victoria road sydney

"M2cycler" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

anybody commute to the city on victoria road starting from burns bay
road at hunters hill. if so, do u stay on the road from the ramp at hh
all the way up and over the gladesville bridge. i saw one crazy do it
the other day. i reckon you'ld need a fair amount of speed to get to
the crest fast enough and be able to change left where burns bay
merges with victoria road. once i can maintain 60 km/h on the flat
then i will try it.

maybe if a juicy bus comes at an opportune moment i will seize it.

I've done it quite a number of times, although I wouldn't call it
communting. Mostly on a Sunday after coming back from up north, but I've
occasionally done it during the week. Coming over the bridge isn't too bad,
provided you keep a fair way (but not all the way) to the left. It may even
be a bus lane sometimes. Speed is not *that* important, but don't be weaving
from side to side ;-) Then you get the nice big dipper going down the other
side, which is a real pain if there's traffic banked up and/or a red light
at the bottom.

I guess I'd probably avoid it during the weekdays, especially in peak hours.
But your options crossing the Parramatta River are rather limited: I think
you've got the Harbour Bridge on one side and Ryde Bridge on the other.
There's a footpath on one side of Gladesville Bridge but I've only been up
it once I think.

Jeff

"Jeff Jones" <jeff@cyclingnews-punt-com> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

"M2cycler" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

anybody commute to the city on victoria road starting from burns bay
road at hunters hill. if so, do u stay on the road from the ramp at hh
all the way up and over the gladesville bridge. i saw one crazy do it
the other day. i reckon you'ld need a fair amount of speed to get to
the crest fast enough and be able to change left where burns bay
merges with victoria road. once i can maintain 60 km/h on the flat
then i will try it.

maybe if a juicy bus comes at an opportune moment i will seize it.

I've done it quite a number of times, although I wouldn't call it
communting. Mostly on a Sunday after coming back from up north, but I've
occasionally done it during the week. Coming over the bridge isn't too bad,
provided you keep a fair way (but not all the way) to the left. It may even
be a bus lane sometimes. Speed is not *that* important, but don't be weaving
from side to side ;-) Then you get the nice big dipper going down the other
side, which is a real pain if there's traffic banked up and/or a red light
at the bottom.

I guess I'd probably avoid it during the weekdays, especially in peak hours.
But your options crossing the Parramatta River are rather limited: I think
you've got the Harbour Bridge on one side and Ryde Bridge on the other.
There's a footpath on one side of Gladesville Bridge but I've only been up
it once I think.

Jeff

I have just moved away from Gladesville and rode along Victoria Rd.
Cutting across the traffic at the merge would be quite tricky,
although there are breaks in the traffic at peak hour. As long as the
traffic is not too congested, the traffic lights upstream (on Vic
Road) can give you a window to cross safely.

Ritch

PS. Just moved to Concord West... much nicer ride to the city.

My first (and LAST) ride in Sydney included a ride from Pennant Hills to
Marsfield along Beecroft Rd and Epping Rd....after seeing my life flash
before my eyes several times, I've decided that while in Sydney, I'll
take a cab.

--
Nil illigitimus carborundum

Nil illigitimus carborundum

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Hi Ritch I lived in Concord West for about twenty years a great place.
Moved to Canberra in 1995 Tony Ritch

PS. Just moved to Concord West... much nicer ride to the city. 😄

--

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Don't trams run on tram TRACKS??? I get a shiver up my spine just
thinking about the possibilities there....

--
Nil illigitimus carborundum

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M2cycler said:

anybody commute to the city on victoria road starting from burns bay
road at hunters hill. <snip> maybe if a juicy bus comes at an opportune
moment i will seize it.

If only Sydney Road, Melbourne could be so much fun as well. Juicy tram?
Think not, they're all way too slow, but either early morning & late
night trams could prove interesting.

--
life ain't much but there's nothing else to do

Nil illigitimus carborundum

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Joel Mayes <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

In article said:

On 28 Oct 2003 10:10:17 +1050, Paul_MCMLIX

<[email hidden]> Wrote :

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Don't trams run on tram TRACKS??? I get a shiver up my spine just
thinking about the possibilities there....

Tram tracks, a prime source of fear and loathing. Needlessly
I might add...:-)

<snip>

Quoted message said:

If it's dry you can just about ignore 'em. If it's wet and
you ain't carefull you'll quickly find yourself bouncing
down the road on your hip and elbow and that hurts...:-)

Don't know about this, I had a close encounter of the tram track kind on
St. Georges Rd. last Wednesday got my rear wheel stuck in the tracks as
they bend around the round about

Is that the one near Merri Creek? Oooh, that's nasty.

A mate of mine got cleaned up on that roundabout a few weeks back,
destroying the tandem he had just built. A confusing 4 way roundabout with
trams going through the middle. Urrgh!!!

I rode a racer around the other day, and realised just how dangerous the
tracks can be with cheese cutter tires. I guess that's a good reason why
mountain bikes are popular in the city. I still have scars on my arm from a
crash about 4 years ago from hitting a tram track in the pissing rain...
---
DFM

On 28 Oct 2003 10:10:17 +1050, Paul_MCMLIX <[email hidden]> Wrote :

Quoted message said:

Don't trams run on tram TRACKS??? I get a shiver up my spine just
thinking about the possibilities there....

Tram tracks, a prime source of fear and loathing. Needlessly
I might add...:-)

Contrary to what seems to be a popular belief not every
street or road in Melbourne has 'em. In lots of places
where there are tracks you'd only be anywhere near 'em
with a damn good reason - turning right from St. Kilda Rd.
for example. Mostly where there are tracks thay're not
a worry. There are some black spots - and some REALLY dark
black spots though.

Two rules of thumb.
The wider the tyre the less the chance of it falling into
the track. Decent width knobbies and you can ride along
a track no problems AND turn out of it when required. A
20mm tyre is gonna go down given half a chance and will
need to be sort of bunny hopped sideways to get it out.

Ride STRAIGHT across 'em. Not perpendicular just have the
bike going straight with you weight directly over it. If
you keep the front wheel pointed where you want to go you'll
just cross the track no problems. With even narrow tyres you
can cross at what seem to be stupidly narrow angles.

If it's dry you can just about ignore 'em. If it's wet and
you ain't carefull you'll quickly find yourself bouncing
down the road on your hip and elbow and that hurts...:-)

Quoted message said:

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Nil illigitimus carborundum

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--

BAH Humbug

"BAH" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Contrary to what seems to be a popular belief not every
street or road in Melbourne has 'em. In lots of places

I get near tram tracks on Whitehorse Rd/Maroondah Hwy,
especially on those freakin' SuperStops! I cross them at
Burke Rd too. On longer rides, if I venture into the city,
I might cross them on Bridge Rd (I got sideways hitting
one going outbound just after the bridge..fun! :-)). In the
city itself there are quite a few but I rarely get close enough
to them to care. St. Kilda road has them but I ride along it
not across it and at the intersections you hit them
perpendicular anyway.

Quoted message said:

The wider the tyre the less the chance of it falling into
the track. Decent width knobbies and you can ride along

I wouldn't fit wide tyres to a bike just for fear of hitting a
tram track though.. my 23mm road tyres have done me
fine for a long time. It was my 1.3" S-Licks that went into
the tracks on Bridge Rd. and that was only because I was
unfamiliar with the corner. I didn't come off the bike, btw.

Quoted message said:

Ride STRAIGHT across 'em. Not perpendicular just have the

You mean "ride straight at them, not parallel" right? :-)

When turning across them it is often hard to get 90deg
to the tracks but it is quite easy to cross most of them
at a much sharper angle, especially with a little hop.

Just remember.. trams are better than cars...
no matter how much superstops suck :-)

hippy

hippy said:

Quoted message said:

Contrary to what seems to be a popular belief not every
street or road in Melbourne has 'em. In lots of places

I get near tram tracks on Whitehorse Rd/Maroondah Hwy,
especially on those freakin' SuperStops! I cross them at
Burke Rd too.

Why on earth would super stops cause problems? Super Stops are
nothing more than islands in a reservation in the middle of the road,
you shouldn't be riding anywhere near em.. There are three of these
in Box Hill in the wide section of Whitehorse Road, two at Victoria
Gardens shopping centre, one at St Vincents/Eastern Hill, two along
Collins Street, and one on Swanston Street outside Flinders Street
Station..

It's Kerb Access stops (a totally different concept) that you should
be concerned about, of which there are two between Mont Albert and Box
Hill in the narrow section of the road. You shouldn't need to worry
about em at all if you just use the provided bypass lane around the
back of them..

PC

"PC" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Why on earth would super stops cause problems? Super Stops are
nothing more than islands in a reservation in the middle of the road,

<snip>

Quoted message said:

It's Kerb Access stops (a totally different concept) that you should
be concerned about, of which there are two between Mont Albert and Box
Hill in the narrow section of the road.

Okay, my mistake with the names. I wrongly believed that these
"kerb access stops" were called "Super Stops".

Quoted message said:

You shouldn't need to worry about em at all if you just use the
provided bypass lane around the back of them..

I don't use the bypass lanes. I have used them a few times but
most of the time I travel past those stops I am moving too fast
(downhill) to safely use them - it is easier to squeeze along the
kerb stop than turn off, hit some sand or bumpy curb edges
and then suddenly appear back onto the road. The risk with
this is hitting the tracks.

I use them more often going up the hill, if there is a tram
behind me. I try to avoid holding up the trams.

Maybe I need to look again at the bypass lane option..

BV has some issues with this tram line:
http://www.bv.com.au/content.cfm?submenuid=58&contentid=339

hippy

"Paul_MCMLIX" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Don't trams run on tram TRACKS??? I get a shiver up my spine just
thinking about the possibilities there....

Try riding in Gent! You've got cobbled streets with tram tracks running up
them. My MTB is immune, but my road bike is peril on two (thin) wheels.

cheers,
Jeff

In article said:

On 28 Oct 2003 10:10:17 +1050, Paul_MCMLIX <[email hidden]> Wrote :

Quoted message said:

Don't trams run on tram TRACKS??? I get a shiver up my spine just
thinking about the possibilities there....

Tram tracks, a prime source of fear and loathing. Needlessly
I might add...:-)

<snip>

Quoted message said:

If it's dry you can just about ignore 'em. If it's wet and
you ain't carefull you'll quickly find yourself bouncing
down the road on your hip and elbow and that hurts...:-)

Don't know about this, I had a close encounter of the tram track kind on
St. Georges Rd. last Wednesday got my rear wheel stuck in the tracks as
they bend around the round about (broke 2 spokes and dis-aligned the
wheel) I think friction reduction of the water on my wheels and on the
tracks is the only thing that let me pop out of tracks with out coming
off the bike.

--
| Joel Mayes | Come and see me play!
| Accordionist | 2traverse
| Musician | Sept 25 - Oct 12 @ the Store Room
| Music Teacher | cos` co tworzy jakby mapy na mojej sko`rze

On 28 Oct 2003 23:59:22 GMT, Joel Mayes <[email hidden]> Wrote :

Quoted message said:

In article said:

On 28 Oct 2003 10:10:17 +1050, Paul_MCMLIX <[email hidden]> Wrote :

Quoted message said:

Don't trams run on tram TRACKS??? I get a shiver up my spine just
thinking about the possibilities there....

Tram tracks, a prime source of fear and loathing. Needlessly
I might add...:-)

<snip>

Quoted message said:

If it's dry you can just about ignore 'em. If it's wet and
you ain't carefull you'll quickly find yourself bouncing
down the road on your hip and elbow and that hurts...:-)

Don't know about this, I had a close encounter of the tram track kind on
St. Georges Rd. last Wednesday got my rear wheel stuck in the tracks as

That's one of the REALLY dark black spots I mentioned. Another is
turning left from Mathews Ave. into Keilor Rd. in Niddrie.
Chapel St. on a Friday night is another place where you can get
a fair bit of practice at getting out of the tracks without falling
off. People dodging out between cars, car doors being FLUNG open,
shopping trolleys jumping out from behind cars, etc. All the sorts
of things that cause you to flinch away - straight down the tram
track which was only a metre or less away anyway...:-) Much more "fun"
if it's a wet, dark Fri. night...:-(

Quoted message said:

they bend around the round about (broke 2 spokes and dis-aligned the
wheel) I think friction reduction of the water on my wheels and on the
tracks is the only thing that let me pop out of tracks with out coming
off the bike.

It could also be the reason the wheel went down the track in the
first place.

Quoted message said:

--
| Joel Mayes | Come and see me play!
| Accordionist | 2traverse
| Musician | Sept 25 - Oct 12 @ the Store Room
| Music Teacher | cos` co tworzy jakby mapy na mojej sko`rze

--

BAH Humbug

Deep Freud Moor said:

A mate of mine got cleaned up on that roundabout a few weeks back,
destroying the tandem he had just built. A confusing 4 way roundabout
with trams going through the middle. Urrgh!!! DFM

Yeah, heard about this last week. Hope Th*r*n & stoker gets well (or is)
well soon. Very crappy news, a excellent tandem with double Brookes
saddles. Apparentely the other party (read:P-plater from what I heard)
involved was very apologetic.

--
life ain't much but there's nothing else to do

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"cfsmtb" <[email hidden]> wrote in message

Gee, is that a REAL email address? :-P (It probably bloody is, isn't it?!
:-S)

Quoted message said:

Yeah, heard about this last week. Hope Th*r*n & stoker gets well (or is)
well soon. Very crappy news, a excellent tandem with double Brookes
saddles.

Out of curiosity..
Well, actually no, I own one and I want to sell it :-)

How much are Brookes saddles?

hippy

On Tue, 28 Oct 2003 02:05:12 GMT, hippy <[email hidden]> Wrote :

<snip>

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Ride STRAIGHT across 'em. Not perpendicular just have the

You mean "ride straight at them, not parallel" right? :-)

No, I mean that you can cross tracks at vary narrow angles
provided that you have the bike going straight. If you're
turning or braking the differences in traction between
the road surface and track could well add some "interest"
to the ride...:-)

Quoted message said:

When turning across them it is often hard to get 90deg
to the tracks but it is quite easy to cross most of them
at a much sharper angle, especially with a little hop.

Just remember.. trams are better than cars...
no matter how much superstops suck :-)

Definately...

Quoted message said:

hippy

--

BAH Humbug

In article said:

Joel Mayes <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

In article said:

On 28 Oct 2003 10:10:17 +1050, Paul_MCMLIX

<[email hidden]> Wrote :

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

>Don't trams run on tram TRACKS??? I get a shiver up my spine just
>thinking about the possibilities there....

Tram tracks, a prime source of fear and loathing. Needlessly
I might add...:-)

<snip>

Quoted message said:

If it's dry you can just about ignore 'em. If it's wet and
you ain't carefull you'll quickly find yourself bouncing
down the road on your hip and elbow and that hurts...:-)

Don't know about this, I had a close encounter of the tram track kind on
St. Georges Rd. last Wednesday got my rear wheel stuck in the tracks as
they bend around the round about

Is that the one near Merri Creek? Oooh, that's nasty.

A mate of mine got cleaned up on that roundabout a few weeks back,
destroying the tandem he had just built. A confusing 4 way roundabout with
trams going through the middle. Urrgh!!!

Yep. It's on my daily commute I come on to St Georges Rd. off Miller St.
just before the round-about and head off down Merri Pde. which is the
final street to come off and round-about 9 time out of 10 I'll back
track and cross at the pedestrian lights 100m back from Miller St. even
with out the tram tracks this is a dangerous bit of road.

Quoted message said:

DFM

Joel

--
| Joel Mayes | Come and see me play!
| Accordionist | 2traverse
| Musician | Sept 25 - Oct 12 @ the Store Room
| Music Teacher | cos` co tworzy jakby mapy na mojej sko`rze