Ride2Work Day 2009

Ride to Work Day is on again on the 14 October 2009.  Bicycle NSW/Sydney doesn't seem interested in showing anything on their web site and yet Bicycle Victoria is promoting it with early bird prize draw registrations...

I havent looked at any of the Brisbane centric Qld sites.

Ride2Work day? What Work?

Let's see... to participate in the National Ride-2-Work day I decided to commute although I had nowhere to commute to! I was going to test ride my new (second-hand) Shogun cro-mo commuter I have got hold of and put together with some new parts from both Cecil Walker Cycles (Shimano105 2x10 groupset $629) and Cell Bikes ($50 no-name wheelset) with an added bonus of being able to see what time I could anticipate getting to South Tweed from home on this commuter rather than the old Giant Elwood (2007 model).

Well I was enjoying the ride, even the fairly easy Southern climb of Sextons Hill, when the next thing I know I've run over one of the bloody new Cat-Eye reflectors at about 80km/hr on the Northern descent and got myself a snake-bite flat on the rear..... so onto fixing that... bugger no tyre levers but I was carrying the spare and repair kit.... searched the side of the road in the debris looking for bits of plastic and metal for a 100 meters and managed finding some make do levers.... but the now rushed repair was not good enough and was later going to have to involve me in replacing the tube on the uphill climb returning back over Sextons Hill... called into South Tweed Bicycles to get the pressure checked but it wouldn't hold it. that was it! the end of testing the time to do a standard commute.... Changing a tube on both legs with no tyre levers, which I found I need to get the bead off but not back on the 19mm rim! unlike on the Giant Hybrid 25mm rim which I can do with just my hands, on and off.

anyway heres the Shogun with the new 105 groupset....

[caption id="attachment_278" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="The Shogun Samurai Commuter"][/caption]

Reminder

It's National Ride2Work day on the 15th of October.

Just like last year I'll try to get the energy to make the distance!

Parking Drama

Well today sees the first block to commuting, lack of bicycle storage facilities at the workplace. Out of a staff of approx. 60, there are only 3-4 bicycle commuters (none of these ride everyday). There is a semi-secure car-park provided for those who wish to drive, many car-pool, but only outside bike racks open to the general population of the school for those that wish to ride to and from work.

That location is open to easy abuse. The work location is inside a "fairly tough" high school where some students would enjoy using any easy anonymous opportunity to upset a staff member, through any combination of misplaced humour, malice, spite or more likely just some thoughtless prank such as letting down tyres (which often happens to the few students who brave riding to school).

Up until today 2 staff members, including myself when I am called in, have been using a small lockable store room to park the bikes out of harms way. But today a fellow non-riding, and has said never would, staff member made a complaint at the location. In their favour it IS an OH&S issue in that location we have been sort of (un)officialy allowed to use for the past term. As with any group the decision of an alternative location was not successfully determined. I also don't have any sway in the decision, but one of the locations offered was an abandoned lockable Male Staff Toilet. Which, as I understand it, will be soon pressed into active service. I could see that it would once again soon become another contentious location, not to say insecure with the door being left unlocked Accidentally and the entrance completely hidden from any easy casual observation.

Another offered location seems to be Nearly Perfect, to me anyway, with the space to hang 10 or more bicycles with locker space, access to a male shower. This location is only accessed by one other person in the school and that is only occasionally. But this was argued to be too far to walk in bike gear in public by the majority vote user? I could not understand why? The area allows changing into work clothing, isolated storage of summers sweaty riding kit, showering, overnight storage if required and even a ramp for access!

At this time it looks as though it will become one of those situations where workplace politics will cause angst, division and ultimately become the reason to stop all work commuting by this little black duck.

 At this time I will try to take up the second offer, that is if I can get access to the storage area (if I am the only rider it might be overruled) but even if I do I am unsure about whether it is worth the effort to put in a hanging rack and locker, screen the barred windows for both Security and Vanity reasons, if it is just a short term solution.

Don't I just love workplace politics! I do understand the workplace is for students first and foremost, but I see the simple example of someone commuting by bicycle for no other reason than they enjoy it to be a good one for the whole student population and should be supported!

National Ride to Work day - Roundup

The inaugural National Ride to Work Day has exceeded our expectations in terms of registration numbers, media interest and senior management endorsement. We've been bowled over by the huge effort people like you have made to make this day really count.

The official stats are:
Over 3000 workplace coordinators
More than 70 community breakfasts around Australia
More than 30,000 registrations so far - stay tuned for final figures!
Up to 90,000 participants Australia-wide - based on 2/3 of participants not taking the final step and registering

Do you know participants in your organisation who rode to work today but didn't register? Can you help us by encouraging them to sign up? Registrations are open until 5pm, 24 October 2007. All registrants will still be eligible to win one of the 14 TREK bikes, and they'll increase your chances of winning a prize in the TravelSmart Workplace Challenge.

At this stage, we encourage you to send people directly to the registration page https://ride2work.bv.com.au/home.

Thanks for helping us to build the foundations for an ever bigger event in 2008. We'd like you to be among the first to know that National Ride to Work Day 2008 will be on Wednesday 15 October. Put it in your calendars now and get it into your organisation's calendar for next year.

Many thanks for your part in the success of the inaugural national event.

National Ride to Work Day Team

Todays weather brought to you by....

Well the National Ride to work day would of had a nice or nasty start. The wind has been strong most of the day and wont slow up this afternoon for their return journey. Also the showers were nice.



Well our breakfast was nice and there were no traffic incidents at all, so a good morning all in all. We look forward to next year when we can do it all again. By then I might have to get a more comfortable saddle to handle the rough terrain on the way to work , and also organise champagne and strawberrys instead of this years toast and tea

Ride-to-Work Day

Well tomorrows the big day....


and we will see if there is anything happening in the Tweed Coast area.

My work place has decided to turn it into a big structured affair!

Me, Myself and I will leave our bikes on the verandah tonight so that we can peddle the 12 meters to work, park the bikes in the designated one off secure parking spots arranged for this special day, then walk back to the verandah to get involved in the big breakfast I have planned for us ride-2-work newbees who made this special effort on this special day....

Maybe I'll have 2 slices of toast instead of just the usual cup-o-tea.

Sorry I needed that!