Lockdown

[wongaga]

I know the lockdown is a tragedy for many. But cycling on the empty roads is just fantastic. I even rode down Warrigal Road today, something I would never normally dream of.

Conversely, the walking/cycling tracks are just chockers and to be avoided at all costs.

Cheers, Graeme

[warthog1]

I get that lockdown is tough for many.
Don't personally mind it that much myself either.
A bit tired of hearing complaints about it on the popular media though.
It is implemented to protect against widespread infection.
Far preferable to the widespread disease and death that has occurred in many other countries.
I really would like to avoid that!

[wongaga]

I agree with all you said, but my post was more about highlighting the up-side for us cyclists.

[warthog1]

I agree with all you said, but my post was more about highlighting the up-side for us cyclists.

Yeah I know sorry.
Just having a whinge about the whinging.

[wongaga]

Oh, I do understand!

[10speedsemiracer]

I know the lockdown is a tragedy for many. But cycling on the empty roads is just fantastic. I even rode down Warrigal Road today, something I would never normally dream of.

Conversely, the walking/cycling tracks are just chockers and to be avoided at all costs.

Cheers, Graeme

It is nice isn't it?

Although you're a braver man than I am. Would never consider riding on Warrigal Rd, don't even like driving it.

[Cyclophiliac]

I agree with all you said, but my post was more about highlighting the up-side for us cyclists.

The problem with this up-side is that we're limited to riding within 5km radius of our homes, so route options are limited, and can quickly get boring.

[wongaga]

[/quote]
The problem with this up-side is that we're limited to riding within 5km radius of our homes, so route options are limited, and can quickly get boring.
[/quote]

I hear you. I'm an old bloke who's happy to crank out 20km or so in his 5km prison ring, but if I was preparing for a big randonee or race or tri I'd be a bit frustrated.

[ausFred]

I agree with all you said, but my post was more about highlighting the up-side for us cyclists.

The problem with this up-side is that we're limited to riding within 5km radius of our homes, so route options are limited, and can quickly get boring.

Not if you are commuting to work!

It's been glorious on the roads. It's by far the biggest bonus of lockdown

[warthog1]

I've got a loop with climbing and fast flats on quiet roads that has a radius, as the crow flies, that is roughly 5k from home.
3 laps today was 48.8k and it was a bloody good ride
Way better than zwift. Only plan on using that if it pees down raining.

[fat and old]

I know the lockdown is a tragedy for many. But cycling on the empty roads is just fantastic. I even rode down Warrigal Road today, something I would never normally dream of.

Conversely, the walking/cycling tracks are just chockers and to be avoided at all costs.

Cheers, Graeme

It is nice isn't it?

Although you're a braver man than I am. Would never consider riding on Warrigal Rd, don't even like driving it.

C'mon....Warigal Rd from Canterbury to the Tafe in Chaddy is grouse in lockdown!

[Cyclophiliac]

I agree with all you said, but my post was more about highlighting the up-side for us cyclists.

The problem with this up-side is that we're limited to riding within 5km radius of our homes, so route options are limited, and can quickly get boring.

Not if you are commuting to work!

It's been glorious on the roads. It's by far the biggest bonus of lockdown

Then you've been lucky. Some of us don't have the option of working away from home.

[wongaga]

C'mon....Warigal Rd from Canterbury to the Tafe in Chaddy is grouse in lockdown!

Well you can't be too "fat and old" if you ride to Holmesglen from Mill Park, and manage those nasty hills up the north end of Wazza

[ausFred]

The problem with this up-side is that we're limited to riding within 5km radius of our homes, so route options are limited, and can quickly get boring.

Not if you are commuting to work!

It's been glorious on the roads. It's by far the biggest bonus of lockdown

Then you've been lucky. Some of us don't have the option of working away from home.

For sure, it's definitely a nice release although today was busier, I think more people are out and about this week.

Which part of Melbourne do you live in?

[wongaga]

I live in Oakleigh 100m down a street that runs off Warrigal Road. In normal times I drive extra distance to avoid it, and never ever ride on it. I grew up just up the road in Ashwood and used to ride my back-pedal steam-pipe clunker down to Mordialloc on what was just a another road back then.

[chriso_29er]

Surprisingly I've ridden more through this one so far than I was in the weeks before it.
I'm lucky that around here the roads get very quite as there is nowhere to go beyond the suburb, so is great for riding on the road when usually you wouldn't outside of lock-down.
And being work from home its much easier to duck off for a couple of hours straight after work a couple of nights a week, in addition to weekend rides.

I had a nice bush park in reach of 5km with some steep gravel loops, and a little MTB Skills loop at Lilydale Lake for some single trail and jumps if I got desperate.
But now its increased to 10km I can get in half of my usual MTB trail network at Silvan, just have to stay on the trails closer to Mt Evelyn.

Doing a bit of gravel riding on the race bike haha, keeping it interesting during the 5k limit.

[P!N20]

Interesting article on the decentralisation of Melbourne: https://www.theage.com.au/national/vict ... 57xqj.html

[BritniPepper]

Interesting article on the decentralisation of Melbourne: https://www.theage.com.au/national/vict ... 57xqj.html

“This is an opportunity for suburbs to retain their people, grow local jobs and invest and improve the liveability for all of Melbourne,” says Adele Hegedich, mayor of Wyndham in Melbourne’s far west. “The virus has inadvertently, finally, realised the 20-minute neighbourhood.”

My cynical take on this is that big money talks louder. CBD-centric cities aren't going to be toppled by a year of low returns. If anything the push to get back to normal will be increased once we're no longer subject to arbitrary lockdowns and restrictions. Big business wants to maximise consumption of products and services. State governments have their eyes on GST revenue to increase their appeal to voters.

Britni

[P!N20]

I tend to agree - perhaps the glimmer of hope is that lockdown has enabled people to work from home who historically haven't been set up or willing. (Eg; me.)

[wongaga]

It will be interesting to see if the WFH impact on peak hour traffic is sufficient to counter the tendency of many to avoid public transport in favour of their cars (viz the surge in used car prices).

Either way, I will treasure my memories of cycling on the roads of what has felt like a great big country town during these lockdowns. Silver linings and all that.......

Let's hope.

[fat and old]

C'mon....Warigal Rd from Canterbury to the Tafe in Chaddy is grouse in lockdown!

Well you can't be too "fat and old" if you ride to Holmesglen from Mill Park, and manage those nasty hills up the north end of Wazza

Southbound only mate. Then back to Preston via Anniversary trail/CCT/MYT/Darebin Ck trail. Belmore Rd is bad enough!

Slowly.

[wongaga]

Still pretty good even just one way - those climbs up to Riversdale Rd and Burwood Highway require a chest with some hair on it. Good on yer.

[wongaga]

For anyone living within 5km of Monash Uni, the campus ring road gives you a just-under 2km circuit with virtually zero traffic. Going anti-clockwise is best.

[wongaga]

Sorry, my bad. The circuit is just under 3km, not 2.

[DavidS]

For anyone living within 5km of Monash Uni, the campus ring road gives you a just-under 2km circuit with virtually zero traffic. Going anti-clockwise is best.

I remember people used to learn to drive around there before there were any speed traps.

DS