Proud supporter of two minute noodles

2011-04-05T20:36:00.001+08:00

2010-12-16T13:57:00.000+08:00

Polo Bike Check

2010-11-02T20:00:00.003+08:00

Having no uni and lots of spare time i spent my day rebuilding my polo bike. Changes include a new 22t freewheel and dual brakes.

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As for my "mogress", not much to say, day 2 and zero growth... i am not surprised.

Donations welcome

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Uni exams are next week, and I'm pretty sure TEE exams have started. Heres some motivation for you :)

thanks bobby

I'm Back

2010-11-01T14:54:00.002+08:00

Well, been back home for just over a month now and it seems like I did my trip years ago. Its weird to think that in a month of bike touring I could experience so much and have time fly so quickly, and a month back home it seems like I've been sitting in a time freeze where nothing has changed..

Back home, one of the most common questions I get asked is a straight up, "how was it?". God dammit, I know no one means any harm in asking it, but it is one of the most frustrating things for me because I simply can't summarise my trip into one sentence, or even one conversation. How do I summarise 4 months of travel and 8000km?

I guess my first response is a simple.. "Awesome". Then I expand by saying it was an experience of a lifetime, and good fun. meh, don't really want to get suckered into turning into a self promoting, stuck up traveller, so I leave it there unless they ask more about the trip. I guess I've been going through a little bout of Post Touring Depression. The first few weeks were tough, I had nothing planned, no job, barely spoke to any of my friends, I was in my own isolated turtle shell. Resenting my decision to finish my tour. The weeks go by, and you take little baby steps, I barely touched my bike, so I decided it was time to put it together and ride a little bit, I got my old job back and really love what I do best, bartending. I play POLO, god how I love polo, it keeps me going week by week... Theres still a ways to go, but it'll take time, I guess when you're out there living it day by day its a real shock to the system when you go back home.

I'd love to summarise my trip here, but I've pretty much written about it already, so I don't want to type it out twice. If you haven't seen it already, check out the day to day journal of my tour. I do drag on sometimes, but if you don't have time, just browse through the photos, almost every single one of them has a caption and you'll be able to get the jist of the whole tour by simple looking through the photos.

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In other news. This month I'll be trying my best to raise funds for Movember.
Here I am cleanly shaved and ready to go. If you know me well enough, you'd probably know that my facial hair grows at a breakneck speed... (sarcasm) ie. I'll probably end up with a little bit of fluff by the end of the month, but that doesn't mean I can't try. Its the effort that counts right?

Anyway, to keep this blog going, I'll try my best to post a daily picture of my "fluff". I've set my goal to $200, so if you'd like to donate, check out my MOSPACE and donate here. Every cent will be greatly appreciated.

that is all for now.

ciao

and I'm off!

2010-05-27T17:34:00.002+08:00

Well, today was my official "Day 1" for the trip.
Will be making some distance tomorrow and unfortunately won't be able to update this blog whilst I'm gone as I have committed to a Journal of my trip on CrazyGuyOnABike.com.

You'll be able to follow my ride either via my Twitter page which will just feature daily distances.. or my Journal (which won't be up to date but will have more day to day details) which can be found here.

peace out

-Prawi

delay in departure

2010-05-11T14:41:00.008+08:00

Been feeling really down lately so I went to the "Doctor" today. My dad recommended I go to a Naturopathic clinic for a more "in-depth" analysis. After a lengthy discussion on my health and lifestyle I ended up with some homoeopathic medicine to boost my immune system along with some good advice, I may have to delay my departure again! Oh well, don't want to leave without feeling 100%, so I guess I'll just have to be patient.

I may have to get my blood tested next week if I'm not feeling any better, not fun.

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I worked my last shift the other night, mixed emotions about that.

I think working in a bar/nightclub should definitely be in everyone's to do list before you die. I've met some awesome people, had a blast of a time and learned so many new things.

Fun promo work! Featured in Australian Bartender Magazine. hahah!
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ANYWAY, to less depressing issues.

I'm going to buy an iPod touch tomorrow for two reasons:

1) Don't think a radio will be enough to entertain me. My own music should hopefully ease the boredom.
2) WiFi internet & email for portable blogging without a laptop.

well.. that's the theory anyway. not sure what the WiFi availability is like around rural Australia... probably extremely poor, so I'm in it for the music.

an iphone is a little out of my price range, I'd be locked into a pricey contract; out in the middle of nowhere with no reception for 4 months, I'd potentially be wasting a lot of money.

*edit* Might just get a good old classic iPod...

*

2010-05-10T16:04:00.001+08:00

getting organised ain't easy...

2010-05-07T10:55:00.001+08:00

Equipment List

2010-05-03T19:11:00.009+08:00

A general outline to everything I'll bring. To be Updated.

Tools:
1x Leatherman JuiceS2: Multi purpose, compact, awesome.

-6,5,4,3mm Hex Wrench: I prefer having each individual hex wrench, easier to work with.
-8,10mm spanner: For rack, fender adjustment/tightening.
-Cassette Lockring Remover
-Chain Whip: Park Tool Pedal Remover/Chainwhip combo. Not 100% sure if I'll bring this, but will mainly be used to replace driveside spokes.

-Spoke Key: To true wheels
-Tire levers
-Presta to Schrader Adaptor: If my pump fails me.
-Pump: Topeak Road Morph

-Chainbreaker: Park Tool

-Grease
-Chain Lube

Clothing:
1x SS Icebreaker Merino Baselayer
1x LS Icebreaker Merino Baselayer
2x Outlier Ultrafine Merino Tee

1x Merino Wool cycling jersey
1x Ground effect "Two Timer" Windproof fleece winter riding jacket/vest.

1x Mountain Hardware Rainjacket
1x Ground Effect "Super Tanker" Shorts

1x Cut-off Jeans (latfh)
1x Themal Leggings
3x Underwear
1x SealSkinz Merino Waterproof socks
1x Winter Socks
1x Shimano MT60 MTB SPD Shoes (water proof)

1x dhb Merston Skull Cap
1x dhb Buff (dont know why I bought this... but hopefully it comes in handy)

1x Fleece Gloves
1x Fleece Beanie
1x Cycling Cap
1x Sunnies
1x Belt

Electronics
1x SPOT GPS Messenger
1x Freeplay Radio/light/Phonecharger
1x Canon IXUS 100 IS Camera
1x Mini Tripod
2x 8Gb SD Cards
1x 4Gb SD Card
1x SD Card Reader
1x Phone
2x Rear Lights

Camping Gear
1x Exped Downmat 9
1x GoLite Ultra 20 down sleeping bag
1x Silk liner
1x Tarp
2x 4L Water Bladders
1x One man tent
1x MSR Whisperlite
1x Toiletries kit

Spares/Miscellaneous
1x First Aid Kit
1x Shamwow: My Towel

2x Brake Cables
1x Patch Kit
1x Super Glue
2x Inner Tubes
Assorted Zipties
Assorted Spare Bolts
1x Sleeping Mat Patch kit
1x Brake Pads
1x U-lock
1x Whisperlite Maintenance kit

Final Touches

2010-03-31T16:25:00.009+08:00

Well I'm in a bit of a writing mood, I hope I don't bore you to death. Lets go.

How often do you get a "year off" to do whatever you want?

It came about slightly unexpectedly; I didn't do too well studying engineering at University last year and was put on one year academic leave. I get a year to do whatever I want, I don't think another opportunity like this will ever come up again.

I went for an interview with my student advisor to discuss my options. My first setback. I had none. I couldn't help but get distracted by one thought, "BIKE TRIP!", I sat there happily nodding my head and smiling, the advisor was a little apprehended by my enthusiasm for getting suspended, but I was in my own little world already examining all the possibilities for the year ahead. I walked out of the room without a question. Sad? No. Excited? YES. I rode home with a huge grin on my face, this year was full of potential.

I didn't know it then, but I wanted to do something big.

I looked into my bank account, $0.91. Shit, my second setback. Immediately I started working my arse off. I worked in a bar as a bartender, the hours left me nocturnal 4 to 5 nights a week. I set out to be the best bartender I could be, studying my workmates, learning new cocktails, increasing efficiency and developing my 'people skills', all in all earning more and more money as I got more experience. The harder I worked, the more money I earned. If I came home feeling exhausted, I had done my job well. As much as my parents hated this lifestyle, out late every night, I realised that every extra hour I worked would mean I could spend an extra day on the road.

As the money poured in, I spent all my hours during the day researching and doing my best to make the trip run as smoothly as possible. A budget was set, and now everything is coming together like clockwork. I joked around the idea of cycling around Australia before I left school. Its now actually going to happen. I can't really believe it.

Now, I'm having pre-trip anxiety, setback #3. Just when you think you're ready to leave, you begin to miss everything you already have, how good you have it, awesome friends, family, work, routine, life. I then tell myself that this is a once in a lifetime opportunity, if I don't go I know I'd be kicking myself for years to come.

(I'm going to miss Stacey too! )

The decision is set, I'm going, but not without another setback. I'm sick. Its this time of the year, its getting colder, riding at night... working nights. None of it helps. Had a cough, and now I've developed a sore throat with a bit of a cold. Been pounding Omega 3, Garlic and Multivitamin tables. I've been gargling anything I can to help it, cayenne pepper, salt, lemon, apple cider vinegar. I'm desperate! I may have to go to the doctor tomorrow if it doesn't get any better.

Anyway, hopefully I get over it quickly. I look forward to the trip ahead of me. May it bring good times along with the bad. I'm excited.

Heres how the bike is looking in its current state... still a little more work to do. She still doesn't have a name yet.

Just need to swap over some clipless pedals, chuck on the rear rack and give her a final tune up. She's nearly ready to go!

Update

2010-03-15T10:44:00.003+08:00

So things are coming together quicker than I thought, and so I've decided to set my departure date somewhere around May.

As far as purchases go, last week I received a new wheelset, fenders, bike computer, all necessary tools, tyres, rim tape, grips and chain. The bike is nearly complete.

When I purchased my new crankset, I bought a new front derailleur with it; it wasn't until last week that I had a look at it and thought to myself "How the hell do I attach this thing?". Spending a good ten minutes playing around with it and looking for an imaginary attachment for the derailleur, it turns out I have to buy a band on adaptor for it. Great, another item to put on the "little things add up" list.

I'll have a photo posted as soon as it's finished.

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ROUTE

It seems when I break the news that I'll be leaving soon, the most common question asked is "what route are you taking", and my answer will usually go along the lines of "dunno, across the Nullarbor I guess...", usually getting blank stares as if I'm an idiot unprepared for this trip.

The fact of the matter is, I don't want to follow a set day to day route with set distances pre-organised before I even leave, where's the fun in that?

I want to take it as I go, planning the route one day at a time with a small goal in mind. i.e. Esperance, Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane. This is not to say I haven't done my research; reading through Journals, books and articles I've managed to develop a rough route around the country knowing what to avoid, and things to check out along the way.

I also intend to go to Tassie for a couple of weeks, and once I reach Sydney, fly over to New Zealand and riding there for a month. If everything goes as planned (which I haven't planned yet), I should reach Brisbane just in time for the national bike polo championships. (oh how sweet that would be)

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CLOTHING.

Gah, this is starting to annoy me. How much is too much, how little is too little. Bought some merino wool ice breaker thermals as my baselayers, one short and one long sleeved. Then I plan on bringing some thermal leggings, a windbreaker, waterproof jacket.. and maybe a fleece jacket too. (or perhaps buy a windbreaker with fleece lining, that is also waterproof!!! :O ). (the concept of layering appeals a little more to me though)

okay, heres a list so far.
1x ss merino wool thermal
1x ls merino wool thermal
1x casual shirt
1x thermal leggings
1x shorts
1x windbreaker
1x waterproof jacket
1x fleece jacket

3x underwear (6 days worth, turning inside out)
1x thick socks
1x waterproof socks
1x long fingered gloves
1x fleece beanie

NOTE TO SELF: THIS IS IN THE MIDDLE OF WINTER (be realistic!)

Then again... The guys who "crossed the ditch" (my initial inspiration for this trip), only brought with them one pair of thermals for the whole trip. (I'd also recommend you buy the book and not the documentary, then buy the documentary if you loved the book)

Me reading Crossing the Ditch by James Castrission during our tour to Esperance.
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RADIO!

So previously I posted some radio that weighed close to a kilo, did a little more research and found something smaller which does the same job as the other. Freeplay Companion, charges via solar or dynamo crank, charges your phone, has a light and most importantly.. is a radio. (and weighs 200g)

At first, I asked myself, "WHY ON EARTH WOULD YOU PUT A LIGHT ON A RADIO?!" Then I thought to myself... wait a minute, If I could somehow attach this beast to my handlebars, THIS THING IS A SOLAR POWERED BIKE LIGHT. (sorry I'm a little high on caffeine right now, so the Caps Lock is starting to become more prevalent)

So I could run a light during the day for greater visibility points. This is the swiss army knife of all radios.

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RACKS AND PANNIAHHHHHHHS

Would love to cut down the bulk and run single front panniers, and a drysack on the rear rack. From the looks of things so far, this ain't happening.

Currently, I have a topeak alloy rear rack which has held up pretty well so far. The front rack I intend on purchasing is the "tubus tara". My bike doesn't have mid-fork-rack brazeon's, so that's my only concern at the moment. If anyone has information as to whether or not the rack comes with fork adaptors, that would be greatly appreciated.

Okay after 2 minutes of google research I've answered my own question.

(another thing to add to list of "small things that add up")

Thats it for now. Ciao

Sleeping Bag

2010-03-02T12:55:00.005+08:00

Finally took the plunge and bought a sleeping bag. The process took a while and I'm glad I didn't just buy something straight away. There are so many different manufacturers and types of sleeping bags on the market; narrowing down the product that you want becomes incredibly difficult and confusing.

First there came Down vs Synthetic
During the whole process, I switched between wanting a synthetic and down sleeping bag at least 3 times. In the end a -5 degree synthetic sleeping bag would do the same job as a -5 degree down sleeping bag, except it would pack larger and weigh more and therefore cost less (bad,bad,good). A down sleeping bag would be lighter, pack smaller and cost more (good,good,bad).

Of course, that's a big generalisation, but in my eyes, those three factors mattered the most to me, other factors such as getting the sleeping bag wet didn't bother me so much.

So I ended up allocating AU$250 to purchase a sleeping bag, which for this price gets you either
a) An awesome synthetic sleeping bag
or
b) An entry level down bag.

I came across a site which mentioned using down quilts instead of regular sleeping bags to save weight and I immediately began to research the idea of using a quilt. The Golite Ultra 20 down quilt kept popping up and so I began reading the reviews, it seemed no one could really say a bad thing about it.

The quilt matched my criteria, rated to -7degrees (although from what I've read, -7 is a bit generous), weighs ~540g, packs down to the size of a 1litre water bottle and costs sub $250. What? I want one!

The only problem with this damn bag is finding a retailer that had them in stock! (at a reasonable price) In the end, I bought one off Ultralightoutdoorgear.co.uk for $248 including shipping. So now its just a matter of waiting for it to arrive and testing it out.

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The last few nights I've decided to test out my brand new Exped downmat 9 for comfort. So far so good, I put it down next to my bed (leaving myself the temptation of a comfier mattress), but I didn't really feel the need to go back up.

It will take a while for me to get used to it, I tend to sleep on my side, and doing so on an air mattress is different to say the least. Hopefully I'll be tired enough day after day that I won't have to worry about how I'll sleep.

The inbuilt pump on the mat is simple and easy to use. Took me ~1.5 minutes to inflate.

Daily Expenses

2010-02-26T18:28:00.004+08:00

Found a handy site which estimates the amount of money you will need for a given bike tour.

You can find the site here.

Heres my quick guesstimate:

(click for larger picture)

So after some quick calculations I'll need roughly $26 a day including cost of flights/ferries/accommodation etc. Notice how much is spent on food! I guess I'd spend more in 'real' life.. which kinda scares me.. I don't want to look at my bank account and see how much I spent last year. Yikes.

This gives me more motivation to work harder, essentially every extra hour I work will give me an extra day to travel!

The small things add up

2010-02-10T12:59:00.003+08:00

Something to think about when setting a budget. There will always be little things you don't really think about in preparation, but eventually they all add up, weight wise and cost wise.

Soo, if I were to make a quick list off the top of my head:

batteries $10
inner tubes $20
extra tools (chainwhip, lockring remover, cone wrench etc) ~$100
sunscreen $15
towel $20
notebook $5
fenders $40
tires $60
lights $40
bike computer $60
new brake pads $30
new cables $20
toiletries $30

it all quickly adds up. $450 total for a list that took me 2 minutes to write.

*Edit* I should add that once you have most these things (and all the items in the previous posts below), the running cost of touring isn't too bad, and if you buy quality parts, you should really be set up for life.

So theoretically, when I get home all I have to do is wash my clothes, repack my panniers and I should be ready to go for another tour whenever I feel I have time.

2010-02-10T11:13:00.001+08:00

Tour thoughts part 2

2010-02-09T13:39:00.006+08:00

I'm not really one who keeps a daily journal, I'm pretty hopeless at writing. I'm thankful my web browser has spell check or else this blog would be riddled with typos, yet alone all my grammar mistakes.

After my last ride to Esperance however, I did manage to write a "THINGS NOT TO DO" list for my next trip... in typical Prawi form, I managed to lose it. So now I'm trying to think hard of all the things I could improve on.

I do remember riding the last 5 days without a map after we thought we left it at a service station, only to find it in the bottom of my brothers pannier bag when we arrived. Note to Self: Place map in same location every time.

I do remember our 1kg tub of Nutella being the best purchase ever (sarcasm?), as the trip went by I found new ways of mixing up my meals, this included but was not limited to:

A) Nutella x Jam combo

B) DIY Ferrero Rocher

C) Baked beans cheesy tomato! YES !

Despite being spoilt for choice when it comes to sandwiches (see picture), I really need to buy a stove.

pictured was my old tent, sleeping bag and sleeping mat; bulky gear did have its pros, the sleeping bag made an awesome seat!

I'm no cook, but... a stove will enable me to
a) Boil Water for safe drinking and make tea/coffee
b) Cook two minute noodles (YESSSSSSS)
c) Warm baked beans so it aint so cold out the can.

hmm, I think I may need to take a few cooking classes before I leave.

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Randomly came across this Video after researching down mats.

Its not very entertaining, but the product speaks for itself. Boils water incredibly fast due to some simple engineering with the use of a heat exchanger which, from the looks of it, increases the surface area which is heated thus increasing the efficiency of the stove.

Like a sleeping bag, there are so many different brands and models to choose from, I might take my time with this one. Probably not as essential because I'm a hopeless cook, but still worth some time and consideration.

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My last trip was quite rushed, and I managed to overlook a few things.
-I didn't bring a towel.
-I didn't bring any plates.
-I didn't bring any matches.
-I didn't bring a knife.
(I also slept with a fork by my side just incase any intruders came by LOL)

Personal security is another issue. I'm not really worried about it, but I don't think I should dismiss it.

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thats it for today.

Tour thoughts

2010-02-08T23:00:00.006+08:00

I'm planning a ride across the Nullarbor to Adelaide and perhaps continue further on to Brisbane.

The following are some random thoughts and needed purchases... some of it will make no sense, but will hopefully keep my thoughts on track:

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Having a hard time picking a sleeping bag. My intention is to start the ride late Autumn or early Winter, so I want a ~0 degree bag under 1.5kg. Light, Warm, Cheap... pick two! shit.

Just purchased a sleeping mat, Exped Downmat 9 rated to -40 degrees weighing in at roughly 980grams. Its filled with goose down and packs down super small. Sweet! ... now $200 poorer

With a good mat, I may not need such a warm bag... could be some weight saving benefits here. I could even get away with buying a quilt, something along the lines of a GoLite Ultra 20 quilt, essentially a sleeping bag with no bottom. The theory being that there is no need for insulation as your weight compresses the insulation anyway; with a -40 degree mat, this would make one epic combo.

Apart from that, my budget is around $250 for a sleeping bag. A purchase I don't want to rush, there's more than meets the eye when it comes to sleeping bag. Do your RESEARCH!

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Upgraded to a triple crankset. Made an impulse purchase on some Shimano Ultegra SL cranks here. 75% off and couldn't resist. Kinda have a little buyers regret as the gearing is nowhere as low as I want it (30/40/52)... hopefully they'll be some gail force winds which will allow me to use the 52t chainring! now $107 poorer

Thinking something like a 32/46 combo should be adequate for general touring around Australia. All depends on your rear cassette though... rode to Esperance with a single 42 chainring and survived (just), my lowest gear ratio was ~35gi.. which sucked on those long hills!

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Bordem, riding solo will be extremely boring at times, I need entertainment! A radio should make riding a lot easier. God bless ABC radio. Solar powered and dynamo capabilities would be ideal. Narrowed it down to this radio, just need to find a decent retailer with reasonable shipping prices.

The only downside to this beast is that it weighs 700grams... which is a little stupid since I'm trying to buy a sleeping bag sub 2kg and spend an extra $100 for every 200g I save. Buy a lighter radio maybe?

Set Budget: $80

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Clothing is another issue altogether. Havn't really started my research on this matter, but traditionally I would just wear cotton shirts with some $20 cargo pants... but I'm having second thoughts, sweat patches, stinky clothes and forever drying pants are undesirable qualities. Perhaps time for an upgrade my wardrobe.

These touring shorts by Rapha seem tempting.

What, 130 bucks!? Okay, might look for some other alternatives..

Set Budget: $90 for pants
$200 for 3 shirts

*EDIT* I should add that I am not looking for padded shorts, moreso shorts that are extra durable and have good drying/wicking properties. The tally of shorts I own that have holes in the rearside is starting to grow, which is why I'm thinking the investment in better shorts is worth it, otherwise I'd just wear some boardies.

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WHEELSET.

A definite purchase I want to make before I leave. My current wheels, as much as I love them (32h Mavic CXP33 laced to standard shimano hubs), are starting to die. Time to upgrade. At first I was thinking something along the lines of 36h Chuckers laced to Deore hubs.. but I've come to my senses, Chucker rims would be overkill! The worst place to have weight is on the wheels... so I better look for something else.

The dream wheelset would be along the lines of phil wood or chris king hubs laced to some double eyelet rim with dt swiss spokes... I would end up being 2 weeks salary poorer. No thnx.

So in the meantime I'm set to purchase something along the line of Mavic A719 or A319 laced to Shimano Deore LX hubs with DT Swiss spokes. I'm stuck between purchasing such a wheelset locally or buying online. I could buy the above combo here for $300 + ~$100 postage, which is dirt cheap! Id estimate such a wheelset, if custom made at my LBS to cost double that; seems to be the modern day dilemma these days.

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Having fairly overprotective parents means that paranoia sets in if I'm out for more than 3 hours. I happened to come across the perfect thing after watching a 4x4 tv show:

Spot Satellite Messenger, basically a GPS that allows friends and family track where you are anywhere in the world.. pretty sweet huh? It costs roughly $300 a year, I don't really want to spend any money on it, but hopefully I can convince the family to chip in and they can purchase it for me.

Spot Satellite Messenger = Peace of mind

Peace of mind = Priceless

soo... Spot Satellite Messenger = Priceless ?

better deploy some better sales tactics...

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Haven't payed much attention to the route I'll be taking, I definitely won't EVER want to ride the road that goes towards bunbury (Old Mandurah Highway?) ever again, it sucks balls, its dangerous and it sucks balls.. have I said that already? I got hit by a carpet that was hanging sideways off a Ute last time I rode down... and yeh.. it sucks balls. Too busy, to bumpy.. just... crap...

Think I might take the Munda Biddi trail down to Collie and ride east. Should be sweet...

as for riding across the nullabor, I think June is a good time to do it, its really the only time in the year when the prevailing winds go East resulting in what should be a slight tailwind all the way.

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Tyres?

32c Schwalbe Marathon plus... not sure if I want to go any wider or any smaller.

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That's all for now I guess... will update the blog as I make more purchases and increase my research and planning.

ciao!

Holiday Mode

2010-01-15T16:23:00.006+08:00

Early December, me and my brother rode to Esperance and arrived just in time to celebrate Christmas and New years. We didn't bring a stove and so we ate a shit load of baked beans and sandwiches, having the great luxury of having either peanut butter, nutella or jam. Yum. All in all it was a pretty fun trip and I hope to go longer and further next time. Across to Adelaide maybe?

The picture above was taken around Bridgetown where we both got our first taste of long uphills on a loaded bike. That day there were apparently some bush fires around the area hence the foggy background. I grew fond of the hills whereas my brother hated them and preferred the long straights (which I hated).

Yohei, who is also fond of hills, and just returned from Tassy. He documented his ride here. Looks like he had a blast!

As of late I've been in savings mode, working and sleeping, hoping to save as much as possible for an up and coming bike tour which could take me thousands of kilometres away from home however a destination and date of departure has yet to be determined. I'm slowly rebuilding my touring bike to make it as reliable and durable as possible.

do a skid bro

2009-11-30T22:19:00.003+08:00

Never gets old...

Now that I'm back.. I can't stop saying bro at the end of every sentence, which is fine till you say "thanks bruu" to your mumma.

Melbourne is an awesome city. The dudes there don't realise how good they have it. Their bike culture is simply awesome. Great people, great times. I still missed Perth whilst I was away though... i'm guessing it had something to do with the weather...

Melbourne!

2009-11-23T16:32:00.002+08:00

Well I'm off to Melbourne tomorrow morning.

5 or so hours of Virgin Blue, (Fun!), then a 2 hour trip to Torquay to celebrate my sisters birthday, then back up to Melbourne on Friday to represent Western Australia in the National Hardcourt Bike Polo Championships. (I just love the way that sounds) :D
The Championships also coincides with the Bike Film Festival which should be awesome fun. It also happens to coincide with the 20th anniversary of Critical mass... I've got a big weekend of biking ahead of me!

Cya =)

!!!!!

2009-11-18T15:00:00.000+08:00

Joel Weston from MACAFRAMA on Vimeo.

Sunrise after Work

2009-11-17T12:18:00.000+08:00

Product Review : Cycles Underground Chanring

2009-11-13T12:22:00.002+08:00

So around 6 months ago I was in need of a new chainring. I was searching all over the net for the best bang for the buck chainring. There are so many brands on the market; Dura-Ace, Sugino, FSA etc, but there was one chainring that had always taken my fancy.
Cycles Underground.

These guys are an independent Aussie company that make a variety of products including Tools, Chainrings and Frame Building Parts. You've probably seen some of their products before in the form of "Fyxomatosis Chainrings", which are essentially rebranded CU chainrings.

I don't really understand why people buy Fyxo chainrings when instead you could buy a custom made chainring from one of 12 designs, with any tooth count, at any bcd, at 3mm or 4mm thickness, for a cheaper price, with free shipping! Fyxo chainrings are $89, CU chainrings are $70! I guess the only difference is some cleaver marketing by Andy including many pictures that have made its way into my "bike porn" folder.

So anyway, I pretty much knew exactly what I wanted. I was looking for a 49tooth chainring, 4mm thick plate using design 10.

I read this on their website:

To order simply contact us and give us your name (we like to be a little personal) and basically the sizes you are after.

eg. 42T, 130BCD, 1/8", 3mm plate, Design7, Polished finish single side

And so I sent them this email:
Hi, I was wondering if I could get a: 49T, 144BCD, 1/8", 4mm plate, Design10, Raw Finish. Thanks Prawi

They replied within minutes, they pretty much said no probs, can I have your address and contact details. I replied, but never really heard back from them untill three days later when I came home and my chainring was sitting on my front porch before I had even payed for it!

Awesome. So I sent them email, and they said they were extremely busy and didn't get a chance to receive my payment. So I sent them the monies, and wha-lah time to put on my new chainring.

The first thing I noticed about this chainring was the thickness! 4mm, this is the beefiest chainring I have ever owned, the raw finish wasn't very "raw", it was nice and smooth and had a nice shine about it. No complaints in that department. So I went to put it on, and everything just went on nicely, there was a slight gap between the crank spiders and the chainring, ~0.5mm but I think this was part of the design process to accomodate slight descrepencies between different brands of cranks.

Next, time to take it for a spin. Wow, what can I say, suddenly my ride was dead silent and buttery smooth. Love at first ride. This is a truly quality item. Their cut is pretty unique, they claim to have a tooth profile with diameters a lot closer to the rollers on chains, which means they physically have more tooth than other brands which inevitably leads to a tighter fit minimising the chance for pre mature wearing of the chainring.

Now, from my experience, I don't really have any negatives to say about this product. I did quite a bit of research before choosing my product and I think the only thing that seperates a CU chainring to something like Dura-ace (which is more than double the price), would be material selection. Cu claim to use aluminium grade 5083, also known as armourplate. Their material selection is pretty unique, most higher end companies use 7075. So I think they chose 5083 as it offers the highest tensile strength without any additional costly processes such as heat treatment. Which is fair enough because 7075 aluminium alone is around 5 times the price of 5083. Material selection alone does not make a good chainring, to me, a rounder, longer lasting chainring is more important to whether it is 5083 or 7075. If its made out of the best material but isn't round, then it would be shit! Catch my drift? Cycles Underground claim to have one of the roundest chainrings on the market, and I'll take their word for it!

So I think I'll leave it at that because the 5083 vs 7075 debate can go on all day.. google it!

Although I don't have any personal negatives I have read complaints about their customer service. I had no problems at all, but because they are a relatively small company, I'm guessing they're pretty busy and must have a pretty large inbox. If you're interested in getting a product from them it would probably be best if you went straight to the point and asked them exactly what you want along with your contact details and address. That way, at least they'll know you're not just sending an email to waste their time.

6 months on, the chainring still feels the same as the day I put it on, I look forward to putting many thousands of miles onto it.

Overall I'd rate my Cycles Underground chainring 10/10.

The shot is on!

2009-11-02T10:40:00.001+08:00

The shot is on!
Originally uploaded by liam_baker_1980

Polo is on twice a week, Tuesdays and Sundays.

6:30pm start this Tuesday and 3pm start on Sunday.
Both at the Colonnade Carpark.

New players always welcome.

PerthCyclePolo.blogspot.com

Just arrived

2009-10-29T09:29:00.003+08:00

Brooks B17 saddle. Time to break it in.

FOR SALE: Thomson Stem, 110mm 5degree rise.

2009-10-24T16:31:00.001+08:00

$90 ono

One slight scuff but in otherwise good condition. Will post pics later.

Surly Steamroller

2009-10-22T10:28:00.002+08:00

Once you see it, you'll shit bricks.

Keep on Dreaming

2009-10-21T12:39:00.004+08:00

Been riding xcheck for the last few weeks in preparation for some touring this spring/summer. Jumped on the polo bike and completely forgot that it was fixed, shooting me up into the air. Reminds me of my first fixed ride.

I lost the tab attachments for my rear fenders :(
Don't think it will be raining anytime soon but you never know.. I've had sprinklers attack me many times.

The Fuga is sitting in the shed gathering some dust, waiting on some parts to arrive so I can ride it again.

The ladies Indi500 is still for sale. I have done a little bit of restoration, the chrome rims are shiny as ever, the paint is original and in awesome condition and the 3spd internal hub is running smoothly. Price has also been reduced to $350.

B43 wheel also still for sale. $300

Can sort some deals out for a reasonable price.

In other news, Perth Cycle Polo are playing twice a week, Tuesdays and Sundays. see perthcyclepolo.blogspot.com for more details. 3 others have ordered the EighthInch Scrambler frame so soon enough the Perth PCP crew will have matching bikes... how romantic.

Melburn Nationals in 40 days. I'm Pumped.

For Sale: Jerseys

2009-10-14T11:41:00.011+08:00

Awesome retro cycling jersey made by Gonso.

Fantastic pale blue retro colour and vintage design that looks superb.

The fabric is a hard wearing mix of polyester and wool.

Its in very good vintage condition and the colours are really nice.

A retro gem for out on the road or out on the town.

LABEL: S: BUT CHECK THE MEASUREMENTS BELOW!

CHEST (pit to pit): 15 inches (estimate 30-32 inch chest)

SHOULDERS (seam to seam): 14 inches

LENGTH (collar to hem): 26 inches

FEATURES

QUARTER LENGTH ZIP

WOOL & POLYESTER MIX FABRIC

CONDITION

Condition: VERY GOOD

$35

Amateur cycling team from back in the day.

Classic full zip retro club jersey from the eighties made by Aussie.

Strong colours and awesome logos on the front and rear

The fabric is a versatile mix of polyester and cotton.

Its in very good used condition; its slightly faded through washing but overall the colours are nice for its age.

A retro gem for your daily commute or weekend training miles.

LABEL: L: BUT CHECK THE MEASUREMENTS BELOW!

CHEST (pit to pit): 18 inches (estimate 36-38 inch chest)

SHOULDERS (seam to seam): 15 inches

LENGTH (collar to hem): 26 inches

FEATURES

FULL LENGTH ZIP

POLYESTER & COTTON MIX FABRIC

REAR POCKETS

CONDITION

Condition: VERY GOOD

$35

Or buy both for $60

Stems for Sale

2009-10-14T11:25:00.004+08:00

60mm Raceline BMX stem. $10
130mm silver generic stem. $15
$20 for both. (both come with bolts, not pictured)

Mens Advice Column

2009-10-12T19:28:00.002+08:00

Dear Sir:
I have never written to you before, but I really need your advice. I have suspected
that my wife has been cheating on me. The usual signs: phone rings but if I answer,
the caller hangs up. My wife has been going out with "the girls" a lot recently.
When I ask their names, she always says "just some friends from work, you don't know
them".

I try to stay awake and look out for her when she comes home, but I usually fall
asleep. Anyway, I have never broached the subject with my wife. I think deep down
I just did not want to know the truth.  But last night she went out again and I
decided to finally check on her. around midnight, I hid in the garage behind my
bicycles so I could get a good view of the whole street when she arrived home from
a night out with "the girls". When she got out of the car she was buttoning up her
blouse, which was open and she took her panties out of her purse and slipped them on.

It was at that moment, crouching behind my bicycles, that I noticed a hairline crack
where the top tube meets the stem on my Colnago.  Is this something I can fix myself
or should I take it back to the shop where I bought it?

The Two Minute Noodle Way of Life

2009-10-07T11:27:00.001+08:00

So there comes a time when one realises they need cash to support their habits.
In second year University im already close to having $20000 in hex debts.

So here is my step to step guide on living cheap.

1) EAT TWO MINUTE NOODLES
for less than 50c a packet, eating Mi Goreng for breakfast lunch and tea will save you a shit load of money, not only is it a money saver but its the greatest carb diet, with good levels of protein too. Screw msg, you're saving money right?

2) RIDE A BIKE
If you live within 20kms of your regular destination, then ride a freaking bike. Riding enables you to have your "30 minutes" of exercise each day, in a months time you'll notice a huge increase in fitness. The first week is the worst, you're arse will be sore and tender, dw, that will go away with time. After a month of riding you will have the arse of steel!

In the long term you can save a crap load of $. Mainly through fuel savings, parking tickets.. and general fines. If you're like me and don't have a car, this becomes more $ as you don't have to pay for rego and insurance.

Apart from that, you don't have to walk 2km's to get to your lecture, heck, you can park right next to most your lecture theatres.

3) GET A JOB!
ok, so you've probably realised that riding is now costing more than your car after you've decided to upgrade your tiagra groupset to dura-ace. Well this is where getting a Job comes into play, you need to support your habit. Make a resume, send it to everyone! A decent part-time job should pay around $18-25 per hour... work 5hrs a week and you now have 100 bucks cash to burn each week.

If you're riding to work, you're adding to your miles, so you'll notice an increase in fitness. Your freinds will now think you're weird.

4) EAT BETTER FOOD
so by now you're probably sick of Mi Goreng, the smell of it makes you puke and all you want is some quality food. Riding lots will make you hungry, well, now you've got some spare cash, burn that shit on food.. save the rest for your carb0n upgrades.

5) REALISE YOU NEED MORE MONEY
ok, so that Angus burger at McDonalds is emptying your wallet, you need to get stingy with food again, so heres what you do. Go to Coles and buy the bargain packet of Heinz baked beans. Screw heating that stuff up, grab a spoon and eat that stuff out of a can like a real man.

Protein levels are now drastically increased, these beans are good for the heart...now if anyone decides to draft you.. you know what to do... FIRE AT WILL!

6) Start saving
Hopefully by now you have the dream bike and no longer need upgrades, so you'll start to have spare cash in hand, put it in a fixed deposit or start investing..

7) Make stupid investments
So you started investing in bikes huh? well you know what they say.. the perfect amount of bikes is n+1 with n being the number of bikes you own.. so now you gotta support your new collection. How? The solution is simple, go back to step 1) and repeat the cycle!

FOR SALE: Handle Bars

2009-10-03T16:43:00.004+08:00

Assorted Flat bars

SOLD

FOR SALE: Indi 500

2009-10-03T16:33:00.006+08:00

For sale I have this INDI 500 ladies bicycle in immaculate condition!
The photo speaks for itself really.

Paint is in very good condition, its has literally been sitting in a garage its whole life.
Made by Kuhawara.

$450, or make an offer!.

*REDUCED to $350*

FOR SALE: Frames

2009-10-03T16:28:00.004+08:00

I have some frames which I need to get rid of.
All fo them would be great for fixed conversion!

SOLD

FOR SALE: VELOCITY B43

2009-10-01T23:37:00.004+08:00

Front White B43 wheel for sale!

Built these up and have barely used them.. less than 50 km, they need to go!

Specs are as follows:

-VelocityWhite 32h B43 Rim
-Black Dt Swiss Spokes
-Miche Primato Pistard 32h Hub
-Tufo rim tape

$300 ono.

This wheel is BOMBPROOF!

You get 100% quality when it comes to this build. DT Swiss spokes are recognised as the best spokes on the market. Miche hubs just keep on spinning. The Rim speaks for itself really. To top things off, this was hand built by Jack at Cycles Bespoke, he knows his shit!

Looking at the receipt hurts my eyes, you’re getting a deal!.

Will chuck in some Conti Gatorskins which retail for over $80 at your LBS.

Cheers

Prawza

ohh shit

2009-10-01T09:03:00.002+08:00

2009-09-29T13:40:00.003+08:00

PerthCyclePolo.blogspot.com

I think I've been racking up more miles going to polo and playing lately than anything else.
Last week we had 3 sessions, Thursday, Sunday and Monday.
We're hoping to increase the amount of sessions in the lead up to nationals.

Thursday 6:30pm start @ the Polonnade (Colonnade Carpark)

Polo BEAST

2009-09-25T13:01:00.002+08:00

THE POLO BEAST is finally complete!

It was so cheap, shipping nearly cost as much as the frame!

Handling is wonderful (for polo), quite similar to my old polo bike. Front 26" handles suprisingly well and almost levels out the top tube (frame has slight compact geometry). This thing is so fun to ride!

I've increased my gearing to 32-18 which makes the ride to polo that little bit more enjoyable, still crazy going down the slightest of hills.

All in all, perfect polo bike so far :D

The build:

Frame: EigthInch Scrambler

Wheels:
Rear: 32h B43 laced to miche primato, black dt swiss spokes
Front: 36h 26" mtb wheel (basically disposable for polo)

Saddle: Selle Italia Flite

Stem: Thomson Elite 100mm

Headset: Cane Creek S-8 (cycles bespoke topcap ;) )

Drivetrain: Sugino gp (32-18)

Seapost: Black Generic

Pedals: Time Atac Alium

Thanks to Jack @ Cycles Bespoke for putting it all together.

Perth Swap Meet

2009-08-26T23:12:00.001+08:00

PERTH BIKE SWAP MEET

2009-08-26T20:34:00.001+08:00

PERTH BIKE SWAP MEET

ROAD, TRACK, MTB, BMX, VINTAGE, RETRO, COLLECTABLE
ANYTHING BIKE RELATED!
BRING! BUY! SWAP! SELL!

SELLERS! CA$H FOR YOUR TRASH
BUYERS! PICK UP A BARGAIN

TRADE or SWAP ENCOURAGED!

Saturday 26th September – 9am-4pm
ARANMORE HALL
OXFORD ST + FRANKLIN ST
LEEDERVILLE

Sellers: $5 stall fee – set up at 8am
Buyers: welcome at 9am

2 Years on the Terrace

2009-08-24T22:52:00.003+08:00

2 Years on the Terrace
Journeys of a photographer with a fascination for two wheels

585 Wellington St, Perth. Friday 28th August. 8pm onwards.

bradserlsphotography.com
2 Years on the Terrace - Journeys of a photographer with a fascination for two wheels
Photo by PandaZam!

Cloudy Skies

2009-08-20T10:40:00.002+08:00

Saddle Bling

2009-08-13T09:14:00.002+08:00

Ash's saddle finally arrived yesterday:

"yeah yeah I know, a little over kill but only the best for this arse." - Ash

Stolen Bike

2009-08-10T15:53:00.003+08:00

Well its been a while since I've last updated this blog, I guess not much has happened between here and there. Just a lot of rain = epic fun to ride in.

Saw Jack today at Cycles Bespoke, going to get some new wheels laced up for the polo bike. I heard through the grape vine that Jack's going to organise a Halloween alleycat, so keep your eye's peeled on that. Last year's race was bloody awesome!

Bumped into Yohei on Mounts Bay road today and he informed me that Joels bike has been stolen. So please keep your eye out for it. Its a baby blue road bike conversion with silver rear deep V.
This is the best picture I have of it:

If you see this bike, lock it up and let us know. Yohei's email is okamotoy@hotmail.co.jp or call/text me at 0424 244 169.

In the meantime, Come Play Polo.

Tour

2009-07-25T12:15:00.001+08:00

Late nights, early mornings can take its toll. Its been worth it though. Great tour.

great set here

Perth Cycle Polo Locations

2009-07-13T14:00:00.001+08:00

AFL footy games for the next few weeks are on saturdays or away, which means we're back at the colonnade (388 hay st subiaco) until
Sunday, August 2 West Coast Eagles v Essendon (Subi)

Sunday, August 9 Fremantle v Port Adelaide (Subi)

Sunday, August 23 Fremantle v Essendon (Subi)

(these dates we play at 86 thomas st)

See Liam's great photo coverage of Perth Cycle Polo here.
Also be sure to check out PerthCyclePolo.blogspot.com

I CRASH PERTH

2009-06-26T20:55:00.000+08:00

Perth - Global Gutz

2009-06-22T07:49:00.003+08:00

Picture this:
heavy rainfall, gailforce winds, and no sunshine... good riding conditions?

YES.

Some dandy Facts:
-only 8 people made it to the start line
-5 minutes into the race, almost everyone crashed into the same curb...
-because of fact #2, Harry did the whole race (21km) with his front wheel rubbing against the brakes
-tail winds down Mounts bay, Adelaide terrace and Riverside drive are fun
-headwinds on the South perth foreshore are not so fun
-Brendan is the master of running away from cops
-Didn't see this, but I sure did hear it... turning off from kings park, Simon did a suicide plunge into mounts bay road.. accidentally unclipped, and all I heard was: BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP

cheers for a great race

2009-06-04T19:39:00.001+08:00

2009-06-02T14:26:00.000+08:00

Juliet Elliott - A stop-frame film from Charge Bikes on Vimeo.

hot!

Perth Cycle Polo

2009-05-31T22:42:00.003+08:00

Perth Cycle Polo from Prawza on Vimeo.

2v2 footage from this weeks session.

Also... PISS CORNER!

more at perthcyclepolo.blogspot.com

Shit Weather

2009-05-23T11:08:00.003+08:00

Long overdue rain. Finally.
Love this weather, had one of the slowest commutes riding into a headwind, then one of the fastest rides home with the tailwind. I reckon if I had taken my feet off my pedals, the wind would've pushed me all the way home!

Polo is at the colonnade this week, 3pm till late.

perthcyclepolo.blogspot.com

Random picture Friday

2009-05-15T14:43:00.005+08:00

Ms. Catlike, meet Mr. Protec.
Mr. Protec meet your replacement. No more sauna head for me.

Kaspar the wheelie master.

.
Stacey, I ride her long and hard every day ;)

Polo bikes aint meant to be pretty II

2009-05-08T16:13:00.002+08:00

The only excuse for making your bike ugly, Polo

Polo May 10th
Eagles are playing Melbourne at Subi oval this weekend so we will be playing at 86 Thomas at 3pm.

www.perthcyclepolo.blogspot.com

I like :)

2009-05-04T10:54:00.002+08:00

Alleycat 2nd May 2009

2009-05-02T19:45:00.002+08:00

By far the fastest race I've participated in.
This shot was taken on the terrace at ~40km/h. I had one chance to take it before the light, turned out pretty sweet.

Sunday Polo 3rd May 2009

2009-05-02T11:33:00.001+08:00

Come down to an epic afternoon of bike polo.

Starting at 3pm, finishing.. whenever, feel free to come down at any time. Free to play!
Bring down your bike and some refreshments, and prepare to have the greatest fun of your life!

We are playing at the colonnade carpark this week (map with photo can be found on the RHS of the page (summer location), its hard to miss, opposite Nando's on Hay street).

call/text 04 24 24 41 69 if you have trouble finding the place or want more details.

look forward to seeing you there!

-Prawza

ACMC 09

2009-04-20T19:54:00.002+08:00

Awesome weekend all round, highlight for me had to be the track meet, the Polo crew were all orgasmic about the polo court.. the courier boys were all orgasmic about the track.. and then there there was me.. pretty much having a double orgasm.

For one, the track was just breathtaking, the banks are so steep! Awesome fun to ride on.
Secondly, look at that polo court! It was freaking amazing to play on. Simply awesome.

Photos from ACMC can be found here:
ACMC Photos by PandaZam!
ACMC Photos by Ash
ACMC Photos by Kaspar
ACMC Photos by UrbanBicyclist

(anyone got pics of my skid fuck up?)

Teach them while they're young

2009-04-19T19:43:00.001+08:00

ACMC 09

2009-04-06T15:22:00.002+08:00

Can't beleive the ACMC Polo Tournament is starting this week.
Months of hard work and training have all led to this one weekend.

Can't wait.

Crazy Dispatcher Alleycat

2009-03-27T21:54:00.003+09:00

What a great race! Thanks for Brett for organising it and everyone else who helped out.

Say hello to your top three:

Tour memories

2009-03-26T20:31:00.004+09:00

I was looking back at a few photos and managed to find these. Really wish I could get out there and go touring again.

.. and yes, that is a fanny pack..

Kaspar

2009-03-24T08:04:00.001+09:00

Picture stolen from his flickr

Polo

2009-03-22T20:41:00.004+09:00

More at www.perthcyclepolo.blogspot.com

Polo bikes ain't meant to be pretty

2009-03-20T12:32:00.005+09:00

Say hello to my polo bike. All braze-ons left in tact for maximum damage (and future de-conversion). I'm pretty sure the front fork is slightly bent, and I desperately need a new 700c wheel with more than 24 spokes..

42/19 (~58gi) optimum gearing for full court polo.
Featuring some very.. very ugly, DIY crank bolt spacers.
Beautiful ain't it?

Mondayitis

2009-03-16T15:15:00.003+09:00

Its funny how 9 minutes on "snooze" feels like 2 seconds when sleeping.

Morning starts sometimes aren't the best, I broke my pump, lost my bike lock, couldn't find my keys and was late for Uni.. Murphy's Law at its best.

However, when the weather is this good, what's there not to love?

Not a cloud in the sky, bloody beautiful.

Sunday Fix/Polo

2009-03-16T14:50:00.004+09:00

Kaspar from Kasi Concepts brought back the "Sunday Fix" yesterday.

Despite the heat, Kaspar was pulling off some amazing tricks, I'm not very good at technically naming these things, but he pulled some amazing big spins, keo spins, wheelies and combos such as "nose pivot" thingy to slider. Also came very close to pulling off some footjam tailwhips (however you name it).

Had lunch at Kava, chilled up at the city car park, then rode to the Colonnade, where on the way I nearly managed to rear end a car. Ended up at the Colonnade playing Polo where we had a record turn out. Great day all round

Bike polo report should be up at www.perthcyclepolo.blogspot.com soon.

Pics from Sunday Polo

2009-03-08T20:59:00.001+09:00

more photos on my flickr

Alleycat 6/3/09

2009-03-06T21:01:00.009+09:00

This was it, today was Alleycat day. 6pm, leedy HQ.

As the day progressed, 6pm came closer and closer, I started feeling more and more butterfly's through my stomach. If this race was to be like any of the others, it would be jam packed with adrenalin pumped hard riding.

6pm was the meet-up time, however in courier fashion there were a lot of late-comers, I was just sitting there, thinking about the race, making sure my bike was not going to fall apart. The race ended up starting at around 7pm.

In this race, we didn't know how many check points there were, or how long it would be. At the start we parked our bikes around the round about, and had a 20m sprint to our bikes, where we would then see a sign with our first destination.

In the end, there were 4 checkpoints and endless different routes to follow.. (see map)
1. Leedy to Kingspark (outside someone's place?)
2. Entertainment Centre
3. Ferris Wheel
4. Elite racing cycles
Finish: Park down the road..

The first part of the race was a mad dash up to kings park, sprinting up thomas street I was so glad i had dropped my gearing from 80 to 70 gear inches. Got to the top, okay, turn around and headed back down towards the entertainment centre. I don't know why, but everyone thought it would be quicker to go the wrong way down hay street... the safe side of me decided it would be better to go the right way down murray. Well, sure yes.. but in order to get there I swear i had to go down one of the steepest hills I've ever been down. So im zig zagging down, losing hundreds of grams off my rear tire at a time, trying to maintain some sort of "safe" speed. At the bottom of the hill there were about 8 cars waiting to turn, oh shit.

I chose my line, looked to the left, sweet no cars, so sprinted through. Brad on his sweet "rust machine" came down to greet me as I was turning, hung a left at havelock street and caught up with a bunch of other dudes, then turned right onto wellington. In order to get onto wellington however, I had to run a red, and because the "proper lane" was full of traffic, a quick manoeuvre down the wrong side of the road was done. Of course, oncoming traffic was a slight problem...

Anyway, crossed the road after a couple hundred metres, then finally got to the Entertainment Centre, next checkpoint: Ferris wheel.

This was where i got a string of luck. I was kinda behind the pack due to my steep hill route...
I thought for a sec, and figured that going down Wellington then hanging a right at William st was my best option. For some reason, everyone else thought it would be quicker to turn right as soon as possible. I followed my gut instinct, and went my way, and was granted green lights by the Cycling Gods all the way to Riverside Drive.

I hung a left down Riverside drive. There I saw Rob going the same way, I was hoping to get a free pass thinking he had already gone to the check point. Of course.. he hadn't. So I cross the road trying to find the checkpoint sign at the bell tower. At this moment in time my heart rate was pretty much close to max, and I was breathing very heavily. Blood mustn't have been flowing to my brain very well, I realised the checkpoint was at the ferris wheel, not the bell tower! Luckily it was only a few meters away.
Last check point : ERC

So I headed down barracks, I don't want to be cocky or anything, but seriously, drop bars for the win! This was it, time to get into the drops, aero-position all the way! So I zoomed past a few people.. and there it was again, the Cycling gods were with me, I had green all the way down to ERC!

Last point: Park by Brisbane street.

I didn't know this was the last point, all I heard was "PARK, PARK!" and i screamed out a loud "F*CKKKKK!" thinking we had to go all the way back to the skate park in leederville. At this time my lungs were dying, and my legs were pretty much butter. As I rode down the street, I realised that the finish point was only a couple of metres ahead. YES!
There were only a few people that had finished, and after adding it all up, I had come 5th ! :D

At the finish point, my heart was thumping, my legs were aching and i was pouring with sweat. What a great race!

Unfortunately I couldn't hang around for long, as I had promised my brother that I would watch him in one of his final Volleyball matches for school. But even for the 10 minutes I was there, I heard some great stories already! One guy had apparently crashed into the back of a parked car, only to smash the rear window with his head! I was shocked, not with what he had done, but by the fact that his head did not have a single scratch (wasn't wearing a lid!). We were all discussing are different routes, our close calls etc. Such an awesome race.

Anyway, I'm not 100% about the official results, but it was a great race all round. Cheers to everyone who helped out and organised the race, was a great evening. Hope ACMC goes just as well!

A map of my chosen route: Ended up being around 8 km?

Don't forget bout polo on Sunday!

Few quick links:
Polo facebook group
Perth Cycle Polo official blog
Cog Cluster
*New* Kasi Concepts
Currently on holidays:
Too Poor for Brakes and Gears

Update

2009-03-02T16:15:00.003+09:00

So today was some public holiday.. no idea what it was.. but UWA thought it would be funny if they didn't make it a Uni holiday. So what did i do about it? I missed 4 lectures.

Instead, the "Elite crew" ( do they have a proper name? ) organised a group ride which was good fun. There was about 15 of us? We rode around the place, stopped for a few trick sessions and it was all up a wicked day of riding. Kaspar was killing it!

In other news, PCP have decided to go on a recruiting spree. So i've started up a facebook group which can be found here. I've also decided to post PCP adds on various Australian based forums, so if you play polo, it would be great if you check them out and post some wicked replies ;)

They can be found here and here,

This friday there is an alleycat. I think it is being organised by Wimmer, so info about that can be found on his blog, CogCluster.

Thats pretty much it for tday.

-prawz

In Polo news...

2009-02-22T22:00:00.007+09:00

Brad, Ash and many others have been away, or "busy".. so this weeks turn out wasn't so good. It was just me and Yohei, so we decided to cancel today's polo and head over to Scotto's.

Things should be starting up again next week, and im trying my best to get as many new people to come along. Everyone/anyone is welcome, we're a friendly bunch of guys and we wont bite. I'm always glad to see a new guy come along and have a hit.

Bike Polo is a great way to improve your bike handling skills, especially if you're new to riding fixed gear bikes, however anybike will do. Whether it be Fixed, Single Speed, Gears, Unicycle... polo is polo and is just a blast to play.

So for those that have no idea where the colonade carpark is, i quickly made a failproof map.. and finally found a use for streetview!

Just enter through the front, and ride the 8 stories it is to the top.. or you could be lazy like me and take the lift..

If you want more info, leave a comment

Polo 15th Feb

2009-02-14T17:41:00.002+09:00

Polo is on again as usual tomorrow.

Top floor of the Colonnade Car Park 388 Hay St. Everyone is Welcome, just bring your bike and some refreshments, polo mallets are provided.

:D

check out perthcyclepolo.blogspot.com and neinlives.com.au for more news and info.

Bike Check

2009-02-07T14:37:00.005+09:00

Bike:
Fuga Track

Handle Bars:
Generic Risers/Cinelli Criterium

Stem:
Ritchey Pro

Front Wheel:
Ritchey Aero Road laced to 24 hole low flange Miche Primato

Rear Wheel:
Ambrosio Excellence laced to 32 hole high flange Miche Primato

Crankset:
165mm Dura Ace/51t Sugino Chainring

Seat/Seatpost
Serfas saddle/Ritchey WCS

Pedals:
MKS Sylvans Pedals/Toeclips

Gearing:
51/17 (on that note, WTB 49 tooth chainring, 144bcd... getting sick of rotating my tyres every day!)

polopolopolopolopolopolopolopolo

2009-02-05T20:46:00.002+09:00

Sunday 8th Feb

4pm polo session at the Colonade. Everyone is welcome!

Top floor of the Colonnade car park 388 hay st Subiaco
perthcyclepolo.blogspot.com

Bike Polo 25 January 2009

2009-01-25T12:20:00.004+09:00

Bike Polo TODAY
Everyone is welcome. Meet at the Colonade 'top carpark' in Subiaco at 4pm. Check out perthcyclepolo.blogspot.com and neinlives.com.au for rules and guidelines.

Tour

2009-01-04T12:41:00.005+09:00

You may have read it on Yohei's blog, but whilst I was down south in Denmark, I was about to go fishing and out of nowhere I see Yohei riding towards me from a distance. Had I left 1 minute earlier, or 1 minute later, I would have completely missed him.

But yeah, a few months back me and Alex made the spontaneous decision to ride down south some time this holiday. Now its final, we shall be leaving tomorrow. We'll probably be following a similar route to Yohei but we still don't really know where we'll be going or for how long, I gota get back for Uni, and Alex has to get back for work, so that is all that is holding us back.

Below is what I'll be bringing and the workhorse that will be carrying it.

Perth... Hollywood Style

2008-10-23T16:53:00.006+08:00

Some pretty fail weather today, but hey... at least we got a big sign telling us where we live.

Bikes on a tree

2008-10-19T19:50:00.004+08:00

Late Night Joy Ride

2008-10-09T22:29:00.005+08:00

Ohh the joys of riding at night. Its just you, your machine, and the road... all working in simultaneous harmony. Perth is bloody beautiful at night, riding down the South Perth foreshore gives you the most spectacular view of the city, and on the right night when there's zero wind, the reflections off the river can provide an amazing view.

Thanks to the great laws making the Perth nightlife non-existent, there's no traffic to worry about, every light stays green and Perth is almost wind-free! There's no greater excuse to go out on your bike... and so I did, I went out for a casual ride from South Perth to the City, bumped into a few mates in north bridge then proceeded towards East Perth and then back home.

^^ farkin beautiful aint it?

Introduction

2008-10-06T23:01:00.002+08:00

Hi i'm Prawza and I'm a proud supporter of two minute noodles.

Its 2008 and it seems like last year's TEE exams were only yesterday, oh how fast this year has gone. I had plans for 2008, one of them was to ride around Australia solo, however this wasn't to be as my parents said "no" to the idea. I obeyed and 2008 didn't go as I had planned, but I can't complain.

So what have i done instead?
I've been at Uni, UWA to be exact. Currently studying Engineering/Arts and it aint too bad, through Uni you get to meet alot of people and learn new things, however I feel as if its almost a waste of time. I get through alright, I do my work, do my chores and get everything in on time but just don't feel the motivation to do anything. It's as if I'm in cruise control, following the daily chores of Uni life, wake up, eat some noodles, go to uni, go home, eat, study, sleep, wake up, eat some more noodles, go to uni, go home, eat, study, sleep. With 5 years to go in my degree, im struggling to find the motivation.

With these daily grinds however, there is one love in my life that makes this daily grind disappear. Uni is merely time that is spent in between my rides. I'm a bikeaholic. Way too much of my time is consumed looking at bikes, reading about bikes and riding bikes, when instead I should really be studying. I currently own 3 bikes.. and have a few frames lying about in the shed. I can spend a whole night looking at bikes on the net, and reading about the latest gizmo's and trends. When I'm at Uni, I find myself checking out other people's bikes during my breaks. As I get from A to B there are bike racks everywhere, and with rising fuel prices and summer coming around the corner, these are quickly filling up as I see more and more "fred's" around campus. I can honestly say, Perth is an awesome city in regards to its bike facilities, bike paths and drivers (though it may be debatable in some grey areas). One thing will never change though, Perth is bloody windy. Mounts Bay Road.. what can i say... its either your best friend, or worst enemy. I once caught myself reaching close to 60km/h going home on a tailwind, and have ended up 10 minutes late battling gail force headwinds. Rain hail or shine, i ride to Uni. Riding to me is a great time to think, it helps me release my stress, keeps me fit, saves the environment.. and has saved me craploads of money.

For those who commute to work, you may be interested in this comic, its based around cycling, and is truly a classic, www.yehudamoon.com heres the first strip of the comic:

Anyway back to Judging peoples bikes, I don't really care what they ride, so long as they're riding a bike.. right?... well yeah, they're doing their bit for themselves and the environment.. but its still good fun checking out their rig's. I can't help but pity those on their rusty K-mart bikes.. and sigh when I see a $2000 bike locked up with a $2 lock, and laugh at people who lock up their bike via their quick release seat post.. then druel when I see that Cervelo p3 carbon. You get the drift...

One thing I don't see however are fixed gear bikes, at Uni I can honestly say that I've only ever seen 3 fixed gear bikes parked around campus. It's weird to see Perth (im relating this to the FG population at Uni) soo far behind in regards to this "trend", fixed gear bikes has reached a cult status in places around the world like Japan and New-York, Melbourne's FG scene is red hot, and its spreading like wild fire around Australia. But I guess Perth is so secluded from the rest of the world it seems people haven't really opened up to it, I'm saying all this in spite of the fact that there is a bit of a scene here.. just in comparison to other places it may not seem so big and is still growing. It should be interesting to see how it pan's out in the next couple of years.

As I write this, I kinda realise that some of the stuff I've written makes no sense.. forgive me.. its my first post.

Here's a pic of my bike in its naked stage of life.. (its currently covered in stickers and sporting some bullhorns). If you ever see me, come say gday. I feel soo lonely in this windy city.

-Prawz