Cycling in the ACT

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I am so peeved by the events of today, that I still cant sleep at 12.35am and am writing this post.

It all started off nicely, great weather. Decided to climb up Mt Stromlo in Canberra. Beautiful sights, not many cars on the road. On the way back I decide to return to Belconnen via copping crossing as the road sign indicated 12km to Belconnen.

While I was working my way uphill, some car drove really close by and then I heard a glass breaking sound. First instinct was that a car had hit me, but I was still on my bike. Then only did I realise that I felt a sharp pain in the arm, and the upper part of my behind.

The bastards had thrown a beer bottle at me which probably broke when it impacted some part of my bike. By the time I had recovered from the shock of it, the idiots were far away.

Now I am hoping for some input from local Canberrans:

1. Did I do anything wrong in cycling on Urirah road?
2. Is it safe to cycle alone on such roads?
3. Is there a safe and unsafe part of Canberra to cycle in? Safe being areas relatively free of dumb-asses in cars.

To make things worse, I got swooped at by some birds, and saw this guy laughing at it all.

To make matters even worse, I suffered really bad cramping on the ride home to Belconnen. I had turned around after the beer bottle incident, and went on the bike paths. The cramps were so bad, I fell off my bike 3 times while trying to pedal home. The 3rd time i fell off, a kind driver offered to get me some gatorade. Helped a bit, but I still had to walk home 3 kms.

What a bad day!!

Poor Thomas! :(

You should have just gone for a walk in the park with your camera. ;)

I don't think you did anything wrong. There are real wankers everywhere and I would suggest that you should report it to the police so that it becomes at least part of the statistic. You never know, the same person may have been a regular at that kind of things.

Thanks for the sympathy guys, I have got a red welt right across my behind. Was speaking to someone else who got hit by an apple, fell on the road, a car narrowly missing his head.

He reckons that these wankers know the damage that they do, and do it to deliberately cause the hurt.

Thanks for the sympathy guys, I have got a red welt right across my behind. Was speaking to someone else who got hit by an apple, fell on the road, a car narrowly missing his head.

He reckons that these wankers know the damage that they do, and do it to deliberately cause the hurt. Idiots aside, the next worse thing about riding in ACT is those pesky magpies. I have never experienced them as a bad as I did in my time over there, as I have here in Perth.

I hope you reported the idiots to the Woden Station or your local up there at Belconnen.

You didn't do anything wrong. Maybe I'm lucky but I've never had anything thrown at me in 25 years + or cycling in Canberra. Urriara Rd and Coppings Crossing are regular roads for cycling and the local clubs have been racing on those roads for as long as I can remember.

You must have been unlucky with the magpies. Actualy I haven't had a magpie swoop at me in anger for several weeks now. It's more like they're escorting me now so don't worry about them anymore.

Regarding the cramps my usual suggestion is to take some magnesium. It does wonders. Lonsdale Street Cyclery and the Ride Shop have a drink mix brand called Endura and I can reccomend it. More minerals than the others and it includes ample magnesium. Other shops will have it to but I know that those 2 have it.

Regards, Anthony

i spend alot of time out cotter/uriarra way doing the general ride. the worst is the 4wd booners, and p plate wearing commondoors. never had a problem saftey wise myself but have had abuse hurled.

im allways happy in the thought that they probly go home and shag there sister.

i spend alot of time out cotter/uriarra way doing the general ride. the worst is the 4wd booners, and p plate wearing commondoors. never had a problem saftey wise myself but have had abuse hurled.

im allways happy in the thought that they probly go home and shag there sister.

We thought riding in Sydney was bad but if you don't know how the cycle path's hook up or don't want to ride on them at night, it's the pits.
We've never anywhere hads so many cagers scream at us to get back on the cycle path.
Canberra exemplifies all the problems that are created by marginalising cyclists by providing a shared path system rather than an on road network.
Sorry that you didn't manage to get their details so you could report it Thomas. The next person they target may be hurt more.

Cheers

Geoff

All things considered I was lucky not to be hurt more. Sadly I did not get their licence plates.

Problem with these people ... is youth and beer. I live across the University, and have had young punks try and talk their way to "testing" my bike out.

"buddy can I borrow your bike for a ride?"

Gee whiz ...

As others have said, there's a reasonable awareness of riders on the Cotter / Uriarra roads - and it will build when we finally get to use the Stromlo Forest Park. I've had stuff chucked at me too, but there is little you can do but ride it out (pardon the pun). Unfortunately, there are ratbags everywhere.
I have to take a mildly offended position on jetsan's labelling of people as '4WD booners' - I own both a 4WD and a bike (well, five bikes really) and use the Cotter / Uriarra region with both modes of transport. I don't think that I'm a better person when I'm using one or the other.
As for the magpies - it's that time of the year, so there's little you can do about it. I have noticed a number of people with cable ties sticking up out of their helmets this year - or has it always been done and I'm just noticing it this year. I've got three locations with nesting magpies on my regular training routes, so I'm familiar with the whistle of wings and the thump on the helmet! I've got some 'eyes in the back of my head' that I made up and attached to my helmet, but they don't seem to make much difference. As for being laughed at - I'm sure that it looks pretty funny to an outsider.:rolleyes:
Finally, tackling Mt Stromlo, then Coppins Crossing on the way back isn't a trivial ride, so hydration is always going to have a say in how it goes. The Endura stuff seems to work for me, but I can't claim any great improvement over other sports drinks / supplements.