tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-42572119364078724612024-03-13T23:15:38.133-07:00I Bike NZMy Bike Life in Auckland New ZealandAntoinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11660064402070508807noreply@blogger.comBlogger82125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4257211936407872461.post-11931241436416478192010-02-14T02:06:00.000-08:002010-02-14T02:17:34.115-08:00The Adventure Ends<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBGyuxkLmncnAaLEB6BMf4J6OJTBKmif8r2_F91PK2pEBpj2IHmUysBrnU4rh-8CTr4P_rCptqb8swepjqixmZWJUyj_Y1y1FPi8NfyaWFO8Hd6lEPnvjE5xbfo5kwpuPg2WCOsrnu-NU/s1600-h/Enjoy_Cycling_Tee.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBGyuxkLmncnAaLEB6BMf4J6OJTBKmif8r2_F91PK2pEBpj2IHmUysBrnU4rh-8CTr4P_rCptqb8swepjqixmZWJUyj_Y1y1FPi8NfyaWFO8Hd6lEPnvjE5xbfo5kwpuPg2WCOsrnu-NU/s400/Enjoy_Cycling_Tee.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It's been two years since I <a href="http://ibikenz.blogspot.com/2008/02/adventure-starts-here.html">started this blog</a> and I'm throwing in the towel.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Some of the things I set-out to do have been achieved; </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><ul><li>I've overcome my writing-shyness and now feel comfortable talking in a one-way conversation to perfect strangers.</li>
<li>I've shown-off some of the places I ride and the city I love to people around the world. </li>
<li>I've met some nice genuine people online with common interests. </li>
<li>It's ended up as a bit of a diary of my cycling life and is interesting (to me at least) to look back on and see what I got up to.</li>
</ul>But I've failed in other ways;<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><ul><li>My writing hasn't improved, and that was one of my main objectives.</li>
<li>I've fallen into the trap of feeling a bit full of myself at times and trying to make my life sound more interesting than it really is. There's a certain amount of ego involved in writing a "solo" blog and I'm not entirely comfortable with that. </li>
<li>My wife resents the time I spend on it and friends and work colleagues just think I'm stupid.</li>
<li>Hardly anyone reads it and fewer comment.</li>
</ul><div>Although I plan to spend less time in front of the computer I'm starting a <a href="http://bikefriendlynorthshore.wordpress.com/about/">community cycling blog</a> for my neighborhood. There is nothing out there for everyday cyclists, it's all about road racing, mountainbiking and BMX. Of course I may be the only one interested in nurturing bike culture around here, we will see.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://bikefriendlynorthshore.wordpress.com/"><img border="0" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5cZ6aANkbEltJgK5LzghnT_nwlEdWn7_MRKgzIESsMJJWojejxUDw3sMYSkRMarD99wTS1ZhDyrX7ZZy5cywdu0mur8-1Grq42ECSQAYqcu6zNj-TXWekAh_3qbHkaUMcflJxyD8R_Rw/s200/BFNS+Logo.png" width="200" /></a> </div></div><div><br />
</div>Thank you to everyone who has stopped by and left a comment or two, I really appreciated it. I will not be deleting the blog and if I do something interesting worth sharing there may be a post or two in the future.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And lastly a big thank you to <a href="http://mnbicyclecommuter.blogspot.com/">Doug</a> for encouraging me to start this blog in the first place and leaving the first comment. His cycle commuting has been an inspiration and taken me from a once a week "toe in the water" to riding every day without even thinking of taking the car. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNXbcwLMo7Pg0HnkPDlBmwbIb8zfZfbdzmkik2zosP6J9lc0Yp2C-zLERDwPsI73r-bdURqhilopYDBwd6729L9THdyldiOuRGreNZirmoR0_1gjEVlMtJOV0CaZwdZVLjEKkcqx8RQ7c/s1600-h/Antoine_Bickerton.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNXbcwLMo7Pg0HnkPDlBmwbIb8zfZfbdzmkik2zosP6J9lc0Yp2C-zLERDwPsI73r-bdURqhilopYDBwd6729L9THdyldiOuRGreNZirmoR0_1gjEVlMtJOV0CaZwdZVLjEKkcqx8RQ7c/s400/Antoine_Bickerton.JPG" width="400" /></a><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Keep the rubber-side down,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">- Antoine</div>Antoinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11660064402070508807noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4257211936407872461.post-44611322200135017792010-01-15T18:30:00.001-08:002010-01-16T19:18:17.980-08:00America's Next Top Biggest Loser<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA-BZNC8ZcL3C2IUmVVr6-BuA8VEual5dKtuq-YtsOiWgADYLx_Ocp48ZwFQWqq7678aUGWHM-GYXzXF5kRzlpr0_OPLYKWPQChsKKTGcYRdMJZeEjfQXLMqLwqRzdQclet6ZNrkHpXu8/s1600-h/02_Oversize_Pug.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 234px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA-BZNC8ZcL3C2IUmVVr6-BuA8VEual5dKtuq-YtsOiWgADYLx_Ocp48ZwFQWqq7678aUGWHM-GYXzXF5kRzlpr0_OPLYKWPQChsKKTGcYRdMJZeEjfQXLMqLwqRzdQclet6ZNrkHpXu8/s320/02_Oversize_Pug.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427541120624427970" /></a><div><br /></div><div>I've always been curious what the Pugsley weighed but have been a little shy to ask down at the the bike-shop to use their scales. I mean, it's like a public weigh-in for the poor girl and she's always going to be the heaviest one in the room. </div><div><br /></div><div>I managed to jury-rig something on the bike-rack with some bathroom scales, a kitchen chopping board, a towel and some duct-tape (much to my wife's amusement) and was pleasantly surprised with the fat girl's results. She's a positively svelte 34.4lbs (15.6kg). </div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIDlKdVcu8mouifi_pS4FFiUxxoL0Y7titg3h73VDXwmO8r1FIXdThZMCd75qN8y2AqyAkLxwj7UG8lsIwA3mGPBIJuaeecIS1KWpkeZiTtMFqRVyAkrugehhYMUfsbbnnDkWCPr4OOkA/s1600-h/Pug_Weighing.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIDlKdVcu8mouifi_pS4FFiUxxoL0Y7titg3h73VDXwmO8r1FIXdThZMCd75qN8y2AqyAkLxwj7UG8lsIwA3mGPBIJuaeecIS1KWpkeZiTtMFqRVyAkrugehhYMUfsbbnnDkWCPr4OOkA/s320/Pug_Weighing.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427160058786002162" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Getting ready to catch Mum's scales when everything collapses</span><br /></div></span><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><div>I've spent the last four years telling everyone she was 36lbs, a total guess from figures I had seen on the internet. Apart from the Syntace stem and magnesium pedals there are no lightweight parts on there, it was specced for strength and longevity after all. With a normal seatpost and some 29er tubes I could get her down to 34lbs, but I like her just the way she is. "Warmth in winter, shade in summer" as my father used to say.</div><div><br /></div><div>All I've had to replace in four years is a couple of sets of brakepads and a chain. A very reliable bike!</div><div><br /></div></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQbwBnnR9S8a8AHMo40pX5f15p_6XWWbJzA_NSwCvqvfcdyP2EuO7bPyzkt5FsuiqNT5F4QvOI3GSCdPvnWm3t-Ad7DxBqn-rb89DUKMj-uXa01rXxIWyjvWjf7gIorlqMlL3vO0fiLlU/s1600-h/Pug_Weight.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQbwBnnR9S8a8AHMo40pX5f15p_6XWWbJzA_NSwCvqvfcdyP2EuO7bPyzkt5FsuiqNT5F4QvOI3GSCdPvnWm3t-Ad7DxBqn-rb89DUKMj-uXa01rXxIWyjvWjf7gIorlqMlL3vO0fiLlU/s320/Pug_Weight.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427160041052682562" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">I ride singlespeeds cause they're lighter</span><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>As I had the Cross-Check all set-up with knobblies and a suspension seatpost for mountainbiking tomorrow, a shakedown for the upcoming <a href="http://ibikenz.blogspot.com/2009/03/dual-race-report.html">DUAL</a>, I chucked that up on the scales too and got 26.4lbs (12kg). </div><div><br /></div><div>I'm pretty happy with that weight. She's built strong with 36-spoke wheels, MTB hubs and wearing a <a href="http://www.thudbuster.com/products.html">Thudbuster seatpost</a> that weighs half a kilo on it's own. As I've been jumping steps and bunnyhopping ditches of late I'm happy with those build decisions. Tough components for trail-riding and loaded-touring was the idea.</div></div>Antoinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11660064402070508807noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4257211936407872461.post-58582101769881279902010-01-11T21:00:00.000-08:002010-01-13T02:39:17.079-08:00Pootas, Platforms, Poo and Pā's<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">A few little firsts on today's ride;</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">1. I scored a Cateye computer when I bought my eldest a new mountainbike just before Christmas. I want him concentrating on the tree he's going to hit, not looking at his terminal velocity as he's doing it. With a 50km race coming up I'm curious how many miles I'm riding so I put it on the Cross-Check in the interim. It might stay on there for good but I find pootas a bit distracting and am not usually fussed how fast or how far I'm going. On its debut I discovered that I ride very slowly and not very far!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">2. I like the Eggbeater clipless pedals I got for this bike but the thin hard soles of my cycling shoes and the amount I'm riding in them is aggravating my trashed ankle. A fixed position on the pedal and lots of impacts with no cushioning is not ideal when you have no cartilage and a couple of snapped ligaments. It's also a pain having to wear bike-specific shoes when I ride to work so I've put on BMX platforms from <a href="http://ibikenz.blogspot.com/2008/06/nasty-evil-bike.html">The Nasty Evil Bike</a> (MTB commuter) to see how they go in day to day use. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Since changing over to platform pedals on the Pugsley I've loved just hopping on and riding with whatever footwear I happen to have on at the time. I think I'll save my clipless pedals for racing or long rides until I get some more forgiving cycling shoes. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">3. The Cross-Check got its first application of dog-shit and consequently it's first wash. What is it with these people? I like dogs but come on, clean up after your pets guys. The next dog owner I see breaking the law I'm going to follow home and drop a big steamer on their front lawn and see how they like it. It's only right!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">4. I took this bike for it's maiden ride along the cliff path between Kennedy Park and Castor Bay not far from my home. It's only a few hundred metres long but the views of the harbour are outstanding and hardly anyone knows the path is even there. The point overlooking the bay at the southern end of it was a former <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pā_(Māori)">Maori pā</a> (fortification). There's not much evidence of that now, just a few pits and mounds, but the local council have constructed a cheesy-looking imitation of the wooden defenses that would have been there and used them as fences on the cliff edge. There's a photo of some of that below with what must be the most basic carving I have ever encountered. Still, they gave it a try.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">I was disappointed to find that the rough gravel road down to the beach at the end has been concrete</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">d over, I used to enjoy sliding down there. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">5. I'm getting more confident riding technical sections on this bike. The bit I struggled with is when you're in the drops riding downhill, it's steep and you're braking, but you have to loft the front wheel to clear a ditch or log for instance. Wheelying in the drops with your bum sticking up in the air was not coming naturally but with a combination of brute strength, more speed and half-hearted bravery I managed to clean an entire trail that's had me hopping off the bike a couple of times in the past. With the Pugsley I just bomb over everything. This one takes a little more planning and finesse.</div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI3lQiUVRgRGNn9rJ7APxi6NHWXkGa-gMHnBRAYkPA_01WQFGuyeVgPSmCA_c8b15IhL5GCv04khMvSfOMUUpYhYQCZK9JHoU6RW8skAlXNxQagQvkvh6y34eMS3nH15haNHKAsoPiuGk/s1600-h/01+Poota.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 238px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI3lQiUVRgRGNn9rJ7APxi6NHWXkGa-gMHnBRAYkPA_01WQFGuyeVgPSmCA_c8b15IhL5GCv04khMvSfOMUUpYhYQCZK9JHoU6RW8skAlXNxQagQvkvh6y34eMS3nH15haNHKAsoPiuGk/s320/01+Poota.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425716928566109026" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><div style="text-align: center;">Bumpy grass downhill at Kennedy Park<br /></div></span><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi42IYsC9i4aEU4KIHOk_K9rz21FMrcEkMVJPYQjLNxUYyQGkqx3fWESRspaybQB6jmhvPK8T8gIkhxPdIsv2vU4KJt4qrdG0Ibo1VQp-PaQQhC-4znBKIC2SVCZPM0QZFv7ywFyJpwZAs/s1600-h/02+Cliff+Path.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi42IYsC9i4aEU4KIHOk_K9rz21FMrcEkMVJPYQjLNxUYyQGkqx3fWESRspaybQB6jmhvPK8T8gIkhxPdIsv2vU4KJt4qrdG0Ibo1VQp-PaQQhC-4znBKIC2SVCZPM0QZFv7ywFyJpwZAs/s320/02+Cliff+Path.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425716919689055874" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">I have to shoulder the bike over this section. Needless to say I don't ride the Pugsley along here very often</span>.<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilwTsD0v76e79OXVV2B13VEtviyahvqimJbUk0ngGOBC46712zYZEbAc2l_rt8c7tShIVRb51O6HpWM9AC-i0g0JgY-qwCgkrg5iYe6fDdaUQW8Ppsdj5qEZaEj22D3f1OzcVJTjutPC0/s1600-h/03+Pa+fence.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 237px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilwTsD0v76e79OXVV2B13VEtviyahvqimJbUk0ngGOBC46712zYZEbAc2l_rt8c7tShIVRb51O6HpWM9AC-i0g0JgY-qwCgkrg5iYe6fDdaUQW8Ppsdj5qEZaEj22D3f1OzcVJTjutPC0/s320/03+Pa+fence.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425716909158242770" /></a><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">H</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">igh on the cliffs above Castor Bay overlooking Rangitoto<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-nGoMVBAC0Xm_t-EL4qvGzlXhd_DKR05dFbIgECSPJdRAQ3_dvSV9QoxCOFOUbXX0E_GuTkv4EJdrF7sxMip_fGYuQjkLSztEkmREsV2F4dEvSuQo8043_UtiM-2r_2Q58zaaZ8VlNU0/s1600-h/04+Wet+Cross-Check.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 228px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-nGoMVBAC0Xm_t-EL4qvGzlXhd_DKR05dFbIgECSPJdRAQ3_dvSV9QoxCOFOUbXX0E_GuTkv4EJdrF7sxMip_fGYuQjkLSztEkmREsV2F4dEvSuQo8043_UtiM-2r_2Q58zaaZ8VlNU0/s320/04+Wet+Cross-Check.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425716901564733842" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Freshly hosed-off with no trace of po</span>o<br /></div></div></div>Antoinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11660064402070508807noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4257211936407872461.post-14470487170095131382010-01-11T20:49:00.000-08:002010-01-12T03:02:30.115-08:00First BOOTY action of 2010<div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Baguette Obtainer Of The Year [ B.O.O.T.Y ]</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>I'll let the pictures tell the story but if there's one thing that draws more attention than riding a <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/79498713@N00/4267749981/in/set-72157594489316989/">fatbike</a> around the neighbourhood or <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/79498713@N00/4247171040/in/set-72157594489316989/">towing a scooter behind your trailer</a> it's a double-barreled-baguette-holster hanging off the back of your bike.</div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4uyehSmoBDlh6ANiGF8x7GFKXgFJ-U8vEATFKcmpfkV_kd1Tc3MnAguStrrVxFpxk3IHiEiIJBOv8s9tt3oaUUjQuANUEK9MJgfWG7ItUk8u2HqaTvC0_6r8NfrZdPXhJPWmyawlsUAQ/s1600-h/01+Baguette-Run+prep.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 231px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4uyehSmoBDlh6ANiGF8x7GFKXgFJ-U8vEATFKcmpfkV_kd1Tc3MnAguStrrVxFpxk3IHiEiIJBOv8s9tt3oaUUjQuANUEK9MJgfWG7ItUk8u2HqaTvC0_6r8NfrZdPXhJPWmyawlsUAQ/s320/01+Baguette-Run+prep.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425712168979320066" /></a>I've simplified the design from last year's model. Less duct-tape and a simple twin-bungee attachment to the rack. Still need to trim a foot or two off the tubes as they don't make baguettes like they used to and I have to do a wheelie to get them out.<br /><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaEZFxyMhUfnsmKnsotNumAgeidiZ4-INrbq3tpD-ayXYcs-9YQC_qY-VQ1FWA0BKl31wFR8ggaGA1kjM4pJPNC0csmVdi1wujg2e4voK90WiC2GQMrfm7CfspcwVH1GcMvomh5l5eKzQ/s1600-h/02+Baguette+Commuter.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaEZFxyMhUfnsmKnsotNumAgeidiZ4-INrbq3tpD-ayXYcs-9YQC_qY-VQ1FWA0BKl31wFR8ggaGA1kjM4pJPNC0csmVdi1wujg2e4voK90WiC2GQMrfm7CfspcwVH1GcMvomh5l5eKzQ/s320/02+Baguette+Commuter.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425712163452820146" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Cars give you a wider berth when your bike is 10ft long<br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOm-BDMmhfaVygWKMwjTHo6zIIEXB1GbSKSi7V0ysueGpsv_2O0viNl9t85K-VUZMUyipO1PNZZk9KPCYdO3M3bWUTG2IkGWqZ5hgSnjYfWmuVtzMAVdvfS5nd5SW97E8IGjOxX67dFJI/s1600-h/03+Baguette_Panda.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOm-BDMmhfaVygWKMwjTHo6zIIEXB1GbSKSi7V0ysueGpsv_2O0viNl9t85K-VUZMUyipO1PNZZk9KPCYdO3M3bWUTG2IkGWqZ5hgSnjYfWmuVtzMAVdvfS5nd5SW97E8IGjOxX67dFJI/s320/03+Baguette_Panda.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425712156820197826" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh91UYdRgbVkkXfXMj8_A8k7EgIEzfVVUPrgGnrIJpjrV7SHfiiiJQIBUcPI29L39qeC0g9PIULzf2keEaB6-TWAfNc8OfaZMeh8qEbaqpPK8mbonwhQKg8P3OikpqmfhzvacrJlWia4K4/s1600-h/04+Baguettes_Boats.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh91UYdRgbVkkXfXMj8_A8k7EgIEzfVVUPrgGnrIJpjrV7SHfiiiJQIBUcPI29L39qeC0g9PIULzf2keEaB6-TWAfNc8OfaZMeh8qEbaqpPK8mbonwhQKg8P3OikpqmfhzvacrJlWia4K4/s320/04+Baguettes_Boats.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425712148544370002" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Milford Marina in the background. Scungy but always looks pretty in photos.<br /></div></div>Antoinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11660064402070508807noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4257211936407872461.post-86946352636166491702010-01-06T10:56:00.000-08:002010-01-07T03:01:05.165-08:00Finding Dirt in the Big City<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIP3MyKMRMZvha4LuAGD10xaFiPnNG944V_E-d2JaoTIrlSPqADiGP-d9GXo5K25fOCaVIZeLflUgPz2LsgxSgLlA0eqaUvOaTckR-CZXhyphenhyphenufN8zKaN1MuMGlH8xhtW65txbqFFektqHE/s1600-h/Centenial+Park+Track.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIP3MyKMRMZvha4LuAGD10xaFiPnNG944V_E-d2JaoTIrlSPqADiGP-d9GXo5K25fOCaVIZeLflUgPz2LsgxSgLlA0eqaUvOaTckR-CZXhyphenhyphenufN8zKaN1MuMGlH8xhtW65txbqFFektqHE/s320/Centenial+Park+Track.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423705207561097298" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">[dirt] road bike - Centennial Park, Campbells Bay<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The last few days I've been riding the Cross-Check with knobblies fitted to determine if it's capable of finishing <a href="http://ibikenz.blogspot.com/2010/01/dual-2010-pain-to-follow.html">The DUAL</a>. Well I know <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">it's</span> capable, more to the point is can whether <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">I</span> can ride a rigid cyclocross bike with drop-bars and relatively skinny tyres off-road for 50km. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">With this in mind I've been searching-out every piece of ridable dirt, gravel and grass as I ramble around the North Shore of Auckland. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">It's amazing how much is out there when you look for it. Not a lot of technical singletrack but loads of gravel paths and grass for Africa. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">So far, so good. After a handful of two hour rides I'm getting a little stiffness in my neck and wrists but no other aches or pains to speak of. I think my hands are slowly getting accustomed to the different angles of a drop handlebar.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I took these pictures of some of the varied riding surfaces I found in suburbia. Most of them are taken no more than 20 or 30 metres from a main-road or housing but you could be in the middle of nowhere. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLVnVPCY7FtXhtV0JvNEzcwfs6yG_M8W3Tx9gqK62xmGG5ZaR5T4T6ncfWyuYHXov4AbDkVqUp3HTuqsSrNRERWakPucOl-OpiIm9Jq0NvIuswE9cnkYZUG1D32aIda6m2ASjAKiBe6PI/s1600-h/Pupuke+Golf+Course.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 239px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLVnVPCY7FtXhtV0JvNEzcwfs6yG_M8W3Tx9gqK62xmGG5ZaR5T4T6ncfWyuYHXov4AbDkVqUp3HTuqsSrNRERWakPucOl-OpiIm9Jq0NvIuswE9cnkYZUG1D32aIda6m2ASjAKiBe6PI/s320/Pupuke+Golf+Course.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423705200290640690" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Pupuke Golf Course<br /></span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw8Qa2pVy7EQRBVjo9bNXkPHoecsilFy2FDl6dm3nU0QhJ8Hv8Du9Kdsw0wLtxJUID_DoLpCSxxsOai9ZRtEqjspdZxdnfbCo_W_lqreCngGtXJ1MQeJqH9Cl96byYtfCJbtuId9Whs74/s1600-h/Rosedale+Road.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw8Qa2pVy7EQRBVjo9bNXkPHoecsilFy2FDl6dm3nU0QhJ8Hv8Du9Kdsw0wLtxJUID_DoLpCSxxsOai9ZRtEqjspdZxdnfbCo_W_lqreCngGtXJ1MQeJqH9Cl96byYtfCJbtuId9Whs74/s320/Rosedale+Road.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423705192470579794" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Rosedale Road Wetland, Albany</span><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrWFWkQJmgft5QEuHnMdKEgC02uuXIKu0bvJ0Kovo1CgK_3vL4BwKScQXsQuKx00EXFe2VmmN9q8nAny3uKixd9gwMUQ4WHLpggje3sFLKVeG_WWCtwvT9STBUZgQYOAAhacnAs0-u9a8/s1600-h/Long+Bay+Reserve.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrWFWkQJmgft5QEuHnMdKEgC02uuXIKu0bvJ0Kovo1CgK_3vL4BwKScQXsQuKx00EXFe2VmmN9q8nAny3uKixd9gwMUQ4WHLpggje3sFLKVeG_WWCtwvT9STBUZgQYOAAhacnAs0-u9a8/s320/Long+Bay+Reserve.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423705182866223266" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Long Bay Reserve</span><br /></div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfpSYGAbL7gyY128xxfhGpfIWtsCpjI2SQt_9_ia8Lnv6_6-Of0YLpkwRNmyjgdhJ0lrOUerd8kU9QaVqc9cn5WATJs8zqbLKmV83kijLYXfOupz3aP8R5L5DzJkp_jPY-Ekff9S3CKsw/s1600-h/Long+Bay+Cliff+Path.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfpSYGAbL7gyY128xxfhGpfIWtsCpjI2SQt_9_ia8Lnv6_6-Of0YLpkwRNmyjgdhJ0lrOUerd8kU9QaVqc9cn5WATJs8zqbLKmV83kijLYXfOupz3aP8R5L5DzJkp_jPY-Ekff9S3CKsw/s320/Long+Bay+Cliff+Path.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423705174342518050" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Dropping down to Long Bay on the cliff pathway</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div>Antoinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11660064402070508807noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4257211936407872461.post-26288985880254116992010-01-04T01:20:00.000-08:002010-01-04T03:14:24.107-08:00My local loop - The missing photos<div>The holiday period has seen me on my bike a lot more than usual. With my wife not working I've been able to duck out for a few hours here and there and start to get my legs in shape for the <a href="http://ibikenz.blogspot.com/2010/01/dual-2010-pain-to-follow.html">The DUAL</a> at the end of march. </div><div><br /></div><div>Today when doing my usual loop I took the camera to capture some of the places I missed when my battery died on <a href="http://ibikenz.blogspot.com/2010/01/last-ride-of-2009.html">the last ride of 2009</a>. </div><div><br /></div><div>I only rode for two and a half hours today but got quite a work-out as the rolling resistance on those knobbly Panaracers is something else on the tarmac. They make a thrumming sound like a 4WD tyre on the road and it actually feels like you're riding with your brakes rubbing. Once you venture off-road they roll fine and provide a welcome bit of cush through the bars.</div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7dHgZrT2g_1TYL5uoUBAa6xfr1XD4kfS5OdKiVM0rF8ytBWdi0sj29TcrIqgdOCd10FtFKyfUlbnKeWxGQfVe6UtGNSt484sqpkKspfU-OrI6phrtTet-V8g9JNE9MIeFVNwjkKsLY4w/s1600-h/01_PupukeGolfClub.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7dHgZrT2g_1TYL5uoUBAa6xfr1XD4kfS5OdKiVM0rF8ytBWdi0sj29TcrIqgdOCd10FtFKyfUlbnKeWxGQfVe6UtGNSt484sqpkKspfU-OrI6phrtTet-V8g9JNE9MIeFVNwjkKsLY4w/s320/01_PupukeGolfClub.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422816363817135250" /></a>Overlooking Pupuke Golf Course. My house is about 1.5 kms past those trees and probably 200m closer to sea-level. I never ride on the fairways during the day, only late at night when I'm coming home from work. It is public land and you are entitled to use it, but I don't fancy collecting a golf-ball in the side of the head.<br /><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1QwUI_11BLjuQKIAnU2dXV6v-71TZdzPaHSHjpVHEk05-nwP5xRms-Tmmm72pHwEg3x2t4jeGLHajlaUmQ6Lp7VjtVzvRhOKFUwxh8mZC6eym89GfKyLMtYOjSJhVvPGc67hKGmJcYvM/s1600-h/02_TakapunaGrammarSchool.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1QwUI_11BLjuQKIAnU2dXV6v-71TZdzPaHSHjpVHEk05-nwP5xRms-Tmmm72pHwEg3x2t4jeGLHajlaUmQ6Lp7VjtVzvRhOKFUwxh8mZC6eym89GfKyLMtYOjSJhVvPGc67hKGmJcYvM/s320/02_TakapunaGrammarSchool.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422815739315681826" /></a>My old high-school, Takapuna Grammar. It's an impressive looking building and despite the name is a public school for everyday people. Funny how in England they call "private" schools "public", I've never understood that one. </div><div><br /></div><div>My mother died in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Erebus">Mount Erebus</a> crash the first year I was there so it doesn't hold many happy memories for me. Wagging school to smoke dope and make home-brew under my friend's house was probably the highlight.</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmK_ygQAYPtv-4EmRw_lU-Bdb7xC_W1gBE0joa_9xgQ9zmQ6x8Zh60h3K_jV70QcLrbbYdrEQ8JF61kam0D2kX5yl24s-RyAjlP0t4vmd-NE7691vrgHdK6iI71jJS9riAkrdxa7Ga_aI/s1600-h/03_NarrowneckBeach.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmK_ygQAYPtv-4EmRw_lU-Bdb7xC_W1gBE0joa_9xgQ9zmQ6x8Zh60h3K_jV70QcLrbbYdrEQ8JF61kam0D2kX5yl24s-RyAjlP0t4vmd-NE7691vrgHdK6iI71jJS9riAkrdxa7Ga_aI/s320/03_NarrowneckBeach.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422815733712988466" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Narrow Neck Beach. My parents briefly ran the dairy (milk-bar) here in the 1950s.<br /></div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzNC7xigNVti-21rJ5J_A7lslwrDD8bSnnUMaQAVZG1PgYr9zfR6t4ryjVVVS9Xx2TYyuQ07Y2pXL5jTA3VrmnClTIq8dM-US0sFPGtupYufmaXxZ-RzVypMMMmk8de5IhS4J3MP3X-To/s1600-h/04_FortTakapuna.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzNC7xigNVti-21rJ5J_A7lslwrDD8bSnnUMaQAVZG1PgYr9zfR6t4ryjVVVS9Xx2TYyuQ07Y2pXL5jTA3VrmnClTIq8dM-US0sFPGtupYufmaXxZ-RzVypMMMmk8de5IhS4J3MP3X-To/s320/04_FortTakapuna.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422815729350578018" /></a>Fort Takapuna. This wonderful old command-centre is built below ground level for protection from naval artillery. There are several gun emplacements on the cliff edge in the distance. Most of these european fortifications like North Head and Mount Victoria were also Maori ones in the centuries beforehand.</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKCYaeARiw6oEe9QN2hEco_IEz5XOaCeZ8N8jPuBjUnfLJq_nx4J0Wc-FF0mEFc4SIF6U8uC6fRJinBm2OqrACjeYKAqMxKCVVqze8uGePhFqEK29BKh5OrTGzJNsf9MkG0guXOPS3BPM/s1600-h/05_CheltenhamBeach.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 241px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKCYaeARiw6oEe9QN2hEco_IEz5XOaCeZ8N8jPuBjUnfLJq_nx4J0Wc-FF0mEFc4SIF6U8uC6fRJinBm2OqrACjeYKAqMxKCVVqze8uGePhFqEK29BKh5OrTGzJNsf9MkG0guXOPS3BPM/s320/05_CheltenhamBeach.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422815718044377362" /></a></div><div>Cheltenham Beach. Nice town-houses, but with your front door about a metre above the high-tide line I'd be looking for alternative accommodation when the next Tsunami hits.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEiNR1g8cWcgKeWP6Vvph0d1k-c77ZzmmPyVmVmd8ZSX6OQr3s2-S3bEZnzLC3kOfM9Jl4i7FInf2oM5pdBkd91BV7KIYxLFNAA90CGX-m3pZyvCVnTFgpVqv5agQeUmsgN-GrsZkr-uo/s1600-h/06_CheltenhamFromNorthHead.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEiNR1g8cWcgKeWP6Vvph0d1k-c77ZzmmPyVmVmd8ZSX6OQr3s2-S3bEZnzLC3kOfM9Jl4i7FInf2oM5pdBkd91BV7KIYxLFNAA90CGX-m3pZyvCVnTFgpVqv5agQeUmsgN-GrsZkr-uo/s320/06_CheltenhamFromNorthHead.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422815713597292962" /></a><div style="text-align: left;">Cheltenham Beach again viewed from halfway up North Head. Half an hour from low tide. View large and you can see the previous town-houses at the end of the beach.<br /></div></div><div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB65kU7UGxuDYgBYeQjJ-V-bFvZQ5zzQ_s5IfXJ_b9PMp4y6wzcG6sRcDeI1xFs-5BIFiG3mRiFTGXjqM8shD94FM7RGtanxt-H_dmCuf9a3wpKcQuAFIJj4B8aYDHyNI4CvU8KSAjAyY/s1600-h/07_NorthHeadPath.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 237px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB65kU7UGxuDYgBYeQjJ-V-bFvZQ5zzQ_s5IfXJ_b9PMp4y6wzcG6sRcDeI1xFs-5BIFiG3mRiFTGXjqM8shD94FM7RGtanxt-H_dmCuf9a3wpKcQuAFIJj4B8aYDHyNI4CvU8KSAjAyY/s320/07_NorthHeadPath.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422813890101999954" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">One of the smoother tracks on North Head. Great riding but you have to watch out for walkers.<br /></div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTuvelz2JUOCMZEpRufEKN2H6o7wcLgq_7nY9xKTzB_tX4ekgIATN96QSZ3mMMOPS_XBCAuR4uDbLRboo9sN7LkwHlEdAqwbUkSvv2EY89s_UhGlxqLOMRVDMDWgw4LBxKCeBhTJRKNGY/s1600-h/08_DisappearingGun.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 234px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTuvelz2JUOCMZEpRufEKN2H6o7wcLgq_7nY9xKTzB_tX4ekgIATN96QSZ3mMMOPS_XBCAuR4uDbLRboo9sN7LkwHlEdAqwbUkSvv2EY89s_UhGlxqLOMRVDMDWgw4LBxKCeBhTJRKNGY/s320/08_DisappearingGun.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422813883306995010" /></a>The last remaining "disappearing gun" on North Head. Most of the artillery was melted down for scrap. There are lots of tunnels connected to this that you can explore. As a teenager we would wait in the darkness for mothers with young children to walk in from the sunlight and then blast them mercilessly with our pea-shooters before their eyes adjusted. Screaming kids would run in all directions and the mothers would often cower in fear or start crying. There is nothing as ruthless or cruel as thirteen year old boys!</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIjqbAygKu46OBELYNN5tnD9Q7-s5Sp7vje-JuQMThYSJrlH4hr_EdT0ucXWknjBQ6CHYlz4XoOhlic-KxNZeFjWmnEqUDIKe5lMxwUR0Q4QixWcm8V9tDdy2vaUtJVFt4NNeef_lTgPI/s1600-h/09_GunDowntown.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIjqbAygKu46OBELYNN5tnD9Q7-s5Sp7vje-JuQMThYSJrlH4hr_EdT0ucXWknjBQ6CHYlz4XoOhlic-KxNZeFjWmnEqUDIKe5lMxwUR0Q4QixWcm8V9tDdy2vaUtJVFt4NNeef_lTgPI/s320/09_GunDowntown.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422813874179224402" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Downtown Auckland in the distance across the harbour.</div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXBeUzYLO7v933DSMTeJzk9hiFKSDN5mVU0rLsYHNRSA0Ixp5-T8Fn_Jnac3LelV_Z98_87kJ1HhI6UbC9XZhnY_kLGMuo66Tqx_ZuhoFGwmW6yMlVYjJIJHn_yskjpgKCli2_65Yoqso/s1600-h/10_NavalBase.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXBeUzYLO7v933DSMTeJzk9hiFKSDN5mVU0rLsYHNRSA0Ixp5-T8Fn_Jnac3LelV_Z98_87kJ1HhI6UbC9XZhnY_kLGMuo66Tqx_ZuhoFGwmW6yMlVYjJIJHn_yskjpgKCli2_65Yoqso/s320/10_NavalBase.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422813866952724690" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">The Devonport Naval Base.<br /></div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnt13izrROTZDlO4deZpQXcmnTByfbq4Z6VzuMD6aVU6jqbP-erDGU6KwkUfXmUhvRVkPTJo94rd7a0f5Ery5xyqPafr_xYg-YUtXOEmPOOykOd5WGMufsNMLqevUpAfo-L1T1-sV0uOM/s1600-h/11_VictoriaRoadDevonport.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnt13izrROTZDlO4deZpQXcmnTByfbq4Z6VzuMD6aVU6jqbP-erDGU6KwkUfXmUhvRVkPTJo94rd7a0f5Ery5xyqPafr_xYg-YUtXOEmPOOykOd5WGMufsNMLqevUpAfo-L1T1-sV0uOM/s320/11_VictoriaRoadDevonport.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422813861090402194" /></a>Victoria Road, Devonport's main street, with Mount Victoria in the background. We spent our wedding night in that hotel on the corner. It apparently overlooks Devonport wharf and the harbour but I don't remember the view. </div><div><br /></div><div>I just love Devonport to bits. The yuppies are slowly taking over as property prices are sky-high, but it is still very charming and holds a lot of appeal. </div><div><br /></div><div>I rode a considerable amount of grass today and sections of sand, shell, gravel and dirt. The bike was very comfortable and sure-footed. I wouldn't say no to a lightweight road-bike but this kind of all-rounder is so versatile and immense fun. I love the fact that I can jump a curb or ride down a flight of stairs if it takes my fancy. That's the mountainbiker in me talking. Just as well I built this thing with 36-spoke wheels ;^)</div>Antoinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11660064402070508807noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4257211936407872461.post-74346563728264288262010-01-03T15:06:00.000-08:002010-01-03T16:32:42.161-08:00The DUAL 2010 - Pain to follow...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKoTbqneIPEngrpTEKK6LaEDazSy0DWjKXRloR7H3ZpXd0ajzcn1KNB4s-cFNCHx25gH2voB4fwGsh5R-utTCExg-9cyGXot0aNPnyKMNc1PDnpw84Dn25peXsq4L1zL9nVxA0RHW0-Iw/s1600-h/DUAL+generic+logo_no+date.jpg"><br /><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 148px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKoTbqneIPEngrpTEKK6LaEDazSy0DWjKXRloR7H3ZpXd0ajzcn1KNB4s-cFNCHx25gH2voB4fwGsh5R-utTCExg-9cyGXot0aNPnyKMNc1PDnpw84Dn25peXsq4L1zL9nVxA0RHW0-Iw/s320/DUAL+generic+logo_no+date.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422658040958286418" /></a><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;">Despite a distinct lack of post-christmas funds I have gone and entered <a href="http://www.thedual.co.nz/index.php">The DUAL</a> for it's second running. At NZD$145 it's a bit of a rip-off but the organizers have to shuttle several hundred bikes and a couple of thousand competitors across to an island in the middle of the gulf, so it is a logistical nightmare. <br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Supposedly some of the profit goes to the <a href="http://www.motutapu.org.nz/">Motutapu Restoration Trust</a> which is a very good cause after all. Motutapu means "Sacred Island" in maori and it's a special place with lots of maori and european history. It's also unique in that it's joined by a natural causeway to a young volcano and they both have quite different personalities.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I'm doing the <a href="http://ibikenz.blogspot.com/2009/03/dual-race-report.html">50km race again</a> but they've added a 30km event this year for casual riders. The terrain is very hilly and you spend the second half of the race climbing in and out of valleys on farm-land. Very energy-sapping as a lot of this is on grass, not a trail as such.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">For this reason I plan on taking the Cross-Check. I'll be much slower on the down-hills and will get beaten-up on the skinny tyres but can make up a lot of time if I can ride the whole course. A 36lb singlespeed fatbike was not the best option for the constant climbing involved last year. Most of the riders around me on much lighter geared bikes were walking the steep sections as well, but I reckon with a bit of training they are doable and I won't be stopping to take photographs this time! </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">With this in mind I threw the knobblies on the Cross-Check yesterday to get a feel for riding it on rough terrain. My main concern is whether my hands and wrists can take 3-4hrs in the drops at speed. It felt decidedly more plush riding a 45mm tyre @50psi than the usual 35mm/70psi combo. Only time will tell on this one. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmmchyphenhyphenY5a7vjotuHDaNx_ZW94J8j2ei0LBk_NF8zvSVOB1XokdHEakdW10b7bM3F7u50qmrpOQRvFR-yjWxhieAx3cPJqdzOMk_0IOhafzGbuICnM-77Kf39oq5TSdQBhK_18MYFwM5U8/s1600-h/Suburban+Assault.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmmchyphenhyphenY5a7vjotuHDaNx_ZW94J8j2ei0LBk_NF8zvSVOB1XokdHEakdW10b7bM3F7u50qmrpOQRvFR-yjWxhieAx3cPJqdzOMk_0IOhafzGbuICnM-77Kf39oq5TSdQBhK_18MYFwM5U8/s320/Suburban+Assault.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422656475082294418" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Phat...</span><br /></div></div><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMAC9ATMI4OG01VHszT259Kb8wqjWSzd-ns_dEfTdtVGjto-FQYkefb3YXYH-2yqeKn5QRzAFcw2JJaVGRq5rj-d565eVE0u268w2M75A-B1JnP1yN_fmP98CVOiq6Vy04mFsOcowX4yY/s1600-h/Suburban+Assault+2.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 238px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMAC9ATMI4OG01VHszT259Kb8wqjWSzd-ns_dEfTdtVGjto-FQYkefb3YXYH-2yqeKn5QRzAFcw2JJaVGRq5rj-d565eVE0u268w2M75A-B1JnP1yN_fmP98CVOiq6Vy04mFsOcowX4yY/s320/Suburban+Assault+2.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422656466186301650" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">...Phatter</span><br /></div></div><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd1x7Zdq78QhRhPTkefxCIgMiS7cDQ2-apCK0O3BoO0FZREonnIVbix4JjMh7j2SXtpPxFcRqDWeYA__Tm-uz27t_gIUsECet_fYi_3qOc7jF-HokIA43kQ-4gdtzGKYt-p1cpme8hHLk/s1600-h/GreenValleySquare.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd1x7Zdq78QhRhPTkefxCIgMiS7cDQ2-apCK0O3BoO0FZREonnIVbix4JjMh7j2SXtpPxFcRqDWeYA__Tm-uz27t_gIUsECet_fYi_3qOc7jF-HokIA43kQ-4gdtzGKYt-p1cpme8hHLk/s320/GreenValleySquare.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422656458310237138" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><div style="text-align: center;">Mountainbike?<br /></div></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJGMANvOBGYNora4qi-om97dIipGYhM1Sb1BFXFg1JkZS5HbbDU58UFSYjtAfj1zGZUax6X-pKUYOHfL2jUbM5Cueab27w6d_MSFbN2rP_3vP4StStYp5b9iCGysjlTvbFToYKPUPf7bE/s1600-h/Murrays+Bay+Wharf.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJGMANvOBGYNora4qi-om97dIipGYhM1Sb1BFXFg1JkZS5HbbDU58UFSYjtAfj1zGZUax6X-pKUYOHfL2jUbM5Cueab27w6d_MSFbN2rP_3vP4StStYp5b9iCGysjlTvbFToYKPUPf7bE/s320/Murrays+Bay+Wharf.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422656453140768754" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">My DUAL nemesis across the waters. Motutapu on the left and Rangitoto on the right. I can see that damn volcano from just about everywhere I ride!</span><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSsrPKSMfdQPCMSVhl_KMLU55i6ape7sD2nSmyJ91y6SRnIAjJnvqqo8iayloOHE5DurVDbOwmkbT0kplvHek8Vc2FW0KLDn6TUln2v1Qk19dUuuYAQDL7WchooOBx4TcTkDVTVuMrSw8/s1600-h/moon+Unit+over+Rangitoto.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSsrPKSMfdQPCMSVhl_KMLU55i6ape7sD2nSmyJ91y6SRnIAjJnvqqo8iayloOHE5DurVDbOwmkbT0kplvHek8Vc2FW0KLDn6TUln2v1Qk19dUuuYAQDL7WchooOBx4TcTkDVTVuMrSw8/s320/moon+Unit+over+Rangitoto.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422656444735729106" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><div style="text-align: center;">I'm loving these Paul brakes but the Fire-Cross tyres are painfully slow on tarmac. Practical for off-road only.<br /></div></span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Antoinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11660064402070508807noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4257211936407872461.post-3747737562570826272010-01-01T14:09:00.000-08:002010-01-01T14:23:25.814-08:002010 Singlespeed World Champs<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEXfdVx33LGTLomL7yLBb2b8vNNg3Q8Cwg77LWeF85TCmhrXspN-Q6becLnUb4VRNYvT2eO7GvydZF8dOsJAPDwxpePlz8Ra1GshlQ9d551ZCmWzjF1_yiKV71DTpZoxHJ0HXCMRlMZYM/s1600-h/SSWClogo2.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 166px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEXfdVx33LGTLomL7yLBb2b8vNNg3Q8Cwg77LWeF85TCmhrXspN-Q6becLnUb4VRNYvT2eO7GvydZF8dOsJAPDwxpePlz8Ra1GshlQ9d551ZCmWzjF1_yiKV71DTpZoxHJ0HXCMRlMZYM/s320/SSWClogo2.gif" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421900502591420738" /></a><br /><div>WooHooooooooooo... I got an <a href="http://www.sswc10nz.com/">entry</a>!</div><div><br /></div><div>To be held a few hours down the road in beautiful, stinky Rotorua, or Rotovegas as we Kiwis call it. I raced the <a href="http://ibikenz.blogspot.com/2008/04/fear-and-loathing-in-rotovegas.html">inaugural NZ Singlespeed Champs</a> there on the Pugsley and had a great time. The trails are world-class and <a href="http://www.rotoruanz.com/">Rotorua</a> is a very unique place.</div><div><br /></div><div>One of the few sports that you can be crap at and still race in the world championships!</div>Antoinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11660064402070508807noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4257211936407872461.post-61324943401757366662010-01-01T00:22:00.001-08:002010-01-01T03:23:45.675-08:00Last ride of 2009<div>I've been really enjoying riding the Cross-Check recently, even more so since I tweaked my cockpit. I'll use any excuse at the best of times to run an errand by bike but if there's any distance involved the Cross-Check is now the first choice as it's so much faster. </div><div><br /></div><div>The last day of 2009 involved a trip to the local library to return a (cycling) magazine before they repossessed my library-card. The library is only a fifteen minute ride away so I continued on to Devonport using the mainly off-road <a href="http://www.northshorecity.govt.nz/Services/TransportAndRoads/Cycling/Pages/02CycleRoutes.aspx">Devonport Cycle Route</a> which I've been riding for years but is now "official" and has subsequently been sign-posted and had sections upgraded. </div><div><br /></div><div>I'm often blown-away by the stunning countryside some of my internet cycling friends get to ride in, but you don't always appreciate what you've got in your own backyard. Most of the roads I ride have sea views and you're never more than a kilometre or two from the coast. </div><div><br /></div><div>I borrowed my son's camera and attempted to capture some of my suburban riding environment on the way. </div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVQAajNFYm1SHI9BeWha7K3N6W2OxgjK1wqpTCnFu32A3hifiThxpVi9ZDYcN6r-Qo7TfYEuYBmBuEVmNnwn5LeXYyg_zW68PTUKliSHqpsPCu12yijOJZgjTfX_ndWWNrszkD_jiAAnM/s1600-h/01_Campbells_Bay_1209.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVQAajNFYm1SHI9BeWha7K3N6W2OxgjK1wqpTCnFu32A3hifiThxpVi9ZDYcN6r-Qo7TfYEuYBmBuEVmNnwn5LeXYyg_zW68PTUKliSHqpsPCu12yijOJZgjTfX_ndWWNrszkD_jiAAnM/s320/01_Campbells_Bay_1209.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421690239108151506" /></a>We start at Campbells Bay Beach about 400m from our house. There are lots of well-off types on the North Shore of Auckland and by the number of people on the beaches on a warm (but overcast) summer's day they are all off at their holiday homes or out on their boats.<br /><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4jmmyCvi4f7x6kwuHZYD81OsZ_aLJ_CAmvXXFIdmgH2Z2i9JkHedo8pl69vPCtWApApy2gPM6tg3TiQp5m_UzcWF8SFSa29hMr8hARkVQxJcRpJvs0MMARuGNdY1sVEnzX6VZChIPQJM/s1600-h/02_Kennedy_Park_1209.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4jmmyCvi4f7x6kwuHZYD81OsZ_aLJ_CAmvXXFIdmgH2Z2i9JkHedo8pl69vPCtWApApy2gPM6tg3TiQp5m_UzcWF8SFSa29hMr8hARkVQxJcRpJvs0MMARuGNdY1sVEnzX6VZChIPQJM/s320/02_Kennedy_Park_1209.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421690232082195202" /></a>This is up the road at Kennedy park. I come here a lot with The Midget Assassin as it has a wonderful playground. The funny looking building is an artillery observation post from WWII disguised as a house. You can just make out one of the gun emplacements in the background which is about 10m back from the edge of a cliff overlooking the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waitemata_Harbour">Waitemata Harbour</a>. The North Shore is full of decaying military defenses but the majority were built to protect us from the Russians in the 1880s and the Germans in WWI. This stuff is a bit more recent to repel the evil Japanese. Now we spend all our time encouraging these people to visit as tourists. </div><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibUW52jDy4Ak6lgUsBl2FYbwllQQmcjstwoxmol0E9yewvf70_DBud3dz9lDRQ4fvVLTyCh8u3u5CSGWS4kncMhIaxWOxE7hII7os0pzecXz5v7BHU3_X1TGhKY66ojCX-86Duzvn1_VU/s1600-h/03_Castor_Bay_1209.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibUW52jDy4Ak6lgUsBl2FYbwllQQmcjstwoxmol0E9yewvf70_DBud3dz9lDRQ4fvVLTyCh8u3u5CSGWS4kncMhIaxWOxE7hII7os0pzecXz5v7BHU3_X1TGhKY66ojCX-86Duzvn1_VU/s320/03_Castor_Bay_1209.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421690226467099234" /></a>I then pass through Castor Bay. Not a soul on the beach today. Hard to believe there are over a million people living in Auckland.</div><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtzOCctsZkXFuyzuwx0m37-omf1DIsFLeyl2QqKREYf-1X6_mlBZ4wZ3J6dxmo_nDk5AMCzWjopSsCqjfizbnwj8cMBmjtkaHzdLy2nLcfRySNO5hhyBfMkYSkfbgPmMJK_qk8XAu5_-4/s1600-h/04_Milford_Marina_1209.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtzOCctsZkXFuyzuwx0m37-omf1DIsFLeyl2QqKREYf-1X6_mlBZ4wZ3J6dxmo_nDk5AMCzWjopSsCqjfizbnwj8cMBmjtkaHzdLy2nLcfRySNO5hhyBfMkYSkfbgPmMJK_qk8XAu5_-4/s320/04_Milford_Marina_1209.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421690221580375042" /></a>Over the next headland is the Milford Marina. It's on a small tidal stream that exits to the sea at the north end of Milford beach. It's actually pretty scungy but does scrub up okay in a photo.</div><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH_gWeCeMsHy-Cu1nnzZbWcJ6L3rvz6Tv6Z5HZyrfg4c5f3St1A9tHXNKa1j0KlagohFQ9xM9wzLmekgHRubiHAc7u8JDOEVvTIeXnWsPcEEP7QYEMjWCRYrB9hf_jg40EZ03shMLKpCs/s1600-h/05_Takapuna_Boat_Ramp_1209.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH_gWeCeMsHy-Cu1nnzZbWcJ6L3rvz6Tv6Z5HZyrfg4c5f3St1A9tHXNKa1j0KlagohFQ9xM9wzLmekgHRubiHAc7u8JDOEVvTIeXnWsPcEEP7QYEMjWCRYrB9hf_jg40EZ03shMLKpCs/s320/05_Takapuna_Boat_Ramp_1209.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421688193732545586" /></a>A couple of kilometres down the road is Takapuna. I was born and raised here but it's a bit of a shit-hole. Full of rich wankers and bars and cafés full of rich wankers. There is a move to rename Takapuna "Takapuna Beach". How wanky is that? Maybe London could rebrand as "London River"?</div><div><br /></div><div>This photo is taken at the northern end besides the boat-ramp. The owner of this beautiful titanium and carbon Serotta prefers to drive it around town rather than actually ride it. Roadies... Doh. </div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjPuuYX9uCtZdCFLJY9lTlxkgO8NRAfT3qfI9WkcQbzGKBNOsHOHo8jjZtwqht6y7dEapc8DKbdHqaeHfP6NyWUWh3aobS0Kzqqmmb8vb84Yv6hpQ17T-bbHNsDKtpMh2Zc8OeDtoMuqY/s1600-h/06_Takapuna_Beach_1209.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjPuuYX9uCtZdCFLJY9lTlxkgO8NRAfT3qfI9WkcQbzGKBNOsHOHo8jjZtwqht6y7dEapc8DKbdHqaeHfP6NyWUWh3aobS0Kzqqmmb8vb84Yv6hpQ17T-bbHNsDKtpMh2Zc8OeDtoMuqY/s320/06_Takapuna_Beach_1209.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421688188316337522" /></a>Takapuna beach again. Taken beside the yacht club. Rare sighting of an Aucklander actually on a beach in the Christmas holidays. </div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ-WdHEzmIZueEVA_XJK2nTF4VPHrL85FR8UJqyb7EHql16Xrrahi7CRP3_2s1hBruUn7yolmjXSlN3BTsCSGb3NFJHVb_PDT80AgDIOHNzYmUOamuGhUPrlHFtcT5xQjsHx_4AqTAYRM/s1600-h/07_Takapuna_Library_1209.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 239px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ-WdHEzmIZueEVA_XJK2nTF4VPHrL85FR8UJqyb7EHql16Xrrahi7CRP3_2s1hBruUn7yolmjXSlN3BTsCSGb3NFJHVb_PDT80AgDIOHNzYmUOamuGhUPrlHFtcT5xQjsHx_4AqTAYRM/s320/07_Takapuna_Library_1209.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421688179121291794" /></a>I finally got to the library (which overlooks the beach) and took the bike inside with me as I was in a bit of a hurry after taking all these bloody photographs. Amazing how loud a White Industries freewheel sounds in a library, but I found that by avoiding all eye contact people could not see me at all. How convenient.</div><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYDfwqUr9JXVabVFqZLQwd1lNZrWFc21A3tIalqg9HxWYQSIS1kuct0XZpP8T9BFFNkRfU4SqzimVsovNlBP_hygA0XvQ0eGmGGp2w-MmUnNS7K4H0yRLFEKx0Of7nUIGTMITJV3KDnQk/s1600-h/08_Hauraki_Boardwalk_1209.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYDfwqUr9JXVabVFqZLQwd1lNZrWFc21A3tIalqg9HxWYQSIS1kuct0XZpP8T9BFFNkRfU4SqzimVsovNlBP_hygA0XvQ0eGmGGp2w-MmUnNS7K4H0yRLFEKx0Of7nUIGTMITJV3KDnQk/s320/08_Hauraki_Boardwalk_1209.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421688177046246722" /></a>Past Takapuna on the way to Devonport is my old stomping-ground of Hauraki Corner. This photo is taken at a new and very impressive section of boardwalk suspended above the mangroves that enabled the cycleway to get a bit further around the coast and avoid a particularly nasty hill. I dread to think how much of my rates were sunk into these next 200 metres but it is a great resource and well used by walkers and cyclists alike.</div><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicskxDgUO8qNAhqYB6YVkVZzT5Gqbhlv1y6GAAYlWaFPZypedGufSM63k9b9VZ0TtvMLPiwh6eaR1hnUTsWUnRwEReegvOI9mBg-xlUysFj3mh04ObdGiPG-SS0j4-T4lRlzNy_xikPXs/s1600-h/09_Mangroves_1209.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicskxDgUO8qNAhqYB6YVkVZzT5Gqbhlv1y6GAAYlWaFPZypedGufSM63k9b9VZ0TtvMLPiwh6eaR1hnUTsWUnRwEReegvOI9mBg-xlUysFj3mh04ObdGiPG-SS0j4-T4lRlzNy_xikPXs/s320/09_Mangroves_1209.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421688164566073314" /></a>Mudflats are a great place to play as a child. I used to frolic in the foreground mud with the crabs, smoke dope and ride my motorbike along the shell-banks at the waters edge and paddle canoes out there in the bay. Pollution, Life-jackets and helmets had not made it to New Zealand in the 1970s ;^)</div><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjheCyRro2mZYf5i7SjvHd4p3MGqEs4hyZ1t2IzFj5DDy8MbUol9MImJVYeC5uowV_x98AIG3k4AmCk_MlchIQQ7G60BGkNphJa-v9w2Pju0yh-ZbaeO09tp9KuxnAxT7O54DdbdzodSY0/s1600-h/10_Foot_Bridge_1209.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjheCyRro2mZYf5i7SjvHd4p3MGqEs4hyZ1t2IzFj5DDy8MbUol9MImJVYeC5uowV_x98AIG3k4AmCk_MlchIQQ7G60BGkNphJa-v9w2Pju0yh-ZbaeO09tp9KuxnAxT7O54DdbdzodSY0/s320/10_Foot_Bridge_1209.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421685568536339746" /></a>This foot-bridge takes you across yet another mangrove swamp to the Belmont cemetery. It's build over a sewer pipe and really is as long as it looks. I found out today that my bike-trailer has one inch of clearance each side and that I wobble three inches each way when I tow it ;^)</div><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpD2FYlqnlJaHoqbfFNH427c3wczj517pVdekgdZhE4TiTQu7R5E_9t4gUZl20swdjW55XHsLpbXI4MMQgXRrce7o4LaTizLyuHaUc60gGBm7UmFzLgZdHx2IaHnyA9vjq7lPnW2dt6j4/s1600-h/11_Cemetry_1209.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpD2FYlqnlJaHoqbfFNH427c3wczj517pVdekgdZhE4TiTQu7R5E_9t4gUZl20swdjW55XHsLpbXI4MMQgXRrce7o4LaTizLyuHaUc60gGBm7UmFzLgZdHx2IaHnyA9vjq7lPnW2dt6j4/s320/11_Cemetry_1209.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421685565073454562" /></a>Somewhat ironic that the cemetery is next to this lovely new bike path and not situated beside the main road where it is required.</div><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsNAdhBgxvwSBlaNlIP8EmNIuVdRHOB7Cl5J4J29qainNC7Dzxd5D8MghwCDE0gxrx-15edxUZscGiqDmWxTCQpO3ZA_IRK9VYKHq31M0DUHdgLH-rz_c0Utez0I5j5OaE6c-nUJZvIdk/s1600-h/12_Grass_Downhill_1209.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsNAdhBgxvwSBlaNlIP8EmNIuVdRHOB7Cl5J4J29qainNC7Dzxd5D8MghwCDE0gxrx-15edxUZscGiqDmWxTCQpO3ZA_IRK9VYKHq31M0DUHdgLH-rz_c0Utez0I5j5OaE6c-nUJZvIdk/s320/12_Grass_Downhill_1209.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421685554868868034" /></a>Not far past the graveyard is this fantastic grassy downhill. This is where I proved my new handlebar set-up is perfect for flying down hills over bumpy ground at speed. I can even bunny-hop in the drops.</div><div><br /></div><div>In the distance is Mount Victoria. Smack bang in the middle of Devonport and the half-way point where I turn around and head home.</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaoa4PxDW2KT6oMCOOyXnIXRfBwp51VSakODHgA5o6pL-naGZSP0juaVJ2T5jAf30c_dL1kk5KbNXHgKI0sIqgRTtOAz0LfZJ6S3NC2YZ8IGdg5bIfXUD2Fqn0F4X8PsLksKjqSHzhDA0/s1600-h/13_Antoine_Swamp_1209.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaoa4PxDW2KT6oMCOOyXnIXRfBwp51VSakODHgA5o6pL-naGZSP0juaVJ2T5jAf30c_dL1kk5KbNXHgKI0sIqgRTtOAz0LfZJ6S3NC2YZ8IGdg5bIfXUD2Fqn0F4X8PsLksKjqSHzhDA0/s320/13_Antoine_Swamp_1209.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421685550243954082" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">"King of the Swamp"</span><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>The Sky Tower is behind the trees on the left and the Auckland Harbour bridge on the right. </div><div><br /></div><div>If you can't train your eight year old to pick up his dirty underwear he's never going to charge a camera battery so this is where our journey must end, with all the good photo-opportunities still to come. I'll take those on another day as the scenery in Devonport is really quite something.</div><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib2WxiY2LorD9PBdN_vqfbgxZBKRwt2MPyEk-jk_GjOL8hjtH4b51hwbIxoCQtT2tOQKX1J9nhCTUpl7WXFlHu56VsQwVxilbMlcwMvGv5YXTj3LnNwwdbPMW4MZRIgVzl9S_AAc0UiMI/s1600-h/14_Mushroom_Patch_1209.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib2WxiY2LorD9PBdN_vqfbgxZBKRwt2MPyEk-jk_GjOL8hjtH4b51hwbIxoCQtT2tOQKX1J9nhCTUpl7WXFlHu56VsQwVxilbMlcwMvGv5YXTj3LnNwwdbPMW4MZRIgVzl9S_AAc0UiMI/s320/14_Mushroom_Patch_1209.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421685538721920914" /></a>I managed to coax one more shot out of the Sony when I got to the top of Mount Victoria. I got married right there in front of us in this "mushroom patch" by a TV anchorman. It was like a cross between a Tarantino movie and Alice in Wonderland. </div><div><br /></div><div>The volcano in the background is Rangitoto Island. I'll be racing the Cross-Check over there at the end of March in <a href="http://www.thedual.co.nz/">The DUAL</a> 50km mountainbike race. Must get fitter!</div>Antoinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11660064402070508807noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4257211936407872461.post-35942921297290597602009-12-30T02:19:00.000-08:002009-12-30T03:42:49.239-08:00Cross-Check Tweeking<div>This bike is taking a lot more dialing-in than any other I have owned. The Pugsley was the first bike I specced and built-up from scratch and it was a perfect fit from the start - I haven't changed anything apart from hand-grips in almost four years.</div><div><br /></div><div>The Cross-Check has some stuff I'm just not used to, like drop-bars and bar-end shifters and I didn't get things right on the first attempt.</div><div><br /></div><div>The first problem was the beautiful Thomson stem I purchased by mail-order didn't get the bars high enough for my liking and I felt a bit stretched-out as well. The initial riding-position was no more severe than a typical contemporary road-bike but I wanted something a little more relaxed and suitable for riding off-road. It pained me to do so but I swapped it out for the ugly no-name stem on the <a href="http://ibikenz.blogspot.com/2008/06/nasty-evil-bike.html">Nasty-Evil-Bike</a> and it felt better straight away.</div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirrp8RRuBq52HoJZd9szMGNTJF3GLF8d6rfRIX7b10XEYcJ-hMZAT9vUzI1lZ5JpTqQs-dNFQ6FxI0wYIBG_XSX1RwPbUxLP7f5MyAOohOl4nN6hGGgcIp46VTCoSze2k3h2KHOue1cCo/s1600-h/Phatty.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 234px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirrp8RRuBq52HoJZd9szMGNTJF3GLF8d6rfRIX7b10XEYcJ-hMZAT9vUzI1lZ5JpTqQs-dNFQ6FxI0wYIBG_XSX1RwPbUxLP7f5MyAOohOl4nN6hGGgcIp46VTCoSze2k3h2KHOue1cCo/s320/Phatty.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420974719447033090" /></a>Now that my position on the bike was okay and I was doing longer rides I was finding riding on the hoods was irritating the back part of my palm that rested on the bar. I would tend to move my hands from the hoods to the curve behind and then onto the flats and back again to get some relief. Not very satisfactory. I've cured that problem by rotating the bars up (and the hoods down) so the transition is dead-flat and also dead-level. I put an extra strip of cork tape behind the hood before wrapping the bars first in spongy cork and then a second layer of the original Fi'zi:k Mictotex. It looks a little portly now but is wonderfully soft and comfortable. I thought the angle the drop part of the bar ended up on would be a problem but it has proved fantastic going off-road on bumpy singletrack or grass, especially down-hill at speed.<br /><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGcoHEXQSn82cwaLTpXDk06DnJPFH6qwZd413OS4pL0Lc9xRowVWIfyQTEUCvVIB_rc48Y2-xfLDrDSkHFw4pgwYtquImFmeYKMfUiBDLl6QPD-DzN0zEZ7cWiuw_aavqh5sy4h6GZJE8/s1600-h/Inline_Adjuster.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 237px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGcoHEXQSn82cwaLTpXDk06DnJPFH6qwZd413OS4pL0Lc9xRowVWIfyQTEUCvVIB_rc48Y2-xfLDrDSkHFw4pgwYtquImFmeYKMfUiBDLl6QPD-DzN0zEZ7cWiuw_aavqh5sy4h6GZJE8/s320/Inline_Adjuster.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420974714294416642" /></a>Another thing that annoyed me from the start is that the cable-hanger for the front brake did not have provision for a barrel-adjuster. I ordered an inline cable-adjuster that is usually used for shifter cables on road-bikes and spliced that in while I had everything in pieces. These things are really easy to install and use and I'm very pleased with it. You could even adjust your brake or gear cables as you ride along.</div><div><br /></div><div>I also bent the straddle-cables so they sat straight (this really irritated me) and increased the spring-tension on the Paul brakes so they looked better and felt a little snappier. You can see the difference in the photo above compared to an earlier shot below.</div><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEvmaJNavZ_uvvrjpYBXe_8e-b8wYiiCcGCpxuMKOFDTNomxcgL9GKhOPKrGakfiST18PjYmQ6hc276npyIBMWqxF8488ndURtm-GOb7OZp8wvzWp18gGU-aX6RAS_gfpQO244L6i2cZc/s1600-h/C-C+taping.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 238px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEvmaJNavZ_uvvrjpYBXe_8e-b8wYiiCcGCpxuMKOFDTNomxcgL9GKhOPKrGakfiST18PjYmQ6hc276npyIBMWqxF8488ndURtm-GOb7OZp8wvzWp18gGU-aX6RAS_gfpQO244L6i2cZc/s320/C-C+taping.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420974701781697858" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I am now a lot more comfortable on the bike and looking forward to some longer rides. I've not done more than two hours at a time which is not much of a test of long-term comfort.</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1OFn0xg00ryjEGwyVraYvXW3KHpw1Ew-t59ncfD-Ai70p2zKmVJpm3THSAW1Krc69JJE2o-4OcG00l785QqV8nS5hHV8W116TgQkJQoABXYSStogxs0Gehs2rlhAgMAqa4f4_o5Iz0lo/s1600-h/S-Wrap.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 236px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1OFn0xg00ryjEGwyVraYvXW3KHpw1Ew-t59ncfD-Ai70p2zKmVJpm3THSAW1Krc69JJE2o-4OcG00l785QqV8nS5hHV8W116TgQkJQoABXYSStogxs0Gehs2rlhAgMAqa4f4_o5Iz0lo/s320/S-Wrap.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420974695504209090" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Inflation? The price has almost doubled in two years and our NZ exchange rate is very strong at the moment!!</span>!<br /></div></div>Antoinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11660064402070508807noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4257211936407872461.post-81493289998246524132009-12-11T00:11:00.000-08:002009-12-11T20:02:39.816-08:00Summer Wheeln'<div><div>In-between the spring storms we're finally getting some warm sunny days. I haven't been mountainbiking or beach-riding in weeks but have enjoyed commuting to work as usual and pootling around town with The Midget Assassin in tow. </div><div><br /></div></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP_EzRPtwMrdnAqGgTgM2tTPymeaqAfT4igfU_zortieKwFUatsimVoLDety9p4XyWYRfxmGrBH0BzQzzjQ70X2u4E8enF1bnBQSZ2H59Aj_t1Coo7M1TF8ZhtIw07_D6EE2Y5_pzVnRE/s1600-h/The+Girls.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP_EzRPtwMrdnAqGgTgM2tTPymeaqAfT4igfU_zortieKwFUatsimVoLDety9p4XyWYRfxmGrBH0BzQzzjQ70X2u4E8enF1bnBQSZ2H59Aj_t1Coo7M1TF8ZhtIw07_D6EE2Y5_pzVnRE/s320/The+Girls.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413182165179724514" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">I took one of these girls home from the park </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">(hope I got the right one)</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>The school unicycle club got invited to three Santa parades this year. The boys and I weren't able to go to any of them last year so we made the most of it this time and attended two. The first was a low-key community affair up in Orewa. Thing-Two and I did that one and it was a good introduction to parade riding. Only a few thousand people so we were more excited than nervous and the route was nice and flat for the dad who doesn't practice. The second was the Farmer's Santa Parade in downtown Auckland. This was a much bigger deal with 250,000 spectators and some really professional looking floats. We wear blue club t-shirts and big red cowboy hats so we don't look as spectacular as some of the fancy costumes but the crowd doesn't seem to mind. Children just love to see other children riding unicycles and clap and cheer like mad, it's a real buzz. Some of the smaller riders were pretty tired by the end but everyone had a ball and the lanky forty-three year old can't wait to go back next year either!</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpwmEBfmJuVSfidx8TgvtoN6sTWqIwS7bbdGbOl5gZYdhXaVcHYkw-1_AzhtNdQ6mMzSIx7w_TGtXF258PsnP_ZyI772n2__sfkkkfXbAhMKs4LFFSn9sY-htvTRX-Ca5VLflDY57lvVQ/s1600-h/CBS_Cyclones.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpwmEBfmJuVSfidx8TgvtoN6sTWqIwS7bbdGbOl5gZYdhXaVcHYkw-1_AzhtNdQ6mMzSIx7w_TGtXF258PsnP_ZyI772n2__sfkkkfXbAhMKs4LFFSn9sY-htvTRX-Ca5VLflDY57lvVQ/s320/CBS_Cyclones.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412962351497606738" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Waiting for the rest of the group before the start</span><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>Our local council held a Family Bike Fest in Sunnynook Park only a few miles from home. I dragged my boys kicking and screaming away from the Xbox and we rode over the hill to see what was happening. Well, what a well-run event, it turned out to be a lot of fun. Lots of activities based around bike-handling and safety and <a href="http://www.unicycle.co.nz/">unicycle.co.nz</a> had many and varied contraptions there for people to try out. My boys always get a kick out of being the only ones able to ride them, although a few children had a go on the custom made penny-farthing. </div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUrUbt6xSfRKaBfR_SSULdD-3ujnYWG8uHLbTPn-jAALWuCTsdlMYsRAfRoxI8BC_TcXVLfMpjVcJq126WyyZj1ccHXq_DGJn_wHaGzYPHRkVqG3gFC4GCmiCOHHLT7ionUAzfAaky5vI/s1600-h/Family+Bike+Fest.jpeg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 245px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUrUbt6xSfRKaBfR_SSULdD-3ujnYWG8uHLbTPn-jAALWuCTsdlMYsRAfRoxI8BC_TcXVLfMpjVcJq126WyyZj1ccHXq_DGJn_wHaGzYPHRkVqG3gFC4GCmiCOHHLT7ionUAzfAaky5vI/s320/Family+Bike+Fest.jpeg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412962358872797330" /></a><br /><div>Our family almost cleaned-up in the slow-races. Thing-Two won his age-group, Thing-One just put a foot down before the finish to claim second place and I won the dad's race. It was very hard to actually keep moving and not just do a track-stand. Every time the commentator would remind us we were not moving I momentarily released the front brake so my wheel would move an inch or two. So we rode away after a couple of entertaining hours with $40 in bike-shop vouchers, candy, stickers, a flouro-vest each (yay) and a nice cycling shirt. </div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE_wMNgfXQhyYZU9q3zGQU7ZwSOszhnawPd6X0BMuPUoNjmJyxQjzYn0FzX5pixT2e5cn9sBY6djHIy06rzy-fKdmewjl_bwM9buNEBIFe1b1B1ZSvJNeLjjQpShKfUhkZHa05vGIPhuM/s1600-h/HunterPennyFarthing.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 236px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE_wMNgfXQhyYZU9q3zGQU7ZwSOszhnawPd6X0BMuPUoNjmJyxQjzYn0FzX5pixT2e5cn9sBY6djHIy06rzy-fKdmewjl_bwM9buNEBIFe1b1B1ZSvJNeLjjQpShKfUhkZHa05vGIPhuM/s320/HunterPennyFarthing.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413182147020722194" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Thing-Two gettn' jiggy on the penny</span><br /></div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZXvRts-Mc7lK6gaqOCfdeh9pD1C6WoNvlc0lkIOk9c6RdrlAsF06uMELaQ7bY2xdCCaVo0dFYWgf6njQEwJthgcANlG0HQqR2DsFIAJ8-SLeJpo6_Sij2k7o2B8waOVRVNb91ug3z5gA/s1600-h/Hunter_Unithing.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZXvRts-Mc7lK6gaqOCfdeh9pD1C6WoNvlc0lkIOk9c6RdrlAsF06uMELaQ7bY2xdCCaVo0dFYWgf6njQEwJthgcANlG0HQqR2DsFIAJ8-SLeJpo6_Sij2k7o2B8waOVRVNb91ug3z5gA/s320/Hunter_Unithing.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413182139112267314" /></a><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">This contraption was just weird<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Kolrjma6VVSPBK-o6_mstQhRMD5Zhl2CFLuhUOplTMmy8wn3cvhbQsV4WGIZe8Nv5vyGihdPoNP-AWZ9iaAu-TzU5tv9-lXKih8hnIUgphJPdkcESh28_RiHdE6-GEE6D_qePaZH4Ro/s1600-h/Giraffe.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Kolrjma6VVSPBK-o6_mstQhRMD5Zhl2CFLuhUOplTMmy8wn3cvhbQsV4WGIZe8Nv5vyGihdPoNP-AWZ9iaAu-TzU5tv9-lXKih8hnIUgphJPdkcESh28_RiHdE6-GEE6D_qePaZH4Ro/s320/Giraffe.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412962369140548018" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Thing-One on the giraffe</span><br /></div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>On Sunday I got a couple of hours to myself to get out on the Cross-Check. I'm loving the speed of the thing but still need to tweak my cockpit a little, especially for riding off-road. I'm going to rotate the bars a little more and move the brakes to get a flatter area behind the hoods for my palms to rest and an extra layer of bar-wrap is also on the agenda. The other problem I'm having is the axle sliding forward on the drive-side so my wheel ends-up crooked and the brakes start rubbing. This has happened twice - both times after tearing down the side of Mount Victoria on the singletrack. It's quite bumpy on 35mm road tyres and my watch was hurting my wrist as it jumped around with the impacts. I have the quick-release done up pretty damn tight so I'm not sure how to remedy this problem. It may come right as the powdercoat wears off the drop-out face and the quick-release gets some steel to bite into. I must remember to wipe any grease off the dropouts before I go out again. The Lycra-Cowboys were all off drinking Babycham somewhere so I had the road to myself. It was a great ride.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAPTyh5bTitS0CXjGd5UxmNh5pS5iB_n7p7g0kebwv7AG3id8kWuGsE5LK0wMihiWPSWrS6_Ki84p_SjfDFJ4cbwlnksFHuZW_L6wv38q53NayPsypCroKgKS5_SOIsQVmd6xZfVg-v0o/s1600-h/Mtvictoria_081209.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 242px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAPTyh5bTitS0CXjGd5UxmNh5pS5iB_n7p7g0kebwv7AG3id8kWuGsE5LK0wMihiWPSWrS6_Ki84p_SjfDFJ4cbwlnksFHuZW_L6wv38q53NayPsypCroKgKS5_SOIsQVmd6xZfVg-v0o/s320/Mtvictoria_081209.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413182157205395378" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Facing west on top of Mount Victoria in Devonport. Time to head home before the sun gets much lower</span>.<br /></div>Antoinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11660064402070508807noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4257211936407872461.post-31603635696557606522009-11-29T00:27:00.000-08:002009-11-29T03:00:14.317-08:00All Roadies are Assholes. It's official.<div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr7okFtrUsNaiBMSM4w5uVtqtGkuShhgYwyoZqjqmCowOgQex1SpIoByilLdVGDJVrgWang9lKs2VlSoaldgFA52-AFdKJCUQoVMztCKvuY92WUl77ZLfTmAreUYig7nsfQLUcYwnIIEo/s1600/CrossCheck_Commute.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 235px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr7okFtrUsNaiBMSM4w5uVtqtGkuShhgYwyoZqjqmCowOgQex1SpIoByilLdVGDJVrgWang9lKs2VlSoaldgFA52-AFdKJCUQoVMztCKvuY92WUl77ZLfTmAreUYig7nsfQLUcYwnIIEo/s320/CrossCheck_Commute.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5409450913859800930" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">It looks like a road-bike, doesn't it?</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>I thought when I got a road(ish) bike some of the Lycra-Cowboy set might warm to me a little and the odd wave or greeting would be returned. No-way! Still the same bunch of arrogant assholes that depressed me in a <a href="http://ibikenz.blogspot.com/2008/05/butt-service-aka-why-are-all-roadies.html">previous post</a>. Is it because I just wear shorts and a t-shirt when riding? I don't know, but moving to a 700c bike with drops has made no difference whatsoever. </div><div><br /></div><div>I must just be a big-softy because I actually feel a bond with all cyclists, be it a spotty kid on a BMX, a professional road-racer or grandma on the rusty Raleigh 20. We share something don't we? Especially in a country like New Zealand where cyclists are treated with such contempt by the general public and law-makers. It would be different in Holland or Denmark I'm sure. There you're just an average citizen going about your day and you just happen to use a bicycle for transportation like most of your community. </div><div><br /></div><div>Yesterday I hooked-up the Cross-Check to the trailer for the first time and the Midget-Assassin and I headed off to the Takapuna library for literary refreshment and teddy-bear torturing in the children's area. I was getting along at a good clip on the flats and even passed a couple of roadies (how embarrassing), but Lycra-Cowboys were blasting past us left, right and centre in total silence, and I swear they were trying to get as close as possible without hitting me. I thought that move was the domain of the tin-top driver!</div><div><br /></div><div>So I'll have another go avoiding eye-contact, keeping my waving-hand firmly on the bars and resisting communicating with fellow bikers, but it won't come easily.</div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYn7EYxnVmdSifwliIq7jwDYiHwffrjmrmUgMhvXygNXdLqJTLK4NN6_C4USxUBnAtdWfPFHVEqKNKOsvbETEtCjVEKX_F_NSPp3RDde6BNQD-ml_QQHRqdh0J8BpCNiurYiyaYVLvgPQ/s1600/Cross-Check+Trailering.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYn7EYxnVmdSifwliIq7jwDYiHwffrjmrmUgMhvXygNXdLqJTLK4NN6_C4USxUBnAtdWfPFHVEqKNKOsvbETEtCjVEKX_F_NSPp3RDde6BNQD-ml_QQHRqdh0J8BpCNiurYiyaYVLvgPQ/s320/Cross-Check+Trailering.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5409450907409125762" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><div style="text-align: center;">Saddling-up for the weekly library run<br /></div></span><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7RpnAKTbifJ_bVBVPpNweEU5N4G_Ftnw79B_54BCSoUvEfIdWgaDBJk_4vIngfZajHdPRoTzQYn-pFOtDXT-aV0O9g51eATa2dwYwGX-TceLq5mz_qjf5Al9KJ7IzKAHZU5Dgwaul7Jo/s1600/Cross-Check_Library.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 243px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7RpnAKTbifJ_bVBVPpNweEU5N4G_Ftnw79B_54BCSoUvEfIdWgaDBJk_4vIngfZajHdPRoTzQYn-pFOtDXT-aV0O9g51eATa2dwYwGX-TceLq5mz_qjf5Al9KJ7IzKAHZU5Dgwaul7Jo/s320/Cross-Check_Library.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5409450898860546482" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">I felt a little uneasy leaving my new pride-and-joy locked-up in public (the bike, not the child</span>)<br /></div></div>Antoinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11660064402070508807noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4257211936407872461.post-37970127468211491952009-11-18T02:28:00.001-08:002009-11-18T03:05:09.247-08:00ibikeoz<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcbSfZCGieT7kWCJ9NewMwzQ7IseRHuL2EiQIIVfK3XWyVwQZtXUIwlIFKSD6guY6mvwRkeL0VnPzVm3c83NAa-6r5X0CX_ZgrvFHd_DXsHQ9khW2j1J_6t2UpLElzIz8CfR_UkQXbGL8/s1600/Queensland_Sun.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcbSfZCGieT7kWCJ9NewMwzQ7IseRHuL2EiQIIVfK3XWyVwQZtXUIwlIFKSD6guY6mvwRkeL0VnPzVm3c83NAa-6r5X0CX_ZgrvFHd_DXsHQ9khW2j1J_6t2UpLElzIz8CfR_UkQXbGL8/s320/Queensland_Sun.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405389546502309298" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">The Queensland sky and some guy</span><br /></div><br /><div>Thanks to my lovely wife who spotted a cheap airfare I hopped over the Tasman this weekend to visit my father on the Gold Coast. The temperature was about double Auckland at 32ºC but with a sea breeze I managed a quick ride on dad's old mountainbike without passing-out.</div><div><br /></div><div>It just goes to show you don't need a flash bike to have an enjoyable ride, well not on the flat anyway. Once I had scraped the dust off the seat and coaxed some air into the tyres I set off for a quick jaunt around Palm Beach. It's billiard-table flat terrain with a myriad of bridges that cross over the man-made canals. Every road I ventured down had a well defined bike path painted between the parking spaces at the curb and the traffic lane. This was much safer than a typical Auckland bike lane that is squeezed up against the curb where the storm-water grates, nails, broken glass and parked cars hang out. </div><div><br /></div><div>I felt a bit of a maverick not wearing a helmet but relaxed somewhat after seeing several others flouting the law. A police car even pulled up beside me at the lights and didn't say anything, it must be a common sight. </div><div><br /></div><div>If I lived there I would buy a beach-cruiser immediately, it would be a no-brainer. </div><div><br /></div><div>I'm writing this 24 hours later after riding home from work in 12ºC and drizzle. Can't wait to get back over the ditch!</div><div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnfRnzKDbvO9Umol9OtFKDIJruC2Y-6KEiL7sB0KeOPte90B48kLzHvc5DptWNtvWbvcmaHF2LlO1NQUpgI5TGrAjD6VzPpkGKIiBq31ugt4l7O7G2n0f8l-4pg-YUFIDWxQFjIMjQBL8/s1600/Oz_Bike_Path.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnfRnzKDbvO9Umol9OtFKDIJruC2Y-6KEiL7sB0KeOPte90B48kLzHvc5DptWNtvWbvcmaHF2LlO1NQUpgI5TGrAjD6VzPpkGKIiBq31ugt4l7O7G2n0f8l-4pg-YUFIDWxQFjIMjQBL8/s320/Oz_Bike_Path.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405389540412279570" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Bike paths everywhere</span><br /></div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjh5UM63El3g4n8oOaA2CZ6b8NHFgSOJRjaHBKqWausmisX9fZ_s5wpN6K62hyX9GZmxSCaLmgw-SAwLx4DqSyxvIfe4Vl34jlPGgM2XL25wVaW2ixDQDkEFfUmnyB3qbkcVgWLAco6JI/s1600/Dads_Bike.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjh5UM63El3g4n8oOaA2CZ6b8NHFgSOJRjaHBKqWausmisX9fZ_s5wpN6K62hyX9GZmxSCaLmgw-SAwLx4DqSyxvIfe4Vl34jlPGgM2XL25wVaW2ixDQDkEFfUmnyB3qbkcVgWLAco6JI/s320/Dads_Bike.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405389529754086194" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><div style="text-align: center;">40lbs of thumb-shift'n steel goodness</div></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div>Antoinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11660064402070508807noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4257211936407872461.post-22095185453466668922009-10-30T18:07:00.000-07:002009-10-30T18:42:24.253-07:0029 inches, 36 Spokes... That's how I roll!<div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKrVOd7OiHf6N-kR5YqjpQaaJ08y8KXg0wSTvY_HX-D6nd-CynvAbWBGjNcmPpXOnd36uhr4VwELsOuoAVEfgn18JZFmkQW-7S0GWQyQwtmq6GTWCddyxJREUA936tPyAw7O7IWTfzEcI/s1600-h/29ers.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 237px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKrVOd7OiHf6N-kR5YqjpQaaJ08y8KXg0wSTvY_HX-D6nd-CynvAbWBGjNcmPpXOnd36uhr4VwELsOuoAVEfgn18JZFmkQW-7S0GWQyQwtmq6GTWCddyxJREUA936tPyAw7O7IWTfzEcI/s320/29ers.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398565896578408034" /></a><br /><div><div style="text-align: center;">unless...<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5hmD0ql5cfo-eUUJ935fvMnIPiTVj9pVkj97hAv-YdYjr7nK0hFEeaLbepnKgtwqIwXFy8yVgJffGycWQTV0jKSxpTqbqNRbN3Uf9g565fcTECAVBlI-EsLcBeN_sZ_6RWQl3N2wFaT0/s1600-h/Avanti_Commuter.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5hmD0ql5cfo-eUUJ935fvMnIPiTVj9pVkj97hAv-YdYjr7nK0hFEeaLbepnKgtwqIwXFy8yVgJffGycWQTV0jKSxpTqbqNRbN3Uf9g565fcTECAVBlI-EsLcBeN_sZ_6RWQl3N2wFaT0/s320/Avanti_Commuter.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398570191506719826" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">I'm riding 26 inch/36 spokes<br /></div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1eutmW3ogm9_ZNAY4QCUUTLPoMO5_AIxuaVNqpHBPRmE_RgweTAJwtDf0rFQ5E_BAcLftyJc0gr-M44F68bQz6pKyPb1p_cSnneh04_rjBURGRXLOEykSKqcG16WTrQDQjdDqTPItsXA/s1600-h/Bickerton+Walkway.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1eutmW3ogm9_ZNAY4QCUUTLPoMO5_AIxuaVNqpHBPRmE_RgweTAJwtDf0rFQ5E_BAcLftyJc0gr-M44F68bQz6pKyPb1p_cSnneh04_rjBURGRXLOEykSKqcG16WTrQDQjdDqTPItsXA/s320/Bickerton+Walkway.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398570178318380370" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">or the 16 inch/28 spoke - 14 inch/20 spoke combo<br /></div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh87KtIjxtAxe41ZvhBuoVQPJX4XEnEEU_J2hw0vYYTwNZ33NTSMcZlfxOW3KMUMPwGvGWWOYBok6J8ftwXTliB8Eamr9kz87FTNeAr4iNV_a543qY4qcGH1u10jps5LVzKnj184yb56Qc/s1600-h/Not+A-Bike.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh87KtIjxtAxe41ZvhBuoVQPJX4XEnEEU_J2hw0vYYTwNZ33NTSMcZlfxOW3KMUMPwGvGWWOYBok6J8ftwXTliB8Eamr9kz87FTNeAr4iNV_a543qY4qcGH1u10jps5LVzKnj184yb56Qc/s320/Not+A-Bike.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398570173374591026" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">and not forgetting the 6 inch/spokeless monstrosity.<br /></div></div>Antoinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11660064402070508807noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4257211936407872461.post-45436643758078584012009-10-26T20:39:00.001-07:002009-10-27T23:53:39.903-07:00The 350 Big Bike Ride<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfmT_xWrkDDexQc-KIJ40Uqv4Do3xszMzA7VZb-FKffyaYqrBFZhXHgu0pBtFQHjJHsh6uWmHsItby8p7b5-0iRwcnfueiHcb84v4jpxrevamHapjZvIzjvFOmzcU_fsn3DQHlImVe9DM/s1600-h/EatingPortrait.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfmT_xWrkDDexQc-KIJ40Uqv4Do3xszMzA7VZb-FKffyaYqrBFZhXHgu0pBtFQHjJHsh6uWmHsItby8p7b5-0iRwcnfueiHcb84v4jpxrevamHapjZvIzjvFOmzcU_fsn3DQHlImVe9DM/s320/EatingPortrait.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397122476215864178" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">"You don't look at the camera and I'll eat a sandwich, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">that'll make a good photo."</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Waiting around for the start in Betty Winsdor Square.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">On Saturday I packed the Midget Assassin, Pugsley and bike-trailer into the car and we headed over to downtown Auckland for <a href="http://www.350.org/aucklandbigbikeride">The 350 Big Bike Ride</a>. Kind of ironic that I had to drive to a climate change rally but it highlights the woeful situation bike commuters face living on the North Shore. I'm denied access to the <a href="http://ibikenz.blogspot.com/2009/05/illegal-bicycle-activity-in-city-of.html">only harbour crossing</a>, there is no provision for bikes on the bus network and the ferry is a long way away, sails infrequently in the weekend and is expensive. I also doubt I could maneuver our road-train down the gang-plank successfully. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Any initiative to start cleaning up the planet has got to be good, right? But for me it was more an opportunity to ride around the city in safety and show my support for urban cycling. Cycling has been getting more than enough bad publicity lately in NZ and there is lots of bad will among the general public towards cyclists in New Zealand at present. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The ride started in Queen Elizabeth II Square at the bottom of town and the group of two or three hundred (best guess) sailed off up Queen Street on a beautiful spring day. What a different experience it is to ride in a group. I certainly felt the safety in numbers phenomenon as we cruised along soaking up the vibe of the city. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The riders were a real cross-section of society but maybe biased a little towards the <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">save the whales</span> and <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">university student</span> end of things. There were lots of families with children of all ages and the most fixed-gear riders I have seen in one place. It was also pleasing to see the Lycra-Cowboys that attended smiling and having a good time as I had always assumed the constrictive shorts prevented those facial expressions. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">We left the procession near the end of the route and headed back to Ponsonby for a well-earned beer with friends as the ride carried on to the 350 festival at Mt Eden. The Midget-Assassin had been very well behaved to this point and I didn't want to push my luck. It was a great afternoon to be on a bike!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU4gwuv9bx6WvY2IBZIWD8d851-8ejCelkg4S7Pc6ZalINTx3BVkr6hkIEcGQJc1nh5FPNLzAjpHxCSLZT3FDODho-1mkW7zNC1xqMRtL3IWXHDl6W3uG5rwbisoyZyH-QWRLv6bTuD3U/s1600-h/Up_Queen_Street.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU4gwuv9bx6WvY2IBZIWD8d851-8ejCelkg4S7Pc6ZalINTx3BVkr6hkIEcGQJc1nh5FPNLzAjpHxCSLZT3FDODho-1mkW7zNC1xqMRtL3IWXHDl6W3uG5rwbisoyZyH-QWRLv6bTuD3U/s320/Up_Queen_Street.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397120918981704994" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Heading up Queen Street, Auckland's main road.<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDOrUxSgzePPbo71EcWsMvUdalZuTtvVvklY774ICaPJl-d20sYWKxxCE-Wv88SRZaejPgx0erF5yxIVPU1lUiX04X9l1WAIQp1qtJ9qGyf24c_o1R0R0X8ZLWYH2fKP_1nWoAmLGFP04/s1600-h/Unity_Finesmith_1.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDOrUxSgzePPbo71EcWsMvUdalZuTtvVvklY774ICaPJl-d20sYWKxxCE-Wv88SRZaejPgx0erF5yxIVPU1lUiX04X9l1WAIQp1qtJ9qGyf24c_o1R0R0X8ZLWYH2fKP_1nWoAmLGFP04/s320/Unity_Finesmith_1.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397120929592854130" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Unity Finesmith of <a href="http://aucklandcyclechic.blogspot.com/">Auckland Cycle Chic</a> frocking it in style.</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY5W6C85w0_w5C1E1dgPbnVBRQwPnOASSAinBlopIZqtxJh2urdbPD0D7DuS9sGfo_5qulCjGxF_Iz_1bZwKXdHgrCahiH8xXkVonqaihvPFDDMiEvxFnrdT3ifXTjTr5zHsog04eVv0o/s1600-h/QueenSt_Trailer.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY5W6C85w0_w5C1E1dgPbnVBRQwPnOASSAinBlopIZqtxJh2urdbPD0D7DuS9sGfo_5qulCjGxF_Iz_1bZwKXdHgrCahiH8xXkVonqaihvPFDDMiEvxFnrdT3ifXTjTr5zHsog04eVv0o/s320/QueenSt_Trailer.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397120932730495314" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">The Midget-Assassin cruising back down Queen Street.</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjjQBUR-dR6OGhqf-ZqxVc_63CmzO7Hp0DUqGr9Fh4zdex1aKFRLp4Y_EEA_ct2XXBXmdrzwzbPWMzUEQcFOoevvDU6vEopewKd6pAw8gt9Gl5vlG4cSYfSEQENHMqxVTGtLbMcQd2pmA/s1600-h/Auckland_Mundo.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 246px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjjQBUR-dR6OGhqf-ZqxVc_63CmzO7Hp0DUqGr9Fh4zdex1aKFRLp4Y_EEA_ct2XXBXmdrzwzbPWMzUEQcFOoevvDU6vEopewKd6pAw8gt9Gl5vlG4cSYfSEQENHMqxVTGtLbMcQd2pmA/s320/Auckland_Mundo.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397123345393279890" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Mundo, Mundo, Mundo!!!<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">I so want a cargo-bike.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9Otr8QD_JOAEP-PzDxZCZEZ0V6mQvlDbQ6MMJPXRppM4w9varULr6OuqMUChKFq9OR50feRbBz2QiT2pFjCJzcziUoPjuY89IAAHU1hXPrJMPaqzb9CQc6v5w10swCsyO6ASNnnROko4/s1600-h/BicycleKid.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9Otr8QD_JOAEP-PzDxZCZEZ0V6mQvlDbQ6MMJPXRppM4w9varULr6OuqMUChKFq9OR50feRbBz2QiT2pFjCJzcziUoPjuY89IAAHU1hXPrJMPaqzb9CQc6v5w10swCsyO6ASNnnROko4/s320/BicycleKid.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397123340623324834" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">"What you look'n at mista?"</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBZXZXQxBEbqheydA1_K1wcUs25xLqytwBK7nd0CbOncB0fgUrJcVs52-bjlMQ-qbcKt5vUPgvECKlAYJ1fo9J9ntEg3z671yPn2OWp-hgNN__ZFRNQHwFayzUurLLc1mLtV4rtgeBMfw/s1600-h/BikePooch.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBZXZXQxBEbqheydA1_K1wcUs25xLqytwBK7nd0CbOncB0fgUrJcVs52-bjlMQ-qbcKt5vUPgvECKlAYJ1fo9J9ntEg3z671yPn2OWp-hgNN__ZFRNQHwFayzUurLLc1mLtV4rtgeBMfw/s320/BikePooch.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397123338722901298" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Every conceivable accessory including the family pooch.</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3RBxLZ5sjdgd36RChcoTJ1WVBbF30tgATrHoIn6PMr2SY76UVEK4aEhqY9AvyvkN4xV_D5gBasytN9a3KMNp04JyelJqDeTECq0xGQWlkWnu48xJJ2n9GI-uX_fdRydSDM2z5YYmspok/s1600-h/Bob_Jackson.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 237px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3RBxLZ5sjdgd36RChcoTJ1WVBbF30tgATrHoIn6PMr2SY76UVEK4aEhqY9AvyvkN4xV_D5gBasytN9a3KMNp04JyelJqDeTECq0xGQWlkWnu48xJJ2n9GI-uX_fdRydSDM2z5YYmspok/s320/Bob_Jackson.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397122497229999714" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Older guy, singlespeed (fixie?), elegant steel frame with fenders. Got my vote for cool-bike-of-the-day but was harassed with a few no-helmet comments from pedestrians.</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgte7fo-eSCrn2kRChVegldo1Y-64e_a4k0r1UHgV2yns23bvjPbsjjmeHjyGRHigoUca1eIlFckt3PTbdH9Y4vDF4zCT08-uFvDJzjguXJHUxRFBocq7-HoK1J1CMRRjXBEA_SiwR4R1E/s1600-h/Classic_Cars.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgte7fo-eSCrn2kRChVegldo1Y-64e_a4k0r1UHgV2yns23bvjPbsjjmeHjyGRHigoUca1eIlFckt3PTbdH9Y4vDF4zCT08-uFvDJzjguXJHUxRFBocq7-HoK1J1CMRRjXBEA_SiwR4R1E/s320/Classic_Cars.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397122492699640066" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Classic cars in the viaduct. They looked great but it amuses me how very average cars become "classics" if they make it to retirement. </span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7KPoHRqjZ1tt0Q8i4uK-FzIE00vSzhWiwMuWkSCIWO96rfi9i58nTY8l9pLOhNhrE1IyWN9iR88-kzmIODjdf6aL5pFkmTV2_U-Qdu7VzC39qtFCbXwpdPwhkOUcTjlAGzxmx_rEYAsw/s1600-h/DSC04215.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7KPoHRqjZ1tt0Q8i4uK-FzIE00vSzhWiwMuWkSCIWO96rfi9i58nTY8l9pLOhNhrE1IyWN9iR88-kzmIODjdf6aL5pFkmTV2_U-Qdu7VzC39qtFCbXwpdPwhkOUcTjlAGzxmx_rEYAsw/s320/DSC04215.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397122485076151170" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; white-space: pre; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">"</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; white-space: pre; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">Shush, </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">Lycra-Cowboys on the waterfront."</span></span></span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu1NQpft2s_8zHW5FMsvl6dK0vBSyneaiglosl8Q-VlqbW45ECxCwngEQqlNkQcOmakAy_gySOPtxRO63R4OpDxDc5gMUCktlKQ5pH9psZf17RvMHCIgUhTdkqEEIMlFHFyA8WZLR2i6Q/s1600-h/Happy_Girl.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu1NQpft2s_8zHW5FMsvl6dK0vBSyneaiglosl8Q-VlqbW45ECxCwngEQqlNkQcOmakAy_gySOPtxRO63R4OpDxDc5gMUCktlKQ5pH9psZf17RvMHCIgUhTdkqEEIMlFHFyA8WZLR2i6Q/s320/Happy_Girl.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397122467762466738" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">I just love seeing kids on bikes.<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRs7P3mRy_NW7GYcD3jPU9c5x_5hsPcIsy_si79OeM0qJ2UrnatMratGD9GZIQ5FxiI7i6JW-8Ts8v8RK6-Hm9NEMp49lXP3Eqi4X81E-dO93kHnmng9HXXfA8ilZW8U3gHexGySmM6QE/s1600-h/HawaiianShirt.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRs7P3mRy_NW7GYcD3jPU9c5x_5hsPcIsy_si79OeM0qJ2UrnatMratGD9GZIQ5FxiI7i6JW-8Ts8v8RK6-Hm9NEMp49lXP3Eqi4X81E-dO93kHnmng9HXXfA8ilZW8U3gHexGySmM6QE/s320/HawaiianShirt.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397120949603245058" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Sorry about the shirt.</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK4z_qi04RzCfYtKhyphenhyphenu6ohgfd77jiqzCbYjkIARcrQ0mzQlPXCwSJFFswB048w9SFCq_MyLxrttgxcyq4yQOYNLiuCXWvqRVYd04sRR7xYcftN0ulL0JL70fScjtX0XuWzPgUEVqqG2-I/s1600-h/Ponsonby_Road.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK4z_qi04RzCfYtKhyphenhyphenu6ohgfd77jiqzCbYjkIARcrQ0mzQlPXCwSJFFswB048w9SFCq_MyLxrttgxcyq4yQOYNLiuCXWvqRVYd04sRR7xYcftN0ulL0JL70fScjtX0XuWzPgUEVqqG2-I/s320/Ponsonby_Road.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397120941581176018" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">P</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">onsonby Road.</span></div>Antoinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11660064402070508807noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4257211936407872461.post-38955191171709802802009-10-17T13:42:00.001-07:002009-10-18T02:18:47.455-07:00First Mixed-Terrain Ride<div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrmYqyVOcrKRO4Ig-rGbMreG3GFHNA_iFr1sTsoJFew-f4gPxa-7DVefGOaYosJGbz04T9aoLzBabZyqE5Rbs54dyGrt3RgZw0Alk1hmHeOow_FsnqZ-3Qv0_GKqMtdq7SzT9-rajSWW8/s1600-h/Mt+Victoria+2.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrmYqyVOcrKRO4Ig-rGbMreG3GFHNA_iFr1sTsoJFew-f4gPxa-7DVefGOaYosJGbz04T9aoLzBabZyqE5Rbs54dyGrt3RgZw0Alk1hmHeOow_FsnqZ-3Qv0_GKqMtdq7SzT9-rajSWW8/s320/Mt+Victoria+2.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5393674124754779618" /></a><div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;">R<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">iding the singletrack down Mt Victoria</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I finally got out for a decent ride on the Cross-Check. Only 30kms or so but it included some gravel paths, grass, cobbles and singletrack. I changed over to some cheap Vittoria 35c touring tyres I bought when I first had the wheels built-up. I can't imagine what a 23 or 25mm racing tyre feels like at 130psi as these seemed pretty harsh to me at 65psi. On the Pugsley and to some extent my commuter with its 2 inch Schwalbes you just can't feel the pebbles and cracks that pass under your wheels but by the end of this ride I was getting used to the sensation. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">It sure is different riding a faster bike on the road. Because I had those higher gears available I was blasting along with the roadies on the flats and also pedaling on the downhills so my legs never got a break. I'm sitting here the day after with sore quads and I never feel anything anywhere after a two or three hour mountainbike ride. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">On fine, smooth gravel it was comfortable but I could feel the vibration through the bars when the rocks got up to matchbox size. Maybe I should double-wrap my bars or wear gloves?</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The fun part started when I got to Devonport. I climbed up Mount Victoria using the sealed access road. This is a struggle on the Pugsley even when I am fit. It was way easier on the Cross-Check but I still ended up in my lowest 34/34T ratio. You can see most of Auckland from up there and I took in the views before starting down again on the singletrack that winds around the outside. I was careering down the initial part on damp grass (at Pugsley speed) when I hit the brakes to slow for the first switchback. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);">Road Tyres + Wet Grass = Chocolate Starfish Moment</span></span> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The Paul cantilevers stopped the wheels beautifully but the smooth tyres weren't slowing the bike at all. I just pulled-up in time to avoid shooting over the precipice and took the next section considerably slower. I have to remember that when using road tyres this is an "exploring" bike not a "race" one. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I don't commute to work in rush-hour and on this ride really noticed the vehicle fumes on a busy Saturday morning. It was pretty disgusting in places and I'll head in the other direction in search of quieter roads next time I get a chance.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The drop handlebars don't feel natural yet but the gear-changing is coming easier. More miles required I feel.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNMGl1IwKjAnx7wgJFIq3tqW9CdNTeFrp-vhyIFkIz0RvFHgf8iv-BlenV6p9oGe-ZYBKwBplJINU7S-MTExUcLIJDzRwrLVvQ_WiQYN1fEaGfctFivwYW5FCDcKhMihszOOsYn5t1HlM/s1600-h/Devonport_Panda.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNMGl1IwKjAnx7wgJFIq3tqW9CdNTeFrp-vhyIFkIz0RvFHgf8iv-BlenV6p9oGe-ZYBKwBplJINU7S-MTExUcLIJDzRwrLVvQ_WiQYN1fEaGfctFivwYW5FCDcKhMihszOOsYn5t1HlM/s320/Devonport_Panda.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5393674115709117474" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Y<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">ou would think there was no traffic in Auckland in this shot.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">You would be wrong.</span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbeRz8WTszijwuq5taoogTkAjN0i2j93BSvEla2KyI4M5oIztMQ-8et1APTz8IDoodKL0xK8O9wTdP4Yagu9joHEfXTfbbNrOVAhh3M4W-9MAfjLkOUPragq5y250p8nhyI0J9pwAFESA/s1600-h/Main+Street+Devonport.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbeRz8WTszijwuq5taoogTkAjN0i2j93BSvEla2KyI4M5oIztMQ-8et1APTz8IDoodKL0xK8O9wTdP4Yagu9joHEfXTfbbNrOVAhh3M4W-9MAfjLkOUPragq5y250p8nhyI0J9pwAFESA/s320/Main+Street+Devonport.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5393674104610773490" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Heading up Devonport's Main Street from the wharf towards Mt Victoria<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">A few kilometres from home I spied a perfectly good pair of plastic oars sitting in someone's inorganic collection at the side of the road. I had no rack, bungies of trailer so I plonked them on the bars sitting across the hoods and carried on. I got full ten metres before the left paddle hit the wing-mirror of a fancy-pants BMW and I had my second choco-starfish moment of the day. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I sure got some funny looks from people as I rode home and overtaking cars gave me an extra-wide berth. I'm tempted to always ride with a fluorescent yellow paddle sticking out a metre into the traffic - much safer!</div></div><div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhicTUSWGDniukEUTet__usHQK3WAO3GgvHAY51fNQgEcOwxfg70Yc7kTQ1AVfBmuQDAtsnyKUNORnIkzb34xqU6mPkkMXENXiCWUSzaVjn-NDaLgOVenJdLeJnzUl4v7GWC7gnMkXXLA8/s1600-h/Paddle+Panda.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhicTUSWGDniukEUTet__usHQK3WAO3GgvHAY51fNQgEcOwxfg70Yc7kTQ1AVfBmuQDAtsnyKUNORnIkzb34xqU6mPkkMXENXiCWUSzaVjn-NDaLgOVenJdLeJnzUl4v7GWC7gnMkXXLA8/s320/Paddle+Panda.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5393674094313389474" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Almost home</span><br /></div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi32AKKNaJdhH3gTcYWLni23tKPVUBefBkX9Skusba9sjoiKO6Tnqbs-mKnrVl5dw5lXdoc20szhpK99heRM0h5pi5YEfF9sgvTnGxDUgghgV6fLWNCdTLVaZ7l7nMIsUO3YyExr0Q3zKM/s1600-h/Oarsome.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi32AKKNaJdhH3gTcYWLni23tKPVUBefBkX9Skusba9sjoiKO6Tnqbs-mKnrVl5dw5lXdoc20szhpK99heRM0h5pi5YEfF9sgvTnGxDUgghgV6fLWNCdTLVaZ7l7nMIsUO3YyExr0Q3zKM/s320/Oarsome.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5393674088003402738" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">My new bike is oarsome</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;">On a final note, roadies sure don't like it when you can ride at their pace in a t-shirt and baggy, shit-brown cargo shorts. I'm sure going to enjoy irritating Lycra-Cowboys on this bike. Just need to get a bit fitter so I can pull away from them for the ultimate humiliation.</div></div></div></div></div></div>Antoinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11660064402070508807noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4257211936407872461.post-18076893022305168602009-10-15T03:11:00.000-07:002009-10-15T03:59:21.236-07:00I want to ride my bicycle!<div>I'm itching to get a proper ride in on the new bike but just haven't had the opportunity since building it up. Just a few commutes to work and errands around the neighbourhood so far.</div><div><br /></div><div>I got the indexing working on the second attempt and taped the bars when I was happy with the positioning of everything. I hadn't wrapped drops since my 10-Speed days as a teenager but made a reasonable job of it. I'll give myself an 8 out of 10 with some room for improvement. </div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizHo-qECp_gdOpGY7VP3bdnowTnnMO92BzMZOU1LPxQZxODTHAxSsk20vMDbrNS1pUxNKV7xvpiHaiLEhL5sVWmHmvWaqKvU5JduTKIFB_dyRFWbSzXooI2521MCZ59JI4tbzz8X5yThA/s1600-h/Cross-Check+Golf.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizHo-qECp_gdOpGY7VP3bdnowTnnMO92BzMZOU1LPxQZxODTHAxSsk20vMDbrNS1pUxNKV7xvpiHaiLEhL5sVWmHmvWaqKvU5JduTKIFB_dyRFWbSzXooI2521MCZ59JI4tbzz8X5yThA/s320/Cross-Check+Golf.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392768011100859730" /></a><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span></div>The fat 45c Panaracer FireCross tyres are a tight fit but are awesome off-road. I will get some skinnier cross tyres at a later date or possibly some Schwalbe Marathons that will work better on pavement "and" dirt. The FireCrosses are deadly slow on the road, even inflated to the maximum 85psi. They have an aggressive, widely-spaced motocross-style tread and hum like a 4WD tyre on the tarmac. I wanted the fattest tyre possible for a couple of mountainbike races next year so I'm happy with the purchase, just wondering if there is a fat alternative that performs better on the road. I have put on some cheaper Vittoria 35c rando tyres since these photos were taken and it's rolling a lot faster now.<br /><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2uZlY6A8uQndzOgE9aztKZm6J7eWX6aj2geRbThuV01wOrXIJuGLDhjsFVxDL-1wMg4Jb0xTQL3nio8scXiR137o9kV0p8mohtgYB8ebheU8PRCPU3P1qjMxMGxaMFOA3o9y3asQ-llU/s1600-h/700x45C.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 231px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2uZlY6A8uQndzOgE9aztKZm6J7eWX6aj2geRbThuV01wOrXIJuGLDhjsFVxDL-1wMg4Jb0xTQL3nio8scXiR137o9kV0p8mohtgYB8ebheU8PRCPU3P1qjMxMGxaMFOA3o9y3asQ-llU/s320/700x45C.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392768005099122434" /></a><br />The Paul brakes are very powerful compared to the old Shimano canti's on my Avanti commuter. In the dry they feel as strong as the discs on the Pug but maybe with a little less modulation. </div><div><br /></div><div>The bar-end shifters are taking a little while to get used to. Shifting is easily accomplished but I still have to think about each shift if you know what I mean, not intuitive yet. I hope that comes with time. </div><div><br /></div><div>More pics when I can ditch the kids and if it ever stops raining. That could be easier said than done.</div></div>Antoinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11660064402070508807noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4257211936407872461.post-19242118084845519922009-10-08T02:45:00.000-07:002009-10-09T19:45:15.181-07:00Fact: Mountainbiking is more fun than working.<div><br /></div><div>I had a day off work on Thursday as it's school holiday time and after shipping The Midget Assassin off to daycare the boys and I headed out to Woodhill for a ride in the forest. Spring in Auckland has been very wet and I was determined to make the best of an overcast but dry day. </div><div><br /></div><div>We normally ride with other families in our street but it was nice for a change just having the three of us. It would be better still if the girls could join us but at three The Midget Assassin is still on training wheels. As it happened we met up with some friends at one of the trail-heads and rode with them for a while.</div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKTsjBVRH8s-oG4uWfUjNHnQDI0IbDZtVfBDrCAPu-rM5wk2Ild8vVW_pm5stpc_9gfpvfqvjIbe3t38PdMIdO-QwYQuM7Lt7lM2r1Ha4vmYSbK9Yvzsuz6E3gSDHQlkswudZ_kZO08TA/s1600-h/Woodhill_Carpark.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 243px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKTsjBVRH8s-oG4uWfUjNHnQDI0IbDZtVfBDrCAPu-rM5wk2Ild8vVW_pm5stpc_9gfpvfqvjIbe3t38PdMIdO-QwYQuM7Lt7lM2r1Ha4vmYSbK9Yvzsuz6E3gSDHQlkswudZ_kZO08TA/s320/Woodhill_Carpark.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390166380253011346" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><div style="text-align: center;">Someone needs a bigger bike<br /></div></span><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimKbkFLhKQd3ZFly_J7wlc3v9FD5NYEMjrR53ILhteyzqpacHAkLz3JRWqR-br3uP2Tc50Ex4tfwsw6QRt2PgpvFC8ttJcmxtoc-7crlW0uqZ23mDuZ8skb7reV4d4IsIekOuigMup2aA/s1600-h/Thing1_Woodhill.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimKbkFLhKQd3ZFly_J7wlc3v9FD5NYEMjrR53ILhteyzqpacHAkLz3JRWqR-br3uP2Tc50Ex4tfwsw6QRt2PgpvFC8ttJcmxtoc-7crlW0uqZ23mDuZ8skb7reV4d4IsIekOuigMup2aA/s320/Thing1_Woodhill.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390166369076128226" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Thing-One led the way on the structures</span><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzJkTSNcir4p2MGyy6DwWMUa5HSi8E2U-asDfxHfk6lau8y0VtIVawT6IXi6hzSpZbvDTG501TBTplOawF59QimU4kFSyLJ0Q_e0dQ8d2rCxmZxZuVzNmritj4mDjOmI-JNOY87tr4_UU/s1600-h/Woodhill_08_10_09.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzJkTSNcir4p2MGyy6DwWMUa5HSi8E2U-asDfxHfk6lau8y0VtIVawT6IXi6hzSpZbvDTG501TBTplOawF59QimU4kFSyLJ0Q_e0dQ8d2rCxmZxZuVzNmritj4mDjOmI-JNOY87tr4_UU/s320/Woodhill_08_10_09.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390166362748387378" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">I managed not to hurt myself...</span><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxLn50AoCazqsdjntjYl8bqL7iOPw0LDgfWzL38PK09a4r2B01-Y4TerEL7rxcZOZ3e8J_eFjm75-Fkc0S3J8C-vQf5jMyxQ0UUGjUg1eLbLKC6kw3SDcHFgiumZuJ2i1__6cg6CJGIfg/s1600-h/Dancing_Fool.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxLn50AoCazqsdjntjYl8bqL7iOPw0LDgfWzL38PK09a4r2B01-Y4TerEL7rxcZOZ3e8J_eFjm75-Fkc0S3J8C-vQf5jMyxQ0UUGjUg1eLbLKC6kw3SDcHFgiumZuJ2i1__6cg6CJGIfg/s320/Dancing_Fool.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390166352603290674" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">but the youngest rider preferred dancing.<br /></span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>When I mail-ordered the last parts for the Cross-Check I got some flat BMX pedals for the Pugsley. Most of my riding is around the neighbourhood or along the beach and I don't need to be clipped-in. It's nice just jumping on wearing whatever footwear you happen to have on at the time. The Crank Brothers Mallets I had on there are a platform style with the "eggbeater" mechanism in the middle, but they were never comfortable with casual shoes as the eggbeater sat proud and you could feel it through the sole of your shoe. The new ones are Magnesium Wellgo MG-1s and they are very light and comfortable. Not so good on the fast and bumpy stuff but it was nice not being clipped-in when riding the structures.</div><div><br /></div><div>There's always a groan when I say we're going cycling. I live in hope that with dad being such a fanatic the habit would catch-on but the boy's bikes sit in the garage for weeks at a time until I bribe them into a ride. Once we actually get going however they never fail to have a good time so they might pick-up the habit when they get a bit older. </div><div><br /></div><div>When I was their age my bike and skateboard were tickets to freedom and I couldn't wait to hit the streets. I would ride just for the sake of it with no particular destination in mind - I still do!</div>Antoinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11660064402070508807noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4257211936407872461.post-83618462469065734882009-09-26T02:21:00.000-07:002009-09-26T02:44:38.178-07:00"My name is Pugsley and I am an alcoholic."<div><br /></div><div>Pugsley was getting a little jealous with all the fussing over the new Surly in the family so I included a Niner YAWYD top-cap with the final mail-order of parts for the Cross-Check. </div><div><br /></div><div>The casual observer will now be more convinced than ever that I have a drinking problem. </div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_8IVYPcNU45zi9PHc9ZuAUFx-9VmUYThRqxcf_3cfDbxipUPhbq55fPpfJsdcwYIV_MDYQv8ZfXl7D6zrw7CmDUPCSlrLlzhxHJABSx-5YcGgHSbs3JkJ-8KLzvVtqqSm7TdCTucP5TM/s1600-h/YAWYD.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_8IVYPcNU45zi9PHc9ZuAUFx-9VmUYThRqxcf_3cfDbxipUPhbq55fPpfJsdcwYIV_MDYQv8ZfXl7D6zrw7CmDUPCSlrLlzhxHJABSx-5YcGgHSbs3JkJ-8KLzvVtqqSm7TdCTucP5TM/s320/YAWYD.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385705505151737874" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><div style="text-align: center;">Y.A.W.Y.D. (You Are What You Drink). Until I can find a half-Danish, half-English beer brewed in NZ with a purple cap this will have to do.<br /></div></span><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizFLGfbR9EDdDGfzWMu_7K331LZDx7ZxShXm55FTiSxkkq-Soe4A9wWHstMOBfmNzmX6o_QibrgI1XzDt7s6kCnG4lR37PoLp_o6GIXS_Ro8HSor2sk0iMdnA8DKkPhkHye-9jmEgDLug/s1600-h/Spaceman.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizFLGfbR9EDdDGfzWMu_7K331LZDx7ZxShXm55FTiSxkkq-Soe4A9wWHstMOBfmNzmX6o_QibrgI1XzDt7s6kCnG4lR37PoLp_o6GIXS_Ro8HSor2sk0iMdnA8DKkPhkHye-9jmEgDLug/s320/Spaceman.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385705494856291762" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Ahearne Spaceman Flask Holster. Got this for the NZ Singlespeed Champs last year.<br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUeh8aRx0a5kDfmen9aABePDxfeIhPklesAq_06VXrOukor-_zX_vCNoE2zDgyV5nRxmuVhpJ56PtmireRAgt5_On1HZ_N2wdKC8B-t1f7hZLhFzKvNtOM62mFJiUFHCH-nAscyFRulcE/s1600-h/Tuggnut.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUeh8aRx0a5kDfmen9aABePDxfeIhPklesAq_06VXrOukor-_zX_vCNoE2zDgyV5nRxmuVhpJ56PtmireRAgt5_On1HZ_N2wdKC8B-t1f7hZLhFzKvNtOM62mFJiUFHCH-nAscyFRulcE/s320/Tuggnut.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385705488968350018" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Surly "Tuggnut" chain-tug and bottle opener was part of the original build. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Heavy but works well.</span> </span></span></div></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizEWmkCFhgscOOKQiRiY5ojYAyy35gRxzMwuKM2IkUMSYjvozzXylmS4DItakc5FhN2UM6V1zWQiugN-Tdf0gULcmFHYT2xLBchudAZ6Hw0tO1BOboyrAc2VnG-DNdsX2Ga6kqeMIs0yc/s1600-h/Shadow_Pugsley.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizEWmkCFhgscOOKQiRiY5ojYAyy35gRxzMwuKM2IkUMSYjvozzXylmS4DItakc5FhN2UM6V1zWQiugN-Tdf0gULcmFHYT2xLBchudAZ6Hw0tO1BOboyrAc2VnG-DNdsX2Ga6kqeMIs0yc/s320/Shadow_Pugsley.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385705476804441506" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Float!</span><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Antoinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11660064402070508807noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4257211936407872461.post-18781375098800475812009-09-22T15:27:00.000-07:002009-09-23T02:31:05.349-07:00Surly Cross-Check all but done<div><br /></div><div>The longest bike build in history is almost complete. With the exchange rate being so good against the U.S. at the moment I purchased the last components I needed with money I don't have. </div><div><br /></div><div>This is the first time I've assembled a bike from scratch. I've just worked at it methodically at night and don't think I've stuffed anything up. The wheels were built for me and I had my LBS install the headset but I've done everything else myself. I don't particularly enjoy the wrenching part but there is a certain satisfaction to be had from it and I am saving money in the process. </div><div><br /></div><div>Only a few hiccups along the way: </div><div><br /></div><div>- The only front brake cable-hanger I could source in "silver" has no barrel adjuster so adjusting for cable-stretch will be a bit more fiddly. </div><div><br /></div><div>- I cut down the "long" brake cable inner when installing the front brake then was doubly stupid when I rushed out to the LBS to purchase another one when I had a spare in the bike cupboard that came with my secondhand bar-end shifters!</div><div><br /></div><div>- I can't get the rear derailleur indexing properly. This is not the first time I have failed indexing school despite trawling the internet for how-to's. The gears work perfectly in "friction" mode so I will have another go later or visit the bike shop as a last resort.</div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixhb6ZRvU9bidGWfpnZYr-z7n7x_NcyY6ZlbKCMpfFEES35zZuoqdkvYRrNF-KVf45z7-yKcBT64V6SLb7phN5vQ5-VqX-cR0OQnQG8qrPCh-cDyF6jWZz6DTfSEX1ocDbaaRDYkL4buc/s1600-h/Bike_Workstand.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixhb6ZRvU9bidGWfpnZYr-z7n7x_NcyY6ZlbKCMpfFEES35zZuoqdkvYRrNF-KVf45z7-yKcBT64V6SLb7phN5vQ5-VqX-cR0OQnQG8qrPCh-cDyF6jWZz6DTfSEX1ocDbaaRDYkL4buc/s320/Bike_Workstand.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384423384309950594" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><div style="text-align: center;">My "work-stand". I'm sure when I get a proper bike workstand it will be one of those "why didn't I do this 15 years ago" moments like when I bought a track-pump for the first time. They are very expensive in NZ and impractical to mail-order so I am making-do for now.<br /></div></span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEIH28Dl-By499nUH7YjQbOGgWX6hhyphenhyphenofznWOIJJzKXI9lug4KUlTpFstfD224NqmxdfMYher0KuuIJDDwanlASa4LsruGq_C4m-jVx16zhJFOGS3WzCpDFBOpChbqhYXXZ_MpzPvl-K4/s1600-h/C-C_Brakes.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 236px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEIH28Dl-By499nUH7YjQbOGgWX6hhyphenhyphenofznWOIJJzKXI9lug4KUlTpFstfD224NqmxdfMYher0KuuIJDDwanlASa4LsruGq_C4m-jVx16zhJFOGS3WzCpDFBOpChbqhYXXZ_MpzPvl-K4/s320/C-C_Brakes.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384423394815765010" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Setting-up the drop-bars and controls. This was new territory for a mountainbiker and I won't tape the bars until I'm sure everything is in the right spot and comfortable.</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0hc3BmqKghP7YSYHol9Ct4QBUQu_67jhMEZ5hGxJ3RZBO_7QCECfDWxeK7nWYqzreGZJiGgz7NavgeLIcOLnLAts4bHk-Lkb6zU09_9U-W2skIb9g7ivefip2WDI4v0CocBDl2CDRBb8/s1600-h/C-C+Shakedown.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0hc3BmqKghP7YSYHol9Ct4QBUQu_67jhMEZ5hGxJ3RZBO_7QCECfDWxeK7nWYqzreGZJiGgz7NavgeLIcOLnLAts4bHk-Lkb6zU09_9U-W2skIb9g7ivefip2WDI4v0CocBDl2CDRBb8/s320/C-C+Shakedown.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384423401577512514" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">The "shakedown" ride around the block and through a nearby park. Feels light and FAST.</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>The Cross-Check rides beautifully but I am a bit stretched-out and the bars are lower than I would have liked. I will see how I go but a post with no set-back will be in the next parts order. </div><div><br /></div><div>I kind of expected the bars to be a bit low as my legs are ridiculously long. Even on a big frame like this there is a lot of seat-post showing. Short of a custom frame there is not a lot I can do about this. If it had a threaded fork I could use a long quill stem but I like the strength and convenience of the threadless kind. I could extend the steerer with one of those clunky after-market bolt-ons (which I don't think I can buy locally) or I could buy a weird looking high-rise stem like they use on trials bikes. </div><div><br /></div><div>The riding position is fine on tarmac and not as much of a drop as on a modern road-bike. It's only when riding technical stuff off-road that it becomes a problem. The budget is used up for now anyway. Down the line I could always have a custom stem made with my exact measurements in mind. Fillet brazed steel with a built-in cable hanger sounds just right. </div><div><br /></div><div>So now I have a new road-bike, touring-bike, commuting-bike, city-bike, trailer-puller, cyclocross racer and geared-mountainbike and it's all the same bike ;^)</div><div><br /></div><div>If it stops raining I'll get out there and ride it.</div>Antoinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11660064402070508807noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4257211936407872461.post-29178684686706370702009-09-07T01:33:00.000-07:002009-09-07T02:35:14.091-07:00Spring Sprang<div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnRhyphenhyphenm_s3lNcrj1iBrPoaqnVCuU4Loo_t1hQx3y0DcmdDgtXSM-o_YREYk5YyFyrpkYuyJqNf9oVfScvxpylkq-owWNZQ3_shaQ2HNPrEMnQSpMagBH7PA-u6zTF1cjLRmO-WbTWrejtk/s1600-h/Spring+Trailering.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnRhyphenhyphenm_s3lNcrj1iBrPoaqnVCuU4Loo_t1hQx3y0DcmdDgtXSM-o_YREYk5YyFyrpkYuyJqNf9oVfScvxpylkq-owWNZQ3_shaQ2HNPrEMnQSpMagBH7PA-u6zTF1cjLRmO-WbTWrejtk/s320/Spring+Trailering.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378648997194039506" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">The Road-Train arrives at Castor Bay</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>We are having some fantastic weather lately in Auckland. After a particularly wet winter it's nice to go for a ride on a fine day and leave the raincoats at home. <div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJjrHuD4GlrF8-o0UZguMIh_K2eVufZMDqjKriybwSAgpNKO1zwLcIJljMa8_snTjJefhPqo7O8HRdunuM56jEqEDdkr_1M-sLg62Sf9neNx1uoY0tKp08PJ23jIxI8SX5m0VRV4AGBX4/s1600-h/VeloFashion.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 236px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJjrHuD4GlrF8-o0UZguMIh_K2eVufZMDqjKriybwSAgpNKO1zwLcIJljMa8_snTjJefhPqo7O8HRdunuM56jEqEDdkr_1M-sLg62Sf9neNx1uoY0tKp08PJ23jIxI8SX5m0VRV4AGBX4/s320/VeloFashion.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378649656932029922" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><div style="text-align: center;">Dresses herself - I am not responsible!<br /></div></span><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>Today (for no other reason than it would be a crime to not go for a bike ride) the Midget Assassin and I went to the beach for a picnic morning-tea. We live 500 metres from a perfectly good beach but it's hardly worth harnessing-up the trailer for that, so we headed over the hill to Castor Bay instead. </div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj87-oPSm6tpRHOdjLGomKMVndU0AvmnpeK4N0H4k_Biq8lmln9oIAS_XRg2dPcjJC92htQprf26ijuL6HXSj9n1ZUyToj5mZzOxI3xvAsrkXwtSJhfcvH5R_3ZaKmecQLgArLRXEDYiI8/s1600-h/Beach+Picnic.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj87-oPSm6tpRHOdjLGomKMVndU0AvmnpeK4N0H4k_Biq8lmln9oIAS_XRg2dPcjJC92htQprf26ijuL6HXSj9n1ZUyToj5mZzOxI3xvAsrkXwtSJhfcvH5R_3ZaKmecQLgArLRXEDYiI8/s320/Beach+Picnic.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378650670327415282" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><div style="text-align: center;">Only 16ºC today, but warm in the sun and perfect conditions for cycling.<br /></div></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>On of the great things about living in New Zealand is there's hardly anyone here. Even in a city of one million we had the whole park, playground and beach to ourselves. Sitting in the sun looking out at the harbour, eating and drinking with your daughter - life is just too hard sometimes. </div><div><br /></div><div>I took the long way home so I could get a bit of a work-out on the hills and we stopped in at a local butcher to pick up some dinner. On days like this you feel very lucky to be out and about riding a bike. It makes a potential chore like shopping a pleasant experience.</div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDMbYHU-8YXKkMMlDSaj0xWGcnWkZmXnRp_aFNkR8KXb2x6HGmDBux9XtfLJYxCtDW_6IW3Bujxhv1Umq_Cj5BlmPAhyphenhyphenZ2K3TfZZLZ73InWYcaIkpz2lUH2w76xCSsFkXEBFL_NmVZA8E/s1600-h/Dinky+Panniers.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 234px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDMbYHU-8YXKkMMlDSaj0xWGcnWkZmXnRp_aFNkR8KXb2x6HGmDBux9XtfLJYxCtDW_6IW3Bujxhv1Umq_Cj5BlmPAhyphenhyphenZ2K3TfZZLZ73InWYcaIkpz2lUH2w76xCSsFkXEBFL_NmVZA8E/s320/Dinky+Panniers.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378650680610075154" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">My new (to me) Dinky Panniers</span><br /></div></span><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>A friend of mine mentioned that a local Hospice opportunity shop had a pair of saddlebags for sale. I've been looking for a secondhand pannier on Trademe (NZ eBay equivalent) since I started commuting, but nothing decent at the right price has turned up yet. It's a bit hot in the morning for a backpack so I've been wrapping mine in my jacket (to keep the straps out of the spokes) and bungying it to the rack. This is a bit of a hassle and it's not practical to stop and get something out of the bundle if it starts to rain for example. </div><div><br /></div><div>The saddlebags turned out to be quite small but I bought them anyway as the price was right, it was for a good cause, and I don't need to carry much to work anyway. As it turned out a larger pannier would not work on this bike as I had to mount them at the rear of the rack to stop heal-strike on this compact MTB frame. </div><div><br /></div><div>They had their first proper outing today and it was very convenient having a handy place to stash all my stuff. These ones are semi-rigid like little oval hat boxes and the lids fit snugly with velcro holding them shut. Just what you need for diving in and out of without having to deal with straps and buckles. </div><div><br /></div><div>Of course I look like even more of a dork now, but at my age I'll take comfort and convenience over vanity anytime.</div></div>Antoinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11660064402070508807noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4257211936407872461.post-84976443335712958952009-08-27T14:06:00.000-07:002009-08-27T14:17:18.119-07:00The Morning After<div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1SXIEXhiE6du5VhoGToOZTpkRsbM3zxH_938OTkcY-oTxukEHnjaGBhtDSqUUKBw89NW1_UbO3i8pEwWffd09nlYtXndqT-gYVGvICx0NSEOrfmWaLO8ebp7rNx4UlkD3A-AlsJaONFc/s1600-h/600px-Smiley.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1SXIEXhiE6du5VhoGToOZTpkRsbM3zxH_938OTkcY-oTxukEHnjaGBhtDSqUUKBw89NW1_UbO3i8pEwWffd09nlYtXndqT-gYVGvICx0NSEOrfmWaLO8ebp7rNx4UlkD3A-AlsJaONFc/s320/600px-Smiley.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374755110548533138" /></a><br />I'm in a happier place this morning. The sun's out, my clothes are in the washing machine shedding mustard and I survived <a href="http://ibikenz.blogspot.com/2009/08/road-rage.html">Murder by Burger</a> last night. <div><br /></div><div>I think you need to have just worked a 14-hour day and be pumped full of adrenaline to beat someone to a pulp. If I get bacon & eggs thrown at me in an hour on my way back to work I might just take note of their registration number instead.</div>Antoinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11660064402070508807noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4257211936407872461.post-77827015546068756502009-08-27T05:25:00.000-07:002009-08-27T05:42:35.093-07:00Road RageI've just got home after half an hour riding around my neighbourhood trying to find the little shits that threw food at me and just about knocked me off my bike riding home from work tonight. <div><br /></div><div>It's not the first time I've been hassled. I've been yelled at and had bottles thrown at me, but you almost expect that when you're out riding around town at midnight. This was much more dangerous as I was going close to 40kph and they slowed down very close to me to take aim. I got a hell of a fright.</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">So if by some strange coincidence the offender is reading this I suggest you don't do it again because if you get stuck in traffic this time I'm going to drag you out of the car screaming like the little coward you are and beat you to a pulp you miserable little fuck.</span></span></div>Antoinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11660064402070508807noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4257211936407872461.post-77527232019730736012009-07-10T22:29:00.000-07:002009-07-12T03:54:30.795-07:00Ergon GE1 Review<div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwlYrR4aJ15SyeaPFuGbjy598nnVC37fsAKincDEfHiRt2Xd-krII_Z9lrY8uH3bUgB7DZwUuUWeuY-SRfDtFBsO7Ng745lc0KifA2rvOhkidQWvvgl65AQDzSldmZFC1FFXVCQpoZZ94/s1600-h/GE1-L.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwlYrR4aJ15SyeaPFuGbjy598nnVC37fsAKincDEfHiRt2Xd-krII_Z9lrY8uH3bUgB7DZwUuUWeuY-SRfDtFBsO7Ng745lc0KifA2rvOhkidQWvvgl65AQDzSldmZFC1FFXVCQpoZZ94/s320/GE1-L.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357074001838375474" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><div style="text-align: center;">A whale dies for each display-card produced<br /></div></span><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>I just re-read my <a href="http://ibikenz.blogspot.com/2009/06/ergon-ge1-ergonomic-grips-initial.html">initial impressions</a> and fell asleep half way through, so I'll keep this one brief. <br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Thanks to fellow blogger <a href="http://retroride.blogspot.com/">DB</a> I've been trying out the small size over the last fortnight as I had come to the conclusion that the large size was a bit big to use with gloves. I've been out to Woodhill a couple of times with mixed results. Super-comfy with my polyprop glove-liners but when I got hot and took those out they felt a little small and harsh on the bumpy downhill stuff. This was purely a sizing issue and may not be a problem with the suspension forks that most people run. I had lots of control for technical riding and I like they way you can slide your hands inwards against the flange for an alternative hand-hold.</div><div><br /></div><div>What I liked:</div><div>- Comfortable</div><div>- Well made</div><div>- Really easy and quick mounting with the single clamp</div><div>- Quirky looks</div><div>- Wide grip area</div><div><br /></div><div>What irked me:</div><div>- The packaging is totally over the top</div><div>- The clamp is a bit bulky (Slimmed-down on the updated model)</div><div>- No medium. Underwear doesn't just come in large and small. </div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">As Ergon states on their </span><a href="http://www.ergon-bike.com/us/en/product/ge1-team-edition"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">website</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">: "The </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">sculpted shape better distributes the load away from the nerves entering your hand. It may not look revolutionary, but the effect is noticeable."</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">My grandmother always told me that things come in threes and I've just won a third pair of Ergon grips in a </span><a href="http://www.flickr.com/groups/got_lights_on_bikes_photo_contest/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">photo competition on Flickr</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">. Hopefully they send me a pair with "wings" as I'd like to see if they'd work for me with the sweep of my bars.</span></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBeADu5sn0p5rtaK-wnW-Kr4N9WmBUIiyYhOZ5VUEevqpWVR7p1HjJ0uT_Tjj0Zvz03V64nhuDNdLSG8DCTYuDJo1kPcRmQpuGpE5gTVQ9fdIYGr8rmTj3SB279iSJLDm8K4JV4jduVDU/s1600-h/DSC02891.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBeADu5sn0p5rtaK-wnW-Kr4N9WmBUIiyYhOZ5VUEevqpWVR7p1HjJ0uT_Tjj0Zvz03V64nhuDNdLSG8DCTYuDJo1kPcRmQpuGpE5gTVQ9fdIYGr8rmTj3SB279iSJLDm8K4JV4jduVDU/s320/DSC02891.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357074355182926034" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><div style="text-align: center;">Woodhill testing ground<br /></div></span><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaYZZcQtXikCp49rWegdOI8FGUJpwd4nZlqsvweEMB5qZcKAeik1zo6qlbeTdB-axIXULUKGmMIEeaE8LAbif9-PZH3ndKYcwsmmA9bHEDR0DSjmRvoPwmo09rtvtSqrA9afG7QBK8mqo/s1600-h/Pug_Woodhill_2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaYZZcQtXikCp49rWegdOI8FGUJpwd4nZlqsvweEMB5qZcKAeik1zo6qlbeTdB-axIXULUKGmMIEeaE8LAbif9-PZH3ndKYcwsmmA9bHEDR0DSjmRvoPwmo09rtvtSqrA9afG7QBK8mqo/s320/Pug_Woodhill_2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357073997265459586" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Testing finished and heading for home</span><br /></div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLRWHfgas1FP87yq845ZbVjA3TmIL0tkfx4p9Pq6LdAAXGpb6HYvrti3lt0RNEK7BVdUpU4cJ5_jR7fo_1uxC_TR03iymScW0AgyA9sonrjud_mtF7Ii-f1nyDrCx7HrZQ11YAK-pBrpA/s1600-h/Ergon+GE1.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 244px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLRWHfgas1FP87yq845ZbVjA3TmIL0tkfx4p9Pq6LdAAXGpb6HYvrti3lt0RNEK7BVdUpU4cJ5_jR7fo_1uxC_TR03iymScW0AgyA9sonrjud_mtF7Ii-f1nyDrCx7HrZQ11YAK-pBrpA/s320/Ergon+GE1.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357073991591089330" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><div style="text-align: center;">You don't want to lose that silver ring inside the clamps</div></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihJbBzVT-YafUUmwUgAfjdaHw6EjH7srbeMF3RUVVhAa2PvmroZpYiuOP0iN0qREcZqHOBepQ6AMyboCummljC0EM7_2dLwEMrs0jPBSOG9js06Vb8EFryUns_5WF7W62cizS2ZgNpzUA/s1600-h/SeeSaw+Antoine.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihJbBzVT-YafUUmwUgAfjdaHw6EjH7srbeMF3RUVVhAa2PvmroZpYiuOP0iN0qREcZqHOBepQ6AMyboCummljC0EM7_2dLwEMrs0jPBSOG9js06Vb8EFryUns_5WF7W62cizS2ZgNpzUA/s320/SeeSaw+Antoine.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357073985451053714" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><div style="text-align: center;">This is as high off the ground as I get</div></span></div>Antoinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11660064402070508807noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4257211936407872461.post-36682280331197035452009-07-10T21:35:00.000-07:002009-07-11T14:20:22.286-07:00Family Mountainbiking at Woodhill<div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9tIUTgbDqhvIUOIyFaGPdHJEaXG_kXagvacnP0CN7tknhESBCCFMVuPldKJw53L5sfHPKJIcDpv4OTEQHN9IcmZq0T4OyGFD6wrdpCEAEJDoDi64oc2U2JT6a3ASSmiRM5uZbfxIJvbU/s1600-h/TheMTBgang.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9tIUTgbDqhvIUOIyFaGPdHJEaXG_kXagvacnP0CN7tknhESBCCFMVuPldKJw53L5sfHPKJIcDpv4OTEQHN9IcmZq0T4OyGFD6wrdpCEAEJDoDi64oc2U2JT6a3ASSmiRM5uZbfxIJvbU/s320/TheMTBgang.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357155078069313730" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>As I've <a href="http://ibikenz.blogspot.com/2008/02/getting-dirty-with-neighbours.html">mentioned previously</a> there's no shortage of keen mountainbikers in our small cul-de-sac so every month or so a call will come out of the blue arranging a group ride. We always go to <a href="http://www.bikeparks.co.nz/">Woodhill Mountain Bike Park</a> as it's ridable all year round and the kids enjoy the man-made structures out there. </div><div><br /></div><div>As anyone with children will attest to, just about any organized activity will cost you an arm and a leg. That's one of the attractions of Woodhill for me, it's actually reasonably priced and that encourages me to go more often. For casual visits it costs me $6 as an adult, $4 for my 11 year old and my 8 year old is free. We take our own food so the only additional cost is the petrol for the 70km round trip. </div><div><br /></div><div>It's a good set-up with plenty of parking and toilets, a coffee hut and a shop if you feel like spending more money. My boys aren't keen cyclists but they enjoy the trails enough to tear themselves away from their Nintendos for half a day.</div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4iom8WpFlYLwxOg9FMm6zdMoefC3p6MOWhnCeXbBZfYApWHdsYAWTEKanK6D28OArcMbdHuazFYTZ7AC-MkcgQqzn77NLYKJ1mdLweN3QjDhxkG5rbMQrgP0EhbGxVE3M8xj50U-urm4/s1600-h/Finn_SeeSaw.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4iom8WpFlYLwxOg9FMm6zdMoefC3p6MOWhnCeXbBZfYApWHdsYAWTEKanK6D28OArcMbdHuazFYTZ7AC-MkcgQqzn77NLYKJ1mdLweN3QjDhxkG5rbMQrgP0EhbGxVE3M8xj50U-urm4/s320/Finn_SeeSaw.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357059684190511682" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Thing-One tackles the see-saw while we decide which trails to ride.</span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixNbd2ZtLsSRiHpZ_bArC6tn0I8Xs5vItD3A7uh1OHiL6siIYMT6zxPM12plFfVzzr5AihSe7Bbry13S_sI7ygcynLoqhteDbaIsyKVqpe3F46G2S9AN0yt-lYRn1soYQutQ0XBhch2fo/s1600-h/Hunter_SeeSaw.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixNbd2ZtLsSRiHpZ_bArC6tn0I8Xs5vItD3A7uh1OHiL6siIYMT6zxPM12plFfVzzr5AihSe7Bbry13S_sI7ygcynLoqhteDbaIsyKVqpe3F46G2S9AN0yt-lYRn1soYQutQ0XBhch2fo/s320/Hunter_SeeSaw.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357059671059969586" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">"I'll be damned if my big brothers going to do something I can't"</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">It's good, clean, healthy fun and until my daughter (The Midget Assassin) gets off training-wheels it's also a chance for a bit of male-bonding in the family. A bit of mud, sweat and blood is good for the soul.</div>Antoinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11660064402070508807noreply@blogger.com0