Filed under: Life's Rants
We’re in the process of moving premises at work this week. My desk has become a temporary shelf, I’ve lost my chair several times, the dust has been set free from behind computers, storage cabinets and copiers, I’ve been working long hours without lunchbreaks and somehow managed to break a spoke along the way. I would normally be looking forward to a weekend to relax, but I’ll be there to unpack and set up again. I’m not really complaining, the extra cash will be welcomed and I don’t give a rats about the Grand Final. I’m just stuffed….
The new office on the corner of Bourke and William seems pretty cool. It’s more central than the back arse of Lonsdale street, and there’s so much more natural light in this place. I guess the first goal will be to find somewhere that makes decent coffee amongst the Gloria Jeans and Shitbucks stores everywhere. Hardware Lane should be a good bet. The hunt for a good Barista’s on!
Filed under: Uncategorized
No new post…. just a new header…. how lazy….
Filed under: Roid'n
If you have a spare five minutes, click on the Surly link and check out Jakobs CSR Pugsley Adventure under Photo Gallery. For those who aren’t familiar with the Surly Pugsley, it’s your typical rigid singlespeed but with monster 3″ go anywhere tyres, in this case perfect for desert crossings. He’s customised it by chucking on a rear derailleur and who wouldn’t on a trip like that. I don’t know the exact distance he rode, but the pics are awesome and I love the spare wheel in tow.
Apparently someone rode in the last Kona 24 hour. I’m still waiting for Karl to buy one, well he said he would anyway… Otherwise with a bit of luck there’ll be one at the bike show to try and scam a ride on.
Filed under: Roid'n
Over the last couple of years you couldn’t read a mtb mag without stumbling upon an article on Singlespeed bikes, usually with the author being new to the idea and a new convert by the end of the piece. I’d always think ‘one day…. ‘. Having wore out my middle chainring and cassette for a second time from commuting everyday on the hardtail, I reached a crossroad. I could fork over another $200 for a fresh set, or say hell with it and go single. The commute from Yarraville until you reach the CBD is flat anyway, and I was only ever using 3 gears at the most. With it no longer being my only mountain bike I thought it was probably worth a shot.
Having ridden it for over twelve months now both on and off road I think I have an idea what it’s about. I won’t get into the whole Zen bullshit about being one with the bike and trail, I haven’t gone out and got any gnarly tattoos, and I’m not rejecting the marketing campaigns for the latest expensive bits of bling for your bike – For what I can afford, I’m still an enthusiastic consumer when it comes to riding.
It’s a number of things to me. I love the quiet ride you get from the fixed chain, and how stiff & light your bike becomes once you remove both deraileuers, cables, the cassette and shifterpods.
But the thing that’s stayed with me since my first ride to work, is that it’s just like I’m riding my BMX to school again. Being in a higher gear you pedal harder from the lights, rocking your handlebars from side to side to build up speed, and riding down the hill on LaTrobe St past Telstra Dome I can only coast and take in the view, just like I would have on the BMX. The riding isn’t constant. You’re out of the saddle a lot more and the same 7km route to work everyday doesn’t get boring, it’s just fun.
Filed under: Uncategorized
As I kick the red rubber ball out from under the computer desk, Roxy returns it around 20 times a minute…
…… 7 and a half minutes have passed and she’s found something more interesting to do in the loungeroom. I’ll wait for round 2.
Filed under: Life's Rants
Geez, it has been a while between posts. The weeks have been filled with Melbourne Victory matches, night rides, twoing and frowing between the bike shop getting my forks fixed, weeding, pruning and more weeding.
The friendly folks at Fox Forks in Sydney haven’t exactly dazzled me with their service. The forks accumulated some frequent flyer points with 3 trips to Sydney and back. A combination of communication problems between them and the Local bike shop and just plain shoddy work. Anyway, I’m finally back in the bouncy saddle again and managed to get a few more midweek night rides in.
Lysterfield at night with a group of five riders is absolutely top shelf entertainment. You just spread out on the singletrack and follow the lights through the trees. The place is teeming with bats, possums and kangaroos.
I’m totally on the Melbourne Victory bandwagon. Apart from the gay name (I wish we were Melb United or something like that), the three new Brazillian recruits, our new Scottish midfielder and Danny Alsopps new found form have made an exciting start to the season. 3 wins and no losses so far, and the few Victory goals I’ve seen compared to the dozen’s of Hawthorn goals against Geelong on Fathers day have been so much better. The crowds have been huge and the atmosphere’s electric. So yes, we’e going again on Sunday.
The discovery of Stan Lee’s – Who want’s to be a Superhero and Steve Coogan’s Saxondale have also been standouts for this month. For those with large download limits, check them out!
Do it!!!!
