Tweed Coast Treadly

This morning saw a nice still and mild start to an uneventful ride, 27.4km and the expected NE sea breeze was a ENE so more a cross wind for the afternoon return which clocked 25.5kms?

The cheap ALDI Tronica Wireless Cycling Computer for $20.00 seems to register 99km/hr at times when you are stationary or wheeling the bike… ahhhh the price of crap

It’s National Ride2Work day on the 15th of October.

Just like last year I’ll try to get the energy to make the distance!

Well today sees the first block to commuting, lack of bicycle storage facilities at the workplace. Out of a staff of approx. 60, there are only 3-4 bicycle commuters (none of these ride everyday). There is a semi-secure car-park provided for those who wish to drive, many car-pool, but only outside bike racks open to the general population of the school for those that wish to ride to and from work.

That location is open to easy abuse. The work location is inside a “fairly tough” high school where some students would enjoy using any easy anonymous opportunity to upset a staff member, through any combination of misplaced humour, malice, spite or more likely just some thoughtless prank such as letting down tyres (which often happens to the few students who brave riding to school).

Up until today 2 staff members, including myself when I am called in, have been using a small lockable store room to park the bikes out of harms way. But today a fellow non-riding, and has said never would, staff member made a complaint at the location. In their favour it IS an OH&S issue in that location we have been sort of (un)officialy allowed to use for the past term. As with any group the decision of an alternative location was not successfully determined. I also don’t have any sway in the decision, but one of the locations offered was an abandoned lockable Male Staff Toilet. Which, as I understand it, will be soon pressed into active service. I could see that it would once again soon become another contentious location, not to say insecure with the door being left unlocked Accidentally and the entrance completely hidden from any easy casual observation.

Another offered location seems to be Nearly Perfect, to me anyway, with the space to hang 10 or more bicycles with locker space, access to a male shower. This location is only accessed by one other person in the school and that is only occasionally. But this was argued to be too far to walk in bike gear in public by the majority vote user? I could not understand why? The area allows changing into work clothing, isolated storage of summers sweaty riding kit, showering, overnight storage if required and even a ramp for access!

At this time it looks as though it will become one of those situations where workplace politics will cause angst, division and ultimately become the reason to stop all work commuting by this little black duck.

 At this time I will try to take up the second offer, that is if I can get access to the storage area (if I am the only rider it might be overruled) but even if I do I am unsure about whether it is worth the effort to put in a hanging rack and locker, screen the barred windows for both Security and Vanity reasons, if it is just a short term solution.

Don’t I just love workplace politics! I do understand the workplace is for students first and foremost, but I see the simple example of someone commuting by bicycle for no other reason than they enjoy it to be a good one for the whole student population and should be supported!

At work today I had to put up with the usual put-downs from the “resident roady”, about what I was going to be wearing for the journey (What no lycra?), low topspeed (What you need…), My helmet cost me, $XXX and look at that airflow! ie my helmets cost, age and style, blah blah… Surprisingly none of it stopped me getting home from work without the need to call a tow-truck or ride in the peloton!

The ride was uneventful, sun shining light breeze from the East consistently neither a head nor tail wind. The lightness was noticeable to the point of “feeling” the blowby from trucks rolling past on the other side of the road travelling in the opposite direction!

Anyway the wind is expected to reach greater strengths tomorrow and be blowing out of the North West quadrant so the journey home should be at unusually high speeds!! You never know might even average in the 30s. Just need to take the sail to work with me in the morning and it will be a cert!

At the moment it seems to be “just perfect” riding weather.