Weak about !!

Well although I had good intentions of getting back to this about 6 days ago.. I couldn't find the right pics.

Saturday 24th we brought Lucas home from Hospital. He's in the capsule we rent from the RACQ / Qld Ambulance. It's been go, go, go ever since.  Christmas day was spent at the Outlaws, well the mid part of the day.  Because Lucas decided to come visit about 10 days early and 5 days before Christmas, Jo and I didn't manage to complete our gift shopping.  The Boxing day sales proved to be a small relief and we tried out our shopping legs.

We braved Capalaba shops as it's never as hectic as the larger centres.  We were given one of those front pack things, Baby Bjorn, which was strapped to me and away we went.  To suggest it was character building would be an understatement.  We did survive though, even Lucas survived.

I'm going to go against everything I agree with and ashamedly post pics of my little lad.  Bear with me, I'll get back to normal station programming shortly.

 

 OK I'll try to get back on track from this point.

Happy Birthday to me

Thursday was my 48th birthday, apparently, as I was a little too young to remember the first few so I need to take other peoples word for it.


It was fortunate in some ways that I convinced Mrs HBR to let me have my birthday present a couple of weeks early because Lucas would have really put a dampener on the day if she hadn't picked up anything for me.

I got a new motorbike suit.  I actually picked it up a few weeks ago and got to use it that day I went riding (see previous blog post).  It's a great fit, pretty much perfect. You might not have seen the branding around much, it's made my Ricondi.  Ricondi is a shortened version of Riding Conditions and is owned by a mate of mine.  This is really a one off suit, there are carbon fibre surrounds to the titanium plates on the shoulders and knees.  The body leather is perforated and is fantastic once you're actually moving and even gives me a six pack with the padded mouldings across my abs.  Thanks Andrew it's a great suit.

Having expressed all that, it's not the first Ricondi suit in our family.  This is the suit I got Andrew to make for Mrs HBR for Christmas last year.  It was the first custom suit and also the first (and I think only so far) women's suit produced.  He got it made so quickly it's still missing all the tags and logos.  Early this year we went to a display day for his business and Mrs HBR was wearing the suit.  I negotiated to steal a set of his used track sliders so she could have some pre-used pucks to make her look cool..  I'm not sure she really understands the need though.

Starting to lose focus on the bike rack thing I notice.. haha.

Lucas is coming home today, Christmas eve, but I'll write some more on that soon.

This takes time.

Gee it's hard to keep up.
I think a week has gone past, nothing added but a lot has happened.

Last Friday I picked up my new 'family' car.  I got this black MY03 Subaru WRX.   A private sale from a lad planning to head to Canada for a couple of years.

It seems to be a fairly honest car, quite standard and not even the big exhaust.  I really like that. It has a different stereo head unit and had secondary amps and big sub in the boot.  It was negotiated for him to keep the amp and sub as these were not of interest to our lifestyle.  In saying that the sub was not really secure inside the boot, just tagged around the edges to stop some movement.

It has about 160 000km on the clock but this was the first time I has seen this model drop into my price search window.  I feel fortunate to have collected it.

We transferred the rego on Monday afternoon so it's all ours now, done and dusted.

Why would I be calling it a family car?  It has 4 doors and Mrs Hanging Bike Rack is due to shortly deliver our first child.

As it turned out IS became HAS on Tuesday morning 20th.  Mrs HBR decided the baby was coming about 5 am although she had no contractions.  The decision was made to induce her about 9 am and at 12.31pm, 3 hours later, we had a son. No time for drugs in this house.

Little Lucas arrived quite quickly and without much fuss.  Mum and bub have been doing fine, dad still a little traumatised.  Many thanks to Sunnybank Private Hospital and all the great staff.

He's been feeding and sleeping well so far and I guess there is not much more one can ask for.

The plan is for them to be home on Saturday 24th December, just in time for Christmas.  Is is rude of us that we have no presents for his first Christmas?  I'm sure we'll pay for that in years to come.

Car Shopping

I have finally decided to get a bit more serious about replacing my car. I have an old 87 Hilux which has served my well for the past 14 years or so.  With a baby due anytime in the next 2-3 weeks I feel maybe 4 doors would be a good thing for a while.

I have my thoughts set on a WRX currently.  I spent most of my life growing up involved with motor sports.  I've stepped away from it a few years ago, a decision I took to appease some-one else.  When I met my wife I found her brothers were involved in the same car clubs I grew up with.  Mike has renewed my interest in going back to some easy club level events so a car that can be a little competitive as well is high on my list.  It has been good sharing information and set-ups with him.  Mike kindly let me co-drive his car.  I had a ball plus it was great to catch up with some old friends and faces.

I still love my motorbikes and mountain bikes I find that my climbing has wained of late.  I think it's coming to another time to reduce something.  Geeze that will be an understatement when this bub arrives.

On a more sad note, I feel the Single Speed will be headed home this week.  I'd like to drop it into the shop for a final clean up before handing it back.   It will be going onto the market but with the soon purchase of this car, reduced income and Christmas it is just not possible to afford it.  It's not really that sad, I am sure it will go to a good home, plus I have had an absolute ball riding it for the past few months.  I think if and when things settle down I'll be selling my carbon bike to get a 29 SS..

Just to add to all this, we are considering getting a new camera.  You see the difference between individual and joint purchases?  hahahaha.  OK well I am pushing for a newer camera, we both have older point and shoots, mines in pieces and Mrs Hanging Bike Racks has a battery that takes about 3 photos before needing re-charging.  the down side to this is I am a Nikon fan and she likes Cannon.  It's funny but that's like being either Holden or Ford, Coffee or Tea and Mac or PC.  OK not really like Mac and PC..  Mac owners are all like I-Sheep anyway.

Not much for photos today, maybe I'll see what I can find next.

Bikes of a different kind, still ride as sweet

I am adding the bike I have which is rather awkward to lift up onto my hanging bike rack.

I bought this new in Feb 2002.   The photo looks a little odd, all out of perspective.  In case it doesn't make sense it's a Ducati 900 SSie.  During the first 5 years I had it I sure racked up the mileage.  By that time I had about 60 000km on the clock.  in the past 4 years I've struggled to clock up another 10 000km.

It's pretty much standard, apart from slip on pipes, slightly different profiled tyres and a little carbon.  I've been offered a set of half fairings as track day parts but not collected them yet.  To this point I haven't taken it to the track, I am in too much fear of it falling over.  This has been a great bike, never given me any troubles and has been super reliable.  Gets over 20 km per litre.. 


Mrs Hanging bike rack decided she didn't like being on the back of mine. I admit it was after spending about 2 500km as a pillion over 5 days back in 2007.  In any case by 2008 she had her open licence and had her heart set on a Ducati 750 Monster.   We finally found a 1999 model which she bought with 21 000 km on it.  I don't know if it was intentional  for her to buy a matching colour but I do know she was set on a Ducati.

We are very lucky to have such beautiful bikes.

I write about these bikes today because I have a chance to get out on mine this Sunday.  It is with some blokes I work with, I'm not sure I'll finish the day with them, I have the impression it will be a real 'tour' with some bird watching and lookouts.  I might well be doing them an injustice..  but we'll see.  With a bit of luck I'll post up some pics over the next couple of days..

I'm looking forward to getting out on the mountain bike again Monday night.  Hopefully the weather holds.

Here comes the rain.

You can tell it's summer in Queensland, December ONEth the weather brueau is predicting storms EVERY afternoon, the first cricket test gets rained out and we, as mountain bikes, should be avoiding the tracks and trails during the rain until it's dried out again.

It can be challenging when it seems to pour with rain every Friday and Saturday.   Some places and tails will dry faster so choice of areas should be the priority.  Mtb Dirt has trail maps and info about the trails aropund Brisbane and environs along with knowledge about what places dry fast or places to avoid in the rain.

Monday 28th, just gone, saw another night ride at Daisy Hill.  Looks like we are getting back on track with 6 riders, it's always good in a group around this size.  We were out for about 2 1/2 hours this week, lots of chances to catch your breath.  A few guys were recovering from a 4 hour event at Woodenbong, just over the NSW border.  the pace was down a little however these guys are strong.  I got to take the SS again, I am loving the way it rides, managing to hold my own and not lag too much.

Wednesday I was killing some time at a local shopping centre, just waiting for Mrs Hanging Bike Rack to finish at the doctors. Wandering past my favourite toy shop in that centre ( they have some cool kids electric cars) and out the front spotted these.   50cc pocket bikes.  They are not really un-common however to see them inside the shopping centre is a little odd.

I think if I am lucky I could get the Ducati Fila one..   but I doubt it.

I sent to pic to a friend who immediately wanted to know how much they were.

Please remember that if you are reading this and Christmas has been, the prices will be all wrong.

I reckon Smarty WILL buy one the FILA bike..  I hope they get another one.

To be honest while I'd love one, I am more keen on an open wheel race electric car.  I think it would make a great toy for my soon due son.

Night riding rules... OK

Finally managed to get out for a decent night ride in the forest last night.  For the past 2 years or so there would be a group of about 6-8 regular Monday night rides.  We meet at Rochedale park for a 7pm ride off.  We generally ride about 20 km at an easy pace.  We finish just before 9 pm so there is a lot of chatting and breath catching to take up some time.

We had a few encounters with some wildlife, not all that uncommon but it was the first time we'd seen a bandicoot sitting on the trail and later a little frog mouth own just beside us as we rode up a fire trail.  There were the regular wallabies, toads, spiders, toads and assorted unseen things crashing through the bush.  Strangely we didn't seen anyone else out this time, that would usually be rare.

I'm not anywhere near as fast as most of the other guys but I have to say my average speed is much higher in the dark.

I have a set of Ayup LED lights, they can be more expensive than some on the market but the light output, light weight and quality build is just so confidence inspiring.  I have 2 x Two hour batteries, a pencil or narrow beam on my helmet and a wide beam on my bars.  The place lights up like day (except it's white I guess).  These are not my photos, I took them from the Ayup page but you can get the idea..

I plan to get some more photos that will show some more.

I was riding the 29er SS, this was a big call because the guys are usually pretty quick.  In saying that they will always wait at trail ends until we are all back together.  We picked a few good hills and I felt happy that I never needed to get off and walk although I suspect that was Neil's aim with at least one of those tracks.

If you're in Brissy come down and ride Daisy Hill at night, 7.00 pm at the BMX track, Rochedale on Monday nights.  If you're not sure, check out mtbdirt for the rides thread and let us know you're coming. ( last page guys)

Made the weekend.

Today is the day I plan to update this a little further.   I've added two blogs I've kept an eye on over the past year or so along with a forum I frequent and a good friends new business venture.

Hopefully I'll get to add the photos I promised on day one.  I have to yet figure out the whole back ground thing, Chicken Drinker seems to be a master at this stuff, he has so many buttons and triggers...

Time to tidy up the yard and see about some photos.

OK here's the roadie.

2008 TCR Alliance A2. Really pretty basic but I wanted a road bike and I like carbon.   The wheels are an engagement gift from my wife.  PBO plastic spokes really soften up the ride nicely.  Gotta love a woman who will buy you better bling than you'd buy yourself.

A re-beginning

My success rate at keeping these things going is not great.  I started one back in 2005 when I was off on a climbing trip to China.  I got beaten by lack of connectivity..  and too much awesome climbing time. It then just got too hard to retro-write.

Our life is soon to become a little more hectic so I thought, why not toughen it up a little more.

I have two bikes on my wall rack, a 2008 Giant TCR Alliance and a 2009 XTC Advanced in carbon.

More exciting is the 29er Single Speed which I have on loan while a friend is chasing some high climbing grades.  If I can be honest I LOVE riding the SS.  I find it easier to just muscle the bike up hills instead of spinning.

Well we'll call that post one (pictures pending).