The grand tradition

A trip to pick up some track bars from an ex-track cyclist in the north of the state on the weekend ended up with a conversation about the heyday of track cycling during the late 60s and early 70s at Launceston’s York Park. Every Friday night there would be up to 250 cyclists cramming in to watch and race, or so the story goes.

The more hardcore racers would compete in the six-day race, which made for white-knuckled racing on the less-than-perfect velodrome at York Park. In the first year of the ‘six’, in 1961, over 50,000 spectators came to the raceway over the six days to watch the action.

6-day track cycling in Launceston, 1970s

Photo: Joe Ciavolo (left) rounding the final turn at Launceston’s York Park.

“It was so flat, very difficult to get round on the corners and it was a small track. It just wasn’t banked enough. There were sparks all the time from where you would clip your pedals on the banks. The pedal clipping on the inside was spectacular for the spectators because nearly everyone could do it, not intentionally.

“The other [problem] was the back wheel skipping coming out of the finishing bend. Unless you knew exactly how to ride it the back wheel would always skip.”
– Joe Ciavolo

Racing ended at York Park in 1972. I wonder where the bikes that were involved in the epic races of three decades past are now?

It’s a grand tradition indeed.

Quote and image from The Licorice Gallery.

Bottles and beans

Is there such a thing as ‘too early for a beer’? Sometimes it’s a good idea to put the bottle on the back-burner and grab a cup full of life’s other liquid vice. I for one can’t really start using my brain until I’ve rocked the group handle and I’m pretty sure it makes the early morning ride to work through traffic a bit safer when your not falling asleep at the drops. Hey Mischa, you making a cup?

Every Day

Glory through suffering

More words. It’s not quite the same as being on a bike, but it’s a good thing regardless.

As if you need any help to get into the mood for the Tour, read a little about pain. I’ll be the first to admit Rapha’s offerings make me reach for my wallet before sighing at the all-too-obvious realisation that I’ll have to go a few weeks without eating if I ever want to afford anything from them. Reading their website will have to sate my appetite for now, as it has since I discovered it.

Cyclists and fans across the world are getting excited for the big one. I know my next three weeks are going to be filled with late night city rides followed by a few hours in front of SBS. Nothing inspires quite like watching someone else suffer through it all and come out victorious. Let’s hope it’s as clean as a mid-winter night with the stars open above and the city empty before your wheels.

Wise words

I began to feel that myself plus the bicycle equaled myself plus the world, upon whose spinning wheel we must all earn to ride, or fall into the sluiceways of oblivion and despair. That which made me succeed with the bicycle was precisely what had gained me a measure of success in life — it was the hardihood of spirit that led me to begin, the persistence of will that held me to my task, and the patience that was willing to begin again when the last stroke had failed. And so I found high moral uses in the bicycle and can commend it as a teacher without pulpit or creed. She who succeeds in gaining the mastery of the bicycle will gain the mastery of life.

-Frances E. Willard, How I Learned To Ride The Bicycle (1895)

When I see an adult on a bicycle, I do not despair for the future of the human race.

-H.G. Wells

Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance you must keep moving.

-Albert Einstein

Wash it all away

Misty hills

Photo: Out the back door at BnC HQ

 I don’t mind a bit of rain, it makes for nice scenery and keeps things interesting. It’s also great when you can sit in front of the heater and listen to it on a tin roof. Pity it can make for a nasty bike ride.

When it comes to bikes (and all things in general), we’re pretty positive here at BnC. No elitism, no arrogance, just a pure, passionate love of anything with two wheels and pedals. If you’re riding it, we like it. That said, there’s nothing wrong at chuckling at a bit of light-hearted digging.

On a more positive note, the articles over at Old Skool Track have been putting a grin on my face and getting my feet itching for pedals. Lots of musings and writings on the joy of riding fixed, and a love of bikes in general. Go and have a look, it’ll inspire you, I promise.

Burning lungs and a pact with the devil

A few of us at BnC HQ do a bit of work in the music promotion scene. This involves putting up a lot of posters, which generally sucks.

Luckily, there’s a cure for boring poster runs. Bikes. Throw three ugly punks onto bikes, arm them with a messenger bag full of posters and a few rolls of tape, and BAM! You’ve got yourself a high-speed, highly mobile postering machine.

Bike Postering
Photo: Liam gets blurry

It’s also a great time to be on the roads. No cars, no cares. So keep your eyes peeled next time you’re out on a dark, cold night…you may see something out the corner of your eye.

Bottles and Chains encourages you to attend:

Between The Devil and The Deep with Lungs (both from Sydney)
@ The Loft, Hobart
Saturday June 7
5pm ALL AGES – 8pm (-ish) 18+

Be there, all the cool kids are doing it.