.~r~wheeling FREE • NE CAIALIGIE

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Available from leading Repco Cycle dea lers. Freewheelina Columns Number SO July/Auaust 1188 Travel and touring 82 CALENDAR 34 ENGLISH HISTORY • CLASSIFIEDS Contents RECYCLED I JOHN DRUNNOND Features Peaceful touring in old 3 DON HATCHER 16 WEIRDAND England 15 PRO DEALERS WONDERFUL 38 THE GREAT BRITISH 5 WARREN SALOMON Your future hike is readv BINERIDE 76 PHIL SONERYILLE - well, almost · It's not a ride, it's an event! 43 AROUND IRELAND II WORLD AWHEEL 20 HOWTONEEP IN LOW GEAR Freewhee ling is published seven times a year in the AHEAD months of January, March, May, July, September, October A guide to bicycle helmets Eric Newby 's latest hook and November. ISSN No: 0 156 4579. Edito rial and Advertising Offices: Room 57 Trades Hall, cnr Dixon 21 COMPUTING 56 WHEN ONE LAP IS & Goulburn Sts., Sydney NSW Australia. Address all correspondence to: Fre e wheeling PO Box K26, ACROSS AMERICA ENOUGH! Haymarket NSW 2000 Australia. Telephone (02) 264 8544. A high tech nomad cycles Riding around Australia Publi sher/Editor: Warren Salomon. Administratio n for a lil'ing! · and circulatio n: Marilyn Stivey. Nat ional Advertis­ 63 SYDNEY TO THE ing Sales: DavidTurnerTelephone (02) 913 1266 or (02) 264 8544. GONG Typesetting:Everysize Typeart Service (02) 982 1163 Mountain bikes NEWS OF THIS YEAR'S Print ing: Offset Alpine Pty Ltd Derby & Wetherill Sts, Silverwater NSW (02) 647 1000. Dist ribution - 46 RACE TO THE ROCH BIG RIDE Ne wsagents: Gordon & Gotch Pty Ltd (02) 667 0466 Rough riding in the Red or offices in your state. Subscri ptions and bicycle Bicycle sport dea ler distribution: Freewheeling Australia Publica­ Centre tions (02) 264 8544. Material in this publication may not be stored or repro­ 68 FAT TRACKS 52 OUR FIRST GOLDEN duced in any form with out permission. Requests for ,, CYCLIST permission should be directed to the Publisher. Ed itorial Mountain bike new,;; contributions including black and white/colour prints or The stOJJ' ofDune Gray colour transparencies on all aspects of cycling are welcomed. Send an enquiry or write for guidelines. Bicycle faci lities and safety 11 CYCLING'S NAIi Copyright © 1988 Freewheeling Austral ia Publications 78 WHO RIDES TO EVENT Cover design and photography by Warren SCHOOL1 A history ~f the Tour de Salomon . Cartoon this page by Don Hatcher. the latest infonnation France

Freewheeling J Australian Bicentennial Caltex Bike Ride

~,Australia . 1788 -1988 SPORT88

MELBOURNE-SYDNEY It's the Australian Bicentennial Caltex Bike Ride. Join cyclists from all over Australia and overseas for one of the world's biggest leisure bicycle tours. We even arrange transport to Melbourne for Canberra and Sydney entrants. INFORMATION LINE: (02)2814554 I November 26th to Dece.mber 10th, fl:."" 1988. Cost: $398 ~ 4:!t''o/"Vv ~~ The l,lQO km route takes you through the l½li:'1 :'I:: ,:~ beautiful La Trob~ Valley, Cooma and -=-_ _ =- ~ r5}~~ 1 Canberra. We provide all meals, back up, ~ 4~- - _,,.._.. ___...... ,· ' luggage shuttle, mechanical and medical :-_[J~~'N.[.'\k:l.l- services and even entertainment. Numbers~--a are limited so act now. . a a _:::: Details ,~ . · : · : · ~~'- From Graham Rebbeck at ·~ · · · Australian Bicycle Events on (059) 786 000, P.O. Box 200 Pearcedale, 3912. Can You Help? We need homestays for American cyclists on December 10th and 11th. Register with Australian Bicycle Events . • 2GBBl87 4 Freewheeling Warren Salomon A way co end che cyranny of che car Increased car traffic is killing off our cities. Can the humble bicycle come to .the rescue?

these days. Public transport is a manage­ never would have believed it if I and maybe get the hint. If only it were hadn't seen it with my own eyes. A possible in this day and age. ment 'problem' and the massive public motoring columnist for a major daily Unfortunately public transport has transport departments have become lit­ ! tle more than holding operations; pris­ newspaper condemning the takeover of deteriorated greatly since the tram oners of their own bureaucratic inertia. our cities by (gasp!) the automobile. tracks were removed from the Harbour A few weeks before that, a story ap­ Bridge and the space given over to the I shouldn't be too tough on the NSW peared on the front page of the Saturday cars. Transport ministers everywhere Government. Admittedly they have features section of the same newspaper are considered more as deficit managers tried (sort of) in the past to encourage documenting how General Motors and a North Shore commuters to abandon group of US rubber and oil companies One of my favourite Ph il Somerville cartoons and their cars and use the trains. Con­ banded together in the fifties to buy up a one of his earliest. The 'OHR' stands for sequently they have tied up millions of number of US tramway companies to Department of Main Roads - every state has one dollars in car parking space to benefit a convert them to busses. GM was caught and they all think alike. relatively small number of rail users. in the act by the US Federal govern­ ment, taken to court and made to pay the maximum penalty- $US5,000. Now they are talking about bringing the trams back to Los Angeles. That's right , the car capital of the world has finally had enough . Its freeways are clogged up, air polluted, quality of life shattered and finally the decision mak­ ers are turning back to public transport systems as the only possible solution to the nightmare problems caused by the unrestrained use of the private au­ tomobile. Any wonder that Alan Kennedy, the Sydney Morning Herald's motoring wri­ ter has reached the conclusion that un­ less we want the heart of our cities rip­ ped out then the car has to be repelled at all costs. A quick look around the country gives little hope that this might easily happen at least in the short term. In Sydney the most expensive engineering project ever undertaken in the country is currently underway. It's the Sydney Harbour tun­ nel and when it's finished it will add a measly four lanes of capacity to the Bridge and encourage even more cars into the city centre. The tunnel was commissioned by a state government convinced of the need to unquestioningly provide for a pro­ jected increase of cross harbour traffic. The thought that it might not be good for the city to allow even more cars in never even crossed their minds. The saddest thing about the whole ha rbour crossing fiasco is that once again public transport doesn't even get a look in. Alan Kennedy says that trans­ port planners should be saying: "To hell with the traffic jams; if people want to sit in them, so be it ". At the same time money should be spent on improving rail and bus services. Indeed, a bus lane should be established on the bridge so drivers can watch them rocketing past

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8 Freewheeling John Drummond The blCJCle that flew Hi tech recreation of amythological flight

E M E MB E R MY ve ry first col­ umn Ma rch/April issue number R 4 1, in which I announced th e de­ ta il s o f a search for the perfect Greek athlete to recreate the legendary fli ght o f D aed a lus fro m C re te a bo ut 3500 years ago. Fo r those no t fa miliar with Greek Mythology Daedalus, one of the world's first scientists , escaped from the wrath o f King Minos by fa shioning feather and wa x wings for himself a nd hi s so n Icarus. The son fe ll into the sea a nd drowned , the legend goes, but Daedalus mad e it to Si cil y v ia the Greek m a in­ land . Well , hi gh t echnology brought the o ld legend of D aeda lu s to life in late April o f this. year whe n a Gree k cycling champion set a record for man-powered fli ght. Kanellos Kane ll opoulos peda ll ed hi s 31. 75 kg (70 lb) fl ying machine, named Daedalus a ft er tti e mythical Greek, for In the e ight years fo ll owing the prize Elated - the Royal Aeronautical Soci­ 119 km (74 miles) non-stop from Crete anno unceme nt , several British pl anes ety a nd Henry Kremer j oined fo rces to to the island of Santorini in a time o f 3 actua ll y f iew, b ut no ne came c lose to promote a competition with $200,000 as hours 55 minutes, at an average speed of ma king turns o r compl ying w ith the a p ri ze to e ncourage a fl ight across the 29.7 km/h. rules, o r com ple ting the req uired d is­ Engli sh Channel. But he was deni ed a soft landing when tance even in a straight line . The Gossamer Condor was the brain­ strong winds wrecked hi s craft as Kanel­ In 1967 the prize was in creased t o chil d of 53 year old MacCready a nd was lopoul os prepared t o land . £10,000 a nd o pe ne d up to th e world. influe nced by ma ny s po rts including The 34 metre wings and the tail broke The re fo ll owed atte mpts a t b uilding a bi cycle racing. Dr MacCread y is a up a nd the c raft crashed into the sea winning a ircraft by the Japanese, Aus­ life long g lider pilo t who conceived the only metres from the shore. Fortunately, trali ans, Canadians, Fre nch and A meri ­ Gossame r Condor upon n oti cing that a Ka ne ll o poulos was flying only a fe w cans. hi gh-perfo rmance hang glider took onl y metres above the water and was able to The prize was increased t o £50,000 o ne ho rsepower t o re ma in a lo ft , he break o ut of the cockpit a nd swim to cash a nd in 1976 the most successful reali zed if size we re increased b y three safety. human p owered airc raft fl ew over the times while maintaining the weight con­ Interest first gathered in human pow­ mile in a s traight line in Japan. Named stant , it woul d o nl y take o ne-third hor­ ered flight when H enry Kremer, a n E n­ the " Sto rk" i t was built of balsa wood se powe r fo r level fli ght. This was we ll gli sh industria li st a nd physical fitness and ri ce paper by a group o f students at within the ra nge of a racing cyclist. devotee, decided in 1959 that someone Nihon University. A fli ght speed of unde r 16 km/h was should be encouraged t o revenge Icarus in dicated, meaning tha t much simpler and offered 5000 E ngli sh P ounds to the In a low altitude fli ght of about fo ur aero-dynami c forms could be used with­ first British citi zen who co uld fl y a minutes the a ircraft trave ll ed 2080 out sacrificin g too much in added wind huma n powe red aircraft over a fi gure me tres. Sill , the Sto rk just couldn't drag. Thus , MacCread y d evelo ped a eight, one mil e ( 1. 6 km) course with a make turns and stay in the a ir. But it was tri a l a nd e rror concept making it pos­ te n-foot (3.04 m) minimum altitude a t rumoured that the Japanese were work­ sible to test fl y th e Gossame r Condor the beginning and end . The plane had to ing o n the problem and fo r the very first hund red s o f times until success was take o ff unassisted and carry everything time there was an optimism that the Kre­ achi eved whe n a t 7 .35 a m A ugust 23, used fo r the take o ff with it ... No stored mer prize mi ght be won. 1977 , at the S haftcr A irport, Cali fo rnia, e ne rgy o r li ghte r-tha n-air gases we re In the s pace o f sli g htl y unde r 12 o ne o f hi sto ry's o ldest dreams w as permitted . mo nths Dr Paul MacCready an A meri­ reali zed: a ma n h ad risen into the a ir Since two 180-degree turns were re­ can academic headed a s ma ll team that under hi s own p ower and had fl own fo r quired , and the fli ght was to be in both won the prize in 1977 . His craft. the Gos­ over seven minutes. directio ns to cancel effects of the wind , same r Condor, comple ted th e f igure T hu~ th e re we re grounds for co nfi ­ and an altitude of at least ten feet had to e ight course in 7 minutes and 28 sees. dence when Dr MacCready and Condor be achi eved , there was a need fo r a true G ossamer Condor was not a glider but a pilot. Brya n Alle n, decided t o develop a ircra ft , no g lide r arra ngeme nt wo uld true powe red a ircraft with ma n as the Gossamer Albatross fo r a channel cross­ suffice. power pl ant. ing.

Freewheeling 9 But the re is a vast d iffe re nce between chosen d ay of the C ha nne l fli ght wo ul d Afte r waiti ng near D ove r for a mo nth s kimming above a f ie ld fo r seven m i­ ma ke it necessary fo r the pil o t to put o ut fo r the ri ght weathe r. team l eader Pa ul nu tes in Cali fo rnia a nd fl ying across the greate r h o rsepowe r t o maintain e leva­ MacCready decided o n m a king the a t­ E nglish C ha nne l (whe re cond it io ns a re tio n during the ta ke o ff pe riod . te mpt. But the pedal plane a lmost di d n't unpredictable) fo r a s ustained fli ght o f T he C ha nnel seldo m sho ws a beni gn get off the ground. a ny d u ra ti o n . A ll e n h ad to provide a face to those who c halle nge it (whe ther On the first take-off atte mpt the pla ne qua rter of o ne ho rsepowe r of e ne rgy to they try to s wi m o r sail) a nd the re was lu rched o ff the runway a nd k eeled ove r. ma ke A lba tross a irborne with a peda l no reason t o e xpect a ny s pecia l treat­ T he second t ime A ll e n , pedalling furi ­ drive n p rope ll e r a nd 22 ho rsepower t o me nt fo r a ma n w ho tried t o fl y across o usly inside hi s tra nspare nt cockpit , got keep it fl yin g. using his own muscle as power. in to the a ir. Fo ll owing o n a pe ri od of training tests Fo r o ne thing the C ha nne l i s the As a nticipa ted A ll e n h ad to c ha nge p rio r t o t he o ri gin a l successful fig ure busiest shipping la ne in the world . Supe r course to avoid a s upe r-ta nker as it e ight fli g ht Al le n . seated i n the actual ta nke rs mo ve up a nd d o wn the na rrow threa te ned to disintegra te Alba tross. recumbe nt supine positi o n used fo r the stre tch of wate r almost th e way that cars Severa l times the plane a lmost skimmed fli ght . could put o ut 0.48 ho rsepowe r fo r use a frecway. T he turbule nce these ves­ alo ng th e waves whi ch t hreate ned di sas­ seven minut es a nd 0. sels c reate a t a n altitude of 50 me tres - te r, until t he pilo t ra ised th e a ltitude by 38 ho rsepower fo r ove r 30 minutes. th e max imum a ll o wed fo r the fl ight - o ne foot . it was he re that A lbatross fl ew however. o nl y a s li ght head wind o n the could disintegrate the A lbatross. best and maintaining a steady 75 rpm h e a pproached fo r a la nd ing a t Cap G ri z Nez o n the French coast. A ll a n b a nked hi s flim sy craft over a pil e o f rocks a nd landed o n the sa nd. It was t he co nclus io n o f a magnificent fli ght by a magnifi cent machine. SUITEDFOR he 20 t h cent ury rec nactme nt o f the D aed a lus legend was no t T based o n fli ghts o f fa ncy. fo r the o ne-mill io n d o ll ar p roject had substa n­ COMFORT tia l backing fro m the U S Na ti o na l Aerona uti cs a nd Space Ad ministrati o n (NASA). T he carbon fi bre p lasti c a ircraft was designed b y the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Pilo t Ka nc ll o po ul os. 3 1. has been a Greek N a ti o na l Cycling C ha mpio n 14 tim es. H is fli g ht exte nded 26 year o ld bespectacled Ame ri can biologist A ll en's time of 2 ho urs 49 minutes of fl ying time (to c ross the E ngli sh Cha nnel) to a new record fo r m a npowere d fli ght by o ne ho ur and six minutes. Ka ne ll opo ul os·s fl ight w as foll owed o n the wate r by navy back up vessels full o f re po rte rs a nd pho tographe rs, while above him in the a ir the c rew of a G reek airfo rce heli copte r k ept a watchful eye. Thus the b icycle became no t o nl y ma n's greatest d iscovery fo r t ra nsfe rring hum a n e ne rgy in to mo bili ty o n the gro und , but also in the a ir. T he broke n aircraft is now o n display in Athe ns museum .

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10 Freewheeling The World Awheel

Here come the road monsters try says that its new vehicles will be safer Cowra a nd Bathurst they e ncounte red Just whe n you tho ught it was safe to because the re will be fe we r n eeded t o bush fires, drought and vast herds of cat­ ve nture out o nto the roads state trans­ carry the e xi sting load . Howe ve r the tl e. po rt ministers have a pproved the latest economic ra tiona lists s uppo rting the Now a century later a group of vintage gene ratio n of supe r truck - 'soo n t o a move say that the most important thing cycle e nthusiasts fro m M e lbourne a re road n ear yo u' . in their fa vour is that they will improve pl anning a re-enactme nt ride a lo ng th e The monsters a re known in the truck­ productivity in the industry. route ta ke n by the intre pid pa ir. T he ing trade as B-Do ubles a nd ma ke the In other wo rd s it will enable the major Bursto n and Stokes Cente nary Ri de is northern Australi an road trains look like fre ight companies to unde rcut the rail­ bein g o rgani sed by Bi cycle Vi ctoria in an ordinary semi. The B-Doubles weigh ways in the ir few remaining profitable conjunction with th e Vintage cycle C lub 60 tonnes, carry almost twice as much as areas a nd consequently we ca n expect o f Vi ctori a a nd will leave Melbourne o n a no rma l semi tra il e r a nd a re pulle d mo re B-Do ubl es not less. Usin g the O ctober 29 a rri vin g in Sydney o n a lo ng by a massive 400 ho rsepowe r trucking industry's wo nky logic t ha t November 12. pnme mover. must make them less safe? Several vintage cycle coll ecto rs are The two trail er units a re as long as 13 Pe rha ps the transpo rt mini ste rs loaning a numbe r of their precio us ma­ bi cycles placed end to end and are e ven should sell o f the railways to TNT and chines to willing a nd experi e nced hi gh mo re da ngerous to ride rs t ha n the a l­ Brambles as soon as possible. T hat way wheel riders to e nsure a large travelling read y massiv e trucks and tra il e rs that they can then drop this charade of great­ group. C oles Cate ring will accompany regula rl y use o ur suburban a nd city er productivity and let the private sector the ride rs a nd suppo rte rs a nd provide streets. Mo torists may have proble ms get into real operational effi cie ncy with meals a lo ng t he way working o ut o f a overtaking road trains but think what it heavy rail. That way the tax payer can be restored vintage truck. would be like being overtaken by one of reli eved of the burden of subsidising the Entries close o n M o nday Septe mber these speeding juggernauts. damage caused t o road system by bigger 19 so hurry; especia ll y if yo u w a nt to As a general rule the larger the truck and bigger trucks. ride o ne o f the vintage bikes on loan. the mo re dangerous is its s lipstream t o The re is an old saying that if the gov­ Contact the o rgani ser Charli e Fa rren cycli sts. A big truck does not have to hit ernment can't control something then it at Bicycle Victori a (03) 650 2550 . Entry a rider ; the wind gust is often powerful will make money from it. G overnments fo rms can be obtained from Bicycle Vi c­ e no ugh t o send the rider careering o ut will be nefit in the s ho rt te rm fro m in­ to ri a PO Box 1961 R M e lbo urne VI C of control off the road or under its gigan­ creased road taxes on larger trucks so it's 3001. If yo u li ve in Melbo urne yo u can tic wheels. better fo r them t o make a buck quickl y obtai n entry fo rms fro m the Bicycle Vi c­ No research h as ever b een d o ne into that way because they can't make money to ri a o ffi ce, Shop 15 (behin~ the fo un ­ the aerodyna mic effects o f such l a rge the way they curre ntly run the ir rail - tain wall ), City Square. vehicles on two wheele rs. Bo th cycli sts ways. Alan Pa rke r and motorcycli sts have a legitimate com­ Perth to Sydney record attempt pl aint that their safety needs have been G ra ham Woodrup, well known Vi cto­ bl atantly ignored . The so-call ed Expert ri an m arathon cyclist, will attempt the Committee whi ch conducted the revi ew gruelling Perth to Sydney Inte rcapital of road vehi cle limits in 1985 fa il ed t o record in August this year. ' Woody' recommend the necessary research. hopes to break the present record of 11 U nfo rtunately there a re so few roads d ays 29 minutes fo r the 4354 km jo ur­ in Australian cities with ad e qua te ney. The present record holder is Kevin curbside width to a ll ow the bigger trucks Hunt who set the record in 1974 . that a decision t o a pprove them w o uld Woodrup will leave Perth on the 20th be a b latant di sregard of cyclists basic and hopes to average 450 km per day on ri ghts to use the road . At present the th e lo ng haul across the N ullarbor. His tra nspo rt bureaucrats pl an t o restrict a tte mpt via Ade la id e, Melbo urne and them t o o uter suburban roads and coun­ Melbourne to Sydney Penny Farthing Canbe rra will be s uppo rted b y a n e n­ try areas all owing them into the s ubur­ Ride thusiastic team of 12 volunteers includ­ ba n a nd inne r cit y roads whe n public In November 1888 G eorge Bursto n and in g bike mecha ni c, first a id o ffi ce r, opinion has been softened up. H R Sto kes set out from M elbourne o n cooks, drive rs a nd time keepers as we ll T he hidden long term strategy behind their penny fa rthing bicycles heading fo r as two publicit y people to deal with the the introducti on of these monsters is a n Sydney on the first leg of what was to be media. attack on the ra il system's last b asti on - one o f the first world bike rides. On the Capila no Ho ney is to be the majo r bulk interstate freight. The truck indus- way up th ro ugh Albury, Cootamundra, spo nso r a nd local seafood exporter

Freewheeling I I Sou'west Seafoods a re also assisting a t a The rides will cate r fo r expe rienced local l evel. The re will of co urse be a and less experi enced riders. Short ri des sho rt fa ll of funds which Graha m will or long, chall engi ng rides with distances have to fund himself. va ryin g between 80 km and 180 km per Woody is the present ho lde r o f the day are a ll being planned . For m o re in­ Austra li an 7-day record of 2780 km , the fo rmation on Bike fo r Bibles '88 ring 02 Melbourne-Adelaide-Melbourne record 267 6862 or toll free 008 25 1389. o f 2 d ays 23 ho urs 2 3 mi nutes a nd the Adele A nderson Australi an 24 h our Tandem record with Ian H ay. At present he is covering 800 Search for School Champs km pe r week in preparatio n fo r the re­ The Safe-n-Sound National Schools cord attempt. C ha mpio nships is we ll und e r w ay Round Australia marathon underway around the country as students try their O n Saturday, May 7, over 40,000 people ski ll s o n indoor turbo tra ine rs fo r the in Canberra waved goodbye to a team o f ri ght to e nter the state finals and eventu­ Australi an and International cycli sts as a ll y become o ne of fo ur Nati o na l they le ft o n a round Australi a cyclin g champions. marathon. T he c hampionships a re o pen t o con­ E uropa Cycles, professio nall y fitted testants aged 10- 16 years a nd are being out 19 year old Austra li an cyclist, Georg run by the Aust rali an Cycling Federa­ Ge rharte r. G eorg is the Australian rep­ tion through its state branches. The a im resentative in the Bible Society's ro und o f t he co ntest i s to ide nti fy pote nti a l Austra li a cycl ing marathon ca ll ed CYC­ cycling c ha mpio ns as we ll as to teach RAM '88. some basic cycling safety rules. T his Bicente nn ia l event has been or­ Each p a rticipa ting s tate has a set of gani sed by the Bible Society in Austra li a ide ntical dual indoor train ers wired up to ra ise money fo r literacy development to a purpose built electronic devi ce that p rojects in A ust ra li a, Pa pua New shows distance travell ed, and at the fli ck G uinea a nd The Pacific Isla nds. Now of a switch, the riders times over a sprint the Socie ty's Bike For B ibles o ffi ce is distance of 400 metres. looking fo r 500 mo re cycli sts to join the Freewheeling caught up with Jim Hal­ Inte rn a ti o na l team as they ride back loran of the NSWAC F whe n h e v isited into Canberra o n O ctober 8, 1988. Sydney Girls Hi gh i n June. Our photo Maratho n rides are bein g o rgani sed series shows the treme ndous e ffo rt put fr o m v a rio us po ints a round Austra li a in by the g irls during the school heats. in cluding Perth , Cairns, Ade laide , Mel­ The e lectronic d ispl ay, howeve r, was bourne. Tassie a nd ma ny towns a lo ng moving too quickl y through the num­ the way. bers to register clearl y in the pictures. In 1987 almost 300 ride rs dressed in Heat winners receive a certificate a nd bright green a nd gold o utfits mad e a enter the zone fin als. Zo ne winners then spectacul ar sight as they rode in to Can­ enter the s tate fi nal and will win a Safe­ berra fo r a civic reception on the steps of n-So und Sprinte r h e lmet , Puma track Parlia ment House . This year the Bible suit a sash and a trip to the nationals if Socie ty pred icts it will be even m o re they are fast enough. spectacular as ride rs fro m all around The national champio nshi ps will be A ustra lia have ex pressed g reat e n­ held in October and winners of the four thusiasm to joi n the ride. categories (Unde r 14 and Under 16 fo r PUBLIC NOTICE THE BICYCLE CORPORATION PTY. LTD . (INC . IN VIC .), WHO ARE THE EXCLUSIVE IMPORTERS & WHOLESALE DISTRIBUTORS IN AUSTRALIA OF SHOGUN BICYCLES , WISH TO ADVISE ALL INTERESTED PARTIES THAT UNIVERSE CYCLES, OF 458 CHURCH ST. PARRAMATTA IS NOT AN AUTHORISED SHOGUN RETAILER. THE BICYCLE CORPORATION PTY. LTD. ADVISES ALL POTENTIAL SHOGUN CUSTOMERS TO BUY ONLY FROM AUTHORISED RETAILERS. IF YOU HAVE ANY DIFFICULTY LOCATING AN AUTHORISED RETAILER , PLEASE PHONE (03) 587 3466

12 Freewheeling both boys and girls) will win a Malvern Star Bicycle, special medallion and a years membership of their local cycling club. "Boat people" win Ridesafe 88 holiday to USA and Disney World The culmination of the successful Ridesafe 88 campaign recently took place at the NSW Police pavilion at the Sydney Showgrounds. Star of the popu­ lar television program Ridgey Didge Jared Robinson drew the prize and an­ nounced the prize winner to hundreds of boys excited onlookers. by sponsorship of the Northern Suburbs Under 16 to Veterans. Many school The six year old winner Rana Hooke Club by Clancy's Supermarkets. The and girls also race weekends with the lives on a boat at the Balmain Marina so Northern Suburbs club is one of the club. For more information on the club he will enjoy the dry land during his 12- more progressive of Sydney's amateur contact Max Rowling (02) 484 5331. cycling clubs offering its members a day visit to the USA which will include International Pedal Pen Friends Los Angeles, New York , Wa shington , complete weekly racing calendar. The National Bike Club of Britain is the Kennedy Space Centre and conclud­ This year Norths will promote a major starting up a pen pal program to help ing at Disney World in Florida. 150 km road race based on the Peat's put its young members in touch with The prize, tickets worth $12,000, was Ridge area. All of the country's top cyc­ under 16 year aids in Australia and the presented to Rana and her family by the lists are expected to compete as prepara­ USA. The American magazine Bicycle sponsors Rosebank Plastics makers of tion for the Grafton-Inverell Classic. Forum and Freewheeling are to partici­ the Stackhat helmet and the National The club boasts a membership of 140 pate. If you are interested in writing to A ustralia Bank later on in the bank's riders competing in all categori es from Sydney boardroom. River to River Ride Bicycle Victoria's Great Victorian Bike Ride for 1988 will kick off in the Murray River town of Swan Hill on December 3 and nine days later will arrive at the THE NAME OF QUALITY, FOR THE PEOPLE WHO WANT THE BEST Yarra in Melbourne. The organisers are planning improved facilities for this year's big crowd including entertain­ ment at each of the daily campsites. Trains will carry all the participants and their bicycles from Melbourne to the start on the banks of the Murray. For the first four days cycling the ride will parallel the great river before heading south through the pretty Central High­ lands towns of Castlemaine and Keyn­ ton. The full fee of $209 (adults) includes tee shirt , travel to Swan Hill , com­ memorative badge, all meals, camping fees , entertainme nt and much more. School groups are welcome and entries close Friday November 4. Forms can be obtained from Bicycle Victoria on (03) 650 2334 (don't leave your entry too late as last years ride turned away late riders once the full compliment for the event filled) . had been DURABILITY, PRECISION, LIGHTWEIGHT ALL THAT YOU NEED Bike Expo 1988 FOR YOUR BICYCLE. IT'S HERE . . . IT'S HATTA Bike Expo now in its sixth year moves Available from all leading back to Melbourne to a new venue at the Exhibition building. Expo will kick REPCO CYCLE DEALERS - off with a special trade-only opening night on Thursday September 8 from 6 pm to 10 pm . The show will open to the public on Friday September 9 and will run each day 10 am to 5 pm until closing 5 pm Sunday September 11. Club cycling in Sydney'sn orth The resurgence in Sydney's northern suburbs has been given a further boost HEAD OFFICE - 25 HAMILTON ST HUNTINGDALE, VICTORIA . AUSTRALIA

Freewheeling IJ a n overseas pen pal please sent a sheet Many countries - Italy, East Ger­ of paper with yo ur name , address, date ma ny, the USSR , China , Czechos­ of birth, yo ur interests, and whether you lovakia have hundreds of bicycle would like a male or female pal in either stamps. the UK or USA to Pedal Pen Friends, Even small African nati ons have more Freewheeling, PO Box K26 , Hay market stamps of this kind tha n we do (three NSW 2000. We will the n pass your re­ available a nd a couple of rare ones). quest to our contacts in yo ur country of Former touring magazine editor, choice. Peter Innocent , is coordinating the cam­ paign to persuade Australia Post to com­ Biker stamps for 88? mission a commemorative set this year - Commercial a rtist and stamp designer, especiall y si nce 1988 happens to be the Graham Wade (also known for his illust­ centenary of competitive cycling and the 'I Burston and Stokes ride . CALYPSO rations in the Bicycle Institute of NSW's C V C L E S journal Push On) a nd some cycling Peter wants individuals a nd clubs to Takes you and your dollar further. friends, have begun a campaign to get write letters in support. Please contact Australia Post to commission a se ri es of him at Bicycle Victoria PO Box 1961R, Our la rge tu rnover of quality stock enables us to Australian bicycle stamps. Melbourne VIC 3001 for detail s. keep our prices low. Call in and see ou r extensi ve range of bicycles and accessories.

179 KI NG STREET, NEWTOWN NSW TOP QUALITY (02) 517 1655 BIKE & TRIATHLON WARE ITALIAN SADDLES Best prices in the West AT A COMFORTABLE PRICE. WHYPAYMORE UNIVERSE CYCLES Research and development, participation in over 87 international exhibitions, and a commitment to the 458 Church St functional employment of advanced technology to provide the maximum combination Nth Parramatta NSW 2151 of riding comfort and control. That's your guarantee 02 6303143 of a world class saddle when you choose SELLE RO YAL. Whether it's for BMX, touring or racing, 02 6302846 SELLE ROYAL design and manufacture the finest saddles available. And all at an affordable price. See them soon at your speci

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14 Freewheeling PIO BIKE BEAlEIIS

BIKE BARN ASHFIELD CYCLES PARRAMATTA. ~ Sydney's original triathlon shop. IBE.FREED Old Catering for triathletes and cyclists. MACHINE • SALES Our knowledge of bikes and • SERVICE triathlon equipment is the best. DREAM MACHINES • REPAIRS First class service assured. Family-Touring-Triathlon 7 Victoria Road, Specialist 353 Liverpool Rd Parramatta. Accessories & expert Ashfield NSW 2131 opp. BBC Hardware repairs. (02) 797 9913 (02) 683-5969 401 Chapel St, South Yarra Open 7 Days. VIC 3141 Ph: 241 5014

TURRAMURRA CYCLE CENTRE BERRETTO BICYCLES BLACKMAN TURRAMURRA CYCLE BICYCLES CENTRE BRISBANE 1257 Pacific Hwy Turramurra 724 GYMPIE ROAD, Two outlets offering the service CHERMSIDE 4032 you've come to know and 2074 appreciate. (02) 44 1479 (07) 359 4923 Now at 59 Queen St., St Marys THE NORTH SHORE APOLLO EXPERIENCE THE LUXURY Phone 673 4017 DEALER AND INDIVIDUAL EXCELLENCE OF A HAND· And as always at Blacktown MADE BERRETTO BICYCLE 5 Alpha St., Blacktown Parts & Comprehensive Range of RACING, TOURING, TRI- Accessories - Free After Sales 621 8158 ATHALONS, OR JUST SELF Service on All Geared Cycles. BLACKTOWN INDULGENCE BICYCLE SPECIAL TEACHER DISCOUNTS PARTS • ACCESSORIES • CLOTHING • REPAIRS CENTRE Mon.f'rl 8.30-5.30 - Thurs: SEND S.A.E. FOR PRICE LIST ON 8.00pm - Sat: 8.30-12.30 FRAMES C~AmPIDn BRISBANE'S BIGGEST RANGE OF BICYCLES, PARTS, ACCESSORIES & CLOTHING IK •SHOP e-•~- • Apollo • Malvern Star • Repco • Ricardo The bicycle shop on • Shogun Sydney's North Shore that· !il:'ffJ BEST RANGE - BEST VALUE Large range of spares and accessories. meets your individual . Wheel bulldlng a speclallty. needs •IGBI~ Touring and Mountain bikes 2938 PACIFIC HWY. West Lane, St Marys NSW 2760 are our apeclalltv. UNDERWOOD, QUEENSLAND (Behind Kentucky Fried Chicken) 92 Pacific H'wav Rosevllle (07) 341 7444 (02) 623 1157 5116 "JUST NEAR THE BIG GUN" 411 Only 1 2 minutes from the city Who said quality cycle accessories have to be expensive? FreewheeHna Centennial Park.Cycles PRO BIKE DEALERS is a 48 Clovslly Rd, Randwick. 398 5027 NOT SPEARMANS section that highlights the goods

• W• ,rock all JNdin1 brandl ol Mw bicyda, and services of Australia's leading • It'• Jc-,,• IMp# l'eng,, of MXWSorl#, See you on the Sydney to the 'Gong Ride • W•,,,,,..,, u{»ri«tc,d tam of full· bicycle retailers. Bike shop pro­ rim, m«/IMtia far-'' your ,.,,.Jr IJ#dl, • W• build cuftom bik•. fessionals who want to get their • W•allt«ond-ltlndcyc)n, SPEARMAN • W•MW•fulf,_,,,.ot 1986-81,ummN message across to our 15 000 C)

Freewheeling IS The amazing Colnago/Ferrari concept bike complete with automatic 8-speed gears and hydraulic brakes.

made of carbon fibre and have an un­ WEIRDAID usual three-spoked arrangement in place of the now familiar solid disk wheels. If the frame has the fam ili ar shape and appearance of a high performance road bike then a closer look at the bike's WONDERFUL mechanics will reveal the more unusual aspects of its design. Your future bike is ready... Well, almost For a start the Ferrari/Colnago does away with conventional derailleur gears. WARREN SALOMON In their place is an eight-speed gearbox BY designed by the Ferrari engineers. This gear box is built into a light alloy hous­ ing wh ich fits inside the diameter of the ET'S FACE IT the word 'plas­ Nowadays, we live in the space age - chain sprocket. The chain sprocket does tic' has an imap;e problem. And or so we are told. Mere plastic (as im­ not turn at the same speed as the pedal the thought of a plastic bike proved as it might be) is not enough. crank but at a rate determined by the conjures up images of rumbly Today's wonder materials have names gearing device. overblown kiddy toys with like Kevlar, carbon fibre, technopolym­ Inside the housing is a first central wheelsL that always fall off. Any wonder ers and boron. Even aluminium is passe. gear shell which moves with the pedal then that the ltera, that strange looking At the major European trade shows shaft. This is constantly engaged with a plastic machine from Scandinavia, (pic­ bicycle companies have been de­ second gear and which in turn connects tured on the cover of our fourteenth monstrating for some years that bicycles to a third gear wheel on the same shaft. issue) never made it in the marketplace. too can go hi-tech for the sake of speed This transmits the drive through a Ever since the days of the bamboo and efficiency. However, the hi-tech fourth wheel to the inner wheel which bicycle inventors and mechanical tinker­ push received its biggest boost late last drives the chain. ers have been experimenting with mate­ year when the Ferrari/Colnago Concept rials other than the old favourite , steel. bike was exhibited at the prestigious The Ferrari/Colnago breaks new Over the years we have had the Ameri­ Milan show. ground in other areas with its new hyd­ can fibreglass bike of the sixties, the The Colnago Ferrari is an amazing raulic braking system. The front and British plastic bike, the Dutch plastic machine. Its frame is made from carbon rear brake units each have their own bike and most recently the Itera - the fibre tubes fixed into lugs using ad­ slave cylinders connected to the lever Swedish plastic bike. For one reason or vanced technopolymers (a kind of super operated master cylinder by thin pres­ another they have all disappeared from duper glue) and strengthened by carbon sure pipes no bigger than conventional view - seen only in the history books. fibre and fibre glass. The wheels are also brake cables. T he prototype, due for

/6 Freewheeling production a nd public sale next year, weighs 8.48 kg (18.7 lbs). Mil a n was a lso the showcase for a number of new machines all employing frames made from composite materi als such as carbon fi bre and Kevlar. Carbon fibre frame is the most popular of the so­ ca ll e d ' new' ma te ri a ls a nd was the choice of most of these 'new' bike buil­ ders. Carbon fi bre is a materi al with many si mil ariti es to fibre glass. Like glass fibre it beco mes incredibly strong whe n moulded into an epoxy resin base. Be­ cause the carbo n fibre ma te ri a l is strongest in onl y one direction layers of the mate ri a l a li gned in va rying direc­ ti ons often with a layer of Kevlar in be­ tween to add further strength . Because the carbon fibre/epoxy com­ posite mate ri a l can be easil y mo ulded into any shape a number of th e new ma­ chines have departed radically from the The sleek Modolo Kronotech. conventio na l tubed fra me design in o rde r to reduce the overall wind resis­ tance of the bicycle. One of the most impressive examples of aerodynami call y influenced design is the Modolo Kronotech built by th e Ita­ li a n frame building company Bo ttec­ chi a. This sleek black machine has been designed by Modolo better known fo r their brakesets. The fra me is made from ho n­ eycombed carbo n fibre a nd uses tita nium (an ultrali ght weight me ta l) compone ntry a nd technopolyme rs to bond the carbon fibre composite compo­ nents. The back wheel can be removed while the freewh eel and chain remain in position. Bottecchi a have also developed th eir own distinctive Crono Strada bicycle which uses pa rt carbo n fibre and pa rt li ghtwe ight steel in the unusual frame design. So fa r most of these machines are o nl y in the proto type stage a nd a re prima rily designed to be used in speci a li st time tria l events. As such many will never be raced aga in st other bicycles o nl y again st the cl ock in the quest for all out speed. One carbon fr ame bi cycl e, out of the prototype stage and selling in the USA and E urope fo r mostl y road racing use is th e Kestre l 4000. Made by Bre nt Trim­ ble fo under of Cycle Composites Inc of the U SA . Trimble's Kestrel fr a me is made fro m mo ulded honeycombed car­ bon/bo ron/kevla r fibre materi al. The fr a me is made as two mirror im age halves whi ch are th en bonded together. The fr a me is mo ulde d into a sleek aerodynami c shape th at gives the bike a split pe rsonalit y: from the si de it looks fa t and ungainl y but head o n it is slim and elegant.

The Kestrel 4000 fitted with Shimano Dura Ace componentry as available in the USA and Britain .

Freewheeling 17 The main frame members have a tear­ drop cross section and cables are routed inside the frame. The Kestrel 4000 sells in the USA complete with Tange's new bonded alu­ minium forks for around $US 1,200. Carbon fibre's other major advantage apart from its lightness is its rigidity. A well built frame like the Kestrel is re­ ported to have little if any lateral fl ex. This mea ns when a ride r stands in the pedals to apply maximum power all the force is transmitted to the whet:ls and is not lost in a flexible frame. Though there has been considerable experimentation in frame shape design very little has been attempted in the way of new materials for front forks man­ ufacture. Many of the latest prototypes still use either aluminium or lightweight steel alloy forks but the Presenti Carbon fibre time trial bike goes the whole way. It's designers and builders have sculptured out of carbon fibre compo­ site material a beautiful set of reinforced forks finished in stunning gloss black The Canielli (Bottecchia Crono Strada). duco to match the frame. To date the majority of the carbon fibre time trial bikes have come out of Italy the home of good design . Just about every major ma nufacturer (Bat­ taglin , Rossin , Bianchi and Colnago to name a few) has a sleek prototype of this type. Tandems too! Cinetica is a company started by Andrea Cinelli son of the famous Cino Cinelli. Cinelli's elegant Giotto tandem is a fast track machine with an aluminium hon­ eycomb reinforced carbon fibre frame. The forks are also made from carbon fibre material. The complete bike weighs 26.4 lbs and was tested in the last World Championships. The 3t Mach 0.05 tandem from the well known Italian component maker weighs only 13.5 kg . It uses composite material throughout even on the striking front fork/fairings. A promise of things to come? The Bianchi C4 crono bike. Brent Trimble, designer of the Kestrel frame, is deeply committed to the future of composite frame . To some extent one-piece composite frame construction is more suited to mass production tech­ niques than the more conventional round section steel tubed frames. So perhaps Trimble and the current breed of Italian designers are actually design­ ing tomorrow's bikes today. Trimble's latest designs are even more striking than his Kestrel frame. His latest production bicycle called the Nitro is a mountain bike with suspen­ sion which weighs only 12.5 kg (that's 27½ lbs)! The bike has two long travel tele­ scopic shock absorbers on the front and A close up view of the Kestrel Nitro's frame. Note the gas shock absorber on the rear fork assembly.

18 Freewheeling a single gas charged monoshock at the The frame and fo rk assembly should the need to break it due to the lack of rear (the gas used is air - hence nitrogen sell fo r around $US 2,000 when the bike chain stays. The cross frame has been = Nitro). The damping on the shock goes on sale in the US around August. aroun d for as long as the diamond type absorbers ca n be adjusted or locked Even more interesting is Trimbl e's though the newer types of materials may solid. latest a cross frame mountain bike pre­ give this design a new lease of life . viewed recently in the US magazine T he Trimble mountain bike fr ame Bicycle Guide. Its one piece moulded we ighs 2.26 kg for a 56 cm (22") size. fra me is constructed from 70 % fibre­ glass and 30% ca rbon fi bre. A 7.6 cm (3") diameter main tube gives rigidity (Trimble claims five times that of a con­ ve ntional steel fra me) and the lack of triangul ati on in the ve rtical plane makes frame better able to absorb road shock and helps the rear wheel maintain trac­ ti on over uneven terrain . Cables are concealed in the fra me and the drive chain can be removed wi th out Presenti BE ASAFETY RIDER. WEAR ONE. Designed in Australia by Malvern Star in conjunction with Technisearch Ltd., the SAFETY RIDER bicycle helmet is manufactured to meet both the Some early plastic bikes: Top, the American specific needs of the Australian cyclist, and the stringent fibreglass framed bike ( 1963); centre, the British requirements of the Standards Association of Australia. plastic framed bike; bottom, the Dutch plastic The SAFETY RIDER features an innovative frame bicycle. and highly effective 'Flo -Thru ' ventilating system, an inner comfort liner, and a rapid release retention system. Of sturdy one piece construction, ~;;1"::..~.=:·~ ST IVES ~,~:::,-- the lightweight SAFETY RIDER is available in sizes from extra small through to extra large. BICYCLE CENTRE See the SAFETY RIDER soon at your specialist 237 Mona Vale Road, St Ives bicycle dealer. Ph: 449 8289 MOUNTAIN Bll{ES CENTURION, SOUTHERN CROSS, DIAMOND BACK, MT RACING, REPCO PLUS OUR OWN BRAND OF HIGH Q UALITY FRAMES BY

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Freewheeling /9 the USA they have rapidly become the choice of a majority of road race and mountain bike competitors. Bell, the largest manufacturer has produced the Ovation model which of­ HOWTONEEP fers the all the lightweight properties of the shell-less helmets with the addition of a thin 'micro shell' covering in place of the lycra. So as to hedge its bets Bell will also introduce its own version of the more common lycra covered design later AHEAD in the year and will probably let the mar­ ketplace decide which is most popular. A Freewheeling guide to head protection The future of this type of helmet looks assured so long as questions relat­ COMPILED BY WARREN SALOMON ing to the EPS shell's ability to stay to­ gether and not split apart in crash condi­ EARING A bicycle helmet polyurethane) EPS continues to out per­ tions are adequately answered. The US when you ride makes good form all others. distributor of the Giro lightweight hel­ sense. You may be a careful Compared to motorcycle helmets the met recently issued a warning to owners integral rider, in an accident it may weight factor is more important to bicyc­ using its helmet without the is an essen­ not even be your fault, but li sts. Consequently traditional helmet lycra mesh cover. This cover ifW you fall you are more prone to serious materials such as fibreglass (which is tial part of the design and should not be head injury than if you were using any very strong but heavy) are not suitable removed while the helmet is in use. other means of transport. 80% of cyc­ for bicycling helmet shells. The current The ultra lightweights feel good to are not as cool as some li sts killed in crashes and 35% of those trend is towards special types of high­ wear even if they injured suffered serious head injury. strength lightweight plastics such as of the large-vent hard shell types (Bell The results of a recent South Austral­ Polycarbonate (Lexan is a trade name) Yl-Pro, Avinir, Yetta to name three). the Ovation only one ian study (Dorsch 1987) show that above or Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene Apart from other helmet of this type dispenses with all any helmet is better than none at all. (ABS) and other similar compounds. lycra cover: the Rhode A good hard shell helmet could prevent Australia has one of the most ad­ the protective It is not currently sold up to 90% of all deaths due to head inju­ vanced helmet markets in the world of­ Gear Ultralight. ry. The study even found that even a fering a complete range of helmets for in this country but bears a special men­ 'poor' had she ll helmet could prevent all kinds of cycling activity. The helmet tion because its major design innovation 70% of deaths. market in the late 1980's has matured points the way ahead for all future de­ So what's a good helmet? To answer and has entered into an improvement signs - all helmet designs!. To protect its outer surface from that question we first need to take a oriented secondary phase where the and abrasion it is coated close look at bicycle helmets and how origin al designs are being phased out in knocks, bruises they work. favour of newer designs which are during manufacture with a thin film of Most importantly the helmet has to lighter, have better ventilation and Shellex plastic (a proprietary coating). absorb the impact your head encounters strapping systems, look better and are This is also supposed to keep the shell in a crash. Whether it does as it collides with a solid object or sur­ more comfortable to wear. from splitting on how thick and how face during a crash. It also has to protect The 1988 helmet market has reached or not depends coating is. your head from abrasions. To do this a new level of sophistication. Different strong its outer of this type of helmet effecti vely most modern helmets use a types of cycling activities now have their The advantage low weight is that it is moulded he lm et liner made from ex­ own specialised designs catering for the apart from its panded polystyrene protected by some speciali sed needs of BMX, racing, tour­ much cooler to wear. One of the disad­ form of outer shell. ing and general recreation users. vantages of the lycra mesh cover is that through ventilation. The most important part of a helmet it restricts flow If the Rhode Gear Ultralight or its is the polystyrene liner. It's job is to The ultra lightweights successors can pass the Australi an Stan­ absorb the energy from the impact of The demands of the competitor are now dard AS2063.l we could see the helmet the fa ll. Expanded polystyrene (EPS) is being met with the introduction of so­ market world wide turned on its prover­ th e material most commonly used be­ called 'shell-less' or ultra lightweight bial head as the lightweight design takes cause it will crush on impact and cushion helmets. This type of headgear is usually over. the blow. EPS is also used widely in in­ about half the weight of the lightest hard A word of caution though ; the ultra dustry and in the home as an insulation shell helmets and are designed to be lightweight type helmet (lycra cover or material. However, EPS can be made in comfortable and cool in the tough com­ not) can not be absent mindedly thrown varying grades of hardness so the type petitive environment. into the boot of a vehicle at the start of a used in helmets must not be too soft (it The ultra lightweight is usually made journey. Without the hard plastic shell will compress too easily) or too hard from a thicker than normal EPS base the expanded polystyrene will break or (otherwise it will damage the head). without the traditional hard shell plastic crack if struck or squeezed from the As the EPS material absorbs energy covering. In place of the hard shell is sides. by collapsing and compressing you must usually a lycra/nylon mesh cover. This always replace your helmet once it has slip over cover is not just a pretty face. Some, not all, of this year's batch of bicycle safety received a significant impact. Helmets Its job is to hold the helmet together in helmets. Top to bottom, left to right: Aus-Hat; onl y work once! the event of an impact just as the plastic Gemray Triat; Yetta Corsa R; Bell Ovation; Lazer One further advantage of EPS over hard shell does. LZIO; Avinir; Brancale XP S; Giro Prolight; other materials is it s extreme lightness Some of these helmets have passed Stackhat; Bell VI-Pro; Atom; LT700; Hartop; Pro an important factor in reducing wearer the highest US performance Standards Sport; Bell Brava; Sorelli. The four helmets in the fa ti g ue. Though other materials have so they are not just a gimmicky design right hand vertical column are all ultra been tried (such as closed cell aimed at a transitory market sector. In lightweights. The rest have hard outer shells.

20 Freew heeling

There are two choices of helmet for infants: Left, Hot or cold? high. The correct strap adjustment the Kid Lid from Gemray (mum is wearing should made when you buy your helmet A well-designed bicycle helmet should Gemray's Turbo MkV; Right, the L:il Bell Shell. so that you get a good fit right from the be comfortable to wear. To do this its Mother sports a Bell Tourlite. word go . padding/fitting and retention/strapping systems should correctly position and you should always look for a helmet hold the helmet on your head at all that's designed to cool your head. Performance standards times. The strapping should, if possible, The Australian Standards Association's allow adjustment for different head Try it on first! AS2063.1 is the only official test of a shapes. Never buy a helmet with out properly helmet's effectiveness in this country. Bicycle riding generates lots of body fitting it first. It is important that the The Standard consists of a list of design heat and the head is one part of the body helmet fit you securely and comfortably. requirements and a series of a tests laid which has to be kept cool. A helmet with If it feels too tight then it will probably down by the Association to evaluate the poor ventilation can often make you be irritating to wear for more than a few performance of helmets designed for uncomfortable and affect concentra­ minutes. If it feels too loose then you outdoor and sporting use. Subsidiary tion . A motorcycle helmet does not run the risk of it falling off your head in Standards define the specific require­ need to be ventilated but the cyclist's a crash. ments for each activity ranging from does. There are many different types of fit­ horse riding to canoeing and cycling. Most helmets have holes in their ting systems. This is important as not all Sections of the standard (particularly shells and liner to allow air in . For a heads are the same shape. Sometimes the part relating to shell penetration helmet to offer effective ventilation it one brand will fit better than another. testing and ventilation requirements) also must allow air out. In the marketing Some models fit oval shaped heads bet­ are still under review and when com­ jargon of the manufacturers this is cal­ ter than round ones. If your head is an pleted should offer one of the best sets led flow-through ventilation. odd shape you may find that those hel­ of requirements for helmet design in the For flow-through ventilation to work mets which have removable (velcro world. the helmet shell must have holes at the tabs) and replaceable sizing pads in var­ The Standards Association only sets rear and some form of channelling in the ying thicknesses will give you the best the standards for manufacture; it does EPS liner to encourage the air flow and fit. not actually approve each helmet. Once generate the suction that will pull the Helmets that sit further down on the the helmet maker's factory has been hot air out. head require less strapping to hold them approved the manufacturer then has to Unfortunately all helmets are hot in in place. Compare a full face motorcycle submit batch samples of their helmets to summer. Some are hotter than others. helmet which only has a chin strap. The an independent testing company which In winter the cool helmets can also be­ design trend for bicycling helmets nowa­ then performs the physical tests. come uncomfortably cold but it is easier days is towards a helmet that exposes Critics of the Australian method of to keep air out of a helmet (with a cloth the ears and the lower part of the neck. testing say that it is needlessly bureauc­ cap or lycra helmet cover) than it is to To keep this type of helmet securely on ratic and adds to the cost of the helmets. bring cooling air in. the wearers head extra strapping to the In the USA employees of the testing Helmets that perform well in all cli­ rear of the helmet is needed. These nape organisations regularly purchase hel­ mates and weather conditions are a rar­ straps generally need to be adjusted to mets from retailers and perform tests ity; what may be comfortable in the suit the wearer. independently of the manufacturer issu­ Queensland summer may not be as good Non-adjustable nape straps often re- . ing a product recall if faulty products are in a Melbourne winter. If most of your suit in a helmet that will tip forward on found. This has a profound effect on cycling is done in the warmer months the wearers head if the helmet sits up manufacturers as product recalls are

22 Freewheeling The 1188 helme1 markee

Brand Model Price Weight (grams) Type Fitting Tested Retention Ventilation Coolness Sizes Colours Accessories AlbionC&D Aus-Hat •9.95 •98 H FN AS2063 AIQ HIC G W (•9-62)N/C Y/W Visor Deals Atom Adult •9.90 •88 H TN AS2063 AIQ H G W(S•-62)N W/YIR/P/BLJBK Visor Atom Child •9.90 382 H TN AS2063 SIQ H G M(•7-55)N/C WIYIR/P/BLJBK Visor Avinir Hard shell 75.00 •62 H FN ANSI AIQ H S{S6-59)N WISK Bell Brava 65.00 •00 H FN ANSI AIQ H G M(55-63)N WIR/BK Bell ~ii Be ll Shell 55.00 251 u FN Snell ANSI AIP H M(•• -52)NIC w Bell Ovation 95.00 275 u FN Snell ANSI AIP H/C G M(55-63)N w 4'cra bottoms Bell ProPlusBMX 85.00 1083 H SID p M w Visor Bell Pro Plus BMX FF 112.00 1090 H SID M w Visor Bell Stratos 1•0.00 •65 H FIPN ANSI AIP HIC M(5•-62) WIGY/BK Visor Bell Tourlite 95.00 •9• H FN Snell ANSI AIP H G M(S•-62)N w Visor Bell VI-Pro 79.00 •01 H FN Snell ANSI AIP H W(52-63)N WIBK/Bl/Y Bell Windjammer 55.00 •9• H FIA ANSI AIQ H/C G M(55-62) WISK Brancale XP-5 75.00 398 H TIPN ANSI AIQ H M(S•-62) BK/R/W Brancale XP-7 60.00 220 u FN ANSI AIQ H G M(S•-62)N W{ R/GR cover) Davies Craig Hartop •9.00 52• H AS2063 AIQ HIC G M(50-60) w Gemray 323 35.00 636 H AS2063 SID H G W(48-60) W/YIP Gemray CobraBMX •5.00 772 H AS2063 SID H M(53-60) BK/ R/S Gemray Kid Lid 37.00 208 u FN AID p w Gemray Trial •0.00 •• 2 H AS2063 AIQ H G W(52-6•) MBLJMBU Gemray Turbo MkV •5.00 609 H AS2063 AID H W(52-62) w Giro Prolight 135.00 235 u FN Snell ANSI AIQ H/C G W(S2-62)N Y/BUR/BK cover Guardian Adult 5•.00 S•O H FN AS2063 AID H G W(51-62)N Y Guardian Sprinter S•.00 5•0 H FN AS2063 AID H G M(Sl -58)N Y/W Visor Kiwi K35 59.00 603 H TN ANSI AIQ H W(52-62)N Y/W Visor LT 700 79.00 211 u F/V ANSI AIQ HIC G M(56-60)N Covers multi Lazer LZI •9.95 560 H FIA ANSI AIQ H W(52-62) R/W/BK/Y /SL Lazer LZI0 69.95 580 H TN ANSI AIQ H W{52/62)N M(R/GY/BUS) Visor Pro Spart 35.00 5•3 H FIA AS2063 AID H G M(53-56 ) w Rosebank Stackhat •9.00 573 H AS2063 SID H/C M(50-59)IC W/Y/P/BK Visor Safety Rider 32.00 515 H FIA AS2063 AID H G M(52-60) Y/W Son,lli Supn,mo 69.00 172 u FIA ANSI AIQ H/C G M(52-58)N 5 {covers) Tracer 39.00 520 H AS2063 AIQ H w Yetta Corsa 99.00 •35 H PIA ANSI AIQ H M(S•-6 1) WIBK/R/YIA Yetta Corsa R 99.00 •• 6 H PIT/A ANSI AIQ H M(S•-61) W/B K/R/YIA Abbreviations used in chart: Fitting: F= Foam pads; T = Towelling faced pads; V= Velcro removable pads; A= Adhesive fixed pads; P= Polyurethane adhesive fixed pads. Retention: A= Fully adjustable straps; S= Standard chin straps; D= D ring buckle; Q= Quick release buckle; P= Plain buckle. Ventilation: H= Holes in shell and liner; C= Channelllng for flow through effect. Coolness: E= Excellent; G= Good; F= Fair; P= Poor. Sizes: W= Wide range; M= Moderate range; S= Small range; C= Childs size available; V= Variable adjustments with pads; (OO-OO) = sizes in centimetres. Coloun: R= Red; BL= Blue; BK==Black; GR= Green; GY = Grey; Y= Yellow; W= Whlte; MBL= Metallic blue; MBU= Metalllc burgundy; S= Silver; P= Pink; MQ = Metallic coloun. extremely costly and always result in US and Aussie standards. This is the The performance of a helmet should loss of market share long term. basic test of the helmet's ability to pro­ be your first consideration. SAA ap­ Product testing is an ongoing process. tect the wearer fro m a direct blow to the proval is a clear indication that the hel­ Whatever methods are used it is a neces­ outer surface. It is now used by the Fed­ met will function effectively. sary part of maintaining high standards eral Trade Practices Act to restrict the of manufacture for safety products. sale of sub- standard helmets within The helmet market in 1988 Apart from the Australian AS2063.1 Australia. there are other performance standards Ever since we started publishing we in other parts of the world. In the USA Helmets which can not pass the have attempted to present the cycling with there are two: the American National AS2063 .l EAT are not allowed to be public and those new to the game Standards Institute ANSI Z90.4 and the imported into this country from June 30 solid information and advice on the hel­ Snell Memorial Foundation Bicycle Hel­ this year. Any helmet which does not met scene. This year the market is big­ met Safety Standard. The ANSI Z90.4 is meet the AS2063.l EAT already in the ger and better than ever. In fact there drop regarded as a minimum standard. How­ country will not be able to be sold in are so many that we have had to ever the Snell Standard (the Snell Australia after 1 July 1989. individual listings and pictures in favour Memorial Foundation primarily tests of a chart so that we could fit the impor­ tant information into the magazine. motorcycle helmets) is more demanding What's the price on your head? than Z90.4 and is highly regarded We have divided the current batch When considering the cost of a helmet it into hard shell; and ultra lightweight. throughout the world. is important to realise that you are buy­ ing something to protect yourself from All helmets must pass an EAT injury so you should consider its perfor­ Helmets for kids A number of tests, such as the Energy mance and fit before you put a price on The separate needs of children are now Attenuation Test, are common to the your head. being recognised by helmet manufactu-

Freewheeling 23 You'll have a F.II.

with Shogun T H E PERFECT F I T Shogun has revolutionised the bicycle industry with its F.l.T. System ( Fully Integrated Trim), by engineering bicycles to fit people of all sizes. Unlike their competitors who equip various sized frames with the same standard size trim components, the F.I.T. System is based on the individual rider's anatomy - as the frame decreases in size, so do the components, proportionately. The rider is ensured the greatest level of comfort and riding posture on all of Shogun's racing, sport and MTB range. A Shogun will fit you perfectly. l!IIKECDRP TELEPHONE: (03) 587 3466 TRADE ENQUIRIES ONLY The junior version of the Guardian (aimed at the teenage market) comes with a plain outer shell multiple sticker sets for dressing up and personalising the helmet. rers and the Stand.ards Association. A new subsidiary standard called 2063.4 is currently being finalised by the SAA. Recent research has shown that adult helmets are usually to bulky and too heavy for small children and infants. Furthermore the temple area of a small The Atom children's helmet offers extra The full face Bell BMX helmet offers good child's.skull is much more vulnerable protection for younger riders. protection for track use. Because of its weight it is than an adult. not reccommended for verv small children. At present a number of helmet mak­ ers manufacture small size versions of tional hard outer shell. It is important makes a kid's size helmet which protects the standard adult helmets. While offer­ that infants' head protection be as light the back and side of the head. ing good protection this type of helmet as possible because high-mass helmets Infants helmets are designed for pass­ is not recommended on under 6's and can do more damage to the neck and ive use - the child is usually carried in a especially babies 1 and upwards. spine as a result of the whiplash effect child carrier behind the adult. The small Only two helmets for infants are experienced during a fall . child's helmets can be worn by young worth considering.: the L'il Bell Shell For older kids the Atom offers good beginner riders 5-6 and upwards. Be­ and the Gemray/Shelcore KidLid. Both protection for the delicate temple area cause of their weight hard shell helmets of these helmets dispense with the tradi- and back of the neck. Stackhat also are not recommended for infants.

THE BLACKBURN SYSTEM A Complete Une of Racks and Cages for Every Cycling Need

88-1 BLACKBURN BAR CAGE light, convenient. handy SX-1 EXPEDITION The best to uring roc k. MT-F FRONT MTN. For Mountain Bikes For fat tires only LEISURE BIKES too. Adjustable. are importers of bags, AR-I ADJUSTABLE AF-1 FRONT Versatile light-touring. carriers, bottle cages & AR-2 for toll frame s bottles, gloves & mittens, FT-1 FASTRAK Citadel locks & flywheel Day-touring and com­ muting. Beautiful and trainers . compac t. FL·I LOWRlDERS fhe best way to go Wholesale only SS-1 SEAT STAY Superb stobrlity Enquiries to Ideal for braze-on mounts. SS·2 for foll PO Box 1026, fra mes. SS-3 for small BC·I Competition-the North Richmond 31 21 . frames lightweight fovorite. Tel: 03 861-6771 MTN-I MOUNTAIN BX-I Expedition- Best Custom- only for Unique platform fo,Touring braze-ons. Clean and design for Mountain PC-1 Professional. Very rig id. Bikes. Rugged! lighlweigh•. For braze-ons only Mtn-2 for toll frames. MC-1 Mtn. Cage- fa, rugged Mtn-3 tor small frames. off rood use.

Freewheeling 25 Another epoch-making development in chains by Izumi. The shift change is now. Lighter, quieter, and smoother. IZUMI CLICK INDEX CHAIN Features Hard coating 1. The shift response is quick, and the shift point deviations are small. This de­ By special treatment the surface of the steel pins is combined with metal com­ raileur chain is ideal for the index system. pounds. The hardness of the pin surface is therefore very high, recorded as a 2. The shift changes accurately at the same time as the click sound of the vickers hardness of HV 1,400 (Diamond is HV 10,000). It has outstanding durabil­ system. ity and wear resistance even in the endurance road races. What's more, its chain 3. By lzum i's original chain design, complicated adjustments can be done quite lije is more than 3 times longer than the standard product The change of the simply. side bow due to elongation of the chain is very slight so that a stable shift 4. As the chain is of a bushless structure and the shape of the inner plate changing performance may be maintained over a long period. minimized, with the burring process, even while shifting the gears, running is very quiet 5. With this lightweight parts design, the weight is reduced by 7 to 10% compared with our standard type.

In ordering, please write the things shown below. c1c- l A I I e H~-c~ I!] Pin hard treatment ~ Chain type ~Type

Symbol Descri ption Symbol Description Symbol Description

Wide type 800 Carburising w (pin length 7.6mm) (blank) Standard type Contact to: Narrow type REPCO CYCLE COMPANY 1400 Hard coating N (pin length 7.3mm) s Lightweight type ~ad Office: 25 Hamilton Street, Huntingdale. Vic., 3166 Phone 568 0211 Remarks 1) You can make any selection from the above. 2) In accordance with your request, gold, silver and other combinations are available. Specifications are subject to change without notice. 26 FreewMeling nyone who has ever pedal­ led the open road on two wheels will identify with Steven Roberts' book Computing Across America.A The fundamentals of bicycle travel are all the same: how far can I travel today? when is this headwind going to swing around.? I can't wait until I reach tonight's campsite - I' m so tired ... Steve Roberts, however, tours with a difference. His bicycle, a purpose built recumbent,is fitted out with no less than five computers and a variety of other technological gadgets including CB radio, mobile ham radio, electronic sec­ urity system, FM radio, tape deck and, oh yes a small television set! Somewhere in between the solar pow­ ered electronics and the 36-speed gear system that powers his 2.4 metre long bike he manages to store his personal equipment, tent, cook stove and clo­ thing for all kinds of weather conditions.

Roberts is a freelance writer who has taken to life on the road with the deter­ mination and enthusiasm we often as­ sociate with Americans. His story be­ gins with the selling up of his suburban house and possessions as he prepares for a nomadic lifestyle. On the road Roberts is never alone - except perhaps when he is pedalling his electronic baggage up a mountain pass. He communicates with his editor back in Iowa (and other computer nerds) via an electronic post office called Com­ puserve. With such an amazing home on wheels he is constantly the centre of attention when ever he arrives in a town or village. One of his favourite stories happened early in the journey. Roberts, sitting on the kerb with his computer on his lap, is hooked by the long umbilical cord of his modem cable to the nearby public phone when he is chanced on by an old farmer. Staring quizzically at the phone booth , the cable and the smiling Roberts the old timer asks: "You with CONPIIIIG NASA?" Roberts' own story, the thread that strings together the many anecdotal inci­ dents that make up the book, is also the story of his own quest for meaning and maturity amongst the madness and mag­ ACROSS nificence that is the United States of America in the nineteen eighties. On this level the book is also an intensely personal account of life and love (some might say lust) on the move and the in­ evitable string of broken off and failed MERICA romances 'he leaves behind in his wake. On other levels it is a remarkable When Steven Roberts set out to explore America he took view of a country and its people from the non threatening position that only a his office with him. bicycle seat can provide. Except that Roberts, unlike the thousands of bike BOON REVIEW BY WARREN SALOIIOI riders who have already made similar

Freewheeling 27 transcontinental journeys, isn't a back­ IGH-TECH TOURING ... ground character. His lean and lanky That phrase, if you're a reg­ frame (he is over six feet tall) and his THE ular reader of glossy bicycle high tech machinery are decidedly magazines, probably evokes larger than life and it doesn't take long colourful images of ul­ to track him tralightH carbon fibre frames and for the media vultures down. AIIATONY aerodynamic derailleurs. High tech He certainly provides enough bait. means light and sleek , right? Initially he goes looking for publicity to Well , if I told you that I live full-time satisfy the needs of an initial corporate OFA on a 100 kg (220 lbs) recumbent, and am sponsor but one he becomes known he roughly 19 ,300 km (12 ,000 miles) into a is tracked down by camera crews and journey of unknown length? What if I reporters in even the most out of the also noted that the bike is equipped with way places. Through the South he be­ HIGH• 5 computers, as well as 2 solar panels, comes a kind of celebrity on two wheels ham radio, data communication, speech leaving a trail of newspaper, radio and synthesis, and a handlebar keyboard? television stories as he heads across This is high tech of a different flavour - Texas bound for the Pacific. TECH the 1.2 Megabyte Winnebiko II. · Computing Across America as the title I have stopped in Silicon Valley for a 2 suggests is also about the ' new era of month system upgrade marathon before electronic communications' . It is defi­ TOUR heading back into the wilderness, and nitely not for the Luddites among us before I leave Tech Mecca I'd like to who won't associate with anything more The au1hor reweals introduce you to my machine. But be­ high-tech than an electric stove. The fore I talk about the bike, I should make book gives a wondrous insight into the 1he secre1s of hjs a few general comments. world of electronic communications like Why did I trash a stable suburban the amazing on- line special interest elearonjc couaae Ohio lifestyle (that's one reason right groups where two or more people 'talk' on wheels there) and move my freelance writing to each other by computer and phone business to the road? Why do I keep it tiring of the line no doubt adding to the vast profits STOEN N ROBERTS up year after year, never of the American phone companies in the BY madness, the risks, and the brutal con­ process. straints of gravity? Why do I carry 22 kg It is this aspect of the book that of electronic equipment? And ... am I Roberts embraces with almost zealous just an eccentric or is there something in fervour. He sets out to prove to himself this for the REST of the bicycle touring that it is possible through the use of com­ community? puters and high-tech communications to Moving to the road maintain the semblance of an 'ordinary' In the lingering Ohio winter of 1983, I working lifestyle while at the same time started the usual turning 30 self-ques­ living the life of a traveller. tioning: why was I chronically in debt, supporting a boring existence with every He may be regarded by the disbeliev­ dollar I earned? Why was I in Ohio? ers as a modern day eccentric but he What did I REALLY want out of life? provides above all another living exam­ The answer, once I looked past the list ple of what can be done when the of essential new toys, was obvious: I human probable is transformed into the want learning, growth, passion, change, human possible. excitement, intelligent friends , sex, pub­ The only doubts planted in my mind licity, high-tech gizmology, cycling, net­ by this witty and highly enjoyable book work access, hot publishing deals, and a concern the technology its self. Having sense of FUN that pervades everything I the abi1ity to do something thanks to do. That's not too much to ask , is it? computers doesn't necessarily mean that it will be done well or to the benefit of humanity. "We have the technology" is often the catchcry of those who want to unleash even more frightening and de­ structive power upon the world. And having a computer to write a book doesn't mean a better book if the author can't communicate with the readers. Travel writers in the past wrote their journals in the field; the final manu­ scripts were always written at home later on a typewriter or lately on a word pro­ cessor. Roberts takes his electronic office everywhere he goes but that doesn't necessarily make him a better writer. Though you have to admire him for it especially if you are, like me, a sucker for the silicon chip.

28 Freewheellng My real world, in the context of all that, felt like prison. The solution was self-evident. .. all I had to do was pack a portable computer onto a recumbent bicycle and travel the country, support­ ing myself by freelance writing along the way and using computer networks as my "enclave of stability". No problem. A megabyte bicycle? Now you see why all the computers: the Winnebiko is my office, my electronic cottage on wheels. It has been growing more and more elaborate as the years pass - allowing full-scale word-proces­ sing through a binary handlebar keyboard and data file transfer via pack­ et radio. I have decoupled from the real world, and move freely through physical space while remaining solidly rooted in dataspace. Home has become a trio of rather non-traditional places: this radically decked-out bike, America itself, and the thickening global web of information networks that's accessible through any telephone. (My home system is GEnie - call me WORDY). LAZER: THE COOLEST HEIMETS All this is generally intriguing to people, especially techies, cyclists, and SINCE CYCLING CAPS. would-be-travellers. But let's take it beyond that for just a moment and think INTRODUCING THE EDDY MERCKX AND THE LZJ. about the·cycling life. Consider the nor­ mal bicycle tour: a week or a month , hen Lazer showed Eddy Merckx their new bicycle helmets, perhaps more, a finite time bounded by he was imp ressed. And when they ta lke d about pu tt ing his financial constraints. ITT nam e on their top -of-t he -li ne mode l, he agreed because of its coo l co mfort , lightweight protection and uni que fea- I've seen the tragedy: travellers cut­ ting back on food because the bank ac­ tures. Features like its • flow -through "airlite " liner count is down to three digits and sinking • removable.five position ratcheted visor for extra eye protection fast. Their sadness is tangible, for they (light gray sun tint standard, clear and gradated op ti onal) • sweat see the journey ending long before they abso rb ing front chamot~· (two sets) • quick release ch in want it to. Another effect is the "macho strap with chamois cover • distinct loo k in metallic cyclist" syndrome, which is fine on the co/ors (silver, anthracite or red). When yo u study all the rack but absurd on the road. I meet them too, but we never get to talk very fe atures, yo u'll be as im pressed as Eddy Merckx . long. They've usually set themselves a gruelling schedule of 160 km (100 mile) Lazer's standard helmet, the LZl , provides the days, following a pre-planned route sa me coo l comfort and lightweight protection as the that's the closest possible approximation Eddy Merckx, but witho ut some of the specia l Merckx o a straight line. fe atu res . It 's ava il abl e in five vibran t gloss co lors: I have no quarrel with racers, of course, nor with those who struggle to white, bl ac k, red, yel low and blue. achieve their "personal best". But all Yo u'll also be glad to know that both Lazer helmets meet or too often, what should be a relaxed and exceed the tough ANS I 290 .4 safe ty standard . That's not only good therapeutic bicycle tour is handled in­ news for USC F race rs and triath letes , but it's also good stead like a corporate acquisition-- with news fo r anyone concerned with safety and superior all the myriad joys of discovery pro tection. obscured by deadlines and ruthless ob­ Now that you've had a brief introduction to jectives. It doesn't have to be that way. It took me 4,800 km to stop treating the world 's newest, most technologically advanced State lines as trophies - to realize that bicyde helmets, try one on at your favor ite bike shop. worrying too much about where you're For a full color Lazer Helmets brochure, send a self- addressed, going destroys respect for where you stamped envelope to : Gerry J O'Brien Imports 7/9 Pilgrim Court ARE. Had I not been liberated by Ringwood Victoria 3134 Telephone (03) 873 5648 technology that lets me make a living ANYWHERE, I would never have had time to notice this fundamental truth. The Winnebiko system ------Okay, here's the technical content ------..,----..,------you've been waiting for - the anatomy ------of a high-tech bicycle (NASA style). ---~------..... ~ -

Freewheeling 29 My main computer is the Hewlett­ passes converted handlebar keycodes touch me!" in a robotically threatening Packard Portable PLUS, an exquisite for software-generated commands. This voice. system with 1.2 megabytes of memory system is intended for on-the-road text The fifth system is known as a "termi­ partitioned between system RAM and capture (not final editing) and thus con­ nal node controller" - a Pac-comm pro­ electronic disk . The high-contrast amber nects with the HP via a front-panel con­ duct that handles packet data communi­ LCD displays 25 lines of 80 characters, nector. cation via radio. An unusual breed of and a built in 1200 baud modem makes The third system is the "bicycle con­ computer network has quietly appeared the daily electronic mail check-ins easy. trol processor" (BCP) based on a in the last 2-3 years, a sort of digital But what really sells the machine are the Motorola 68HC11 Board. This low anarchy of the airwaves, a computer applications software packages baked power machine embodies all of the network without corporate substrate. into ROM: Microsoft WORD, Lotus 1- bike's real-time control and monitoring Anybody with a ham radio licence and a 2-3, dbase II, a "card-manager" filing functions, including handlebar bit of equipment can participate: send­ system, communications software, time keyboard code conversion, local net­ ing mail cross--country; transferring manager and a whole library of utilities. work control (linking the other systems files; conferencing and so on. The net­ The net effect is a robust bicycle busi­ with each o.ther), electronic compass work is young, but already offers coast ness system that runs on rechargeable processing, control of solar battery to coast trunk connections, automatic batte•ries and weighs 8 pounds - a sys­ charging, security system supervision, message forwarding, dozens of linked tem that has become so much a part of diagnostics, status display, and so on. bulletin board systems, and its own or­ my daily reality that I'm incapable of Assisted by about 50 IC's this processor biting satellite mailbox. imagining nomadic life without it. It essentially runs the bicycle. With packet operation possible from rides behind me, nestled in foam along the bicycle via the handlebar keyboard with a 3.5 inch disk drive, sometimes Computer number 4 is a speech syn­ and LCD display, I can communicate accepting charge current from the bike's thesizer that 'speaks' a text file transfer­ data globally from a campground or solar panels. red to it. The value of this on the bike is while pedalling - even connecting to a Computer number two, built into the threefold: I can have the system read gateway that allows access to all com­ control console, was once a Radio Shack back on my own work text or incoming mercial network services without the (Tandy) Model 100 - upgraded to 256K messages, and it is a handy way to re­ need for a telephone. Ain't technology and made truly useful through the addi­ duce the volume of identical questions wonderful? tion of Travelling Software's Ultimate from curious bystanders. "I am the Win­ The handlebar keyboard itself is sim­ ROM. But the machine is hardly recog­ nebiko", it says ( either at predefined ple: four pushbutton switches are buried nizable: its keyboard and case are gone, intervals or under radio control), going in each foam grip, spaced about 1.9 cm and the display appears on the front on to explain the basics of this strange apart. I type in a binary code; my five panel behind a lexan window. contraption. strongest fingers , three on the right and What happened to the keyboard? It The speech board can also respond to two on the left, produce the lower case has been replaced by custom logic that a security alert saying, "Please do not alphabet: the right little finger

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;.• · i • \ capitalizes. The left little finger is the to a number of interesting encounters granny gear, a 23" "high granny" and control key, its neighbour selects and pl aces to stay. And , through the half-step from 33 to 144 . With the Zzip­ numeric and special keys, and those two repeaters, I can make telephone calls per fairing and the recumbent's together cause the others to take on directly from the bike. aerodynamic advantage, I can cruise system level meanings such as file opera­ A CB radio is also on board, cultur­ comfortably at 24- 27 km/h (assuming a tions and major edit functions. ally useless by comparison, but still good breakfast and no unfriendly In practice, it's easy.. a lot like playing handy enough to justify its weight. I can winds). the flute .. with each combination ac­ talk to truckers, hail a passing Peak speed· so far, flying down a cepted by the system when all the but­ motorhome for water (this saved my life mountain, was 80.6 km/h. tons are released. in Utah) , and chuckle at the residual Stopping power is critical with my 181 So much for bicycle data processing. good buddy subculture. kg gross weight, of course. Moving that Now let's look at the other facilities. System security is an issue when living much stuff down hill at 80 km/h is pro­ The mobile ham radio station on a machine that looks like something foundly exhilarating (on a recumbent, I (KA8OYA) is a multimode 2-meter rig from NASA. It's not that people try to might note, the entire world, not just from Yaesu. In addition to handling data steal it - most are intimidated by the the road surface, blurs into an impre­ communication, it allows me to stay in technology - it's just that some let their ssionistic confusion of streaked light and regular voice contact with Maggie (my curiosity extend to flipping switches and colour). Stopping is another matter. The recumbent-borne travelling compan­ tinkering. To alert me to such behaviour, Winnebiko II has three brakes: a Phil ion). Bicycle touring without some form I built in a security system with vibration Wood disc actuated by my left hand and of communication is frustrating, as any­ and motion sensors; when armed by a a pair of Mathauser hydraulics control­ one who has ever squinted into the mir­ front panel keyswitch , any disturbance led by my right. ror for minutes at a time well causes transmission of a tone-encoded The disc is nice for speed regulation know. "What happened to him? is he OK signal that sets off my pocket beeper up without rim heating effects; the hyd­ back there?" With a boom microphone to 3-5 km away. raulics will stop anything, outperform­ built into may helmet and a push-to-talk Other radio-related devices include a ing the various mechanical models I switch on the handlebars, Maggie is digital short-wave receiver, a Sony have tried and discarded over the years. never far away ( effective bike-to-bike Watchman micro-TV, and an FM stereo. To control them with a single lever, I simplex SSB radio range is over 3.5 km) . Naturally, there is also an audio cassette machined a header for the master cylin­ Of course , having 2-meter FM capa­ deck, for sometimes (laws or no laws) it ders, with a sliding cable stop and prop­ bility on the bike also connects me to a takes more than a granny gear to climb a ortional transfer bar to permit a variable huge network of ham radio operators: I mountain. front-back braking force ratio. store the local repeater frequencies into Speaking of gearing, the bike is equip­ The frame itself was custom made by the radio's memory as I approach an ped with some unusual mechanical hard­ Franklin Frames of Columbus, Ohio - area, and periodically identify myself as ware. A custom 36 speed crossover sys­ after I did enough brazing in my base­ an incoming bicycle mobile. This has led tem of 3 derailleurs provides a 16.9 inch ment to convince myself that family head gear Bike riding is great family fun ... and it's a proud winner of an Rosebank Stackhat, the Aussie Life ;111d you will look smart and be Australian Design Award. Preserver, available in a full range of smart if you wear a Rosebank But that's not all ... it is approved sizes, Junior and Senior Models, for Stackhat' Bicycle Safety Helmet. by the Standards Association of both Children and Adults. It is now It's the best head protection you Australia to AS2063 & AS2063/2 available in a Snazzy Pink, a can buy and many Australians Australia's guarantee of a quality Reflective Black for your safety, in testify they owe their lives to their bicycle safety helmet. addition to the ever popular Brilliant Stackhat. White and Safety Yellow. It was the first and only helmet There are visors to suit all Stackhats. in the world with $10,000 Rosebank Stackhat the "smart FREE INSURANCE for wearers, helmet" choice.

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Proudly made' 111 Australiil liy Ro~,,t,an, Products Pty Ltd 19-2 1 Hallam Soutll Road. H,1llam. Vrcto11a. Austral1,1 Tc'I (03) ;03 1000 The Kiwi has a thick expanded "Take off" with polystyrene liner and is fitted with comfortable velour faced removable your standard of sizing pads. There is a small gap between the shell and the liner which allows good style with coolness ventilation through the front vents across the scalp and out the rear vents. The K35 and the Kiwi also has a unique retractable smoked standard of safety. plastic visor and a quick release chinstrap. The Kiwi meets and exceeds The new Kiwi K35 Bertone bicycle helmet ANSIZ 90.4 and Snell Foundation is the answer to the demands of you, the Standards. serious bicycler. You desire a·helmet that is masterfully produced by the wind is "cool ", one that produces the feeling of tunnel design of Bertone, the flying through the clouds. The K35 international auto designer. But the Kiwi produces this coolness with the K35 Bertone does not stop there. It also industry's sets the Kiwi standard of safety which - best heat surpasses that of any other helmet. The I light evacuation helmet's shell is made of a new, ultra BICYCLE• i HELMETS system. It is weight generation of Lexan ® 1(35 designed polycarbonate which totally encloses the with major bicycler's head instead of leaving it air vent channels which draw the rising practically unprotected as some other heat out of the rear of the helmet while helmets do. So "take off' with the style, allowing a gentle air flow over the head. comfort and confidence of the Kiwi K35 The style of the Kiwi K35 bicycle helmet Bertone bicycle helmet. framebuilding is an art form . The geom­ for service but surviving heavy abuse on etry is entirely custom, suited to my the road. giraffe body and the special require­ Safety factors are always a major con­ ments of all this on-board hardware. cern when you habitually press your Power for the electronic systems is luck by living fulltime alongside logging I,OOK derived from a pair of Solarex photovol­ trucks, drunks, motorhomes, and the taic panels, producing 10 watts each in routine madness of the highway. I have full sun (roughly 1.3 amps total into the become a firm believer in helmets, re­ pair of 4 amp-hour batteries). These flectors , orange flags and GOOD lights. new SX-LITE units lack the traditional Bicycle Lighting Systems offer a line of mass and aluminium frame, and are industrial grade products that quite out­ each 31 x 43 cm . shine the typical bike lights. Since they can pump enough current I went with a 17.75 cm yellow bar­ i-nto the Ni-Cads to overcharge them, I ricade flasher that makes me look like a have built in extensive power monitor­ roving hole in the road , a 50 mm red tail ing and control circuitry: a digital panel light , and a 10 cm sealed beam head­ meter with a thumbwheel switch can light. In addition, I have recently added show instantaneous current into or out a Cycle-Ops halogen helmet light, of each battery (as well as any system which has the delightful characteristic of voltage), and BCP can throttle back the putting light where I'm LOOKING, not charging process if its calculations indi­ just where the bike happens to be point­ cate that the batteries are full (percen­ ing. (Admit it. You too have zigzagged tage charge values are displayed on the drunkenly through neighbourhoods at console). night , trying to highlight street and Other voltage beside the two 12-volt house number signs). battery buses are needed throughout the The bike is also capable of making a system , and this is one of those areas lot of noise, with a regulated aluminium that can cause significant overhead if pressure tank and handlebar button attention isn't paid to losses. There is a feeding a pair of air horns - as well as small aluminium box containing switch­ manual override of the 130 db siren. ing supplies that cooly provide 3,5,6,9 Finally the machine 1s equipped with and 12 volts (all available on the front all the usual bicycle touring gear: stove, panel for external accessories). food , clothing, tools, candles, medical Considering the special requirements supplies, microfiche documentation lib­ of a bicycle system , the extra design rary, flute, binoculars, camera, maps, effort here has paid off well: when the digital test equipment, spare inner two processors required for text editing tubes , frisbee , coffee maker, office are active, total system current drain is supplies, butane soldering iron , and so only 130 milliamps. A sixth power sup­ on. My tent is a vast "Prak Pod 4" from ply, unrelated to the others, is mounted Peak 1, very much in the porta-condo up front with a coiled cord to allow bat­ class at 10.03 square metres under cover. tery charging if 1 have gone too long Other outdoor gear - North Face without sunshine. down bag, Gore-tex rainsuit , Patagonia Instrumentation on the front panel is bunting, polypro underwear, and so on - largely geared to the major electronic is undergoing constant revision as system already described, but there is technologies continue to improve. also the obligatory Cat-Eye Solar cyc­ There: a marathon overview of the locomputer to display speed, distance, Winnebiko. If any of this seems insane, cadence, and so on. This elicits interest­ think about gravity and how long I ing comments from fellow bikies, who would continue to drag around some­ stare at the machine in awe then sud­ thing that isn't practical (and preferably denly recognize something familiar. multifunctional). This is a wild blend of In addition, there is an altimeter (use­ serious business and fun - a case of per­ ful on mountains, and also helpful in sonal computers and technology carried predicting weather conditions), an Etak to an exquisitely mad extreme. electronic compass, time/temperature If there's any message at all for fellow display, and assorted system status indi­ cyclists, it would be along the lines of cators. fashion. Right. This affair would never Mechanically, the electronics package have survived the confusion of start-up is designed to separate from the bike if I had followed the prevailing cycling with a minimum of effort. I open 3 tog­ fashions - ultra light weight, lycra tights, gle clamps, unplug 6 connectors, and skittish frame geometries, aerodynamic take it into the tent at night , yielding a spoke nipples - all have their place on "tent control system" just as useful as the racing circuit. But if you·re out there the mobile variety. exploring the world on your trusty ma­ The 18 kg unit handles heavy down­ chine, make it an appropriate one , pours with no problem. With the fairing matched to all your needs. You - and it - and velcro-fastened waterproof covers it will last longer. Australia's has withstood all day rides that quite To o rder the Compwing across America book finest saturated my Gore-tex rainwear. So far, (US$10 autographed), posters of th e bike ( US$10) , cycle clothing the system has suffered shock and vibra­ or a free flyer, comact Compllling across America Publications, 762 Churchill Drive, Chico, CA 95926, tion without incident, unfolding easily 9/6-891 -5750.

Freewheeling JJ life portraits of knights in armour and damsels in long dresses whilst the two huge fireplaces were large enough to burn tree sized logs. The dungeons con­ tained suits of armour, swords, pikes, ENGLISH battle axes and flint lock muskets. Leaving the castle, I returned to the cobble stone town square and outside the pastrycook's shop met Jack and Ar­ lene Oakes from California, who were also bike touring. We left the town en HISTORY route to Portsmouth vi a the back coun­ try lanes. These were very narrow, usu­ all y of one car width with a hedge on each side. At Bosham, the houses were roofed RE-CYCLED with straw thatch in patterned designs. The church graveyard contained a and pleasant countryside headstone inscribed with a carving of a Touring England's green two masted sailing ship, with the follow­ ing inscription: BYWALLIDDLE In memory of THOMAS SON OF RICHARD AND ANN BARROW, he summer mist hung low in Setting my gears, I swooped down the MAFTER of the sloop TWO the depressions whilst the road, over an arched bridge that span­ BROTHERS, who by the breaking of chequered green, brown and ned the river into the sleepy 16th Cen­ the horse (rope), fell into the sea and yellow fields sparkled in the tury town of Arundel. The bow fronted was drowned OCTOBER 13th, 1759 early morning sunlight. A shops climbed a hill dominated by the .aged 23. baby brown rabbit crouched, quivering, castle: a magnificent stone building in the long grass at the side of the road, complete with grassed moat, outer We arrived at Portsmouth late that ready to hop back through the hedge, at bailey and portcullis. It was from the afternoon in pouring rain , and were the first sign of danger. inner bailey tower that the occupants very glad to find a 'bed and breakfast' The trees ma_rking the boundaries had poured boiling oil over Cromwell's near the waterfront. The Naval base, in were dark red copper beeches, the yel­ forces storming the gate below. days gone by, had been noted for its ship low flowered laburnum, the white The great banqueting hall formed one building industry, established there be­ hawthorn and the sycamore. A huge of the wings of the buildings surround­ cause of the large oak forest that sur­ pink and white chestnut grew near one ing the inner courtyard. The cathedral rounded the town. The base now con­ of the farmhouses. like hall was adorned with larger than tained the hulk of the Mary Rose which

34 Freewheeling Here's a product that's definitely the result That's why it's not surprising that some of t:. of heavy thinking. The Giro Prolight. A cycling the best riders in the world are taking off their \lf(O helmet that weighs in at an hats for our helmet. Olympic medalist Davis t:. astounding 7.5 ounces. Phinney has won numerous U.S. races wearing \lf(O We can understand if the Giro Prolight. As well as sporting it in the t: you think that's a misprint. '87 Tour de France. \J•f(O But it's not. Thanks to a And triathlete · patented design, the Giro extraordinaire Scott t:.,. l \Jf•~0 - (pronounced Jeero) Tinley has taken a Prolight is 52% lighter load off his shoulders t:. than the average with the Giro Prolight, \Jf(O_ helmet. Eliminating too. the neck strain you All of which nine air vents An assortment of wild colours get with other helmets means if you take Keep a cool head with completely. And enabling this lightweight cycling seriously, you should lighten up. With wonder to set the new standard for the industry. the Giro Prolight. Available in four sizes for a In fact, the Giro Prolight literally blows custom fit. And more wild colours than you away conventional helmets when it comes to can imagine. ventilation. With nine air vents, you always The Giro Prolight is priced at $135.00. keep a cool head. · ' To order your Giro Prolight Helmet Of course, we didn't take the issue of and to obtain further protection lightly, either. Besides information, please passing the ANSI-Z90.4 standard complete and return the with flying colours, the Giro Prolight tear-off coupon. even surpasses the more stringent Sole and exclusive Scott Tinley likes our distributor for Australia Snell standard. Making us virtually instant weight reduction and New Zealand. the only helmet on the market with program. Barracuda Sports Products , 1 21 -1 29 Goulburn Street, these heavy-duty credentials. Tel : 211 2400, Sydney. distributed exclusively by -~ Barracuda Sports Products 121-1 29 Goulburn Street, GI 0 ,. Tel: 211 2400 Sydney P R O L I G H T.. >.M.~~-~~~ had recently been raised from the bed of UPEKIOUR the sea after lying there for 400 years. ~ ANNIERS She was the flagship of Henry the VIII's S fleet , named after his sister, and was reputed to be a fast ship of revolutionary The proven load carrying design , one of the first purpose built system for touring cyclists warships. who demand the best in On July 18th, 1545 , the little walled function and reliability. town of 50 acres was the setting for one of the great sea battles that changed the An exclusive new mounting course of history. The French fleet of clip is the latest refinement 235 ships had anchored off the eastern in a 10 year history of use corner of the Isle of Wight, while the around the world. English fleet of only 60 vessels was man­ Whether you ride off-road, oeuvring in the Solent. Ageing Henry commute in the wet or had been made aware of the invasion travel on transcontinental plan and had arrived at Portsmouth highways you can be proud three days before. of your decision to buy A contemporary painting shows fat Australian excellence. Henry, dressed in cloth of gold, velvet Ask fo r SUPERTOUR and ermine, riding through his encamp­ ment of archers, pikemen and gunners. panniers and bags at your At the start of the battle the British fleet specialist touring bicycle was becalmed and came under heavy retailer. See other attack from the French oared galleys but Wilderness Equipment a breeze sprang up , enabling the British products at selected to retaliate. It was at this moment that the Mary Rose heeled to the wind and sank, when the sea poured in through the open gun ports, resulting in the loss of 660 souls. The museum near the hulk contained 1Wllderrie'ss Equipment all the material possessions of everyday P.O. Bor83, Fremantle, WA. 6160 life in the 1500's - wooden and pewter Uncompromised Design mugs, leather jerkins, shoes, a spice mill , a wooden knife , bone combs, a backgammon set, a drum and the re­ mains of a fiddle . The surgeons chest was found intact, complete with syringes and ointments, a thumb print being still visible in one of the jars. A number of wooden cases from the Armoury were on display containing hundreds of yew bows and arrows. I left my two American companions and rode north to Stratford on Avon. This picturesque village is noted for its half timbered houses dating back to Shakespeare's time. My destination was Mary Arden's farm situated 4 miles out of town. The farmhouse is built of mas­ sive oak beams and posts, filled in with "wattle and daub" and roofed with straw. In days gone by the building consisted Let of one storey, twenty-five feet high with two open fireplaces and a hole in the Christie Cycles roof• acting as a chimney. The dirt floor put you in the was overlaid with rush mats and when these became worn they were again picture overlaid with more rush mats which har­ boured fleas , rats and mice. The hens Before you set out on your next bicycle adventure talk to Ian or Richard 1 and geese were allowed inside contribut­ I the touring and tandem experts at Christie Cycles. With over 25 years 1 ing to the mess on the floor! The yard I cumulative bicycle touring experience I outside became a huge slop heap, there being no toilets. All human and animal waste was allowed to accumulate for one I ~:i•~:·;·i:::'::~~~~~;~ ( I !RISE II I whole year before being cleared away! I lifetime. So come In and experience I I the friendly helpful service that only a THE TOURING AND T ANDEM EXPERT S I Everybody bathed annually, and after recognised export In the field can 85 Burwood Rd Hawthorn VIC 3122 I bathing the girls would anoint their I deliver. Phone (03) 818 4011 bodies with goose fat and then would don one cotton smock and up to eight ·------·J6 Freewheellng woollen garments, according to the weather. Men wore similar clothes and people, rich and poor alike, went to bed soaked in sweat and manure . The clothes were only changed at bath time, so they literally fell apart. Fleas and lice lived in the clothes and inflicted people with all sorts of sickness and disease. Certain everyday terms derive from THE SIMPLE, those times, such as: under his thumb - when women were considered to be in­ LOW COST ferior to men and were beaten by their husbands at least twice a week, with a ANSWER TO stick that "could be no bigger than a FLAT PROBLEMS man's thumb" . This custom was en­ shrined in law. Many wives were beaten FEATURES because of rancid food. As there was no refrigeration and meat was a luxury, the • Mr. Tufty protects tubes from rim cuts, broken glass, all women disguised the bad taste by the kinds of thorns . .. even small nail s. liberal use of salt and spices. • Saves ti res from having to be replaced when small cuts appear on top of tire. Wholesale stockists: Chairman and chairman of the board • Helps prevent rim cuts from tire buckling when loss of Hantrade. came from the practice of the husband air occurs. Sydney, sitting at the head of the table, in a chair • Adds to bicycle safety. Gives bicycle a smooth, stable with arms, when everybody paid defer­ ride Melbourne, ence to him. The woman's chair had no • Independent laboratory tested and proven . Brisbane. arms. Board referred to the table, which consisted of a slab of oak set on trestles The word dole derives from the prac­ dies and rush lights were mainly used for and from which derives the meaning tice of doling c,ut" bread to the poor, by illumination, with a cow's horn being food and lodging. rich people such as Mary Arden. used to shield the flame in a metal lan­ Turning the tables came from the prac­ The windows in the house were very tern, for outside use. tice of refusing food and lodging to your small , made up of multipaned pieces, As I cycled round the bend I won­ enemies by folding up the trestles and because glass casting was in its infancy dered what story the next town would placing the table against the wall. and the materials were very costly. Can- tell. TrustAlbiontocomeouton Top~ Combine Fashion, Fun & Sale Cycling with the AUS-TOP Cycle Helmet Covet • TAILOR MADE FOR THE AUS-HAT • PERSONALISES YOUR HELMET • BRIGHT LYCRA FASHION COLOURS • MAINTAINS AUS-HATS AIRFLOW SYSTEM

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side which reveals that the Queen yelling for Winston to bring her a cigar is another of the Natural Theatre chaps in drag. Signed knighthoods are bestowed liber­ ally on the least deserving of the cyclists - THE GREAT mine dubbed me Lady Steerwell. Panting up a narrow precipitous lane, closed in by woods, the unsuspecting bicyclist is likely to be confronted by two fern-draped soldiers with blackened faces charging out at him from each side of the BRITISH road; an arrow-bedecked convict break­ ing stones with a sledge hammer pleads for passers by for a key to unlock his man­ acles and a man with a duck on his hat and a blunderbuss in his hand bobs up from a hedge making quacking noises BIKE RIDE every time a cyclist appears. Each zany incident raises the spirits and gives the time for all on Britain's zaniest and most special flavour to this most unusual and A splendid joyous of bicycling events. popular long distance bike ride. I must admit to having had strong reser­ vations about going off on a 700 mile, two week cycle tour with 140 other riders and BY BETTINA SELBY* a supporting cast of another couple of dozen. As it happened I could only do the roy­ ing dress who introduces himself as a rep­ veryone knows that British last half of the tour and am left deeply as­ resentative of Saatchi and Saatchi who alty has a long and romantic regretting what I missed. of have taken out the rights on her majesty sociation with the Highlands So how does it come about that the the weary for the next eighty years. At this point Scotland . Even so, confirmed long distance, lone traveller upwards someone from the long line of slowly mov­ cyclist struggling enjoyed this 'circus' so thoroughly? Well againstE a strong headwind, on the long, ing cars yells. in one word - FUN - it was all the greatest not "What's going on here?" steep climb through Glen Ogle does fun imaginable and not just the Natural sea­ "What's going ON? What's going ON expect to encounter Queen Victoria Theatre Compnay's hilarious happenings, of a rough Madam?" rejoins the fat equerry with ted in majesty in the middle but the whole organisation - cooks, bot- patch of boggy hillside 200 yards away, haughty disdain . "A traffic jam is going surrounded by wooden cut out figures of ON Madam and you are adding to it. there." *Bettin a Selby is the author of Riding the MounJains red coated guards. Kindly move along through forget Down the story of her epic solo journey Nor do the senses regain their grip on The cyclists in the meanwhile India and Pakistan. Her latest book Riding the Desert reality at being approached by a very their fatigue in the enjoyment of the Trail has recently been publisheJ by Chatto and Win­ large , stout person in impeccable morn- saucy exchange bellowed across the hill- dus.

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AUSTRALIAN MADE Because it is important that a helmet be correctly fitted, ATOM is available only through bicycle shops and sports stores. Enquiries to: ATOM, 75a Burrows Road, Alexandria NSW 2015. (02) 550 1655 DAVID HOFTMAN tie-washers, marquee erectors, fixers, The majority were on the ride because Dinner was always large, well thought nurses, mechanics and baggage handlers. they wouldn't have attempted such a thing out and vegetarian or otherwise and The whole exercise was raised to a level on their own but wanted the challenge breakfasts were gargantuan. The routes which transcended the mundane and be­ and felt that they could do it with the were chosen so as to provide not only the came an art form. All thanks to the support the organisation provided. quietest roads and the best scenery but. strange genius of that organising wizard No-one gave up. Two said that al­ also plenty of good (and pre-warned) of London to Brighton bike ride fame, though they had enjoyed the experience eating places at appropriate intervals. John Potter. they would never go on a bicycle tour People set out at varying times each The bicyclists were aged between 12 again, but most of the previously uncom­ morning with their route map, alone or in and 72. There were all types and mostly mitted finished up ardent cycling fans , twos and small groups, everyone quite professional - doctors, teachers, lectur­ and all claimed that bicycling aside, they happy to ride at their own pace. There ers, nurses, architects, a T shirt designer had gone through an experience that they were occasional burn-ups - the young by and so forth, with a sprinkling of the un­ would never forget. They would "never and large with all their surplus energy, employed and retired. Quite a few were be the same again." who were out to impress each other - or at school or college and a fair number of "The food is fantastic," the under twen­ the glamourous young Dutch girl who all age groups had come from abroad - ties all assured me with great seriousness was a very strong rider and the catalyst for Holland, America, Australia and South and said that they thought it contributed a great many manly displays. Africa. the most to the success of the venture. There was also a small young English There were also some kids in trouble Huge urns of coffee and tea and piles of woman on a totally unmodified, three with the law who were there instead of bread, butter, cheese, peanut butter, jam speed Halford's machine, which she had being put away. Most people were not and honey were always waiting under the been using to go to work on. She had no keen bicyclists at the start. Few had done large marquee which the catering team idea that she was a phenomenon but not much touring on their own and most had raced ahead to set up by the time the even the 'death and glory boys' could get didn't know a sprocket from a chain­ riders began to drift in. And this 'tea' anywhere near her let alone overtake. wheel, but they cycled none the worse remained available until dinner was al­ Some people stopped often and went because of that. most ready. very slowly; some never stopped. Some arrived at the camp site by two o'clock; doing 'their own thing' and pitching either The key is John Potter himself. ''A shy others crawled in at seven p.m. far away in aloof isolation or in a compan­ retiring sort of person ," one rider de­ Very few made use of the bonk wagon ionable jumble. scribed him - not a view I share. I see him as all were determined to make it to Skye Dinner seemed to follow immediately more as a sort of magician with a wayward under their own steam and in the rear and after dinner there was usually some sense of humour. He has a vision which there was always John Potter on an an­ hilarious form of local dancing or some needs large numbers of people to realise - cient sagging Moulton to charm the weary other off-beat entertainment, and as ordinary people, preferably 'those who over the last few miles. someone remarked the difficulty was find­ have never been further on a bike than I could discern no sense of competition ing time for the more mundane things like down to the local' he says . at all between riders. Instead there a re­ washing out a pair of socks. To create his 'happening' with these ally good atmosphere of cooperation and 'ordinary people' he had attracted a solid help and encouragement where and when "I had my best moments alone," said core of talent around him , a team who for it was needed. Everyone wanted every­ one rider "Just cycling through the superb the rest of the year do other things like one else to succeed and the only enemies countryside. But it was because I knew manage restaurants, lecture at university were the headwinds and tired muscles. there was company there whenever I and the like. Once under John Potter's The organisation was such that there wanted it and that in the evening there spell this team performs with the same was no merit at all in racing ahead to be would be all these new found friends to panache and zany humour as the Natural the first at the night's camp; the way was share the day with ." This was a sentiment Theatre Company, and with an awesome chosen to show people the best of the echoed by many and one 18 year old girl degree of hard work and competence. British countryside and to encourage went so far as to say the companionship of them to stop often to enjoy it. But it was the ride was the best part of the trip That the riders have fun is thanks to not so easy that the journey could be though it had been what she had had the these organisers' eighteen hour days , achieved without a lot of effort. A hilly greatest reservations about to begin with. every moment of which , whether they are sixty mile day with a pernicious North "The children were so adult and the older peeling potatoes or sorting out the plumb­ Westerly blowing in one's face requires a people were so young," she said. "You ing, they are 'on stage' - which shows considerable expenditure of energy and could talk with anybody. I can't remember what a hold John Potter has over them. willpower and is rewarded by a propor­ ever having had such a good time. " His vision becomes their vision and the tionately large sense of personal achieve­ Why it was all such fun was not really only thing that gets them riled is some ment as John Potter well realises. immediately apparent - good food , good rider who refuses to have a good time and After the hugely restorative tea and hot camping sites, entertainment, the best spoils the happening. I think these must shower, tiredness just seemed to evapo­ organisation imaginable do not necessar­ be a rarity, but there is a mechanism for rate and it was no effort at all to collect ily produce such overall euphoria. It dealing with them. the baggage from the van and erect the wasn't until I began to get an inkling of "Fried eggs" intoned the general odd tents. The camping sites were large and what lay behind the event that I began to jobber known as the Rabbi. "Never put lent themselves as the ride did to people understand how unique it really is. foot to boot Me Dear before you shake it

'11'1 ·-.. •• ..-• I Pi~_,..._ ' ~ .• :. I • :- Distributed exclusively by I~ Bicycles Incorporated Pty. Ltd. Phone (02) 521-6144 for details of your nearest specialist dealer

A new model in 1987 designed to provide entry-level triathletes affordable access to WOLBER GTA RIMS Miyata quality. That holds true for 1988, too. The 512 offers a superb frame for every level of competition and conditioning. Other high­ performance features include Tecnova dual hard tyres, aero brake levers, top-tube routed cable, Shimano Indexed Shifting and Biopace crank 105 Series set. Colours: Absolute Blue/ White. Frame Sizes: 54, 58, 60, 63cm. Speeds: 12. 421T'NWNelln. ,.. out if you've crossed us" "Not soft fried with maps. It also has potted histories of Short Walk in the Hindu Kush, boating eggs?" I enquire with horror. the places mentioned in the tours. The Slowly.Down the Ganges, conflict and "No, soft fried eggs is illegal me dear. Bicycle Institute of NSW sells this book romance Love and War in the Apennines Hard fried eggs washed is what we use. in their well stocked office/shop. and fashion Something Wholesale are Four of 'em goes a long way in a small The Pan/Ordinance Survey book Cyc­ just a few of the things he's written tent. I am pleased to report that I didn't lists Britain is a good paperback guide to about. need this treatment. the best touring areas using two colour In Round Ireland in Low Gear he You may have missed this years Great British Bike maps based on their 1 :250,000 and writes about a series of cycling tours Ride (July 23 to August 4) but you can start plan­ 1:50,000 base series. The book is a with his wife Wanda between December ning for the next. Contact Bike Events Ltd, PO Box straight guide so information is pre­ 1985 and October 1986. They didn't go 75 Bath BAI lBX UK for details. This years ride for the extended thousands of miles, cost £285 and included campsites, breakfasts, sented in a rather terse format. It costs afternoon tea, supper, support vehicles, mechanic, $18.25 in Oz fear, pain and danger, too tough to care nurse, entertainment, route maps and outward feny John Whatmore's older less flashy - too stupid to notice type of cycle tour. to Skye. CTC Book of Cycle Touring is pleasant Instead their's was a series of tours stay­ to read and has some good tours but half ing in pubs, bed and breakfasts, etc., of the book is useless 'how to get started and not too much soul searching about RESOURCES in touring' info. The maps are purely using buses , trains and their own van diagrammatic so you should get some when it seemed the rational thing to do. British Tourist Authority has a terrific coloured OS maps from a London or Given that a lot of their touring was book on cycling in Britain. This free 36 provincial bookshop to compliment this done in the middle of an Irish winter this page guide is crammed full of useful pleasant little guide. Grafton Books seemed more than rational. However to information about putting your bike on (Collins) $8. 95 . set off in the middle of a gale that last public transport in the UK, the laws Britain does not include Ireland so the touched land above the Arctic Circle every cyclist must know before setting books mentioned above do not cover the does strike me as being less than ra­ of on their way through England's green Emerald Isle. A new paperback guide tional. and pleasant land and suggested just out nicely compliments Eric Newby's The main reason they went travelling itineraries that incorporate scenic coun­ latest book reviewed elsewhere in this in winter was that their garden and try lanes and historic villages and towns. issue. Its called By Bicycle in Ireland and woodland back home in rural Dorset You will be able to plan your cycling trip is written by Martin Ryle . This pleasant needed lots of attention at any time of using youth hostels which are marked and informative book describes 22 tours the-year except the coldest months. on the route maps, or 'B&B's' (Bed & throughout the Republic of Ireland writ­ The first chapter is titled 'State-of­ Breakfast) which are explained in the ten in a personal style which makes for the-Art' and is a typically Newbyish ac­ accommodation section. There is even a good armchair as well as on-the-road count of 'gearing up' for an expedition. brief explanation of road conditions in reading. The book costs $18 .95, is pub­ Expecting rough and hilly conditions he Britain and of course, a selection of lished by Impact Books (Harrap) and decided that mountain bikes , hiking cycle hire companies which are conve­ distributed in Australia by the Australa­ boots and 'Wellies' , Goretex suits and niently located near the suggested sian Publishing Company. "what bicycle builders laughingly refer itineraries. For further information con­ to as 'optional extras'" were going to be tact the British Tourist Authority, 171 de rigueur. Clarence St., Sydney 2000, phone (02) All up his bike weighed in at 93 lbs 29 8627. and 9 ozs, which included 15 lbs 14 oz of maps and books. This was rather mer­ Bike Events PO Box 75 Bath Avon BAl lBX UK. The originators of the ROUND cilessly pared down on the second and London to Brighton Ride and the Great subsequent trips. The bike he chose was British Bike Rides have a large program a Crossfell and Wanda's a Wild Cat, both made by Overbury's of Bristol. of rides both in the UK and mainland Europe. Their Grand Tour of Europe IRELAND There was no problem in producing takes you from Paris to Florence over my Cross/ell in time, as there was a frame the Alps. Write to them for their free in stock of the right size that only needed stove enamelling. Wanda 's Wild Cat, as catalogue. INLOW its name suggested, was more difficult. It There are a number of good books available for the bicycle tourer and a list would have to be built from scratch in seven days. But first her inside leg had to is provided at the end of this section. If be measured for the frame - a feat dif­ you are planning a lengthy holiday you GEAR ficult to accomplish in a crowded bike should consider joining the Cycle shop when the subject is wearing a skirt - Tourists Association. This group always BOOK REVIEW BY ROSS and all work ceased while I performed it. welcomes foreign visitors and will set The bikes were pretty well what's re­ you up with their very good guide book ARNSTRONG garded as state-of-the-art in Australia at offering detail on every good cycling Round Ireland In Low Gear by Eric the moment - Shimano Biopace chain r­ area imaginable. The CTC office is out ings and everything else, 18 gears, low side of London and its a good idea to Newby. Published by William Collins panniers, TIG welded frames, cantile­ phone them to tell them you are coming Sons & Co Ltd London 1987 Hardback 308pp, $35.00. . vered brakes, etc, etc ..... so you get a good reception from their staff. CTC 69 Meadrow, Godalming, Newby's writings are invariably more than just 'what we did on our trip'. He Surrey GU7 3HS. (04868) 7217. ric Newby is one of the best travel writers around 'at the has a lovely sense of history and place moment and this , his latest and after the first chapter the daily small BOOKS book , is another example of events and doings that make up the bulk Wal Liddle recommends Weekend his fine talents. He has already of writings on cycle trips are fortunately hadE 13 books published and the range of scarce. Boring accounts of punctures cycling by Christa Gausden published by Hamlyn. A selection of fully planned subjects is large. Tall ship voyages The fixed in 38 seconds and " how I jury rig­ scenic routes for easy touring illustrated Last Grain Race, mountaineering A ged a replacement Campag derailleur from a beer can and a piece of fe ncing ... on reaching the spot I was surprised glish is at least understandable. How­ wire' are not to be fo und in this book. to find the wretched hamlet apparently ever this type of gloom and doom does For him the bicycle is a means to an end . deserted. I entered some of the hovels to not permeate the book. There is much As they travel through Ireland he dis­ ascertain the cause, and the scenes that humour, some of it delivered deadpan cusses the hi story and romance of the presented themselves were such as no with an invitation to the reader to laugh areas they're in and I found my interest tongue or pen can convey the slightest if you think its funny. never flagged . This is certainly a remark­ idea. In the first, six famished and gh­ Wanda asked him (the owner of the able country to travel through and his astly skeletons, to all appearance dead, cottage they were staying in) if he spoke observations are enriched by accounts were huddled in a corner on some filthy Gaelic. of things that happened recently or long straw, their sole covering what seemed a 'No way!' hesaidfirmly. ago. While in Skibbereen he discusses ragged horsecloth, and their wretched 'But I thought they taught Gaelic in the children's cemeteries in the area that legs hanging about, naked above the school.' 'No, they only teach us Irish,' he date back to the worst year of the Great knees. I approached with horror, and said. Famine in 1846. To impress upon the found by a low moaning they were alive, Newby's character comes through reader the sad history of this place he they were in fever, four children, a very well in this book, as it does in the quotes from a letter sent to the Duke of woman, and what once had been a man. others of his that I've read. He seems to Wellington from a magistrate at the Reading things such as this the hatred have the approach to travelling that is time: that some of the Irish have for the En- associated with Engli sh amateur gentle­ men explorers of the nineteenth cen­ tury. Not really gung ho as much as whimsical, very determined and under­ stated. NOW AVAILABLE- THE LATEST Unfortunately when most of us travel it's three or four weeks annual holidays with much rushing about and too much crammed into too little time. Newby is a @'IJ{J(]z](B{JfJC!J professional travell er, for want of a bet­ ATBs ter description, and the approach he has to travel comes through his writings very Prairie Breaker Team Issue and Pro well. His wanderings are not holidays, but something more. and the Trailbreaker Certainly they are pleasurable but he seems to derive something e lse from them. Sometimes it may be individual and freedom and a reminder that in the end it's not all that serious after all , at other TIOGA: t-Bone times it may be opportunities to find out MERLIN things about oneself or the world, or stems, Pres1•1e ALUMINUM FRAMED both. This idea of what travel can be comes out ve ry well in this book and Crtlo bars and MOUNTAIN BIKES makes it worth reading for that alone. His descriptions of Ireland and the Farmer John qres FROM THE USA Irish ( ... the Eighth Walking - and Talk­ ing - Wonders of the World) are free of the temptation to reinforce stereotypes and score a few cheap laughs. He doesn't travel with hi s mind made up about what he's going to see and experi­ ALSO AVAILABLE [email protected] 8 SERIES ence. There is an openness and spon­ taneity in hi s observations and com­ *SPORT*COMPETITION *SHERPA PRO ments and a disinclination to share his 'profound insights' with us poor mor­ Priced from $585 th ru to $13~0. These are as good a comolnatlon of 10w price and high performance as you 've seen. tals. All feature sun Tour Accushlft Indexed gearing along with the latest In ATB This is a well written book that can be frame technology: radically steep 71 -degree head and 72-degree seat angles enjoyed at several levels and is recom­ and a tight 42-lnch wheelbase make sidestepping rocks and stumps mere mended to the cyclist, the traveller (be child's play. combined with range CrMo D/ Butted tubes , all handle like custom built, full bore racing ATB's. complete specification details available they in the saddle or in the armchair) by sending a stamped, self addresse~ envelope to the address below. and anyone else. It would definitely be COLOUR AND FINISH TOTALLY OPTIONAL compulsory reading for the intending visitor to Ireland and has a well com­ THEY DON'T CALL US AUSTRALIA'S MOUNTAIN piled index and a helpful bibliography that includes the Cyclists' Touring Club BIKE HEADQUARTERS FOR NOTHINC! Irish Road Book, 1899. HILLMAN, THE PROFESSIONAL BICYCLE PEOPLE. Now that the whole thing was more or less over I realized that we hadn't really (Est. 1938) needed mountain bikes at all: there had 46 Grantham St, west Brunswick Vic. 3055 been no point at which we required those Phone: (03) 380 9685 - 2 lines. enormous great tyres, and even two chain wheels and twelve gears would FAX (03) 388 1118 have been quite sufficient. 'Next time ... ' I was about to say to Wanda, but I man­ aged to stop myself. he word MIIUUlBOOR comes from the Aboriginal for "Southern TCross", and this name heralds the introduction of a range of bicycles the quality of which is rarely seen. From the precision welding to the Hi-Tech paintwork the MIRRABOOK range is the Ferrari of the Bicycle world. Only those that know what's best and won't settle for less will ride a MIRRABOOK The MIRRABOOR "ELITE" is an 18 Speed M1B (arriving in August) with a Tri-Moly M1B Frame measuring 18" x 20" x 22" and triple tone paintwork. The "ELITE" has two water bottle mounts and provision for mudguards and packmounts. F.C.-M350 28T x 38T x 48T x 170mm "Bio-Pace". F.D.-M350 RD-M3509S, S.L.M350, F.W-M.F.-2012 14-28T, 6 Speed. S.I.S. Shimano "Exage" Index. The MIIUUlBOOR "EIAN" is an 18 Speed MIB, the specifications are the same as "ELITE". The MIIUUlBOOR "UI.TIMA" is for the Pro who expects what the price tag promises. The "ULTIMA" is equipped with Odyssey Pro­ Steer Seven Position Damper RM. 20, Araya Rims and 450 Series Shimano "Exage". Enquire about the "Mirrabook" F. l. "Black Diamond" Street Racer.

Mirtabook. "U L17MA .. Trade enquiries to Mirrabook ''EI.AN» - Southern Cross Bicycles Pty. Ltd. Mirrabook "EL l'fE" IIJt.lMYMldl!iiil#Mil.UIAM:rl.UiiU,IUiiU.iiitiAMJU.ttilMIMUJIU.iiiii The Rock looms large as a Cranks rider chases a Northern Suburbs rider to the stage end. Photo Ian Douglas.

was flooded. And the Police were mak­ ing the point loud and clear when they warned the mountain bikers and their crews assembled in the small outback mining town on Easter Saturday that they would lock us all up if we tried to drive into the Desert. The record rains that flooded the Simpson and most of Central Australia the week before were bucketing Sydney as our team in two hired Budget 4WD vehicles set out. West of the Divide the clouds were left behind and it seemed incredible that after driving halfway across the continent under clear blue skies that we could go no further be­ cause of a flood . Oh well, that's Austral­ ia all over. This extravaganza had been months in the making. Not the race its self but our preparation for it. Our four riders Steve Nesbitt, Graham Youdale, Brett Robinson and Jeff Conly were fit and ready for anything the sand hills of the Simpson might serve up. But without the Simpson to contend with things took a different turn . To support 'the boys' we had an able crew of five all allotted predetermined tasks. Heather Nesbitt was the opera­ tions manager, chief cook and bottle washer and resident motivational expert (every team has to have a motivational expert). Suzy Robinson treated tired tendons as our masseur, Susan Douglas managed to maintain ho~pital strength cleanliness throughout the trip as our resident medico while her husband Ian performed miracles at the wheel of the first support vehicle - known in CB jar­ gon as "Cranks One" . The Cranks Two driver, Hugh Chalmers, completed the crew. In Coober Pedy the competitors and crews met with the organiser Hans RACEIOIHE Tholstrup to decide on the fate of the race . We had all come so far and abso­ lutely no one wanted to go home early. The desert was out of the question so Hans in his laid back manner suggested a few alternatives. ROCK In the end it was decided to start the race from the NT/SA border and ride in This year the Simpson Desert Challenge hit the 'Big Wet'. stages along a dirt road running west to Mt Connor and t hen north to Urulu Undaunted the riders chose a dryer part of Central (Ayers Rock). To get to the start point involved another five hours drive but Australia to let off steam. with half a continent behind us a few hundred kilometres seemed insignific­ BY HEATHER NESBITT AS TOLD TO WARREN SALONOI ant. So on Easter Sunday the race got way and as the boys headed off HE SIMPSON DESERT from our home base in Sydney hoping under to Kulgera to re­ flooded! Oh the months of that everything would work out fine and west we headed north Unfortunately the planning; the training; the ef­ o ur team would race to victory in the plenish our supplies. the lunch stop before fort ; the expense! Yet , here we second annual Simpson Desert Chal­ team had reached we could get back. We knew they were were in Coober Pedy some­ lenge. began to hear the where north of Adelaide and kilometres It was not to be. The Simpson Desert angry when we

46' Freewheeling ' Cranks One, Cranks Two; where the By the end of the second day our lead At the end of the race all the riders pose for the hell are you?' messages on the CB. riders Brett and Graham were loosing camera and dodge the passing tourist busses. The They were not amused. The first time to the riders from the West who Cranks team are in the plain white (?) shirts morning's ride had not gone well . The crossed the stage finish together 8 mi­ soon as we were spotted. After some soft, shi ngly, corrugated road surface nutes ahead of Brett and 18 minutes negotiations and lunch the riders required enormous concentration. Phys­ ahead of Graham. headed off to the Olgas to complete the ical strength was not enough. They had The last day took us up to the Rock final leg of 26 km of dirt, corrugations to be constantly alert for the best line to for lunch and then in the afternoon to and busses. ride on an ever changing road surface. the Olgas further west. We arrived at the In the overall placings Brett came in Often there wasn't a clear path at all and Rock unannounced and from a different at 5th, Graham 6th, Steve on 10th and so the loose surface had to be endured. direction to the usual tourist busloads. Jeff at 15th. The boys were glad it was all To make matters worse the Ensure (a This created a small kerfuffle with the over. You can tell by the looks of re­ liquid food preparation recommended traditional owners and the Park officials strained glee in their faces in the final by our consul tant nutritionist prior to who pounced on the vehicular convoy as picture. the ride) had not been a success. The green coloured substance didn't sit well with the boys and they complained of iridescent runny poos - and lots of them. Complex carbohydrates became the rage from there on. After food, drink and massage the boys pedall ed off for the afternoon's exciting stage: lots and lots of 15 cm deep bulldust. Tyre pressures were kept at 20 psi. At the end of the first day we sur­ veyed the damage. All the band mounted water bottle cages had fallen off due to the vibration but overall the bikes were holding up well. The boys were not so lucky. Some complained of sore wrists and battered bums. A bush shower managed to restore decorum in the ranks before the night fell. On the start of the second day Danny Mariotti and Greg Mickle from the Fleet Cycles team were about 4 minutes ahead. At the start of each stage their crew wo uld play theme music on their car loudspeakers. A bit like Bond at Newport in the America's Cup. It seems they had a motivational expert on their team too. Not all of the roads were dry. The recent rains had left huge pools across the road in places limiting our choice of riding surface. Graham is seen here leading Brett. Photo Ian Douglas.

Freewheeling 47 NEVER would have imagined that the mountain bike would SCARPA have taken on in Italy - but it has. The Italians have taken ~o fat tyres NOUNTAIN with the same enthusiasm that theyI have for bicycle racing and state of BIKE BOOTS the art carbon fibre bicycle frame de­ sign . Thank goodness, for now one of the worlds most respected specialist Product reYfew bJ footwear manufacturers, Scarpa of WARREI SALONOI Asolo, has started making boots de­ signed for the fat tyre fanatic. The Scarpa Mountain boot is made from a multi coloured combination of leather and heavy duty nylon . The boots are designed for the roughest conditions yet they are surprisingly lightweight. The heavy patterned 'Musher' sole does not slip on the pedals and has enough thickness to protect the bottoms of the feet from the most aggressive pedal pro­ file .

The Scarpa's are cut high and have a GET YOUR BIKE RUNNING velcro tab to secure the very top of the boot. The top set of eyelets for the laces are hook shaped so the boots can easily LIKEA SWISS WATCH. be laced and tabbed up high for full ankle protection or laced low and untab­ bed for maximum ankle movement. Whether you're a weekend_ ped~ller, a serious r~ad or track At first I felt that a high boot was not enthusiast, or a champion trtathlete, your _bike n_eeds the kind of footwear to be cycling in but the best lubricant available to perform to its ultimate I quickly changed my mind when I used And that's SUPER LUBE, an easy to apply these boots on a cross country fire trail non-staining compound with Teflon. ride. The tabs can be loosened off so as SUPER LUBE provides superior lubrication with less friction not to restrict movement. In loose dirt and wear. It prevents rust and corrosion and repels dirt and deep creek crossings the high cut of and water. SUPER LUBE won't disperse or breakdown, the boots kept the gravel and water out and is compatible with other lubricants. and my feet dry and comfortable. SUPER LUBE is highly effective on gear drives, To my surprise I was the only one of bearings, chains, locks etc., and does not drip or run. our group to survive two axle deep river So if you want your machine to run like a Swiss watch, crossings with dry socks. All the more slip into your specialist bicycle dealer and get onto the good stuff. pleasing as the tops of my socks ended up wet yet the water didn't penetrate further down into the boot. The walls of the boot are padded and the tongue is sewn-in up high to keep the moisture out.

Sc~rpa, incidentally, make some of the world's best bushwalking and moun­ tain climbing boots and shoes. I must confess that their walking shoes I cur­ rently use have got to be the most com­ fortable footwear my feet have ever had the pleasure to walk around in. There is nothing more satisfying than to have warm dry feet when it's wet and cold. My walking shoes are much heavier and have full leather uppers. By com­ parison the Mountain boots are light­ weight and for the demanding pursuit of rough road riding they easily suit the task. Full points for good boots. SUPER LUBE Scarpa Mountain boots come in an attractive three-tone (red, blue and yel­ FROM MALVERN STAR. low) colour scheme cost around the $180 mark (good footwear doesn't come DON'T SETTLE FOR LESS! cheap) and are available (in European metric shoe sizes) from selected specialist bicycle retailers.

48 Freewheeling How to safeguard your child's life from head to toe. The Shelcore Cycle Safety Seat The Megray KIDLID When you want to take your When it comes to giving your children out cycling, play it safe. child head protection, there's Make sure they're fully protected nothing quite like the KIDLID. It's with a Shelcore Safety Seat. a lightweight safety helmet that's (Formerly the Dorcy Safety Seat.) specially designed to fit children Made from incredibly strong, up to 3 years old. moulded polypropelene with a steel The KIDLID is fully adjustable tube frame, the Shelcore Cycle and it's the perfect head gear Safety Seat has a low centre of for kids when they're cycling. gravity for better balance. Or just playing about in their own It also has extra large wrap-around foot pads backyard. So, the next time your child ventures and a web style safety belt. It's easy to assemble out into the great outdoors, make sure they're and will fit most popular bikes. wearing a Megray KIDLID. So, when you're going cycling and ---- For safety sake. you want to take the children along for the ride, strap them in a Shelcore Safety Seat. For kids, it's the only way to travel. 1•1.1.C a.- leading retailers Available at Myers, Target, Available at Venture, K Mart and Big W. and cycle accessory stores. The Specialist Bicycle Dealers listed opposite are proud to provide you with your complimentary copy of the 1988 Malvern Star catalogue enclosed in this issue of Freewheeling. This just released range of Malvern Star super bikes has been researched and developed to provide Australian cyclists with the ultimate in bicycle design, hi-te~~ comp~nen~ry, prec1s1on engineering and quality finish. They're on display at your Malvern Star Dealer right now. See them soon.

DON'T SETTLE FOR LESS!

SO Freewheeling YOUR MALVERN STAR BICYCLE DEALER NEW SOUTH WALES: ADAMSTOWN HADLEY CYCLES 525959 BALLINA SEASIDE MOTO CYCLES 86 3022, PLEASURE CYC LES 866212 BATEMANS BAY BATEMANS BAY SPORTSCENE 725053 BAULKHAM HILLS UNIVERSE CYCLES 6394964 BELCONNEN BIG B BICYCLES 514260 BELROSEWOOD IES WHEELS 4525105 BLAXLAND BLAXLAND WHEELS & HOBBIES 395427 BOWRAL BONG BONG BICYCLES 611419 CAMDEN JACK BUTLER 668155 , CAMPBELLTOWN CAMPBELLTOWN BICYCLES 257 700 CASINO CASINO CYCLES 623441 CONCORD CONCORD CYCLES 7472020 CONDOBOLIN CONDOBOLIN SPORTS 952014 COROWA COROWA AUTO ELECTRICS 331157 CORRIMAL Bill REYNOLDS SPORTS 844040 CRONULLA CRON ULLA CYCLE & SURF 5235675, CRONULLA TOYWORLD 5235828 DAPTO DAPTO CYCLE & SPORT 612017 DEE WHY DEE WHY BEACH CYCLE STOP 98 7659 DENILIQUIN ROCKETS SPORTS STORE 811515, HUDDLES SPORTS STORE 811891 DICKSON CANBERRA BICYCLES 48 8861 DUBBO THE BIKE SHOPPE 81 8755 FAIRFIELD BAG LEE CYCLES 721389 FORBES BREADONS 522209 GATESHEAD CYCLES 43 7233 GOSFORD PARSONS WORLD OF WHEELS 251834, ROD MARTINCYCLES 243388 GOULBURN TURNERS CYCLES 212388 GRAFTON SCHAFERS CYCLES WORKS 422106 GRANVILLESHOWCASE DISTRIBUTORS 6821171 GRIFFITH GRIFFITH MOTOR CYCLECE NTRE624677 HAMILTON DICKTRESIDDER CYCLES 615075 HORNSBY HORNSBY CYCLES 4773738 INGLEBURN INGLEBURN CYCLE 6055823 INVERELL JACK GRIFFIN CYCLES 222798 JUNEE BARRITTS SPORTS 241304 KATOOMBA NIAGARA PHARMACY 822800 KILLARNEY HEIGHTS ALSTAR CYCLES 4516342 KILLARNEY VALE CENTRAL COAST CYC LES 32 9759 KIRRAWEE MICKS BIKES 5217998 LISMORE HARR IS CYCLE CO. 214152 LISMORE SOUTH BOB FALLS 212662 LITHGOW WESTERN AUTOQUIP 521696 LIVERPOOL EVERYTHINGCYCL ES 6027528 LYNHAM CYCLE CITY 491806 MACQUARIE FIELDS MACARTHUR BICYCLES 6183686 MAITLAND J.C. CAMER ON 335155 MARKETOWN MARKETOWNCYCLES 23932 MAROUBRA JUNCTION MAROUBRA CYCLES 349 2154 MAYFIELD HADLEY CYCLES 67 4600 MERRYLANDS DEVESON WH ITESPORTS 6371033 MONA VALE MONA VALE CYCLES 9975967 MOREE A.R. KEMPE 521337 MOSMAN SPIT JUNCTION CYCLES 9693254 NEWCASTLE WESTTAYLORS MOWERS AND CYCLES 2 3458 NORTH NARRABEEN NORTH NARRABEEN CYCLE SHOP 9138106 NOWRA MANN'S SPORTS 210962 O'CONNOR SPOKESMAN CYCLES 57 2993 ORANGE ORANGE CITY CYCLES 620477, RON BOULTON MARINE 623670 PARRAMATTA BIKE BARN 6835969, UNIVERSE CYCLES 630 1491 PENRITH ROSS CYCLES 313522 PORT MACQUARIE PORT PUSH BIKES 834540 PUNCHBOWL JACK WALSH 702502 RANDWICKAUSTRALIAN CYCLE CO. 3993475 ST. MARYS CHAMPION CYCLES 6231157 SCONE SAKEY'S CYCLES 452348 SEVEN HILLS PETER STERLING SPORTS 6623119 SINGLETON NORM LAMBERT CYCLES 722213 STANMORE STAN MORE CYCLES 560 5842 SYDNEY CLARENCESTREET CYCLERY 294962 TAMWORTH SMITHS CYCLES 662825 TAREEBOURKE'S BICYCLE CENTRE 521251 TOORMINA RAINBOW CYCLES 533692 TORONTO MASO NS SPORTS STORE 591146 TOUKLEY THE BIKE SHOP 965096 TURRAMURRA TURRAMURRA CYCLES 441479 ULLADULLA ULLADULLA CYCLES 555329 WAGGA WAGGA SCHIPPS SPORTS STORE 213962 WANNIASEA TUGGERANONG CYCLES 31 0176 WENTWORTHVILLEUNIVERSE CYCLES 631 0770 WEST RYDE UNI VERSE CYCLES 855836 WINDSOR WINDSOR CYCLES 773209 WOLLONGONG WOLLONGONG DISCOUNT CYCLES 287366 VICTORIA: BAIRNSDALE WARREN MEADE CYCLES (051) 525665 BALLARAT SHAW CYCLES (053) 35 6151 BALWYN RAYS BICYCLE CENTRE 830 5902 BELMONTBIKE POWER (052) 2770870 BENALLA SQUIRES SPORTS STORE (057) 622519 BENDIGO ROSS HARDINGS BICYCLE CENTRE (054) 432224, MORONI SPORTS & CYCLES (054) 433069 BENTLEIGH EAST CENTU RION BICYCLE CENTRE 5794115 BORON IA BORON IA CYCLES & FISHING 7621528 BOX HILL ACTION CYCLES 8901977 CAULFIELD SOUTH GRAND PRIX CYCLES 5235590 CHELTENHAM N. & M. DUGGAN 5832854 CLIFTON HILL MELBOURNE BICYCLE CENTRE 4895569 COBRAM ARTAVILLA EMPORIUM (058) 721726 COBURG SPURWAY CYCLES 3862930 CROYDON SOUTH GOLDCROSS CYCLES 7232427 DANDENONG BICYCLE SUPERSTORE 7946588 DONCASTER EASrtOP GEAR CYCLES 8489295 ECHUCA IVOR LAWTON CYC LES (054) 823597 EPPING THE BICYCLE DEPOT 4013938 FERNTREEGULLY FERNTREE GULLY CYCLES 7587514 FOREST HILL RAYS BICYCLE CENTRE 8772311 FOOTSCRAY RAYS BICYCLE CENTRE 681385 FRANKSTON PEDAL POWER 7834787 GEELONG NORTH BIKE POWER (052) 770870 GLEN WAVERLEY GLEN WAVER LEY CYCLES 5602178 GREENSBOROUGH DI AMOND VALLEY CYCLES 4351158 HASTINGS PEDAL POWER (059) 791776 HAWTHORN LAWRENCIA CYCLES 8182850 HAWTHORN EAST JUNCTION CYCLES 882 4985 HIGHETT TERRY HAMMOND BICYCLES 5558263 KERANG BLACKMORE & WOOD (054) 521316 KNOX CITY THE CYCLE CENTRE LAVERTON WESTGATE SPORTS 3691298 MAFFRA ALEXANDER CYCLES & SPORTS (051) 4 72442 MALVERN EAST ACTION CYCLES 5721036 MELBOURNE BIKE POWER 6636428 MIDDLE BRIGHTON BRIGHTON CYCLES 592 5454 MILDURA SUE & PETER HODGSON CYCLES (050) 236041 MOE VALLEY TOY HOUSE (051) 272797 MOUNT WAVERLEY WILFS CYCLERY 543 3293 MYRTLEFORD SAM'S SPORTING CENTRE (057) 521023 PRAHRAN MELBOURNE BICYCLE CENTRE 5293752 PRESTON RAYS BICYCLE CENTRE4782064 RINGWOOD THE BICYCLE WORKSHOP 8792883 SALE SALE CYCLt CENTRE (051) 441477 SEYMOUR SEYMOUR SPORTS (057) 923699 SHEPPARTON MI KERON SPORTS (058) 212934 SUNBURY SUNBURY CAR SHOP 7442598 SWAN HILL LES O'HALLORAN SPORTS (050) 323042 TO01GAROOK FREEWHEELING CYCLES (059) 853232 TRARALGON KENNEDYS HARDWARE (051) 742233, SPIKES BIKES (051) 741997 WANGARATTA WOODS CYCLE CENTRE(057) 215299 WARRAGULACTIVE OUTDOOR SPORTS (051) 231944 WARRNAMBOOL DEGRAND I'S SPORTSGOODS (055) 622325 WERRIBEE SPORTSGALORE 7416841 WODONGA JA MATTHEWS (060) 241257 YARRAWONGA YARRAWONGA SPORTS (057) 441951 QUEENSLAND: ALSTONVILLE CYCLES 285345 ANNERLEY BURTS CYCLE SERVICE 3912474 AYR CUTTER SPORTS DEPOT832239 BEENLEIGH BEENLEIGH CYCLES 2873588 BLACKWATER TH REE JAYS SPORTS 825054 BOOVAL BOOVAL TOYWORLD 824066 BRISBANE LIFECYCLE 2626888 BUNDABERG SWIFTS CYCLES 714111 BURANDA QUALITY CYCLES 3931342 BURLEIGH HEADS BURLEIGH BICYCLE WORLD356518 CAIRNS TRINITY CYCLES 516380, MANUNDA CYCLES 534894 CALOUNDRA SUNSH INE COAST CYCLES 916141 CHERMSIDE BER RITTO BICYCLES 3594923 CLONTARF LEADER CYCLES 2841333 ENOGGERA A CYCLE INN 3554536 GLADSTONE SNEDDS CYCLES 577926 GORDONVALE PYRAM ID CYCLES 561070 GYMPIE OLYM PIA CYCLES 821895 INDOOROOPILLYTHE BICYCLE SPECIALISTS 3784887 INGHAM WONDERLAND TOYS 761888 INNISFAIL INNISFAIL CYCLE & SPORTS 611416 IPSWICH JOHNSON CYCLES 2024208 KAWANAWATERS KAWANA CYCLES 443433 LUTWYCHETOM WALLACE CYCLES 8571685 MACGREGOR KESS ELS ROAD CYCLES (07) 8495333 MACKAY MACKAYTOYWORLD 575178 MAREEBA EDDLESTON MOTORS 921517 MAROOCHYDORE MULGA BI Ll'.S CYCLES 433184 MARYBOROUGH TARRANlS PTY LTD. 222999 MIAMI MIKES BIKES 358799 MOUNT ISA CURLY DANN SPORTS 433691 MURWILLUMBAH MURWILLUMBAHCYCLE WORKS 721368 NAMBOUR NAM BOUR FUNTASTIC 411669, TURN BULLS SPORTS 412013 OXLEY OXLEY CYCLES 3798862 PALM BEACH PALM BEACH CYC LES 343172 REDCLIFFE REDCLIFFE CYCLES 2034851 ROCKHAMPTON ALLENSTOWN CYCLES 271249, THOMMO'S BIKES 285342, WHITE'S TOYLAND 27 5033 SOUTHPORT CYCLE & SURF INN322874 , BURLEIGH BICYCLES 329811 STRATHPINE STRATHPINE CYCLES 2052447 TOOWOOMBA BRIAN PAGE CYCLES 382242, KEV OLSEN CYCLES 322942 TOWNSVILLE SAM BRATTON CYCLES (077) 734814, CYCLE CITY 715800, TOYWORLD TOWNSVILLE 790277 UNDERWOOD THE BIG BIKE SHOP 3417444 WOODRIDGE THE BICYCLE SPECIALISTS 2095488 WYNUMM BAYSIDE CYCLES 393510 7, GLENN'S CYCLES 3961594 WESTERN AUSTRALIA: ALBANY YOUR BIKE & MOPED DEALER 416844 ARMADALE ARMADALE CYCLE WORLD 3993370 BALCATTA BALCATTA BIKES 3441656 BELMONT BELVIDERE CYCLES 2773677, THEB ICYCLE ENTR EPRENEUR 2779181 BUNBURY FITZROYS BUN BURY 218600 BUSSELTON BUSSELTON AUTO PARTS 522887 CANNINGTON OLIVERS CYCLELAND 4587716, SWAN CYCLEMART 458 8302 CLAREMONT AVOCET CYCLES 3848365 COMO BICYCLE WORLD 4453443 EAST FREMANTLE OLIVERS CYCLELAND 3391415, THE CYCLEMAN 339 1520 FREMANTLE MERC ER CYCLES 3359536 GERALDTON ELMAC CYCLES 21 3279 GOSNELLJET CYCLES 3982359 INGLEWOOD STIRLING CYCLES 2715394 INNALOO MORRI S BI KES AND SPORTS 4464446 KALAMUNDA KALAMUNDA CYCLES 293 2115 KALGOORLIE HANNAN STREET CYCLES 212467, JOHNSTO NCYC LES 211157 MANDURAH CYCLES MANDURAH 356490, PUSH 'N' PEDAL 355662 MAYLANDS SPEEDLITE CYCLES 2711493 MIRRABOOKA CRYSTAL CYCLES 3494777 MORLEY WARD CYCLES 2765181 MUNDARING CYCLECARE 2952042 MYAREE NORTHLAKE BIKE & SPORTS 3306628 NEWMAN RONS BIKE SHOP 752008 NOLLAMARA GEORGES BIKES 3442393 NORTHAM NORTHAM CYCLES 6222005 NORTH PERTH NORTH PERTH CYCLEMART 4443483, PAL CYCLES 3287253 PADBURY PADBURY BIKE SHOP 4016877 PARABURDOO ASHBURTON IN DUSTRIES 895226 PORT HEDLAND HEDLAND CYCLES 731304 ROCKINGHAM ANDYS BIKE & SPORTS CENTRE 27 4060, ROCKINGHAM CYCLES 27 4457 SAFffi BAY SAFETY BAY BIKE & BOAT SHOP 27 4846 VICTORIA PARK THE PARK CYCLE SHOP 3614172 WAN GARA JOHNS BIKE SHOP 4098224 WEMBLEY CAMBR IDGE CYCLES 3873708 WILLETTON BURRENDAH BIKES 3323698, WILLITTON CYCLE CITY 577614 SOUTH AUSTRALIA: ADELAIDE SUPER ELLIOTS 2233946, STAN DISH CYCLES 2123363 BRIGHTON KELLERS CYCLES 2968861 BROADVIEW BROADVIEW CYCLES 2612222 CLEARVIEW CYCLELAND 2624288 COLONNADES STANDISH CYCLES 3844704 DERNANCOURT DERNANCOURT CYCLES 3367806 GLEN ELGHOLDFAST CYCLES 2944537 INGLEFARM TRAK CYCLES 2650357 KILBURN JI CYCLES 260 6678 KILKENNY JI CYCLES 2686404 KLEMZIG STANDISH CYCLES 2611696 MOUNT BARKER ALDGATE CYCLES MOUNT GAMBIER BRUCE DOWDELLS CYCLES 252953 MILE END STANDISH CYCLES 435435 OAKLANDS PARKSTANDISH CYCLES 2962376 POORAKA DISCOUNT CYCLES 2604365 PORT PIRIE WELLINGTON CYCLES 321219 PROSPECT ADELAIDE CYCLERY 3446353 ST. AGNES ST AGNES CYCLES 264 7888 SALI SBURY J.T. CYCLES 2507100, JI CYCLES 2584074 $TIRUNG ALDGATE CYCLES 339 5954 TEA TREE PLAZA TRAK CYCLES 2646001 TOORAK GARDENS BURNSIDE CYCLES 310313 TORRENSVILLE JI CYCLES 439914 UNLEY STANDISH CYCLES 2719733 WAARADALEBERNIE JONES CYCLES 2969652 WESTLAKES STANDISH CYCLES 3565492 WOODVILLE JI CYCLES 2682019 WHYALLA U PEDAL CYCLES 458476 . TASMANIA: DEVONPORT NOEL VON BIBRA (004) 24 7778 LAUNCESTON KEVIN McBAIN CYCLES (003) 319414 NORTHERN TERRITORY: DARWIN ROSSITTOS SPORTS CENTRE 814436 CASURINA SPORTSMART 27 5518 of comparing greatness over long periods of sport for too many imponder­ ables arise to cloud the issue. The only measure is the degree of fame achieved in an era. Thus to fairly answer that OUR FIRST question we have to endeavour to get behind the man and examine his record.

VERYONE CALLED him GOLDEN Dune but that wasn't his real name. He was born in the year 1907 and lived in a small town­ ship called Kingsdale, some 10 oddE kilometres out on the outskirts of the progressive town of Goulbur·n, New AMATEUR South Wales. The second son of Mr Mark Gray, a member of a large and The story of Dune Gray: Australian cycling's original well respected family in the district . He was christened Edgar Lawrence Duncan Olympic gold medallist Gray. BY JOHN DRUNNOND It would appear this likeable lad was destined for sporting stardom, for al­ EOUL, A SPRAWLING city most all the Gray family shone in some of 10 million people, has com­ section of the town's sporting structure. pleted the building of the Brother Ellis, was also a top class racing Olympic facilities and cyclist. Cousin Max was a country tennis thousands of South Koreans champion and a State representative areS learning other languages so they can while two others , Una and Ian were converse with foreign visitors and host State reps at hockey. the greatest sporting spectacle in the After completing his education the world - the 24th Olympic Games. youngster was apprenticed as a car­ Simultaneously the athletes who will penter and cabinet maker, and acquired carry Australia's medal hopes at the the rudiments of cycling by riding a bicy­ Olympiad are honing their skills, both cle the 11 odd kilometres to and from home and abroad. school and work. A cyclist in the mould of Martin Yin­ n ecom be represents Australia's best Australia entered it's second great era chance of winning Gold in any sport. in sport with the onset of the great world Just as Edgar Lawrence 'Dune' Gray did wide economic depression of the 1930's. when he won our first cycling Gold Cycling shared in the boom with the Medal in Los Angeles back in 1932, Goulburn Amateur Bicycle Club forg­ coincidentally in the same discipline - ing a strong link in a chain of New South the 1000 metre time track trial. Wales clubs based on Sydney, where It was at the Goulburn Sports ground some very good cyclists were starring on back in the 1930's that I saw my first road and track. bicycle race. The names of some of the Gray who had reached the top of the many champions still come to mind for tree in Goulburn knew he had to enter they shared Australia's "Golden Era" of the Sydney competition if he was to sport, Jack Standen, Don McGregor, realise his ambition of being an Austral­ Horrie Pethybridge, Ellis and Dune ian champion. Purchasing a motor-cycle Gray. Dune was my hero for he defeated outfit he travelled regularly to Sydney in Sydney star Horrie Pethybridge in a search of stronger competition, a return match and won the 5 mile scratch race distance in excess of 250 kilometres. with a withering sprint. I always remember his lightweight In 1928 he was selected to represent machine with its two sets of wheels , NSW in the national titles at the Sydney steel rims for training and specially Sports Ground and won his first na­ cared for cane wheels for racing. I be­ tional One Mile championship. came a fan of cycling that summer so That was the beginning of the green many years ago when times were lean years for Gray, during which he won all and bicycles were an essential and an manner of Australian championships accepted means of transport. against the fiercest competition. Then and ·now, there was not only fit­ As a result of his performance at the ness and strength called for by the track 1928 national titles Gray was selected, cyclist, but also cunning, anticipation, along with another NSW star, Len Stan­ bravery and skill . Yes, especially skill. den, to represent Australia at the Was any amateur· track cyclist ever /)iw: ,Jlt Gra-. t'hutntraph~•d 011 hi"-' r,•,ur,1 f:ronl :J,,. /9 lfi fl,•,-Jm Ofrmpio Amsterdam Olympic Games where he greater than Gray? There is no true way won Australian cycling's first ever Olym-

52 Freewheeling pie medal by coming third in the 1000m pinned a cable announcing Gray's vic­ allegiance to the moral standard of the Time Trial. tory on a notice board. I can still hear times. He was an occasional attendant Four years later (1932) Australia was the pandemonium that broke out in an with his family at church, and was re­ "on the ropes" in the middle of the De­ unrestrained exhibition of joy and hero garded throughout the sport~ng wo~l~ as pression and Dune Gray as a lone worship. one of its cleanest and fairest hvmg member of a small team gave the coun­ Now at the peak of his form Dune adherents. try an enormous psychological boost Gray won a string of national track He was modest and gallant in defeat, when he won the first Gold Medal in the championships over the next 9 years. In scrupulously fair, both on and off the Los Angeles Olympics in world record a 12 year career the Goulburn cyclist track. He was regarded by his towns folk time against all odds. won numerous club and state titles, and as a demigod. The local newspaper a total of 19 national championships of wrote editorials eulogizing his sporting clergy held Ten days before the cycling events, all variety. and social standards, and the held at Pasadena, Gray was stricken Gray was Australia's most successful him up from their pulpits as an example with influenza. With a temperature of 40 amateur cycling representative. Never to the youth of the times. In short Dune degrees (104 F) he was ordered to hospi­ riding professionally, he attended three was the toast of Goulburn town. tal but on the advice of team trainer Ted Olympic Games winning two medals (1 It could be argued that Edgar Lawr­ Gill he settled for the Olympic Village gold - one bronze) and two Common­ ence Duncan Gray was the greatest instead. Gill had him, back on his bike wealth Games, winning gold both times. example of amateurism that this country within two days training to a special He was on line for selection for the 1940 has ever known. At a time when a cyclist schedule. Olympic Games when they were aban­ could have capitalised on his ability doned because of the Second World more so than any other time in Austral­ The track was wooden with 5 x 2.5 cm War. ia , the Goulburn Olympic champion (2 x 1 ") decking, which was finished He was chosen to carry the Australian chose to remain an amateur. Profes­ with 2 cm (3/4") boards nailed into each flag at the 1934 Commonwealth Games sional track cycling was booming in New other, expertly banked on the bends so in London and the 1936 Berlin Olympic South Wales with meetings being held as to adequately carry speed and allow Games, and in 1938 led the march past twice weekly on the fast modern smooth entry to the straights. and took the amateur oath at the Syd­ wooden velodrome in the Sydney sub­ Gray was beaten in a semi-final of the ney Commonwealth Games. urb of Canterbury. When Gray returned Sprint, by Chaillot of France, or rather He toured New Zealand several times from Los Angeles as Olympic Champ­ did not get the judges verdict although and set several records. At Prattern Park ion he was offered lucrative contracts to every cycling manager present was of in the Sydney suburb of Lidcombe on join the circus. He refused them all. the opinion he had won . He considered the 13th January, 1937, he lowered the lodging a protest but the team manager, World record of 28 and two fifths of a • The youngster in spired to win by the words of Jim Eve, would not agree and suggested second for a quarter mile standing start. Dune Gray was none other than the writer. he should save himself for the Time Trial. He therefore withdrew, which I witnessed an incident that highligh­ Dune Gray looking hale and hearty at 81 yean is later was to prove correct and good tac­ ted the values of hero worship to young now living on the NSW Central Coast. tics. sports adherents. It happened at the wind up carnival of the year shortly after In winning the Time Trial over one Dune Gray's return from Los Angeles as kilometre Gray used his favoured cane Olympic champion. rimmed wheels shod with American Pye It was the rule for the Goulburn Tyres, and rode a 90 inch gear in the Amateur Cycling Club to conduct a con­ then popular inch pitch. sistency competition throughout the The Los Angeles Games of 1932 were track season for a handsome cup as an significant because of the controversy as incentive to junior members to strive for to whether they should be held at all success. It happened to be the final con­ with world economy in a parlous state test of the season and a decider between and most nations seemingly headed to­ the scratch marker and his nearest rival wards disaster. However, they were ex­ off 30 yards (27 m). A win for either traordinarily successful and peaceful. would be conclusive. They were conducted completely free of politics with cowboys guarding the The challenger looking quite nervous Olympic village in contrast to Berlin and contemplative sat motionless in the four years later where the German army dressing room . Just then Dune Gray was in evidence everywhere. entered with his trainer. Noticing the boys demeanour the OLympic champ­ I well remember the occasion. It was ion approached and offered some en­ the early days of radio and contact with couragement. Just a few words, but the world overseas was mainly made by enough to change the lad's whole mood. cable. I had been attending a local He was suddenly alive and bubbling dance, which being a Saturday night was with energy. compelled by law to close at midnight. Needless to say the scratchman never On my way home I came across a large saw the youngsters back wheel , and crowd of people outside the office of the there are no prizes for guessing who that Goulburn Penny Post waiting for the youngster was.• Olympic cycling result. They had been Two qualities made Dune Gray, the joined by the local dance band who were man, stand out from his contem­ playing Dixie. poraries. About 1:00 am it happened. A news­ A discipline of mind and body that paper man emerged from the office and was total when in training and a strict

Freewheeling SJ

12 speeJ. SISrd[e(,;~e. CJ~, with ~pace-.

Telephone: (03) 587 3466 Trade Enqom~!y about 200 km a week to and from Uni. Soon, I decided to buy a new rack, a steel Karrimor one, and Karrimor pan­ niers (Karibou series). Gradually, I in­ WHEIOIE creased my distances and in early November I attempted to ride from Syd­ ney to Canberra, 290 odd kilometres, in a day. My parents, who lived in Can­ berra, discovered this and were frantic. Mum sent Dad racing down the highway LAPIS to collect "one of her boys" . They caught me just entering Goulburn at about 5 pm, and being pretty tired I stopped and accepted the lift. I attempted the same trip a few weeks later and got as far as Berrima, in a strong headwind, before giving in. I had EIOUGH asked the guy in my local bike shop whether the bike would make it to Can­ A nineteen year old sets out on the journey of a lifetime: berra and he had said: "Yes, but whether you will is another thing". So around the continent by bicycle. far he proved to be right. by Alan Dunn After passing nearly half my courses at Uni, I needed a year off to travel. I had seen travelled the east coast be­ y adventure really began However, I had never been interested in tween Brisbane and Melbourne and had when I was studying in Syd­ bicycle racing and in growing up in Can­ been to Tasmania twice but had never ney late in 1986. I wrote to berra I was lucky if I ever rode more been further west than Griffith. I de­ a friend in Perth and joked than 100 km in any one week. cided that a trip right around Australia that I might ride over to see In moving to Sydney in 1986, the dis­ was to be my goal and my $140 Bennett him. My bicycle was my only form of tances had grown and I soon became would provide the transport. transport then. The idea stayed with me accustomed to making all my own re­ My last few weeks in Sydney were and" I thought about it increasingly pairs. In July, I bought my first 10-speed spent building my weekly traveling dis­ throughout October and November as bike, a second hand Bennett Sport. tances up to 300-350 km and collecting my interest in University declined. They were then selling for around $220 spare parts and other equipment: I had only ever used a bike as a means new and mine was almost new at $140. namely a synthetic sleeping bag (rela­ of transportation. I couldn't afford a car. With that bike I became used to riding tively unaffected by rain), a backpack walking down the valley because my for overnight bushwalking, a metho brakes couldn't stop me on the dirt road. cook stove, a tent, a front rack (a match­ The next day on the other side of ing steel Karrimor), and some new pan­ Scammel Spur I saw a few more cyclists niers which I could put on the front. - one of them was a guy called Greg who The spare parts were all things I had had ridden from West Australia on a broken before: a pair of pedals, 2 spare good touring bike (6600 km in 3 tyres, a puncture kit, a bottom bracket months). I would later meet him again axle, a rear axle, an alloy crank, a pair of around the other end of Australia. cables, and a chain de-riveter, plus 2 I passed through Khancoban and Cor­ spare tubes. All of these were the ryong and camped early to cook my only cheapest I could buy as the trip had a batch of damper. Originally, I had plan­ tight budget. ned to be a bit of a bushman - cook Finally I was ready. On January 15 damper and hunt rabbits and other ani­ 1987 I set out with 45 kg of baggage and mals - but I soon found out that it was $900 in savings. I was heading south to more practical to buy bread and all my Cooma because of a vague feeling that other food in shops. south was going downhill, but more im­ portantly I wanted to ride over the In the days to come I rode through Snowy Mountains. I figured if I could Tallangatta and the Keira Valley to Mt climb the highest mountains in Australia Beauty, over Falls Creek and down a initially, then the following hills would rugged 4WD only road to Omeo and on be a piece of cake. to lovely Lakes Entrance. I rode I travelled for 10 hours that day and through wind and rain to Sale and War­ completed 120 km to Cooma by night­ ragul and after 2 weeks travel and my fall. I had to stop every one and a half to first 1000 km I reached Melbourne and two hours for food and rest because the stayed in my first YHA hostel out in the extra weight on the hills made the pedal­ Dandenongs. After a day or two I rode ing a little harder than I had envisioned. right around Port Phillip Bay and then That night I collapsed in my tent in a down along the Great Ocean Road to caravan park and the next morning I felt Port Campbell passing some of the most the worst of my entire life. My muscles awe inspiring and rugged coastline in were stiff, my face was puffed up, you the country. name it, I was crook! From there I headed up through Cam­ But to go home was too big a pill to perdown to Ballarat through Great swallow, so I headed on towards Jin­ Western to Halls Gap and the impres­ dabyne. That day Cooma was in a heat sive Grampian Mountains and then on wave - nearly 40 degrees in the shade - to Hamilton and Casterton to Mt Gam­ and an enormous gale was blowing bier. down from the mountains. I was so It was in Murray Bridge that I found exhausted and the wind was so strong at out my mother's younger sister died times that I got off and walked on some from cancer and I had missed the fun­ very easy hills. The day passed slowly, CITY eral. Another thing happened to me in and after 3 punctures around Berridale I Murray Bridge. It was already a com­ eventually climbed up to Jindabyne and mon occurrence on the trip and was be­ arrived at nightfall after another 8-9 coming mildly annoying. I was just SLICKERS hours travel. about to leave town when some stran­ The next day I met my first ever tour­ gers, on seeing my bike , called out, ing cyclists: a Canadian couple who had "Hey mate, where do you think you're travelled up from Melbourne on proper going?" touring bikes and had ridden about 3000 Avocet City tyres with the smooth tread km in 3 months; and a Japanese guy on a Fearing that they might have a coro­ give you more rubber on the road for round mountain bike who couldn't speak a nary if given the whole truth , I said , town use. On busy city streets and in the suburbs you need the maximum traction word of English. I gathered he had rid­ "Oh, I'm riding to Adelaide." that only the smooth tread of the City 1.9 den 17,000 km in 12 months in Australia They gasped and shouted: "What, all can deliver. Avocet City 1.9's were and NZ, had crossed the Nullarbor the way to Adelaide?" developed as a high pressure (80 psi) street Plain 3 times in the process, and the I said, "Yep!" , beaming with pride. tyre to give improved cornering and road following night he was going to camp on They just rolled their eyes and shook grip performance even on wet roads. the top of Mount Kosciusko (I found out their heads and said, "Ah, you're bloody 2 days later that some people I met did crazy! Absolutely, bloody crazy!" I just Avocet City tyres are available from a see him carrying his bike and his bags to laughed and rode off but that episode specialist dealer in your town. Try them the summit through the ever present really emphasized just how lazy and today. snow and bone chilling winds). close minded some people can be. It was a comforting thought to know Back on the road again , I pushed on that some people were capable of big to Adelaide. I arrived with 7 broken trips. spokes in the back wheel and the'feeling That day I rode 30-40 km uphill to of jelly underneath me. I had travelled Thredbo. After a days trekking up and for a month and ridden some 2500 km around Kosciusko I continued on , and felt good. But in Adelaide I disco­ through Dead Horse Gap and down the vered that leaving home a well built 71 rugged Alpine Way: a treacherous road kg my body now weighed only 63 kg F.ng,nccn ng tor Cvd,sts for bikes. I spent a good deal of time with less muscle on the upper half.

Freewhee/ing S7 Station efore attempting the Nullar­ constant at 35 degrees and although I down to the Eucla Telegraph he was good com­ bor I saw a bit of South Aus­ only carried 4 litres of water, I never ruins and although out of food . My tralia including the Barossa, drank more than 2 litres before could fill pany, I was running low, for due to the Flinders Ranges and th e up again - even though on occasions money was also getting of distance Yorke Peninsular. I rode to water was sold to me at up to 60 cents a an improper appreciation challenge, I had left PortB Lincoln, to re place a crank and litre (I used to think that was against the and a want for extra $25 cash. So, I along the edge of the central wheat belt law) . Fortunately the winds were predo­ Ceduna with only rode the last 630 km to Ceduna. Here I met a Japanese fel­ minantly helpful south-easterlies. scooted ahead and in 3 days on little but bread low who was taking the shortest route The cliffs of the Great Australian to Norseman That week I travelled over between Sydney and Perth and riding in Bight were impressive but in some ways and soup. it remained as my fastest thongs - rugged , eh? He left a day be­ the Nullarbor itself was a let down . It 1200 km and the whole trip. fore me but I caught him up three days was neither as dry nor as desert-like as I for ed up here also; in later at the WA/SA border. had been led to believe; my mind used The weather warm radio melted in Norseman. As it turned out we had both picked a to conjure up visions of sand dunes. The fact my I had ridden about 7,000 good time to cross the Nullarbor. Al­ biggest gap between road houses is now By Albany 10 weeks and I was nearly though it was the first week in March, it only 190 km , instead of the 300-400 km km in almost y rode off to pick was the coldest summer in the region for of past times. broke, so I immediatel km away up in a vineyard 15 years, so the temperature was pretty I rode with Takemoto for half a day grapes 120 near Rocky Gully. I worked there for two and a half weeks. Although I didn't earn much at this job I did become friends with tow English travellers: John and Alan. John, 35, had ridden 28,000 EASY km in 2 years through Africa. Alan had VERSATILE & hitched along the same route. After the job finished John and I rode west through Manjimup and Pember­ TOUGH & ton , beautiful tall Karri country and so green. In Pemberton my front rack broke its top link and everything fell DURABLE forward including me over the hand­ lebars. Luckily, I didn't hurt myself or deform my bike. So we. picked up the pieces, put everything from my front panniers into my empty backpack and struggled to the nearest youth hostel. It was like a fairy tale: we found an electric arc welding unit there and John, who had been a welder for 15 years, put it back together as best he could. H e also repaired the two broken supports r rack which had been held Folded Size665 rnrn " 100 rnrn - ER SAL BIKE RACK - on my rea Adelaide. 460 rnrn " \NG UNIV together with wire since . e ALLEN FOLD et is light as I From then on I made an effort to That's the u~,~~1

Freewheeling S9 Perth , who had spent the last 18 months and watched the Red Gum concert that on long stretches of road one's hands riding through E urope and A me ri ca. night. become stiff from being in the same po­ A ndrew was wa iting for hi s knees to In the next couple of days we rode out sition too long. With drop handlebars heal. H owever, I convin ced the m t o to Ayers Rock a couple of times, one can safely move the hands about leave w ith me the next d ay and ride to­ climbed it and rode around it, but didn't more. Being permanently seated in such wards Ayers Rock , for the w ind had ca rry our bikes up like s ome Japanese an upright position, a lthough good for changed t o a s trong northerl y and it had (there is now a $1000 fine to deter crazy the posture, may also make cycling been over 3 months since I had ridden cyclists). somewhat harder in headwinds. with a tailwind. During our time a t the Rock I bor­ About 1 in 3 of the people I met So a way we went and 1 1/2 days later rowed Andrew's mountain bike to ride toured on mountain bikes and the rest we we re a t the turnoff to Ayers Rock . the terrible road to the Olgas. I was re­ had good touring bikes - not street bikes While we we re resting t he band Red ally thrilled for I had never ridden a like mine. Gum came through t o do a concert o ut mo untain bike before. It was great: on at Yulara resort and offered u s a ll a lift. the dirt there is no competition between parted with Andrew and Jenny, So even though I was feeling very guilty mountain bikes and any other - they are and caught a bus back to Alice. It abo ut hitching so often , we agreed b e­ that comfortable! On tarred roads there was the 3rd of October and I had cause And rew had sore knees. A f e w is little difference in touring speeds. The calculated that if I was in Cairns ho urs la te r w e a rri ved a t Ayers Rock only deficiency I could find is perhaps by the 15th, then I would have a monthI to cycle the 3,500 km back to Ca nberra. So, I caught a bus to Three Ways and over the Barkly Tablelands to Mt Isa. I w as carrying about 35 kg in baggage No other bike light with now and rode to Cloncurry without breaking a spoke. Hurray! The next day features I headed north to Normanton and rode all of these about 30 km into a strong northerly with Conforms to British Standard BS 3648 - the recognised 45 degree temperatures and 90% humid­ world standard for bicycle lights. ity before hitching a lift up to Norman­ ton. It was far drier up there then I ex­ • Easy Universal pected, Normanton and Karumba both. Mounting fits any Not much to see either, and with only place, any bike crude dirt road for the next 250 km east • PowPrful beams seen I was held up for one and a half days from every direction. before I could hitch out on a road train to Ravenshoe. • Constant Light Output The Atherton Tablelands was a shock regardless of speed to the system; it was so cool and green up there. Ravenshoe is over 900 m • Wide range of Batteries above sea level and less than 100 km suit all riding needs from the coast. I spent a day visiting • Proven wate rfalls and swimming holes on the Performance way to Malanda and Atherton , then rode up to Mossman, Daintree and the • Lightweight rain forests of Cape Tribulation. • Positive In Cairns I met a couple people from non-slip switch overseas who had begun bicycle touring around Cairns but gave up because of • Weather-poof design the heat and humidity. Ho hum; temper­ atures in Cairns at that time were only in the 30's. indicte that the most impor­ • Impact-proof plastic - Safety considerations Heading south again with the north­ tant role of bicycle lighting Is to ensure that you are no corrosion, no rust y winds towards Townsville I hit seen by other road users. easterl WONDER LITES have a unique design which en­ • Simply remove my first rain for nearly 4 months. It sures constant powerful beams front and rear, visi­ for use as a looked so odd with the steam rising off ble from all angles. The versatile clamp fittings with handy torch the road . A few days later I arrived in ball & socket joints ensure that you can quickly and Townsville. WONDER LITES at any convenient easily affix your • Attractive slim lines On my way down to Mackay I was location, then adjust and lock them at any angle. struck, literally, by my first magpies. There's a wide range of WONDER batteries to suit The second one took me off my bike, to the all riding habits from the casual rider thro.fgh but again no damage was done, and be­ long rides of day-in, day-out training. fore long I became used to their pre­ sence and handed out a few lusty blows with my trusty pump. As the roads be­ came busier they swooped less anyway. cycle stores throughout Australia. ~ Available from wonder From Mackay I rode virtually non­ YOU!! ASSURANCE stop to Brisbane, via Rockhampton and OF OUALITY Noosa. After visiting some friends I Ask for them by name rode via the Gold Coast and encoun­ Distributed in A ustralia by tered a flood of rain and punctures be­ Atom Im ports (02) 550 1655 fore reaching Sydney a week later in appalling conditions. In Gosford I had

60 Freewheeling THE GREAT VIcmRIAN BIKE • RIDE 88 RIVER TO RIVER FROM THE MURRAY RIVER TO THE YARRA RIVER.

SWAN HILL 10 MELBOURNE DECEMBER 3RD 10 THE 11 TH, 1988. MORE THAN JUST A GREAT Not only does this year's ride take you and all the usual tee-shirts, badges, train BIKE RIDE through the cycling paradise of the fares, maps and back-up support. But Sure, the Great Victorian Bike Ride is one border river country, it also offers superb more than this the ride is a great chance of the most popular cycling events meals with a serve your self breakfast, to mix with people you would normally around, but do those who haven't been entertainment (bush bands, theatre never meet and to see parts of Victoria on the ride realise just what the ride is all companies, pedal-in movies, and more) and NSW in a way you never would. about? , Cost $209 Details from: Bicycle Victoria (03) 650 2334 PO Box 1961R Melbourne VIC 3001 Or call in and see us at the City Square BICYCLE ---• -• --• VICTORIA ~~~-/ t . I t to rent an overnight van for the first someone else who is contemplating a wind turn 180 in the same day, although time to recover from a 12 hour, 140 km simil ar adventure. I had it happen to me 2 or 3 times. ride through the cold headwinds and First of all, I encountered some 30 And thirdly, plan on about 10 months traffic. This was the wettest I had ever days of rain in over 300 days of touring. for a comfortable trip of this type. Al­ been in my life. Sure its seasonal, but bear in mind that though mine included 3 1/2 months in the northern half especially, there are work, other people I met who had fixed After a couple of days rest and repair certain roads that are rather difficult to incomes or savings took this long for the I was busting at the seams to try a third pedal at certain times of the year, hence, same trip. I estimate 10 - 15 people ride attempt at riding to Canberra - I'd had your touring season is limited. Person­ this round trip every year, although training for this one - and on Grand Prix ally, I found the country overall far perhaps 200 (mainly Japanese) ride be­ day, November 15th, I arrived home, drier, flatter, hotter than I ever ex­ tween Sydney and Perth in any one year triumphantly, to watch it after exactly 10 pected , and I encountered only mild (there were 8 other cyclists on the Nul­ months in the saddle. conditions. larbor alone in the week I crossed). Secondly, I encountered about half Diet is also important. For my part, I n my journey I collected headwinds and half tailwinds. Good concentrated mainly on carrying stocks some interesting data and planning can turn the odds in your for good dinners and breakfasts. The statistics, both about bicycle favour, but note that if you stay too long occasional canned food but primarily touring and Australia in gen­ in one place (as I did near Perth) the light, dehydrated foods such as noodles, eral, and these may help winds may change. Rarely does a strong dried fruits and peas , powdered milk 0 and cereals. I generally picked up some­ thing along the way for lunch such as fresh fruit , sandwiches, or take away foods - which is where most of my money went. Overall, I spent $4,279 and travelled almost 24,000 km in 305 days , riding 19 ,278 km of that total. My repair statistics are interesting to say the least: 45 punctures; 12 tyres and DAVE SCOTT, tubes; 123 spokes; a rear wheel; both hubs; 3 axles (2 rear); 1 freewheel ; 1 FIVE TIME IRONMAN, chainwheel; both cranks; a bottom brac­ ket set and 3 sets of bearings; broken IS FAST AND TOUGH, supports on all racks; broken chain (4 times) ; 2 gear cables and 4 brake cables; a rear derailleur and one pedal. SO IS HIS HELMET. From this you can see that parts cost me quite a bit, and so you must be at the Dave Scott, triathlon ace and five time U.S. lronman, needs to very least a maverick bike mechanic like maintain his competitive edge. That's whv he wears an AVENIR helmet. myself in order to cope. Obviously, like A VENIR helmets are mighty touqh, with an immensely strong the other 62 touring cyclists I met who outer shell and impact resistant inner liner. But unlike conventional all had top quality machines, it is well helmets, the A VEN/ R has been uniquely engineered to sit lower worth your while paying the extra with less frontal mass and drag. money initially for a strong, capable So if you want that competitive edge, slip on an A VEN/R bike. It saves money in the long run and helmet at vour specialist bicycle dealer today. saves your legs because carrying spares is extra weight and they should not be required. Just simple investments, such as puncture-proof tyres are eventually cheaper and make the trip more enjoy­ able - I didn't use them because through ignorance I didn't find out of their exis­ tence until Queensland and by then they were not worth my while . One final point I would like to em­ phasize is that you don't necessarily have to be young and fit to complete a trip like mine. Yes, it can be an advan­ tage but I have met and heard of people touring on bikes at both ends of the age scale; from 7 year old children who rode 50-80 km each day with their parents around Europe, to 60 year old pension­ ers I met who recently rode from Perth to Adelaide in under 2 months. Sound preparation and planning may outweigh AVENIR HELMETS the losses of age or health. To anyone planning such a journey I FROM MALVERN STAR. wish you good luck and a safe trip. I hope you find my story a benefit to your DON'T SETTLE FOR LESS! own success as others were to mine. Now I am planning my next trip, over­ seas, and a little more wisely!

62 Freewheeling November 20 starting at Belm ore Park tance in the event of injury. near Central at 8:30 am. The Sydney to the Gong ride is a great The 87 km route is still in tact after the day out for all the family and frie nds - GET even the ones wh o don't ride bikes. This torrential down pour in April and May though, as this item goes to press, a sec­ year our carnival at the Wollongong end tion of road north of Clifton is still of the ride is growing and we want you READY closed to traffic. Not to worry, the DMR to invite yo.ur fr iends and family to assures us that the road will be open to motor down to meet you at the end of cyclists by November and the magnifi­ the day. Entertainment, food and drinks cent coastal scenery unaltered. are all available from 11 am onwards - FORTHIS If you are new to cycling then the there's plenty of parking close by. Gong ride is an ideal opportunity to find If you are travelling up from the Gong out for yourself what a fun time can be to start the ride we are providing truck YEAR'S had on two wheels. If you're an old hand transport to carry your bikes leaving then bring your friends hand have a from the station around 6:30 am. In the great day out. The ride is well organised afternoon Sydney riders will be able to and good backup support and catering load their bikes onto the trucks at BIGBINE facilities are provided along the way. Flagsta ff Point for transport back to Entry forms for this years event will Belmore Park. A security area will be be published in the next issue of operating back at the Pa rk so you can Freewheeling (out early September) and stay and enjoy the carnival atmosphere RIDE you board your train through Sydney, Wollongong, Newcastle at the Gong before and Canberra bikeshops about the same to Sydney. THE 1188 SYDNEY time. This year you can enter either by A free shuttle bus service will operate post or pay for AND pick up full kit and between the Flagstaff Point carnival and TOTHEGONG services tickets at selected Sydney and the station throughout the afternoon. If BICYCLE RIDE Wollongong bikeshops. your friends want to train it down to the If you do not cycle regularly you Gong to meet you tell than that the shut­ should do some training for the event. tle bus from the station to the Point is S WINTER draws ' to a On the day you have 9 hours to com­ for their use too. close it's time to dust off plete the journey and our sag wagons This year the Gong ride is supporting your machine and get back will come to your rescue if your health the work of the Multiple Sclerosis Soci­ into condition for Sydney's and lack of fitness lets you down. St ety. We want you to ride for MS and that big one - the Gong ride. Johns Ambulance will staff the four way help to find a cure for this disabling ThisA year the ride will be held on Sunday major stopover points if you need assis- disease and relieve the suffering of those

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Distributed in Australia by C'>• Apollo Bicycle Co. P/L. ap·~ P.O . Box 457 AVAILABLE IN 5 COVER COLOURS Baulkham Hills N.S.W . 2153 less fortunate who have it. Every rider group of 5 with the same intentions. will be sent an MS Gong Ride Fun­ WOLLONGONG More riders were encountered on the draiser's Package with the basic riders trip to Central. It all gave the impression kit and there are lots of prizes to be won of a takeover of the city by cyclists - and for your efforts. Our entry form and REVISITED, so it appeared on arrival at Belmore information brochure ( out September) Park. An aura of expectation pervaded will contain full details. 1187 the area as cyclists and their trusty This year we want to encourage more BY FRANK MILLON steeds milled about in small groups. riders to participate as teams. There will The absence ( understandably) of the be team prizes for company (corporate) traditional Lord Mayor's farewell made teams, cycle (European racing type) T'S SIGNIFICANT, for this saga, the start a little more ragged than usual. teams, crazy costume teams, school to compare a long car trip with a The much appreciated escort service teams, best dressed professional teams I longish (for the novice) bike ride comprising policemen, the Southern and more. Every rider will be asked if like the Sydney to the 'Gong. Significant Cross Motorcycle Club, and the support they are participating in a team so now's in that a sensible rider/driver would go vehicles readied themselves as anxious the time to get your friends together and to some length to minimise the possibil­ riders jockeyed for positions to start the plan. ity of mechanical failure etc. I did but ride shortly after 8 am . This year has got to be the biggest even the best laid plans can go astray as It may have been an omen that I Gong ride ever. We think that with your my story reveals! noticed, close to the start, a cyclist al­ help we can give about 4000 people a I had never, in my 3 previous trips to ready in strife. But there were many terrific day out. So how about it? Now's the 'Gong, experienced any sort of bike incidents throughout the ride of unfortu­ the time to get into training and get failure, not even a flat. After the 1987 nates coping with minor or major on­ those friends of yours to do likewise. ride I am now ready (and more confi­ the-spot repairs. You think to yourself, And don't forget your poor old bike. dent) to cope with just about any nor­ "Well , bad luck - glad it's not me. " Check it over and if it needs repair work mal emergency. It was about Newtown that I noticed a done on it get it down to your local bike I suppose every rider is interested in slight, though regular, "clunk", which shop now so you can get plenty of use what the weather is going to be like on with hindsight, should have been investi­ from it before November. the day. Earlier in the week prior to the gated . It wasn't, and I paid the penalty Look out for the Jacaranda trees; ride a north easterly wind was pre­ just south of Rockdale when my chain when they loose their leaves it's only a dicted. "Good," I thought, "better than fell apart. Fortunately, I had a chain few months to go. When the purple flow­ that rotten southerly which hit us for rivet tool and was soon back on the road ers arrive it's not long then. It's going to most of last year's ride." (Who could cursing and promising to drive the rivet be a great ride. Don't miss it this year. forget coming around the hairpin bend fully home when next taking my chain at Coalcliff). Rain, hail or shine we cyc­ off. Always a first for everything! fter each ride we usually receive lists are a hardy lot and whatever the Of course, I'd like to think that with a number of letters thanking us conditions, we'll take on the challenge. so many riders around there would be A for organising the event - which So on the day - a day which is looked plenty of assistance. Such was not my is immensely gratifying as it is always a forward to by some 3 ,500 cyclists - a experience. Perhaps I looked sort of big job to make it all happen. We also fresh southerly didn't deter us, it simply competent; could cope (which I could) receive a number of useful suggestions called for extra effort. No problem. and any offers would be out-of-place. I for improving the ride. Thank you all for Gearing up for the ride and being pre­ did though, like an accident victim, your thoughts and good wishes and we p a red are also considerations to be need reassuring; needed to know that hope to see you on th is years Ride. taken into account. Having done this I someone cared about my plight. Now Here's a sampler from our 1987 mail set out for the nearest station that I've been" through the mill" I'll be bag. (Rockdale). I had only to ride to the end more compassionate. After all , it's not a of my street before being passed by a race and by comparison with motorists, SPOKES CYCLE S 89 Railway St, CORRIMAL, N.S.W. ( 042) 84 3434

Freewheeling 65 we a re a s ma ll group with a commo n do. T hat is , a no n-stop ri de up C lifto n A special n ote of thanks sho uld also purpose and have to sti ck together. hill. I'm sure most r iders woul d regard go to the o rga ni sers fo r the ir e ffo rts I overheard a sincere remark made a t this hill , si tuated as it is, just beyond the both before a nd a ft er the ride . The re­ the lunch spot that it was goi ng to be all spectacula r Coalcliff area, as the most turn of the bikes by semi-traile r a nd downhill , and easier, from there. Those cha llenging o f all the hills o n the ride. the ir re trieval (afte r some initia l a p­ that know, know bette r, of course. The For me , akin to b reaking a fo ur minute prehension) seemed t o w ork out in the big c halle nges lay a head , especia ll y, mil e. Even for the unsuccessful, the end. Cli fton ( coronary) hill. reward of a succul ent orange at the sum­ I suppose many novice riders experi­ My next pi ece of ill fo rtune occurred mit made it all worthwhile. ence the feeling during some particul ar­ as I mounted m y b ike after lunch - all I couldn't think of a better fini sh fo r a ly difficult part of the route, "What am I ready fo r the g rinding Otfo rd hill. That ride of this type than the 'Gong cycle­ doing here?, etc., " But there's a certain wo uld have to wait a li ttl e lo nger as I way now running south fro m Bulli magic that t ell s us we'll be back , simply quickly learned that , while lunching, my Po int. It's a credit to those with the because, "it's there". rear (isn't it a lw ays) tube was slowly fo resight and certainly shows what can de fl ating! A spare soon h ad m e resum­ be done (eat your heart out Sydney!). in g the ride. So fa r,so good . T hey say T he overa ll scene a t the fi ni shing WEALLWERE that trouble comes in three's and I was poi nt after about 90 km of sometimes no sooner under way when I could hear arduo us, sometimes exhilarating, cycl­ ONE the o minous rubbing of the rear wheel ing, said it all ! Fl agstaff Point wa awash BY BILL SCHNABER on the brake pad. T he polite te rminol­ with bodies showing a mi xture of tired­ ogy would have been, "Goll y, a broken ness a nd exultati o n ; ta king refresh­ 987 WAS my first time in the Repco spo ke " - a n a ppreciabl e unde rstate­ ments; relating experi ences and making Sydney to the ' Gong Bicycle Ride ment. arrangements fo r the return trip ho me. 1and I would like to take this oppor­ Well , this I wasn't prepared fo r and as However, all making sure that they col­ tunity to congratulate a ll concerned with the s uppo rt vehicles we re nowhere in lected the ir cloth badge, sti cke r a nd the o rgani sati o n of the event. It was sight, I d ecid ed t o " trust m y luck" and Certi fica te of Achi eveme nt - as evi­ brilli ant; well done! ride o n regardless after re leasin g my dence fo r the skeptical ! Well done to all . H ave I any treasured mo me nts? brake pa ds . I w as ho ping tha t m y 40 Apart fro m the wonde rful scene ry, Many, but perhaps the o ne I shall always spo ke wheel would hold o ut fo r the re­ the e nj oyment of the company of other remember: a small girl on a simple bike maining 40 km . On a wing and a prayer, riders ma kes this ride a ll th e mo re re­ struggling up a long hill . As I passed her, it did. wa rdin g. So a s pecial thanks should go and looking down saw h e r r edde ned With these adversities in mind to sup­ to Russell (S RA), H a ns (Engadine) , face grim with effort , encouraging her I pl ement my determinati on, I was able to Jim ( ITCC) a nd the c hap fr o m said , "Yo u will make it". Upon which I achi eve , a lo ng the way, something Wauchope ( keen!) with hi s son in tow, received a nod and a beautiful smile. which I h ad p revi ously not been able to for adding to the day. That magic day we a ll were one.

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68 Freewheeling tlOUNTAIN It's true! serious cyclists know they must BIKE drink frequently while cycling to replace fluids lost during exercise. The Velocity VeloCage dependably NEWS carries a large or small waterbottle. 10 hos1 Canberra Ask for a VeloCage at NIB Na1ionals your bike shop so The 1988 Na ti o na l Mo unta in Bike you can drink Championships will take place in Can­ while cycling. berra over the weekend of November 5 & 6. The governing body o f the sport, Seriously! the newl y formed Australi an M ountain Bike A ssocia ti o n , had in vestigate d a numbe r of proposals a nd has awa rded the running of t he event to a priva te promoter Acti ve Australi a of the ACT A t otal p rize pool of $5000 plus more race categori es is e xpected t o a ttract ride rs fro m the b ig centres of Sydney and Me lbourne as we ll as th e o the r states. The p rogram will include Open Hill C limb , Ope n D own H ill , Time Tria l, IF/ncily Open Observed Trials, and E nduros fo r vari ous rider categori es. There will be a PO Box 80 • Samford 4520 • (07) 289 9262 prize fo r the person who does best over

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Freewheeling 69 all events (Omnium) however, the Na­ tralia is now underway. The Adelaide ti onal Mountain Bike Champion will be Mountain Bike Group publishes a pro­ the rider who wins the Expert Enduro. Sydney clubs set gram of day rides all included in a jazzy Entry forms for the Nationals can be little newsletter titled Fat Chat. The obtained by writing to AMBA, PO Box jft101ear group's organiser is Peter Heal and he N25 Grosvenor Place, Sydney NSW can be contacted on (08) 263 3605. The establishment of an Australian 2000. More details in the next Mountain Bike Association has pro­ Free wheeling . vided a catalyst for the formation and rejuvenation of MTB clubs in the Syd­ tk Buller Fes1jwal ney region. The North Shore Nobbies is now riding on a regular basis and report­ The Mt Buller Ski Resort in Victoria The Ranae- a raae ing good attendance on their mostly day has made plans for a major mountain rides. The club caters for both non-com­ Regular mountain bike races have bike event late in the year. Although no petitive and competitive riding and it commenced at the Range early in the date has been confirmed several details should field a strong team in the forth­ year following a visit from US mountain have been released. There will be a full coming nationals. For more information biker Bob Hadley. Bob, who used to be weekend of activities for virtually all about the club and its rides contact an organiser for the National Mountain mountain bike enthusiasts. David Kitchen at St Ives Bicycle Centre festi­ Bike Association helped Jamie Hales Patterned on the mountain bike (02) 449 8289 or H eathe r Nesbitt at get the race meet started. Jamie now vals so popular in the USA the Mt Bul­ Cranks Bikeshop (02) 411 5116 . of reports good roll ups to his monthly ler event will offer cyclists the choice Elsewhere in Sydney a new club has event. fun rides, wilderness tours, competitive been formed in the east and there are In May, thirty eight riders braved events or just spectating or partying. signs of a club to be formed in the south. down rainy conditions to race a 2.8 km lap Mt Buller's overnight rates go The Eastern Suburbs Ground Hogs can course. Wayne Hildred is the rider to during the summer months making a be contacted through Chuck Smeaton watch in future MTB events as hi s lap weekend's holiday for the mountain on (02) 300 0305 (AH). We will print the re­ times at the Range were one minute fas­ bike event attractive. Still, with contact information on the new south­ from ter than the nearest competition. The sort less than three hours by car ern subs club when it gets moving. for Ra nge races are sponsored by Repco Melbourne, it is within easy reach Cycles and R ay's Bi cycle Centres and day trippers. or for are held on private property at Gruyere Full details in the near future on the o utskirts of Melbourne . For updated information send a stamped Fa1Cha1 to further information about the Range addressed business size envelope Rd Race program contact Jamie Hales As reported in an earlier Freewheel­ Jamie Hales, The Range , Range (059) 64 9229 . ing a mountain bike group in South Aus- Gruyere VIC 3770. PRICE * WE WILL NOT BE UNDERSOLD

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70 Freewhee/ing Philip Anderson the Aussie who made Tour history in 1981by wearing the Yellow Jersey. Phil is seen on the wheel of five-time winner Bernard Hinault during their historic battle in the Pyrenees. Phi I's team was eliminated from this years event.

to an astonishing 43 million in 1914 , ample evidence to the selling power of sport. The Tour stressed from the begin­ ning the link between the media and the cycle trade and still does in today's tele­ vision era. However, the heart of the Tour lay with the physical feats of the riders and it is these that truly fired the public imagination. By 1906 the race had ex­ panded to thirteen stages over nearly 4,800 km. The riders were on the road for fifteen hours or more and exhausted men would still be finishing a stage hours after the leaders had crossed the finish line. No wonder they needed alter­ nate rest days and no wonder more than two thirds of the field used to drop out before the end . The Tours were epics of endurance from the start. The modern day Tour is more than just a bike race. It is the world's biggest single sporting event, certainly the longest and hardest. CYCLING'S The Tour was originally an individual bike race then an individual race be­ tween national teams and finally a busi­ ness teams race with each team member striving to get the often various team leaders into the best place possible over NAIIEYEII the finish line in the Champs Elysees in Paris. How the Tour de France grew to become the world's Apart from the 200 participating cyc­ li sts, there are 500 cars in a following largest sporting event caravan. The cars carry up to 450 press, radio and television reporters, with tech­ BY JOHN DRUNNOID nicians to ensure comm.unications are kept open wherever the journalists may t was while searching in the year the value of publicity to boost news­ stop. Then there are medical teams , 1903 for something bigger and paper sales so he set about the task of commissaires (referees), team mana­ better than the 1200 kilometre sin­ expanding the idea of Tour racing. With gers, police escorts who keep the roads gle stage Paris-Brest-Paris bike plenty of advertising and sponsors, De­ closed to other traffic whilst the race race (won by Australia's Hubert sgrange was optimistic but , with one passes. In all there are up to 2000 non OppermanI in 1931) , that enterprising week to go, only 15 riders had entered. participants. publisher Henri Desgrange had the idea He reduced the race to a maximum of 21 Each modern day event costs up to of a race around France in several days, cut e ntry fees, guaranteed ex­ two million dollars to run . To cover costs stages. Little did he know that his initia­ penses and declared that unless he had the race organisers sell stage finishes to tive would give the world its biggest 50 riders the race would be cancell ed. towns an cities on the route, and invite sporting spectacle. A total of 78 entered, and sixty the business houses of France to adver­ Desgrange was no stranger to cycling started. The race was won by Maurice tise on a special advertisers caravan competition. He unwittingly gave the Garin by the huge margi n of nearly 3 which follows the race. This is very pro­ sport one of its most sought after events hours, still the biggest wining margin. fitable as all France is on the doorstep as when he established the first official Twenty nine riders finished the gruelling the Tour goes by, then back on to the record of an unpaced hour on the 'Buf­ 2,428 kilometre seven stage event. television to follow the action. Televis­ falo' track in a suburb of Paris, on 11 Desgrange proved a tough minded ion rights are sold and telecast to untold May, 1893 with a total of 35.325 Director during the 32 years he was in millions throughout the world. kilometres. control. The 'father' of the Tour de Fr­ The marathon course changes accord­ Since then it has been the most de­ ance also conceived the publicity cara­ ing to a town's contribution towards the sired record of the world's cycling greats van which accompanies the raci ng cyc­ Tour expenses - some pay as much as and is presently held by the now retired lists during the Tour like a spectacular $20,000 for the privilege of having a Italian master cyclist Francesco Moser, travelling circus along with the offici al stage finish. But in general it loops Fr­ who extended the distance to 51.151 in cars. ance. Mexico in 1984. It was perhaps a greater success than Maurice Garin's victory in that first As owner of the French sports news­ Desgrange ever imagined. In ten years Tour caught the French public's imagina­ paper L'Auto , Desgrange knew full well the sales of L'Auto grew from 14 million tion, not only for the deeds of the

Freewheeling 1/ In 1906 the climb up the 1,188 metre Ballon d'Alsac was considered grotes­ que, but Lucien Petit-Breton outpaced his rivals on the flat and conquered the mountain to win . The field of 82 was decimated with only 14 ever to reach Paris. However, the mountain section remained and Petit-Breton won three successive Tours. The Tour de France became an obses­ s ion with Desgrange, he constantly searched for more difficulties for the cyclists to encounter. In 1909 Luxembourg's Francois Faber became the first non-Frenchman to suc­ ceed after finishing second the year be­ fore. Faber's win also broke the sequ­ ence of victories by Peugeot. The Tour went into the Pyrenees mountain chain.for the first time in 1910. It was reluctantly accepted by the riders along with Ballon d'Alsace. Delighted The late Jacques Anquetil, who died earlier this with the initiative Desgrange took the year, was one of the three immortals who have 1911 race up to the 2,438 m climb of the won the Tour five times. Galibier. This required a new breed of climber. even cars would fail on this sgrange vested him with a yellow jersey. road because in the dry heat petrol It was widely acclaimed by the war would often evaporate before it could weary French. reach the carburettor. Desgrange's L'Auto newspaper was Desgrange did not seem to recognise printed on yellow paper, so why not a that the human body - or the human yellow jersey? It proved a master stroke. spirit - had limits. The Tour was now an The "Maillot Jaune" still marks the lead­ epic of endurance. Riders had to change er of the Tour today and has become their own tyres if they punctured: the almost universal symbol throughout the great Italian Faust Coppi, the only known The quick wheel changes of today were not cycling world. who could simply ride away from the cyclist available, and they had to repair their The first man to wear yellow was - most of his victories were won that way, peleton own machines when they broke down. Eugene Christophe, but that was not his restricted by the Second Coppi also had his career Grotesque things happened to them. only claim to Tour de France history. Six War. He won two tours in 1949 and 1952. World Their eyes resembled those of hunted, years earlier Christophe had made his­ mighty men but a lso the distance and wounded animals. From their mouths tory of a different kind. He was riding places involved, for at the turn of the came occasional pleas for help. They second on the Pyrenean Col (mountain century not many people travell ed fa r cheated in small ways, mumbling thanks pass) Tourmalet and 18 minutes ahead away from their towns and villages. for a sly push from a moved spectator. of his main rivals when his front fo rks T he fo llowin g year the riders raced They got fined small sums by old men broke. 2,388 ki lometres - the shortest distance for snatching an illicit bottle of water, He was forced to walk 14 kilometres in the history of the race - a nd with the for hanging on to the wings of passing and watch his opponents go by. At St slowest average speed of 24.292 km/h. ambulances. But they kept creeping up Marie de Campan he reached a Henri Cornet, the wi nner, was at 20 also the mountain. blacksmith's shop. There he had to re­ the yo ungest wi nner ever. Gustave Garrigou of France won that pair the broken forks himself for no out­ The race was marked by incident, fo r dreadful Tour of Pain and suffering over side assistance was allowed under the wi th passions aroused rival supporters 5 ,544 kilometres. Garrigou had been rules. He was allowed to have the bel­ clas hed, often violently. Even the riders the victim of sabotage the year before lows worked by a small boy. An official were attacked with sticks at St Eti enne when someone had tampered with his stood by while the work was performed. whe n B enoit-Faure, a nati ve of St bike. He eventually finished seventh, and the Etienne , was supposed to reach Marseil­ No longer was it just necessary to incident probably cost him the Tour that les first. have high reserves of stamina, and more year. More trouble fl ared on the fi nal stage all-round ability to emerge a winner. Once the war was over Christophe to Paris. Desgrange was horrified, dec­ The Alps and the Pyrenees play a signifi­ entered the 1919 race, and this remarka­ laring the Tour to be his last and killed cant role in deciding the winner of ble man had a similar fate await him. He by its own success. H owever, he was today's Tour. It is generally conceded was in the lead when his front forks persuaded to try again during the follow­ that you have to win a mountain stage to snapped again just outside Valencien­ ing months and a trouble free third Tour win the Tour de France. nes. It was back to the forge for poor was won by Loui s Trouselier of France. Octile Defraye became the first Bel­ Eugene, and he was to finish third over­ Desgrange was still not satisfi ed . A gian winner in 1912 , then the race was all to Belgium's Firmin Lambot and de­ good part of France is mountainous, so stopped between 1915 and 1918 because stined never to win his nation's tour. He why not take the race to the mountains? of the first World War. was seven times the French cyclo-cross If the French minds had b een fired b y With the end of war Desgrange lost champion, and at 40 rode his eleventh the earlier races, then this incursion into little time on revival and the Tour was and final Tour. the mountai ns in 1905 reall y set their resumed in the summer of 1919 . It had Post war Tours proved milestones emotions a lig ht. It was not onl y man been a matter for complaint pre war that with 24 stages in the 1928 version - the against m an, but now man again st the it was difficult to distinguish the race largest number ever. In 1930 trade teams mountains. leader from the rest. So the wily De- were abolished and National teams in-

72 Freewheeling and 3,000 metres with complete mas­ tery, while the peloton remained spreadeagled over the mountainside, and official cars strained to make the grade. The roads were strewn with mud and snow, while bitter sleet reduced the field , with numerous competitors aban­ RAY'S doning the race in exhaustion. But it was of no avail against age and the all round ability of Coppi . Fausto BICYCLE Coppi won the Tour whilst Gino Bartali remained King of the Mountains. Coppi was to win again irt 1952. Both Coppi and Bartali would merit CENTRES consideration for the title of the greatest Tour de France rider ever. Ferdi Kubler was the first Swiss to win in the early fifties (1950) when the climbs of the dreaded Mt Ventoux (1951) and the Puy de Dome (1954) were introduced. The green jersey for points winner came into being in 1953 The first twenty five riders to finish each stage are awarded points and this jersey is riders' next most sought after prize. Probably the greatest road time *NOWATBALWYN* trialist of all time, the late Jacques An­ quetil won the first of his quintette of 268 Whitehorse Rd The Tour de France is more than just a bike race. wins, four in succession, in 1957. After This acrobatic pneumatic character is part of the his second win in 1961 the Tour carried Balwyn Vic . 830 5902 huge Tour advertising caravan. an increased number of time trials which probably accounts for the rest of his vic­ * ********* tories. troduced . The publicity caravan was Frederico Bahamontes became the QPREST0N introduced that year too. first Spaniard to win in 1959, while Jan 545 High Street Although variable gears had bee n Janssen made history for Holland by Ph : 478-2064 or 470-2090 satisfactorily used for some time, Tour winning in 1968. We are now catering also for the de France ride rs were restricted to two In between the Bahmontes and specialist bike buyer. Bikes & gears only. In the mountains they had to Janssen years there was joy and tragedy. wheels made to order. Repairs use different sprockets. It was not until Talented Roger Rivier~, the world track are carried out by David Cechni 1937 that deraille ur gears were permit­ pursuit champion and hour record-hol­ - M elbourne's leading b ike. ted. der broke his back in the 1960 Tour mechanic. Call ir. to see Some epic ba ttles between Italy's when he fell down a ravine. Tom M elbourne's biggest stock of Gino Barta li and France's Roger Simpson started the success of the En­ Lapebie took place before bicycles .. There's i;ometh,ng the race was glish speaking rider when he wore the to suit everyone. stopped by the Second World War. Yellow Jersey for a day in 1962 the year La pe bie won in 1937 and Bartali in when trade teams were re-introduced. OF00TSCRAY 1938, and Bartali was to win again , and Five years tragedy struck when the at 34 , the oldest rider to win . popular British rider collapsed and died 170 Barkley Street The Tour didn't resume again until in the cruel heat of Mt Ventoux. Ph : 6 8 -1385 1947 and was won by diminutive Fren­ Eddy Merckx of Belgium, laid claim Triathlon gear for all types Need chman Jean Robie. Bartali won in 1938 . to being the best cyclist ever when he weights? Full range of weights & Ba rtali , a t the age of 36, a stage race made his Tour debut to win in 1969. At gymnasium gear for sale or hire. speci ali st and the most colourful figure that time he had already won world ti­ Great deals on Malvern Star of Italian cycling over the preceding 15 tles. Merckx not only equalled the 5 Triathlete & racing bikes. Wheels years, planned to win the 1949 Tour as a times Tour winner record of the late Jac­ & bikes built to your specs. last milestone in hi s phenomenal career. ques Anquetil - but was to win all the But standing in his way was Coppi - "II one-day classics as well, not once, but QF0REST HILLS Campionissimo". several times. Coppi was a s uperb allrounder with Merckx was indeed majestic and top­ 291 A Canterbury Road the ability to climb or simply to ride ped up his 1969 success with Tour wins in Ph : 877-23 1 1 away from the opposition. He could also 1970-71-72 and 74, a feat equalled by Catering for everyone from the ma nage a good time trial (he won the Breton Hinault in 1978-79-81-82 and 85 . specialist through to the family Grand Prix des Nations twice) as well as When aussie Philip Anderson won the unit. Call in today and look at our holding the world hour record and twice coveted Yellow Jersey in the 1981 Tour prices - service - range. winning the then world track pursuit he climbed into history. It happened on There's something there for you. championship. stage six and although it may not have Hatali was irresistible in the moun­ lasted long, he did trade the Maillot ta in s. No one could match the pheno­ Jaune for the white jersey of best young menal mountaineer, who revelled in the rider. At the doorstep to the Alps a week terrain, climbing Alpine peaks of 2,000 later, he was still in second place to -----•~Free whee/ing 73 worl d champion Bernard H inaul t. whe n he beat his team mate Bernard T he 23 year old matched H inaul t o n Hinault for Tour honours in 1986, thus the first real stage into the Pyrenees denying H inault outright leadership in after fi ve days of racing. Neither won the total Tour wi n aggregate. the s tage - that we nt to 1976 Tour win­ Grim pictures on television often pro­ ner Lucien Va n Impe of Belgium - and vide a tell ing insight into the forbidding A nderson d idn't even beat H inaul t b ut price that the Tour demands of its there's no doubt who came o ut best in heroes. With his face covered by an oxy­ the e nd. Whe n A nde rson l eft Mel­ gen mask, Iris hman Stephen Roche was bourne he was regarded as a c limber, driven away in a n ambul ance, totally but not a great cli mber. But on the tough exhausted at the end of a gruell ing climb cl imb that fi nished 117 kilometres of to the Ski resort of La Plagne. racing between St Lary-Soul ans, he Roche had just completed the com­ climbed with the best and into history. mitment that not only won him the 1987 With H ina ult sidelined wi th inj ury Tour, but also made it truly internation­ Laurent Fignon continued the French al. dominance in 1983 and 1984. Tom Simpson the British World Champion of 1965 American G reg Lemond scored the who collapsed and died climbing the dreaded Mt first wi n for an English speaking cyclist Ventoux in 1967.

EVERY CHILD CARRIER TOUR DE FRANCE FENININ SHOULD BE THIS GOOD. In the four years since the inaugural womens' Tour de France the race has Safety and comfort are the keynotes of the DELUXE CHILD settled as the major showcase for wom­ CARRIER f!om Malvern Star. A sturdy, anatomically moulded shell ens cycle racing. keeps v~ur mfant passenger stable whilst ridino, and for added Like the men's event which it precedes protect/On, the DELUXE CHILD CARRIER is equipped with a full on about two-thirds of the stages, the safety h~rnes~, safety _qrab rail, moulded footrests and spo ke Tour Feminin combines the rolling roads pro tection sktrt. To ensure a comfortable ride, the DELUXE CHILD of central France with the fearsome ter­ CARRIER has a fully padded seat and grab rail. rain of the Alps and the Pyrenees. Although only in its fourth year the Tour Feminin has been dominated by two champions. They are Maria Canins of Italy and Jeannie Longo from France. The inaugural Tour was won by Ameri­ can Marianne Martin , who came from the mountains of Colorado to thrash her opponents in the French Alps. Maria Canins, a Tour specialist, won the '85 and '86 tours by holding her posi­ tion in the pelotons and limiting her losses to a minimum in the time trails, prior to basing her success on stunning rides up the mountain passes. Longo, almost ten years younger than Canins, after finishing second in '85 and '86 rose above Can ins to conquer in '87. And following her world title and late season success is now the world's top rated woman cyclist. Australia was represented in 1986 Tour Feminin by Kathleen Shannon of Sydney, Robyn Battison of Victoria , Jacqui Uttien of West Australia, Debbie DeJongh of the ACT and Elizabeth Hepple of Queensland whose perfor­ mance was little short of sensational finishing fifth to star performers Canins • and Longo. THE DELUXE CHILD CARRIER The team of Hepple, Shannon, Batti­ son, Donna Rae-Szalinski (VIC) and FROM MALVERN STAR. Donna Gould of South Australia , rep­ resented Australia again in 1987 and DON'T SETTLE FOR LESS! performed with great credit against over a hundred of the world's top women cyc­ lists. Elizabeth Hepple, although carry-

74 Freewheeling ing inj uries as a result of a fa ll , fi ni shed a 1988 Tour de France A Channel Four book by Phil Li ggeu. Harrap The book d oes, however, stand we ll Lrd (U K) Distributed in Australia by The Australasian Publishing Co. on its own m gruelling To ur in 15 th place at 32.58 sec. RRP SJ7.95. erit. It is full of fascinating Rob info rmati on on past rides and has a good yn Battison was 21 st at 44 .30 sees, ritain's Cha nne l F our has Don secti o n (with pho tos) on the ofte_n na Rae-Szalinski 32nd at 54.47 , made a huge contribution to storm y hi story of the event. The text 1s Ka th leen Shan non 40th at 58 .5G a nd quality television both in the writte n by C hannel Four commentator Donna Goul d 48th at 68.40. UK (and here through SBS). and sports writer for the London Daily To fin ish a t a ll was a victo ry in the Most importantly it has bro­ Telegraph Phil Li ggett. A numbe r of to ugh 1000 km To ur in whi ch onl y se­ kBe n d own the resistance within the photographe rs have provided the pi ~­ venty seven fi ni shed. British m edia towa rds cycling. Each tures including Graha m Watson , Phil year it provides a dail y coverage of the O 'Connor a nd the major sports photo event watched by a dail y ave rage of librari es. 300,000 vie we rs. Tha nks to C hannel What m akes this book so inte resting Four a record 3 .1 million Britons were fo r an Austra li an are the chapters deal­ able to watch Stephen Roche ride trium­ THEIIII ing with the many aspects o f the Big pha ntly down the C ha mp E lysees to Event oft e n r e fe rred t o but never become the second E ngli sh speaking explained in de tail , such as: the Cara­ wi nner (and the first I rishma n) a t th e va n which fo ll ows the race around Fr­ end of the 87 event. TOUR DE a nc~ like a bizarre a dvertisers c ircus; T his year Channel Four is planning an how th e 1000 strong medi a corps get even better coverage and this handsome their stories; tactics; equipment; and the book h as been d esigned as the ideal demands of the race on the riders th em­ FRANCE co mpa ni o n. It is quite commo n for selves . British t elevision to produce 'books o f The book is hard bound and has over the seri es' - the BBC has been at it for Anewbook1o 150 pages of informa ti on including a years - and our own ABC a nd SBS have glossary of all the Fren_ch racing terms, all released superb compani on volumes prewiew this years li sts galore , a fo rm guide to this years to accompany their better programs. to p conte nde rs a nd a good chapter on So its a s hame that we have the book clash of the th e Tour Feminin. and not the moving pi ctures. SBS (who It's impossible to see the whole of the road-men and often run Channel Four programs) tell race close up in Europe let alone in Aus­ me t hat they can not afford th e satellite trali a so this book should keep Austral­ women cha rges to show this year's coverage_so ian Tour watchers happy until the video the A meri can CBS weekl y compilation BOOK REVIEW BY WARREN a rrives some time in August or Sep­ shown each year on the Nine netw ork tembe r. SALOMON will just have to do.

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Freewhee/ing 75 Phil Sornen;ille 100 YEARS OF CYCLING

1888

"Yes, yes, it's a strange invention, but save your worry until they get up to Uranium mining."'

1900 1929

-0s:-s ~.~':. -----~ ~

0 "Mark my words, Madam, a female on a cycle can only become a fallen woman!" 'Tm a fitness enthusiast. I travel everywhere by bicycle."

76 Freewheeling 1941

1967

'They've diverted chains to the war effort but I've got plenty of meat ration coupons."

> I 1\l, ) / / j ,f. c:= ,e.. I I I\ I 1 , ., "Hey, man, either sell me your bike or half a pound of whatever you 're smoking!" 1988

'Tsn 't it nice to feel the warm glow of another sunset on your back?"

Freewheeli'!.g TT n any city the movement of secon­ dary school students is a major task and Melbourne, with 260,000 secondary school students, is no CYCLIIGIO exception. After ten years of bicy­ cleI planning very little is known about travel to school except that in some sub­ urbs 40% of the students rode bicycles to school while in others very few rode at all. And no one knew the reason why. SCHOOL Ill For those wa nting to e ncourage bicy­ cle use this is a very important issue because so far the two ways of increas­ ing bicycle use are by putting adult bums on saddles and secondly: keeping secon­ dary student bums in the saddle. NELBOURIIE As around 85 % of all 13 year olds own and use bicycles the name of the bicycle encouragement game is to keep more of A large proportion of high school children are less fit them on the saddl e as they grow older. nowadays. Is this because they are riding and walking to school less often? The most interesting data from the Ministry survey is the wide variations between areas. BY ALAN A PARKER Sandringham comes out on top with 48% of the students riding to school, Chelsea had 41 % and then there is abig drop down to Moorabbin with WHITTLES EA 27 %, Frankston 26 %, Brighton 23% and Moordialloc and Springvale with 20%. The rest of Melbourne municipalities fall into the two other categories. Note the concentration of high use areas (black) in the bayside suburbs and the very low levels (white) in the northern inner suburbs, Camberwell, Heidelburg, Whittlesea and Eltham. A typical working class suburb with an average level of bicycle use is Sunshine with I0% of trips to school with a 79 %level of bicycle ownership.

96

50 MALES FEMALES ITJ

40

30

20

0 PUBLIC CAR BIKE IIALK TRANSPO RT

PERCENTAGE 0 to 4. 9 % OF TRIPS TO I l How boys and girls travel to high school S tC> 9. 9 % SECONDARY f•{ tt?••·••::::••J SCHOOL BY t::::rn:::rn::::rn::rn :I l O te> 19. 9% While this chart shows that there is very little BICYCLE 1987 difference between the percentage of boys and 20 % e>.r me>.re girls who go to school by public transport, three MELBOURNE @AAP quarters of those who cycle to school are boys. Only 4.6% of the girls compared to IS.I% of the - boys cycle to school.

78 Freewheeling The first ever comprehensive survey of Student travel by age trips to school The Ministry ofTransport's bicycle co­ The most disappointing fact to emerge from the ordinator (MTA) Doug Bell surveyed a Ministry survey is the rapid decline in bicycle use massive 220 ,000 Melbourne students at by students after the age of 14. The graph shows 424 secondary sc hools to find out how that bicycle use drops to nearly one half for 18 and they get to school. As 30,000 of these 19 year olds still at school. This graph also shows students cycled to school it provides that the car is used less by these older students bicycle planners with a lot of useful in­ presumably because their parents feel that they formation not available before. are no longer in need of a ferry/chaperon service. We all know boys are different than girls but few people are aware that this shows in the way they respond to traffic its very hilly. These other factors com­ as cyclists. Girls choose to or are com­ bine with the fear of traffic and result in pelled, by their parents to walk instead a very low percentage of trips (5 % ) to or are driven to school. The bar chart A school by bike . In the inner suburbs clearly shows that percentage difference schools are much closer together and between male and female cyclists is there is an excellent public transport equal to the increase in female walkers and many more students either walk to and car passengers. the road and riding in the wet are the school, or use the trams and buses. The Ministry survey raises as many major causes of concern. Because so few students walk or go by questions as it answers and its strange Girls, whilst feeling confident in their bike to school, there is a lot of pressure indeed that so many local bike plans and skills as competent riders, do feel more put on the public transport system. This the Melbourne bikeplan take an essen­ vulnerable on the roads. They positively is worst in the afternoon because so tially male sexist view of cycling by fai l­ hate buses and trucks. many of those who are driven to school ing to analyze the needs of women cyc­ It would appear that the overall low on the morning have to make their own lists. ievel of cycling by the boys and the very way home. Jn the afternoon 25 ,000 an Fortunately, some are coming to grips low level of cycling by the girls has to extra students come home by tram , train with this problem. Traffic safety re­ with the appalling traffic conditions in or bus. searcher Barry Elliot's comments are the vicinity of most schools. There are The Ministry of Transport has a very very relevant, to the question of why so lots of relatively safe back routes and a keen interest in this because 17 % of all few girls cycle to school: high level of local area traffic manage­ public transport trips are to school and Whilst young people generally per­ ment in the areas where cycling to most of these are at the time and in the ceive the roads to be dangerous, they school is most popular, but in other direction of th·e peak traffic flow. believe the main and busy roads during areas such as Sunshine, traffic condi­ Primary school students are less of a the peak hours to be the most dangerous. tions are very poor. problem because there are five tim es as On the roads fast cars, trucks and buses, In places such as Doncaster and many smaller schools which are much going around parked cars on busy roads Templestowe where more parents have nearer most students homes. and right hand turns from the middle of cars, the schools are further apart and As so few students cycle to school

96 TO 1987 STATE • ·;;aal;i.1.:--- -_.:..:...--~50 FROM 1981 E] [fill PRIVATE E3

20

PUBLIC CAR BIKE WALK PUBLIC CAR BIKE WALK PUBLIC CAR BIKE WALK TRANSPORT TRANSPORT TRANSPORT

The difference between coming and going The change in travel to school 1981 1987 The difference between travel to In the afternoon many more students have to Several studies over the last few years have shown government and private schools make their own way home because so many of that secondary students are becoming less fit. those who are driven to school on the morning. In When we compare how students travelled to the aiternoon 25,000 an extra students come school in 1981 and in 1987 on this bar chart we can This chart shows a much greater percentage of home by tram, train or bus. The Ministry of see one of the reasons for this. There has been a private school students use public transport. Few Transport has a very keen interest in this because massive reduction in the percentage of students private school students walk or cycle to school. 17% of all public transport trips are to school and walking and cycling to school and an equally There are 46,000 less private school students than most of these are at the time and in the direction massive increase in those who are driven or go by state school students but 15,000 more of them use of the peak traffic flow. public transport to school. public transport.

Freewheeling 79 so they have to drive their children or the re is a lo ng te rm opportunity to make fitness is declining w he n in a mere six send them by public transport. As a re­ better provisio n fo r s tude nt cycli sts years 65.000 less students now get exer­ sult a much larger pe rcentage of private whi ch would no t o nl y save the m time cise o ut of travelling to and from school. school st ude nts use publi c t ransport. a nd mo ney but ta ke some of the pres­ What's more, government is subsidising Few wa lk or cycle to sc hool. The re a re sure of the publi c transport system in the this lack of fitn ess with its st udents fare 46,000 less private school students than peak pe ri od. Ma ny of the 50,000 parents concessions. state school students but 15,000 more of who ferry the ir children to seconda ry Suburban sprawl has contrib uted to them use public transport. school would no do ubt appreciate being this proble m because the provision of The figures show public transport sub­ re leased from thi s driving cho re. schools has tended to lag behind and the sidies in the fo rm of student concessions Several studies over the last few years overall urban densit y is much lower thus arc benefiting private school students to have shown that secondary students are increasing the distance between ho me a much greater degree than state school becoming less fit. There has been a mas­ a nd school. Another problem i s the in­ tudcnts a nd they arc producing more sive reduction in the pe rcentage o f stu­ crease in th e number of stude nts going th an their fa ir share of peak loading o n dents walking a nd cycling to school and to private schools. peak ho ur trams, train s a nd buses. a n eq u a ll y mass ive increase in those Pare nts who send their secondary Clearl y a policy is needed to e nsure who are driven or go hy public transport school children to private schools find that private schools are located near to school. that these schools are us ua ll y much where there is a student demand a nd Its no wonder that stude nt p hys ical further away than the local state sc hool town planning permits sho uld not be granted for new schools or major exten­ sio ns in many exist in g areas. It is better fo r the health and fitn ess of children for them to be ab le to wa lk or cycle to school in safety a nd as well reducing AT LAST,A FRAME PUMP peak hour loading of publi c tra nsport and roads in the vici nity of schools. Depending o n the s uburb 75% to 95% THAT'S JUST ABOUT of stude nts have a bicycle or use o ne. T he data showing bicycle trips to school by the age of the s tudent is rather disap­ PERFECT pointing. The survey data shows tha t secondary stude nts are not using their Strong, lightweight, versatile and highly efficient bikes to travel to school and in most of Nagusi frame pumps, with interchangeable direct on connectors Melbo urne there could be a very much for both schrader and french valves are the necessary accessory hi ghe r l evel of usage. For this reason for all cyclists. there is a need to think o ut a coherent b icycle e ncou rageme nt program for existi ng stude nt cycli sts. No such pro­ gram currently exists but when it does it wi ll doubtless be prim aril y targeted at girls. Bi cycle facility planne rs s hould take note of the fact on average girl students and women have a greater prefere nce for se parate bicycle faci li ties and are more traffic sensi ti ve tha n m e n a nd boys. • The plan ning brief give n t o consul­ HIGH PERFORMANCE. ta nts fo r l ocal bicycle p la ns s ho uld Tested against a full range of frame pumps by Bicycling Magazine clearly state the need fo r 'safe route to Nagusi made_ "the most effective use of intake air of any pump"' schools' projects a lo ng the lines of the and de/Jvered better measureable performance than did projects now being done in Europe and more expensive, less versatile pumps. recommended by the Social Develo p­ me nt Committee of the Pa rlia me nt of LOW COST. Victoria. A number of interesting policy impli­ You won 't find a better performing, lighter frame pump ti o ns a rise o ut of the Ministry survey for anything like Nagusi's price, so check out the superb Nagusi ca range at your specialist bicycle dealer today and see the which need to be co nsidered b y t he Nagusi difference State Bicycle Committee. Indeed , in other States its likely that the same thing is happening, but no o ne is doing any­ thing about it because no o ne has mea­ sured the size of the problem. In Sydney for example, a 1985 study NAGUSI FRAME PUMPS shows that there are tw ice the number of public transport trips to school as in FROM MALVERN STAR. Victoria . With the new Grein er govern­ ment looking at the issue of government DON'T SETTLE FOR LESS! travel subsidies to students it would be better to e ncourage students to cycle rather than the usual approach pricing them off the public transport system .

80 Freewheeling Classifieds

2560 for your catalogue enclosi ng $2.00 which will be TOUR MATES ACCOMMODATION refunded on your first order. WOULD YOU like t o meet other bicycle tourists OUR MATES is a FREE service for read­ when you tour/ If so, join the Cyclists' Accommodation WANTED ers wishing to find companions for bicy­ Directory. This is a list of cyclists who are prepared to cle trips and holidays. Entries are limited ANCIENT BICYCLES, parts and me morabilia fo r T exchange simple hospitality in their home for similar restoration and preservation. Contact Paul Farren (03) to thirty words and there is a charge of thirty hospitality in other cyclists' homes. Write to Bi cycle cents per word for any long entries exceeding the 241 4451 Australia, PO Box 1047 Campbelltown NSW2186giving FREEWHEELING CLASSIFIEDS are seen by over limit. Payment (if applicable) must accompany your name, address phone and your location, eg 10 km 15,000 readers across the country. Rates for 1988 your listing. Name, address and phone number NE Ballarat PO. A donation to cover postage and are: $15.00 per 30 words or one column cen­ should be attached for verification purposes. photocopying would also be appreciated. timetre. Additional wording costs 50 cents per SYDNEY -ADELAIDE American touring cyclist. age word. Multiple insertion discounts: Six insertions 38 seeks companions to Bicycle Australia in 88. Want to MAIL ORDER - fifteen percent; three insertions - ten perce.nt. tour self contained from Sydney to Adelaide in October. SEND FOR your mail order catalogue now' Bicyc le Display classifieds rates: $15.00 per column ri ding I00 to I SO km per day with rest stops to expl ore Australia stocks a wide range of bicycle books from centimetre. Payment must a ccompa ny order. the "Wonders Down Under". Contact: James R Arcate, Australia and overseas and an ever increasing range of Send typed advertisement text (phone orders 3289-A Manoa Rd, Honolulu HI 96822 USA. touring gu ides of Australia and New Zealand. Write to can not be accepted) to FREEWHEELING CLASS­ SYDNEY TO PERTH Leaving Wollongong 14/9/88 via Bicycle Australia PO Box 1047 Campbelltow n NSW IFIEDS, PO Box K26, Haymarket NSW 2000. Adelaide and Albany. All or part of the journey. Contact: John Johnston, 37 Aldridge Ave C orrimal NSW 2518. Phone (042) 83 1419. PERTH - MELBOURNE Wanted, companion(s) for ri de to Melbourne. Possibly train from Kalgoorlie to Adelaide. Phone Alex Sanson at work (09) 380 2749 or at home (09) 386 3535. BIKE RIDERS READ PERTH TO SYDNEY ( Return possible). Wanted, companion for trip to Sydney (at least as far as Port Augusta). Contact Mike Madlener, 13 Hawter Rd , Glen Forrest 6071 WA. Phone (09) 298 8922.

HIRE RENT-A-CYCLE TASMANIA 10-speed low gearing, all frame sizes, ladi es and gents. Completely equipped for touring. Postal bookings accepted. Seven years hiring experience. Brochure, rates, your questions. 36 Thistle St Launceston, Tasmania Phone (003) 44 9779 BICYCLE HIRE SYDNEY. Inner City Cycles hires ten-speed t ouring bikes, mountain bikes, racks pannier bags, high security locks and lights. Contact ICC 31 Gle be Pt Rd Glebe NSW 2037 (02) 660 6605.

TRAVEL & TOURS BIKE QUEST- CYCLE THE WORLD! Tours in Europe, Britain, Asia, Mexico, NZ an d Australia. Specialists in the USA and Canada. For more information contact : Bike Quest, (OS I) 74 8850 Anytime. PO Box 1102, Traralgon VIC 3844. BICYCLE TOUR SERVICES provides rentals, it ineraries, accommodation and tours. Box 11 -296, Auckland, New Zealand. Phone: 591 96 1. Telex NZ61208 "PWAKLTD". Fax 594 957. ,B040NC JACKADVENTURE ::i.

Cycling holidays in North-East Victoria visit in g National Trust gold towns, Rutherglen and Milawa w ineries, Ned Kelly Country, historic hotels and fine restaurant dining. PO Box 221 Oxley VIC 3678. Tele­ phone (057) 27 3382. CYCLING HOLIDAYS IN SOUTH AUSTRALIA e Kangaroo Island ~IKE FREEWHEELING • Flinders Ranges ,,,,,w., • Weekend winery wanders • Cycle & steam weekends SUBSCRIBE AND SAVE II PO BOX 642, UNLEY SA 5061, (08) 271 115• CYCLE AUSTRALIA Subscribe to Freewheeli ng for the low 6 issue rate of $13.50 thats a saving of 25%on the regular nevvsstand price. Post the coupontod ay to our FREEPOST address (no postage required ). 17 TRIPS - 150 DEPARTURES. 2-10 DAY HOTEL OR CAMP HOLIDAYS ~ WITH MEALS, BIKES, SUPPORT VEHICLE, GUIDE. EXPLORE NTH . QLD, SNOWY MTNS, BUNDANOON, CANBERRA, RUTHERGLEN, TASSIE Post this order form today to our Freepost address. AND BAROSSA VALLEY. ·------­Cr.d.11 Card Authcwl.aatloo rickone~ TAILWINDS Street • < l Re )X 12

Club secretaries, race directors and event or­ ganisers help us to publicise your event by send­ ing details to us early. If you are planning a ride in the coming twelve month period you should send your notice to Freewhee/ing National Bike Events Calendar now. We publish advance notice of all bicycle events both competitive and non com­ petitive but because of our publication lead­ times we need your copy at least two months in advance. Send your copy to PO Box K26 Hayma,-.. ket NSW 2000 or phone it through on (02) 264 8544. COMPETITIVE EVENTS

SEPTEMBER Sunday 11 Whitehorse Bush Triathlon. An exciting event for all standards of competitor held in magnificent bush surrounds. Staged by Whitehorse Canoe club Inc. Melbourne. and sponsored by Subaru Australia and Paddy Pallin. Event comprises 30 km mountain road cycling, 8 km cross country running and 15 km canoeing in the scenic Barkly and Macalister valleys near Licola Victoria. Mens and womens classifications in teams of 2-6 persons. Quality prizes and great fun racing. Entry forms from Victorian Subaru dealers. Paddy Pallin stores or WCC. Contact Jim Bland (03) 211 3610 or John Good (03) 489 2130. tained 17 days; September 7 Sydney to Canberra, vehicle Sunday 20. The seventh annual Sydney to the supported 4 d ays ; Sept ember 13 Canbe rra to Mel ­ 'Gong Bicycle Ride. Australi a's big one-day fun and OCTOBER bourne, vehicle supported 17 days; September 21 fitness ride between Sydney's Belmore Park and Belmore 16 - 29. Commonwealth Bank Bicentennial Cycle Devenport-Hobart Loop, self contained 19 days; Oc­ Basin in the City of Wollongong. 87 kilometres of well Classic One hundred and twenty cyclists will ride tober 2 Devenport-Hobart Loop, vehicle supported 19 supported fun complete with entertainment. Entry between Br isbane and Me lb ourne via Sydney and days; October 13 Melbourne to Adelaide, self contained forms from bike shops during September. See details Canberra on the world's biggest amateur cycling race. 15 days; October 23 Melbourne to Adelai de, vehicle elsewhere in this magazine. Watch this magazine for details, preview and colour supported 15 days; October 29 Adelaide to Norseman, Saturday 26 to Saturday 10 D-,cember. The Aus­ coverage. Promoted by Ozwide Sports Promotions (02) self contained 22 days; November 9 Adelaide to Norse­ tralian Bicentennial Caltex Bike Ride. This year to 570 3855. man, vehicle supported 22 days; November 21 Norse­ celebrate the Bicentenary cycl ists will ride en mass from man to Perth, self contained 18 days; December 2 Melbourne to Sydney. Full support. Organised by NOVEMBER Norseman to Perth, vehicle supported 18 days. Australian Bicycle Events Pty Ltd. Enquiries: (059) 78 Champion­ 6000 or (02) 281 4554. 5-6 AMBA Mountain Bike National SEPTEMBER ships. A week end of exciting MTB events for all ages. Events include: Open Down Hill , Open Hill Climb, Time Friday 9 - Sunday 11 Bike Expo 88. Bike Ex po is DECEMBER back in Melbourne this year with all the latest in the Trial. Open Observed Trials and Enduro. The National Saturday 3 to Sunday 11 Great Victorian Bike . Royal Exh ibition Building, Me lbourne - Mountain Bike Champ will be the Expert Enduro winner. bicycle world Ride A nine day cycl ing extravaganza from Swan Hill to pm daily (closes at 5 pm on Sunday). For entry forms write to Australian Mountain Bike IOam to 9 Me lbourne. Organisers take care of everything from , prizes entertainment. Association, PO Box N25 Grosvenor Pl. Sydney NSW Fashion parades entertainment to vehicles for your luggage. Camping, 2000. Contact Martin Whiteley (02) 27 2977. meals and full medical and mechanical support provided. OCTOBER Organised by Bicycle Victoria (Bicycle Institute of Vic.) CLUB CONTACTS Saturddy I to Monday 3. The fifth Four Rivers Contact (03) 650 2334 for entry forms and prices. The Australian Cycling Federation and the state Ride. Bicycle Australia's tour of the Hunter Va lley cycling federations will direct you to a club in region. Sag wagon for luggage, evening meals and CLUB CONTACTS your area if you want to get involved in bicycle breakfast provided and hall accommodation. Co ntact road or track racing. Phone numbers and con­ (046) 27 2186 for details. These clubs regularly run rides in their cities and tacts for each state are: NSW Margaret Balmer Sunday 16 to Sunday 23. NSW bicycle Week. Full welcome new comers. Some even publish tour• (02) 241 1870; VIC Ruth Birznieks (03) 328 4391; details from the Bicycle Institute: (02) 212 5628. ing calendars listing forthcoming rides. Contact QLD Mike Victor (07) 390 1489; WA Mike Poyner Sunday 16 Gree n Valley Twin Century. Sydney's them for details. (09) 384 4130; SA Bruce Quinn (08) 381 2398; TAS longest running bicycle fitness event. Test your endur­ Armidale Community Cyclists (067) 72 8951. Audax Joy Bestwick (003) 31 2712; NT Shirley Davis (089) ance or basic level of fitness on 50, 100. 160 and 200 km Australia (03) 435 4437 (02) 608 1125 . Bathurst 208 798. courses over mostly level terrain in the western suburbs. Bicycle Touring Group (063) 31 9459. Bicycle Australia Riders wishing to take out a professional licence Contact the Bicycle Institute of NSW (02) 212 5628. (046) 27 2186 (after 9pm). Brisbane Bicycle Touring should contact the National Secretary of the 23 October. Sydney Sprin g Cycle. The Bicycle Association (07) 369 9326. Brisbane Mountain Bike Australian Professional Cycling Council, Reg Institutes annual bicycle bash starts in the city and takes riders interested in forming a club should contact Mike Marriner, PO Box 329 Torquay VIC 3228 Phone riders on a splendid run out to Parramatta Park via the or Kell i on (07) 359 1244. Canberra Pedal Power ACT (052) 61 4067. Harbour Bridge and Lane Cove National Park. Entry fee. (062) 49 7167. Geelong Bicycle Touring Club (052) 96 Mountain bike enthusiasts interested in contact­ Services and full back up provided. Contact the Bicycle 234. lllawarra Touring Cyclists' Club (042) 83 6524. ing a local MTB club should contact the Austral,. Institute (02) 212 5628. Melbourne Bicycle Touring Club (03) 818 4011. Mel­ ian Mountain Bike Association (02) 27 2977 AH Saturday 29 to Saturday November 12 Burston & bourne eastern suburbs - Knox Bicycle Touring Club (02) 92 1922. Stokes Centenary Penny Farthing Ride Mel­ (03) 754 4069. Eastern Bicycle Touring Club (03) 762 bourne to Sydne y.This ride of approximately 100 7928. Victorian Pedal Clubs provide fun and training NON COMPETITIVE EVENTS riders on vintage and veteran cycles will commemorate in bike handling skills for children of bicycle riding age. the epic r ide via Gundagai, Bathurst and Katoomba. Call for information on a club near you : (03) 337 6399. JUNE - DECEMBER Entry is opened to riders with pre 19 IS cycl es or later Newcastle Cycleways Movement (049) 46 8298. ia and Bicycle Australia in '88. Bicycle Australia's major rides special interest bikes. Organised by Bicycle Victor Bic yc le Institute of New South Wales (02) 212 5628. . Contact (03) 650 programme for the Bicentennial year to celebrate the the Vintage Cycle Club of Victoria South Australian Touring Cyclists Associatio n (08) first century of cycling in this country. Riders may ride all 2334. 272 6406 (08) 388 8331. Sydney region bicycling clubs or part of the 10 ,400 km route around the coast from can be contacted through the Bicycle Institute of NSW Cape York to Perth. Contact Bicycle Australia for details NOVEMBER (02) 212 5628. Tandem Club of Australia (03) 241 4453. on (046) 27 2186. Departure dates as follows: Saturday 5 Knox Bicycle Touring Club's Hard Cycle Touring Association of West Australia (09) 330 August 2 Rockhampton to Brisbane. vehicle supported Hundred. This year the route runs from Bayswater 3659. Darwin Huffers & Puffers (089) 81 2141. Wagga 12 days; August 5 Brisbane to Sydney. self contained 19 through Li lydale to Warburton (for 100 km r iders) and Bicycl e Touring Group (069) 21 6787. Vintage Cycle days; August 16 Brisbane to Sydney vehicle supported 19 to the Upper Yarra Dam (fo r 100 mile riders). Entry clubs Vintage Cycle C lub of Victoria (03) 527 5759. days; August 27 Sydney to Canberra, self contained 4 forms and information can be obtained by ringing (03) Southern Veterans (Sydney Vintage Cycle Club) (02) 587 days; September 2 Canberra to Melbourne self con- 728 3180 or (03) 754 4069. 8017 .

82 Freewheeling ''Any colour you want 7i as long as it's black!"

When Henry Ford said of his Model T automobile that it came in any colour as long as it was black, he was restricting choice. Bell helmets do the opposite. We recognise that all cyclists are different. What th e racer wants in a helmet is not th e sa me as a tourer. A triathlete has different needs to a recreational rider and o on. You can have any helmet you want as long as its a Bell.

\X'e in\'ented th e hard shell bicycl e helmet \Ya\' back in 197 5 and since th en we hare been th e undisputed leader in helmet technology. Continuoush1 tri\'ing to not only make helmets more protective but lighter, cooler and more comfonable as well. We are also a'i\·are of the di verse needs of cyclists. That"s 'i\'hy our range nO'i\' offers 10 models in a 'i\'ide range of sizes and colours. Most imponantlv th ey all conform to the exacting safetv standards vou 'i\'Ould expect from th e world 's most respected helmet manufacturer. Inspect th e fu ll range of Bell cyc li ng helmets today at ~-our nearest specialist bicvcle retail er.

You're different; that's why you choose Bell. THE REFINED OFF-ROAD COMPONENT SYSTEM -- FOR UNREFINED RQNMENJ:S•

Cycling in the rough demands rugged components that operate with precision That's the Deare XT component system from Shimano. Precise thumb-s hifting SIS. powerful U­ brake. and triple Biopace chainw heels s~1mRno ~ provide a level of performance with control that makes off-road cycling as DE• REu\\U safe as it is fun. Deare XT from Shimano. Simply the finest off-road components available today

c 1988 Shimano lndust11al Corp ,J, Sl-llmRnD S~lmRnO lnDUSTRIRL CO .. LTD 3- 77 O,matsucho. Saka ,. Osaka . Japan. Telex 64225 SHIMANO J