Clubs in Canberra
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Clubs in Canberra
Postby pickle » Wed Dec 14, 2011 12:40 am
I'm moving to Canberra from sunny Perth in about a month and looking to get straight into racing. Just wondering if anyone has any advice on which clubs to join, or which ones to avoid.
Cheers!
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Re: Clubs in Canberra
Postby Ross » Wed Dec 14, 2011 8:52 am
http://www.vikingscycling.org.au
http://www.actvets.cc/ (35yo+)
Canberra Cycling Club run crits every Wednesday evening on a dedicated crit track out at Stromlo Forest Park near Weston.
Vikings Cycling Club run 'Supercrits' on Thursday evenings at SFP. These are longer, usually around an hour.
Both clubs run a variety of road races usually on Saturday mornings during Summer.
Vets club runs crits on Tuesday evenings, track on Thursday evenings at Queanbeyan and road races most Sunday mornings.
There are a number of bunch rides open to any rider of any club, here's a few;
Tuesday – Hour of Power - 6am Bike Shed, Philip. Fast paceline at the front.
Wednesday – Southside bunch – 6am Bike Shed, Philip. Undulating ride with KOM bragging points on offer.
Friday – Hour of Terra - 6am cnr Hindmarsh & Melrose Dr. Fast paceline at the front.
Friday - Grandpa Bunch- 6am Bike Shed, Philip. Easyish paced ride, mostly Vets riders but open to anyone.
Friday - Vikings "Norman" - 6am ANU Union Court, Fast and Medium bunches
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Re: Clubs in Canberra
Postby nescius » Wed Dec 14, 2011 1:17 pm
There's plenty of racing all year round, and I don't know that there is a "bad" club or one to avoid, but being a member of CCC it would be remiss of me not to recommend them as the best choice
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Re: Clubs in Canberra
Postby pickle » Wed Dec 14, 2011 2:37 pm
I don't qualify for vets yet, so I've narrowed it down to two clubs. It seems like there's plenty of yummy racing to be had in Canberra. Good to know there's regular crit racing. Is there much road racing during the winter? I'm keen to get right into the hilly courses (we don't have hills over here ).
Good to see there's lots of group rides during the week as well. Looking forward to this Southside bunch with KOM bragging points.
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Re: Clubs in Canberra
Postby twizzle » Wed Dec 14, 2011 2:47 pm
... as long as your life/accident insurance is up to date.nescius wrote:CCC also have track racing on Tuesday nights at the Narrabundah velodrome.
There's plenty of racing all year round, and I don't know that there is a "bad" club or one to avoid, but being a member of CCC it would be remiss of me not to recommend them as the best choice
...real cyclists don't have squeaky chains...
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Re: Clubs in Canberra
Postby pickle » Wed Dec 14, 2011 4:53 pm
Hahaha. Speaking of which... is there any roads that should definitely avoid? Or is it all pretty hunky dory?twizzle wrote: ... as long as your life/accident insurance is up to date.
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Re: Clubs in Canberra
Postby HAKS » Wed Dec 14, 2011 5:55 pm
I must admit if I had my time again I would join Vikings and not CCC. Something about the Vikings events versus the CCC ones I've been to has made me feel like Vikings are a little more relaxed and welcoming. I also did the CCC intro to cycling program and while it was good, it was a little disorganised at times and when I compare it with the chatter on the vikings novice forum they seemed to get behind their new riders much more then CCC.
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Re: Clubs in Canberra
Postby auskonrad » Thu Dec 15, 2011 11:04 am
As a relatively new Vikings member I can confirm the above Not saying CCC is not as good, as I've not been a member - or seen many of their events other than their Crit nights.HAKS wrote:I must admit if I had my time again I would join Vikings and not CCC. Something about the Vikings events versus the CCC ones I've been to has made me feel like Vikings are a little more relaxed and welcoming. I also did the CCC intro to cycling program and while it was good, it was a little disorganised at times and when I compare it with the chatter on the vikings novice forum they seemed to get behind their new riders much more then CCC.
But Vikings have been amazing in terms of riders going out of their way to get to know new members, beginners and just generally have a chat with who their riding with. There's a relaxed, safety first attitude and every member seems to take on a mentor role for newer riders which is fantastic.
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Re: Clubs in Canberra
Postby twizzle » Thu Dec 15, 2011 12:53 pm
Like anywhere, there are times/places to avoid. You will learn pretty quickly what is safe... or not. Avoid ACTION buses like the plague, don't expect to be seen or tolerated, and it should all be good. You will find the majority of drivers, ie., 95%+ are good, there is about 4.9% of clueless morons who either don't think... or think that bicycles don't have any right of way, and .1% who will try and scare you. The .1% is mainly comprised of bus drivers.pickle wrote:Hahaha. Speaking of which... is there any roads that should definitely avoid? Or is it all pretty hunky dory?twizzle wrote: ... as long as your life/accident insurance is up to date.
The downside of Canberra is that cyclists aren't common enough on the roads that people remember to check their mirrors before turning across the on-road cycle lanes, and in peak-hour traffic cars often fail to see bicycles. Defensive riding is the norm.
...real cyclists don't have squeaky chains...
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Re: Clubs in Canberra
Postby Ross » Thu Dec 15, 2011 3:13 pm
Northbourne Ave weekday mornings from 7am - 9am and also afternoons from 4.30pm - 7.00pm is a place I try and avoid. Not because of the cars, though traffic is heavy, it's the commuter cyclists that are the hazard. They seem to think they're in the TdF and most appear to have as much road sense and sense of self-preservation as a 3yo toddler.pickle wrote:Hahaha. Speaking of which... is there any roads that should definitely avoid? Or is it all pretty hunky dory?twizzle wrote: ... as long as your life/accident insurance is up to date.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=pl ... 9j6f5eTkFU
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Re: Clubs in Canberra
Postby twizzle » Thu Dec 15, 2011 4:10 pm
Not true - if you are heading North in the morning or South in the afternoon, there is almost no commuter cyclist traffic.Ross wrote:Northbourne Ave weekday mornings from 7am - 9am and also afternoons from 4.30pm - 7.00pm is a place I try and avoid. Not because of the cars, though traffic is heavy, it's the commuter cyclists that are the hazard. They seem to think they're in the TdF and most appear to have as much road sense and sense of self-preservation as a 3yo toddler.pickle wrote:Hahaha. Speaking of which... is there any roads that should definitely avoid? Or is it all pretty hunky dory?twizzle wrote: ... as long as your life/accident insurance is up to date.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=pl ... 9j6f5eTkFU
...real cyclists don't have squeaky chains...
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Re: Clubs in Canberra
Postby jcjordan » Thu Dec 15, 2011 7:33 pm
Veni, Vidi, Vespa -- I Came, I Saw, I Rode Home
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Re: Clubs in Canberra
Postby pickle » Thu Dec 15, 2011 8:14 pm
Ok, so keep an eye out for buses, glass, purple monkey dishwashers and drunks, especially on northbourne ave.
The vikings are getting some good reports.. gonna have a look at their forums and say hello. (And their kit looks cooler than the CCC I must admit)
Also, do you guys do forum rides often? It might be nice to say hello to everyone when I'm in Canberra
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Re: Clubs in Canberra
Postby HAKS » Thu Dec 15, 2011 10:12 pm
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Re: Clubs in Canberra
Postby Ross » Fri Dec 16, 2011 10:15 am
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Re: Clubs in Canberra
Postby m@ » Fri Dec 16, 2011 11:27 am
True, but then you'd need to either work nights or worse - live Southsidetwizzle wrote:Not true - if you are heading North in the morning or South in the afternoon, there is almost no commuter cyclist traffic.Ross wrote:Northbourne Ave weekday mornings from 7am - 9am and also afternoons from 4.30pm - 7.00pm is a place I try and avoid. Not because of the cars, though traffic is heavy, it's the commuter cyclists that are the hazard. They seem to think they're in the TdF and most appear to have as much road sense and sense of self-preservation as a 3yo toddler.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=pl ... 9j6f5eTkFU
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Re: Clubs in Canberra
Postby Ross » Fri Dec 16, 2011 3:33 pm
At Thugranong?!m@ wrote: True, but then you'd need to either work nights or worse - live Southside
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Re: Clubs in Canberra
Postby pickle » Fri Dec 16, 2011 6:26 pm
haha.. good to see theres a healthy north/south rivalry going on in Canberra as well. I think I'm going to be a northie when I get thereRoss wrote:At Thugranong?!m@ wrote: True, but then you'd need to either work nights or worse - live Southside
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Re: Clubs in Canberra
Postby rockviewau » Sun Dec 18, 2011 4:21 pm
Vikings is located southside, something to think about
Current Ride: BMC SSX01
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Re: Clubs in Canberra
Postby pickle » Mon Dec 19, 2011 4:53 pm
And so it beginsrockviewau wrote:northside?? poor bugger, have they asked you to have a labotomy before you move in, as it is a prerequistie for living there......
Vikings is located southside, something to think about
Will I be disowned by both sides if I live north and ride with southies?
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Re: Clubs in Canberra
Postby auskonrad » Mon Dec 19, 2011 6:22 pm
Not true. It's not located anywhere specific. The actual Vikings club may be (http://vikings.com.au/) but not the cycling club - they're open to all parts and people of Canberra. Considering their bunch ride, the Norman, leaves from Northside, and a lot of other rides focus on all different sides of the 'berra, I wouldn't think it really has a specific focus geographically.rockviewau wrote:northside?? poor bugger, have they asked you to have a labotomy before you move in, as it is a prerequistie for living there......
Vikings is located southside, something to think about
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