Has anyone come across a sub-$150 computer with an easy to read display?

As much as I hate to admit it, I can't see as well as I used to be
able to. So reading a my bike computer, especially at night is a nit
of a problem. I have done a couple of Audax rides at night recently
and being able to read the trip distance is essential.

I have tried a few models of computer but none seem to have a clear
display of time and distance. I don't really care all that much about
current speed but it seems to be what computers focus on.

TIA for ideas

Peter

Hi everyone
Just a reminder that a few of us are riding out to Cape Hillsborough
then Boulder Creek this weekend. Camping overnight at Boulder Creek
(or at a friend's place nearby if there is no water in the creek).
We're leaving from Rock'n'Road Cycles at 6am on Saturday. Returning
Sunday afternoon sometime.

It's a fully self-supported tour. You'll need to bring all your own
food, clothing and camping equipment and carry it on your bike. If
you'd like to join in, give me a call.

Peter McCallum
0402 966 560

Has anyone else noticed the shared path on the new Forgan bridge? I
haven't had a close look but it appears to be much less than the 3.5
to 4 metre width in the proposals put out by main roads a couple of
years ago.

I'd like to get a closer look with a tape measure and see how it
compares with what was expected. Anyone like to come along?

Peter

Leave town at midnight, pedal 100km or so through the night with the
moon lighting your way and arrive at Cape Hillsborough at dawn.

Sound like your cup of tea?

There's another full moon at the end of the month. I'm keen to take
advantage of it. The only question is who'll bring the pancakes for
breakie?

Start: 0:00hrs 30 Dec 2009 somewhere in Mackay.  Ride along the river
out to Mirani. Over Mt Charlton then to Mt Ossa and Cape Hillsborough
for breakfast. Arrive about 5:00hrs 30 Dec then ride (or organise a
lift) home, sleep all day and be ready to party again new years eve.
Cyclones etc permitting.

Good lights (front & rear) and reflectors essential.

Let me know if you'd like to come along.

Peter
petermccallum@...
0402 966 560

The next moonlight ride will be tomorrow night, Tuesday 1st December 2009. As
usual the ride will leave Rock 'N' Road Cycles, Victoria St., at 7:00 PM.

Paul Lamperd
Mobile 0427 635 093

So far we have four people interested in doing the weekend bike tour
(plus me)

I have a map of a possible route on Bikely.com. If you click on this
link you should be able to find it
http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Boulder-Creek-Camping-Trip
. It's just over 180km for the weekend.

Don't worry if it looks a bit daunting. We can make a decision at Cape
Hillsborough on the first day as to whether to continue to Boulder
Creek or just camp at Smalleys Beach/Seaforth/Cape Hillsborough
depending upon how fit everyone is feeling. Cape Hillsborough is about
half way and stopping there will reduce the journey to about 90km for
the two days.

Here's the plan: Start at Rock'n'Road Cycles, follow the river to
Dumbleton for a break, continue to The Leap for coffee/drink, then to
Cape Hillsborough for morning tea or camping. If we proceed to Boulder
Creek it's pretty much away from shops for the rest of the journey
till we get to Kuttabul on Sunday. On day two there is a bit of up and
down till we get to the top of Mt Charlton, then it's a nice descent.
We follow the Mt Martin road over to the Bruce Hwy, then down to
Kuttabul, Mt Jukes and Habana. From Habana back to Farleigh and
Sugarshed Rd all the way home. If we stay at Cape Hillsborough then we
can just come back along the Seaforth Rd and head back via Habana/
Sugarshed Rd.

There's a fair bit of dirt road on this route so it would be good to
have your wider tyres but that's not essential. The roads aren't
generally too rough and you can just get off and walk for a bit if
they are.

I'll bring a trailer and can put cooking equipment in it, but you'll
need your own cutlery, plate etc. A couple of water bottles on your
bike would be a great idea. Other than that, you'll need the usual
camping equipment such as a tent, clothes, sleeping bag, torch, insect
repellant, sunscreen, food and so on. A pump and puncture kit should
suffice for spares for your bike as long as it's in reasonable
condition.

You'll obviously need something to carry all that stuff in. It's best
to put it on your bike rather than in a back pack. Panniers and a rack
are the usual choice of touring cyclists. There are many examples of
improvised panniers to be found on Google. There may be some in bike
shops around Mackay too, or online. Just make sure they are able to be
secured firmly to your bike rack so they don't bounce off or get
caught up in your wheel. Octopus straps can be a real help with that.

I'd like to leave early to avoid the heat of the day, say 6am, but
don't really mind what time we get underway. If anyone would like to
leave earlier or later please say so.

Well that's about it for now, if there's anyone else interested in
riding please send me an email.

Peter

petermccallum@...

Hi Bikemkyers
Anyone interested in a weekend ride to Cape Hillsborough - Boulder
Creek area? Camp overnight and return the next day. Stopping at as
many swimming spots as we can find.

I'm thinking Saturday/Sunday 12&13th December. The route, distance and
destination is open to discussion. We could do Marian to Finch Hatton
for example. A nice easy pace with plenty of stops. Families welcome.

Let anyone know who you think might be interested.

Peter

petermccallum@...
0402 966 560

 

If you are looking for a group to ride with on Saturday morning here's a few suggestions. 

Ladies Only Ride

Leaving Mackay Surf Club Car Park 6:00am

1st level will be 5.5km or 2 loops 11km (up to 15kph pace).

2nd level will be 18km (between 15 and 25kph).

3rd level will be 30km (25kph and above pace).

This ride alternates between starts at Mackay Surf Club and Town Beach carpark each weekend.

Beaches Ride

Departs from Corry Cycles, 118a Sydney St at 6:30am sharp (every Saturday)

Social ride for reasonably fit cyclists. Up to 50 people in the bunch depending on what else is happening.

Does a loop out to Mackay Airport, Town Beach, Mackay Harbour Breakwater, Lamberts Beach and return for a coffee at the Bluewater Lagoon cafes.

About 45km at 28km/h 

Triathlon Club Training Ride

Leaving Rivage (River St near Bluewater Lagoon) 5:30am sharp

Marina Hampton run to Marian shop for a drink, out to Eton, across the back to Homebush, turn left just past the General Gordon pub and ride back to Peak Downs Highway, turn right and back to Mackay.  

Approx 90km (around 30km/h)

If you know of any other rides on this weekend, please send a message to this list (bikemky@yahoogroups.com) with the details.

Peter

If you have some time to spare, it would be worthwhile filling in this survey so
that the council understands that there is a need for more  and better cycling
facilities (that could include bikepaths, bikelanes, training routes, touring
routes, etc). Scroll down to "Open Space, Sport & Recreation Strategy"

http://www.mackay.qld.gov.au/community/community_consultation/current_consultati\
ons

On Saturday's beaches ride there was a fall resulting in one rider being taken
to hospital in an ambulance. After the ride we discussed the insurance issues.
It appears that if you are a member of Cycling Australia you are covered if you
are on an organised training ride or an individual "logged" training ride,
whatever logged is. Coverage is up to $500 per week for loss of income and up to
$3000 for medical expenses.

However, if you are a member of Bicycle Queensland, the coverage is for all
cycling activities, up to $800 per week for loss of income (for twice the period
of the CA insurance) and $5000 or medical expenses.

It seems that Bicycle Queensland and a number of other cycling groups have found
a much better deal than CA. It would be worthwhile putting some pressure on CA
to find out why the benefits are so low. If you are interested in insurance,
have a look at the bq.org.au and check out the full list of benefits.

Peter

On Saturday's beaches ride there was a fall resulting in one rider being taken
to hospital in an ambulance. After the ride we discussed the insurance issues.
It appears that if you are a member of Cycling Australia you are covered if you
are on an organised training ride or an individual "logged" training ride,
whatever logged is. Coverage is up to $500 per week for loss of income and up to
$3000 for medical expenses.

However, if you are a member of Bicycle Queensland, the coverage is for all
cycling activities, up to $800 per week for loss of income (for twice the period
of the CA insurance) and $5000 or medical expenses.

It seems that Bicycle Queensland and a number of other cycling groups have found
a much better deal than CA. It would be worthwhile putting some pressure on CA
to find out why the benefits are so low. If you are interested in insurance,
have a look at the bq.org.au and check out the full list of benefits.

Peter

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-MRL_NacTY

The monthly moonlight ride will be held tomorrow night, Monday 2nd November,
2009. As usual the ride will leave Rock 'N' Road Cyles, Victoria St., Mackay at
7:00 PM.

The evening coincides with Bicycle Mackay Meeting being held at Mackay
Conservation Group at 156 WOOD ST (opposite TAFE, Shakespeare St end)commencing
at 5:30 PM.

Come to the meeting, then go for a relaxed ride.

Paul lamperd
Mobile 0427 635 093

Apologies,
Thanks Peter
The address is 156 WOOD st,  not alfred st
Robert

Silly me,
I didn't put the time and place.
Meeting starts at 5.30 pm.  so it's easy to get to after work, well that's the
idea anyway, finishes at 7 pm.  Sometimes we go out for a snack afterwards,
although I will bring a few nibbles.  I think Raylene is bringing some of the
drinks left over from the film night of bike week.  Sometimes we go out for
curry afterwards. I won't have eaten so am happy to go out where-ever anyone
wants to go.
The meeting is held at the Mackay Conservation Group rooms which are in Alfred
St, sort of opposite the TAFE, next to where the petrol station used to be
(still looks like they should be selling petrol there).  It's about mid-way
between the two adult stores (they have signs outside with balloons on them).
Cheers,
Robert

Hi all.
There will be a meeting on Monday.
I will present John Pucher's latest info in health and cycling.
I have had a bit of a discussion with Mr Amos at the Mackay Regional Council
about the state of the Draft Bicycle Plan, so we will discuss that.
We need to discuss the convenor position for next year too.
Looking forward to seeing you there.
Cheers
Robert.

Dear All

I'll be an apology tonight - will have to bring wine left over from movie night next time (I'm away for work).

Cheers
Raylene

Hi everyone
Here's a good interview about cycle planning in Copenhagen, which has
strong levels of cycling to work and ambitious plans to increase the
level of bike use. Worth a listen if you have a spare 15 minutes.

http://www.abc.net.au/rn/nationalinterest/stories/2009/2716422.htm

Peter

+----------------------------------------------------------------+

Think B4U Print

1 ream of paper = 6% of a tree and 5.4kg CO2 in the atmosphere

3 sheets of A4 paper = 1 litre of water

+----------------------------------------------------------------+

Hello everyone
I'm getting ready to do the Paris-Brest-Paris in August 2011. To qualify I must
undertake a 400km ride and 2100km of other Audax rides this year (November
2009-October 2010). That means doing a lot of travel, because the only Audax
ride north of Brisbane in that period is the 200km one I'm organising for next
year's bike week.

So, if there's anyone else interested in doing some long distance rides and
would like to share petrol/driving to get to Brisbane, please let me know. I've
attached a list of Audax rides to be held in Qld this year, ranging from 200km
to 600km. Check it out and see if any of the challenges appeal to you. I'm
really keen to do the 400km ride on 7 November, if there's someone else who'd
like to drive down to Toowoomba.

For people who don't know, Audax is long distance riding against the clock.
Provided you can maintain a minimum of 15km/h (including stops) you can complete
the course in the allocated time. Audax Australia (and overseas Audax bodies)
impose strict rules on lighting and reflective clothing etc, over and above the
road rules. That is because there is a night riding component to nearly all
Audax rides. More details can be found at www.audax.org.au. On the website you
can find more rides by going to "Events" then "Calendar" and searching for rides
throughout Australia and NZ.

The Paris-Brest-Paris was first held in 1891 and is currently held every four
years. Riders have 90 hours to complete the 1200km course. It is the most
prestigious event on the Audax calendar. In 2011, for the first time, the number
of entrants will be limited, so completion of the 2500km or rides this year is
almost mandatory.

Thanks for reading

Peter
0402 966 560

Hi all,
Just reminding everyone that this is the start of Bike Week.
Please remember ride to work day on Wednesday and all of the great activites on
this week.
See you at the Metro at 3.
Cheers,
Robert

I tried it this morning. Maggie was sitting on the ground. I rode past with my helmet on. It swooped me. I kept riding and took my helmet off. It went and sat back down on the ground.
I suppose the maggie was thinking that it had forced me to remove the top of my head and counted that as a victory in the ongoing territorial battle.
Peter
On Wednesday, 07 October, 2009, at 08:05PM, "Peter McCallum" <petermccallum@...> wrote:
>

For all you magpie lovers out there...

>From: "Matt Elliston" <mpe@...>
>To: <undisclosed-recipients:;>
>Date: 07 October, 2009 07:16:11 PM EST
>Subject: [audax-oz] Magpie deterrents
>
>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9wHreVKgOT4
>
>Folks,
>
>Here is an interesting piece of research showing the relative merits of
>six (I think it's six!) kinds of magpie deterrents.
>
>Worth a watch, but you might choose not to implement the proven deterrent...
>
>Cheers
>Matt
>
>
>

As Summer begins to bite, it's worthwhile knowing a bit about the
symptoms, prevention and treatment of heat stroke just in case you or
someone you are riding with over-does it.

Here's an article from the Audax Australia magazine on the subject:
http://tinyurl.com/yaqaelu

Peter

I'm keen to hit the road for 8 or 9 hours on Sunday. Give me a call if
you are interested. Peter 0402 966 560