Why We Do It. Images of Canberra

Well this thread almost went to s***………….

I am a bit crook at the moment, sitting on the bus heading to work the traffic was banked up to Carutthers Street from the Cotter road & again on Commonwealth Ave (for some reason the Floriade traffic lights are operational at the moment), I was staring longingly at the bike riders cruising along totally oblivious to the traffic. I was also wondering why more Canberrans dont get out of their air-conditioned cocoon & breath some more fresh air.

It has been a week & a half since I have been on a bike & god I miss it.

Around the block, against the clock:
tick tock, tick tock, tick tock;
running out of breath, running out of socks;
rubber on the road; flippety flop;
non-skid agility; chop chop,
no time to hang about!
Work out, health fanatic, work out.

The crack of dawn, lifting weights;
a tell-tale heart reverberates;
high in polyunsaturates,
low in polysaturates;
a Duke of Edinburgh’s award awaits.
It’s a man’s life;
he’s a health fanatic; so was his wife.

A one-man war against decay.
Enjoys himself the hard way;
allows himself a Mars a day.
“How old am I? What do I weigh?
Punch me there! Does it hurt? No way!”
Running on the spot, don’t get too hot;
he’s a health fanatic, that’s why not.

Peanut power; stay ahead,
running through the traffic jam taking in the lead.
Hyperactivity keeps him out of bed.
Deep down he’d like to kick it in the head.
They’ll regret it when they’re dead:
there’s more to life than fun;
he’s a health fanatic; he’s got to run.

Beans, greens and tangerines
and low cholesterol margarines;
his limbs are loose, his teeth are clean;
he’s a high octane fresh-air fiend.
You’ve got to admit he’s keen.
What can you do but be impressed;
he’s a health fanatic. Give it a rest!

Shadow-boxing; punch the wall;
One-a-side football;
“What’s the score?” “One all.”
Could have been a copper; too small.
Could have been a jockey; too tall.
Knees up, knees up! Head the ball!
Nervous energy makes him tick;
he’s a health fanatic. He makes you sick!

John Cooper Clarke

Pommy bastard said :

“Why we do it”.

Surely it would be better to take a car out there, or better still a motorbike.

Much more fun, less nasty sweatyness, and more time spent enjoying/photographing the views.

Less chance being run down/knocked off/run over by a big trucker off his tits on amphetamines.

Less chance of falling off, lass hate from the motorists you impede.

All told, yer doin it wrong.

The breathtaking moribundness of today’s troglodyphic couch impressionistas has been plumbed to new lows with this comment. My sage advice to you, PB, is that no matter how much you pretend to enjoy your sloth, deep down you know that we, the fit, the active, the healthy do enjoy drawing breath considerably more than your sorry hide ever will.

johnboy said :

Mr Gillespie said :

So what you’re REALLY saying is, I’m NOT right.

Are you saying it’s OK to cause as much disruption under the protections of the Road Laws you refer to, because one car has to slow down to avoid hitting that pushbike or being struck by oncoming traffic, everyone else has to slow down behind that car, and so on, and so on…..don’t you get it???

Or maybe you could stop being a massive knob, chill out, enjoy the photo, and who knows, maybe one day you’ll make some friends.

couldnt have really said it better. worry about yourself instead of what other people are doing. plenty of room for everyone.

Brandi said :

*Photo taken while stopped. But you’ll have to trust my word as a gentleman on that 🙂

Yeah, I figured it would have been. I was just playing the game. 😉

Noice. It was a bit nippy on the bicycle this morning though. Pushing into an Antarctic headwind, ws glad for the jumper and gloves.

JB: spot on with Gillespie. Makes me wonder whether he is really another Big Al -style troll exercise.

“Why we do it”.

Surely it would be better to take a car out there, or better still a motorbike.

Much more fun, less nasty sweatyness, and more time spent enjoying/photographing the views.

Less chance being run down/knocked off/run over by a big trucker off his tits on amphetamines.

Less chance of falling off, lass hate from the motorists you impede.

All told, yer doin it wrong.

*Photo taken while stopped. But you’ll have to trust my word as a gentleman on that 🙂

Point taken — yes it is a nice photo.

Mr Gillespie said :

So what you’re REALLY saying is, I’m NOT right.

Are you saying it’s OK to cause as much disruption under the protections of the Road Laws you refer to, because one car has to slow down to avoid hitting that pushbike or being struck by oncoming traffic, everyone else has to slow down behind that car, and so on, and so on…..don’t you get it???

Or maybe you could stop being a massive knob, chill out, enjoy the photo, and who knows, maybe one day you’ll make some friends.

Brandi said :

Gillespie is right – cars are incredibly dangerous and someone could be hurt, even inside a protective cocoon of a ton or more of steel.

It boggles the mind that these deadly machines are allowed on roads. Just as well that most people controlling them are careful, considerate and law-abiding, and recognise that cyclists are road users with reasonable equal entitlements under the Australian Road Rules.

So what you’re REALLY saying is, I’m NOT right.

Are you saying it’s OK to cause as much disruption under the protections of the Road Laws you refer to, because one car has to slow down to avoid hitting that pushbike or being struck by oncoming traffic, everyone else has to slow down behind that car, and so on, and so on…..don’t you get it???

Brandi said :

Gillespie is right – cars are incredibly dangerous and someone could be hurt, even inside a protective cocoon of a ton or more of steel.

It boggles the mind that these deadly machines are allowed on roads. Just as well that most people controlling them are careful, considerate and law-abiding, and recognise that cyclists are road users with reasonable equal entitlements under the Australian Road Rules.

Quite, if only said cyclists wouldn’t dishonour that consideration by taking photographs while riding.

Awesome pic Brandi. First thing in the morning is the best time of day…….especially on the bike.

Gillespie is right – cars are incredibly dangerous and someone could be hurt, even inside a protective cocoon of a ton or more of steel.

It boggles the mind that these deadly machines are allowed on roads. Just as well that most people controlling them are careful, considerate and law-abiding, and recognise that cyclists are road users with reasonable equal entitlements under the Australian Road Rules.

well, i’m sure he’d only pass when its safe to do so – ie no oncoming traffic.

I love riding my motorbike on that road every Friday afternoon.

God help the vehicle approaching from the opposite direction when the dam contractor gives the on-road bike-rider the clearance when passing…….