Cycling is a Sheila’s sport

Cycling has always been popular amongst adults in Europe.  It is now booming in both the USA and Australia.  Bike shops in the States attribute the “Lance factor” to a swing from mountain bikes back to traditional road bikes.

A road cycle pack in the USA may have up to 40% females.  However, above a 25% female representation in Australia is rarely evidenced.  Even though lots of lower traffic road routes are used.  To date Australian women haven’t embraced cycling the way their menfolk have.  Probably because the availability of scenic, challenging lower traffic routes, particularly available on Sunday mornings, hasn't been actively marketed.

The origins of www.muggaccinos.com cycle group stem back to 4 nurses from Royal North Shore Hospital in the mid-‘90s.  Some hospitals kindly display Muggaccinos' posters inviting more nurses to cycle.

Each Sunday morn’ a dozen or so cyclists ride a different published route from Nth Turramurra, Hornsby or St Ives to cafés on Sydney’s satellite outposts Galston, Mt White, Palm Beach, Windsor, Springwood.

www.muggaccinos.com provides a weekly Bullsheet which notes –

(a)        Ride Description of pending Sunday rides; and

(b)        an anecdotal / comical post-ride “rap-up” of previous Sunday’s ride.

Muggaccinos arranges a few cycle weekends away each year, with a 60/90km bike ride each day and much merriment and mirth after dark:

 
(i)              Tour de Macarthur
(ii)             Linger ‘n Die
(iii)            El Tour de Bundanoon
(iv)            Tour de Bong Bong sub-titled Berry Ball-Tearer
(v)             Tour de Wiseman’s Ferry
(vi)            Tour de Wangi Wangi

As “Ride with Muggaccinos” on the website explains, participants need to be comfortable cycling on public roads to join a Muggs’ Sunday ride.  However, we can direct you to a few “starter” bicycle groups if you are a rookie.  Muggaccinos of the male persuasion will help a damsel in distress to learn cycling.

The only cost to ride is what you stick down your throat at the multitude of cafés that we visit each Sunday.  However, you will need a bike of 2^nd hand value $500 or more because an “old clunker” can be hard work.

Risk Warnings:

(i)         Road cycling can be dangerous.  Muggaccinos’ programme of 30+ different Sunday bike rides are on lower traffic roads - Old Pacific Highway and linked arteries when some motorists are still in church.

(ii)       Currently almost 80% of participants on Muggs’ rides are males.

Check out above website, in particular Warm ‘n Fuzzy Stuff, and e-mail ScribePJ@tpg.com.au or ‘phone Annie 0417 214.279.

Enlist now with the lively lycra lot!