Monthly Archives: February 2009

1st ride with my new lights. More pics and info here.

My Alba chop is picture of the day at DAN.GEROUS.NET (LOVE your work Dan! :)).

I just got to interview Sam Hill (he finally replied!). Interview is now up on BMU!

Christina and I did more nesting this weekend (hehe). Valentines day rules out any riding in any case, not to mention the crappy weather.

On Saturday we checked out the plethora of designery interior shops in Surry Hills. Rugs at $4,000, lamp shades at $750 (on sale too). Hey we didn’t buy any of it but it’s always nice to drool and dream.

We caught up with my good mate Liz (Happy B’day Liz!) and she took us to The Book Kitchen in Surry Hills, an awesome little cafe that reminded me a lot of Melbourne.

Suga and Liz.

Oven baked Spanish eggs!

The day was pretty successful as we scored an Aeron chair for Christina from Living Edge who really looked after us on the price, and a nice little bin too (slowly but surely!). The Ikea desk is already bowing in the centre so I’ll be refunding that this week.

Speaking of Valentines Day: I had no fucking idea what Valentines is all about. I asked Chrisinta and she said something along the lines of “you know, St Valentines?” and that was the extent of it. Liz said the same thing. I did some Google on it and there were a lot of references to this St. Valentines, and apparently many saints were called Saint Valentine back then, it’s all a bit confusing (the info that is) but I gather that it’s got something to do with some nice saint who helped to pass on love letters between two people who weren’t meant to be seeing each other, or something like that (now it’s sounding like Romeo and Juliet?!).

Anyways, Suga and I are falling into this pattern where one of us drives, and the other gets drunk. So for Valentines we booked in to our local restaurant, the Pool Cafe, we walked there and after a great meal and nice bottle of Momo (NZ wine!) we stumbled home. Perfect!

So I walked in to MCC today to buy a chain for the Oxford road bike (see post below) but I walked out with a bike!

More pics and comentary here.

I picked this bike up on the side of the road yesterday. I’ve become the bike saver! I’d much rather see this bike being ridden by someone rather than being flattened at the tip.

Geo ain’t too bad!

Fancy lugs and headbadge.

Shimano Thunderbird II!

Oxford stamped saddle.

Shimano Positron! Check the cabling, 2 cables feed all the way from the shifter to the derailleur. One cable for up, one for down. Unusual! Best thing is it’s perfectly in tune!!!

After some research I’ve found out that it’s most likely a Japanese bike, brought over then assembled in Australia. The date of manufacture is stamped in the rear stays as June 1977 and the Shimano Positron gear dates back to 1975. It’s pretty special gear as it’s Shimano’s first mass manufactured “index” gearing. That’s SIS today, clicking into gears as opossed to old style friction gearing.

“The whole system represented a serious attempt to take indexing mainstream. The chain and freewheel were especially good. A heroic failure, but lots of the incidental details – shaped chain links, shaped teeth, incompressible cable outer – lived to become integral parts of SIS”.

A bit of elbow grease, a new chain, and she’s now ready for a new home.

FUCK YES! They look (and feel) soooo amazingly awesome. I love them. The 3 colour print cost me an arm and a leg but I think the result is way worth it. $30 shipped anywhere in Aus. If you want one (please do help. I hope I can at least break even on these!!!) click here.

The Hoff gives 2 thumbs up.

Mounted to my “spare” Fox Flux helmet (it’s Christina’s helmet LOL but shhh don’t tell her).

I finally spent up on some lights. I was hesitant last year, but after a bit more pressure form Jing and Zi, as well as seeing how awesome Tai’s Ayups were last night I dished out on a set of niteriders (yes doesn’t that remind you of the Hoff + Kit?!) today.

I got:
– MiNewt Mini-USB Plus
– MiNewt Mini-USB

The Plus kit includes the helmet attachment kit and an extension lead so you can put the battery for that light in your pack but I’ve chosen to mount the battery on my helmet. The other light is just the normal handlebar mount.

Both kits plug into the wall OR you can choose to simply plug it into your PC via USB. You can leave them plugged in at all times so they are always charged and ready to go. That’s a massive bonus and sold me on these babies as I will just leave thrm both plugged into the PC at all times and they will be ready to go, at all times.

The kit is super well made, simple and very bright! I’m more than happy.

I got it all from MC Cyclery. RRP prices are: $249 (with helmet kit) and $210 (normal kit).

Looking forward to those night rides now. Bring it on!

What an awesome ride. I had so much energy today it was ridiculous. If only I felt that great every ride!!!

*mental note: Toast, coffee, brunch was eggs, baked beans and toast, veggie juice, lots of water throughout the day, bananna and power bar pre-ride, pack filled with gatorade*

The trail surface was just so hard packed and fast tonight. It made ordinary corners super fun and there wasn’t any sand at all. The air was cool too, and it was slightly grizzling down for most of the ride which was also so nice.

I’m on a high.

Tai’s ayups look the goods. 6.45PM at the carpark. Rain drops, cool weather. Tai and his mate Lam were waiting for Zi and I.

Lam’s feelin it. Lam’s not new to riding but he doesn’t ride much. This is the tree you get to once you do the nasty little gradual uphill trail over the highway. He’s feelin it but he soldiered on!

Tai looking at Zi.

Zi blinded by the light.

Zi and I followed tradition and went to eat some Sizzler. We met Andy there and he made this plate (gross much?!). My eye was stinging from a bit of tree that whipped me naked eyeball. Time to get some clear glasses me thinks.

Zi and I ate the petite fillet mignon, it’s so fucking perfect it puts $100 steaks in fancy restaurants to shame!!!

If Zi ever shows public emotion it’s when he’s eating good food. He giggles and smiles to himself whilst chowing down.