MELBURN ROOBAIX 2017

From: Aus Crankster
Date: Mon, Jun 26, 2017 at 9:17 AM
Subject: MELBURN ROOBAIX 2017

Wow!!! What a day on the bike.

20 odd (some very odd) Dido's fronted up to form the 'Stueys' peleton.

A huge shout out to Dave and his team, Denise, Ricardo and Kiwi for awesome headgear this year.

For those of you who missed it, this year Stuey did his block.

Stuey says "Go Freckle !"

The Grande Departe

Dave was hugely disappointed with the weather this year. Despite predictions of possible rain making the cobbles of the North perilous, it was chilly, fine and even sunny at times. For some reason Dave likes it when it's wet (see earlier reference to odd). You can always. tell the new comers to the event, they studiously study the map before heading off…….why?  Just follow the pink fairy or flash gordon. They know the way.  This year we had Navi-Kiwi who took on the map reading task. Thanks Kiwi. One HUGE improvement this year was the inclusion of a magnifying glass for the map. At least if you wanted to look at it, you had a fighting chance of reading it. Andy are you trying to say something about the average age of the riders now??

The course was again, different from previous editions. The Koppenburg was missing (phew) but another nasty climb was added albeit, sans cobbles. It still got the blood pumping. 

The number of stueys who commented on the marvels of travelling through parts of inner city Melbourne that they would never see and being totally amazed by some of the architecture, bushland and unusual sights that we encounter. Exploring our city by bike is something we don't do enough as we rush from one place to another. 

This year was the 12th Edition and I've done 11. I've never travelled the same route twice; a huge credit to Andy White and his FYXO team.

Part of the essential route planning is working out where the coffee stops will be and ………… lunch.

If you're ever in the Fitzroy region and looking for a good pub meal, the Bayview……er sorry Bob, it's the Grandview Hotel provides good tucker. Just don't lob in with 20 of your closest lycra clad friends and expect to get out of there in under 2hrs.  Next year an alternative will be found. Oh by the way Trevsy, I believe your meal is now ready.

I think the guy in the orange behind muscle man needs to rearrange his muscle suit. It had clearly shifted and his six pack had converted to a keg.

The Melburn Roobaix started life as an 'alley cat' mystery ride for the fixie crowd in hommage to that great french cycling event. It was all a bit of a piss take really. What resonated with the punters however, was the opportunity to spend a day being silly people on bicycles of all shapes and sizes wearing whatever silly thing you can muster. Silliness and the celebration of cycling is now the order of the day. So weather you ride a fixie, a fold up bike or rip the bedhead from your flatmates 4 poster and whack wheels and a chain on it, with the Melburn Roobaix, all bets are off. There is only one rule, go nuts but be safe doing it.  Leggo dudes were cool.

So as you can see, for those of you who were a little cautious about the whole idea and the distance, If this guy can ride his bed around, clearly the pace is a bit of a snooze.  Now he's just got to sneak it back home without his flate mate noticing it was missing. 

And lastly, to all of the Stueys. You're AWESOME  and thanks for making the 12th edition of the Hell of the North another cracka day on the bike.

Until next year…….

"Stuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuey!"

Stuey

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Bandido Photo Album Index

The following links take you to specific Bandido Albums:

2018 05 Kyneton Klassic Gravel Ride
2018 03 LAR Autumn Edition v28
2017 06 Melburn Roobaix
2017 06 Liquorice Allsorts Ride Winter Edition v25 
2017 04 Bob's Kyneton Gravel Classic
2017 03 Liquorice Allsorts Ride Autumn Edition v24
2016 12 Liquorice Allsorts Ride Summer Edition v23
2016 09 Liquorice Allsorts Ride Spring Edition v22
2016 07 Kyneton Klassic
2016 06 Melburn Roobaix
2016 01 On The Road At The TDU
2016 01 TDU
2015 12 Liquorice Allsorts Ride
2015 09 13 Didos AGM at SYC
2015 09 Liquorice Allsorts Ride
2015 06 28 Melburn Roobaix
2015 05 31 Farren Vintage Collection
2015 05 Farren Collection - part 2
2015 03 2 Darls
2015 03 2 Darls - part 2

OLD ALBUMS (Picassa)

Rules Of The Road

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Stuart Kinnear <stuart@skproactive.com>
Date: Sun, Jan 17, 2016 at 3:58 PM

Thought I'd repost a rule book digest from a mountain bike group I ride with:

A lot of us aren't up to date with the current road rules, so here's a list of many of the rules that have changes over the last few years. It's worth a look, as some ore a bit odd, but may catch you out someday.

A bike rider must obey traffic control signs and signals including red lights, stop and give way signs.
A vehicle includes a bicycle. (Rule 15)
A rider is a person who is riding a bicycle but does not include a passenger or a person walking beside and pushing a bicycle. (Rule 17)
Cyclists can make hook turns at all intersections unless signage prohibits hook turns by bicycles (Rule 35).
Hand signals must be given when turning right (Rules 48, 49, 50)
Cyclists may ride in an emergency stopping lane unless prohibited by a sign. (Rule 95)
Cyclists riding through multi-lane roundabouts who travel on the far left line of traffic must give way to any vehicle leaving the roundabout (Rule 119)
Cyclists must ride as near as is safely possible to the far left side of the road — on a multi-lane road or a road with two or more lines of traffic travelling in the same direction as you, you can occupy a lane and travel in the right hand lane when necessary (for example, to make a right turn) (Rules 129, 130)
A bike rider must ride on the left side of an oncoming vehicle unless the rider is on a foot-path, nature strip or shared path and is permitted to be there. (Rule 131)
A driver (except the rider of a bicycle) must not overtake a vehicle to the left of the vehicle (with some exceptions). The rider of a bicycle must not ride past, or overtake, to the left of a vehicle that is turning left and is giving a left change of direction signal (Rule 141).
A driver overtaking a bicycle must pass at a sufficient distance to avoid a collision or obstructing the path of the bicycle; and must not return to the marked lane or line of traffic where the bicycle is travelling until the driver is a sufficient distance past the bicycle to avoid a collision or obstructing the path of the bicycle (Rule 144).
A bike rider may cross a continuous white edge line in order to ride along the road shoulder but must give way to vehicles on the roadway when moving back onto the road across the continuous white edge line. (Rule 150)
Cyclists cannot ride more than two abreast unless overtaking. When riding two abreast riders should not be more than 1.5m apart. This rule also applies on bike paths, shared paths and shoulder of the road (Rule 151)
A cyclist may ride in bicycle, tram, bus and transit lanes unless prohibited by a NO BICYCLES sign. (Rules 153 - 158)
A bike rider must stop before passing the rear of a stopped tram at a tram stop. Once the tram doors are closed and pedestrians have crossed between the tram and kerb, the rider may then proceed to pass the tram. (Rule 164)
A bike rider must sit astride the rider's seat facing forward and have at least one hand on the handlebar (Rule 245)
The rider of a bicycle must not carry more persons on the bicycle than the bicycle is designed to carry. Each person must wear an approved helmet. eg: no dinking (Rule 246)
The rider of a bicycle riding on a length of road with a bicycle lane designed for bicycles travelling in the same direction as the rider must ride in the bicycle lane unless it is impracticable to do so (Rule 247)
Bike riders must enter a bicycle storage area from a bicycle lane (unless it is impractical to ride in the bicycle lane).
The rider of a bicycle must not ride across a road, or part of a road, on a marked foot crossing, unless there are bicycle crossing lights at the crossing showing a green bicycle crossing light (Rule 248)
The rider of a bicycle must not ride on a part of a separated footpath designed for pedestrians. (Rule 249)
The only bike riders who can ride on a footpath are children under 12 years of age, adults accompanying children under 12, Australia Post workers and those with a relevant medical certificate. The rider of a bicycle riding on a footpath or shared path must keep to the left of the footpath or shared path unless it is impracticable to do so; and give way to any pedestrian on the footpath or shared path. (Rule 250)
The rider of a bicycle riding on a bicycle path, footpath, separated footpath or shared path must keep to the left of any oncoming bicycle rider on the path (Rule 251)
A bike rider may not ride on a road or footpath where signs or road markings specifically ban bicycles. (Rule 252)
A bike rider must not cause a traffic hazard by riding into the path of a driver, rider or pedestrian. (Rule 253)
A bike rider may not hold onto to another moving vehicle while riding the bicycle. (Rule 254)
A bike rider must maintain a distance of at least 2m be tween the bicycle and the rear of a motor vehicle when following the motor vehicle for more than 200m. (Rule 255)
The rider of a bicycle must wear an approved bicycle helmet securely fitted and fastened on the rider's head, and any passengers (eg: child in child seat) must also wear an approved helmet (Rule 256).
The rider of a bicycle must not tow a bicycle trailer with a person in or on the bicycle trailer, unless the rider is 16 years old, or older; and the person in or on the bicycle trailer is under 10 years old, the bicycle trailer can safely carry the person; and the person in or on the bicycle trailer is wearing an approved bicycle helmet securely fitted and fastened on the person's head (Rule 257)
The bike must have at least one effective brake and a warning device such as bell or horn (Rule 258)
In poor light conditions or at night the bicycle must have a flashing or steady white light that is clearly visible for at least 200 metres from the front of the bicycle; and a flashing or steady red light that is clearly visible for at least 200 metres from the rear of the bicycle; and a red reflector that is clearly visible for at least 50 metres from the rear of the bicycle when light is projected onto it by a vehicle's headlight on low-beam. (Rule 259)
At bicycle crossing lights if the light is red, you must stop before reaching the light. You must only cross when the light is green and if the lights change to yellow or red while you are in the intersection, you must cross it by the safest, most direct route. (Rules 260, 261, 262)
A person must not cause a hazard to a cyclist by opening a door of a vehicle, leaving a door of a vehicle open, or getting off, or out of, a vehicle (Rule 269)
A bike rider must secure any loads to the bicycle in a way that does not cause the bicycle to be unstable, make sure the load does not stick out from the bicycle in a way that is likely to injure a person, obstruct the path of other drivers or pedestrians, or damage a vehicle or anything else and avoid hanging things off the handlebars.
A cyclist may not lead an animal while riding a bicycle either on a path or a road.
A cyclist may not ride on any freeway or other road that has designated restrictions that prohibit riding..

SEAN KELLY wins PARIS ROUBAIX - 1984

Melburn Roobaix: 2011 wrap-up

The hard women and men of Melburn have now rested their weary bones, washed off the grime and gently tucked away their faithful steeds following another 'hellish' day in Melburn. Even before the event turned a crank in anger, there were signs that the 2011 Melburn Roobaix (MR) has reached critical mass. Event Director Sportif, Andy ‘Fyxomatosis’ White’s online registration system buckled under the onslaught that would have made a cyberattack on the CIA mainframe look like grandpa trying to remember his password at the ATM. Such was the overwhelming demand by punters trying to enter. The he'll of the north had been replaced by hell in cyberspace but more on the size of the event later.

I've been lucky enough to participate in all of them except the very first one. Each year Andy and his Fyxo crew outdo themselves and this year was no exception. Last year I managed to drag a few of my Dido buddies along for a day of silliness north of the river. If you live in bayside, you'd realize how significant this statement is. Some bayside residents still believe that the world ends at the CBD’s northern boundaries save for a few nomadic tribes that lead a Mad Max style existence in Broadmeadows and rumour has it, beyond. It all began humbly with Andy and a few of his fixie toting, bike courier buddies assembling for a little disorganised alleycat shenanigans

We assembled at Cafe Velocino for coffee which given that many of us were nursing hangovers from the annual Bandido Ball the previous night, was a life saving gift from the Gods. I was unceremoniously ribbed for my 9am departure blowing to 9.30 but providing some hangover recovery time had been meticulously drafted into the schedule (thankfully) and was going to be vital looking at the state of the eyeballs staring back at me.

The look on Wazza's face as his mug of coffee and two big slices of raisin toast arrived as we were about to depart and he yet uncaffenated: priceless. Such is the gustatory skill of the great man that he managed with aplomb.


Pre-Roobaix fuelling at Cafe Velocino with Rowdy, Ricardo, Mark, Wazza, Al, Nico, Kiwi

Alistair, Riccardo, Wazza, Mark, Rowdy, Leon, Fred (AKA Stuart), Jet, Kiwi, Bob, Nico and yours truly rode from Velocino and gravitated towards the starting point in Hawthorn. It was a slow, steady ride into a stiff northerly. It must have been too much for Rowdy who had to peel of f and recover at cafe Racer.






“Can I have a coke with that?” . “No Mark, take the mussette and move on”.



Step right up folks and get your Melburn Roobaix mussette and maps here.


Each year the crowd grows and the logistics require a different rallying point. Gone are the days when all Andy needed was a bit of space and eg. Fed square and a megaphone (that didn't work) in order to brief everyone. A single page instruction sheet and maps pilfered from the tourism desk got us around the secret course. Today we were on an oval with hundreds of our friends, queuing at the registration tent manned by volunteers in 'Fyxo' hoodies. That's progress for you.


Andy ‘Fyxo’ White works the crowd while Phil admires his shorts.



Enough reminiscing. One highlight each year is wondering what Leon's good friends Peter and Lawrence will be wearing. Did I mention that Lycra and carbon whilst present, are definitely in the minority. Lawrence was wearing an update to her ever popular 'fairy' ensemble. Always a winner.


Yeah Lawrence, peace babeee. Love the backlighting on the fairy wings.

Peter loves to pick a new outfit every year. This year he was feeling a little catty; cat woman to be precise.


Oh meow Peter!



Al’s hand on the shoulder makes sense but I’m with Peter, “what is your hand doing on his butt Kiwi?”. If Paula sees this, we’ll really see the fur fly!

Now Pete is a tall bloke, so seeing him squeezed into a full body, black PVC cat suit, face mask and the most bad-ass, knee high boots with wicked stiletto heels you’ve ever seen, was quite something. The fact that he managed to find pearl earrings, necklace and nail polish to compliment this outfit was pure genius. Even better was watching him slip those puppies into toeclips without scratching the patent leather. Sorry Lawrence but Peter upstaged you this year. I felt very inferior, nay, pathetic in my nod to the French classic wearing my Brooklyn team jersey and cap. Next year!


Leaping, Lawrence, me hiding in shame, and the clear winner, Peter !



In addition to the fairy and cat woman, I spotted the 'the frenchmen', the power rangers, a couple of ninjas, tons of hipsters and three guys on a bike (same bike) looking like the Goodies after they had raided the BBC wardrobe department, couldn't choose a costume and thought it would be really cool to wear a bit of everything they saw, at the same time, on the same body!

See if you can spot the escapee from the BBC wardrobe department. I dare you.


The bikes! If it had at least one wheel and could be pedaled, it was pressed into service. The guy on the unicycle discovered their shortcomings of his steed at the bottom of a hill requiring hard braking and a simultaneous turn to the right in order to avoid the busy road that lay before him. Sphincter tightening material.



The Frenchmen had to bring along their lunch, didn’t they!



Wazza’s canary yellow with Koori motive, urban attack vehicle

Wazza's recently commissioned, yellow, urban attack bike looked strangely mainstream amongst this lot. The modified, pink trike with the subwoofer and a plethora of speakers blasting the the burbs as we clattered through was a big hit; "how did it go over the cobbles?" was the usual question hurled at the hapless rider. I did suggest he write the question and answer on some card and pin it to his back. A quiet smile was my reward.


Man, this thing was pumping out some mean toons! Needed a bloody long extension lead though.



If you had at least one wheel and pedals, you were in.


The route this year had us travel ing further than in past years. It is designed to take about four hours including numerous stops at hand selected cafes offering sustenance and spot prizes.


Does anyone know a) where we are and b) where the hell we’re going?



I know, let’s try one of those fang-dangled new inventions; a map!




You’re right, these map thingies are really coooool!


The route is defined by the sectors of 'pave', alleys and lane ways designed to torture tyres and wrists. All of the favourites were there in addition to some new ones.

In order: Twa-ville, Rue de la Faucon, Mons-en-Masi, Or-Jeez, Carrefore de L'Fyxo, Madmanenmuur, Fitz-en-Pevele, Moolenberg, the legendary Koppenberg, Nappenmuur, Huy o Hoy and finally Chemin des Geants.




The sectors were hard on man, woman, fairies, super heros and machines. Even Colnagos became Colno-gos at times. At least Jet bought a spanner with him in anticipation of a mechanical.




Jet, is that a spanner in your hand or are you just .....................

Around every corner, there was always something to look at in the form of places you just wouldn’t normally get to see or other riders as they would normally not be expected to be seen.


Love the flag.



What the?????

These gals stole the show whereever they happened to park their tandem. Bet they were sick of striking that pose by the end of the day. At least you didn’t lose them in the crowd.


Power up!





It seems that everyone got a kick out of the power rangers riding their tandem.


One of the best things about the ride is that it takes you to parts of Melburn you just wouldn’t normally get to see, like anywhere north of the river for a start. It is surprising just how many cobblestone lanes remain, how long they are, how hard it is to ride a bike along them and why you would even bother to do so! We weren’t confined to the back alleys of Melburn either. We even go to travel through some really cool places that our mother’s told us not to play in when we were kids.



Riding the drainage culverts of Melburn. Yee ha!


The final sector brings the field close to the finish at the old Brunswick velodrome where a cacophony of sound mixes with a kaleidoscope of colour sprinkled with lashings alcohol and caffeine.





Ahhhhhh, the finish. Thankfully beer and no communal shower.



The finish at the Brunswick Velodrome.





What would the old Brunswick Amateur Cycling Club members have thought of this mob? (mural at the velodrome)





At the end of each pave sector, there is a question to be answered about that locale. Answers are recorded and you submit your card at the finish for the prize draw and boy are they worth winning. bikes, a trip to Paris, bags, and heaps of loot. Not to mention the holy grail: the coveted Melburn cobblestone. In true MR style, this is awarded like all of the prizes, by drawing your card out of a hat. Unfortunately this year, it was getting a little chilly for your humble scribe and his loyal cohort. Many decided that they had better things to do (it was only your first wedding anniversary Al!) and scampered for home. A few of my hardcore buddies followed me to the pub for an ale or two, or three. As we sat and supped, frozen melburn roobaixers began drifting into the warm, inviting sanctuary of the hotel. Bliss.


Now, where did we actually go again???


We swapped stories about breakaways that didn't quite survive, dogs that wandered in font of us, the hell of the Koppenberg and what happened to sector 8? We discussed the big issues such as was it OK to have the hots for a power ranger, why don't we all get to shower together at the end and are MTBs in the spirit of Roobaix or not? Most of all we talked about what a bloody silly thing it was to do and how much fun we had had doing it. Mucking about on bikes like a bunch of kids is a wonderful tonic for growing up. Fixes the condition every time.





Boys will be boys especially when they’re having fun mucking about on bikes (and off them).


Last year Leon and I talked about how many hidden delights there were down Melburn's alleys. We reckon bayside might offer up a surprise or two so watch this space for a bayside spring classic !

Enjoy the ride

Grab your favourite steed, slip into the lycra and roll out the door to meet your bike bro’s on beach road. Check-ins all round, foxing about form and the body slowly comes up to temp as the kms disappear under your 700Cs.
“I’ll just take it easy” self-talk is soon replaced by “they’re feeling the pressure and my legs are feeling good. Turn the screw!”. Before you know it, you’re embroiled in another beach road smash fest.

But wait, it doesn’t have to be that way. It is possible to go for (suck breath in), a ride.

A slow, meandering, inquisitive, fun and enjoyable ‘potter’ on your treadlie. If you’re really lucky, you will have some sunshine and great friends to share it with. If you’re even luckier, down a cobblestone alley in Melbourne, a special cafe will make you a brilliant cup of coffee that will titillate your olfactory senses whilst the surrounds will keep you eyeballs brilliantly entertained.

Today was one of those days. Her Royal Highness had given me the morning off (not the Queen, Mrs Crankster) and so rather than haul my weary arse out of a warm bed and into the the fresh Melbourne winter morning, I opted to join my fellow wanders at the concourse for a more leisurely start to the day. We discussed, deliberated, debated and disturbingly decided to head north. The sun shone and the wind wasn’t. The bay looked stunning for everything except sailing. We chatted, rode, laughed and luxuriated in the knowledge that we in no particular hurry to get to any particular destination of any significance. We just rode and enjoyed it.

Port Melbourne, South Melbourne, St Ali Cafe, See Yup Chinese Joss House, Albert Park, St Kilda, Beach Rd and Velocino.
What a day, what a ride.
Gotta luv Melburn





See Yup Chinese Joss House in Emerald Hill (now South Melbourne). Lindt. Melbourne, 1880s, by Lindt, J.W. (John William), 1845-1926, courtesy of National Library of Australia - Picture collection.





The See Yup Joss house as it is today. It is totally amazing what you can discover down the alleys of Melbourne. In this case, an alley just off Clarendon St in South Melbourne.


The Chinese temple in South Melbourne (then called Emerald Hill) was built in 1856 by the See Yup Society. In 1866 it was rebuilt and enlarged. The temple cost over four thousand pounds to construct and was funded by compulsory donations from Society members. The names of more than a thousand donors are inscribed on two stone tablets at the Temple. As the Society is legally a non-entity the six titles covering the temple land are held in the names of six individual trustees. The remainder of the donated money was invested in two properties in Little Bourke Street.
Still standing today, it was built as a meeting place for members but also includes two altars for worship and three memorial halls. The memorial halls hold over 13,000 tablets in commemoration of members who died and are buried somewhere in Victoria between 1850 to the present day. The Society held at least eight major religious services with offerings each year and the temple was open for all to visit or worship at all times. Although a temple it was not granted any rate exemptions for being a place of worship despite attempts in 1860 and 1912 until the early 1960s.
The financial organisation of the See Yup temples in Ballarat, Bendigo, Castlemaine, Beechworth and a number of other country towns were modelled on the South Melbourne temple. Each local See Yup society bought land whose title was held under the name of one or more trustees and built the temple.
Sources used to compile this entry: Leong, Maurice Kwok Cheong, 'The role of the See Yup Society in Melbourne and Victoria [unpublished paper]', in Chinese Heritage of Australian Federation Conference, Museum of Chinese Australian History, Melbourne, 1-2 July; Thanks to Maurice Leong for providing additional information for this entry.
Prepared by: Sophie Couchman, La Trobe University




What’s around the next corner Leon?





We hope they only tow cars





A bit of local St Ali colour and character



The wizards of St Ali



What can I say ?



Be free, ride free


Addendum:
Julie, I just had to borrow this one from you ☺



Maybe this is a little too free????