So. PRETTY!!!

I need to stop looking at bike porn. I've been reading Lovely Bicycle, and it's got me dreaming of my own vintage-look, Dutch-style bike.

I did a bit of an Internet search, and found this Melbourne-based shop. Pretty bike!!!!! Thank goodness they're out of stock until May, or I'd be in major impulse-buy trouble right now.

I've also visited this shop in St Kilda and found their bikes to be unbelievably gorgeous. Not to mention that Gazelle Bikes also seem to be retailing in Australia.

The biggest problem when it comes to buying a bike like one of those is the money. I ended up shelling $AUS 440 on my bike, including the mudguards and rear rack, and that's the most I could afford. If I got one of these, I'd have to buy the bike and then also upgrade all the gears (I can't do hills without gears), which will cost even more.

So I'm very much just stuck looking, dreaming, and drooling :-p One day, when Oolon is rich and famous, I'll have all the bikes I want!

AWOL. Again.

So, the wedding is coming up very soon.  This means that I'll be posting a lot less frequently as I'm going to be busy making sure that everything continues going according to plan. It shouldn't be too difficult, but I want to give myself that space and reduce my commitments as much as possible. I'll try to blog about once per week over the course of the month.

So, please bear with me for the next several weeks. We'll return to our normal programming schedule in May :-)

Cycling bitch-fest

Dear Pedestrains:

If you are walking on the right-hand side of a walking/cycling shared path, chances are that every so often a cyclist will be coming straight toward you (we drive on the left-hand side of the road in this country). If that cyclist is going at 30km/hr (may not have enough time to actually stop) and rings their bell at you rather than going around you, chances are that it's because said cyclist has calculated that doing so would mean crashing into the other cyclist coming toward them, and cycling on the side of the road which you should be on.

So please, walk on the correct side of the path and move when the on-coming vehicle sounds its bell at you, rather than staring ahead like a stund mullet and nearly causing what could be a fairly serious crash.

Having your iPod on so loud that you can't hear my bell or my shout is also something you really ought to avoid.

Dear Fellow Cyclists:

If you are going to overtake me, please warn me of your presence before you come around me. If I am zoned out and there is an unexpected voice in my ear, I startle. This can cause me to crash. Ring your bell or shout that you're coming before you are riding right next to me.

Furthermore,  I would appreciate it if you took care around sharp curves. If I've slowed down but you haven't and we can't see each other until we're practically on top of one another, then crashing is going to be serious. Just because you're on a road bike and wearing spandex doesn't mean you don't have to also be careful.

Dear Car Drivers:

If you find yourself in a situation where, were I driving a car, you would give way to me, then you still have to give way even if I'm on a bike.

A recent article in Ride On magazine from Bikes Victoria showed statistics that the majority of bicycle collisions were with motor vehicles, and the top 3 causes were becaues the other vehicle failed to give way to a cyclist.

So, please obey the road rules regradless of whether I'm driving a car, riding a bike, or straddled on a low-flying pterodactyl. If I'm using the road, we both obey the same rules.

Kind Regards,

Quincy

Etiquette

I think it's time I did a post on etiquette, courtesy, and manners. A lot of people forget the basics of getting around in society, so here goes:

Conversation and the conveying of meaning:

1) The words "excuse" and "me" are very useful when put together. Especially if someone's in your way. And facing away from you, so they don't know you're there and wanting to get past them.

2) "Bless you" is appropriate when someone sneezes. Just say it, it won't do anyone any harm.

3) "Wha?" is not the nicest way of letting someone know you didn't understand them. At least put the "t" on the end if you can't actually be polite and say "I beg your pardon" or "Sorry?"

Niceness to others

1) Retail staff rarely know every single detail about every single product in their store. They are doing their best, so don't get mad at them for things they may not be able to help.

2) If you have misread a label, then it is not the fault of the staff. Don't take it out on them.

3) Restaurant and café staff handle your food and determine what goes into it. Don't piss them off.

Courtesy

1) Think of others before you act. Actually consider whether what you are about to do will impact other people. If you are unsure, then ask them. It is better to check than to have them be negatively affected and annoyed at you for causing it.

2) Offer to help if someone appears to need it. They may not take you up on the offer but, at far as manners go, offering it is as good as actually giving it.

3) Acknowledge when someone has done something nice or helpful for you. Recognition is a wonderful thing to receive, and think how good you'd feel to get it if the roles were reversed.

Being polite isn't difficult, and it makes the world a nicer place to be. You don't have to be dishonest to be polite; you just have to think.

Photo fest!

These are some photos I took on a weekend away that Oolon and I took together last year:

Ducks!

It's like something out of a fantasy film.