Wise Words
About this page
Over the course of the season our returning Committee Member Dave Hutson will let you know what some of the laws relating to riders are, and how we can be more aware.
Fellow Cyclists et al,
I just thought I’d open this blurb with a quote from Matthew Lloyd currently riding in the Tour De France, it seems it doesn’t matter at what level you ride at, you should still be open to learning more skills.
Matthew Lloyd from Omega Pharma-Lotto was in Armstrong's group and witnessed that last crash. "Unfortunately, Lance crashed, there were again lots of crashes today," he said post-race. "Euskaltel really needs to learn how to ride bikes. It's just shocking. I don't know whether that's controversial or not, but I don't care. They've probably caused every crash in this race... It's really unfortunate for Lance because he wanted to finish this Tour de France in style, and now..."
With our upcoming Pinjarra Cyclo-Sportif event we are going to need to call upon all of our cycling skills as this is a very testing course throwing up the full gambit of riding challenges.
I would like to emphasise a few of the riding etiquettes that need to be employed for this type of course. Pinjarra to Dwellingup and beyond without throwing in the weather is a tough course, throw in wind and rain it is a doozy. On the other hand, the ride home is a relatively easy roll back to town.
Please be aware of the following:-
- Start is from the Pinjarra Racecourse be courteous to local residents and traffic when warming up, obey road rules and don’t obstruct driveways or congregate on the road, keep left at all times.
- The first section out of town is quite flat for about 10kms, it could be windy. Remember with the large amount of teams on the road of various levels, always keep left and stay in a single file formation wherever possible to allow faster teams to overtake. Those more experienced teams coming through please announce your arrival when overtaking as buzzing a team of newcomers scares the proverbial out of them.
- We all know this next section which climbs to Dwellingup for about 15kms is the stuff that gives us “flatlanders” nightmares. Dwellingup can be a popular Sunday Drive destination so respect the traffic on the road and do the righty if you are holding drivers up. On the climbs be aware of what is around you, stay as a group if possible supporting those challenged by gradients rising(me) keep left always to allow faster groups and cars through where possible, be courteous and encouraging as you come through, everyone can have a bad day in the hills (Cadel, Lance and me again).
- Once you are up in the hills be aware of the other road users. Don’t put yourself in danger on blind bends and crests, stay left as always.
- Now for the turn home, I love this part, coming down the hill this is what cycling is all about. It does have the same issues as going uphill though, some of us are much better at it (must be that extra training) however the consequences of weaving into the path of an Excocet missile at 80kmh plus doesn’t warrant thinking about. So please keep left at all times and if gravity is your friend please announce you are coming through (Geronimmmooo!!). If it is wet (although the forecast is for sunny and 21 C), ride accordingly and don’t overcook the corners as wet roads and heavy breaking are not a good mix.
Well that is all the brow beating for now, see you at Pinjarra and enjoy the day and make sure your actions don’t spoil it for anyone else.
Stay safe, have fun.
Dapper
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ABOUT "WISE WORDS"
By Dave "Dapper" Hutson
Dapper is back on the committee and I look forward to catching up with you all over the exciting season of Cyclo-sportif events. On coming back onto the Committee I have decided to take on an 
Advocacy role, we have all seen the mostly negative press that cyclists get in relation to encounters with cars and pedestrians, seems to be a hell of a lot of cycle bashing going on at the moment. Through education and some commonsense I hope to make some inroads into bettering the cyclist’s image via this blurb.
I can hear the chuckles now “Dapper in Advocacy!!!” Yes I laughed too. However I just picked up a brochure called “Cycling and the Law” and yes I have broken most of those laws but some of them unknowingly which is a worry.
Over the course of the season and via this medium, I’ll let you know what some of those laws are
I look forward to catching up over the year and will add tidbits of info via this forum.
Stay safe, have fun.
Dapper
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Please note that every effort has been made to ensure the information contained in this blog is correct, however the author accepts no responsibility for the contents nor does he assume any duty of care to any person who might act on reliance of its contents.
The information is only a guide to the road rules in WA and not meant to be used in place of the Road Traffic Act 1974, Road Traffic Code 2000 and Road Traffic (Bicycles) Regulations 2000 or subsidiary legislation.
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Wise Words 4 - How not to ride in a team
