There is no better way to get to know a city, or even a country, than to cycle through it. Cycling moves you just at the right speed to cover a decent distance and is not too fast to miss important hidden gems in the landscape.

1. You must get a helmet. In the hot Australian climate it can be rather annoying to wear a warm helmet all the time. One of the great things about riding you bike is the cool wind through your hair. But believe me: it is worth wearing a helmet because cycling down under is not as safe as at home.
2. You are a sitting duck. Traffic in Australia has in general no attention for anything that is smaller than they are. It means that trucks and trams do whatever they like and 4WD’s don’t care about small city cars. At the bottom of the pyramid is the cyclist. So be aware: Nobody cares or even notices you. It means you got to learn to survive the Australian traffic and because you are the weakest link you must be prepared for the fact that others just don’t see you.
3. Watch out for parked cars: Drivers will in general open their car door just at the moment you pass the parked car. They will not look first but open the door wide without any warning. It means that you need to look ahead for a person in a parked car, to avoid crashing into their door.
4. Cars in general have trouble estimating the speed of a bicycle. It means that they will try to pass you before turning left while you are going straight. This `cutting off` happens so frequently that I don’t even bother to get angry about it any longer. Just be prepared for it so you don’t crash into a left turning car.
5. Turning right in the city can be suicidal. In the broad six or eight lane streets in Australian cities, it is not smart to try and stand in the middle of the street waiting for a gap in upcoming traffic to be able to turn right. Cars will pass you with 60-70 km an hour on both sites and they will not look out for you. It is slower but better to cross the street first, wait at the next corner on the left and cross the street after traffic lights for the crossing traffic turn green.
6. When cycling in Melbourne or Adelaide be aware of tram tracks. Your tire can get stuck in the tram track and it can cause some nasty falls. Only cross tram tracks on not much less than a 90 degree angle.
7. Australian bikes often don’t have any protectors around the wheels or chain. It means that during rainy days, you will get sprayed by your own tires and chain. So if you want to use your bike wearing descent cloths, put some protectors on before going out.
8. In Holland, students will go out to have a drink on their bikes. The great thing is that you can drink as much as you like and go home drunk without killing anybody, except maybe yourself but that is a calculated risk! In Australia people find it very strange if you go out on a Friday night using your bike and they will laugh about you. But: The road toll per head of the population is almost double as that in Holland and a lot has got to do with youth driving home drunk late at night, so maybe a culture change could save some young lives!
9. There are few bicycle paths: Be careful about where you ride as bicycle paths are scarce. It may be worth to check out forums online to find the best track from you home to Uni.
10. Cycling can be great fun but also practical. It will not only make you lose weight, it may also help build your network down under. Cycling as a sport has been called the `new golf`. CEO’s of large companies meet at certain meeting places to go for a `Saturday morning ride`, instead of a slow walk around the golf track. Join the forums online and see where people meet. Ust show up and join the peloton. You will have a great time!