Monthly Archives: June 2015

Cars vs Bikes infographics

 

Dear Roulers,

I’m a big fan of the infographic.  Whilst I’m some what concerned that the Gen Y/Hipster/Millennial types may be using these as an excuse not read text that takes longer than 30 seconds, the infographic is a snappy way of getting a point across.  Which brings me to 2 that I found on that wonderful place….the internet.

The first is sourced from CycleAsia who are promoting cycling as a healthly, better for the environment than cars alternative of transport.  Imagine how much better our inner city roads would be there were less cars.
20150628-Car-vs-bike-space

 

The second is from our own wonderfully low profile Cycling Promotion Fund.  For me this one makes the point beautifully as to why people should be riding a bike and not driving a car.

 

20150628-CPF-Environment

 

The moral of the story being if you trip is under 3km, do the planet a favour and use your  bicycle. My own personal contribution to saving the planet this year has ticked over the 2,800 kilometre mark this week, which means I am 56% complete on my goal for this year.

On a different tack, its only 6 more sleeps until the Tour de France 2015.  Woo hoo 🙂

Until next time,

Marv

The end of the Magic Spanner??

Dear Roulers,

I was reading a recent article in Cycle Sport July 2015 edition, talking about the end of the ‘magic spanner’. Apart from terse warnings from the UCI Commissaries, the article was a showcase for a number of nostalgic photos demonstrating the bravery of team bicycle mechanics.  Leaning out of vehicle traveling at 40 to 50 Km/h looks like an easy way to end up in hospital.   Unfortunately there is no easy way of directing you to the article, as far as I can tell, there is no online copy…boo 🙁

For those of you that have no idea what the magic spanner or its close relative the ‘sticky bidon’ are, its occurs when a rider drops out of the peloton, on the pretence of requiring an adjustment to brakes, cleats, cables, whatever, and catches a presumably well earned rest hanging on the team car.  Here’s an example of an intrepid FDJ mechanic braving life and limb. Impressive core strength, young man.

20150626-fdjmechanic

Its close cousin is where a rider seems take a very long time to secure their grip on a bidon ie 1 or 2 minutes, before taking a drink.

Neither of these ‘tactics’ should be confused with hanging on to a motorbike…

20150626-Justplaincheating

….which is just plain cheating.

Nor is Richie Porte’s ‘wheelgate’ fiasco, which basically cost him any chance of maglia rosa in 2015.

So, naughty, naughty, very naughty, which is no doubt why the UCI issued a reminder just before the 2015 Paris-Nice race and fined a couple of team  a 1000 Swiss Francs. The article’s author seems to make great sport of team Sky who have a number of photos included in the article.  Oh well…….

As the sole rider on Team Marv I have to say that I want one of these magic spanners.  I’ve had 3 punctures in 6 weeks and having a Team Marv support vehicle would be just awesome. My personal pick would be the Team Sky jag that’s been going around in the ‘hot lap’ that’s been going round on SBS’s Bike Lane.

20150626-TeamSkyJaguar

I’ll be passing the hat round shortly. Don’t be shy, chip in 🙂

Until then ride safely

Marv

2015 Giro d’Italia Results – Where did the Aussies finish?

Dear Roulers,

This post took a lot longer to write than I thought.  In fact this could be the only list of its type on the WWW.  I had to fish through the individual stage results to figure out, who DNS and DNF amongst the Aussie contingent.

So to do a quick recap, the 2015 Giro started May 9 an finished three weeks later on Sunday, May 31.  The riders that finished completed a course of 3481km long averaging 165km a day.  It included:

  • six mountain finishes and three other testing days of climbing
  • six stages for the sprinters,
  • a 59.2km individual time trial, and
  • kicked off with a 17.6km team time trial.

Of the 196 riders that started only 163 finished.

20150619-AContadorWinner

 

The race was won by Alberto Contador (above in case you can’t recognise him) and the Lanterne Rouge, place 163, was Marco Coledan (Ita) of  Trek Racing, who finished 6:40:13 behind.

20150619-Chris-FroomeWinner

 

I wonder if Contador will be able to go the double given Chris Froome’s performance in this week’s  Critérium du Dauphiné.  I’m counting the days until the Tour de France.

 Place Name Country Team
1 Alberto Contador Spain Tinkoff-Saxo 88:22:25
2 Fabio Aru Italy Astana Pro Team 0:01:53
3 Mikel Landa Meana Spain Astana Pro Team 0:03:05
4 Andrey Amador Costa Rica Movistar Team 0:08:10
5 Ryder Hesjedal Canada Cannondale-Garmin Pro Cycling Team 0:09:52
6 Leopold Konig Czech Republic Team Sky 0:10:41
7 Steven Kruijswijk Netherlands Team LottoNL-Jumbo 0:10:53
8 Damiano Caruso Italy BMC Racing Team 0:12:08
9 Alexandre Geniez France FDJ.fr 0:15:51
10 Yury Trofimov Russia Team Katusha 0:16:14
 Place These guys finished
33 Michael Rogers Australia Tinkoff-Saxo 2:11:06
63 Simon Clarke Australia Orica-GreenEdge 3:20:33
77 Adam Hansen Australia Lotto Soudal 3:49:51
107 Heinrich Haussler Australia IAM Cycling 4:43:01
109 Luke Durbridge Australia Orica-GreenEdge 4:50:24
122 Sam Bewley Australia Orica-GreenEdge 5:10:21
128 Brett Lancaster Australia Orica-GreenEdge 5:18:55
151 Calvin Watson Australia Trek Factory Racing 5:56:12
160 Michael Hepburn Australia Orica-GreenEdge 6:13:16
These guys didn’t
Retired Stage 12 Simon Gerrans Australia  Orica-GreenEdge
Retired Stage 13 Michael Matthews Australia  Orica-GreenEdge
Retired Stage 15 Richie Porte Australia Team Sky

Melbourne City’s Cycling Plan

Dear Roulers,

Occasionally, I’m prone to having a winge about why Melbourne Councils and the Victorian State Government don’t do more to encourage people in inner suburbs to commute to work.   The other when I was doing a search for cycling infographics I stumbled upon this -> http://www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/AboutCouncil/PlansandPublications/strategies/Pages/Bikeplan.aspx

I have to say was impressed.  However, the current plan finishes 2016 and the Council have commenced seeking engagement and feedback on the next plan for 2016-2020.  All I can say is get involved -> http://participate.melbourne.vic.gov.au/projects/draft-bicycle-plan-2016-2020/

Any way here’s the current cycle plan’s infographic and I think its pretty kewl.

See you on the roads.

Marv

20150608-MelbourneCyclingPlan