Category Archives: Infographics

Everyone likes pretty pictures.

Its the end of the world and I feel fine or Apologies to REM

Dear Rouleurs,

All over the world, a lot of people are having incredibly shit experiences with worst global event since World War 2. People are sick, dying, unemployed, suffering from extreme social distancing and wondering what happens next. MMT is no different. Europe’s death toll is slowly abating and has been overtaken by the USA. At least here in Australia and in our next door neighbour New Zealand we have been spared the worst.

In MMT’s small part of the world, he’s been deeply concerned, seemingly struck down by the common flu after his last ride on Good Friday. Stupidly, MMT rode in the wind and wet for nearly three hours and by Sunday afternoon was feeling pretty average. His youngest daughter has a much milder version of the same thing. Given the asbence of a few key symptoms its seems unlikely that either of us have COVID-19. Daughter No.2 has had a couple of trips to the ER with breathing difficulties attributed to Croup. However next week, once the worst of this is over, MMT plans on visiting his GP and having a chat.

So last blog MMT shamelessly stole a couple of graphs documenting the infection rate in Victoria and in Australia overall. The latest version of the graphs spell out how effective Australia has been contact tracing, isolating oversea visitors or returning Australians and controlling cluster outbreaks. If the Ruby Princess cruiseship debacle hadn’t occurred it could have been better.

This is Victoria’s:

This is Australia’s:

The curves in both graphs have experienced the required flattening. The cost of which is likley to paid for by generations of Australias, present and future.

So to tie back to were MMT started, MMT has been revisiting the music of his youth via a social media platform, that he refuses to name on principle. One of those albums was Document No.5, which contained the song and lyric, ‘Its the end of the world and I feel fine’. MMT is not sure about the ‘fine’ part yet.

Until next time, stay safe out there

MMT

Ode to Covid-19, the Italian Classics and hand hygiene

Dear Rouleurs,

It seems that professional cycling in Europe and quite possibly the Olympics in Japan are about to take a massive ‘haircut’. Unless you have have been living a cave in the Tarkine wilderness in Tasmania, you would know that a global pandemic is taking place. The so-called coronavirus Covid-19 is cutting a swath through China, Iran, South Korea and weirdly Italy.

Of these, its Italy that MMT is most disheartened by. The classics season was just about to start in Italy and country’s government has hit the ‘panic’ button. It has started implementing drastic measures to slow the spread of the virus. According to cyclingnews.com, it appears almost certain that men’s and women’s Strade Bianche (March 7), Tirreno-Adriatico (March 11-17), Milan-San Remo (March 8) and the Tour of Sicily (April 1-4), will all be cancelled.

This would be an unmitigated disaster for the races’ organiser, RCS Sport. MMT wonders whether RCS will survive these loss of high profile events this year. Closer to home, Australia’s Mitchelton-Scott team have announced that they were withdrawing from all races until the 22 March. A number of teams are already quarantined in Abu Dhabi UAE after four riders tested positive for the virus.

Here in Melbourne, there have been 6 reported cases and, fortunately to this time, no fatalities. As MMT has cycled and driven about Melbourne it does seem to be significantly quieter than usual. Overall, Australia has been relatively unscathed with 52 confirmed cases and 2 deaths. Quite frankly this is becoming quite grim, lets hope that this virus doesn’t get completely off the chain like Swine flu did in 2009/10.

So with that in mind MMT was delighted to see a little levity about this horrible situation by Will Dyson in today’s Age. Whilst its amusing it has a serious message, that all Melburians need to take to heart.

So until next time, ride safe and exercise good hand hygiene

Marv

More reasons why everyone should cycle more…

Dear Rouleurs,

MMT has been a busy, busy boy since his last blog in late last month.  A brief cold, trip to Perth, progressively increasing work and his daughter’s second birthday have all been massive distractions to the serious work of blogging.  Those factors have also meant quite a bit less cycling than he would of liked.

Nevertheless, this is a lame attempt at doing a quick blog on the subject of infographics.  This one is sourced from the US via the Atlanta Bicycle Coalition.

Its an effective sales pitch. MMT is feeling a little jipped, He hasn’t lost the 13lbs these guys claim that a commuter would lose.  Mind you that probably has a lot to do with MMT’s love of milk based coffee and the chocolates his wife keeps in the fridge 😉

Until next time, ride safe

Marv

 

Another cycling infographic, Thanks Chain Reaction

Dear Rouleurs,

Work has been ridiculousily busy with a never ending stream of meetings.  TUnfortunately this doesn’t leave alot of time for blogging and skiving off.  Alas, the joys of having a new role in new org structure that is finding its way.  Nevertheless, MMT saw this wonderful, if somewhat self serving infographic on FLAB Facebook the other day, and thought that it was worth sharing.  The original can be found here, please don’t sue me Chain Reaction 😉

The obvious message is that cycling is good for you, go ride.

Until next time, ride safe

Marv

PS Go Simon Yates (Mitchelton-Scott), Go you good thing…3 wins in the Giro sensational!!!