2010 Magpie Alert

[Mick Hull]

Thought I would start this years section.

uys, not wanting to start a new thread on this, I had my first run in of the season with the notorious Black & White Baron on the Entrance Road at Long Jetty (just past the Wyong Rd roundabout) on Saturday morning. Over the years, this feathered swooper has unleashed numerous aerial raids on me causing varying degrees of panic, swatting, squirting & profanities. All to no avail of course, other than to assist in impromptu all out sprint training from time to time.

Now not wanting to resort to looking like I was wearing a porcupine on steriods on my head for the 20 odd seconds of magpie discomfort, last year I developed an anti magpie swooping strategy which I again tested on Saturday with great success.

Picture this: Cruising along at 35kph heading toward the Entrance I spot said feathered antagonist taking off from adjacent playground runway. Once aerial, my feathered flying foe banks sharp right & commences attack formation at low altitude (helmut height) directly from behind (cowardly I know). At this point I deploy anti magpie counter measures & watch as the he disengages 2 metres from impact & swoops into a nearby tree shaking his scrawny neck & giving me the middle feather (aka flipping the bird). "Take that you little flying %$*&@!" I yell, much to the amusement of a few motorists. Cyclist 1 Magpies 0.

Pray tell, I hear you all sing in unison. How did he do it? Simple really, I just radioed for help in the form of an old extendable radio aerial that folds up into my back pocket. When I approach the magpie controlled territory, I entend the aerial & whip it repeatedly above my helmut. A much safer option for me than sprinting flat out with one hand on the handlebars while dodging & weaving looking behind me.  Grin

[Mick Hull]

Just to add to this list:

Calga swooper is back and very active and aggressive

Adcock Park north end started on Sunday. Not with our riders but a lone triathlete.

[Murphs]

I haven't encountered the one at OLR Wyoming primary school yet, but that's probably because I took the 'prevention is better than a cure' idea and started taking the alternative route.

The problem about that one is he lives above a roundabout, impromptu sprint training is a dangerous option

[Mick Hull]

Unusual fact:

Magpie have extremely good memories and will attack the same person year after year. So when you go riding take a known target with you.

[Matt]

Thought I would start this years section.

uys, not wanting to start a new thread on this, I had my first run in of the season with the notorious Black & White Baron on the Entrance Road at Long Jetty (just past the Wyong Rd roundabout) on Saturday morning. Over the years, this feathered swooper has unleashed numerous aerial raids on me causing varying degrees of panic, swatting, squirting & profanities. All to no avail of course, other than to assist in impromptu all out sprint training from time to time.

Now not wanting to resort to looking like I was wearing a porcupine on steriods on my head for the 20 odd seconds of magpie discomfort, last year I developed an anti magpie swooping strategy which I again tested on Saturday with great success.

Picture this: Cruising along at 35kph heading toward the Entrance I spot said feathered antagonist taking off from adjacent playground runway. Once aerial, my feathered flying foe banks sharp right & commences attack formation at low altitude (helmut height) directly from behind (cowardly I know). At this point I deploy anti magpie counter measures & watch as the he disengages 2 metres from impact & swoops into a nearby tree shaking his scrawny neck & giving me the middle feather (aka flipping the bird). "Take that you little flying %$*&@!" I yell, much to the amusement of a few motorists. Cyclist 1 Magpies 0.

Pray tell, I hear you all sing in unison. How did he do it? Simple really, I just radioed for help in the form of an old extendable radio aerial that folds up into my back pocket. When I approach the magpie controlled territory, I entend the aerial & whip it repeatedly above my helmut. A much safer option for me than sprinting flat out with one hand on the handlebars while dodging & weaving looking behind me.  Grin

Hmm, think I'll stick to the back road and the bike path -can't be any Maggies there can there?

[Simon]

Unusual fact:

Magpie have extremely good memories and will attack the same person year after year. So when you go riding take a known target with you.

I absolutely believe you Mick- I had my first attack at long jetty while riding with a friend yesterday- every time we go through there in Maggie season I get scratched and pecked while Paul watches and laughs- Paul is yet to be swooped while riding with me!

[PeZulu]

Unusual fact:

Magpie have extremely good memories and will attack the same person year after year. So when you go riding take a known target with you.

I absolutely believe you Mick- I had my first attack at long jetty while riding with a friend yesterday- every time we go through there in Maggie season I get scratched and pecked while Paul watches and laughs- Paul is yet to be swooped while riding with me!

You think the fact that we sit so high up on our big frames puts us at a disadvantage Simon? You & I should ride past there together & see what happens. I'll keep my aerial at bay too.

[Simon]

Unusual fact:

Magpie have extremely good memories and will attack the same person year after year. So when you go riding take a known target with you.

I absolutely believe you Mick- I had my first attack at long jetty while riding with a friend yesterday- every time we go through there in Maggie season I get scratched and pecked while Paul watches and laughs- Paul is yet to be swooped while riding with me!

You think the fact that we sit so high up on our big frames puts us at a disadvantage Simon? You & I should ride past there together & see what happens. I'll keep my aerial at bay too.

sounds like a great idea- you can go through first.... 

[PeZulu]

Unusual fact:

Magpie have extremely good memories and will attack the same person year after year. So when you go riding take a known target with you.

A recent expert on the ABC mentioned that Magpies can recognize & remember up to at least 20 individual human faces putting paid to the theory that having eyes on the back of your helmut is a deterrent.

[Chicken]

Unusual fact:

Magpie have extremely good memories and will attack the same person year after year. So when you go riding take a known target with you.

I absolutely believe you Mick- I had my first attack at long jetty while riding with a friend yesterday- every time we go through there in Maggie season I get scratched and pecked while Paul watches and laughs- Paul is yet to be swooped while riding with me!

Is Paul better looking than you

[csfive]

Unusual fact:

Magpie have extremely good memories and will attack the same person year after year. So when you go riding take a known target with you.

I absolutely believe you Mick- I had my first attack at long jetty while riding with a friend yesterday- every time we go through there in Maggie season I get scratched and pecked while Paul watches and laughs- Paul is yet to be swooped while riding with me!

Might not recognise you with shaved legs!!

[PeZulu]

Got pinged by an overly agressive black & white on the track at Adcock Park this arvo. Was having a go at some of the youngsters there too (the magpie, not me before this gets out of hand). It's not safe at the moment.

[jock]

The magpie at Adcock Park is a very useful training tool. 

Many CCCC riders set new PB's for the 200m fly during spring

[PeZulu]

Unfortunately for me 200m flys were not on the training schedule so opted for 10 minute LT intervals up Kariong Hill instead (ouch). On my return I was pleased to see Stappo & Steeley giving the bird something to think about TTing around the track.

[groundskeeperwilly]

I'm still struggling to figure out why the country gets worked up about a wee birdie...
But anyway, whoever that was riding past the punt bridge this morning waving their pump around above their head like a maniac sure brightened up my day. 

Harden up