Aussie cyclists threatened with jail

-- What the bloody hell's going on over there? Five years in jail or a $68,000 fine if they kill or seriously injure

What's going on in Australia and why are their cyclists being threatened with jail?

Law makers say cycling is becoming a "legitimate form of transport" and the Government will "come down hard on bad behaviour because there is a real consequence".

They reckon the new penalties will "help police tackle reckless riding by cyclists, and reduce the likelihood of pedestrians, other cyclists or drivers suffering serious injury."

Drivers suffering serious injury, caused by cyclists? Really?

Apparently legislators were spurred into action when cyclist William Raisin-Shaw was fined just $400 for colliding with 77 year-old pedestrian James Gould, who later died.

I'd love to know the penalties dished out to Australian drivers who, in the fifteen years from 1991 to 2005, killed 665 cyclists. How many of these drivers spent time in jail or coughed up $68,000?

If Aussie drivers are penalised anything like Kiwi drivers I bet most of them can't even remember what it feels like to be slapped with a wet buss ticket.

Just the other day Waipu truck driver Ian Donald McLean, 51, who struck and killed a cyclist - his second conviction for careless driving causing death - escaped a jail sentence, and instead received community detention and an order to stay at home every day between 8pm and 7am.

Oh, the suffering. (He did, however, have to perform 200 hours' community work and pay $5000 as reparation to Miss MacDonald's family. And he was disqualified from holding or obtaining a driver's licence for 14 months). Still, doesn't really compare to the dark prison cell awaiting Australian cyclists though, does it.

And Mt Maunganui truck driver Kerry Bradley, 62, who smashed into a promising young cycling star competing in a major road race, destroying her hopes of international success, received 80 hours community work and was disqualified from driving for six months.

It's cyclists being maimed and killed by drivers - not the other way around.

If law makers now consider cycling legitimate transport shouldn't they be passing laws to better protect cyclists?

Why waste time concocting laws policing a group of road users representing largely imagined risks?

Even Texan legislators seem to get it.

Cycling Sauce: Chopper Guard Bicycle Lovelies

-- June Sauce – The Bianchi girl

June Cycling Sauce winner Bianchi makes it an Italian three-peat. Limar Helmets took out April; Wheelsbike owns May; and in a rather delightful act of community marketing 2.0, Bianchi sauces up June. Regimented branding guidelines are so 1995.

Specialized responds!

-- An email reply from Cody, Specialized Customer Service/Online Store, 1137 South 3800 West, Salt Lake City UT 84104. 877-808-8154

Lester,

Thanks for the e-mail and the support.

I have forwarded your e-mail on to the appropriate dept.

Thanks

Cody

Specialized cocaine help

-- A letter to Specialized: store_customerservice@specialized.com

Dear Specialized

I am writing to tell you that I think Tom Boonen might be addicted to drugs and needs urgent help.

I know right now that Team Quick-Step is "working closely with team sponsors” (that's you), but could you also please help Tom.

His lawyer Luc Deleu says Tom is wise and aware of the consequences.

So I figure Tom’s second cocaine bust in 12 months means that his dependency has addled his capacity rational thought.

Like, he knew the consequences but did it anyway.

I think this is called drug addiction.

Don’t get me wrong – I’m a big fan of Tom's despite his repeated suspensions for cocaine use. Hell, I even ride Specialized.

(And I have to say that Tom’s recent Paris Roubaix victory seems all the more impressive now knowing that his system was clogged with cocaine residue – a known cardiovascular inhibitor. Imagine how much he’d have won by if he rode clean).

Please do your best to clean up Tom.

Yours in fondness and diminishing admiration.

Lester

WheelsBike responds!

-- An email reply from Max Alberti, Wheelsbike

Dear Lester

Name of Testimonial is Melita Toniolo, famous due to an italian reality show.

You can search by yourself in google typewriting her name to get any kind of information.

Thanks for your contact and hop [sic] you will get eberything [sic] you are searching.

Bye, Max

Buon giorno from New Zealand

-- A letter to May Cycling Sauce winner WheelsBike

Dear WheelsBike

I am writing to tell you about your growing international reputation.

I am a member of a local Auckland New Zealand cycling club and each month we celebrate our favourite bicycle advertising. 

Our special interest is wheel-women (bicycle lovelies, as we call them) and I am pleased to tell you that your handiwork - the bella donna on your website - is the May winner. 

What is this lovely girl’s name? Are you still in contact with her? Where is she now? Were you at the photo-shoot? Did it drive new sales? Will you put all the photos on flickr? 

Also, we were hoping you could send us a poster, or cardboard cut-out, of your rather marvellous advertising girl. 

Please let me know and I'll send you our postage details. 

In the meantime, keep up the great work. 

Ci vidiamo.

Lester

Rehabilitating Boonen

-- Letter to Quick-Step

Dear Quick-Step

I am writing to tell you that I think Tom Boonen might be addicted to drugs and needs urgent help.

I understand right now Team Quick-Step is "working closely with team sponsors” (that's you), but could you also please help Tom.

His lawyer Luc Deleu says Tom is wise and aware of the consequences.

So I figure Tom’s second cocaine bust in 12 months means that his dependency has addled his capacity rational thought.

Like, he knew the consequences but did it anyway.

I think this is called drug addiction.

Don’t get me wrong – I’m a big fan of Tom's despite his repeated suspensions for cocaine use.

(And I have to say that Tom’s recent Paris Roubaix victory seems all the more impressive now knowing that his system was clogged with cocaine residue – a known cardiovascular inhibitor. Imagine how much he’d have won by if he rode clean).

Please do your best to clean up Tom.

Yours in fondness and diminishing admiration.

Lester