Cycling as an Australian Sport?

[roller]

My Q? is why Cycling has such a low profile in Australian society, considering
the amount of effort and time/financial commitment required, just to compete?

equestrian events such as, show jumping, dressage and cross country take a lof of effort & time and financial committment too, should they too have a massive profile in australian society?



the answer to this thread for me is who gives a shiz, i couldn't care less if your average joe bloe doesn't want to buy season tickets to the velodrome, or doesn't want to subscribe to the fox-cycling channel

why does it matter?

[brentono]

Herzog,
Sprint works, also (It was my discipline) but sorry to inform you,
but no way the pursuit would work.
Competed in many Gran Prix in differant countries, around EU
and it was very rare (almost non-existant) that they would run a
pursuit (too long-time consuming and too boring) and from what
I saw, more chance of a time-trial series.
Don't think it would be much differant now.
Road is difficult, more likely criteriums would work, from my
experience. (from a viewers aspect)
Personalities, well there were many in my day, but one might
expect that under the AIS, control, any of that would be beaten
out of you...? Smile.

Shadow42,
Seen many AFL players that wear lycra under their footy shorts,
are they gay? Don't answer that. Don't ask, don't tell.
And AFL personalities, well, I'll leave that up to you.
(some good, some bad, and some average, so what?)
Glad your enjoying the topic, and we agree on the nil, from the media.
For the average aussie to appreciate the sport, they only need to
be lead, the rest of the sheep, will follow.

Baldy,
Can't remember too many gays around cycling, in my days,
but I can sure tell you , there were a lot of hound dawgs,
chasing, and quite good at it... and the bike shorts, aided,
'cos the lady followers, could get an idea, of how you packed
your lunch. Wink. Joking of coarse.

Im_no_pro,
He came out, as far as I know, didn't he... so no contest.

And just on the point of noise and action, at a major
event, a World titles, that I was at, it was the ending of an
era, I think (now they use smaller dernies)... Saw around
12 or 14 riders, each being paced by motorcycles, and
they were Harley's, they we're competing for the WMP
championships, around 50Km, can't remember the exact.
That was a spectacle, noise and action, was awesome.
Have competed in these types of events, they are wild.
Nothing to say we couldn't have that in Oz, in the future.

Roller,
Equestrian events? Laugh. The horse does all the work, the socialite puppet on it's
back, does quite little, and it could hardley be classed as a real sport, could it?
(less of a sport than Golf)
OT, your not interested, so go and sit in the corner. Wink.

Thanks, hope we can stir some interest.
Cheers,
BrentonO

[roller]

a sure way to encourage people to take an interest in your sport is to show complete disdain/lack of respect for other sports

nice one.

[brentono]

Roller,
Sorry if you have been offended, I was making light, and
thought you threw it in as a joke. (many take the piss here)
So, if your wishing to be serious, show us the aspects of your
"sport" that you see that require the precision, the dedication,
the commitment, and the determination (I'm sure you need all this)
to reach International Status, as compared to cycling, and how
your "sport" can become a mainstream Aussie pastime introduced
into schools, and made to become a great participators as well as
great spectators sport, for the masses, here in Australia.
I am interested to hear your reply..?
But, as you said "to this thread for me is who gives a shiz"
... so you know where the door is, so just "Ignore" this post
(don't expect to hear anything relevant from you... we'll see?)

Now to get back on to topic, as mentioned we all rode bikes to school,
and so how can the sport be so alien to us, but it would seem, now, that
less than 5% of kids ride bikes to school from 85-90% in older days '70s B.C.
Great quote, here........
Published in the American Journal of Preventative Medicine in April 2009,
Deakin University research shows a link between reduced cycling and Australia's obesity crisis,
as reported by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation...
"At the same time the proportion of children cycling to school is now so low
it is statistically too insignificant to be considered on its own,
says Hume, of Deakin University's Centre for Physical Activity and Nutrition Research.
Hume says the decrease in what is known as active commuting
has occurred at the same time as obesity rates among children have increased.
Although, the researcher says "it is drawing a long bow" to directly link the two,
the decrease in walking and cycling to school is part of the overall reduction in
physical activity amongst children."
Why can't kids be encouraged to ride to school,
and cycling be introduced into the school sports
program... a simple flat circle path, around the ovals,
and some simple events, that kids could enjoy from their
early schooling, and later (if they have the aptitude)
progressing to organised cycling, school teams etc.
Tell me if it would be possible?
Thanks for your time.
Cheers,
BrentonO

[brentono]

Hi,
Just a quick one, on motorpaced, here's an early example,
and at the period (mid-late 70's) I was at, it was WLA Harleys
so you can imagine (below), a large group, competeing, full-on...
They were still using the Harleys, in my time...
would make an x-sport competitor shrink..? Takes, guts.
As for MotoGP or F1, we had no protection..? sorry, hairnets.
Cheers,
BrentonO

[roller]

Roller,
Sorry if you have been offended, I was making light, and
thought you threw it in as a joke. (many take the piss here)
So, if your wishing to be serious, show us the aspects of your
"sport" that you see that require the precision, the dedication,
the commitment, and the determination (I'm sure you need all this)
to reach International Status, as compared to cycling, and how
your "sport" can become a mainstream Aussie pastime introduced
into schools, and made to become a great participators as well as
great spectators sport, for the masses, here in Australia.
I am interested to hear your reply..?

please tell me which is "my" sport, i was merely pointing,
out how many sports, can claim to have a high,
degree, of difficulty and be, expensive to persue,
that doesn't mean, they should suddenly, be deserving,
of high profile status, or whatever, your argument,
is, it's actually quite, difficult, to figure, out, since you don't,
really, make your point(s), all that clear.

[brentono]

Roller,
There is is no argument, nothing more to say,
you know my views on equestrian events, you brought it up.
And it's not just my sport, it isn't my sport, now, and it's a
discussion, not an argument, FYI.
We are on a Cycling site and we are discussing cycling,
and these are everyone's points, which relate to the discussion.
So which point, you don't understand?
You stated your position...
"the answer to this thread for me is who gives a shiz"
So I'll respond, for your shiz, take my wiz.
Your not interested in the post, so take off (ignore)- "all that clear"
Cheers,
BrentonO

[roller]

So which point, you don't understand?

to refresh, your memory:

Always thought that the degree of difficulty and commitment, should dictate the income

and then:

why Cycling has such a low profile in Australian society, considering the amount of effort and time/financial commitment required, just to compete?

a major, theme of your, thread is, that $$ spent should, equal, dollars earnt/exposure/popularity.

please, explain then, why yacht,
racing is not, more deserving,
of your appreciation, to become, an elite, yacht
racer requires surpreme, amounts of,
financial sacrifice, a standard competitive, yacht,
for an international, event like the,
sydney to hobart could, cost in the millions

[martinjs]

Could be wrong here, but I would think that both Yacht Racing and equestrian events start up costs would be a lot more expensive then cycling.
Not sure what the comparison is though as cycling is a lot more physical and to succeeded its mostly up to just the rider and in the lower levels a basic bike.

Martin

[martinjs]

Sport is an activity that is governed by a set of rules or customs and often engaged in competitively. Sports commonly refer to activities where the physical capabilities of the competitor are the sole or primary determinant of the outcome

I always though this was the meaning of sport.

Martin

[brentono]

Roller,
You have said your not interested, but you wish to persist.
I did mention, financial, because I see the ridiculous amount
of monet spent, by some of the riders here, and they think that
that will make them a better cyclist (how many grams here or there)
and it doesn't even enter into my equation of the sport (Cycling).
You could take the right kid, and even using a track bike from my era,
with some natural ability, the dedication, the commitment, the determination
a lot of hard training, some guts, some heart and much, much more, you
could end up with a Champion. There are many great stories, in the
history of cycling, where that has exactly happened.
So it's not money, it's effort.
And once YOU have done it, you can appreciate it, OK.
So don't try to take the post OT, for your own gratification.
Quote-"the answer to this thread for me is who gives a shiz"
Your not interested in the post, so take off (ignore)- "all that clear"
Last Call,
BrentonO

[roller]

I did mention, financial, because I see the ridiculous amount
of monet spent, by some of the riders here, and they think that
that will make them a better cyclist (how many grams here or there)
and it doesn't even enter into my equation of the sport (Cycling).

err yes it does. .

My Q? is why Cycling has such a low profile in Australian society, considering
the amount of effort and time/financial commitment required, just to compete?

i think you need to figure out what you are actually on about then get back to us.

ie, inject a little coherence into your argument(s)

[brentono]

Roller,
You may wish to put words in my mouth, don't think so...
English 101... when you finish up your special needs reading classes,
try reading it 100 times, you may get it.
OT, ignore this one (Roller). Smile. It's fun isn't it. Not!
Moving on, would like to hear from anyone who understands the thread,
and might have something relevant to say.
Cheers,
BrentonO

[roller]

Roller,
You may wish to put words in my mouth, don't think so...
English 101... when you finish up your special needs reading classes,
try reading it 100 times, you may get it.

i could read your posts 1000 times and they still wouldn't make sense.

[sogood]

Late entry here....

I think that cycling has a hard entry as a popular sport for the armchair fans out there. Quite simply, it's too hard to follow unless you are willing to invest in some brain cells and get to know the teams and riders. Watch a televised road race or points race on the track, which of the 20-200 riders do you follow? After a few turns of the TV camera, it's all just a mess or riders on the screen. Compare that to any ball type sport. It doesn't take long to realise the eye can simply follow the ball and that's the game.

So there's my 2c.

[brentono]

Sogood,
I agree with you, about the average aussie "the armchair fans out there"
But just think what the rules must be like for newbies to AFL, and the umpires.
Take a serious look at the rules for the madison...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madison_(cycling)
They may seem difficult at first, but for even,
the average aussie "the armchair fans out there"
even the ones with, ADHD, with a bit of effort, they would pick it up.
Confidence, and then even on the couch, or at the velodrome, (and now
with computers, and Big-screens), easy to follow, fast-action, exciting
Sport, they would definately enjoy, following their favourite pair (Team)
Could work? With a small amount of positives from the media?
Cheers
BrentonO

[sogood]

Problem is, armchair sports fan don't want to put in the effort. Watching AFL can be easily "entertaining" by just following the ball and the punch up surrounding that ball. Can't get any easier than that.

[martinjs]

Don't get to see one much any more, but I do remember growing up and going and seeing the Madison and enjoying the high speed riding with out much understanding. Very fast and exciting and as long as you had someone to follow and a good commentator it was fantastic.


Martin

[Mulger bill]

Track should cop heaps more coverage. The madison is pure nuts, action all the way
Loves sprints too, watching two riders play mental chess at 20km/h before they explode up to 60+ in seconds.

Shaun

[brentono]

Folks,
The Sprint is great, and the "Blue Ribbon" event of the track, they have
a Gran Prix series, in most major cities, around Europe (including UK)
which is built around a 1000m Sprint competition, other events as well.
Then there is the Madison, an extension of the Sprint, which involves
pairs, goes over a distance (or time-2hr, 3hr) and the team would
comprise a sprinter and a stayer. At certain intervals one is on the track,
and when the sprint (each 5, 10 or whatever laps) comes up, the sprinter
goes in, and much action, changes can be wild, and if you miss the change
can be catastrophic. Great viewing, and as Martin said, exciting.
The extension to this is the 6-Day, Madison sessions (sometimes mid-day
and evening (longer evening) for 6 days in a row. Quite demanding.
Then there is the circus, a travelling show, from major cities, to others,
around Europe (including UK) going from one 6 to the next, with barely
a days break between, a tuff ask, on anyones calender. Up there with Le Tour.
FME (70's-80's), I can see how, as stated, Alf made his money back then, post-1898.
"The highest paid was Alfred Goullet of Australia.
He earned $1,000 a day in addition to cash prizes won during sprints."
In my time, crowds got that excited, they would place sponsor money on each sprint,
as it came up to the sprint the great announcers, fast thinking, and adaptable,
would broadcast the names of individuals, or businesses... it was infectious,
and much money was pledged.
Adding to the excitement.
With computers, and many other technical advancements, this would be able
to be even better managed, today.
That just some more things to ponder.
Hope your enjoying this, and please excuse mistakes (I don't on myself)
as it's two finger, typing and thinking, on my feet. (and C&P of coarse)
Cheers,
BrentonO

[brentono]

Here's a small point about media, history, Aussie attitudes,
we can all learn, there are 9, repeat only 9 referances to Alf in Oz,
and nothing in any Australian Bicycle Museum, or the like, sites.
Only, 1400 entries, worldwide, googling, and I'm increasing it, as we post.
Alf in that period was earning roughly (and probably much) more than 5000x
the average daily wage (in Aussie or the World at that time), each day.
With that wad, and taking a look at him (below) would think he was fighting
off the ladies, with a stick. So much for "Gays in Cycling" or "Cycling's not Cool"
Hope we all are elightened, I know I am..?
Hail! Alfred Goullet.
Cheers,
BrentonO

[sixx]

SWEET Bars!

[brentono]

On March 11th 1995, from NYTimes,
"Alfred Goullet, a champion professional bicycle racer early in the century, died at a retirement home. He was 103."
Vale, Alf.

Some great stories, here, looks like a great book and movie-
http://www.sixdaybicyclerace.com/back_cover.htm

Check out in the Book, "Eddie Root Gets A Raise (an excerpt)" who said a cyclists life was boring?
.... what a laugh, reminds me of some of the crazies I ran across in my cycling career.

Maybe it's a lot differant these days?
Cheers
BrentonO

[martinjs]

Checked out about the Madison in Bendigo with my father and apparently it is still going strong.

http://www.madison.org.au/

The Bendigo International Madison is arguably the biggest cycling & athletic event in Australia and has a long and successful association with Bendigo.

Martin

[hartleymartin]

There are so many football matches featured in movies today. Perhaps we need a few good movies about cycling to stir up some interest.

http://theflyingscotsmanmovie.com/