Lacking motivation

Ngalbrai

Up until 3 months ago I lived in Streatham and commuted every day to Westminster. Often the high point of my day, did it every day, whatever the weather. No brainer really as 20 min walk to station, crowded train and then more walking other end - bike won every time, quicker, healthier, cheaper - all the stuff you all know and love. Have been a converted bike commuter for 6 years having lived in various places in South London and only managing a week on the tube before getting a bike.

I never questioned my resolve.

I now live in Sydney. I commute 10 miles from St Ives to North Sydney (in case you are interested). Sydney is very hilly, I commute on the Pacific highway, its a 3 laner (yes, bike legal) which runs on a natural ridge and so is relatively flat. Traffic is faster than in london but so am I, am confident that road smarts will keep me safe, most notable of which is maintining the primary position, every time I give an inch I get some pretty hairy overtaking. Generally Aussies are fine on the roads, everyone hates cyclists of course and occasionally get abuse (mostly from youngsters), dont expect to be let into right hand lane when going from 3 to 2 lanes, but all stuff I have come to expect, all part of it. There isnt any direct hostility.

Of course the weather is better. Thing is things have changed. The train is more convenient, slightly quicker, also I get an option of a lift most mornings, very quick, very easy, door to door. Plus I cycle a bit further now, carrying more weight (laptop and other clobber). It seems to me the pollution is worse, same heavy density of traffic but all with much larger engines (4.0l V8 is affordable out here, many have them). Plus I hardly ever see any other cyclists on my route, seems like its me against the motorised population of the north shore sometimes, however, when I do see other cyclists its very friendly, took my London attitude by surprise initially!

I now question my resolve. Now that there are viable alternatives I find my motivation weakening - which is bothering me as i was always such a preachy born again cyclist....(ahem).

So point of this post, to have a bit of a p1ss and a whine, everyone thinks I am mad riding a bike at all so seek the usual like minds on here, and get a bit of encouragement I guess. I am having problems with my knees too, being looked at/fixed, but again, sapping the motivation.

Ah, I feel better just having written that, bit of a vent.

Jacomus-rides-Gen

I bet all the convinience factor the train and car gives you will pale again once your knees are back on form. Try seeing a sports physio who specialises in cycling injuries, as they can often be able to recommend a good bikefit professional too.

Chin up sunshine [:)]

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domtyler

Me and my wife have been looking to move over to either Aus or NZ. The general perception is that they are all health freaks over there but then I found out that Auckland is the most car dependent city on the planet! WTF?

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lateralus

Dom, 30+ years of shortsighted, vote grabbing local government have left Auckland with very little in the way of viable public transport. The smaller population has also meant that people expect to live in detached houses with land around them, so you have a city of 1.2 million people which sprawls over an area the size of Greater London. Consequently, people live a long way from where they work, go to school, etc, and expect to get there by car.

I've been back a few times in the 7 years since I moved from there to here, and every time the traffic is worse. The drivers are also (believe it or not) a lot less courteous than you get in London. You do see a lot of cyclists, but it's usually people in team kit out on training rides, or mtbs on the back of a 4x4 going out to the forest. They are into their cycling, but as a form of training/leisure more than as a serious form of daily transport.

Don't let it put you off - it's got a lot going for it as a place to live, but do look carefully at where you would live and how you would get to and from where you work.

domtyler

Thanks for your insight lateralus [:)] Seems such a shame though, maybe there will be a cycle revolution over there soon once they cotton on to the benefits?

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Ngalbrai

I was surprised too that more dont do it, but, as said earlier its more a weekend recreational thing. Aussies love their cars and power and petrol are cheap, so much so they get pokier versions of some models that just don't sell in Europe. Public transport aint bad but if you are in the wrong location then forget it, many rave about the underground!

Also surprised at the number of fatties, I too believed they were all surf mad etc. Interestingly Auz has the highest rate of young male suicide in the world - maybe something to do with the emotionally repressed Auzzie bloke stereotype?

Barring the cycling related setback I would wholeheartedly recommend it! I procrastinated for years but was given the push I need by rapidly approaching age limitations on working holiday visas and the relative difficulty of getting longer term visa without that as base to find job and sponsorship etc. Depending on what industry you are in there are several agencies that will sponsor you and contract you out to who would effectively be your direct employer.

Certainly Sydney compares very favourably with London, not least from being generally less crowded and having easy access to water sport (diving for me, big pull here) and relatively short distances out to some amazing country/bush.

lateralus

As Ngalbrai says, antipodeans are petrol heads one the whole. They love their sports, but it's usually team sports in NZ (rugby, cricket).

Maybe some of the casual cyclists are put off by the terrain. Auckland was built on a whole lot of extinct volcanoes - of my 10km commute to university, I doubt more than 2km was flat. Great fun blasting down the hills and seeing how far momentum would carry you up the other side...