Cycle Magazine Mar - April - Ma

Love Your Ride

! e l c y C

Bicycle SA

The Members’ Magazine — No 161 February – April 2014 Bicycle SA — More South Australians cycling

Cycle Chic: Interview with Mikael Colville Andersen — Gordon Kanki-Knight Congratulations to all the 2013 Grand/Mini Slam riders! — Maureen Merrick On Tour: SA’s Cycling Hotspots — Roxanne Allan Bicycle SA 111 Franklin Street Adelaide 5000 Tel (08) 8168 9999 Fax (08) 8168 9988 www.bikesa.asn.au

www.bikesa.asn.au

Cycle!

Bicycle SA Office

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111 Franklin Street Phone (08) 8168 9999 Fax (08) 8168 9988 Email office@bikesa.asn.au Web www.bikesa.asn.au The office is open seven days a week, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm 8:00 am to 6:00 pm during Daylight Saving

Club News

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President’s notes

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This Issue…

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Around the office

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Personal Notes

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Lonely Planet ranks Adelaide as a top ten travel destination

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Cycle!

Annual Tour: Stunning KI

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Cycle! is published quarterly

Buses block bike lanes

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Businesses embrace cycling boom

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The rise of the 40 km/h zone

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Free Workplace Cycling Safety Sessions

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The results are in! Why SA women cycle less than men

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Why Do SA women cycle less than men?

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“I moved to Adelaide and gave up my car”: Chat with a Gear Up Girl SA rider

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“I was reminded that all my cycling buddies were boys”: Chat with a Gear Up Girl rider

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Cycle Chic: Interview with Mikael Colville Andersen

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Disclaimer

Cycle Chic: Interview... — 9

The views expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of Bicycle SA. Bicycle SA does not guarantee the accuracy of information published herein

© 2014, Bicycle SA

European Bicycle Circle

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2014 Kapunda Easter Cycle

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On Tour: SA’s Cycling Hotspots

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Congratulations to all the 2013 Grand/Mini Slam riders!

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Grand/Mini Slam Personal Challenge Series for 2014

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Amy’s Ride SA 2013: Such a perfect day

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New Members

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On tour...— page 12

Bicycle SA Executive President, Maureen Merrick maureen.merrick@bikesa.asn.au Vice President, Terry Ryan Treasurer, Tom Walker Secretary, Anne Lewis (Smith) Members Chris Beauchamp Warwick Cooper Michael Killmier Angie Lewis Des Murray Nathan Petrus

Tailwind 15

On the cover Participants in the 2013 Gear Up Girl SA event

Original articles in Cycle! are copyrighted to Bicycle SA unless otherwise specified. Non-profit organisations may reproduce articles copyrighted to Bicycle SA, with only minor modification, without the permission of the authors, provided Bicycle SA is sent, as a courtesy and condition, a copy of the publications containing such reproduction.

Articles copyrighted to their authors may not be reproduced without the express authorisation of their authors. Bicycle SA and the original authors reserve the right to take legal action for breach of copyright where these instructions are not complied with.

Grand Slam — page 13

Contributing to Cycle!

Have you something you would like to contribute to Cycle!? If so we’d love to hear about it. Please contact the Bike SA office

Government of South Australia Office for Recreation and Sport Department for Transport, Energy and Infrastructure

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February – April 2014

Contents

www.bikesa.asn.au

Love your ride Club News President’s notes Maureen Merrick

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he following Executive Committee members were elected at our November 2013 Annual General Meeting for the next 2 year term: Maureen Merrick (President) Anne Smith (Secretary) Chris Beauchamp Angie Lewis Nathan Petru With the five remaining Executive Committee members, Terry Ryan (Vice President), Tom Walker (Treasurer), Warwick Cooper, Michael Killmier and Des Murray, we look forward to being responsive to your needs, promoting the organisation and furthering the cause of cycling as we face another extremely busy year.

John Bassett did not seek re-election at the AGM. John, a Life Member, has served on the Executive Committee for a number of years and we thank him for his untiring support, commitment and loyalty and wish him all the very best for the future.

We would like to welcome Angie Lewis to the Executive Committee and look forward to her contribution.

At the AGM John Hurling was awarded the 2013 Volunteer of the Year award. A member for many years, John is a tireless worker at our various events.

He is a role model to less experienced ride/route marshals, particularly on the Outback Odyssey, supporting and encouraging riders to complete each challenging day’s ride. Congratulations and well done John.

The 2013 Grand Slam Perpetual Trophy was awarded to John Oakes for his personal

Around the office Christian Haag

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achievement in successfully completing the series of five rides.

The Mini Slam Perpetual Trophy for personal achievement was awarded to 10 year old Laura Stephens, who completed the series and her first 100 km. Your dogged determination and persistence won the day. Congratulations to you both.

This year the riders were certainly challenged by the rain, head winds, and even hail, during the final 100/200 km ride in October. You are all to be commended for your efforts.

Much has been written in the press recently about the behaviour of cyclists and motorists.

I would urge you all as road users to respect the rights of one another to be in that space.

Anyone who has been involved in an accident will carry that experience with them for the rest of their lives; it is life changing. Please do not be responsible for another road statistic, nor let it happen to you.

This Issue…

Peter Carter

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our Down Under is now over for another year (congratulations to third-time winner Simon Gerrans (and everyone else involved)) which means it’s time to build on the visibility the event brings, particularly safety messages. As the message on the back of the bus in the picture on page 4 suggests, every lane is a bike lane. Use what space you need, see and be seen.

You may have seen some publicity about a UK proposal to build elevated bike lanes above railway lines. All very spectacular, but would better streetlevel infrastructure be more cost effective? That’s part of the message from Mikael Colville Andersen on page 9: “infrastructure and traffic calming is the way forward.” That’s also inherent in the 40 km/h limit in Hutt Street: making streetsmore inviting, less intimidating, to the less than determined cyclist.

Some recent data from Europe reinforces Mikael Colville Andersen’s views: countries such as Spain and Italy are becoming cycling countries, with bicycles outselling cars. For more, see <www. npr.org/blogs/parallels/2013/10/24/240493422/

Life’s better on a bike >>>

in-most-every-european-country-bikes-areoutselling-cars>.

Lots of small items this issue. It’s only 16 pages because there wasn’t enough for 20 but I had to cram a bit: ‘Tailwind’ is only half a page and is missing some interesting images. I look forward to some reports of recent rides for the next issue. By then it will be time for Velo-city.

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he Tour Down Under is in full swing and there are thousands of locals and visitors all enjoying some of SA’s great riding experiences. Not only is the TDU good for local businesses across Adelaide and our regional communities, it also provides an ideal opportunity to drive home road safety messaging through a variety of media outlets.

Our Cycle Safe campaign in The Advertiser newspaper continues to see regular stories on a range of cycling related issues. Since its commencement on 1 October, we estimate in excess of $1.5M of editorial media has been generated. This key advocacy strategy has raised the profile of the needs of our commuter and recreational members to both local and state government and with the impending election, we have met with elected representatives of all sides of politics.

Bike SA has engaged with the Premier, Minister Koutsantonis, Iain Evans, Minister Bignell’s office and representatives of the Greens through our <www.sa.vote4cycling.com.au> website which provides equal opportunity for all candidates to put their policies forward for community scrutiny.

If you haven’t already, please sign our online vote4cycling petition so that we can send a strong message to governments.

For the first time, we have partnered with the Motor Accident Commission to develop a workplace education program that looks specifically at the top three crash types resulting in hospitalisation and provides the skills to assist riders getting to their destination safely.

Interestingly, research shows that more often than not, it is the experienced rider that is most at risk. This program will target 7,000 CBD based employees who currently commute or those that wish to do so. Significantly, this is a fully funded program and therefore free to both employer and employee. We encourage all members who fit the criteria to get in touch with the office.

And by the time the next Cycle! magazine is out we will be well on our way to delivering encouragement programs to at-risk youth in Mt Gambier and Port Pirie as well as our Bikes Palya program to kids in the APY Lands.

We hope to see you riding up the South Eastern Freeway for our third Boileau VeloAdelaide on Sunday 23 March.

February – April 2014

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Cycle!

Personal Notes

Annual Tour: Stunning KI

ast year has marked a unique achievement for the Stephens family in that during the past number of years, Robert, Theresa and their children Brian, Dale and Laura have all completed either the Grand or Mini Slam series of rides. The 2013 Mini Slam Perpetual Trophy for personal achievement was awarded to 10 year old Laura, who successfully completed the series of five rides and her first 100 km.

The weather was to say the least, inclement including head winds, rain, and hail. Well done Laura (and Theresa who rode with Laura). We have heard that Laura intends to ride the series again this year.

We would also like to congratulate 12 year old Alistair McMillan, who with his father, Adrian McMillan successfully completed his first Mini Slam, and of course, his first 100 km. Alistair too braved the less than ideal weather conditions.

Even a fall off his bike did not deter Alistair from completing the ride.

We thank the parents/carers for taking the time and interest in supporting our young riders in their attempt to be challenged by the Mini Slam series of rides. There were at least six 10 to 15 year old riders taking part in some or all of the rides this year. Congratulations to you all and well done!

Another quiet achiever is Ricky Jackson who, in 2013, has ridden Grand Slams for the past 15 years, a total of 75 consecutive rides. I understand that Ricky wants to achieve a record of 100 rides! Well done Ricky.

The women in the Tuesday Traverse ride group are leading nearly all the rides in the March to May Rides Programme. Well done on taking the lead role in your group.

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Vale: Frank Elsom passed away suddenly, from a stroke, on 9 October 2013 while he was cycling along the Canal du Midi in France. It has been a huge shock to his family.

Our sincere condolences to Jennifer and her family.

Jessica Olle

Laura Stephens receives her award

Buses block bike lanes Julian Ferguson

E Credit: Grist

Lonely Planet ranks Adelaide as a top ten travel destination Julian Ferguson

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ast month the world’s leading travel guide placed Adelaide in the top ten cities to visit for 2014. Could it have something to do with our growing bicycle culture?

While all the media talk was pointing to ‘Mad March’, food, wine and culture, we felt like something was left out of the picture: cycling.

Could the bicycle be a reason for Adelaide’s international success?

At Bike SA, we’d like to think we played a little role in helping Adelaide become an attractive city.

Our Adelaide City Bike Scheme, (which we do with Adelaide City Council, City of Charles Sturt and City of Unley) earlier this year recorded a whopping 46% increase in hires. Fifty nine percent of users actually came from overseas, up from 50% the previous year.

But being seen as a cycling city goes deeper

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February – April 2014

his year’s Bike SA Annual Tour took in the feast of the senses that is Kangaroo Island: and a great time was had by all. Over 200 eager participants pedalled (and ate and drank!) their way around KI during the week of October 19 – 26.

Despite a couple of less favourable days weather-wise, the tour generally enjoyed great conditions and the company more than made up for a bit of wind and rain! When asked for their favourite things about the tour, riders rated the scenery, wildlife and company of fellow cyclists pretty highly. The coffee van and delicious food were also mentioned often (no surprises there!), as was the work of our fabulous staff and volunteers.

“We came away having again met some great people: always amazed at the talents and abilities of the riders in the annual tour,” say Rita and Cliff who rode the tour this year coming all the way from Western Australia.

Even the weather didn’t deter these happy cyclists.

“We could have done without the gale force wind, wet with biting rain, cool mornings, days and nights,” laughs Cliff.

“But hey...the ‘long day’ from Parndana to Western KI was the one day we have spoken of the most since and the day that brought out the best in us both. What great fun!”

It seems KI has managed to impress, yet again.

We look forward to seeing lots of riders join us again next year: keep an eye out to see where we’ll be heading.

The 2014 Annual Tour will going the Riverland and Murraylands.

than Adelaide City Bikes. We’ve equally got some of the best cycle tourism in the world... right at our doorstep. The 900 kilometre plus Mawson Trail stretches from Adelaide all the way to Blinman in the Flinders Ranges.

Our Mountain Biking is second to none.

Hotspots such as Cudlee Creek and Craigburn Farm are at our doorstep.

And while our urban cycling isn’t quite up to European standards, the Velo-city Global conference — which will bring 1,000 global cycling experts into town — will surely help us boost cycle commuting numbers that have been rising steadily in the past decade.

Perhaps it’s time for Government to adopt a new ‘Better By Bike’ slogan for South Australia?

Cycle tourists spend an estimated $2.4 billion every year in Australia. Now that’s a tourist market worth fighting for!

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astern Cyclists made news last year calling for bus drivers to stop blocking bike lanes for up to 10 minutes at a time.

“You take your life into your own hands when you pull into heavy trafic to get around them,” Cyclist Shane Sody told the local newspaper.

Cyclists have taken several photos and videos and uploaded them to the popular Adelaide Cyclists’ Forum, which has provoked many interesting responses.

So what’s the solution?

Ideally, it would great to see buses arriving on time so there’s no need to block up bicycle lanes. But there’s no doubt the answer lies in infrastructure.

Transport Services Minister Chloe Fox has said the government would create an ‘indent’ on Portrush Rd to stop buses from blocking the cycle lane.

Indeed, Cyclists and buses aren’t necessarily a match made in heaven. It might be worth drooling over Dutch style treatment of bikes and buses in this Video, by popular bicycle Blogger, David Hembrow: <https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=h96Y--QzjzI>.

www.bikesa.asn.au

Love your ride Businesses embrace cycling boom Gordon Kanki-Knight

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delaide businesses are increasingly accepting the popularity of cycling and making workplaces more cycle-friendly.

Energy company Santos has an enthusiastic cycling culture and its Flinders Street head office boasts 118 secure undercover spaces for bicycles.

Staff can also access an additional 130 parks at Santos offi ce sites in the Adelaide CBD. “An indication of the strong support for cycling is the high level of demand for our cycle parks each morning,” says Santos senior public affairs adviser Chris Marks.

Moto Projects director Lorne McClurg estimates 70 to 80 percent of new buildings in Adelaide now offer end-of-trip facilities for cyclists.

One of Santos’ current projects, which is out to tender, is the refurbishment of a building on North Terrace.

“The owners are putting in bike parking, showers and locker room facilities in the basement carpark,” McClurg says.

“Most of the green-star rated buildings have similar facilities.”

Kane McCard, manager of permanent recruitment at McArthur, says there is an acceptance in corporate Adelaide that cycling is becoming mainstream.

“I’ve heard it described by some of our clients as ‘the new golf’,” says McCard.

“The Adelaide business community is certainly embracing the cycling movement and being a bit more friendly to the staff who decide to cycle to work.”

“One of the things businesses are really looking at trying to maximise in their overall workforce is keeping their staff engaged. For some people, cycling is a big part of their life day to day and there is an opportunity [with cycling] to engage with your workforce and keep them motivated.”

McCard, 35, rides to work and says the city building McArthur operates from recently installed shower facilities for staff to use.

He has also noticed more public city carparks offering free parking for bicycles, or only charging a small fee.

The rise of the 40 km/h zone

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Jessica Olle

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utt Street in the city last year became the latest in an increasingly long line of Adelaide streets to have their speed limits reduced to 40 km/h. What’s it all about?

There are a lot of benefits to be had from lowering speed limits, particularly in areas of high traffic such as the inner city, shopping precincts and main thoroughfares.

Topmost is the increased level of safety for cyclists and pedestrians alike. Earlier this year, the Heart Foundation (SA) added it’s voice to the call for slower traffic: “Pedestrians and cyclists struck by a motor vehicle travelling at 50 km/h have about an 85% chance of being killed, while at 30 km/h this drops to 10%.”

While we are yet to see any streets at 30 km/h, the 40 km/h limits that are being introduced are certainly a step in the right direction for our chances of surviving a bingle.

Concerns about the changes range from a potential increase in travel time for vehicles and increased congestion, to increased fuel consumption and a suspicion that this is really just all about raising revenue off of speeding fines.

Life’s better on a bike >>>

It has been argued that it is not the speed limit, but stopping and strarting regularly that causes increased fuel consumption, and that any concerns are more than offset by the increased chance of making it home or to work without a collision.

Adelaide Lord Mayor, Stephen Yarwood, told the Adelaide City Messenge that the reduced speed limit would make it easier to pull in and out of parking spaces, increase pedestrian safety, boost visibility of shops and encourage more people to enjoy outdoor dining.

“Anyone saying it’s revenue raising for speeding fines is ludicrous and totally missing the point”, he said.

Of course, if you’re taking the healthy, cheaper, green option and cycling already, then none of the other arguments matter: you’re going to be safer.

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The State Government has created fact sheets — available at <sa.gov.au> — for businesses looking to create cycling-friendly workplaces.

Among its suggestions are: providing secure bicycle parking, showers, lockers and change rooms or negotiating with nearby buildings to use their facilities, as well as encouraging, subsidising or providing membership to bicycle organisations that provide insurance for cyclists, and appointing a bicycle coordinator.

McCard says the ease of getting around Adelaide is a way employers can attract people to work in SA. About three times a week, he fits in a hills ride before cycling to work.

“I get a lot of feedback from interstate visitors, from places such as Perth and Brisbane, and they are really envious of the [amount of ] cycling we can fit in before work”, he says.

“I think our lifestyle is a huge asset for employers, particularly looking at potentially enticing talent to SA or back to SA. Employers are always looking for a point of difference and we are seeing younger [job seekers] looking at ‘What’s in it for me’ when engaging with an organisation.”

Furthermore, the health benefits of cycling are mutually beneficial for employers and staff.

“Cycling is something I genuinely look forward to,” adds McCard.

“You do find yourself mentally refreshed and recharged and it helps to keep me focused. Cycling has been about maintaining a healthy lifestyle and healthy weight range.”

This article orginally appeared in the fifth edition of Bicycle SA’s Love Your Ride Magazine.

Free Workplace Cycling Safety Sessions Jessica Olle

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xciting news! Bike SA has joined forces with the Motor Accident Commission (MAC) to initiate a new safety program for the CBD, and we want YOUR help.

Yes, we at BikeSA have formed a new partnership with the MAC, and we’re pretty excited about it.

Thanks to new work by the Centre for Automotive Safety Research (CASR) at Adelaide Uni, we have specific, localised research that pinpoints the main types of accidents SA cyclists are involved in and how they’re happening.

We also know how they can best be avoided: and our new partnership has allowed us the means to share this info with as many cyclists in the CBD as we can reach.

We’ve condensed the findings into a 30 min session (with cycling goodies for all participants), to deliver at workplaces: free of charge.

So, if you work in the CBD, want to help make cycling in Adelaide safer, and think your workplace will be up for it, then get in touch with us at communications@bikesa.asn.au.

Spread the word!

February – April 2014

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The results are in! Why SA women cycle less than men Julian Ferguson

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icycle SA has received an astounding 900+ responses to a survey seeking to find out why there are fewer women than men regularly cycling in our fair state. The results are in, and give us valuable insight into what keeps women from getting on their bikes.

When asked why they believe fewer women than men cycle, 67.6% of respondents cited a greater concern over traffic/unsafe roads, while 43.42% said a lack of confidence was a factor.

Family responsibilities and motorist behaviour were the next highest responses, at 38.36% and 35.77% respectively.

Other key figures to come out of the survey are that lack of safe bicycle infrastructure is keeping women from cycling more often (40% of respondents) followed by concern for traffic conditions (36.08%) and finally followed by lack of time (31.08%).

Over 70% of women said they’d cycle more if there were more separated bicycle paths, while 55.76% said better bicycle infrastructure would encourage women to cycle more. More bicycle lanes (50.23%) also rated highly.

Bike SA wants to address these concerns and see the numbers of women regularly riding in SA increase. Education is part of the solution, as are events like Gear Up Girl SA, but the biggest factor will be spending on cycling infrastructure.

We’re calling for $90M over four years — $40M to be allocated to the Greenway Network and $50M over four years to the arterial network — to be spent on infrastructure improvements.

Let’s make Adelaide the new Copenhagen, where more women cycle than men!

Why Do SA women cycle less than men?

Julian Ferguson

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he need to register and insure power-assisted pedal cycles, or pedalecs, is a thing of the past in South Australia.

The State Parliament passed changes to road traffic rules to remove the possibility of penalties for those riding unregistered and uninsured pedalecs.

Popular in Europe, the bikes are charged at a normal power point, operate on 250watts and can reach speeds of up to 25 km/h.

Greens MLC Mark Parnell told The Advertiser that the change was going to help make life easier for those who find regular cycling difficult, with hills providing much less of an obstacle to continuing to ride.

We think any change that makes life easier for cyclists, and SA an even more cycle-friendly state, is a good thing!

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February – April 2014

Belgian cyclist Celine Bernard in Adelaide

“I moved to Adelaide and gave up my car”: Chat with a Gear Up Girl SA rider Julian Ferguson

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hen 24 year old Jessica Eccles made the move to North Adelaide in June, she wasn’t quite sure what she was in for. Arriving without her car, she soon found herself with a helmet and an Adelaide City Bike. To her surprise, she was soon seduced by Adelaide’s cycling culture.

“Cruising around on a city bike gave me a real sense of freedom that I hadn’t felt in a long-time,” explained Jessica.

“I was hooked.”

Next thing you know, Jessica decided that her car would not make the journey west with her.

“At first it was a tricky decision,” says Jessica.

“Now I’m used to the idea of a car-free life-style.

I’m not what you call a cyclist. Sometimes I take the bus, sometime I catch a cab, and sometimes I ride my bicycle.”

Sadly, Jessica’s story is something of an anomaly in Adelaide, where just one in five people riding bicycles is female. The latest Australian Cycling Participation Survey shows that just 12% of Australian women have ridden a bicycle in the past

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Jessica Eccles on an Adelaide City Bike week compared to more than 20% of males. Our European cousins see the opposite holding true.

In cycling meccas like Copenhagen there are more women on bikes than men.

The question is why?

And while Jessica has yet to have an accident, she feels that safety is probably the biggest barrier preventing more ‘heels on wheels’.

“There’s no doubt that cycling in Adelaide can feel scary. My advice is for new riders is to take the back road and choose quiet routes,” says Jessica.

“Remember that it’s not a race,” laughs Jessica, “I always choose style over speed.”

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*TERMS & CONDITIONS: Competition trader is The Smith Family of PO Box 10500 Rundle Mall SA 5000. Licence no: T13/2122. Duration: 15/11/2013-24/03/2014.

Prize draw drawn on 07/04/2014. Prize value is $8,500: two return economy airfares and all applicable taxes, charges and GST flying with Singapore Airlines from Adelaide, Australia to Milan, Italy valued at $6,000, including a ‘Travel Scene American Express Gift Card’ accommodation voucher of $2,500. See www.mountloftyfundraisng.com.au for full terms & conditions of prize. The prize draw will take place at the office of The Smith Family, Ground Floor 97 Pirie Street, Adelaide SA 5000 on 07/04/2014 at 11:00am ACST. The winner will be notified by telephone and in writing via email and the winner’s name will be published on the promoter’s website (www.mountloftyfundraising.com.au) from the 07/04/2014 for a minimum of 28 days. In the event of unclaimed prizes a redraw will be conducted on 07/07/2014 at 11:00am ACST and will take place at the same mentioned office of The Smith Family. The redrawn winner will be notified by telephone and in writing via email and the winner’s name will be published on the Promoter’s website (www.mountloftyfundraising.com.au) from the 07/04/2014 for a minimum of 28 days.

Cycle!

“I was reminded that all my cycling buddies were boys”: Chat with a Gear Up Girl SA rider Julian Ferguson

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ate Holbrook from the Bendigo Bank noticed that too many of her cycling buddies were men. She wanted this to change...

When Kate heard about Gear Up Girl SA last year, she looked around and realised that all her cycling buddies were male.

“I decided it was time to find some other lady cyclists and gear up! I put the word out and promoted the Gear Up Girl ride at work and before I knew it a group of eight enthusiastic ladies had formed,” explains Kate.

Even though many of her female colleagues owned a bicycle, they’d often been sitting in the shed for the past few years.

Kate got to work and in no time had organised pre-event training rides, rescued bicycles from sheds and even secured corporate sponsorship from Bendigo Bank.

“We were ready and having heaps of fun along the way,” laughs Kate.

“The group is of varying ages, fitness and cycling ability but the one thing we do have in common is the desire to get out on our bikes, have fun and encourage other girls to do the same,” “For me, this experience has provided me with the opportunity to meet some new people and

Kate Holbrook (middle) and her newfound cycling friends find some new (lady) cycling buddies. For others, it has been just the push they needed to get back on their bike.”

With only 10.8% of women in South Australia having ridden a bike in the past week, people like Kate may just be what’s needed to help reverse this trend.

LIGHT HELMET SCAN THE ROAD

BRIGHT BACKPACK COVER BE AWARE AND PREPARED

LIGHT & BRIGHT CLOTHING FRONT FLASHING LIGHTS, DAY & NIGHT

REAR FLASHING LIGHTS, DAY & NIGHT

ANNA MEARES

REFLECTIVE SLAPBANDS

WORLD CHAMPION CYCLIST & OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALIST

REFLECTORS

BE SAFE BE SEEN 8 <<<<

February – April 2014

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mac.sa.gov.au

bikesa.asn.au

www.bikesa.asn.au

Love your ride Cycle Chic: Interview with Mikael Colville Andersen Gordon Kanki-Knight

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rban mobility expert, CEO of Copenhagenize Design Co, film maker and photographer Mikael Colville-Andersen is heading to Adelaide to be a keynote speaker at the Velo-city Global conference in May. He’s a vocal advocate for bicycle culture (partly through his blog Copenhagen Cycle Chic), cycle-friendly cities and getting more people on bikes. So why is he refusing to ride his bicycle in Adelaide? His answers are both provocative and revealing.

Bike SA: You’re an ambassador for cycling, but uniquely so. Cycle chic was your idea and you’re one of the few to tie the bicycle to a better way of urban living. Could you set out why you chose cycle chic to promote cycling?

Mikael Colville-Andersen: Once I realised what was going on when people looked at my blog <copenhagencyclechic.com>— why all these people were reacting to simple photographs of Copenhageners cycling in their regular clothes on regular bikes — I realised that urban cycling had suffered from bad branding for a generation in many parts of the world. It was regarded as sports or recreation and not much else. Despite the fact that urban cycling was a normal transport form in every city in the world for decades up until the 1950s. The effect of Cycle Chic on changing the perception of cycling has been massive. It was the right idea at the right time. We’ve brought the bicycle back to the public consciousness of the 99 percent. Using mainstream marketing techniques to sell urban cycling was normal for decades, as well. Selling urban cycling like we sell any other product on the market is the way forward. The cycling sub-cultures, like all sub-cultures, are incapable of doing so. They love their fancy gear, their uniforms, their sanctimonious soapbox. This doesn’t sell anything to the mainstream audience.

Regular citizens just want a convenient and enjoyable A to B journey to work, to the shops, to the restaurant. Providing them with imagery from cities where urban cycling is normal has been the key to changing perception.

Does this approach have the drawback that Cycle Chic is seen to be a bit exclusive? We can’t all afford tweed Rapha trousers or a Pashley bike. Is it egalitarian?

Cycle Chic is for the 99 percent. Rapha is for bike geeks, it’s not ‘Cycle Chic’. Pashley bikes are nice, but they’re not the bicycle. Cycle Chic is not about the bicycle: it’s about you, on the bicycle.

It’s about style over speed. For example, vintage bikes are booming all over the planet. The people returning to the bicycle are keen for an old-school feel. Restored bikes from the 1950s or 1960s are incredibly popular. All you need is a bicycle. Gone is the false impression that you need speciality clothes for riding a bicycle in your city. Open your closet, it’s already filled with cycling clothes. They just happen to be the same clothes you walk in, take the bus in. Cycle Chic is a democratic rejection

Life’s better on a bike >>>

of the elitist approach of the ‘avid cyclists’ who will preach for days about the ‘right’ clothes and the ‘right’ gear.

I also started the Slow Bicycle Movement five years ago. Based on Slow Food, Slow Travel, etc. It’s been an amazing indicator of what regular citizens want. It’s a rejection of the Lycra mentality and an embrace of cycling slow and enjoying the ride. There are over 8000 members of our facebook group: <facebook.com/groups/ slowbicyclemovement>.

You’re heading to Adelaide Velo-city Global 2014 as a keynote speaker. What are you expecting to find here?

I’m expecting to find a car-centric city still handcuffed to the archaic traffic culture inherited from the last century, although one with a wish to modernise itself and plan for the new millennium.

The fact that the city — and state — applied for and won the right to host the Velo-city conference is a positive sign. I believe the politicians are aware that there is a new paradigm in city planning, one that works to drastically reduce car use and reclaim a lot of space that has been so arrogantly allocated to the most destructive and inefficient form of transport we know: the private automobile. Now, we’re seeing cities around the world focusing on becoming more liveable. Liveable cities are those with fewer cars, traffic calming and separated bicycle infrastructure. It’s the new normal.

Adelaide — and all Australian cities — are lightyears behind other cities in the world. But the Velocity conference will, hopefully, be a great catalyst for change and modernisation.

What do you hope to see emerge from the Velocity conference: for cycling in Adelaide and in a global context?

The Velo-city conference series is a fantastic forum for all those working towards more liveable cities. It’s an idea exchange. I hope that Adelaide and the rest of Australia will be inspired to change.

If realising how depressingly far behind you are is part of the process, so be it. That will lead to a desire ñ among politicians and citizens alike: to modernise and embrace the bicycle as transport once again.

I think you’ll also realise that the world has been pointing and laughing at your bicycle helmet laws for almost two decades. Whenever a helmet law is proposed elsewhere in the world — which isn’t often: Australia is held up as the example of how helmet laws destroy urban cycling. Hopefully, it will inspire Australian cities and states to realise that in order to encourage people to cycle, infrastructure and traffic calming is the way forward and repealing helmet laws is a part of it. Interestingly, the Northern Territory has the highest cycling rates in Australia. They partially repealed their helmet law and the result was remarkable.

And why don’t you people all wear motoring helmets when your government found out that it would be beneficial in reducing societal harm?

(See <motoringhelmet.com>.)

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Mikael Colville Andersen

Adelaide is changing: more bike lanes, calmer streets, the beginnings of a push to turn our empty-after-6pm CBD into a lively residential shared pedestrian/bike community. We have a growing attachment to the bike. Have you seen this phenomenon of an emerging attachment to the bike in other cities? What can we learn from those cities and where is Adelaide on the scale?

The bicycle is back. As transport. As a solution for many of the ailments cities suffer. Bicycles are being taken seriously once again, all over the world. It’s Bicycle Culture 2.0.

Six years ago, few cities even discussed bicycle infrastructure. Now, the race is on to become bicycle-friendly. Look at our Copenhagenize Index 2013: the world’s only bicycle-friendly cities index, at copenhagenize.eu/index.

On the list are the usual suspects like Copenhagen, Amsterdam, Berlin, Tokyo. Cities in the four great bicycle nations. But look at the other cities on the list. There were no bicycles left in Paris, Barcelona, Seville, Dublin, Bordeaux only five or six years ago. Now, they’re embracing the new, modern paradigm. Seville went from under 0.5 percent modal share for bicycles to 7 percent.

Dublin was also under 0.5 percent . Now they are 4 percent city-wide and can get close to 10 percent in the city centre. The same for Bordeaux.

Who would have thought that the bicycle would have had such a massive transformational effect on Paris. Three percent of trips are by bicycle. The common denominators are well-designed bike share systems, separated bicycle infrastructure and traffic calming measures. Eighty percent of Barcelona is now a 30 km/h zone, for example. We only publish the Top 20. I can reveal, however, that Australian cities were rather far down the index.

Change is possible, however.

Continued...

February – April 2014

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Cycle!

Cycle Chic

...continued Is this attachment to the bike — young men on fixies and a massive growth in the weekend road warrior — a positive growth indicator for a city that is seeking to be more sustainable? Or a fad?

If you wish to re-establish the bicycle on the urban landscape as a respected, accepted and feasible form of transport, you build separated, on-street infrastructure. (Not those goofy painted lanes that force bicycle users to cycle between the door zone and moving traffic). We are seeing that cycling fads have popped up as well. History is repeating itself. When the bicycle appeared on the urban landscape over a century ago, the transformational effect on society was massive.

All manner of trends and gadgets and gimmicks appeared, in order to capitalise on the trend in a market economy. It is a positive growth indicator when Citizen Cyclists return to the bicycle. The growth of Mamils (Middle-aged Men in Lycra), it is worth noting, has nothing to do with urban cycling. These sub-cultures do little for changing perceptions about cycling in cities. In fact, they stunt the growth of it.

The risk is that we over-complicate the simple act of riding a bicycle in a city. The avid cyclists boast that they can ‘train’ cyclists and advise them on all manner of unnecessary gear so that ‘we’ can ride like ‘them’. All Citizen Cyclists need is infrastructure and traffic calming. An increase in female cyclists on normal bikes is a great indicator that you’re on the right track, but it’s not until you see great numbers of parents with children on the back of their bikes or the elderly riding bicycles that you know you’re on the right track.

Does this lead to potential commercial opportunities for businesses? And does this commercialisation assist the difficult metamorphosis of a city from a Car-is-King to a sustainable urban environment?

It’s interesting how many people are now involved in greenwashing: or rather bikewashing.

Especially the car industry. The more we see bicycles in our messaging, the better. As long as we avoid overcomplication. In Copenhagen, 56 percent of our cycling citizens say the main reason they ride bicycles is because it’s quick and convenient. Nineteen percent say it’s good exercise. Not fitness: they just get their 30 minutes a day riding around with their iPod and shopping in the basket. Only 6 percent ride because it’s cheap and only 1 percent ride because it’s good for the environment. It’s all about what I call ‘A2Bism’.

If you want people to ride bicycles in a city, you make the bicycle the fastest way from A to B. Safe infrastructure, traffic calming, bike racks. Period. All the commercialisation is irrelevant if you do that.

With that said, the products we’ve selected for our global webshop —<cyclechicrepublic. com>— are based on the kind of things we take for granted in Denmark and the Netherlands. Style and practicality.

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February – April 2014

Danish cyclist What is the gist of the message you’ll be delivering in Adelaide?

I speak about how we must reject a century of destructive traffic engineering and use basic design principles to plan our city streets instead.

Traffic engineering has failed us. It still kills people.

It ruins cities with its car-centric focus. Designing cities for people and using human observation is the way to modernise our urban centres. I call for a return to rationality and common sense and planning our cities like we did for 7000 years before the automobile showed up.

(For an idea of what Mikael will be discussing, see this TED Talk: <tedxtalks.ted.com/video/ Bicycle-Culture-by-Design-Mikae>.)

Will you be bringing your bike and going for a ride while you’ re here?

I don’t ride bicycles in cities that have helmet laws. Fortunately there aren’t very many of them in the world, but I’ll be enjoying Adelaide on foot.

From a professional perspective, I don’t need to ride a bicycle in order to observe the infrastructure, behaviour and Desire Lines (paths created by riders simply by going where they want to go] in a city.)

Will you be seeking out Adelaide’s chicest on two wheels to photograph for your blog?

I always have my camera with me, so the odds are good.

This article orginally appeared in the fifth edition of Bicycle SA’s Love Your Ride Magazine.

On a recent Hills Ride the group found themselves high up and overlooking Willunga: Reno Stefano, Peter Virgo, Judith Virgo, John Mason, Joe Stelmann and Steve Freeman

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Love your ride European Bicycle Circle Paul Hellander

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car driver friend I bumped into at the traffic lights on Henley Beach Road whilst riding my bicycle recently observed to me “So you are a cyclist, then.” I looked at him in mock astonishment and replied “Wow, and you are a motorist!” He was taken aback until I pointed out that my status in society was no more determined by the mode of transport I commonly use than the car that he drove determined his status. He finally got the point when I pointed out the absurdity of calling a bus, train or tram user “a public transportist”.

Touché.

With this mindset uppermost in my own thinking the European Bicycle Circle was formed in October 2012: the establishment of a group of citizens of our city who used their bicycle as an integral part of their life ñ to travel to work, to shop, to relax, to visit friends and to enjoy for the pure pleasure of inexpensive, independent and healthy transport.

Taking the Dutch model as a guiding philosophy, I sold my flash European car some two and a half years ago and bought a Dutch bicycle — an e-bicycle admittedly — but with a basket and panniers that would allow me to cart goods, clothes and business attire while going about my day-to-day business. Some twelve and a half thousand kilometres later, I have never enjoyed cycling more.

The European Bicycle Circle (EBC) project was an attempt to bring like-minded citizens together once a month to ride somewhere pleasant, to share a picnic or a pub lunch, swap philosophies and travel stories and to use our transport in the way it is done in Europe; no fuss, no dress-ups, no pelotons and no Lycra®. Through our online facebook page <https://www.facebook.com/ groups/eurocyclecircle/> we swap stories and news about cycling in Australia and elsewhere and plan monthly cycling forays to supplement our day-to-day rides with an organised group activity.

We have undertaken around 14 rides to date with participants ranging in number anywhere between three and fifteen cyclists. These have included beach and seaside parades, languid linear park forays as well as City and ‘burbs’ coffee shops and bistro hops. Our philosophy is simple; ‘we ride because we do’.

If you share the camaraderie of cycling without the hype, if you use your bike to run your life, if you enjoy a shared meal in a park, on a beach or round a crackling log fire and enjoy the European-style craic, then do get in touch with us and perhaps join us on a ride.

Ride: every second Sunday of the month Distance: 20 – 30 km per ride Average speed: 15 – 20 km/h Age range: 20 – 70 years Contact: Paul Hellander: paulhellander@icloud. com, 0439 806 888

Life’s better on a bike >>>

Suzy Ramone, Eddie Jordan, Andrew Napier, Michelle, Grace, Sue Gold, Giles Ramsay-Chapman, Louise Patacca-Grigg, Paul Hellander

2014 Kapunda Easter Cycle Easter Cycle Committee

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apunda, located 79 km north of Adelaide is the location of this year’s Easter Cycle weekend from 18 to 21 April. It is the southern gateway to the Barossa Valley and Clare Valley, two of Australia’s premium and best known wine regions.

It is also a region steeped in copper mining history, was the base for the late Sir Sidney Kidman’s enormous cattle operations and now its services are essential to supporting the surrounding rural area.

The weekend will be one of cycling fun, discovery and adventure for the whole family.

Rides will include the very popular Farmers Market in Angaston, bike trails, bitumen and unsealed roads of varying distances and for those who want to be challenged, Mengler Hill!

For the ‘foodies’ there are restaurants, cafés and, of course, award winning wineries to visit!

It will be a great time to make new friends and renew friendships.

Camping will be at Dutton Park (and Oval) Included below are hints to what rides will be included in the progamme.

Road rides Your choice of road loops North, South, East and West of Kapunda taking in the magnificent and varied countryside: rolling pastoral land, vineyard country and big gum country.

Do your coffee shop cruises Barossa style via rolling hills and vineyards!

Only two traffic lights to be found in the whole rides programme!

Sample the best of the region with visits to local wineries for private tastings,

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platters of the finest local produce and winery tours. Visit the Angaston Farmers market or a boutique brewery.

Exclusive ladies only winery visit.

Road Rides ranging from 30 km to 100km.

Cross Country The programme will include three key cross country rides taking in the best of local scenery, bush corridors, and spectacular countryside; ranging from 40 to 55km.

The routes will be mostly on farm tracks and dirt roads, and not overly technical. Fatter tyred hybrid or cyclocross bikes adequate for all but one of the rides.

A large range of shorter XC rides taking in the local scenery and farm tracks will be on offer according to participantís needs.

Children Shorter rides within or around Kapunda according to participants’ needs.

Family afternoon visit to local reserve.

The Sunday night ride.

Registration Registrations are now open. More information is available from the office on 08 8168 9999, or office@bikesa.asn.au.

February – April 2014

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On Tour: SA’s Cycling Hotspots Roxanne Allan

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A is a cyclists’ paradise, and some of the best riding spots are closer than you think.

South Australia offers every kind of cycling holiday, from gentle rides between vineyard cellar doors to challenging off-road trails. Bicycle SA CEO Christian Haag says South Australia presents an ideal cycling environment for a weekend getaway or a longer escape.

“Adelaide’s flat topography and Mediterranean climate means there are many bright and sunny cycling days ahead,” he says.

“And it’s the only capital city in the country that provides free bike hire seven days a week.”

“Good times aboard your bike canstart in the heart of Adelaide and can continue throughout the state.”

“Within 30 minutes of the city we have the wonders of the Hills, with over five dedicated mountain biking networks along the Mount Lofty Ranges providing a diversity of mountain biking experiences from pine forest to arid bush,” Haag says.

But the great riding doesn’t end there, so prep your bike and get ready to explore everything SA has to offer...

Barossa Valley The Barossa has something for every cyclist, says economic development manager at Regional Development Australia Barossa, Craig Grocke.

“The region has an extensive network of sealed roads over a variety of terrain,” he says. “Choose a flat ride around the Valley floor or venture to the rolling hills of the western ridges around Greenock and Seppeltsfield.

“For more serious climbing, there is the Barossa Ranges with Menglers Hill, Sedan Hill and rides like the Seven Steps along Flaxmans Valley Road.”

Many cyclists who visit the Tour Down Under come back for holidays and bring their bike with them to explore the region’s food, wine and heritage attractions, Grocke says.

See <barossa.com>.

McLaren Vale Looking for a quick escape from the city?

McLaren Vale’s wine country is just an hour away.

A popular tourist destination, its Shiraz Trail is a

favourite with cyclists. Taking riders from McLaren Vale to Willunga and back, it takes about 45 minutes to complete, passing vineyards along the way. Be sure to stop at eateries Bracegirdles or Blessed Cheese.

Wineries not far off the trail include Primo Estate, Serafi no and Shingleback, to name a few. Bike hire is available from Oxygen Cycles, McLaren Vale.

See <mclarenvale.info>.

Naracoorte A few hours’ drive from Adelaide, Naracoorte has much to offer cyclists. While there is lots of open-road riding available, mountain bikers can hit up the Naracoorte Creek Walk dirt tracks.

The Naracoorte Caves is another exciting cycling destination, says Nigel Nisbett of Naracoorte Visitor Information Centre.

“It’s a wonderful ride out to the caves that could be a 30km ride all up by the time you get out there and follow the trails around,” he says.

After a long ride, tourists can check out Sheep’s Back Museum or peruse the art gallery. For those who have worked up a sweat, the Naracoorte Swimming Lake is a nice place to cool off after a ride.

“It’s about the size of eight Olympic swimming pools, it is fully chlorinated and it’s totally free,” Nisbett says.

More at <naracoortelucindale.sa.gov.au> Melrose Melrose is all about off-road trails. While there are some easy rides for beginners, Richard Bruce, of Over the Edge Sports, says Melrose’s mountain bike tracks are aimed at enthusiasts.

“We’re starting to see a lot more people coming up here and it is enthusiast driven,” he says.

“I think that is the big difference for us as opposed to the Barossa and the Clare Valley... anyone can go and ride those trails. A bit of technique is needed for some of the trails [in Melrose].”

“I think between Wirrabara and Melrose and surrounding area there would be somewhere

above 100 km of trails,” he says.

“There’s about 30 km of dedicated quality single-track in Melrose, then there’s the Rail Trail, which takes you out of Melrose to Wilmington.

“Then there’s another property about three or four kilometres away from the town itself, which has got 40 km of trail out there, it’s also a fourwheel driving place that you can go to and there’s a cellar door where you can go buy and taste wine as well.

“A little bit further than the road you’ve got Wirrabara Forest, which has got trails for walking and riding.”

Over the Edge Sports also offer regular ‘shop rides’, which gives visitors an opportunity to ride the trail network with a local: <otesports.com.au>.

Clare Valley If you love a good drop and stunning scenery be sure to explore one of Australia’s best-known wine regions ó the Clare Valley, The popular Riesling Trail is a must see, with the 35km trail following the curves of the former railway line.

It can be ridden one way in about two-and-ahalf hours.There are also three trail loops, ranging from 9 km to 16 km. Starting your journey is as easy as following the signposts.

See <clarevalley.com.au> Adelaide Keen mountain bikers seeking gutbusting, muscle straining ascents needn’t travel far from Adelaide. Haag says there are some great mountain biking areas within 30 minutes of the CBD. “The Cudlee Creek forest cross country and downhill network offers some of South Australia’s best mountain biking, from beginner to advanced,” he says.

“A newly completed 9 km green loop there showcases why this is a truly unique MTB destination, set in some of the most beautifully scenic country within the forest.”

The Mitcham Trail Network is another crosscountry and downhill area, traversing the “magical hill face zone in Mitcham” and Craigburn Farm has a tightly packaged network offering a diverse range of technical and flowing single-track.See <bikesa.asn.au/RiderInfo_WheretoRide_More_ OffRoad> This article originally appeared in Bicycle SA’s Love Your Ride 5 Magazine

On tour in the Flinders Ranges

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February – April 2014

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Love your ride Congratulations to all the 2013 Grand/Mini Slam riders!

Maureen Merrick

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ongratulations to all those riders who took part in the Grand/Mini Slam series of personal challenge on-road rides during the year.Don’t forget that the 2014 Grand Slam Series kicks off on Sunday 23 February. Hope to see you all there!

Apple & Pear Growers Association of SA Inc Perpetual Trophy Grand Slam Personal Achievement: John Oakes Bicycle SA Perpetual Trophy Mini Slam Personal Achievement: Laura Stephens Grand Slam Successful completion of the five events in the Grand Slam Series: Dave Atkins Ronald Balfour Alexandra Brigham David Capon David Carroll Richard Charlesworth Bas de Regt Norm Eastwood Andrew Grace Mark Hamon Wayne Haskard Richard Hein

Ann Ireland Ricky Jackson Andrew Kennedy Davis Kerr Christine Lubcke Barry Maslin Andrew Mogg John Oakes Ben Olijnyk Max Pfitzner Stacey Quinn Robert Rau John Richards Elayne Sanders Troy Schrapel Lars Soderholm Robert Stephens Mark Stockhausen Kevin Thomas Scott Thomas Richard Tormet Peter Vincent Trevor Wiseman OAM Brandon Yip Mini Slam Successful completion of five events in the Mini series or a combination of both Mini and Grand Slams: Kay Anderson James Ashby Gary Ashby

Caroline Auricht Chris Badenoch Dianne Badenoch Belinda Balfour Mike Beatty Kelly Bras Simon Brockhoff David Caporaso Peter Fallon Graham Foale Peter Gdodakis Jeff Harman Carolyn Hart Steve Hemmings Shannon Hemmings Tom Larsen Leigh Lockett John Mason Grant McAllister Alistair McMillan Darren McMillan Jim McLean Heather McLeod Murray McLeod Amanda Mitchell David Mitchell Gail Mogg Anne Moritz Andrew Nathan Glenn Partington Chris Popperwell

Julie Rayner Ashley Roocke Ashley Rose Christopher Rose Scott Ross Adam Rosser Melissa Shortman Laura Stephens David Sutton Gareth Teale Justin Venning Colin Ware-Lane Club 500 Successful completion of four events totalling at least 500 km in the combined Grand/Mini Slam series: John Del Fabaro: 530 km David Dobson: 570 km John Golding: 570 km Katie Hannon: 530 km Keith Hinchley: 570 km Justin Lane: 530 km Patrick McEntee: 500 km Todd Northway: 570 km Scott Payne: 570 km David Richards: 550 km Matthew Rogers: 550 km Liz Schoen: 570 km

Grand/Mini Slam Personal Challenge Series for 2014 Maureen Merrick

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ur first Grand/Mini Slam personal challenge series of rides, 40 km or 80 km commences at 8:00 am in Gumeracha at the Gumeracha Community Centre (at the rear of the Gumeracha Town Hall) on Sunday 23 February. It will be a great time of the year to take part in the 40/80 km, following on from the Bupa Challenge Tour in January and a ‘warm up’ for the BoileauVelo Adelaide ride up the South Eastern Freeway and Heysen Tunnel to the Adelaide Hills in March.

Registrations are now open, with savings on the series entries. There will be the option to purchase a special Grand/Mini Slam jersey and the opportunity of winning a $250.00 voucher sponsored by Roof Rack City <www.roofracksa. com.au> for those members who enter for the series.

The dates and locations for the 2014 Grand/ Mini Slam rides are: No 1: 23 February, 40/80 km, Gumeracha, Torrens Valley Community Centre No 2: 6 April, 50/100, Woodside, Woodside Netball Club, Woodside No 3: 25 May, 60/120 km, Williamstown, Queen Victoria Jubilee Park No 4: 24 August, 75/150 km, Echunga, Echunga Memorial Hall No 5: 12 October, 100/200 km, Littlehampton, Anembo Park

Life’s better on a bike >>>

Registrations can be made online, by fax, or call in to the office, 111 Franklin Street 8168 9999, <www.bikesa.asn.au> or rides@bikesa.asn.au

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February – April 2014

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Amy’s Ride SA 2013: Such a perfect day Julian Ferguson

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my’s Ride SA 2013 was nothing short of spectacular. Sun, smiles and whirring pedals, the Southern Expressway was transformed into a sea of cyclists as young and old rode all the way from Adelaide to McLaren Vale.

The youngest participant was just 2 and the oldest was 82, with every bike tribe possible out there from roadies, to mountain bikers, to families and recumbents out to make the most of perfect weather and ride from Adelaide to McLaren Vale.

All in all an epic 3,000 riders cruising down the Expressway calling out for safer conditions. Riders had the choice of six distances, ranging from 18 km to 120 km. (Some took more than five hours to complete with a bit of a headwind.)

There were heaving groaning and sweaty folk making their way up Willunga Hill, with some brave (or stupid?) enough to try it twice. There were kids getting out on their bikes. And there were adults laughing on their bikes. The atmosphere was electric.

Bike SA and The Amy Gillett Foundation would like to thank everybody for participating in Amy’s Ride SA. Keep your calendar free for the first Sunday in November 2014.

New Members Damen Abbott Dany Alchammas Kelly Alderson Erica Ames Truus Anderson Dannielle Archer Mark Armstrong Peter Athanasos Chris Baggaley Richard Bain Paul Baldassari Andrew Bates Guiseppe Battaglia Jo-Anne Brame Andrie Bramintya Oliver Broadbridge Kate Buckle Shane Burgess Ian Button Petra Bywood Trevor Caldwell Sue Camac Rob Carter Robert-Lee Childs Jeremy Choo Henry Chow Pam Clift Gianna Connelly Graeme Cox Darren Cripwell John Curran Peter Daish Josh Dalle Nogare Alex Daniel Kathy Day

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Andrew Day Adam Dayman Rafael De Almeid Regina De Vries Kim Dell Murray Dixon Megan Dohnt Bronwyn Dolman Michael Dowling Alec Downing Kevin Dronfield Greg Duarte Calvo Leigh Emery Bruce Enting Margaret Faulkner Andrew Fleming Valerie Fletcher Bevan Fletcher SamanthaFuchs John Fuss Speros Galanopoulos Stuart Gepp Carlo Gigante Michael Glasson Paul Grebenshikoff Robert John Greed Peter Green Gary Green Karen Grieve Deb Griffith Brendon Grundle Uwe Hahns David Hall Shona Hannagan Genna Harkness

February – April 2014

Louise Harries Andrew Hartigan Carolyn Hastie Dawn Heath Jo Hentschke Paul Hester Brenton Hext Merilyn Higgins Tony Hill Andrew Hiscock Felicity Hobbs Alan Holzapfel Patrick Howard Georgina Irish Deborah Jamieson Leonora Jansen Hugh Johnson Noel Johnston Daniel Keller Jim Kenefick Richard Kies Marilyn Kirton Bogda Koczwara Masakazu Kogawa Peter Krause Phillip Kroehn David Lamond Richard Lane Lorreley Lawson Sheena Le Cornu Andrew Leaney Daniel Leinfelder Robin Lemmich Robert Lenkiewicz Georgina Leov

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Joanna Oakeshott Sharon O’Grady Travis Olds Densy Orellana Susan Packer Brenton Palin Greg Pantelios Graham Park Shakeel Patras Tim Pengilly Jonathan Phillis Malcolm Potticary Adele Pring Neville Pudney Darryll Reeves Mark Reidy Arnol Reyes Michael Richardson Melinda Richardson Kerryn Rim Lisa Ringwood Makenze Roberts Anthony Robjohns Kent Rosser Gregory Rowlands Demetrius Sakoulas David Sanders Angus Sanders Adam Sawtell Trevor Schaefer Robert Scherer Kathy Schuller Amy Schwarz John Sebastiani Dean Sharland

Grant Sims Ramune Sirvinskiene Karen Smagala David Smelt Lisa Smith Amy Smith Jane Spoehr Nicola Spurrier Gillian Stevens Robert Stevens Leisa Stringer Scott Taylor Dean Thomas Lucas Thornton Michelle Treloar Steven Tzoumas Miranda van der Keyl Shylie Vowles Mark Wadsworth Christopher Webb Paul Whetham Teri Whiting Ray Wickstein Elly Wild Briony Williams James Winn Matthew Wittholz Peter Wood Judith Wotherspoon Angelo Ylia Tim Ziersch

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Tailwind

Arguments about helmet wearing go on for ever.

Two recent studies are interesting. The first, by Ben Goldacre and David Spiegelhalter in the British Medical Journal, <www.bmj.com/content/346/ bmj.f3817?ijkey=I5vHBog6FhaaLzX&keytype=r ef>, ‘... tries to answer two main questions. At a societal level, “what is the effect of a public health policy that requires or promotes helmets?” and at an individual level, “what is the effect of wearing a helmet?” Both questions are methodologically challenging and contentious.”

The other examined the cognitive effects of helmet wearing, whether any heating effect, for instance, affected performance. It’s written up at <www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24157241>.

The conclusion: “These results resolve previous disparate studies to suggest that, although helmets can be uncomfortable, any effect of wearing a helmet on cognitive performance is at worst marginal.”

From SBS, <www.sbs.com.au/cyclingcentral/ philip-gomes/blog/128529/no-it-s-never-ok>, comes an interesting item: A recent opinion piece in the New York Times has made a big splash in the online cycling world with the provacative title, Is It OK to Kill Cyclists?

Of course it isn’t, but as the author, Daniel Duane writes, it sure looks a lot like it is OK, if

Life’s better on a bike >>>

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you compile any number of examples where justice has seemed to not have been served.

The opinion piece is US centric but you could transpose much of what was written to our experience here in Australia. Change a few of his examples to any number of well reported incidents here and it pretty much fits.

One key quote: Every time you get on a bike, from this moment forward, obey the letter of the law in every traffic exchange everywhere to help drivers (and police officers) view cyclists as predictable users of the road who deserve respect.

Definitely worth reading.

The National Museum Australia now has a ‘Cycling in Australia’ section: <www.nma.gov.au/ online_features/cycling_in_australia/home>.

Explore the role of the bicycle in Australia.

Tour our website to learn more about our nation’s cycling stories and important cycling objects, and to join the conversation about the bike’s past, present and future.

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2 –3 53/67 Hindmarsh Square Adelaide 8223 5978 754 Anzac Highway Glenelg 8294 4741 70 Payneham Rd Stepney 8362 2609 266 Pulteney St Adelaide 8359 2755 650 North East Rd Holden Hill 8369 0550 45 Kensington Rd Norwood 8331 3255 55 Main North Rd Medindie 8342 1882 21 – 23 Belair Road Kingswood 8271 0692 49 George Street Moonta 8825 3222 216 The Parade Norwood 8332 1889 6 Stuart Street Melrose 8666 2222 143 Main Road McLaren Vale 8323 7345 428b Marion Rd Plympton 8297 0312 399 – 403 Main North Rd Enfield 8359 5866 721 Tapleys Hill Rd Adelaide Airport 8355 4333 1 Phillip Hwy Elizabeth 8252 0166 199 Payneham Road St Peters 8363 1003 125 Beach Rd Christies Beach 8326 1664 290 Unley Road Unley 8271 9733 ??

Shop 12 Tea Tree Plaza, 976 Main North Rd Modbury 8264 6001 348 North East Rd Klemzig 8261 1696 26 Park Tce Salisbury 8285 1144 Marion Shopping Centre Marion 8377 1752 170 Main South Rd Morphett Vale 8384 4704 Shop 24 West Lakes Mall 8356 5492 195 Henley Beach Rd Mile End 8443 5435 5 Barfield Crescent Elizabeth West 8255 1979 200 Rundle St Adelaide 8223 3946 40 – 44 Blackburn St Reynella 8322 6714 254 Pulteney Street Adelaide SA 8232 3330 138 The Parade Norwood 8431 5711 5/4–10 Ebenezer Place Adelaide 8232 0158 7/47–67 Main South Road O’Halloran Hill 8381 9069 73 Victoria St Victor Harbor 8552 1417

Yet another electric bike system is Smart Wheel, controllable via Bluetooth from your smartphone.

The motor is 250 W, the battery 36 V lithium and range about 50 km. Read about it at <www.flykly. com>.

While we ride in the heat, think of riders in northern climes, as in Minnesota: <www.pedalmn. com/Article/minnesota-winter-biking-photos>.

Cool.

February – April 2014

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“THE TRAILS MAKE THIS EVENT A MUST DO FOR EVERY MOUNTAIN BIKER IN OZ.” Andrew Bell

KONA DIRTY WEEKEND SOUTH AUSTRALIA’S ONLY 24HR MTB CHALLENGE EXPOSURE LIGHTS 24hr & 12hr & ROOF RACK CITY 6hr

3 & 4 May 2014 bikesa.asn.au/ dirtyweekend Cudlee Creek Forest near Adelaide