Source: The Age

Picture: SIMON SCHLUTER On the way to a healthy breakfast, Michael Tenace, Jay Bessel and Peter Davis hum down Lygon Street.

Cycling was once just for fitness. Now it is part of the city's culture. Carol Nader reports.

Pulses racing and faces flushed from their exertions, the lycra set take their seats in Cafe Racer in St Kilda. It's early morning and while many Melburnians are still dozing, this lithe assemblage is wide awake - and it has nothing to do with the coffee they're sipping.

The toned calf muscles and taut tushes belong to people that motorists love to hate - the cycling brigade.

On the other side of the Yarra, similar scenes are taking place in other cafes - Threshmans, Ti Amo and Brunetti in Carlton and Mario's in Fitzroy.

Cycling is by no means new in Melbourne, but in the past decade a cycling cafe culture has been cultivated.

Cafe Racer owner Danny Colls opened the business in 1995 and has watched his cycling clientele swell from "bunches of 20 and 30 people" to "bunches of 200 and 300".

"They come here so hyped up on adrenaline and endorphins," he says. "I think it would be imperative for them to have somewhere to chill out and wind down before they go home and see someone who has been asleep."

He has installed hooks out the front on which the cyclists hang their bikes. His cafe was recently named in British Vogue as one of the top five places in the world to have breakfast.

There are 1.2 million bicycles in Melbourne. Half of all households own at least one. Many cyclists follow the Yarra River trail from Eltham to the city. Others commute to the city along the trail from Lysterfield. And Beach Road always draws a string of cyclists.

Andrew Philipp sometimes rides with the cyclists who congregate at Mario's, but, as a waiter at the Brunswick Street cafe, "usually I serve them". He says those wishing to join must observe a cycling etiquette.

Cyclists usually form a line or two, and signals ensure smooth cycling and limit mishaps. For instance, a leader may signal if a car is pulling out.

"But if they yell out 'Left' or 'Right' they're not talking about turning, they're talking about a chick," Philipp explains.

To break into a cycling clique, you have to gain respect. Coburg Cycling Club secretary Xavier Csar says it can take days or years to be accepted.

"People don't start talking to strangers. It can be cliquey," he says. "Women have complained that they've gone on these rides and people don't want to talk to them . . . generally it's very intimidating for women and weaker riders. They'll just get left behind."

While cycling keeps heading upmarket, the oldest cycling clubs are in the working class heartland of Coburg, Preston and Brunswick. Coburg club historian David Halford refers to the modern sport as "more of a cappuccino set rather than a beer set".

Despite the trendification, bicycles are becoming relatively cheaper, says Bentleigh Bicycles owner Len Minty. "When I started riding in the early '60s, I put three-and-a-half weeks' wages towards an average road bike," he says. "Now you'll buy an average road bike for about one-and-a-half week's wages."

Bike image is very important. While the Tour de France has made France the place to ride, French bicycle makers are not well regarded here.

Cannondale, Bianchi, Campagnolo and Avanti are among the trend-setters.

An ordinary bicycle can start at $225; a top-of-the-range bike is equivalent to a small car - about $15,000.

Fitzroy Cycles manager Stuart McKenzie says his store sells bikes worth more than $5000 to "people who have never raced in their life".

Cycling apparel is also lucrative for retailers. An outfit, including helmet and gloves, costs up to $600.

Self-confessed "cycling nut" and founding president of Bicycle Victoria, Keith Dunstan, 78, recalls a time in 1975 when the then chairman of the Board of Works,Alan Croxford, lobbied for a ban on all bicycles because they were seen as a "menace to motorists".

But, since the Kennett government improved trails for cyclists, Melbourne is now regarded as having among the world's most bike-friendly roads.

Bicycle Victoria campaign manager Bart Sbeghen says more than 10,000 people now ride in and out of the city every day.

"It's fun and healthy, and you hang out with other fun and healthy people," he says.

Source: http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/02/28/1046407750231.html

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Written by Gregor Brown

Chris Horner will be one of the core supporters for fellow American Lance Armstrong in his next season at Team Astana. Despite past differences of opinion, the Oregon native is honoured to ride in the company of a seven-time Tour de France winner.

"The guy has been the Tour de France champion and I have been trying to get on his team for years. I don't have any problems working for him," said Horner to Cyclingnews.

The two and the rest of their Astana teammates are on the Spanish island of Tenerife for a team training camp. The last major meeting between the two was when they were racing for different teams at the 2005 Tour de France. Armstrong retired at the end of that race, but he is making a comeback for the 2009 season with his old team manager Johan Bruyneel. Horner joined the team at the beginning of this year.

Besides a daring escape with Frenchman Sylvain Chavanel in the 2005 Tour's stage 13, Armstrong might remember Horner from some of his remarks regarding the end of Team Discovery Channel. Horner insisted that he was simply expressing a difference of opinion.

"I don't have any problems working for him, having conflicts with riders throughout your career is completely normal. Nothing that Lance and I have had conflicts over has been anything major."

Horner explained that the team is splitting into different groups every day during the training camp in Spain. Tuesday Alberto Contador and Armstrong were in different groups, but yesterday they were training together. Horner has had his time with both the Tour winners.

His programme will follow closely to that of Armstrong. "It will probably be Tour Down Under, [Tour of] California, Paris-Nice, Giro [d'Italia]..." he said of his early races.

Thursday is the official presentation of the 2009 Astana team. With Levi Leipheimer, the team boosts three American riders in its roster.

Source: http://www.cyclingnews.com/news.php?id=news/2008/dec08/dec04news

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SP Ausnet 15th Tour of Bright, December 6-7.

The overwhelming popularity of the Victorian road season has been highlighted once again with record entries received for this weekend's SP Ausnet 15th Tour of Bright. 

The Entry List has surpassed 500 for the first time, an increase of almost 100 on last year's figures.  The list has been separated into Grades of Mens A, B, C; Women A & B; Masters 1/2/3, 4/5 and 6+. 

Leading the best A Grade field seen in years is 2008 National Road Series Champion David Pell (Bendigo & Districts CC).  Pell has 2008 season wins in at Tour of Southern Grampians, Australian Cycling Grand Prix and Grafton to Inverell, in addition to numerous podium finishes. 

Looking to deny Pell of a season ending victory in his home state is Richie Porte (TAS). The defending champion and 2008 Tour of Tasmania winner, Porte has also had a strong 2008 season which included contesting the Tour Down Under in January and victory at the Tour de Perth.  

Fellow interstate riders also making the trip include 2008 Tour of Gippsland champion Bernard Sulzberger (TAS), three-time top-ten Tour Down Under GC finisher Gene Bates (SA) and 2004 Tour of Bright Champion Peter McDonald (NSW).  2007 third place finisher Evan Oliphant of Ireland also returns for another crack at the title.

Home state heroes to look out for include the Baw Baw champion Daniel Braunsteins (Hawthorn CC), Paralympian Michael Gallagher (Carnegie-Caulfield CC) and former podium finisher Mark O'Brien (Horsham CC).

Like the men, the women's field is one of the strongest ever assembled for the Tour and will be headlined by numerous Australian team members.  

2007 runner up Carlee Taylor (SA) will look to go one better this year after finishing runner up to then unknown Sharon Laws, who then went on to represent Great Britain at the Beijing 2008 Olympics in August. 

2008 Australian Open Road Time Trial and Australian Cycling GP champion Bridie O'Donnell (Brunswick CC) will lead the challenge with 2008 Australian Female Road cyclist of the year and stage winner of the 2008 women's Giro d'Italia, Vicki Whitelaw (ACT) and Olympic gold medallist Kathy Watt (Blackburn CC). 

Also competing is recent national mountain bike series event winner Katherine O'Shea (Bendigo & District CC), who is a member of the national mountain bike development program "Dirt Roads to London".

The event kicks off at 8am Saturday morning with a Road Stage with a 16km Time Trial in the afternoon.  Sunday sees another road stage, this time the Mt Hotham ascent.

Source: Cyclesport Victoria

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Living in Melbourne? Cycling-inform Saturday informal group rides are starting this weekend (6/11) and will run up to Xmas (weather permitting).

We will leave from outside LeKnicks at Black Rock @ 7.30 am sharp and head down to Frankston @ around 30-32 km/h to do some hill repeats in Mt Eliza. We return back to Black Rock and stop for a coffee and chat.

Please note that the normal riding disclaimer applies. Copies will be available before the start of the ride.

We prefer that you take out some cycle cover prior to attending these rides.

We recommend the following:

Cyclosportif:
http://www.cyclosportifvic.com.au/default.asp?MenuID=Membership/20174/17196

Bicycling Victoria:
http://www.bv.com.au/join-in/ » Read More

Cyclo Sportif Victoria and the Scott Peoples Foundation are pleased to announce that
Victoria's Cadel Evans will be taking part in the inaugural Scotty’s Ride in
Shepparton on Saturday 13th December.

Evans, the 2007 and 2008 Tour de France runner up, will join hundreds of
recreational cyclists in the fully supported 125km recreational challenge ride on
the quiet country roads around Shepparton.

The event is held in honour of Scott Peoples, one of Australia’s brightest
young stars, who was tragically killed in December 2006.

This announcement comes after the confirmation that fellow Victorians, Athens
Olympic gold medallist Brett Lancaster and fellow Tour de France hero Phil Anderson,
will also take part.

A number of other past and present cycling stars including former Giro
d’Italia Stage Winner current cycling commentator David McKenzie and 2008
National Road Series Champion David Pell will also be on the ride.

Scotty's Ride kicks off the Scott Peoples Memorial Cycling Festival, with the
action packed weekend of cycling to also include Scotty's Track Night
(http://www.vic.cycling.org.au/?Page=18780) at the Shepparton velodrome and
Scotty's Race (http://www.vic.cycling.org.au/?Page=15265) which will see some of
Australia's top cyclists in action.

This is a rare opportunity to Ride with the Stars of Australia cycling and entries
are filling fast so enter today! Click here
(http://www.vic.cycling.org.au/?Page=18021) to take advantage of an early entry
offer.

Scotty's Ride Official website (http://www.vic.cycling.org.au/?Page=17812)
Cyclo Sportif Victoria Website (http://www.cyclosportifvic.com.au)  » Read More