclist in 2011 was 75kg. Now that I compete in Olympic lifting my training weight is 82kg. That's a 7kg net gain!

View attachment 873148

You're a solid looking boy, jathanas.

I don't usually check the █████, thread, but had a look this morning and am impressed with your very knowledgeable and eloquently expressed posts. You really are an all rounder, not just brawn, but brains too.