HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: MATGBB@LURE.LATROBE.EDU.AU (BYRNES,Graham)
Newsgroups: aus.hi-fi
Subject: Re: watts RMS? what watts conversion?
Date: 27 Aug 92 10:48:04 GMT
 <1992Aug26.013458.23869@monu1.cc.monash.edu.au>  
 <1992Aug26.053200.17912@uniwa.uwa.edu.au> 
 <1992Aug27.003734.5821@mel.dit.csiro.au> <1992Aug27.063425.21339@lugb.latrobe.edu.au> <1992Aug27.084956.27365@uni
Organization: La Trobe University
X-News-Reader: VMS NEWS 1.22

In <1992Aug27.084956.27365@uniwa.uwa.edu.au> scott@psy.uwa.oz.au writes:
> >> 400W just sitting there! What does it DO with the power. Does it run hot?
> >I really can't believe this. My power amp dissipates 90W at idle, and the
> >WHOLE front panel is a heatsink, 150X400X75 mm, weighing 2kg. In summer it
> >still makes 55-60 deg C. 400W is the idle dissipation of a 100W/ch class A
> >amp. Have a look at the size (and cost) of a Krell or Levinson...
> 
> >I think you may have your figures wrong (even 40W seems high for a Rotel,
> >but believable)
> 
> The 980BX power amp has the following specifications...
..stuff cut..

> Power Consumption: 400W
> 
Yep, thats the max power it will ever pull from the wall. Just like the 
power consumption rating on your toaster or whatever. It's so you don't
stick 7 of em into a power board [8\> aint legislation wunderfool] and
blow a fuse....
Cheers,
Graham

> Regards Scott.
> _______________________________________________________________________________
> Scott Fisher [scott@psy.uwa.oz.au]  PH: Aus [61] Perth (09) Local (380 3272).                
>                                                              _--_|\       N
> Department of Psychology                                    /      \    W + E
> University of Western Australia.                 Perth -->  *_.--._/      S
> Nedlands, 6009.  PERTH, W.A.                                      v       
> 
> Joy is a Jaguar XJ-6 with a flat battery, a blown oil seal and an unsympathetic wife, 9km outside of a small remote town, 3:15am on a cold wet winters morning.
Is there such a thing as an unbroken Jaguar?
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Newsgroups: aus.bicycle
From: ednstras@kraken.itc.gu.edu.au (Michael Strasser)
Subject: Touring shoes
Organization: ITC, Griffith University, Brisbane, Australia
Distribution: aus
Date: 19 Aug 92 23:46:44 GMT

Can anyone recommend some touring shoes?  I am referring to lightweight
shoes with a shank in the sole that go well in standard rat-traps and can
also be walked in comfortably.  They usually have some sort of half-cleat.

I currently have an aging pair of Nike VT/X which I bought in the U.S.  They
don't seem to make them anymore (only mountain bike boots).

They also need to be big: some local suppliers bring in Avocet shoes, but
only to size 10 or 11 (the Nikes are 12.5).

Thanks in advance,

-- 
Mike Strasser                       Internet: M.Strasser@edn.gu.edu.au.
Education Division                  Fidonet:  3:640/308.2@fidonet
Griffith University
Brisbane, Australia
Newsgroups: aus.bicycle
From: wadley@mullauna.cs.mu.OZ.AU (Gregory Robert Wadley)
Subject: I want to buy a bike
Organization: Computer Science, University of Melbourne, Australia
Distribution: aus
Date: Mon, 31 Aug 1992 01:52:50 GMT

Anyone want to sell a bike?
I don't want anything fancy. Prefer "mountain bike" style
handle bars to "racing" type. Should be comfortable, and in
working order. Cheap one preferred. Chain and lock would be nice.
Also mechanism for carrying things. North Fitzroy area or Melbourne Uni.
Replies by email please ... -Greg.
From: lcampbel@physics.adelaide.edu.au (Laurence Campbell)
Newsgroups: aus.bicycle
Subject: Re: Accident rates up 10% following compulsory helmet legislation?
Keywords: Accident statistics, NSW, cycle usage, compulsory helmets
Date: 31 Aug 92 23:44:33 GMT

anthony@cs.uq.oz.au (Anthony Lee) writes:

>In today's Courier mail, Wagne Goss is promising big spending on
>making new bike tracks to link existing ones.  I think we cyclists
>have to tell them what bike tracks are best.  A lot of the so called bike
>tracks is hard to get on, to dangerous to get off and full of pedestrians.

In Adelaide we have an excellent bicycle track along the river Torrens,
almost continuous from the beach to the Hills, crossing the edge of the
City centre. (Some of it is under water today, but this doesn't happen very
often.) The greatest hazard is people (95% of whom are female) who walk their
vicious dogs (after filling them with laxatives, apparently), generally without
leads, allowing them to attack wildlife and cyclists and foul the track. I
suggest that in discussions concerning new bicycle tracks, it would be good
at the outset to get agreement that the track is for bicycles and not a 
dogs' assault course and toilet.

--
                 Dr Laurence Campbell  (lcampbel@physics.adelaide.edu.au)
                        Phone: (08) 228 5313   Fax: (08) 224 0464
Newsgroups: aus.bicycle
From: jason@research.canon.oz.au (Jason Stummer)
Subject: Re: Attacked by magpie !!
Organization: Canon Information Systems Research Australia
Distribution: aus
Date: Wed, 26 Aug 1992 04:10:02 GMT

taj@manta.dsto.gov.au (Trevor Jackson) writes:


>I was out riding on the week-end, enjoying a pleasant ride when suddenly
>something hit me on the side of my head (side of my helmet actually). I quickly
>look around to who the offender was, only to see a magpie flying off. With one

(stuff deleted)

>Has anyone else had a similar experience with aggressive  magpies (or other
>birds), and is there anything that can be done to deter aggressive birds from
>attacking inocent cyclists?
           ^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^

I've had many close encounters of the feathered kind before. I was once attacked
on my bike **before** the 'compulsory helmet' rule was in effect and I can tell you
that experience alone was enough for me to decide on wearing a helmet at all times.
Just last weekend I was again at the mercy of a maggie but this time it attacked my
front wheel and only narrowly avoided flying into my spokes! Imagine the accident
had that been the case!!

This type of incident will become more common as spring approaches with the 
territorial birds staking their claims. The only advice I can offer is try to avoid
the same area that the attack occured as you can bet the skin on your elbows and
knees that the magpie will be there for a month or two to come.

Incidently, "innocent cyclists" is our view point - the maggies don't see it that 
way!


Regards 

-- 
Jason Stummer                                |"I believe that speed doesn't kill -
Canon Information Systems Research Australia |     it just hurts !" 
PO Box 313 NORTH RYDE NSW 2113               |  REEBOK commercial.
jason@research.canon.oz.au  Phone +61-2-805-2900,Fax +61-2-805-2929
From: pgharr@peg.pegasus.oz.au
Newsgroups: aus.bicycle
Subject: Re: Bikes on planes
Date: 30 Aug 92 20:55:00 GMT
Nf-ID: #R:1992Aug20.134110.9830@sserve.cc.:703736214:peg:490100023:000:850
Nf-From: peg.UUCP!pgharr    Aug 30 15:55:00 1992


I support most of the above info......I have spent a large part of the 
1980s working all over the world and regularly take my bike, sometimes 
a mountain bike and othrs the racing bike.  Number one rule is dont have it so 
it is easy to handle....then it gets thrown around.  I wrap mine in bubble plastic
and rarely have problems.  Usually remove pedals and turn head set, but thatss
about all.  I always remove loose items...mine are often attractive as they are 
high quality stuff.

you can make a cheap alternative to a bike bag.  Buy Cordura and make your own, 
using velcro closures or even straps with locks fitted.  The whole lot is then fitt
ed over the bubble plastic.  Heapsdcheaper than a commercial item which can be $100s.

As for excess, it would be charged max as a single bag -$15, if they remember.  Good luck and enjoy the trip.
Newsgroups: aus.bicycle
From: fraser@munta.cs.mu.OZ.AU (Fraser Wilson)
Subject: Re: Attacked by magpie !!
Organization: Computer Science, University of Melbourne, Australia
Distribution: aus
Date: Thu, 27 Aug 1992 04:16:50 GMT

jason@research.canon.oz.au (Jason Stummer) writes:

>Just last weekend I was again at the mercy of a maggie but this time it
>attacked my front wheel and only narrowly avoided flying into my spokes!
>Imagine the accident had that been the case!!

Yes, the spokes might have ripped its head off.  :-(

Fraser.
Newsgroups: aus.bicycle
From: ajft@ajft_sun.cs.adfa.oz.au (Adrian Tritschler)
Subject: Re: Attacked by magpie !!
Reply-To: ajft@csadfa.cs.adfa.oz.au
Organization: Australian Defence Force Academy
Distribution: aus
Date: Mon, 24 Aug 1992 02:14:09 GMT

In article <TAJ.92Aug24100502@manta.dsto.gov.au>, taj@manta.dsto.gov.au (Trevor Jackson) writes:
|> 
|> I was out riding on the week-end, enjoying a pleasant ride when suddenly
|> something hit me on the side of my head (side of my helmet actually). I quickly
|> look around to who the offender was, only to see a magpie flying off. With one
|> eye on the road, and the other looking over my shoulder, keeping an watch on
|> the aggressive magpie, I cycled on. Approx, ten seconds later, the bird in
|> question turned around and came in for another attack. This time I managed to
|> duck out the way and avoid being hit.
|> 
|> Has anyone else had a similar experience with aggressive  magpies (or other
|> birds), and is there anything that can be done to deter aggressive birds from
|> attacking inocent cyclists?

Hmm, are you in Canberra? Magpies are a feature of springtime life! The
ACT Govt. puts out a pamphlet entitled "living with magpies" which provides
many hints, basically it says be nice to them and feed local ones, then they
tend to be nice back.

LOCAL INFO.	I know of two that are "active" already.
One is nesting on Limestone av. near the corner of Ijong st and the other
halfway up Fairburn av. through Campbell (Both will attack Cyclists and
motorcyclists, It sure feels strange to be sitting at traffic lights with
an unconcerned look while a magpie does its level best to break open an
AGV full face helmut!)

Bike helmuts help, as do a pair of eyes painted on the back of the helmut
since the magpies tend to avoid eye contact. Try to out stare one behind
you while riding at 50 km + down hill :-).

PS they can keep up with a motorbike up to about 80km/hr, so outrunning
seems to be out of the question, 'cept for real gonzo roadies.

|> Thanks

Only other bird that ever attacked me and had me worried was a nesting
Brown hawk (I think) MAN IT WAS BIG!
(I believe Mudlarks, Willy-Wagtails, plovers and geese can all get
very territorial, oh yeah, a friend of mine was chased by ten emus on
his bike through a nature park!)

|> Trevor J.

	Adrian.

-- 
// Adrian Tritschler                  // ajft@ajft_sun.cs.adfa.oz.au      // 
||_  /\  /\  /\  /\  /\  /\  /\  /\  _|| (06) 268 8166                    ||
|| \/  \/  \/  \/  \/  \/  \/  \/  \/ || Comp Sci Dept, ADFA              ||
\\  /dev/null: device full            \\ Canberra, ACT, Australia         \\
Newsgroups: aus.bicycle
From: ednstras@kraken.itc.gu.edu.au (Michael Strasser)
Subject: Re: 700c diameter; Melb BUG
Organization: ITC, Griffith University, Brisbane, Australia
Date: 24 Aug 92 03:55:37 GMT

I measured old and new wheels today.  The 27" rims are 640mm in diameter
(give or take a mm for the hub being in the way of the tape measure) and the
700c rims are 633mm in diameter.  

I hope this helps.

-- 
Mike Strasser                       Internet: M.Strasser@edn.gu.edu.au.
Education Division                  Fidonet:  3:640/308.2@fidonet
Griffith University
Brisbane, Australia
Newsgroups: aus.bicycle
From: malcolm@cs.su.oz.au (Malcolm Bjorn Gillies)
Newsgroups: aus.bicycle
Subject: Re: Touring shoes
Date: 25 Aug 92 23:41:58 GMT
Reply-To: malcolm@cs.su.oz.au (Malcolm Bjorn Gillies)
Distribution: aus
Organization: Basser Dept of Computer Science, University of Sydney, Australia

In article <1992Aug23.014802.11779@physiol.su.OZ.AU> john@physiol.su.OZ.AU (John Mackin) writes:
>In article <ednstras.714268004@kraken>,
>	ednstras@kraken.itc.gu.edu.au (Michael Strasser) writes:
>
>> Can anyone recommend some touring shoes?  I am referring to lightweight
>> shoes with a shank in the sole that go well in standard rat-traps and can
>> also be walked in comfortably.  They usually have some sort of half-cleat.
>
>The last pair of touring shoes I bought was made by Detto Pietro, the
>same people who make full-on cleated shoes.  They were great.  They
>were light and well-ventilated, with nylon uppers, a thin sole of
>hard-ish rubber stuff, and a VERY solid steel shank inside the sole.
>They even came in a good range of colours.
>[...]

The shoes I'm wearing right now are Sidi touring shoes. They have leather
uppers (with lots of ventilation holes in them), a thin hard-rubber compound
outer sole, and a very stiff leather sole inside. They're the most beautifully
constructed pair of shoes I've ever owned (they're Italian), I bought them
in 1987 for $99 and they're still going strong after regular use. The leather
moulds nicely to the shape of your foot, and the grooves on the bottom (alas,
now mostly worn off) grip both the pedal and the ground quite effectively - no
cleat of any description however.

Malcolm
--
Contains no brominated wood rosin.
From: fraser@munta.cs.mu.OZ.AU (Fraser Wilson)
Newsgroups: aus.bicycle
Subject: Re: Accident rates up 10% following compulsory helmet legislation?
Keywords: Accident statistics, NSW, cycle usage, compulsory helmets
Date: 30 Aug 92 23:38:44 GMT
Distribution: aus
Organization: Computer Science, University of Melbourne, Australia

anthony@cs.uq.oz.au (Anthony Lee) writes:

>  A lot of the so called bike
>tracks is hard to get on, to dangerous to get off and full of pedestrians.

Yeah, there's a lovely picture in Aussie Cyclist this month, of a track
with a "bicycles only sign", only it has a sailboarder and three
rollerbladers on it.  Bummerooni.

Fraser.
From: pgharr@peg.pegasus.oz.au
Newsgroups: aus.bicycle
Subject: Re: Which Disc Wheel is the best ?
Date: 30 Aug 92 20:42:00 GMT
Nf-ID: #R:1992Aug12.131837.23244@gbrmpa.go:-1063926794:peg:490100022:000:390
Nf-From: peg.UUCP!pgharr    Aug 30 15:42:00 1992


there is a good article on this in a recent US mag cannot remember whether
Bike Guide or Bicycling...... on both wheel covers and wheels.

Tro spokes are too exxie here....someone is sure making a killing on price.
Why not import yourself from the US.  There are several good mail order places
adeverised regularly in US mags, and pay the duty....it can be a lot cheaper and not difficult.
Newsgroups: aus.bicycle
From: fraser@munta.cs.mu.OZ.AU (Fraser Wilson)
Subject: Re: Accident rates up 10% following compulsory helmet legislation?
Organization: Computer Science, University of Melbourne, Australia
Distribution: aus
Date: Tue, 1 Sep 1992 06:07:54 GMT

daavid@bohra.cpg.oz.au (Daavid Turnbull) writes:

>Ever tried to ride on a bitumen bike path at night? It does not have to be
>very dark (and there are not many sections of bike paths that are lit!)
>before it merges into the inky blackness,  illumination from one's headlamp
>is absorbed into bitumen like a sponge.

But you can now get multi-coloured bitumen.  The bike track near the
West Gate Bridge is yellow.  Haven't tried it at night though.

Fraser.
Newsgroups: aus.bicycle
From: Quinn <quinn@cs.uwa.edu.au>
Subject: Re: Accident rates up 10% following compulsory helmet legislation?
X-Xxdate: Mon, 31 Aug 92 02: 38:06 GMT
Organization: The University of Western Australia
X-Useragent: Nuntius v1.1.1d9
Date: Mon, 31 Aug 1992 02:40:14 GMT

In article <10033@uqcspe.cs.uq.oz.au> Anthony Lee, anthony@cs.uq.oz.au
writes:
>A lot of the so called bike
>tracks are hard to get on, to dangerous to get off and full of
pedestrians.

Yeah and when you do get on them you find your bike shaken to bits
by the silly rubber separators between the concrete slabs.

Damn the expense, bring back tarmac bike paths!!!

Quinn "The Eskimo!"      <quinn@cs.uwa.edu.au>     "Support HAVOC!"
Department of Computer Science, The University of Western Australia
Newsgroups: aus.bicycle
From: dos105@rsphy2.anu.edu.au (Darren O'Shaughnessy)
Subject: Re: Attacked by magpie !!
Followup-To: aus.bicycle
Organization: Australian National University
Distribution: aus
Date: Mon, 24 Aug 92 08:25:39 GMT

   It's good to consider the poor magpie and its reasons for a minute. In
nesting season (which in Canberra seems to go for ever), their gonads swell
to twice their normal size. Chances are, if your gonads did that then you
wouldn't take kindly to someone riding their bike through your proposed
real estate.
   Actually, being attacked can be quite exhilarating. There was one
particularly aggressive bird last season in Kaleen, on the path alongside
Ginninderra (sp?) Drive. Once you get over the initial surprise/horror, it
can be a boon to fitness to try to accelerate away. With a helmet and
sunnies, there isn't too much danger. However, on one occasion this magpie
actually took hold of the handle on my backpack and attempted to lift me
off my bike!

  LOCAL NEWS:
   They're already eyeing us around the AIS and the lake (G) - no serious
attacks yet. In fact, the only full-blooded attack I've witnessed in the
last week was upon two bemused crows at the ANU Research School of Physical
Sciences (the blocky building overlooking the parkway and Lake B-G).

          Signed,
                  Pat Rourke  (you may not have heard of me)
Newsgroups: aus.bicycle
From: mylene@swanee.ee.uwa.edu.au (Mylene Pijpers)
Subject: 30 K ???? 
Organization: Elec Eng, Univ of Western Australia
Date:  3 Sep 92 01:25:02 GMT

In <1992Sep2.021003.21686@bilby.cs.uwa.edu.au> Quinn <quinn@cs.uwa.edu.au> writes:

>In article <1992Aug31.114038.6000@bohra.cpg.oz.au> Daavid Turnbull,
>daavid@bohra.cpg.oz.au writes:
>>
>>As for the pedestrians/joggers I do not try and alert them to my presence
>>anymore, they are far more predictable moving objects if you do not.
>>Can scare the pants off them however as you whizz past at 30K... they
>>obvious do not hear a thing, with or without walkman.

>Yep, if you warn pedestrians they general become more of a nuisance.
>Like you I go straight past.  I'm sure the people who wrote the
>"Cyclists please ring bell" signs would have something to say about
>that (-;


WHAT???

I think if YOU fools whizz towards a pedestrian at 30 K

by the time you SEE the poor soul, get out of that awkward position
the "real" bikeriders feel they should have (bent all over) to reach
for that fashionable bell that only does 'p'ng', there is not much
time, if any, left to pass them.
No wonder they jump at everything, after some of those experiences.

Please, stick to those wonderful bitumen roads they make for 
*fast* traffic, like cars, if you want to whizz at 30 K.


Mylene

Commuting by bike, baby in the backseat, at a comfortable speed of 
?? 10-12 K an hour. And enjoying the wildflowers, by the way.
From: jday@spam.ua.oz (Jemery Day)
Newsgroups: aus.bicycle
Subject: Re: Excellent bicycle paths...
Keywords: Accident statistics, NSW, cycle usage, compulsory helmets
Date: 1 Sep 92 01:58:05 GMT
Organization: Statistics, Pure & Applied Mathematics, University of Adelaide

In article <lcampbel.715304673@adelphi> lcampbel@physics.adelaide.edu.au (Laurence Campbell) writes:
>
>In Adelaide we have an excellent bicycle track along the river Torrens,
>almost continuous from the beach to the Hills, crossing the edge of the
>City centre. (Some of it is under water today, but this doesn't happen very
>often.) The greatest hazard is people (95% of whom are female) who walk their
>vicious dogs (after filling them with laxatives, apparently), generally without
>leads, allowing them to attack wildlife and cyclists and foul the track. I
>suggest that in discussions concerning new bicycle tracks, it would be good
>at the outset to get agreement that the track is for bicycles and not a
>dogs' assault course and toilet.

While I agree with some of the sentiments in this post, excellent is not
a word that I would use to describe this bicycle track. As a
recreational facility it does have certain benefits but in my view
suffers from extremely poor design and engineering standards and in
places is extremely dangerous - poor sight lines, sharp corners, bad
cambering, steep inclines, inadequate signposting, much too narrow in
places ...

As I recall, a recent report indicated that a very large proportion of
cyclists admitted to hospital had accidents on this "excellent bicycle
track". Ok, granted it is better than no track at all, but it is not
much better in my opinion. With sensible design and engineering to the
standards that car drivers expect this coul have been a first class
facility.

Dogs and pedestrians can be a problem, but I think they are
comparatively minor. As a commuting facility, the track is hopeless -
for recreational purposes it is best treated with a great deal of
caution.

For SA readers - here is a plug for BISA, the Bicycle Institute of South
Australia, lobbying to make conditions better for cyclists. If you are
not a member, or have not heard of BISA, write to GPO Box 792 for
membership information. Membership includes subscription to Australian
Cyclist. The more members, the stronger the organisation. Conditions for
cyclists are unlikely to improve unless cyclists are willing to push for
changes.

      ___   o
     ___  </v                      __________  __o __o
    ___   -\           ciao      __________   -\<,-\<,
           /                      ..........(_)/---/(_)..
           |
      ....(*)..        Jemery  (jday@spam.maths.adelaide.edu.au)
From: dfarrow@spam.ua.oz (Duncan Farrow)
Newsgroups: aus.bicycle
Subject: Re: Bikes on planes
Date: 24 Aug 92 00:06:01 GMT
Organization: Stats Pure & Applied Maths, Uni of Adelaide, Australia

From article <1992Aug20.134110.9830@sserve.cc.adfa.oz.au>, by neil@alpha.ma.adfa.oz.au (Neil Viney):
> I am hoping to carry my bike as excess baggage on a domestic flight soon.
> I'd be interested in hearing what the typical disassembly requirements
> (i.e., removing cranks, turning handlebars 90 degrees, etc.) are on
> Australian domestic flights.
> 
> What is the absolute minimum amount of disassembly that netters have
> been able to get away with on an Australian airline.  Nil?
> 
> What are my chances of actually avoiding being charged for excess
> baggage?
> 
> 
> Thanks,
> 
> Neil.

I recently flew to Perth and back and got charged excess baggage on the
way back but not on the way there. For the bike, I reversed the pedals,
turned the handlebars 90 degrees and twisted them up so that they hooked
under the top tube. I also used a toe-strap to tie the handlebars to the
top tube. I also deflated my tires a little but when I got to the other end,
the had been deflated completly by the handlers which seems to me to be
a bit odd as they are rated at 100 psi (or about 6.5 atmospheres) so you
only have to drop them 15psi to allow for a vacuum on the outside! Other
obvious things are removing your pump etc. I actually leave my drink bottles
in and tie them with a toestrap as the cages are prone to being bent. The
handlers are less likely to try and pick up the bike by the cage if there
is a bottle in it. Excess baggage by the way is $15 for a bicyle, pretty
cheap really I think.

As far as damage goes, my bike has never suffered any and I have never heard
of anyone who has suffered damage. If it is a really expensive Italian 
racing bike or carbon fibre or something, I would be reluctant to put it
on the plane as described above. In this case,  I think the only thing
to do is get a proper bike case (lots of $ from bike shops).

Hope this is some help.

Duncan.