If, like me, you mostly grew up in Hamilton, a hatred of Auckland pretty much runs in your veins. Mostly this hatred is unfounded, but every now and then I still get pangs of anti-Auckland fever.
I love the city. I love the Sky Tower, the Viaduct Harbour, catching the ferry to school, I love Parnell, Ponsonby, Henderson, and of course I love Bayswater more than any other suburb on the face of the earth. What I don't love about this place is some of the bullshit Aucklanders.
For what seems to be the most part, Auckland is a transplant city. People come here from Hamilton (me), Wellington (Chris), Warkworth (Rex & Sara), and even as far away as Eastbourne in England (another Sara). And those people seem to be okay (except me, obviously). It's just some of the born-and-bred, North Harbour wankers that are pissing me off.
When I met Chris, he alluded to the fact that the Auckland track cycling scene is for posers. "Yeah, I've been cycling my whole life and never been there, eh." I have enough trouble fitting in as it is, without hearing something like this. Turns out Chris was right, I discovered tonight when I checked my email.
About a month ago, when I was still a fresh-as-a-daisy Hamilton transplantee, I contacted the track cycling people about heading along to their training sessions.
"Well," came the reply "all of our bikes have been hired out for the season, but if you can source another one somewhere else, feel free to come along." Oh, right - of course - because track bikes are just you know, hanging out together in the streets. Errol (that's Jordan's dad, for those of you who don't know) suggested I just turn up every weekend anyway, because "someone is bound to not turn up, and there will be an unused bike."
With this in mind, I had the intention of going this Saturday, but thought it would make sense to email the guy again to make sure it's on. What with the new year and all.
"This has already been circulated in emails. Saturday training is at the usual time." came the rather abrupt response. Are you serious?
First of all, I was pretty polite in my email, enquiring about the training.
Secondly, um, circulated in emails? What, emails to everyone in the greater Auckland area? What the fuck? Why would you assume that someone brand new to the sport, and the city for that matter, would be included on any sort of email list!?
And, to carry over from there - how should I know what "usual time" is, exactly? Or is that just another given, that because I live in Auckland, I know what time velodrome training at Manukau starts on Saturday mornings? My bad.
Chris was right. I don't know what this guy's problem is, but I've been put off already. All I want is to try out a track bike, see if I can ride one okay before shelling out for one of my own. Would it hurt to be even a little bit accommodating? People wonder why cycling is a minority sport in Aotearoa. What the hell? I'm - seriously - so flabbergasted about this right now.
I would like to finish with "North Harbour Cycling Club can go and get fucked", but the truth is, I really want to ride, so I think I'm just going to have to turn a blind eye to this guy's unnecessarily rude behaviour and just go and use them for their bikes. Quite frankly, I'm disgusted.
I love the city. I love the Sky Tower, the Viaduct Harbour, catching the ferry to school, I love Parnell, Ponsonby, Henderson, and of course I love Bayswater more than any other suburb on the face of the earth. What I don't love about this place is some of the bullshit Aucklanders.
For what seems to be the most part, Auckland is a transplant city. People come here from Hamilton (me), Wellington (Chris), Warkworth (Rex & Sara), and even as far away as Eastbourne in England (another Sara). And those people seem to be okay (except me, obviously). It's just some of the born-and-bred, North Harbour wankers that are pissing me off.
When I met Chris, he alluded to the fact that the Auckland track cycling scene is for posers. "Yeah, I've been cycling my whole life and never been there, eh." I have enough trouble fitting in as it is, without hearing something like this. Turns out Chris was right, I discovered tonight when I checked my email.
About a month ago, when I was still a fresh-as-a-daisy Hamilton transplantee, I contacted the track cycling people about heading along to their training sessions.
"Well," came the reply "all of our bikes have been hired out for the season, but if you can source another one somewhere else, feel free to come along." Oh, right - of course - because track bikes are just you know, hanging out together in the streets. Errol (that's Jordan's dad, for those of you who don't know) suggested I just turn up every weekend anyway, because "someone is bound to not turn up, and there will be an unused bike."
With this in mind, I had the intention of going this Saturday, but thought it would make sense to email the guy again to make sure it's on. What with the new year and all.
"This has already been circulated in emails. Saturday training is at the usual time." came the rather abrupt response. Are you serious?
First of all, I was pretty polite in my email, enquiring about the training.
Secondly, um, circulated in emails? What, emails to everyone in the greater Auckland area? What the fuck? Why would you assume that someone brand new to the sport, and the city for that matter, would be included on any sort of email list!?
And, to carry over from there - how should I know what "usual time" is, exactly? Or is that just another given, that because I live in Auckland, I know what time velodrome training at Manukau starts on Saturday mornings? My bad.
Chris was right. I don't know what this guy's problem is, but I've been put off already. All I want is to try out a track bike, see if I can ride one okay before shelling out for one of my own. Would it hurt to be even a little bit accommodating? People wonder why cycling is a minority sport in Aotearoa. What the hell? I'm - seriously - so flabbergasted about this right now.
I would like to finish with "North Harbour Cycling Club can go and get fucked", but the truth is, I really want to ride, so I think I'm just going to have to turn a blind eye to this guy's unnecessarily rude behaviour and just go and use them for their bikes. Quite frankly, I'm disgusted.
hi. people all over the world are ghey, but some of us dorklanders (born in Takapuna :)) are alright :)
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