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Warning to Cycle Tourists coming to Australia for World Championships

Page 2 - Get up to date with the latest news, scores & standings from the Cycling News Community.
Hillavoider said:
and it sounds like i should move to london. and does anyone know why there is so much road rage in australia? its really bizarre, i don't see it as much when i travel to europe or the US.

I voiced this question while amongst a group doing Paris-Roubaix earlier in the year. One of the Aussies just said "stress", and that people felt safe in their cars to vent without repercussion.
Personally, I don't buy that - the UK, US and Europe have cars and roads too - and supposedly Aussies are far more "laid back"...
Is it attitude? Increased aggression? ACF seems to get wound up and abusive quite quickly - is this a reflection of they way Aussies are becoming?
 
May 28, 2010
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Archibald said:
Snip.....
Aussies are far more "laid back"...
Is it attitude? Increased aggression? ACF seems to get wound up and abusive quite quickly - is this a reflection of they way Aussies are becoming?

Rant On...........What a ridiculous and unwarranted statement. It is typical though why am I surpised by this uninformed crap you would think that there has been enough stereotypical treatment of aussies without this....besides we've only been like this since we lost the World Cup to the Poms in '03..............

.........if I was ACF I'd stab somebody soon.....:eek:Rant Off
 
Jul 16, 2009
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waccampbell said:
I've been riding around the countryside just outside of Geelong now and I recommend it to anyone who comes out here with their bikes.

I've only had one or two close encounters with drivers not giving enough room but other then that have not been yelled at or abused by anybody.

It will be great fun, I'm happy I'll be home from work during the Worlds, they go right passed my street, hell yeah!

We are staying at one of the caravan parks in Geelong for the Worlds ... with my trusty TREK on hand. Whats are some of the good rides to be had ???
 
Mar 6, 2009
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durianrider said:
Its crazy eh Craig, we got some good roads around here but crew just go nuts sometimes when they see cyclists. Ive kicked more car doors on the GC than anywhere. Not that thats the best solution but it sure does feel good in the moment.

Burleigh heads and Coolongatta redneck hot spots Ive found. Murbah area is pretty chill. Byron is great.

Biggest solo training ride :515km
Biggest weeks training:1530km
Biggest year :30020

Those are awesome Ks you're doing, DR. You might have liked the 12hour & 24 hour Time Trials that were on practically every week in summer, in England. I never rode a 12, but admired the guys that did them, including one from my old club, Weaver Valley CC, who used to ride them on a racing trike.

You're diet is obviously good for you. I haven't seen too many vegans who looked muscular; but I'm sure most are quite aerobically fit.
 
May 26, 2009
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Archibald said:
I voiced this question while amongst a group doing Paris-Roubaix earlier in the year. One of the Aussies just said "stress", and that people felt safe in their cars to vent without repercussion.
Personally, I don't buy that - the UK, US and Europe have cars and roads too - and supposedly Aussies are far more "laid back"...
Is it attitude? Increased aggression? ACF seems to get wound up and abusive quite quickly - is this a reflection of they way Aussies are becoming?

ACF is a bit of an outlier on the graph but it does seem like a 'f you, get out of my way, it's all about me' attitude is growing in Australia. The laid back thing is in the past.

Is it the long working hours, sky high real estate prices, financial pressures, gradual rise of the 'me me me' lifestyle? The fact that 'effeminate lycra louts' have become a favourite punchbag for right-wing radio commentators in mainstream media? Don't know. But when even the Victorian Police preface a report of a bunch of cyclists rammed by a car with "Now, we all are annoyed and frustrated by cyclists, but...", it tells you something about the local mindset.
 
May 28, 2010
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Barracuda said:
We are staying at one of the caravan parks in Geelong for the Worlds ... with my trusty TREK on hand. Whats are some of the good rides to be had ???

Lots of 'em...
depends how far and how hard you want.

there is a great Bellarine loop which from the park you're in would be about 120k, or another out over the Barrabool hills looping back through Bells beach and Torquay for about 90k. Shorter rides out to Barwon Heads and back along the coast will be 55k from where you are staying. Weekdays or early weekends there are always groups going out along the Great Ocean Road to Lorne and back (120k on what can be a dangerous road so get out early on weekends)

Bunches leaving from a number of places - closest to you would be De Grandi Cycle and Sport store about 1km from you and has a variety of bunches and speeds leaving every day.

Geelong is a cycling town, so you won't be riding alone I can asure you of that!
 
Jun 10, 2009
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durianrider said:
Its crazy eh Craig, we got some good roads around here but crew just go nuts sometimes when they see cyclists. Ive kicked more car doors on the GC than anywhere. QUOTE]

No suprised there are p'd off motorists on the GC if you go around kicking their car doors...;)
 
Apr 29, 2009
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I find on the Gold Coast that the buses and taxis are the worst for giving cyclists a hard time.
I have been lucky enough to have ridden in many countries, but Australia is the pits when it comes to respect for cyclists.
 
Jul 27, 2009
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Saddlesaw said:
Lots of 'em...
depends how far and how hard you want.

There's also options to the north through the Brisbane Ranges - if you're feeling really heroic there's the infamous Mount Wallace (a short but brutally steep climb).

If you want big climbs, however, there's nothing really close unfortunately.
 
Nov 2, 2009
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yourwelcome said:
ACF is a bit of an outlier on the graph but it does seem like a 'f you, get out of my way, it's all about me' attitude is growing in Australia. The laid back thing is in the past.

Is it the long working hours, sky high real estate prices, financial pressures, gradual rise of the 'me me me' lifestyle? The fact that 'effeminate lycra louts' have become a favourite punchbag for right-wing radio commentators in mainstream media? Don't know. But when even the Victorian Police preface a report of a bunch of cyclists rammed by a car with "Now, we all are annoyed and frustrated by cyclists, but...", it tells you something about the local mindset.

I missed the comment from the Vic Police, and am slightly (but only slightly) surprised by it.

I agree with your other comments. I can remember laid back Australia, and I think it disappeared sometime around the turn of the century or in the early 'noughties'. In general, Australians these days have a quite aggressive energy. I think of it as a sense of belligerent entitlement.