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Matthew brought his Carbon Scott Scale over tonight (well, he rode it over from work in the city). It’s massive! (check out the size difference between his Scale and mine in the pic above). He’d been dying to weigh it, so it literally went straight on the scales and weighed in at 10.98kg’s. Nice weight considering it’s a large and has a lot of heavy parts on it (all of which will be replaced with lighter parts over time I’m sure).

Much bike talk was had, Seasons on DVD, a “healthy” Crust pizza, apple juice and of-course I got to play with the Carbo a little :) We set up his front fork sag as well as lowered his stem for a more aggressive XC stance and position.

Working for myself, and from home is paying off big time this year. I’m starting to not feel so guilty for ducking out for a part of the day to go riding (I’m even starting to rub it in a bit to the full timers hehe).

Today Charlie and I hit up the Dam. I decided to take the Scott Scale of-course.

The Scale was fast from the outset. Manly Dam has a nasty little heart starter of a road climb before the trail even starts (carpark to the school) and it was evident right there that the Scale was fast. It feels very much like a road bike! Soon after the school there’s a sneaky pinch of a hill which I’ve never gotten up, usually because I’m not warmed up yet, or I usually couldn’t be bothered so early on the trail, but today I got out of the saddle and mashed it, the Scale exploded up the hill no problems. Ridiculous really.

The single trail section of the dam was so fast on the Scale, there’s a bit of rock work here and there which really bucks the bike around but I found that dropping a bit of speed for the rocks wasn’t a problem because a few revolutions of the crank and the Scale just accelerates back up to speed so effortlessly.

The downhill section though was definitely where the rigid frame (or is it the geometry or both?) showed it’s weaknesses. I was nowhere near any sort of comfort zone and instead of mashing it down I was instead coasting, having to pick smoother lines and when I found myself off a smooth line I was just holding on and riding light.

All in all the bike is amazing in tight flat single trail, amazing up hills (heartbreak hill was way too easy and I have to mention that Charlie did it without a granny gear on his STP, what a man!) but on rough stuff it’s just super harsh and far from confidence inspiring. The bike doesn’t like jumping, even hucking it off the steps wasn’t easy (after a while I just didn’t bother and rolled down steps instead). I also feel the tires are way too thin as I had troubles tracking on rockier surfaces.

At the end of the lap we had a little race back up to the school just to burn off the bit of energy we had left and the Scale, once again, just rocketed up the road. It’s almost better on road than it is off road!!! All in all I’m happy, little whippet did great. I feel much more relaxed and less tired than I usually would feel if I rode the Reign. Is that a good thing?

Charlieeeeeeee.

Charlie taking a fall at the end of the downhill section.

The Scale just doesn’t like to jump, or huck for that matter.

I was happy to just relax and cruise home behind this bus.

Little whippet did good today.

I’ve finished setting up the bike, she’s fast! That’s for sure.

There’s an annoying mouse like squeek coming from the rear cassette. I’ll have to take it off to inspect what it is exactly. I forgot to buy derailleur cabling and since I’m an impatient fucker I used the lightweight crap I had lying around (it doesn’t fit too well in the Scott’s cable clamps). The bars I have at 580mm are way too narrow for my liking and I absolutely hate the foam grips. I’ll look at getting some wider bars, most likely still a flat bar too.

10.02kg.

It’s official. I rammed the final nail in my Ti project last night.

Jing came around to drop off my Scott Scale frame and fork which he sold to me last week. We took off his parts and whacked on what we could off the Ti bike.

The Scale frame uses full jacket housing all the way (nice) and I’ve decided not to use the funky lightweight alligator/nokon style cabling from the Ti, but instead settle for normal housings. I’m also going to need a seatpost + clamp as the Scale uses a strange size. Jing’s letting me borrow his one in the meantime. Apart from that I have to get the LBS to help me remove and replace crown races but after that I’ll be ready to roll.

The Fizik Alliante XM saddle I bought for the Reign will go on this bike for more comfort. And for once I didn’t weigh anything. I didn’t weigh the frame, the Truvative BB… nothing! I’m going to try my best to curb the weenie and stay functional on this build.

What no clip in pedals?! Tough titties!

Nice touch: These little dudes support full cable housing on top tube.

I dropped in to Maroubra Cycles today to help Andy buy a bike. Andy had been riding a BMX up until now. He did consider a Talon hardtail (like Christina’s bike) but I convinced him to go dual (well, maybe he convinced himself). Giant make an entry level dually called the Yukon SX (2009 model is called the Halo) which got pretty damn good reviews, both locally and internationally, in magazines I’ve read (here’s one article). I’m looking forward to more riders to ride with! :)

New bike smile.

Grant’s (store owner) amazing Yamaha. Cafe Racer stylezzzzz.

New 09 Alias running SLX + small block 8’s.

Masi fixed gear in the window with Sugino crankset (JDM yo!).

My Reign’s back together again. The wheels are now true and dished correctly too. Wider bars feel strange. Looking forward to testing them out on the trails this week/end.

My mate Andrew Chan just send me this pic he took in Japan. He says the guy on the left looks like me (but more buff lol), it’s always got to be some Japanese guy doesn’t it?!

Teisuke Morimoto has just uploaded a billion pictures from Eurobike 2008 – A lot of the 2009 gear looks nuts. JEALOUS. I wish there were shows like this in Sydney. I’d geek out so hard.

The tennis balls are opening up!

My clowns are still very much as cute as ever :)

Big weekend this weekend. No riding at all, too much food and I’m absolutely wasted right now after going through a bottle of good stuff solo (too drunk to sleep lol).

Suga and I ate at Kelly’s Grill at Bondi Junction on Friday night. I only wanted to eat ribs as I’d been craving Hurricanes lately but to our surprise Kelly’s ribs were jucier and tastier that any ribs I’d ever eaten. w00t! For the first few minutes I felt a bit guilty for eating the meat with my hands as the ladies on the table to the left of me were daintily cutting their steaks with their knives and forks, and the romantic couple on the table right of me were trying to look good whilst chewing their food, but after a while I just bogged in hard. Felt great, man, meat, monster, animal. Good. We watched Tropic Thunder at the cinema after the meal, and whilst I was balling for the first 5 minutes, the rest of the movie just failed to surpass the ribs.

Saturday night was nuts. We were invited over to Nanami and Shaun’s place for dinner and we also had a burlesque party to go to afterwards (Janice, one of Christina’s work friends B’day party). It had been raing hard all day, it was fucking freezing as we waited for over 15 minutes for a bus into the city (would be easier if they just let us drink and drive?).

Thanks God then that Nanami’s place was warm, funnily enough it’s the same apartment that I used to live in a fair few years ago. In the picture L2R: Shaun, Richie, Christina, Kellie, Christian (my brother from another mother) and Nanami.

Nanami’s studio.

Nanami skate deck (I so want).

As great as the conversation and Arthurs Pizza was, not to mention a tempting invite to stay and watch The Karate Kid again on DVD (Sweep the Leg Johnny!) Suga and I bailed out to go to Janice’s party.

Janice’s party at Tatlers.

Suga and Janice.

Flavio, Tom + Suga.

Sugaaaaaaah.

Sunday: Fathers day is now split (same goes for Xmas, or any other family occassion) between Suga’s family + my family. I spent lunch with Suga’s family today. Suga’s mum founded the Chinese Parents Association (CPA). The CPA’s a non-profit, charitable incorporated organisation which aims to help children and adults with disabilities especially those of Chinese origin to realise their full potential as well as to promote the needs, rights and well-being of people with disabilities and their families.

I had no idea Christina’s mum was the brainchild of such a massive project. The CPA had it’s 20th anniverary in Bankstown (at a wedding reception building in Bankstown, lol so hardcore) and she was literally greeted with tears and lots of love upon entry. She was praised in speeches and even invited to make a speech. I’m so proud of her!

Christina’s family.

CPA.

The directors + the kids who performed dances (to Brittney Spears no less) and played music (funny but super cool).

Christina’s younger sister Jess with a bit of JDM yo in the background.

Then it was off to visit my Dad and have dinner at mums.

Dad.

Richie (my sister’s husband), Suga and Jamie (my sister).

Wasted lol.

I’d only just got back in from eating that massive beast of a brekfast to have Zi contact me to go out for brekky again as two of his old school friends are here from Malaysia and he wanted them to be treated to the best eggs benny on the east.

Cute couple, they just got engaged on the Gold Coast.

The little potato rosti hidden in between the 2 slices of bread makes for a special surprise. Coogee Bite’s eggs benny are the best eggs benny in the east (they make a great soy flat white too).

This gold Kronos top cap was in the mailbox upon my return home. GOLD FEVER!

2 new pieces (I call them Tennis Balls) I aquired today from my Uncle John’s shop. They’re already opening up bigger than they were in his tank! I’ll take a picture in a few days when they open up even more (hopefully).

My Coral Bandit loves the new blue lights and he’s coming out by day again now. He’s as big as they get, full adult size.