First, let’s clear something up straight away. Business travel sucks. Air travel hasn’t been glamorous since 1950-something when flying anywhere was outrageously expense, slightly dangerous and only for politicians, millionaire business men, royalty and Grace Kelly. Now, airports are crowded and nakedly designed to funnel you through labyrinthine retail ‘opportunities’ where your time is valued in terms of revenue per minute spent in the airport (this is entirely true and is why you’re supposed to check in 2 hrs before an international flight). Then you get crammed in a cheap seat where the funniest thing that could ever happen would be watching anyone over 4’6″ attempt to adopt the brace position. Occasionally, however, travelling on business does mean you get to spend a weekend in a new city, with better weather and a chance to explore. Naturally, therefore, you hire a bike and do some sightseeing! And since you haven’t packed your own shoes, pedals and bibshorts, that bike will probably be a hybrid.
So, what did I learn on a rented hybrid in Perth, Australia?
- In hot climates, it is not a good idea to leave your water bottle in the bike shop when you set off.
- The Ausies can build a great bike path, but their signage is all focused on keeping bikes and pedestrians apart. They have completely neglected to put up any signs that tell you where you’re going – something that out-of-towners might find useful.
- The bike paths map needs to be sweat-proof – the one currently in circulation disintegrates into a messy pulp in your back pocket.
- Riding a hybrid in ‘normal’ clothes really does change the way people react to you on a bike. You can swoop past pedestrians with a cheerful “hello!” and get an equally cheerful response. Pull alongside another hybrid / e-bike rider and they’ll chat for a few seconds. Small children on bikes will wave back at you and smile. Couples walking together will make room for you to pass and smile at you as they do so. Even drivers didn’t seem so aggressive, but I wasn’t on busy enough roads for long enough to make this a valid sample! The downside, however, of tootling around on your hybrid is that you become completely invisible to “proper” cyclists. Whether alone or in groups, anyone on a drop barred bike, wearing lycra, shades and proper cycling shoes seemed unable to see me at all! A wave of acknowledgement gets ignored, as does a ‘hello’. Not a smile amongst them! It all got me thinking that Dame Storey is right when she says we need new terms instead of just labeling anyone on a bike as “cyclist”.
- You can do 60k+ on a hybrid… But probably shouldn’t.
- Any saddle that says “comfort” on it in big letters is a liar.
- Even Ausie tourists are stupid enough to feed seagulls.
- If you ever decide to rent a bike in Perth, it’d be a good idea to make sure your borrowed helmet hasn’t previously been used by a cold-climate adapted Scotsman. They’ll be lucky if those straps still bend tomorrow!
