The Secretary PO Box 719 Gladesville 2111 Chain Mail Editor: Doug Stewart 9887 1478 Bicycle User Group Bike North Newsletter Number 3, Dec 1997 - Feb 1998 freely. This list gives you the opportunity to ask Welcome. With the Christmas break and lots of questions or to air any views on cycling. The list other activities this issue is a fair bit later than has been quiet recently (averaging less than expected. Contributions welcome to the address one message per week) but there is no limit to [email protected] above or email to . how many messages you may receive. Please send back the form on the last page The Talk List is also available in weekly digest which covers a variety of items including form which combines all the postings in a single membership renewal. week into a single email which is sent out weekly. This allows you to see everything on the email talk list but not as it is sent. Bike North Local News To join either list email Keith Griffin at Successful Christmas Party [email protected]. Tell him whether you want to be on the News List or Despite a slight rain shower about thirty Bike the Talk List or both and if you join the Talk Northers enjoyed our second annual Christmas List, whether you want the weekly digest form. get-together on the 14th of December. The You can also mark your preference down on our purple Bike North Banner was unfurled Dear Bike North form (enclosed). between the trees at Bicentennial Park in West Pymble and then a very pleasant picnic lunch was enjoyed. Ian's short wheel base recumbent Positions Vacant was sampled by several people and some hopefuls even tried to balance on Andrew or Two positions on the Executive of Bike Mark's unicycles. Some older bikes were also on North are vacant, to be filled casually until display. the next AGM in August. Contact Neil Tonkin on 9879 3297 ([email protected]) if you are interested in helping us out. Bike North Memberships Due Secretary All Bike North Memberships fall due at the Take minutes at Exec and General meetings, start of each year. If you haven't paid then write correspondence, keep files & resources. this will be the last newsletter you will receive. Prefer member with email address. If you are not sure about your membership Rides Coordinator status then contact our membership officer Organise the rides program, encourage ride Brian Fong on 9879 7270. leaders, provide program to BNSW and Chain Mail. Prefer member with email address. Listserv serves the members Bike North now offers members two excellent Resources on file email services. A private listserv is hosted by Keith Griffin (a Bike North member and proud Over time Bike North has collected heaps of owner of a new Greenspeed recumbent trike) bicycle resources. Here's a few and if you have an email address you are strongly encouraged to join one or both the lists. A copy of the Bike Ed education program, published by the Federal Office of Road Safety Access to the lists is restricted to Bike North (FORS), which is designed for use in primary members. See below for details. schools. This comes with a quirky video called The first service is Bike North Email News. "Here's your Bike Ed" about a kid called Ed who Posting is restricted to members of the Executive ends up in heaven talking to an angel who will and there will be no more than a few messages give him another chance, and a new bike, if he each week. You will receive information about learns how to ride properly. An excellent current events, rides and activities. program. The second service is a Bike North Talk List The NSW Youth Sports Injury Report presents which allows any Bike North member to post statistics collected in 1994-5 about all aspects of Number 3, December 1997 - February 1998 1 Chain Mail 7,765 sports injuries including cycling. See how and entertainment from neighbouring trailer we rank in participation and injury rates. campers who appeared to have brought Staysafe 34 a report which recommends a everything including the kitchen sink. 50km/hr general urban speed limit for NSW. It Waking to mist and birdsong, Wayne managed contains lots of statistics to indicate a lower 20km on my rattly mountain bike to the sleepy accident rate and less damage in the event of village of Spencer. Doug and I rode up an accident. Mangrove Mountain where we encountered a 6 long-drop dunny -- internal lighting and a wash basin were provided. We continued on to Post office box announcement Calga and Brooklyn where I called it quits (87km from the campsite). All official correspondence should now be sent to our new postal address It is likely that this trip will be run again so why P.O. Box 719, Gladesville, 2111 don't you join in next time for some great riding and camping. Look out for it in the program. Cycling Shirts We are planning to have some good quality Bike North cycling shirts made up. The design Big Big Big Riding 1998 is not finalised yet but will feature our purple colour and the logo at the top of this page. They Join many other Bike North cyclists in your will be a high quality cycling shirt with front zipper best chance to enjoy a cycling holiday, the and three back pockets. The material will be one easy way. Starting at Barham (NSW) on 25 of the modern synthetic fibres. April and ending at Albury on 3 May the Big Ride gives you nine days of cycling. with a We need to have at least 40 members willing to rest day in the Murray River historic town of purchase the shirt at a cost of approximately Echuca. The cycling is over gentle terrain, $60. If you want to purchase a shirt please fill in interspersed with paddle steamer and bush that section of the form (enclosed). Further tucker tours, and socialising with 1500 other details available from Craig Grimmond cyclists. There are "sag wagons" for tired (9482 3060). peddlers and coach links from capital cities to and from the ride. Riding Riding Riding Riders bring their own bike and camping gear (which is then carried for you in the support Ride to camp to ride again vehicles). For a fee of $460, everything else is laid on at the tent city including hot Louise Spencer showers, flushing toilets, a general store, In mid-November our advertised two day ride to brasserie, cafeteria, and satellite telephone. Dharug National Park, disappointingly, attracted Warm-up stretch sessions, morning and only 2 bikes to accompany the support vehicle. afternoon teas, fine meals, and soothing We met Doug at Berowra Station and headed massage are added attractions. off down to the Berowra Waters Ferry, where a Evening entertainment includes live bands, local duck resolutely held her ground against dances, fancy dress parties, team games, disembarking traffic. The rural scenery including late release films, aboriginal culture, laden peach and plum trees and the lightly spotlighting for native animals and viewing trafficked roads were enjoyable. Some good the southern skies. quality gravel roads led us to Leets Vale and River Rd and thence to Wisemans Ferry. This event is both a fundraiser for the registered charity MS (Multiple Sclerosis At 2:30pm and after 75km of riding we arrived at Foundation) and the main source of revenue Mill Creek, a beautiful camping ground with to run Bicycle NSW for the rest of the year. plenty of native wildlife and a 5 long-drop dunny!! After erecting our tents Doug brought For information, ring 1800 68 6854. out his bicycle transport friendly games called "Zilch" which consists of 6 dice, a plastic bowl Easy cyclists found here and pencil and paper. A minibus entering the campsite surprised us with its "BIKES AHEAD" The Bike North easy rides are very popular; banner strung on its rear and we were amazed attracting from 10 to 20 riders each time they (perhaps horrified) to see 20 scouts on mountain leave from Hornsby Station or Meadowbank bikes arrive and inform us they were camping Wharf. the night. The rides keep together in a group, ride fairly Our evening was interspersed with attempts to slowly and provide plenty of time to chat and ward off an inquisitive brush turkey (who was make new friends. Most rides have a long break delighted by Doug's easy access fly-only tent) at a pleasant spot where coffee and snacks can Number 3, December 1997 - February 1998 2 Chain Mail be enjoyed. Experienced cyclists will happily We plan to run more child safety activities in provide advice on bike setup, accessories and other areas and would like to have a list of modifications and who can assist with (or even members who would like to help out with this perform) maintenance if required. type of activity. Please contact Doug Stewart if you are interested. If you are an "easy cyclist" or have friends or family who are, then think about joining our friendly groups. Clean Up Australia Day 1998 Even more frequent rides have been requested Cycleways are always covered in broken glass to allow easy cyclists to enjoy regular exercise. and other rubbish. Bicycle NSW invites cyclists to Although informal rides won't be added to the help clean up the cycleways on March 1. official Bike North program, members are encouraged to form informal groups and ride Members of Bike North are asked to assist in most weekends.