Really not good at this.

I just seem to lack either the time or the inclination to get back to keep updating.

Throughout 2012 I have been 'pit crewing' for a mate who has gone back into Superkarts after about 10 years out of the sport.

"WE" had a great year, went to Phillip Island and Qld Raceway for the National championships along with Lakeside and Morgan park locally for state championships.

Phillip Island wasn't so great, we had ignition problems and lots of intermittent rain. Out of 5 races we only finished 3.. Lots of points went begging there. Qld Raceway was a lot better with him taking out his class in every race and setting new class lap records. He ended up 3rd in the national champs and won the Qld series in class with 2nd Outright for the season.

All year he has been saying he'd have to get me a drive which I had managed to fob off because I didn't want to risk damaging or blowing up the motor. Actually I never tried to even SIT in the seat until after the last race of the year, last month.

This morning we went to Lakeside as there was a 'practice' morning going on. This was his chance to let me drive and 'repay' my help for the year.

The kart is a 250cc Single Cylinder Honda 2 stroke (01 CR250 Honda motor and box). At Phillip Island they are capable of in excess of 190 kmh (120 mph) and lap around 1:42's

Not in my friggen hands they don't hahaha.

I got down to a 1:01.4 today although mostly lapped in 1:04's.. he would lap in the 55-56 second bracket. Had a great day out there, As I have often said, play to your strengths... haha.. I'm looking forward to another year of crewing only... maybe..

Here are a few pics.

Hey Wheels...  I didn't do any farming today... haha

Rotorua on the 9th

We made it!

We flew out of Brisbane on Wednesday the 7th and into Auckland.  It was about a 3 hour flight but were delayed out of Brisbane by about an hour due to some-one not showing up.  I am getting suspect about this actually happening as I have come across it a few times it the past.

Anyway, it was the boy's first plane trip.  He handled it well and was busy smiling and laughing at the people on the plane.  Most were probably Korean / Chinese but they were still trying to talk to him.

We wanted to get a lot of photos at the airport and had a lot of things planned for ALL the extra time waiting about the airport.  Sometimes things must take a lot longer than you expect and the time just vanishes.  Everything we did to make the gate was just in the nick of time.  It was not really amusing then that we were stuck on the plane for another hour.

We booked a rental car which was supposed to be a wagon but we ended up with a peoploe mover kinda thing. 

Mrs HBR's bike had been well packed in a box we got from the shop where the bike was bought from.  We had put our shoes, helmets, pump and somke tools into it.  We had an allowance of 23kg and used almost all of it.  We needed the wagon to fit the bike in the back along with the baby seat and our luggage.

Our first night was just outside Auckland.  I find staying in motels really stressful because of the boy.  I stress becuase he can be quite unsettled and usually wakes up about 12.30pm and screams for a little while before going back to sleep until 7.30 am. Mind you, he doesn't do that at home.
b som
Thursday we drove from Auckland to Rotorua.  Elaine, are you still reading?  Lucas HBR has been close to crawling for the past week or so, we knew he would be crawling by the time we got home, we didn't expect it to be our first morning here.  We teased him with some toys and an apple amd made him crawl around the unit and later around in a park at lunchtime.  Mrs HBR cried.. hahaha.

We had a drive out to the supermarket in Rotorua to grab some groceries as we have a mini kitchen and need some stuff for the boy to eat.  We are struggling a little as at 5 pm I would swear it's about 2.30 ish.  Sun is not setting till almost 8 pm I'd guess.

Got the bike built in the evening and checked it over.  All good.

Friday morning we headed out to have a look at the MTB info centres in the forest.  We bought a map and some chain oil then came back to the unit. 

Finally I got geared up and took the bike out for a ride.  We are staying in a motel that backs onto a thermal pond and visitor centre and a back track to the trails.  Just awesome planning by Mrs HBR for the location.

I did about a 2 hour loop, about 24 km in total.  Some really nice trails and varying difficulty. I got home for what felt like lunchtime but turned out to be about 3 pm.   Mrs HBR had worked out a ride route for herself so she headed out about 4pm. She is due back very shortly so I better wake the boy up and get him ready.  It's about 5 pm and the sun is about 3/4 across the sky.

I packed lights just incase I get a chance or desire to ride at night but the cold might beat me, I believe it will be down to about 6 degrees over the next few nights.

I'll retro add the photos.

We will be out of here on Tuesday but will have to pack the bike away on Monday arvo I guess.

Stay tuned..

11 Days to go.

Just over a week and a half till we fly out to NZ for a week.

This week we have booked our flights and booked the accomodation in Rotorua.   Well that is the 5 day section of our 7 day trip so we know where we are staying.  We really should look into the first and last nights soon, in Auckland.

Pohutu Lodge is about one street away from the mtb bike trails.  As we are renting a car to gat about the fact we will be 3-4 mins from the city should be ok.

Today it was my turn to take out Mrs HBR's new bike.  I had to see how the set-up was because there is a significant weight difference between us.  I believe I will be happy enough to just adjust the seat height.

I did a short 2 hour / 20km tootle around Daisy Hill Forest this morning with a mate from work.  He was a long time 'roadie' who got into mountain bikes about 2 years ago.  He is pretty strong but currently lacking in 'obsticales' and navigation.  He seems to be picking it up pretty well though.

The ride, today, was the first time I have spent much time on a dual suspension bike.  I guess I expected it to feel a lot more different than I found it.  My riding buddy said the bike looked really smooth and effortless over the terrain.  That's what we would expect so I guess it was working.

Mrs HBR will get to take the bike out again and then it will be time to strip and pack it for the trip.

I bought a helmet the Lucas HBR today,  It's a cute little thing.  I will try to post some pics tomorrow.

Hopefully Lucas HBR will receive a 'wee ride' bicycle seat shortly and he can come out for a ride on the quiet bike paths in the near future.

I also picked a bike rack for the back of my car so I will be able to transport a bike from time to time.   Currently I have been borrowing Mrs HBR's car which the bikes wil only JUST fit into.   I cannot locate a  decent tow bar 2nd hand for my car as they always seem to be removed from sale not long after they are advertised.  I have priced up the roof rack version but that quickly mounts to 500 bucks. 

If there is a chance I'll see about fitting it up tomorrow and banging a bike onto it. 

Gee I have a few things to do tomorrow it seems, good thing it wil be another day.

2 weeks to go

We are in countdown mode.  We have about 15 days before the 3 of us fly out for New Zealand or as I was recently told, the island to the NORTH of New Zealand.

We fly into Auckland then rent a wagon before driving down to Rotorua for 5 days.  We will be packing Mrs HBR's new mountain bike and hope to get in quite a few rides while over there.  The plan is for Mrs HBR to ride in the mornings and I'll get out in the arvo or night.  She doesn't know I'm packing the AYUP's yet.

I said last time that I would add a photo of Mrs HBR Hanging Bike Rack now that it has been added to.

She now owns to Specialised bikes so she it really quite pleased with herself.

Mrs HBR managed to get out on Sunday Morning for her first real ride.  Thanks to Julie for going out even though she was not feeling the best.  The outcome of the shake down ride was we had to raise the handlebars on the stem about 10mm, this was lowered at the shop on set up but Mrs HBR found there was too much forward bias in the set up. She got the chance to take it for a quick run on Sunday arvo, locally, and found the set much more comfortable.

Did I mention we fly out in about 15 days???

Lucas HBR had an eventful 10 month birthday last Friday.   He managed a face plant off the couch onto the tiles in the living room first thing Friday Morning.  He landed square on his nose and mouth.  The front teeth cut into his upper lip and there was blood and blood and blood..  but not a broken nose.  Good thing there is a fair bit of cartilage there.  Neither of us could think of where the cold pack were, (in the fridge where they are suppose to be) so Mrs HBR improvised with some frozen peas in a Ziploc bag. 

We took him up to the hospital just to be sure.  Things seemed to be OK, there was no loss of consciousness and he would settle down with a lot of cuddling.  

Mrs HBR stayed home to keep an eye on him ands tried to get a photo of his fat lip.  He looked like a fish those lips stuck out so far. Unfortunately/ fortunately once he sees the camera he cant help but smile.  I can see he is still a little distressed even through the smile although I might just want to see that.  It was so sad because he was also a little congested with another flu bug so he was already a little down.

I am home today, Tuesday, keeping an eye on him again.   Nothing to to withe the fall.  We got a call from Day Care late Monday arvo about him having a temp of 38.5 ish, they had given him some  Panadol but it didn't seem to touch it.  I got home with Mrs HBR bathing him in a cool bath, he was still quite unsettled and upset.  I rang the doctors and we took him straight up.   Great, another virus.  He was still about 38.6 so we gave him some Neurophen and let him rest in just a nappy.  This seemed to do the trick.  After his dinner and bottle I out him down for the night, he took a long time to settle and drop into good sleep and woke a few times until we went to bed.  I remembered at 3 to go pull the blankets up again as he likes to shake them off.

He seems better today which is good.

His 10 month photo.

Bugger, turn your computer on it's side..  I tried multiple times to rotate the photo but it just wont.
 

The bike rack looks smaller somehow

It's been a long day.

Today Mrs Hanging bike rack succumbed to my badgering and we went looking for a new mountain bike.  We visited a few shops but ended up back at the first shop we went to.

This was one of the few times the sales staff accepted that it was not ME buying the bike and actually listened to Mrs HBR, accepted her as the person to deal with and did a good job answering all her questions. Quite refreshing.

This bike ticked all of Mrs HBR's requirements, it's not a GIANT and it is Dual Suspension.  Apart from those few things she says she was not too worried.  I found that a little funny because she really wanted a Specialised Dually for the past 3 + years.

What she was not expecting was she was about to buy a 29'er.  I've tried to tell her the 29" wheels will better suit her riding style and now she accepts it. HAHA.

With a fair bit of organisation she will be able to take it out for a ride next weekend, I hope.  Mrs HBR wasn't too fussed on the black and yelow colour scheme but I managed to remind her the colours match most everything to do with her and two wheels, her Ducati, her motorbike suit and her helmet.  I think that sealed the deal.

Why the new bike?  Well we had been talking about it for a while and had decided the best time would be just before we were heading overseas.

Well we took THAT leap as of early last week, We booked out flights to go Rotorura on the island just North of New Zealand.  Yes, we ARE taking the boy.  Rotorura has some of the best mountain bike riding to be found in Australasia by all accounts.  We are taking off for a week in early November and plan to take this bike.   It's a size that will fit both of us.

Here is Lucas HBR practicing for the NZ trip.

I'll have to update the Mrs HBR photo wall soon.  The new Dually just fits below the Specialised road bike Mrs HBR bought abut 4 years ago.

FOR SALE:

My full carbon Giant XTC mountain bike.
 
Item:                          2009 Giant XTC advanced
Location:                   Brisbane Mt Gravatt -ISH
Item Condition:        Loved, Used, 1600 odd KM.. some signs of personal injury
Reason for selling:    Like the 29 SS too much
Price and price conditions: $ 1 800.oo
Extra Info:                Upgraded and not like any other XTC advanced of it's years. This one would be almost a Kg lighter than it's peers. Too big for my wife but she thinks it rides itself up hills. Weight pretty close to 10 kg's. It's been a great bikea dn well used apart from the past 12-18 months. I had a 6 month loan of a 29 SS and got hooked before we had our first child. Had it out at Daisy today, fist time I've ridden anything since Christmas... Spent most of the day riding in the one gear. Had a major service done before I borrowed the 29'er and never got taken out while that was at home..

Specs:

Frame:                   Large 20" giant specs
Bell:                       Yes..
Fork:                      Fox 32 II
Shock:                    It's a hard tail... no shocks
Brakes:                   Shimano XT std was SLX
Rotors:                   Shimano 160
Shifters:                 9 spd Shimano XT std was SLX
Rear De:                9spd Shimano XT
Front De:               3x Shimano XT
Cassette:                 9spd sram 10-34
Chain:                     1 plus a sram spare
Cranks:                   Race Face Evolve XC
Bars:                       Flat RaceFace . kinda wide ane never trimmed .. has Giant rubber bar ends.
Stem:                      Race Face 100mm
Saddle:                   Good idea I know... yes ONE... Giant something "carbon"
Seatpost:                Race Face alloy
Wheelset:               Shimano XT . ready for tubless set up.. have some valves as well
Tyres:                     1.9 ignitor front / WTB weirwolf rear .. extra rear the same but very little use.
Grip:                     One on each bar, right where you need them... not the originals.

Been a long long time.

I feel I can finally post again, we took the mountain bikes out for a few hours this morning.  Dropped the boy off with the outlaws and headed into Daisy Hill.  We did most of our usual circuit but dropped out some of the hills.  It's ben about 12 months since Mrs HBR has been out on the dirt and about 9 for me.  We have had the occassional roadie / path ride but not even a night ride in the bush.

Was a small logistical drama..  2 mountain bikes and the boy in a Subaru Forester.

Helmets  - check
Shoes   - check
Water  -  check
Camelbacks  -  check
Change of clothes  -  check
Front wheels  -   One..   ahh better grab the second one.
Ready!

There you go Elaine..  I added a pic of the boy for you!.

The outlaws were keen to look after the boy provided we could guarantee ther were no poo-namis, of course we agreed.  Little bugger waited until we got back fom the ride to let go.  Personally I reckon he did it at about 10 mins after we left and they just ignored it.

They made noises about enjoying it but were quick to find out they were doing other things NEXT weekend.  hahaha.

Lucas HBR will be 9 months old next week.  you could say he's been out almost longer than he ws IN!

Been a hectic but according to everyone else an easy time.  He has a great smile and is generally happy all the time.  He's been in Day care since about 5 months old, we have a very convienient one, just across the road.  That is the second day care he's been to but we only put him in there because it was so close.  As they say, green grass etc..   it may be close but he and we don't like it at all.  They ask for instructions and routine then seem to ignore it.

Next week we will be back at the old place two days a week, much further and the wrong way for both of us on our ways to work but boy was he ever so cheerful the day we took him back down there to re-introduce him.   BIG BIG smiles, and greetings from about 3 staff from other year classes who remembered him.  We can't suggest he remembered the place but he did have a very interested look about the place as he was carried through the doors, kinda like..  this place is familar..  but I don't know why.

That's his 8 month photo, happy to sit on the footpath.  Later on, inside getting changed for bed, we found a small tick on his thigh.  It had not been there long so was only just attached and easily removed.  We did a more through check.

Today I have put my Carbon XTC mtb up for sale.  I will be looking at replacing it with a 29" SS as soon as it goes.

It's on MTB dirt and the Ducati site..  I think I'l add it to Gumtree next.

I'll try to get back here again soon.

Oh..  Farwell Mr Mac..  It was an honour to know and spend time with you.

Time marches on..

Been almost a month since I last posted.

Not a lot has been happening especially on the bicycle front. 

The 29'er went home, I trust it was in better knick than whan I borrowed it.  I had it serviced, wheels trued and all cleaned up.  I think it was to be going up for sale so the owner could fund different toys.

In apreciation the owner got about a dozen bottle of ginger beer, most alcholised but some normal and some white (not) chocolates.  It seemed the least I could do.  It was embarrasing to return the bike after I had enjoyed it so much.   Just the way our budgets work sometimes.   Maybe later, if he doesn't part with it yet, I might sell something to afford it back.

It's been over 2 months since I have done pretty much any exercise.  No bikes have left the HangingBikeRack and that includes the motorised ones.  I'd like that to change soon however I struggle with the motivation.

Last weekend proved exciting, a kidney stone decided it was going to leave it's comfy resting spot.  I drove myself up to the hospital about 5 am and was discharged around 9.30 am.  It's getting quicker with each one, no easier or less painful though.  That is my FOURTH so far (since 1997), I managed to grab this one to send off for analysis.  There are two types, one that is " That's the way it is, sorry " and  the other which can be either diet based or 'managed', what ever that means.  That meant a very quiet weekend for me.  We had a few things planned but being doped out on morphine and the likes put paid to that kind of thing.

Our son hit 8 weeks during the past week.  He's sleeping well and getting bigger, I don't think there are many other things he could be doing.  Everyone comments on how tall he looks, we just say he's lying down and flattened out.

Sunday 19th (tomorrow) was to be a 'come and try' motorkhana I'd been looking forward to.  A few weeks ago there was to be a dirt Khanacross I had entered but with all the rain we had that got cancelled.  I was looking forward to testing out the WRX on the dirt to make some notes on how to drive it.  Having lost that day to the weather tomorrow was shaping up pretty well.  That was until today when a mate, just getting back into racing SuperKarts rang.  I knew it was to be the first race meeting for him and this kart for a few weeks now and felt if I closed my eyes the dates would not clash..   That didn't work.  About lunchtime I decided to go pit crew for him, it's hard enough to do that on your own without it being the first one.  I had talked him into going out for practice LAST weekend, then I had to bail on him because of the stone.  He still went which was good to hear.

If I am fortunate I will bring home some pics from the racing.  Hope he has a good day.

Hi-ho, Hi-ho.. it's back to work I go.

Well to be honest I went back on the 16th so I've had a full week back there.  I have to be honest, after 4 weeks off it was a bit of a struggle to get back into it.  It took a little while to figure out how all the programs we use worked and even longer to get all the settings back to how I like them.  Whoever was using my station managed to change just about everything.  Pretty funny in hindsight as I have been happy to do that to others.

We don't seem to be able to get much time to ourselves, I guess it's to be expected, but I figure I'd hoped with a little one who is supposed to sleep, what 18 hours out of 24, there should be at least the ability to eat dinner in peace.  This is about the only thing I have enjoyed, no counted on, throughout my life, some time to sit quietly and eat.

I am aware, from what everyone tells me, that we have a really good baby who is settled and easy considering.  We have learnt that with me back at work that it's harder to get him to settle during the day.  We are thankful he sleeps well at night, in spells of 4 - 5 hours, however it seems he'd be lucky if he will settle for more than 2 hours the rest of the day.  Naturally he's way over tired by the time 5 pm feed arrives so I'll take him while Mrs HBR gets a break, goes for a walk and later makes some dinner.  He still won't sleep by this stage and remains unsettled until about 7.30 when he gets his last feed.  Again I stress we understand we are fortunate he will then sleep till about 1AM feed and then till the 5.30 AM feed..  Apparently that will be it for sleep until about lunchtime even with the feeds in between.

Oh by the way, he's one month old today.  OK, 4 weeks was Tuesday just gone so I guess today is 4 1/2 weeks.  We understand it's still early days but understanding these things doesn't make it any easier to deal with.

Weekend has arrived, I hope to send Mrs HBR out or away for best part of the day at some stage, we have plenty of stock in the freezer to give her a break.

No photos this post..  just thoughts.

Thanks

Holidays at home cost more.

Well if you thought that staying home and taking some holidays might mean saving some money I am pretty sure I have proved you wrong.

I still have a week to go but I seem to have been spending money, mostly at Bunnings, hand over fist.
The plan was to just complete a couple of small things.  We own a really nice, 3 bedroom, townhouse.  It's small yard is about twice the average size, compared to other townhouses which it turns out is

about right for me. 

To pretty up the little garden by the front door was on my 'to-do' list from not long after we moved in.  It took some time and is almost finished.

I cleaned up the little 'daily' garden beneath the citrus trees and added some more seedlings for everyday use.  We use the 'Daily' garden for things like lettuce and beans.  We have a 3rd garden for the likes of herbs and tomatoes currently, it's due for overhaul soon.

  For the longest time I have had plans for a large raised vegie' garden along the side fence but as I've been finding ways to spend the money we had put aside for that, it will have to wait.  Mind you I did manage to build a 3/4 garden here. It's about 2400mm long, 1200 back.  I have planted some seeds there earlier today.  See the big spikes should mark out where it will finish up one day.

Finally, we've lived here for almost 3 years but rarely, if ever, managed to fit a car in our garage.  Well on the right side of the car I finally built some shelves which has allowed a lot of storage boxes to go up above head height.  Hanging Bike Racks on the left and a little judicious culling or re-stacking further up the garage.  Mrs HBR now has access and safe parking for the 'family car'.  It seemed prudent to try and reduce the car temp.

Don't tell her I said that! I think we'll be in strife if we get a 'medium' sized car.  We might have a visit from a newer Forester tomorrow, I'll see if that fits, to put some ideas in her head.