by Mark Ferguson on April 16, 2010
How time flies when you’re having fun.
Now half-way through my nine week surgical training course for my day job. Four weeks remain in the big US of A before I’m able to mount my trusty steed again and work off this excess waistline.
I’m sitting here at Melbourne airport waiting to board the Airbus A380 to Los Angeles. Peter from Cycling Edge coincidentally happens to be flying out on the same flight and some how, we both managed to swindle our way in Qantas First Class lounge.
I’m tentatively glancing around the room half expecting the formally dressed wait staff to ask for my financial credentials. The Maven isn’t usually exposed to this caliber of decadence and it’s kind of fun wondering what all these people do for a crust. The eggs Benedict are first class (pardon the pun) and coffee is always twice as good when it’s on the house.
Usually on these long haul flights, I’m crammed into cattle class with the rest of us mere mortals. Landing my butt in Business class is a rare treat and I’m going to milk it for everything.
Peter’s been kind enough to loan me the Parlee Bista that Wade took to Vietnam recently. This little baby is doing the rounds and hopefully I find the time to ride it. I’ll be staying in Norwalk, Connecticut which is roughly 45 minutes from New York city. Looking at Goggle Maps, it’s right on the coast so I’m hoping there’s some great little group rides I can tag along with.
Stay tuned for more updates and I’ll let you know how the Parlee Bista performs.
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by Mark Ferguson on March 17, 2010
Miss me? Of course you did! It’s just nice to hear it so thanks.
Well I’ve moved into my new bachelors pad in Melbourne right near our famous cycling trail Beach Road.
When you run a blog, life’s tuff without an internet connection. Scooting off to the library and friends houses to access the interwebs teaches you to appreciate that big fat tunnel called broadband that I so took for granted at my last home.
I also have a tendency to over commit.
Being in tune with one’s flaws is a path less travelled. Although I don’t have many, I have a pretty good handle on the few that I do and they’re regular reminders to form better habits.
Juggling many balls is one of those flaws and unfortunately, I’ve decided that I don’t like being the clown.
Whats on the plate
So, I officially started the nine week intensive medical training course for my day job on Monday.
I won’t bore you with the gory details – but we’re talking a minimum of 12 hours of study per day over the next four weeks and then five weeks in New York where it’ll step up a few notches and I’ll pretty much get no sleep at all.
Colleagues who’ve done the course say it’s the hardest thing they’ve ever done. Others describe it as medical boot camp and one guy, said it was nine weeks of solitary confinement from the world. Nine weeks erased from his life.
And that’s just the ones who made it through the course. There’s plenty who disappear at lunch time or morning tea, never to be seen again.
Nine weeks of cycling down-time
If you’re going to do something – do it well. To be successful in requires a high level of commitment and focus.
With that in mind, I’ve decided that my regular Tuesday and Friday posting commitments need to be postponed for the next nine weeks whilst I focus on study commitments.
I’ll post irregularly and when I can.
On Monday 24th May 2010, programming will resume as normal just in time for the big Grand Tours. I’ll be looking forward to doing a running commentary on exactly what is happening and we’ll discuss some of the tactics being adopted.
Until then, safe riding.
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by Mark Ferguson on March 5, 2010
Or lack thereof.
When you roll out at sunrise on the bike, whats your mindset like?
You’re a cyclist, surely someone in a vehicle will cut you off today. Run you off the road. You’re edgy already – prepared to defend yourself and you haven’t even left home.
Now lets consider motorists. Cycling is the last thing on their mind. Getting the kids to school on time and paying the bills are priorities. I wonder what frustrations they’re experiencing at work, in life – what personal battle are they trying to overcome?
Then lets concoct a situation where both parties come together on the road. A moment where both parties expectations aren’t met. Whats likely to happen do you think?
Two words – Road Rage.
I get letters regularly on this topic from both cyclists and people who are frustrated with cyclists. This one came to me yesterday whilst I was reading The Age’s article on The number of peak hour cyclists soar. Let me share part of one from Perth.
Mark,
Is the lycra cyclists wear so tight that it squeezes and stimulates an aggression gland?
I find that the vast majority of cyclists adopt an overly aggressive attitude when on the road. I watched a cyclist just yesterday abuse some poor unsuspecting lady for simply getting out of her car. He was riding between traffic and parked cars. There was not a lot of room for him to ride between them safely. A lady sitting in her car opened her door to get out of her car and he suddenly screamed at the top of his voice at her and then started abusing her like it was her fault.
The annoying part for me was I could see that he was watching her. Like a tiger ready to pounce, as he was approaching. He could clearly see what she was about to do but deliberately made out like she almost caused him an accident and was screaming at the top of his lungs
On that topic I’ll say this. When you’re laying on a hospital bed – it doesn’t matter who’s fault it was! The damage is done. You are responsible for your own safely and actions so leave a gap.
Personally I applaud bike riders for their conviction but it’s a bit like religion – nobody likes to have it pushed on them and nobody likes someone that doesn’t focus on their own wrong doings first.
I think it is a bit like the aboriginals they scream and fight about their rights yet they don’t follow society’s rules. They try to make their own rules and kick up a huge stink if anyone tries to stop them.
So as cyclists, are we a minority with a chip on our shoulder? Are we victimized and discriminated against?
We’re two separate groups cyclists and motorists – but only in terms of road infrastructure. That’s it. In all other cases we’re the same people with the same issues and the same stresses of life.
The problem in western countries is expectations.
Go to any Asian country and you’ll bear witness to what seems like traffic mayhem and chaos. Cyclists, trucks, cars cutting each other off, pushing in to gaps that aren’t there.
I will give you 50 bucks if you spot one single case of road rage!*
Why? Because they expect the traffic to be chaotic. They accept it for what it is.
Here in Australia, our tolerance levels are pretty low. We have very high expectations of each other. As a cyclist, you expect cars will leave you a wide berth when they overtake. When they don’t – enter the road rage.
As a motorist, you expect cyclists to not ride two abreast in heavy traffic. When they don’t, you consider this a breach of your expectations on general road courtesy – enter the road rage.
I personally think the solution lies less with government planning and infrastructure but more to to with psychological education of the community. There needs to be more education on general tolerance and acceptance between these groups.
What do you think? What is the next step forward to building a better relationship between motorists and cyclists?
*This is an empty promise. I don’t have 50 bucks and if I did, it would probably go on a new rear tyre for my bike.
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Photo credit TBA
How time flies when you’re having fun.
