Tuesday, May 29, 2007

A very bikely office

There is nothing more enjoyable than opening your office door to find both your colleagues with their bikes. After a sustained period of being the odd one out, I’m starting to get some more company in the bikely tribe. The disease is spreading and it’s highly contagious.

Sunday, May 20, 2007

An end (beginning?) to my bike.

I started on this blog late last year and I've been very bad about it... I've also spent most of my time sick, working, or wedding planning and it's meant very little time to bike, let alone write about it. Things being the way they are, I am selling my bike for $550 (ono.) to whoever wants it -- it's a Mongoose Randoneur, with new brakes (Shimmano). The drive train has Shimmano Deore parts. I bought the bike with a number of non-stock parts: the forks are Mozo c7120 and a set of Ritchey Comp handle bars. The crankset has three rings (Also Shimmano Deore, I believe), but I also have the original crank set that came with the bike. The frame is 53 cm (measured top of the seat post to the middle of the bottom bracket). Anyone interested can email me at randy.olson42 [at] gmail.com. Replace the [at] with an @, of course.

All hope isn't lost, though. I'm shipping my 'good' bike, a 2000 Devinci Chameleon from Canada in July. Maybe I will post a pic of that when I get it over. For now, though, it looks like I might be walking until then. I did like my bike, but I found the more I rode it, the more I missed the one I've had a lot of fun on back home. Like anything, biking (or cycling to Australians) is all about what one is passionate about.

Randy

ps.- Here's a photo. Adrian reminded that I might want to put up some specs.. It's got Shimano Deore parts, the person before me also added a set of suspension forks. Its roughly a 56cm frame suitable for rider over 5"10.

Tuesday, May 15, 2007

World Environment Day Cycle Breakfasts

5 June 2007

7:30 AM – 9:00 AM (Doors Open 7:30 AM)

Get on your bike this World Environment Day and join the City of Sydney at two breakfasts especially for cyclists this June, 5th.

To thank cyclists for keeping another car off the road, the City is providing a free, hearty breakfast and conversation with fellow cyclists at two venues across Sydney.

Find out more about the plans the City has to make it easier and safer to cycle on our streets as part of its ten year cycle strategy.

And, as the short winter days close in, it's important to be visible on the road. The City has a limited number of safety kits to hand out on the morning.

Venues: Union Square, Pyrmont & Hyde Park South (Oxford Street end)
Time: 7:30 - 9:00am

From City of Sydney website

Monday, May 14, 2007

Welcome to Tempe Velodrome


Track cycling is fun, fast, but not that glamorous in Sydney (if we are to believe reports in the latest edition if RIDE magazine). This is an example of a 7 person lead out sprint which is three laps of the Velodrome. No rider is allowed to overtake for position until the first rider kicks at around the 250m mark on the last lap.

Thursday, May 10, 2007

OneLess4WDmum

For the last year I’ve been harassing my sister (and everyone else I know) to join the bikelove cult. Unfortunately, she and her husband had their bikes stolen around 2 years ago and have not been in the position to fork out for new bikes. So what to do? After reassessing my stable, I decided it was time to let go. That black Trek mountain bike that I’d bought for a few hundred dollars was way too small for me but perfect for Ellie, and a perfect present for her 30th b'day. I also noticed that my 1 year old nephew (Josh) had taken a liking to the bike and would always crawl across the room to touch it (much to our concern).
Last week we took the Trek up to Ashfield Cycles to get it fitted out to become a “OneLess4WDmum” machine. With a new childs seat, helmet, rack, and womens saddle, the conversion was complete. Yesterday we took teddy out for a quick spin to build up Ellie's confidence on the new bike. Today we took Josh out for his first bike ride.