All Blog Posts (1,080)

So I put Strava on my phone. Strava, in case you are not acquainted with it, is an app which tracks your route, how fast you go, how long you take and so on. And then the really evil bit – it compares how fast you ride each ‘segment’ with other riders who have followed the same route (or bits of the route). If you are fast enough, you get an award, a place on the leader-board and a ‘King of the Mountain’ (KoM) badge. This has also sparked some controversy, as it may encourage people to ride…

Christmas was a very exciting time in our household. A new bike was waiting underneath the Christmas tree! Unfortunately, it was not for me – but for my daughter, who has now reached an age where her full indoctrination can begin. Actually, in many ways I was more excited than if it had been for me.

She was…

I had a whole day to kill yesterday. The solution was, of course, a bike ride.

It didn't matter where, but it was going to be long. In the end, I made it up as I went along, setting off on a loop from the lovely, leafy North Shore out to Parramatta, then Liverpool, Campbelltown and into the southern highlands via the freeway and, after Picton, the old Hume Hwy. Where then would depend on how I felt.

Not everything went as well as it might. For which I blame the government. Not…

Found a 24 Hour Bicycle Roadside assist. Only $30 for Most

Sydney Areas. They will take you and you bike home.

They also do Rescues from Wollongong Katoombs & Central Coast.

Type 24 Hour Bicycle Roadside Assist into google. I think

the it is associated with www.jmsvendingsolutions.com.au

where you can find more info and phone.

A pretty poor turnout this morning chaps... and especially you ladies.

My continuing totally un…

I went shopping by bike for the first time today since moving to my new home in Beecroft. Luckily the nearest Coles is very close to my new place, and as it is situated at the top of a slight hill, it was easy cruising all the way back home when the bike was loaded with groceries :D…

My feature article on the Great Victorian Bike Ride appeared in The Australian on Friday.

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/sport-active/road-warrior/story-fnc9wiz4-1226536380125

It listed a variety of rides in states around teh country with Victoria far and away the best represented and NSW, sadly, giving a very poor showing.

Time we emulated Bicycle Network…

It's been a fascinating time for me. I left Germany in 1984 and I had grown up in a small country town at the Dutch border so I shared much of the Dutch bicycle culture - I had been riding bicycles since I was 4 years old. So now I notice things that I either had forgotten about, or what has changed since or what at the time wasn't noticeable to me because I was so used to it.

There are two things that stand out to me in regards to riding bicycles. One is that there is a lot less…

If you're tired of doing your own maintenance stop on by Blue Mountain Bikes in Woodford, we've got multiple servicing options ranging from a simple service at $40 to a full bike strip down/ clean, adjustment, and resizing for $140. We also have our cafe happy to serve coffee all day just how you like it with freshly ground beans to order. Free wifi and shower usage for after a long ride on the trails! You can't really lose at BMB! …

I've been in Dordrecht in the Netherlands for the last week. Winter has truly arrived, we have had snow and ice (the lakes are freezing over). One thing that one can't avoid noticing is the Dutch attitude towards bicycles. They are utilitarian, using these bicycles as amode of transport - unlike us Ozzies who make it a matter of athletic performance. Almost all bicycles are of the sit-up version, many of them without gearing. …

If you've got a friend that you wouldn't mind taking mountain biking but for some strange reason they don't have a mountain bike, take them up to Blue Mountain Bikes in Woodford to get a good affordable rental and to ride some of the best trails in the area! It's only an hour outside Sydney and well worth the trip, there's even coffee to drink before, and a free shower for after. Can't really go wrong with…

DAY 9 SAN REMO TO PHILLIP ISLAND

Only 40km today but Victoria threw every kind of weather at us - pouring rain, buffetting winds and sunshine in relays. Seeing the crowd cheering us on at the finish was really exciting. I felt I'd achieved something. 

It's been a great nine days, some of it tough some frustrating but most of it a joy. Bicycle Network Victoria's tag line for this ride is "A Week in Another World" and it's a good description. The mega-circus we carry around, the…

DAY 8 MIRBOO NORTH TO SAN REMO

Headed for the coast again today but there seemed to be a million hills between here and there. When we did reach the coast, a 30k/h headwind made riding a chore mitigated somewhat by the beauty of the area. Rugged coastline from from Inverloch to Cape Paterson was beautiful. …

DAY 5 REST DAY AND DAY 6 TRARALGON TO YARRAGON

The demands of Day 4 were too much for me and Mal. I decided to spend rest day looking for a new road bike - either that or not complete the ride.

Traralgon's two bike shops were having the busiest day of their lives. Bad conditions for making such a big decision but needs must. Young Trent at Bicycle Evolution measured and adjusted and tested and eventually I settled on a Felt Lite with drop bars. While Trent set up my new wheels…

There's a new bike rental and cafe opening up in Woodford in a place that seems nothing short of perfect for it. It's located right across from the Woodford train station so it's really easy to get there from anywhere in the Sydney and Blue Mountains area. Whether you're a traveler looking to get some great riding in, or an enthusiastic cycling local that wants to tear up the Blue Mountain trails, it's definitely a place worth stopping by. With trail maps and spare bits and pieces to help…

DAY 3 BRIAGOLONG TO ROSEDALE

Mild day and long easy stretch to lunch at Lake Glenmaggie. Though it's easy going, I am tired today. My NBL* today is about 55km - could be these tight niks. Strangely enough, my most comfy pair are a super-cheap budget line. Maybe I have a budget-line bum...

I've spent a great deal of time reading the backs of shirts. My favourite is Fitzroy High School - a nice combination of yellow, black and magenta, it reads "Burning calories not fuel".…

Day 2 BRUTHEN TO BRIAGOLONG

When you spend six hours a day on a blazing strip of bitumen, you quickly come to appreciate trees and grass, shade and water.

These are our luxury each day - to find a shady spot with little breeze and something soft to sit on.

Left town and again straight into a hilly run. I found form late morning, getting a whole long stretch at a steady 22km. I'm mastering my gear combinations and doing a slightly better hourly speed.

Through market…

DAY ONE LAKES ENTRANCE TO BRUTHEN

Day one dawned calm and clear, a contrast to last year when a monumental storm left 200 school kids in 2 metres of water. Barely out of Lakes Entrance we faced first hill but Malvern handled herself well. Gear changes were like a knife through butter. Rolling hills through pretty farming country to the beautiful lakeside town of Metong. Good coffee and a chance to share my salad roll with the black swans. Temperature soared and the hills either got…

Malvern has had a full makeover - new grips, pedals, tyres. Full detailed service and check (thanks Nathaneal @ Town Bike Pitstop). Riding home today I felt as if I was on a nifty new tourer. I'm sure that feeling will fade with the first serious hill, but it's good to know we're good to go.

Lakes Entrance Friday night. Ride off Saturday morning.