Australian Cycling Forums - Bicycles Network Australia

Hi guys,
Would you guys commute with a spare tyre in a bag or something just in case?

jm.catarroja wrote:Hi guys,
Would you guys commute with a spare tyre in a bag or something just in case?

I don't ride on the M2 but I don't go anywhere without 2 spare inner tubes in my small saddlebag. They fit in really easy and still leave room for tyre levers and multi tool.

jm.catarroja wrote:Hi guys,
Would you guys commute with a spare tyre in a bag or something just in case?

One spare tyre, hand pump and 6-ish spare tubes (and patch kit in the extremely unlikely event of.....) in my commuting kit. I'm paranoid but have had three punctures over both commutes in a day before. I've also have sidewalls blow out once needing a spare tyre, and when I didn't have one the Park Tools emergency tyre boots (like a $5 note only always in my tool kit). According to Murphy's Law, the more I have the less the chances are . Doesn't always work where the M2 and M7 are concerned.

Weekend rides that don't involve a motorway shoulder are different - 2 tubes, patches and 4 x CO2.

queequeg wrote:

Skindogs wrote:
I've read the SMP's are very hard to change - particularly roadside!

It depends on your rims. I have no issues with Open Pro rims or A719 Rims. I can get them on easily with bare hands, but as they say, practice makes perfect!
There is a technique for fitting wire bear tyres like the SMP, and you will struggle if you don't follow it.

+1 for Open Pro Rims (now on 3 out of 4 of my built bikes). Mavic seem to have the perfect rim diameter for bare hands IME too.

Thanks guys.. I'm running Maxxis Refuses which is awesome! Haven't had a puncture for awhile now.. I'm thinking of just carrying a spare tyre in my bag just in case..

I've never carried a spare tyre. Carry 2 tubes and a pump. Weekend rides are one tube and one CO2 (mostly riding with others I can borrow from). Worst I have had (including quite a few kms on M2) is a double puncture, so that seems enough for me. I have had tyre damaging single punctures where a $5 note got me home. Have never been stranded, but have had to ride home with RD cable gone before. If I do get stranded I carry a phone with a taxi on speed dial. I do get a disproportionately high number of punctures on the M2. And sometimes it is 2-3 rides in a row, but never more than 2 in a single ride so far.

Boognoss wrote:

Skindogs wrote:Boogs, When the works begin are you planning on just getting on at PH Rd or do you have an alternative route in mind that will still go thru B Hills to Beecroft?

Eastbound "they say" will not be affected at all. Only the westbound side. I reckon something will be happening on the offramp to P/Hills Rd from the west which wouldn't bother me anyway as I'm riding through on the M2. I'm actually closer to the P/Hills Rd onramp from home but it's slower with more hills. I prefer the faster/longer version in the morning and go on at Windsor Rd or (more often) turn right at Windsor Rd->Sunnyholt Rd->U-turn and then back to St Leonards.

If eastbound is blocked, I'll go back to the short version of Castlewood Drive, Taylor St, Aiken Rd, P/Hills Rd down to the M2 like I did when the M2 was blocked (continued past the M2 to Murray Farm Rd and the backstreets of hell).

I actually thought it was the other way round with eastbound being affected. But this is good as I prefer the longer ride in the morning, also going out to sunnyholt and then coming back, so this doesn't need to change. Now the question is which way to go in the afternoon when I get off at PH Rd to get back to B Hills - do I go thru north rocks and down the big dipper, or battle castle hill rd?? Suggestions?

jm.catarroja wrote:Thanks guys.. I'm running Maxxis Refuses which is awesome! Haven't had a puncture for awhile now.. I'm thinking of just carrying a spare tyre in my bag just in case..

I'm also using Maxxis Refuse and I'm not real impressed - they're soft, glass gets embedded, chunks are missing, flats are the norm..... But in saying that I have no idea how long a set of tyres should last (I've done about 3K on these - I think). And this is my only bike (sorry rule #12) so it's used for a couple of M2 commutes per week, weekend club rides and rides with my wife, so I'm looking for a good all purpose tyre that isn't too slow and can handle the crap on the M2. Gatorskins??

Skindogs wrote:

jm.catarroja wrote:Thanks guys.. I'm running Maxxis Refuses which is awesome! Haven't had a puncture for awhile now.. I'm thinking of just carrying a spare tyre in my bag just in case..

I'm also using Maxxis Refuse and I'm not real impressed - they're soft, glass gets embedded, chunks are missing, flats are the norm..... But in saying that I have no idea how long a set of tyres should last (I've done about 3K on these - I think). And this is my only bike (sorry rule #12) so it's used for a couple of M2 commutes per week, weekend club rides and rides with my wife, so I'm looking for a good all purpose tyre that isn't too slow and can handle the crap on the M2. Gatorskins??

That's weird... I've ridden of pretty much everything and it's held up pretty well.. Maybe I've just been lucky.. I hear gatorskins are great but I haven't tried them to be honest.. What about solids? Has anybody tried them?

Skindogs wrote:

Boognoss wrote:

Skindogs wrote:Boogs, When the works begin are you planning on just getting on at PH Rd or do you have an alternative route in mind that will still go thru B Hills to Beecroft?

Eastbound "they say" will not be affected at all. Only the westbound side. I reckon something will be happening on the offramp to P/Hills Rd from the west which wouldn't bother me anyway as I'm riding through on the M2. I'm actually closer to the P/Hills Rd onramp from home but it's slower with more hills. I prefer the faster/longer version in the morning and go on at Windsor Rd or (more often) turn right at Windsor Rd->Sunnyholt Rd->U-turn and then back to St Leonards.

If eastbound is blocked, I'll go back to the short version of Castlewood Drive, Taylor St, Aiken Rd, P/Hills Rd down to the M2 like I did when the M2 was blocked (continued past the M2 to Murray Farm Rd and the backstreets of hell).

I actually thought it was the other way round with eastbound being affected. But this is good as I prefer the longer ride in the morning, also going out to sunnyholt and then coming back, so this doesn't need to change. Now the question is which way to go in the afternoon when I get off at PH Rd to get back to B Hills - do I go thru north rocks and down the big dipper, or battle castle hill rd?? Suggestions?

Jinx - puncture this morning on the M7 shoulder eastbound.

Here's my commute yesterday.
Footpath from M2 to Thompsons Corner and then through to Crane Rd via the shared path from Highs Rd to Castlewood Drive. You could keep going past my place back to Old Northern Rd. I wouldn't do the big dipper, cars go flying down and up the other side in both lanes expecting to get up to the top at well over 60kph.

Wk2Hm M2 Coonara (Casseroll)

Boognoss wrote:Jinx - puncture this morning on the M7 shoulder eastbound.

Here's my commute yesterday.
Footpath from M2 to Thompsons Corner and then through to Crane Rd via the shared path from Highs Rd to Castlewood Drive. You could keep going past my place back to Old Northern Rd. I wouldn't do the big dipper, cars go flying down and up the other side in both lanes expecting to get up to the top at well over 60kph.

Definite jinx!! What tyres do you have on the Casseroll?

Yeah that doesn't look too bad. Is there a reason you don't take Aiken and Taylor? It looks more direct!

Skindogs wrote:

Boognoss wrote:Jinx - puncture this morning on the M7 shoulder eastbound.

Here's my commute yesterday.
Footpath from M2 to Thompsons Corner and then through to Crane Rd via the shared path from Highs Rd to Castlewood Drive. You could keep going past my place back to Old Northern Rd. I wouldn't do the big dipper, cars go flying down and up the other side in both lanes expecting to get up to the top at well over 60kph.

Definite jinx!! What tyres do you have on the Casseroll?

Yeah that doesn't look too bad. Is there a reason you don't take Aiken and Taylor? It looks more direct!

Grand Prix Classics (brown sidewall 25mm - the colour was the deciding factor) - the Mr Tuffys do make a difference but nothing is impervious and I don't want 750g tyres like Queequeg is happy with .

After the bottom roundabout on Aiken there's a pinchy climb and then RH turn - just annoying and usually parked cars so lane-taking needed on Tailor and more than a fair share of road-rage grief over many years. Castle Hill Rd is generally OK and flat so you're doing 30-40kph mostly (although the only two bogan incidents I've had on it were last Friday and yesterday). Also I sometimes go down Aiken, turn right at the bottom, up Hill through the supermarket car park and then a bit of Coonara. Depends on my mood and that route seems safer after dark to me. Won't need if for 6 months now though.

Had a doozy at North Syd this morning too - must be the weather. Got video but it's not BNA friendly language. Youtube search for Boognoss if you're interested .

Boognoss wrote:Grand Prix Classics (brown sidewall 25mm - the colour was the deciding factor) - the Mr Tuffys do make a difference but nothing is impervious and I don't want 750g tyres like Queequeg is happy with .

After the bottom roundabout on Aiken there's a pinchy climb and then RH turn - just annoying and usually parked cars so lane-taking needed on Tailor and more than a fair share of road-rage grief over many years. Castle Hill Rd is generally OK and flat so you're doing 30-40kph mostly (although the only two bogan incidents I've had on it were last Friday and yesterday). Also I sometimes go down Aiken, turn right at the bottom, up Hill through the supermarket car park and then a bit of Coonara. Depends on my mood and that route seems safer after dark to me. Won't need if for 6 months now though.

Had a doozy at North Syd this morning too - must be the weather. Got video but it's not BNA friendly language. Youtube search for Boognoss if you're interested .

Air Zound..that's brilliant. What a tosser!

Found this today after hearing from a friend that eastbound will also be closed. Now I'm angry!

http://northconnex.com.au/docs/ALL-LLB- ... rt-APU.pdf

Well, as the report says, they did a survey and found most days fewer than 20 cyclists used the road, with a max of 50 a day on a Sunday. So it's a bit hard to argue against the closure in the face of those numbers.

SheikYerbouti wrote:Well, as the report says, they did a survey and found most days fewer than 20 cyclists used the road, with a max of 50 a day on a Sunday. So it's a bit hard to argue against the closure in the face of those numbers.

Yeah I know. Doesn't make me any less angry though. Renown Rd Big Dipper eastbound might be viable (better sight lines on the climb for a bike grinding up the left hand lane). Also I don't have to do that route - maybe direct (Castlewood/Aiken) and add more laps of Lane Cover National Park in the mornings to get my extras in.

SheikYerbouti wrote:Well, as the report says, they did a survey and found most days fewer than 20 cyclists used the road, with a max of 50 a day on a Sunday. So it's a bit hard to argue against the closure in the face of those numbers.

I'll have to go check what was happening that week. Being the middle of winter, numbers are usually well down.

Boognoss wrote:Found this today after hearing from a friend that eastbound will also be closed. Now I'm angry!

http://northconnex.com.au/docs/ALL-LLB- ... rt-APU.pdf

Well found! 2 years westbound and 1 year eastbound - bugger!! Really don't like the Moxham's alternative. Think I might take your advice and run thru the back streets of WPH and up onto Old northern.

queequeg wrote: I'll have to go check what was happening that week. Being the middle of winter, numbers are usually well down.

I couldn't find a rainfall report for back in June but checked my soccer draw and we played that week, so it couldn't have rained much if at all (Councils close the grounds after just a few mm!).

I enjoy my training ride from Naremburn to Castle Hill/Bella Vista and back... will have to find something else but unlikely to find a route that involves such a long uninterrupted stretch of road

Just checked Bikejournal

Tuesday 16/6 - no data on their count. I rode eastbound in the morning. Drizzle. 13 deg ave
Wed 17/6 - I was one of 10 eastbound. Drizzle. 12 deg av.
Thurs 18/6 - 15 eastbound. I was one. Dry. 8 deg av.
Fri 19/6 - 0 eastbound. I freaking rode that morning. Heavy rain. 8 deg av.
Mon 22/6 - 21 eastbound, I was one. 4 deg av. Dry.

Pathetic, flawed and self-serving timing with blind observers.

SheikYerbouti wrote:

queequeg wrote: I'll have to go check what was happening that week. Being the middle of winter, numbers are usually well down.

I couldn't find a rainfall report for back in June but checked my soccer draw and we played that week, so it couldn't have rained much if at all (Councils close the grounds after just a few mm!).

I enjoy my training ride from Naremburn to Castle Hill/Bella Vista and back... will have to find something else but unlikely to find a route that involves such a long uninterrupted stretch of road

My stats showed I skipped Tue & Wed that week. Tue would have been for racing, but racing at Eastern Creek was cancelled on June 16th due to bad weather. Wed 17th must have been bucketing down as I didn't ride then either, but at least a few seem to have ridden anyway.

Perhaps a Strava Heatmap is a better indication of usage rather than a snapshot from 1 week in the middle of winter?

http://labs.strava.com/heatmap/#15/150. ... /blue/bike

Edit: I just noticed they did actually use the Heatmap in the middle of the document. The bright colour of the M2 should have highlighted to them that their count data was rubbish.
The M2 closure does not affect me much (this time) as I exit at PHR, but it does mean that my access to and from the M7 path now requires a long detour, which means I'll probably use Glenhaven Rd or Norwest Blvd. It's still a pain in the rear end. It's not that they can't make it safe during construction, it is just that cyclists don't matter. The only consolation I have is that it will be miserable for motorists for 2 years, and traffic in the afternoon heading west is likely to back into the Lane Cove Tunnel more often than not. Good times!

It sucks as the M2 is my daily commute (by car). Luckily I go north shore to outer west in the morning, and vice versa in the afternoon, so I am against the traffic.
With the current 3 lanes (that have only been open for a year or so) dropping back to 2, the peak flow will be a carpark every single day.

It was definitely a wet but not especially cold (for winter 2015) week.

http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/dwo/20150 ... 1506.shtml

I'd be amazed if, at this time of year (mid October), the total bike users on any fine day were fewer than 100 per day. Probably more. It is apparent that their count is wrong, just from the evidence of people in this thread. It's possible they counted several weeks and took the week with the lowest numbers.

As to the document Boog found, at point 2, it says cyclists will be diverted from "westbound onramp from Pennant Hills Rd..." [ie. towards Windsor Rd] and "eastbound exit to Pennant Hills Rd" [ie. coming from Windsor Rd]. Then they have a new westbound lane from PH Rd to Windsor Rd. OK, that makes sense, all west of Pennant Hills Rd. BUT, then they talk about eastbound generally, without specifying the location. Hmmm.

So at point 3, the document says cyclists will be diverted from the westbound on-ramp from PH Rd, but then that we will be diverted "eastbound of [sic] the M2 Motorway including the eastbound exit to Pennant Hills Rd". Eh? Am I reading that correctly to mean cyclists can't use the PH Rd eastbound offramp? The map on page 11 confuses the issue further, stating that the east facing ramps at PH Rd stay open. The option discussion paper by the consultants, also appears only to refer to diversions west of Pennant Hills Rd.

I accept they are doing the work, and they need to do it safely. There are some suggestions that they have thought about what they will need to do, to ensure cycling amenity (the document refers to slip lane tunnels underneath where the Northconnex roadway joins the M2). But I hope they are not touching anything east of Pennant Hills Rd.

Also Interesting that the count was not for an entire day, just for a few hours in the morning and afternoon.

There is some rather selective use of stats in the report too. They seems quiet happy to cite the Strava Heatmap and segment stats (Page 48, Renown Rd stats), but if they had looked at the Strava Segment for the Westbound On-Ramp at PHR, it shows that 14,137 attempts have been made by 1421 cyclists!

Likewise, coming the other way shows similar numbers.

Is there any way to mine strava data to show that the subset of riders using Strava in the sample period is more than they counted?