Tuesday 22 November 2011

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)

Saturday 19 November 2011

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.

Thursday 17 November 2011

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).