30th June 2009, Swan Valley, WA

Cyclo Sportif

My first tentative steps into organised road cycling with Woop Woop in the non competitive team Cyclo Sportif series. Cyclo is great in that it gives groups of friends, colleagues and training partners something to train for and do together (in matching garish lycra). It is easy to see why it is so popular and hundreds of people take part in every event.

I was a little disappointed with the course. We did five 15km laps of a very flat course in an area where there is plenty of scope for a long, scenic ride with some really good climbs.

The post race lunch was served at Midvale Speedome where there was a track race on. I didn't hang around and watch too much of it (after you have seen one man with enormous, shaved legs race around a 200m track you have pretty much seen them all) and the white water of the Avon valley was calling, albeit quietly.

22nd June 2009, Ngangaguringguring, WA

Killamunda

The Killamunda is an annual orienteering challenge tradationally organised by the previous year's winner. The format this time round was an adventure race combining running and mountain biking for individuals or pairs. Thus myself, Pete and Jo entered as a trio.

Four fun orienteering tasks were split up by some fairly straight forward, straight line mountain biking. The tasks were fun and required an element of brain power as well an pure navigational skills. This is probably where we went wrong. The final task was to complete the H1 course at Ngangaguringguring as part of the larger orienteering event going on that day.

Whilst our result may not have been spectacular we had a great day out. The race was physically challenging enough (30km of mtbiking, 4.5 hours total time) and hard enough whilst still having a large element of fun. Well done to the organisers. This should become a regular event on the callender and was better run, a more interesting course and far better value than many of the commercial races around.

08th June 2009, Wandering, WA

Wandering Around Wandering

It was WA’s turn to host the national Rogaining (like orienteering but longer and more painful) championships. This was held at the very aptly names Wandering, 100km to the south-west of Perth. This was my first rogaine but it is something I have been meaning to have a go at for a while, not least because it is ideal adventure race training.

After a couple of hours of highly scientific route planning we set out at noon to try and find as many control points as we could in 24 hours. Our strategy was to do a 50km loop and get back to the Hash house before we were too tired and tempted by bed and then get out and do another 40km loop. All was going superbly for the first 7 hours. We were moving fast, working well as a team on the navigation and finding all the controls immediately. A steep climb up a hill side covered in brambles saw us lose out bearings, miss a 100 point control and waste a lot of time. However we recovered well to get back to the Hash house at 00:30. Unfortunately the call for sleep was too strong and we got a 1 hour nap before fluffing around and eventually getting back on the course at 03:30.

The rest was mainly a painful slog battling blisters, upset stomachs, tired legs and minds. Much to Pete’s dismay, despite struggling for much of the night, I found renewed energy in the final hour and dragged him off to one final, senseless 10 point control.

Obviously the highlight was always going to be the Hash house (a 24 hour AYCE pit stop manned by volunteers) but the navigation and challenge was also fun. I still battle sleep monsters and I am no way fit enough or tough enough to go hard for 24 hours. There are 6 hour and 12 hour events and I can see myself having a go at these next.

20th May 2009, Perth, WA

Urban Max

Ages ago I did the Brownes Urban Max race with Pete. We were useless, repeatedly being overtaken by Lucy and Sarah and ultimately getting resoundingly beaten by them. It was good fun though and we made ideal team mates as neither of us could dance and we were both as retarded as each other.

I'm going rogaining with Pete this weekend. Please start searching for us around the aptly named Wandering region of WA.

17th May 2009, Goat Farm, Greenmount, WA

State Singlespeed Champs

To celebrate 20 years of PMBC there a day of fun racing was organised at the Goat Farm.

First up was the retro bike race. Sadly my fully rigid, singlespeeded Kojima with bear cage pedals only made it round one lap before pretty much falling apart. This gave me a couple of hours of relaxing, watching the downhill race, before the SS champs.

The handicap starting system seemed to a be a little random but kept you looking over your shoulder as to who was catching you. The first lap was ok and I kept in touch with Jason, who was unfeasibly on the same handicap as me despite usually racing Expert. The second lap wasn't so pretty as Mike Daws, who also started with us, passed me on the descent and then Simon Dec, who clearly didn't have a big enough handicap also went through. I was getting the feel for the course and the usual Goat Farm rocks and dust and actually quite enjoyed laps 3 and 4 despite, by now, having to push up the very steepest climbs. Tim Bennett got me on the last lap but a couple of retirements saw me 5th and well chuffed with that.

10th May 2009, Callamunda Camel Farm, WA

Build It and They Will Come

Myself and Owen spent the morning helping build the first section of the new Kalamunda Circuit mountain biking trail. When finished the KC is going to be 24km of sweetest singletrack, filled with jumps and bumps and berms. Most importantly to us it is going link up some of our favorite trails.

The 5km section we helped with is nearly ready for opening; they are only waiting for some cattle grids that are going to shake the die back off the bike tyres. Or something.

9th May 2009, Wrong Side of Rottnest, WA

Deep Dea Fishing

To celebrate Tom's birthday, Anna somehow got him out of bed at 0430 and we headed up to Hillary's for a day deep sea fishing. Well I didn't actually do any fishing at all as I spent the whole day hanging over the side of the boat providing flotsam to attract the fish. Despite wanting to die for nearly the whole trip I did quite enjoy the day and Andy caught an 8kg Dhuie which fed 25 people at the BBQ that night.

04th May 2009, Jarrahdale, WA

Kittys Gorge and Karnet Rock Ride

Fast Freddie from PMBC has a passion for exploring new trails and leading rides in the Serpentine valley, just to the south of Jarrahdale. Sunday was his biggest ride yet. 19 riders left the Jarrahdale pub at about 0815, with a few returning almost immediately realising that this was maybe not the ride for them. Immediately we were into some technical singletrack with loads of climbing and descending, rocks, logs, the works. Brilliant. After a short loop in Kittys Gorge we headed out along the Serpentine river, down a dangerously rutted, steep fire road and along more great singletrack. The fun had to end and we started climbing to the look out on the edge of the scarp. With the dry, loose conditions it was mainly a push but the view didn't disappoint.

Some fast gravel sections led us to the forgotten valley where giant tree palms in an oasis of cool amongst the parched bush. Some bush bashing lead us out of the valley. By now everyone was running low on water so we took a minor detour to Karnet prison to fill up our bottles. One final scramble saw us up and on the exposed rock top of Karnet rock; more great views and an even better descent off of the giant slab.

Some fast tracks took us down to Serpentine Dam and we zoomed alongside the green water for several ks. All that was left in the day was the horrible, pea gravel climb on the Munda Biddi trail to Jarrahdale and a well earned beer in the pub some 7 hours and nearly 70km since we left.

This was the first of many epics this year and has given me a real taste for big days out.

Latest photos.

28th April 2009, Kalgoorlie, WA

Kalgoorlie Boulder

A mere 7 hour train journey to the east of Perth is the mining town of Kalgoorlie. The first hour of the train is great along the Avon Valley. The next 6 through the wheat belt and finally into the gold fields themselves, less exciting.

Kalgoorlie is famous for its bars, skimpies and brothels. We did a brothel tour around the famous Langtrees 181 brothel. Some of the historic aspects were interesting, some of the themed rooms amusing but overall it felt quite seedy and sad.

A mere 180km to the north of Kal is Lake Ballard, a virtually dry mud lake, where Pommy artist Antony Ballard has scattered 51 statues. Surprisignly this was well worth the drive.

Last but not least is the mining. The museum was ok with a good view from the mine head but the real view was from the Super Pit look out only a km or so out of town. The Super Pit is as it sounds - a very large hole in the ground 4km long, by 1.5km wide and 500m deep. Big hole.

Latest photos.

22nd April 2009, Perth, WA

47 Days in the Wilderness

Ok, so maybe doing the Karri Cup with a hurty knee wasn't the wisest thing I've ever done but it's seems to be much better now and I'm back on the bike. In reality I didn't miss much mountain biking as it's still very much summer (ie too hot and sandy) and I have been busy with visitors.

It is great to be able to cycle into work again and start to make a dent on the 700km deficit in my 10k challenege, which was looking too easy anyway. All that the break has done has recharged my enthusiasm and given me lots of time to plan some good rides to do over the winter.

12th April 2009, Perth, WA

Fixamatosis

My fixie builds are breeding like rabbits at the moment. The latest is a beaut - a 1987 Colnago Mexico that I bought off a bloke at work. It seemed criminal to strip the Campag Record groupset off but the lovely cranks and brakes remain as well as a Cinelli stem and Ti railed Selle Italia Flight saddle. The oonly real change is the use of my On-one track rear wheel that moves from bike to bike.

Predictably enough the bike rides like a dream - as it should. This was one serious machine in its day and would be the nicest frame that I've ever ridden. I have reduced the gearing a bit from my last build. Here I am running 42:15 (75") whereas the green machine was 52:17 (82.5"). This is partly to help my knee re-hab but does make for a bike that accelerates much faster.

Eventually I will get the frame re-sprayed and possibly the forks re-chromed. At the moment I am just enjoying the ride.

Older news >>>