Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: Space for Ol Dat I See

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  • recordari,

    I believe you'll find the word is "pendant". (Plural: pendant's.)

    I was scrabbling around to change 'apostrophes' to 'apostates' and ran out of time, which now seems 'apposite'.

    Carry on.

    AUCKLAND • Since Dec 2009 • 2607 posts Report

  • FletcherB,

    Ass is not arse. Old folks learnt English at school rather than learned American.

    West Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 893 posts Report

  • Stephen Judd,

    I must say I'm looking forward to some more high-profile cycling advocacy now that you've joined us, Russell. It's a good way to get around!

    Wellingtonians should take a gander at the CAW cycling hazard map.

    Amen to what Ross Mason said. There is any amount of research showing that accident rates are highest where footpaths, roads, and cycle routes cross at 90deg, particularly where the party crossing has to look both ways. A cycle route that is constantly crossing a well-used road is a major FAIL.

    Jack: what's granny gear like on those hubs? My interest is piqued, but for me gearing needs to be suitable for a good Mt Vic hill climb.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 3122 posts Report

  • Russell Brown,

    I must say I'm looking forward to some more high-profile cycling advocacy now that you've joined us, Russell. It's a good way to get around!

    I've had a basic mountain bike for years, but things kicked up a year when I got the hybrid last year.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

  • Keir Leslie,

    Amen to what Ross Mason said. There is any amount of research showing that accident rates are highest where footpaths, roads, and cycle routes cross at 90deg, particularly where the party crossing has to look both ways. A cycle route that is constantly crossing a well-used road is a major FAIL.

    But isn't the recommended solution generally to treat bicyclists like first class road users, not funky semi-pedestrians?

    Though I guess that's for utility cycling, but for some recreational stuff you want to stay away from roads so that's not so much of a goer.

    Since Jul 2008 • 1452 posts Report

  • TracyMac,

    I would just like to say, in terms of upcoming music, MASSIVE ATTACK. I've never been to the Vector Arena, but screw it for attending the concert here in Oz.

    As for bogan witticisms, I prefer the hysterical UTERUS to one that's common over 'ere: "No its not my boyfriends" [sic].

    I certainly understand why these women feel the need to label their utes as such (although often the BRIGHT PINK bling should give it away), but I don't think they should feel they have to.

    Do ladeez-with-utes in NZ run into the same set of assumptions? I've never seen one with that kind of label in NZ, and never heard of any hassle, but then I ran around in the queer milieu, so results may vary (the nearest I got to utehood myself was an HQ Kingswood station wagon. My current upgrade is an HT sedan.)

    Canberra, West Island • Since Nov 2006 • 701 posts Report

  • recordari,

    Ass is not arse. Old folks learnt English at school rather than learned American.

    Oh, I thought it meant Donkey, but whatever you say ;-)

    Equus Asinus - the same route (intended) as asinine.

    About them cycle tracks. More cycle love please.

    AUCKLAND • Since Dec 2009 • 2607 posts Report

  • Rik,

    I remember riding this route with a mate a couple of years back as we tried to figure out where the new motorway was going to go. Passed a couple of odd looking types while snooping around Harbutt Reserve (behind the Paknsave/railway line) and came across a campsite where these guys must have been living that gave us a very eerie feeling...without a word to each other we just turned back and headed out of there. I read several months later about the cops busting these guys as they had been a menace for local crime - glad we didn't come across them on the way out!

    Since Jun 2007 • 130 posts Report

  • Russell Brown,

    Dave playing for us on Media7:

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

  • James Butler,

    A cycle route that is constantly crossing a well-used road is a major FAIL.

    But isn't the recommended solution generally to treat bicyclists like first class road users, not funky semi-pedestrians?

    The important distinction is "constantly crossing" vs. "constantly part of". For utility cycling, a cycle route that is properly integrated with a major road is a wonderful thing; one that requires you (in theory) to constantly dismount, cross as a pedestrian and remount (hello, Green Lane/Great South Road) is worse than nothing.

    Auckland • Since Jan 2009 • 856 posts Report

  • JackElder,

    But isn't the recommended solution generally to treat bicyclists like first class road users, not funky semi-pedestrians?

    That's my preferred solution for day to day cycling - but it can intimidate people a bit. Personally, I find cycling on the road much safer (though usually more hair-raising, I'll admit); you can go faster, and you don't have to watch out for kids.

    Anecdata: of the bicycle accidents I've had in the last decade, I can only think of two that were not either on a cyclepath or at the intersection of a cyclepath and road. Corollary: none of the accidents that I've had have been serious.

    A cycle route that is constantly crossing a well-used road is a major FAIL.

    Or as we call it: the Old Hutt Road/Thorndon Quay!

    Jack: what's granny gear like on those hubs? My interest is piqued, but for me gearing needs to be suitable for a good Mt Vic hill climb.

    According to Saint Sheldon, the lowest gear on a Nexus hub with 50t front ring and 24t rear sprocket (as spec'd) is about a 29" gear... which is pretty low. It's roughly equivalent to being in the lowest rear gear on the middle chainring on a mountainbike. For reference, I don't normally drop below about a 45" gear cycling up the Ngauranga Gorge, and my road bike has a lowest gear of 32".

    Wellington • Since Mar 2008 • 709 posts Report

  • Russell Brown,

    I think even for functional commuter cycling, the odd major cycleway is really useful -- and essential where the road route is a motorway.

    The northwestern cycleway is being upgraded to take out a deviation onto existing roads.

    I suppose there's no chance of taking out that oddly dispiriting little incline to the landing on Newton Road ...

    The Auckland City website section on bikes and cycleways makes all the right noises, but really isn't very useful at all.

    The only joined-up map available is a "proposed" one from 2001, and I'd love to tack the Waikaraka Cycleway onto the end of the route I described above, but the map dates from 2001, and there's no indication of what or how much of what's "proposed" on that has actually been built.

    Is there a proper map anywhere?

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

  • giovanni tiso,

    I still can't get past Jackson's observation that blockbusters don't even need to be good any more. I find this abdication of any sort of relationship between cinema and critical thinking somewhat troubling. It also comes from the guy who cast the Arabs as the bad people in The Return of the King and got Mortensen to deliver the awful "us people of the West" speech just as Iraq was being invaded, as if the important thing at that moment in history was not to disappoint Tolkien fans. But that's a whole hornet's nest obviously. And of course I'm not discounting that enjoying the film without thinking too much may be the most sensibile response (I wrote as much this week) - I just don't like to be told I have to.

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report

  • Russell Brown,

    Pssst, dude ... wrong thread ...

    :-)

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

  • recordari,

    Umm, this thread is many themed, and I seem to recall one of them being music? Pay attention, it's only page two!

    Just looked at the Laneways schedule, and the 3Ds are up against Echo and The Bunnymen. Guys, umm, good chance we might want to see both, perhaps? I can see what they are doing with the staggered timetable, and it is undoubtedly impossible to keep everyone happy, so fair enough. Whinge over. Carry on... Grumble grumble...

    BTW Heard the new Surf City song on Morning Glory this morning and it was oh, awesome!

    AUCKLAND • Since Dec 2009 • 2607 posts Report

  • Russell Brown,

    Umm, this thread is many themed, and I seem to recall one of them being music? Pay attention, it's only page two!

    No, no I meant the Lord of the Rings post.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

  • recordari,

    Yeah, I got that, which makes the first part of my post, written without prior knowledge, kind of funnier [redacted] than it was otherwise. Can I have lie down now?

    AUCKLAND • Since Dec 2009 • 2607 posts Report

  • Just thinking,

    Failing the introduction of parrallel infrastructure & the expense, lets have a 30km speed limit, and univeral free public transport.

    The national fuel and road savings would be through the roof, sure tax up for public transportation but a general saving in all other areas of the national purse.

    We already do it for the over 60s & at 30kms you know it's gonna speed traffic up in Auckland.

    Putaringamotu • Since Apr 2009 • 1158 posts Report

  • Bart Janssen,

    The slightly more upright riding posture has solved the back and neck problems

    Yeah it seems weird but riding is one of those exercises that can really mess your back up if you do it wrong. Nobody ever talks about posture while cycling - because it's as easy as riding a bike - and as you get all warm and loose you can push your back into a really bad shape.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 4461 posts Report

  • Geoff Lealand,

    It being Friday arvo and all...

    Back home, with my ears still ringing from the absolutely-bloody-fantastic Al Green concert at The Civic last night. I have declared to all and sundry that it is the very best concert I have ever been to--backed up the highly informed bloke at Marbeck's, who places it in his top 3. Indeed. the superb band and swooping voice of Al quite brought tears to my eyes. Great to see virtually half of the crowd up and dancing--but no encore (despite a standing ovation) and no Belle!!

    So what did you think of it, Danielle?

    Very impressed too by the Auckland light rail system (taking a Maxx train from Avondale to Britomart)

    Screen & Media Studies, U… • Since Oct 2007 • 2562 posts Report

  • Angus Robertson,

    A million thank yous for the cycle trail map. It is difficult to plan a good route, not having the paths on a road map.

    Have been doing the same thing in the same places in an effort to get fit and with half an eye to riding the Colville Connection in mid-March if able. This year ambitiously hoping to finish in the top 80% of the field.

    BTW - does anyone know where the "50 km cycle route" runs? There are little blue signs all over Auckland City telling you it exists, but half of them seem to be missing.

    Auckland • Since May 2007 • 984 posts Report

  • Phil Lyth,

    What LoRT thread please? Am I missing an in-joke? (Tried the search function which says there are 47 relevant posts but I can't get past the first page, 1 - 20)

    Wellington • Since Apr 2009 • 458 posts Report

  • giovanni tiso,

    I posted a rant about the Lord of the Rings which was really about Avatar in the wrong thread, meaning the Lord of the Rings post belonged in the Avatar thread.

    Ops.

    (Too late to delete it, maybe Russell can.)

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report

  • Vaughn Davis,

    Sigh... a lifetime of insightful tweets and posts and this is what I'll be remembered for.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 21 posts Report

  • Russell Brown,

    Sigh... a lifetime of insightful tweets and posts and this is what I'll be remembered for.

    Next, one of the Sunday papers will find and interview the wags who own the ute, they'll be famous and it'll be like you never even existed ...

    Oh, folks, it was remiss of me not to say, this is Vaughn:

    http://twitter.com/vaughndavis

    He's quite clever.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

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