Saturday 6 August 2011

A tough terrain for cyclists


Being essentially hills and gullies, Sydney is a tough terrain for cyclists. The harbour is a drowned valley, and the cityscape covers promontories that run down like fingers to the water. So getting around on a bicycle is no easy going. And the roads are just a maze of goat-tracks, really - macadamised goat-tracks, but still goat-tracks. This young woman nipped across Moore Park Road just outside the Football Stadium which is next door to the Sydney Cricket Ground. As she pushed her way up to Oxford Street, I wondered how far she would get. At about the half-way point, she got off and pushed.

11 comments:

brattcat said...

love this sequence of two with her off and on her bike. love the sun through her skirt and her strong legs and the way she leans into her bike. nice work, julie, for someone with her mind on too many things.

Anonymous said...

Oxford Street and the environs of Moore Park are not that steep. Why did she get off?

Julie said...

Golly, Andrew! This is Oatley Road which runs from MP Road up to Oxford St beside the eastern edge of Victoria Barracks. It is not as steep as Heartbreak Hill or anything, but check out her bike - sans gears!!

Dianne said...

I'm sure I would have been off and pushing way before this Julie!- but then she gets that lovely down-hill ride. Nice pics - I like them a lot!

PerthDailyPhoto said...

I can't even imagine trying to ride up there, hill or slope it would be impossible methinks. This made me think of when I used to ride to school when I lived in Zambia, we'd ride, get to the bottom of the 'hill' dismount and chat and walk the rest of the way. Great pics Julie, thanks for the memories.

Joan Elizabeth said...

That's why I doubt there would be much use in me getting a bike. I would be walking more than I am riding so I might as well walk.

diane b said...

Same here in Daisy Hill too many hills for bikes unless you are a kid. The light in the top photo is perfect.

Thérèse said...

A wonderful image. A tough terrain and a tough time for your family. One step a a time.

Alan said...

I had a singlespeed in Melbourne, but I remember thinking it wouldn't be the best tool for the job when I visited Sydney. yet to decide what my weapon of choice will be for the streets of London:-)

Virginia said...

Her image is perfect Julie. You capture what I wish I could.
V

Julie said...

Merci, Virginia. The capturing is tricky, but more so is the 'seeing'. You will know what I mean, I am sure.