Category Archives: Uncategorised

Zi’s bruises coming up in an instant!

Zi, David, Jing, Clifton and I rode Loftus last night. The new high rise bars on my Reign are fantastic. More control, more comfortable and climbs just as good as before. I’m happy. Zi took a fall on the downhill into Temptation Creek. Had to happen sooner or later as it’s just so rocky (think fist sized rocks all the way down) and deadlier the faster you go. The climb out of Temptation Creek killed me. I still can’t do it in one go but I did manage to get up a part of it I had not gotten up before so I know I can do it (next time!). David’s got a fair way to go before he can keep up with us but he gave it a good go. We all dropped in to Sizzler on the way home too. Might start being abit of a ritual post ride!

PS: Jing’s got 2 vids. The 1st is following Clifton, the 2md following Zi and I. Nothing special as he was just testing out his new camera.

A month ago my brother-in-law Richie and I finally convinced my sister to buy a bicycle. She’s 29yrs old and has never ridden a bicycle in her life.

When she was a little kid she had a bit of an accident where one of our cousins smashed into her. She was on one of those kiddies play toys with wheels and he was on a BMX. Perhaps that out an end to riding for her? We can’t be sure but in any case she now has a bike:

Great deal on this little bike from Grant at MC Cyclery.

I left Richie to train her, not thinking about it much at all, when I asked her how she was going a few weeks later she said they were looking for training wheels, but no shops sold training wheels for adult sized bicycles. I thought to myself, surely she doesn’t need training wheels! It’s easy to ride a bike! Anyone can do it right?! Well, wrong.

Turns out she had no idea how to ride a bicycle at all, and all of us that learnt from an early age should consider ourselves lucky as she was really struggling to gain confidence and balance at the age of 29.

I took her to the kiddies track at Centennial Park last week (despite her being embarassed about it!). Jamie was scared of the conctrete so we found a grass field. I got her sitting on the saddle and then just literally walking/shuffling the bike around. After a few minutes of this we found a slight slope and I got her to do the same but try to lift her feet up and roll. It was then that I realised how hard it was for her.

We made our way over to the kiddies track and tried our best to ignore the little 3yr olds who were already riding without trainers! Watching Jamie push then not comfortably lift her feet up was strange. Definitely something we take for granted. Rolling at slow speeds isn’t easy so I tried to get her to push off harder and roll faster. What’s interesting is that handlebar control is so important when learning how to balance on a bike. She doesn’t know what to do with the bars, so when she lifts her feet up and the bike goes left she does nothing with the bars and has to put her left foot down.

She felt good after that day though. I didn’t push her too much, we started at the very bottom. She’s since told me that she’s started pedalling a little and has had a couple of stacks in the backyard. I’m pretty sure she’ll get it any day now.

I’ve just launched the MC Cyclery blog It’ll be updated daily so be sure to check it out and bookmark it!

Being banned off Farkin has given me the time and motivation to finally get my own cycling forum off the ground. I’ve just launched Bikes Move Us so PLEASE register and get posting guys and gals!

PS: Only if you’re nice!

I feel fat for not riding this weekend. Great weekend though! Here’s the wrap-up.

On Saturday Suga got dropped off at Top One to get her tinting done.

We dropped into ISMR to pay off some debts (doh!). R34’s are slipping away from me. My once dream car has lost it’s sparkle.

We dropped in to Hell On Wheels in Newtown. How amazing is this bike? It’ll be featured in their next advertisement in 20/20 magazine, all photoshopped up.

I’ve been thinking about motor bikes lately too.

I saw this deck on their site and had to have it. I’d met Tom a couple of times but I got to meet Rob this time around. He said he couldn’t believe it hadn’t sold, and that he wanted it for wall art but his girl said no (why?! Christina loooves this deck!).

Up on the wall it goes. HAHA.

On Sunday I’d woken up on dreaming about bikes (sad I know) and even before I had my morning coffee I was in the car off to Kingsford markets. Not sure why, just was. I crossed the road and was greeted by this sight:

Holy fucking shit I thought! I asked the old Russian guy “How much do you want for this?” and he says “Nice bike, it’s perfect for you, $45″. “45?” “Yes $45″. I didn’t have the heart to bargain him down some more. I just took it!

Then I saw this beauty. Clamont racer with Tange 900 tubing and a beautiful brown suede Turbo saddle. $100, so tempted but I let her go.

This old GT was awesome too, check the frame, it’s hot.

I even wanted this, used to have one as a kid. They last forever unlike new belt driven onces which die in the ass.

It’s a bit of a ritual getting an egg and bacon roll from these guys at the markets. Best bacon and egg roll in Sydney no bull.

Scorage!

JDM goodness.

Tange tubing.

Sexy new RE30’s in formula silver finish at JDMyard.

Stewart lah!

Pole 16

PIGBUM

My baby is back and she’s looking better than ever.

Peter did a great job, the little black marks are from the sweater I had wrapped around her whilst she was in the car. Peter confirmed the frame is made of Columbus SLX as well as the forks. Nice. What a super nice guy. He charged me $215. If he ever needed a web site, or cards done I’d do it for free but he said he’s so damn busy. Looks like word of mouth does him just fine.

Peter – Star Enamellers
24 Exceller Ave, Bankstown, NSW 2200
p: (02) 9790 1025

We had another crazy bike night last night. Zi brought ribs over from Hurricanes and David brought the Asahi (JDM yo!). Present was: David, Zi, Andy (official photographer for the night), Jing, Timmy and Clifton.

Dave’s new bike is a base model Giant Yukon worth $999. It’s the cheapest dual suspension bike you can buy from Giant and it’s great as it is. He’s only ridden it once on a trail, the rest of the time he’s been riding it on bike paths. Funny then that he’s just bought some Juicy Carbon brakes worth more than half his bike, Easton carbon bars and a Fox rear shock. Despite us telling him that he should have just bought a new Trance for the price of the upgrades, he’s determined to upgrade his Yukon to the top of the line spec and likens it to a Hyundai Excel with Rays TE37’s. We tried to fit my Fox forks on it but I’d cut the steerer too short so he’s now on the hunt for some Fox Talas forks ($1800RRP!). He’s also bought a Mavic crossride wheelset and Schwalbe Nobby Nic tyres which he’ll be picking up tomorrow. He’s now officially “Crazy Dave”.

Ribs and beer were awesome (I can’t have a bike night without beer!). Many laughs were had, both Dave’s Yukon and that Farkin thread on the lappy.

When women are not around we are men and eat like animals.

Crispy goodness FTW!

Dave’s new brakes and carbon skewers.

Funny how all of us oldies were wearing shorts and T’s but the kiddies Cliffy and Timmy were wearing shirts and pants.

LOL at Jing (even funnier that they’re fake crocs!).

We installed a Fox rear shock. LOL.

Aspirations.

On the way: Nice and noisy VR4 with a Cervelo on the roof.

Young Clifton setting the pace.

Dark in the car park.

Sizzler! Sizzler is awesome. LOL.

Last night Jing, Clifton, Zi and I hit Loftus late. At 6.30PM and Jing wanted to do it without stopping at bits (which we usually do, to have some fun). Clifton set a pretty fast pace and I had trouble keeping up on the gradual climbs. I had a good go at Jing’s Cannondale and it’s just so damn fast on the flatter stuff. It almost feels like a road bike. It accelerates like a hardtail whether you’re in the saddle or out.

Basically it’s 100% black and white to me now. That the Reign is just not a great XC bike and I’ll always struggle to keep up with hardtails and XC duallies. My choice. I know. But it’s got me thinking of a short travel dual suspension XC machine for XC trails like Loftus and Yellowmundee.

On another note. This young little cock head ‘Ross has contributed to my threads again on the Farkin forums. I’ve got a new skin now and instead of playing it nice and keeping the peace I’m finding it very fun attacking the little shit. Read up here.

I got pretty excited when they started re-releasing some of the classic skate decks a few years ago (some of which have made thieir way to my wall as art) but the other day I came across a re-release of a Powel T which I bought in the late 80’s. It was my fave T-Shirt back then and I loved it so much that I kept it, and even wear it every now and then despite it being super ratty!

Anyways the new T came in the mail today and I was pretty dissapointed with it. The print size is a LOT smaller on the back of the T (it’s repeated small on the front, same as the old T).

Crap!

PS: Yes the original T on the right was as black as the new T on the left once upon a time (you know you’re getting old when they re-release T’s you still own and wear!).