Australian Cycling Forums - Bicycles Network Australia

First hit (x2) of the maggie season - traffic lights athllon/anketell - near the leisure centre

bingo - you win!


i wonder if that's the same famous one who usually gets you at the other side of the pool - as the bike path crosses the little road between the pool/gyms and the skate park. otherwise you need to watch out there too.

I got swooped on the weekend out near Wamboin. Just a high, half-hearted swoop. Maybe because it was windy or maybe the swooper only had L plates?!

Had a few half attempts over the past 2 weeks. Couldn't be 100% sure they were aiming for me or just assing around.

Good to know about the Tugg one so I'm prepared next time. And the joys of moving to a new house in the past year means I get to discover all the new spots to and from my place to be wary.

First real swoop today. Just past Rose Cottage on Isabelle drive heading towards Tugg. No overly aggressive and a raised arm was enough to cause it to pull away.

Be warned - the "Red Baron" is back. (Athllon\Atkins rounabout).

I endured my first swoop of the season on Saturday, on Woodcock Drive in Gordon. It was a bit of a half hearted attempt but still enough to encourage me to pedal faster.

twizzle wrote:Be warned - the "Red Baron" is back. (Athllon\Atkins rounabout).

Saw someone being chased by him yesterday around lunchtime. Looked particularly keen get as many strikes as he could.

he's one of my frequent flyers. boom tish.


i haven't had the pleasure this summer, but there's also one in the vicinity of the roundabout at st anthony's school. he lives in the trees in the vacant corner (ie 1 block is school, 2 corners are houses, and this killer bird is in the empty one). Cnr wheeler crescent and fincham street.

Theres one about 100m after the lights at Wells Station Rd and the GDE while heading Sth along the GDE. I'll check of he is there again in the morning.......That was my first for the season and Im sure it wont be my last in that spot

My 1st for the year and hopefully last. Just after the south bound on ramp of the Monaro Highway (Diary Flat Rd), vicious little bugger swooped repeatedly over about 300 metres.

FXST01 wrote:My 1st for the year and hopefully last. Just after the south bound on ramp of the Monaro Highway (Diary Flat Rd), vicious little bugger swooped repeatedly over about 300 metres.

Sounds like the one last year that repeatedly hit me along Ipswich st in Fyshwick. Persistent bugger bombed me for about 500m. I have no doubt the highway on-ramp is well within its range.

Two yesterday, one halfway up Valley Way Gungahlin, big slam into the back of the helmet, buried its beak in the inner foam. Second one heading up towards the Sydney ramp to go out the Goulburn highway...not overly fair I wouldn't think when that rise puts me at my slowest...!

There's one about halfway between Uriarra Crossing and the Homestead and another on Gungahlin Dr near Wells Station Rd intersection. The Uriarra one tries to land on your back!

Was swooped on Gungahlin dr between Wanganeen and Horsepark... What's the best form of defence when being swooped?

Ross wrote:There's one about halfway between Uriarra Crossing and the Homestead and another on Gungahlin Dr near Wells Station Rd intersection. The Uriarra one tries to land on your back!

The one on Uriarra road is a real motivator when you are racing, he is motivating you to not get dropped, or he is motivating you to extend your lead if you have made a solo breakaway!

ACT SC600 wrote:Was swooped on Gungahlin dr between Wanganeen and Horsepark... What's the best form of defence when being swooped?

I usually just take it in the helmet like a man (people who have seen me deal with magpies may find this statement hilarious).

Serious answer: it depends on the magpie, some will stop swooping if you get off and walk, some are discouraged by waving a hand above your head (this is what I tend to do if they are actually making contact), and some will keep at you no matter what (it's best to just avoid these ones). It's important not to panic if you are being swooped, don't swerve suddenly or anything like that, especially if you are on the road. Most of them will have a few swoops and then you will be out of their territory, particularly aggressive ones may follow for a couple of hundred metres, it always feels like a long time but really it isn't.

Some people stick zip ties all over their helmets, I can't attest to the effectiveness of this strategy because I can't bring myself to look any more ridiculous than I already do.

ride faster???


I just wave one arm above my head. I refuse to look like a porcupine head.

I squirted one with gatoraid from my bidon once. He didn't like that.

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It wasn't magpies, but I nearly got taken out by a flock of galahs that must have spooked as I came down off the freeway footbridge at Stirling the other day. They flew up out of the undergrowth and straight across my path at head height, don't know how they all missed me

Tharwa Dr , about 1 k south of the Lanyon homestead entry - hit going south and north the magpie made contact with my helmet with what felt like its complete body - quiet a savage little beast

Curtain bike path heading towards the lake. Just as the path swings from a northly direction around the west. Wasn't very sneaky though. Saw it coming and put my hand up which was enough for it to pull out and watch from a distance.

Get swooped regularly around here, however today is the first time I've ever been hit. On the MTB - singletrack in the trees. This guy was persistent and hit me pretty hard 5 times - 3 on the top and 2 just above my ear. Couldn't believe how aggressive it was. Will be avoiding that area for a while.

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seddo wrote:Tharwa Dr , about 1 k south of the Lanyon homestead entry - hit going south and north the magpie made contact with my helmet with what felt like its complete body - quiet a savage little beast

You will be happy to know that he copped a big mouthful of water and nearly crashed this morning.

Thanks for the warning

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Woodcock Drive Gordon at the intersection with Carslake loop. Got me going both ways although I was prepared on the return leg. On the way out (towrads pt hut) he made 4-5 attempts and followed me down the road quite a bit.