Cycling as an Australian Sport?

[brentono]

Martin,
Thanks, your link was interesting, and I am familiar with the
BM,

the Madison in Bendigo

was kicking off around my time, and the early winners
are familiar, have competed against many of them.
Never got to compete in it, but it was a big one back then.
Have teamed with one of the past winners, to win the
State Madison championship, here. I was the sprinter.
Good to see it's still going strong, and though I have not
caught any of it televised, would love to see it.
Just another question, as to why mainstream media,
doesn't cover events, like this..?
Maybe local Bendigo TV, covered it... or some regional?
Thanks.

Hartleymartin,
My best mates, a Hartley (maybe your related?)
Did you know old-Bill (passed at 99) and young Bill (dec.), with the ALP..?
On your movie, seems another limited promotion, didn't get to see it,
and by all aspects, seems like it was not promoted, US box figures $136K,
maybe the DVD has, and will do better, by word of mouth..?
Did you see it, and like it?
Thanks for the link.

Cheers,
BrentonO

[hartleymartin]

Hartleymartin,
My best mates, a Hartley (maybe your related?)
Did you know old-Bill (passed at 99) and young Bill (dec.), with the ALP..?
On your movie, seems another limited promotion, didn't get to see it,
and by all aspects, seems like it was not promoted, US box figures $136K,
maybe the DVD has, and will do better, by word of mouth..?
Did you see it, and like it?
Thanks for the link.

Cheers,
BrentonO

Chances are: No. Hartley was a surname assumed by my grandfather during WW2. He was previously a conscript in the CMF and went AWOL to get into the AIF 2 years under-aged, using falsified docyments and spent his (real) 21st birthday in either Timor or New Guinea.

[brentono]

Hi all,
Thanks for all your comments,
To sum up, for Cycling to take a greater stage in the sporting world, here, in Australia.
1. Get kids back on bikes (travelling to/from school) and introduce a simple
program, included in-school sports, using their bikes, and a simple track around the oval.
2. Use this progam as a stepping stone, to introducing them to competiton.
3. Somehow, between this progam, and getting the commercial TV to give a
more positive spin, on cycling, and more media time... increase awareness.
4. More awareness, may bring sponsorship funds, required to promote events.
5. A good promoter to present and promote a relevant racing agenda.
6. Look at inner city programs for Track and Criterium events (involve Councils).
7. Look at the possibility, of a de-constructable-transportable track, that
can be used in various locations (indoors/stadiums) as they use in Europe.
8. Look very seriously at Track/Madison/6-Day promotion, using the depth
of Australian talent available (many road-riders ride the 6-day races in Europe)
9. More positive outlook for the public, and the Organising bodies...
10. Lastly, each and everyone of us involved in Cycling, making the effort,
to get it out there.

[toolonglegs]

But Australia is a super strong cycling country....9 riders at the worlds...even France doesn't get that anymore .Top 2 or 3 nations in the world on the track.Top 10 consistent runners in Downhill and BMX.Not so strong in Cross Country.Very strong in mens and womens road...something must be working?.

[brentono]

Toolonglegs,
We are in agreement, as stated...

promotion, using the depth of Australian talent available.

Thanks,
BrentonO

[hartleymartin]

I think that the reason cycling is not more of an Australian sport, is because it is much more expensive to televise than footy, cricket and motor-sports. Media can make a bigger profit out of those sports. To get an idea, in motor racing there are cameras in everyone's cars and usually on the front/back of cars, from the sides, and in all sorts of places. No serious racing cyclist is going to agree to carrying the additional dead weight of camera gear.

[brentono]

Hartleymartin,
You may be surprised, radio-cameras are very tiny these days.
Tour riders already carry com/radio, to comunicate with the
team vehicles, so it not all new to cycling...?
Cheers
BrentonO

[GeoffW89]

I've seen TDU riders with cams on in crits, worked well.

I absolutely loved the track when I was racing but the last few big events i went to seemed to have !! BAN ME NOW FOR SWEARING !! Darryl Eastlake type commentators. A big turn-off.

While he was a pig of a man Walsh did have the AIS cyclists learn to deal with the media and develop personal skills. To attract the new fans and new riders our sports heroes need personality and a story of some type. On the bike when out training there was a million stories of crazy fun things that had happened. Events need decent commentators and a guide book with some info on the events, the racers, some of the gear innovations (thanks UCI you f*ckwts for knobbling frame development. How exciting was the Superbike?) and some history. The sport has to be packaged and presented so it looks fun, interesting and a worthy achievement to chase. Clubs need help with this and guidance has to come from the ACF. Bombarding the media with anything of beneficial interest would have to help as well and control the riders less. Walsh introduced too much of an attitude of controlling them like puppets. I trained under Bannan and he was a great coach and very inspirational. It wouldn't be entirely fair to expect to burden the local bike shop with costs to develop the sport[s] as they already have involvement through sponsoring events, raffle prizes and store teams. I had a part ownership of 3 stores and we already gave plenty.

Basically it needs to be seen as interesting and achievable....the rest will follow.

[brentono]

GeoffW89,
Can see and hear where your coming from, and we agree,
what's needed is "personalities" among the competitors,
the presenters, and the promotors... that's for sure.
From my limited observation (recently),
Cycling has been stuck in the doldrums,
with antiquated administration, attitudes and some
new blood would certainly help in it's promotion.
(part of the reason I chucked it)
Sounds like your pretty tied up in the sport, at all levels,
and have some great input and thoughts.

already have involvement through sponsoring events, raffle prizes and store teams.
I had a part ownership of 3 stores and we already gave plenty.

Great work, great involvement, which can only help the sport and your business.
Thanks for the input.
Cheers
BrentonO