Real Bike Insurance TVC shots - EX3 SG BLADE from iCam Pictures on Vimeo.

There will be no shortage of things to do in Canberra since the Canberra Festival 2010 is on over the same weekend as the Real Bike MTB Cruise.

It is great to get the Capital behind the event so watch this space for more announcements. 

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A Jersey With a Message

Cycling Jerseys
Cycling Jerseys That Make A Statement

There are a great many of us who have something to say to the cars that pass us as we ride. “Come a little closer, would ya?” or “Not like I’m a person or anything,” are two of my personal favorites. Muttering under our breath or even a little above it can help let off some steam and isn’t likely to cause problems, that is, unless your muttering happens to occur at a stop light and the passenger window of the car you are muttering about is down.

Let it be said that many of us would do well to say less. Certainly, I’m among them. I could say a lot less.

A dozen years ago I wrote about a jersey that a guy was selling that said simply, “Pass.” The word was contained within an illustration of a yellow diamond caution sign and featured an arrow that pointed to the left. Effective really only if you are riding where all the cars have left-hand drive.

A friend forwarded me a link to a new site that sells jerseys that communicate in very concrete terms a variety of messages to passing cars. This has the added charm of a bit of attitude. It might make some drivers laugh; one can hope.

And in case you think you can think of something funnier to put on the back of the jersey, they have a contest. I suggested “Don’t hit me bro!” and “Not a speed bump.”

You can check out jerseys from Share the Damn Road here.

Thumbs down for cyclists

For more info head to the Real Bike Insurance cruise page.

Spotted this on Springwise.com

It may be true that once you learn how to ride a bicycle, you'll never forget; the thing, of course, is learning that first time. Training wheels have long been a staple of the childhood learning process, but now a San Francisco company has designed an alternative it says will get kids riding in a single afternoon. Gyrobike's patented Gyrowheel replaces a bicycle's standard front wheel and uses gyroscopic technology to keep kids from falling over. Specifically, it can sense unbalanced riding and re-center the bike underneath the rider's weight when the bike starts to wobble. Not only does it help kids stay on their bikes, but—unlike training wheels—it also fosters and reinforces correct riding technique, Gyrobike says, resulting in a natural and smooth transition to conventional two-wheeled riding. Three successive stability settings enable that transition, in fact, as a rider’s skills and confidence improve; when powered off altogether, Gyrowheel behaves like a standard bike wheel. Gyrobike will release a 12" Gyrowheel in early December for about USD 100, and a 16” model will follow in the spring. Both will come equipped with internal rechargeable batteries and a charger and offer a choice of black or white tire colour. Adult sizes and full-scale kids' bikes are also in the works. Gyrobike plans to begin distributing the Gyrowheel through select retail stores next year. Retailers around the globe: one to get in on early...?

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Bushfire, medical emergency, lost racers make eventful day

Australia's Outback dished out an eventful day for racers and organizers for stage three of the Crocodile Trophy. Flat tires, medical emergencies, bushfires and lost racers were on the menu for what was supposed to be a 131km stage from Granite Gorge to Irvinebank.

Perhaps the person with the least bad luck was Monique Zeldenrust of the Netherlands, though the race leader might not have thought so at the time. At just 15km, she flatted after gouging a sidewall. A lengthy repair followed and the Dutchwoman thought her lead was history.

Dutch racer Willemjan Hopstaken had his own woes five kilometers later when a severe crash caused him to begin suffering seizures. Fortunately, for him two racers for team Jungle Patrol Wilderness Medicine were close behind, and Doctor Andrew Graham and nurse Sharman Parr were soon on hand to administer emergency medical treatment that prevented a potentially life-threatening situation. Hopstaken went then sent to a hospital for treatment of what organizers termed a severe concussion.

While Zeldenrust was busy with her tyre and Hopstaken was getting medical treatment, the 11 riders in the lead race group were busy getting lost after they missed a turn and ventured off-course, into the inhospitable wilderness of the Australian Outback. Race leader Urs Huber, former World and Olympic Champion Bart Brentjens and Croc Trophy stage winner Jure Robic were among them.

After 25km of misguided racing, three locals from Australia's Tropical Tableland Discovery team were able to guide the group to safety. AIsaac Tonello eventually followed the route used in the 2008 Crocodile Trophy to get everyone to the finish in Irvinebank.

Fortunately for just about everyone, yet another strange event occured, a bushfire. Police and rural fire service volunteers exercised emergency powers and intervened to shut down the race, effectively bringing stage three to a premature end.

The race judiciary later decided to nullify the stage, meaning the results after stage two will be carried into tomorrow's fourth stage. That means that despite the mechanicals and getting lost, Zeldenrust and Huber will keep their roles as race leaders going along 157km from Irvinebank to Chillagoe.

Perfomance: The name of the GAME

Real bicycle commitment - pardon the pun

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