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Introduction

There have been numerous articles written on the topic of group cycling etiquette many of which are readily available on the internet. However, it's always good to revisit this topic to refresh ourselves and possibly pick up a few more pointers that we may not have been aware of.

This article has been written to assist middle order cyclists, who either ride alone or ride with the one group socially and who haven't had the benefit of riding with a range of experienced cyclists. It is not intended to be a catch all on the topic, or an authoritative statement. It's just a refresher on what many experienced cyclists consider to be good common sense and has been compiled from the author's own experience and the references listed at the end of this article.

“Why not?”

Just one line - it was all it took for me to sign up for my very first Bobbo, back in 2015. 

You see, I’m a fanatic when it comes to transport on two wheels; whether it’s cycling or even the MotoGP.

At that time, my wife Connie was volunteering as a telephone counsellor with Lifeline, and when she heard about the ride, she knew it was the perfect fit for me.

So when she asked me if I wanted to join, it was all I could say: “why not?”

Bob Elsworth – Bobbo regular – shares his wisdom for those who haven’t been in the saddle as much as they would have liked recently!

It’s quite ironic: it can be much harder for people to talk to family & friends when they are suffering depression and anxiety, than it is for them to talk to a stranger at the end of a telephone line.

 That’s something I know first-hand through volunteering four hours a fortnight at Lifeline.

 I moved to Australia with my employer about ten years ago. I wasn’t complaining when my company put me here, and there’s certainly no going back now. Being able to ride in non-freezing conditions year-round is something I love.

In Denmark, where I grew up, riding a bike is as common as having a meat pie in Australia! So when I came to Australia and had my two sons almost 20 years ago, cycling quickly became my number one hobby once my knees told me my soccer career was over.

It was in a chance meeting with my friend Lu Sierra, who works at Lifeline, where I heard about the Bobbo. It was an easy decision for me to sign up, truth be told.

When I did my training as a Crisis Supporter with Lifeline, I never imagined that I’d walk into this kind of situation.
As soon as I stepped out of the car, I was struck by how much the fire had ravaged the bushland around the community.

I’m writing this article for the benefit of motorists who currently perceive cyclists as an impediment to their rights in using public roads. If you are a cyclist who drives a motor vehicle, which I know the majority of us are, you no doubt respect the rights of other cyclists you encounter when driving. Unfortunately, many motorists, who don’t ride bikes, have minimal understanding of the hazards associated with cycling, the degree of skill possessed by individual riders and can be quite indifferent to the fact that a cyclist is another human being whose life is just as fragile as their own.

All riders will be familiar with muscle pain on the days following a big ride, but did you know that a few simple stretches can lessen the pain and get you ready to ride again sooner?