Fixed up in Darwin

Just got back from a thirty-six degree, seventy six percent humidified holiday in Darwin. Vanessa was keen to get some experience up on her new fixie.......... away from the judgementle eyes of melbourne so we both brought our fixies with us.

Darwin seemed to be perfectly suited to riding fixed as the streets are wide, flat and super-smooth. I guess the one downside was the heat and humidity but this didnt seem to bother us. Its bizzare because the locals would look at us like we were crazy for riding bikes in the middle of the day.

We were lucky enough to stumble upon an outdoor veldrome.

One thing that i did find dissapointing however was my experience riding with a few of the local road bunch rides. I was very excited about riding with some darwinians however i found them to be quite rude and unfriendly. It was just disapointing that they confirmed to the 'Roadie' stereotype. I guess it just makes me think that whenever someone new comes into the sport or joins in on social ride, its so important to help make them feel included and comfortable.

cheers

Always wondered what it would feel liket to ride the boards....

Riding on the veledrome is something that i have been meaning to do for a long time now. It just felt like a natural progression after riding fixed everyday on the street. Suffice to say that i was more than a little bit nervouse on the first few revolutions on the track. I have never been entirely comfortable with heights and therefore found it quite daunting to be six metres up on the top of the track. After awhile i perhaps got a bit cocky and started stuffing around on the steep sections winding up and down and turning steeply. This of course ended in my good-self sliding down the track with a severley damaged ego. We finished with a friendly handicap six lap race which i was happy to come out first in.

So, i have definatly got a taste for the wooden boards and look forward to starting to race when i have a few more skills.

Photos from the Scott 24hour

The start





feeling strong


Eating, always always eating!


All the tracks looked different in the dark which was good because a change helped ensure that the monotony didnt get the best of me.



When the dawn came i felt a real surge in energy feeling tired nowIt looks like i'm crying in this last photo, although i cannot remember if i was or not, either way it was a difficult last lap and i was happy to be finished.

What was supposed to be my first ride posted!

Alex, Michael, Lucas and i planned to beat the heat today and be up and down from Kinglake before 11am. Lucas met us at 6:30 after riding from Geelong!!!!!...and we were off. All was good until the 30km mark when i heard the distinctive 'twang' of a rear-drive side spoke snapping. It was slightly annoying watching the boys ride off into the distance while i hobbled home on a rear wheel that felt like it was made of jelly. Lets hope the next ride is a better one.

My first post

So this is my first foray into the world of blogging. I must however admit to feeling somewhat apprehensive about the whole endeavour. I guess my intention is to use this tool as a way of keeping a permenant and chronological record of my training for Cross-country mountain biking as well as recording all my other bike schenanigans. I feel like i have had so many exciting adventures already and i will strive to write some of my favourite stories and photos up soon (perhaps when exams are over).