Magpie Season 2011 New South Wales

[rogan]

???

Still no problems at Ryrie St for me. From Epping Rd SUP I've been doing that first block up to Morshead at warp speed, thinking that's where he attacks. But from the above reports it looks like he attacks further up the street as well. It's not very easy to do the whole of Ryrie St at a high speed...

I do it at dusk some days (or even later), but I've also been through there well before sunset over the last two weeks, with no sign of any magpies...

[JustJames]

I am now officially a Sydneyside cyclist (as a recent-ish import from ZA).

Saturday morning, 6:15, Mowbray Rd, Willoughby.

Now I know what this thread is all about!

James

[soaring]

after few months of not riding, i finally decided to go for a bike ride around mid August to get attacked twice by magpies. Luckily they were both just a swoop. Still turned me off Bike riding till the end of the season.

Also, keep an eye out for one on Old Windsor Road north-west of Norwest Boulevard. That one came out of the blue.

Can we get a similar map for the Sydney Basin with magpie attacks?

Cant wait to get on the bike once the season finishes. Anyone know when they normally stop swooping?

[queequeg]

???

Still no problems at Ryrie St for me. From Epping Rd SUP I've been doing that first block up to Morshead at warp speed, thinking that's where he attacks. But from the above reports it looks like he attacks further up the street as well. It's not very easy to do the whole of Ryrie St at a high speed...

I do it at dusk some days (or even later), but I've also been through there well before sunset over the last two weeks, with no sign of any magpies...

I think he must be scouting the various locations. I have been nipped along Ryrie St as far up as Collins St. Also been nipped at Truscott St/Farrington Pde, and Wicks Rd/Morshead Rd.

Then, this morning coming through my "quiet" Cherrybrook/West Pennant Hills route, I got nipped at Edward Bennett Dr/New Line Rd. Great, there goes the "my legs hurt detour". However, with this one, as soon as I stop moving, he lost interest. He sat on the overhead wire and watched me while I waited for traffic on New Line Rd to clear before I moved off. Probably making sure I was leaving! I hope so. Some nights I don't feel like mixing it with the smoeboxes on New Line Rd, even though this is the most direct route.

[trek52]

Ryrie got me this morning....Are we allowed to kill these things ?

Has the one from last year appeared up near epping station yet just after you turn right at the roundabout ??

[Boognoss]

Ryrie got me this morning....Are we allowed to kill these things ?

Has the one from last year appeared up near epping station yet just after you turn right at the roundabout ??

Ohhhhh I forgot about the Epping one.

I haven't seen it yet. Hopefully this statement isn't enough to jinx us all.......

[queequeg]

Ryrie got me this morning....Are we allowed to kill these things ?

Has the one from last year appeared up near epping station yet just after you turn right at the roundabout ??

Ohhhhh I forgot about the Epping one.

I haven't seen it yet. Hopefully this statement isn't enough to jinx us all.......

I haven't seen any there as yet. Fingers crossed there isn't one, because I am already making enough detours as it is!

[Christine Tham]

Reading this thread makes me so glad I commute on Pacific Highway. No magpies there

[kyap]

Reading this thread makes me so glad I commute on Pacific Highway. No magpies there

Dangerous on weekdays peak hour though

[Christine Tham]

Dangerous on weekdays peak hour though

Really? In what way? I haven't noticed any issues, and I have been commuting in peak hour weekdays from Chatswood to North Sydney since May. If anything, I would say it's one of the friendliest roads to cycle on - usually other vehicles will give way to me every time I signal to change lanes.

[rogan]

Darwininan theory suggests that attacking a far more powerful species, which nevertheless presents no immediate danger to yourself or your hatchlings, is wasteful and counter-productive. Of course, the presence of hatchlings, with this 'pie's genes, means another generation of likely attacks on cyclists. Just saying.

I rode up Ryrie St yesterday just before dusk, and absolutely no sign of any magpies. I don't know what the rest of you are going on about. So the thought of laying out strychnine-laced mince, has not even occurred to me...

[kyap]

Dangerous on weekdays peak hour though

Really? In what way? I haven't noticed any issues, and I have been commuting in peak hour weekdays from Chatswood to North Sydney since May. If anything, I would say it's one of the friendliest roads to cycle on - usually other vehicles will give way to me every time I signal to change lanes.

I got honked few times occupying the whole lane (the left most lane) and twice the car overtake me so close to my back wheel and he stared at me. I was doing about 25kmh. Maybe i was going too slow.

[Christine Tham]

I got honked few times occupying the whole lane (the left most lane) and twice the car overtake me so close to my back wheel and he stared at me. I was doing about 25kmh. Maybe i was going too slow.

Quite possibly. From experience, I think you need to do at least 30 km/h before drivers will tolerate you on the road. Otherwise the speed differential between you and a vehicle is too great to allow them to adjust their speed in time, hence the honking.

I generally cruise at around 35-40 km/h on the flats, 50-60 km/h downhill, and I try to do at least 30 km/h in the climbs, except for the steeper bits where I do 25 km/h. At those sort of speeds I integrate quite well with peak hour traffic, to the point where cars are happy to suck my wheel

[queequeg]

I got honked few times occupying the whole lane (the left most lane) and twice the car overtake me so close to my back wheel and he stared at me. I was doing about 25kmh. Maybe i was going too slow.

Quite possibly. From experience, I think you need to do at least 30 km/h before drivers will tolerate you on the road. Otherwise the speed differential between you and a vehicle is too great to allow them to adjust their speed in time, hence the honking.

I generally cruise at around 35-40 km/h on the flats, 50-60 km/h downhill, and I try to do at least 30 km/h in the climbs, except for the steeper bits where I do 25 km/h. At those sort of speeds I integrate quite well with peak hour traffic, to the point where cars are happy to suck my wheel

I haven't seen your bike in the usual spot in Nth Sydney. I am doing the Pac Hwy every night too, but only as far up as Lane Cove. I get the occasional moron fly past trying to be a hero, but I have never been honked. I was getting some looks today as I came down through St Leonards past the hospital. I was going about 45km/h in the T3 Lane, cars in the lane next to me were doing 30km/h. A few of them tried to catch up, but were hampered by other cars.
It has been a tough week along the Hwy. The headwinds & crosswinds have been brutal, at least on my legs!

I am into Nth Sydney on Sunday morning to do the Sydney Marathon as a wheelchair escort. I cycled from Dural, and because it was so early I basically took all the main roads that I would normally avoid, such as Boundary Rd, Pennant Hills Rd & Epping Rd. I was absolutely flying along. Looked at my avg speed when I got to the Lane Cove River at Mowbray Rd, and it was 34km/h. Sadly, that dropped off a little with the climb up to the Pacific Hwy, but I arrived in Nth Sydney after 45 minutes with avg speed of 32km/h. Would be great if I could do that in peak hour!

[Christine Tham]

I haven't seen your bike in the usual spot in Nth Sydney.

That's because I now have been there so long I finally have been allocated a bike spot downstairs

Actually, someone at work who was a cyclist resigned and gave me his spot, as well as his locker at work (he said "we cyclists need to look out for each other!")

I do still use the public parking rack occasionally - because sometimes I arrive early (before 7am) and the car park is not open. But then I will move my bike during lunchtime into my spot.

Parking downstairs also means I get an opportunity to cross paths with the execs all trying to park their cars.

PS - I agree this week has been somewhat tough with all the cross winds and head winds. One day I was slowed down to almost 30 km/h on a descent because of a very strong headwind.

[Christine Tham]

Actually, I remember I did have one incident a few weeks ago when an idiot driver started honking at me.

I was doing around 40 km/h, so I sped up to 45 km/h. That wasn't good enough for him, because he continued honking.

So I decided to teach him a lesson. I started braking, and each time he honked I slowed down by 5 km/h so that I was eventually doing less than 20 km/h.

He was very frustrated, but he did eventually learn his lesson, which is stop honking.

Funnily enough no other car honked at me. I think I even caught a smile from another driver that he understood what I was trying to do to the car behind me. I think this was when I very deliberately took my hands off the handlebar and folded them on my chest to show that I can cycle a lot faster if I wanted to, but I am choosing not to.

[TimW]

anyone seen any magpies lately

[number21]

I finally got hit by my mate this morning. On Sturt Rd, near Restormel st at Woolooware heading out to Cronulla.

Hes had a couple of goes already, but he always comes from behind and I only know about it after he's snapped his beak and by that time he's already flying off. Doesn't seem to chase me so I just keep going. Today there was a definite bump though!

[Addictr3]

Reading this thread makes me so glad I commute on Pacific Highway. No magpies there

Actually.. there was one near the drop down from Roseville tran station, as you approach Chatswood. unless it was just flying by and decided to have a go..

[Addictr3]

In relation to both the Magpies and Pacific Highway;

Damn bird is back on the run up from Terrey hills, coming up from Belrose near the School. Damn bird has angry issues. It was looking for worms and I flew by (hehe) and he turned his head and starting yappin at me.. I quickly got on the drops and powered up that killer of a hill. It was swoopin me with anger.

Also I ride Pacific Highway some mornings if I ride up to West head and cut back around to go to the city.. It is usually a car park around 730 - 8am Weekdays, prob a little better now school is on holidays but its usually not worth riding as its crazy slow. I've also come home via the highway and turn right onto that road that leads to Roseville bridge. That is also a bad ride at night with too much taffic all banked up. If you get a driver who is on your ass and overtakes you to only make it to the lights, I usually just filter in front and teach them a lesson.

[kyap]

I know some may said the "eyes" behind helmet not work or some may said work. Confused...

But i found these after googling which possessed a very aggresive eyes. It is from butterfly/moth wings which supposed to put off predators.
Wonder if you print this out and stick it behind helmet...will it work??

http://www.wallon.ru/_ph/35/177218413.jpg
http://www.wallpapersm.com/images/wallpapers/Polyphemus%20Moth-888424.jpeg

[htleung88]

Have officially given up taking on the local magpie -this morning, I put the bike in the car, drove 500m past the magpie spot (it's near my place), parked the car, got the bike out and started riding.

[PSI]

Hi Guys,
First post on this forum.
I have been waging a turf war with the winged mono-chromatic demon that resides in the gums trees at McGraths Hill McDonalds.
He got me twice over the weekend, and has swooped me pretty much every weekend before that for the last 4 weeks
On the first attack he actually landed on my back and started pecking the back of my head !
The second attack occured when i was walking with my bike to try and avoid him.
I was talking to the local caryard dealer ( in the car yard ) when he got me !
He could not believe how may cyclists had been attacked

Solution. avoid the cable ties & googly eyes and take the long way around the back of the industrial units

[TimW]

Hi Guys,
First post on this forum.
I have been waging a turf war with the winged mono-chromatic demon that resides in the gums trees at McGraths Hill McDonalds.
He got me twice over the weekend, and has swooped me pretty much every weekend before that for the last 4 weeks
On the first attack he actually landed on my back and started pecking the back of my head !
The second attack occured when i was walking with my bike to try and avoid him.
I was talking to the local caryard dealer ( in the car yard ) when he got me !
He could not believe how may cyclists had been attacked

Solution. avoid the cable ties & googly eyes and take the long way around the back of the industrial units

I had my first encounters with him last year, and when i am out that way allways take the rear detour to the Bridge, he is a nasty bugger.In summer I ride out there at night quite pleasant.There is also one or two about near the rouse hill shops, and i got nipped on the neck by one near Nick scali at norwest travelling west on the bike path yesterday.Tim

[Alycat]

I had not been out Windsor way since the M7C re-opened but yesterday went to Windsor and back, that McGraths Hill magpie has moved 100 metres or so I think from last year, and surprised me going out, got me on the back on my neck. Coming back, I stopped and got a stick and he still attacked me.