Blogs

I’ve always wondered what is faster the Surly Karate Monkey (29er) SS or the Yeti ASR RC 26inch with 27 gears. I haven’t ridden the Yeti since the Fling but with the SS in for a fork service I had time to find out.

The course was my standard Terrey Hills training loop of the shops to Duck Holes / Waratah / Centre via the sniggle. It’s a distance of 24.85k.

Today the 575 got two shiny new tires. Both 2.35 single ply wire bead jobbies. Not UST but full of Stans so hope they stay up. The front is a Minion DH F and the rear a High Roller. The High Roller was a pain in the butt to get to seal but Minion went up in seconds. Think that was to do with 'roller being pushed out of shape a little in shipping.

Have to say 2.35s look a lot better (you recall how stupid I said a 2.1 Ignitor looked on the front during the first build?). Hopefully will see how they handle on Saturday.

After we said good bye to the rides stage one guys, and after bagging them for being woozy girls, I lived to regret that comment, we headed off in search of some nice downhill fun which we did eventually find.

After reaching about 80% into the trail it then became the most difficult hike a bike I have ever done, I’m talking clambering over and sliding down small boulders.

Took longer than expected but it ended up being a good run all the same. Got a bit lost around the Wild Flower Garden. (That bike path all looked the same to me). And part of the trail of the original GPX track (The bit just after the WFG) has now been fenced-off so had to find an alternative route along Mona Vale Road. We picked up a nice peice of sniggle from the Pistol Club to the top of the trail head going towards Duffy's. Came back via Terrey Hills shops to pick up some more water when fatigue kicked in. So we blasted down the road back to the cars in Belrose.

Arrived in Jindabyne on Saturday morning and went for a ride with my mate near the Tyrolean Village (Stuart's favourite track!).
It is tricky and steep, so a little bit hike a bike. Also it is not used much, surprised Stuart?, you can see, that some of the tracks are not used much at all.

Well I had to drive from Hornsby to the CBD this morning as I have to go to Holsworthy after work to shoot at things. Man does peak hour traffic suck. It took me 1hr 15min. Same time as it takes me to ride into work.

The new $4 toll and cashless bridge sure don't seem to make much of a difference in speed heading into the city.

Just like the Blair Witch Project, what started out as a fun bike ride turned into a battle against the elements. Those elements tried their hardest to claim us, but we stood up to the heat with our courage and conviction, and finally made it to the end.

I was a bit surprised when pulling into Ourimbah today - there were loads of riders around undaunted by the ridiculous heat.

We didn't take note of the thermometer in the car (only one for reference) when we'd done, but after driving a while on the way home it was reading 39C so would guess things were a good bit warmer when it was sat in the Ourimbah parking lot. Thankfully most of Ourimbah is shady - without cover this day would have been brutal (check what happened at Marramarra for that!).

Hello everybody that I know and don't know I would like to tell you guys that I have the yeti ASR alloy all ready it looks soooo pretty !! Gav was as excited as me
otherwise the second good news is that I have been kindly asked to be part of the CBD team yesterday !!!! so I have the CBD jersey and bib...I will look fast hehe (as you know the look is as important as the legs if it is not more )
PS: I will send a picture of my bike later
yeaaaaaaaaaa !!!!

I know the Dirtworks isn't until May but as it will be my first 100km event I think I better work out some sort of plan . Xmas hasn't been kind and I have added about 4kgs that needs to go plus some. Well, as work finished early today I dusted of the road bike to go for a spin. Bl@@dy hell, not having it out since the Gong ride proved painful. I'm definitely going to need to spend more time in the saddle if I'm going to have any chance of finishing with a decent time.

Below is today's profile and I did it without stops which was a killer.