Just another blog...

2010-06-06T19:04:00.002+10:00

2010-06-06T19:04:00.001+10:00

2010-06-06T11:19:00.000+10:00

2010-05-27T21:06:00.002+10:00

Gold - so many brilliant details in this photo! The hat, Big Mig, crazy Banesto hair, its all there!

Winter project

2010-05-09T12:44:00.001+10:00

Gotta have something for the wife to ride... ;)

Love...

2010-04-21T06:37:00.001+10:00

Borrowed from here

2010-02-18T12:56:00.001+11:00

See more funny videos and funny pictures at CollegeHumor.

Oh Travis.....

2009-12-16T20:31:00.001+11:00

2009-11-11T17:30:00.007+11:00

Any queries - ash.onmtb@gmail.com

Felt Single Speed Jump bike
Psylo forks
Avid Juicy 5 brakes
Bolt up hubs
Hutchinson Pythons 2.2"
Truvativ parts
Small wear mark on chainstay from transit
Used as street play bike by XC rider, so not abused.

$400

Wheelset (sold pending payment)
Rear Shimano XT 9spd hub
Front Felt branded cup and cone hub
Disc specific Alex TD17 Rims
Comes with Hutchinson Bulldog tyres, 26x2.1 custom cut for mud racing
Pair $30

Wheelset (sold pending)
Cup and cone Felt branded hubs
Alex TD 17 Disc specific double wall rims
Straight and true
Comes with QR and rim tape
Pair $20

tires also available on request, can't be bothered photographing them all.

details, ash.onmtb@gmail.com

Items for sale - clear my shed!

2009-11-11T16:22:00.008+11:00

To all/any readers...

Please buy my stuff. Please. Or at least forward this to someone who might need some kit...! Look at these prices, there is nothing wrong with it, I just want to be sure to move it. Pick up a bargain, buy someone a present, got a commuter that needs love, hell just take it off my hands!! I want it all gone!

Any questions/offers
ash.onmtb@gmail.com

Sram Grip Shift SRT 500

Genuine original SRT-500 7 speed grip shift

Perfect for a themed bike or building a cheap commuter.

Great condition, strong detents and smooth shifting.

$10

Hutchinson Mosquito Tubeless tires (sold pending payment)

UST with dual compounds

Pair – unused

26 x 2.0

$20 for pair

Prodanti Chain cleaner (sold pending payment)

Still in packet, never used.

Hutchinson Rock x-Air

Unused, brand new

One only

26 x 1.75

Awesome mud tire to cut through muck, or pump to 80psi, add tioga tension disc and rock the retro!

Visionstick10 (sold pending payment)

10watt halogen globe

NiMH battery

Mounting, charger etc

Unused, still in box

Ideal for commuting

$30

Assorted seatposts $2 each

(left to right)

27.2, setback, 300mm

31.0 setback, 260mm

27.2 Straight, 300mm

31.6 Setback, 260mm

Genuine Avid Juicy rotor

185mm, 6 bolt

Little use, too big for XC use

Shimano XTR Ceramic V-Brake pads (sold pending payment)

Unused, still in packet

$2.50 per packet

Shimano Deore 9 Speed RapidFire Shifters (sold pending payment)

Fine working order, 9 speed.

Slight scratch on LH shifter mounting bracket top.

$15 pair

Felt ‘Carbon’ saddle (sold pending payment)

Ti Railed, plastic shell

Unused but some depressions into foam, no tears

Depressions should come out with use.

'Sport LX' Downtube shifter

ONE only

Need a restoration part??

Topeak Mt Masterblaster (sold pending payment)

Works, pumps..

XTR V-brake lever, tektro caliper etc (sold pending payment)

Assorted bits

SRAM x9 Shifters (sold pending)

Working condition

9 speed

$20

Avid Juicy Seven brakes (sold pending payment)

Comes with 165mm rotors, bolts and adaptors

Working condition, no problems

Pair $50

Felt Q850 (sold pending)

Size 21.5 or XL

Good condition, no cracks

Some scratching, chain suck evidence

BB in fine condition, comes with headset and Sync forks

$50

Seat bags

Zips both work, they hold things...

$2 each.

SRAM X9 front and rear derailleur’s (sold pending)

Comes with new jockeywheels

Working condition

Top pull front mech, 34.9 clamp size

Set - $20

Truvativ Stylo Crankset (sold pending)

Chainrings in good condition

BB bearings excellent

Some shoe rub marks

$40

Answer Alumilite bars

2.5” rise

Non-oversize clamp

$10

Truvativ Team Seatpost (sold pending)

Setback design

350mm, 27.2mm

$15

And I've got a whole box of tyres that all hold air, have tread and need to go somewhere other than the bin... They are not getting used, give them a new home!

Any correspondence needed - ash.onmtb@gmail.com

I had to laugh...

2009-11-11T06:47:00.001+11:00

After watching NWD 10, I was just looking around when I found this...

READ FIRST! before you build your own ramp!!!

Before you even think you want to build a ramp you must understand what tools are used for what and how to use them correctly. If you already built a ramp you can see what you did wrong, at least relate to some of these. Remember, use the correct tool for the job at hand...

DRILL PRESS: A tall upright machine useful for suddenly snatching flat metal bar stock out of your hands so that it smacks you in the chest and flings your beer across the room, denting the freshly-painted vertical stabilizer which you had carefully set in the corner where nothing could get to it.

WIRE WHEEL: Cleans paint off bolts and then throws them somewhere under the workbench with the speed of light. Also removes fingerprints and hard-earned calluses from fingers in about the time it takes you to say, "Oh sh!#..."

SKILL SAW: A portable cutting tool used to make studs too short.

PLIERS: Used to round off bolt heads. Sometimes used in the creation of blood-blisters.

BELT SANDER: An electric sanding tool commonly used to convert minor touch-up jobs into major refinishing jobs.

HACKSAW: One of a family of cutting tools built on the Ouija board principle. It transforms human energy into a crooked, unpredictable motion, and the more you attempt to influence its course, the more dismal your future becomes.

VISE-GRIPS: Generally used after pliers to completely round off bolt heads. If nothing else is available, they can also be used to transfer intense welding heat to the palm of your hand.

WELDING GLOVES: Heavy duty leather gloves used to prolong the conduction of intense welding heat to the palm of your hand.

OXYACETYLENE TORCH: Used almost entirely for lighting various flammable objects in your shop on fire. Also handy for igniting the grease inside the wheel hub out of which you want to remove a bearing race.

TABLE SAW: A large stationary power tool commonly used to launch wood projectiles for testing wall integrity.

E-Z OUT BOLT AND STUD EXTRACTOR: A tool ten times harder than any known drill bit that snaps neatly off in bolt holes thereby ending any possible future use.

BAND SAW: A large stationary power saw primarily used by most shops to cut good aluminum sheet into smaller pieces that more easily fit into the trash can after you cut on the inside of the line instead of the outside edge.

TWO-TON ENGINE HOIST: A tool for testing the maximum tensile strength of everything you forgot to disconnect.

CRAFTSMAN x 24-INCH SCREWDRIVER: A very large pry bar that inexplicably has an accurately machined screwdriver tip on the end opposite the handle.

PHILLIPS SCREWDRIVER: Normally used to stab the vacuum seals under lids or for opening old-style paper-and-tin oil cans and splashing oil on your shirt; but can also be used, as the name implies, to strip out Phillips screw heads.

STRAIGHT SCREWDRIVER: A tool for opening paint cans. Sometimes used to convert common slotted screws into non-removable screws.

PRY BAR: A tool used to crumple the metal surrounding that clip or bracket you needed to remove in order to replace a 50 cent part.

HAMMER: Originally employed as a weapon of war, the hammer nowadays is used as a kind of divining rod to locate the most expensive parts adjacent the object you are trying to hit.

DAMMIT TOOL: Any handy tool that you grab and throw across the garage while yelling 'DAMMIT!' at the top of your lungs. It is also, most often, the next tool that you will need.

So, with that said, BE CAREFUL OUT THERE

Grand sale grand sale...

2009-11-11T06:41:00.002+11:00

Massive bike clearance - parts and complete bikes.

Coming in the next day or two...!!

Help me, help you.

2009-10-17T08:37:00.002+11:00

You realise you aren't riding as much as you used to, when you can't work out what is hanging off the side of your helmet and pecking your ear...

Magpie season in spring, and I'm wondering what the hell is munching on my ear hole... I need to get out more!

2009-10-15T17:05:00.001+11:00

Every so often we need to be reminded that there are people who've done it before, and more than likely done it in tougher cirumstances, and possibly even done it better.

Ari Vatanen is case in point (skip the first minute)

2009-10-08T19:59:00.001+11:00

this blog sucks.

or as sager said, if it was a dog you'd take it out the back and shoot it...!

Evans wins worlds...!!

2009-09-28T06:54:00.000+10:00

Cadel Evans breaks Australia's world championships duck in Switzerland

From correspondents in Mendrisio, Switzerland
September 28, 2009

Cadel Evans ended Australia's long wait for cycling's coveted rainbow jersey when he won the men's road race at the world cycling championships.

Evans escaped a small leading group at the foot of the Novazzano climb on the demanding 262.2km course and forged ahead on his own to end the hopes of a handful of arguably bigger favourites.

He grabbed Australia's first gold in the event in six hours 56 minutes with Alexandr Kolobnev of Russia finishing second and Joaquin Rodriguez of Spain third at 27 seconds in arrears.

“The finish line is three kilometres away from my home away from home, so to win a world title here, after having seven world championship medals at home, none of which are gold, is quite exceptional given the bad luck I've encountered this season,'' he said.

“I'm very proud to win the first elite world championships for Australia.''

In a thrilling finale to the most anticipated one-day race of the year, former podium finishers, including Alejandro Valverde of Spain and Damiano Cunego of Italy, failed to shine.

The pair finished nearly a minute behind, with Spain's Olympic champion Samuel Sanchez coming in fourth and Swiss Fabian Cancellara on his wheel to claim fifth.

Evans did well to join on to the back of a nine-man group which formed as Cancellara drove the pace hard late on the way up the Acquafresca climb, the first of two and the most difficult on the 13.8km circuit.

And his well-timed burst took everyone by surprise.

He surged ahead with around 10km to the finish, to be followed by Kolobnev and Rodriguez, but Evans jumped away at the foot of the Novazzano they failed to respond.

“I had the legs and the power to follow Evans but when he attacked on that climb he left us trailing. He was just too powerful,'' Kolobnev said.

The fact that Valverde and Cunego were riding further back marking each other with Cancellara, ultimately gave Evans an extra boost.

After a mute celebration as he crossed the finish line, the Australian then let the emotions take over as he kissed his wedding ring, which he keeps around his neck, several times.

Although next year's world championships will be held in Geelong, where he lives for three months of the year, Evans admitted this local course provided his best chance to become world champion.

“This course suits me better than the one in Geelong and I think I proved that today,'' said Evans.

“It's also an answer to those criticisms that I've had, saying I never attack.''

Agence France-Presse

2009-09-26T22:12:00.003+10:00

Thumbs down...

Does this make you laugh as much as I did, or do I just have a broken sense of humour?

Hello summer...

2009-09-22T07:01:00.001+10:00

Not mine, but the ideas come-a flooding in..!!!

2009-09-14T22:05:00.002+10:00

I got an interesting email today about metal lathes...

I've been looking for a little while to try and find a small one to play around on, make some stuff up and fix a few things. So I got an email from an old family friend who's moved overseas and looking to move some of his old machinery.

Turns out he's got a Ward 2A capstan turret lathe, which looks something like this...

Now I know they don't make 'em like they used to, but I wonder if this thing would be a good idea for more...

To paraphrase the email I got:

...not a good first lathe.
....a few apprentices have died...
...no safety guards etc...
...will run forever..
...still accurate...
...free!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.....

Decisions decision...!

Anyone know anything about lathes??

Check out how they get to the finsih line!

2009-08-28T13:34:00.000+10:00

Can you imagine a mountain bike race finishing on a rooftop?!

Another week passes by...

2009-08-26T17:41:00.003+10:00

Flat out gettin 'er done!

2009-08-24T19:22:00.002+10:00

I have no idea what this is or why they do it, but what I do know is they are very very good at it.

(borrowed from Fyxomatosis)

Remember kids, alcohol and snow don't mix..

2009-08-18T18:58:00.000+10:00

Naked walker survives snow fall

A MAN is lucky to be alive after a late night stroll followed by a roll in Victoria's alpine region during the early hours of yesterday morning.

Police and ambulance crews were notified around 12.30am after a 21-year-old man from Oakleigh slid approximately 80 metres down a frozen embankment before colliding with trees.

The man was recovered by friends and was treated at the scene.

He sustained a varying degree of abrasions to most of his body as well as second degree hypothermia.

It is believed the man had been walking naked from the rear of Shamrod Lodge in Gallows Court, Hotham Heights.

Leading Senior Constable Ray Kinder from Bright police was surprised and said the man was lucky to be alive.

"It's pretty foolish and another reminder that snow and alcohol don't mix," he said.

It is not known why the man went for a drunken wander in near freezing conditions and was fortunate that he did not have to wait longer to be rescued.

"The alarming thing is, that a young girl died sliding down the exact same embankment some years ago," he said.

motor goes up and over

2009-08-17T19:13:00.004+10:00

So we got the whole moving thing out of the way without too many hassles, other than the fact we moved twice (out of one, into another for storage, then into our new place). Got the keys, and basically started pulling stuff out. The 'garden' pretty much ended up in a pile, followed by the carpet and the better part of the fireplace, and in the midst of all that there was some work on the new workshop taking place, and we even managed to get the engine back into the boat. Thanks to someone with a winch, and a bit of ingenuity, we got that heavy sucker back where it should be!

So, more workshop work to come shortly (like every night), then we start tearin bits out of the house. And I'm looking forward to getting back on the bike too, although spring is my least favourite time of year, so it could take a while... Wind, rain, sorta warm but not, there is no goodness there.

I'd show you more pics of the house, but thats not really what this blog is about, so sorry about that. ;) I'm sure you understand.

2009-08-06T20:37:00.001+10:00

Mooooving sucks

that is all.

Spring time at hotham already?!

2009-08-04T06:35:00.002+10:00

Sorry about the lack of audio, something about copyright and youtube, and I can't really be bothered changing it. Obviously the band I used are a little bigger than I realized... Anyway, its more of a quick cut up of some Elmo cam footage while I was messing around. I know now that a wide angle lens is the only way to go, and definitely shooting in sunlight is a benefit!

questions about an internet connection..?

2009-07-28T06:32:00.002+10:00

I'm moving house shortly and want to get a better internet connection...

Currently I'm on with Internode withg 20gig download at 1500kb/s

And I want mooore!!

What are my options to increase stuff without increasing costs...!? Or am I on a reasonably good thing. I'm wondering about cable - who'd be a decent provider? Someone suggested the option of signing up for Foxtel on one of their 'deals' then putting the box in the cupboard and using the cable, but surely the line rental would be dear?!

ADSL 2might be a go'er?? What do other people use??!

thanks in advance for any help ya'll can give me...

Current Plan	HOME-1500-Advance
Current Charge	$59.95 Monthly
Service Rollover Date	05/08/2009
Current Line Speed	1500/256 kbits/sec

Psychotic...

2009-07-23T21:36:00.000+10:00

Hello Aussie....

2009-07-19T21:47:00.001+10:00

Oh. my.god. - Parkour gone mental!!

2009-07-08T19:40:00.002+10:00

The most amazing clip I've seen in a very long time!

This guy... Woah... Watch it, nuff said.

(pinched from Snowy)

2009-07-08T07:13:00.001+10:00

How the bloody hell do people stay up for the tour?? I tried to get up to watch the last hour, and all I remember is the astana boys riding in a paceline for about 15 seconds... Then nothing. Then I woke up cold and went back to bed...

I suck at this spectating thing :)

The beauty of 1000 frames per sec

2009-07-02T06:08:00.000+10:00

Hispeed camera MX training session from David Coiffier on Vimeo.

Anyone seen some similar footage, but with motorless bikes, ie MTB's? I'd love to see the flex and shock movement in a similar format.

More madness from the wombat!

2009-06-30T22:17:00.000+10:00

2009-06-28T20:16:00.002+10:00

Silly boys will be silly boys...

Hell of a fun day tho!

Grinding away at it all...

2009-06-25T06:38:00.002+10:00

From this

To this...

Grinders are dangerous. But now its a walk through boat.

Got talent?

2009-06-22T20:28:00.000+10:00

2009-06-19T18:42:00.001+10:00

Help a mate out.

First guess only, vote for a new logo for him.

Do it now, like right now..!!

http://www.how-random.blogspot.com/

Vote on the right, photos on the left.

GO!!! Do it now!!

2009-06-17T20:17:00.001+10:00

There is a new coffee drink available in Ascot Vale.

It's called the "Des Moran Espresso".

It's three shots, costs tuppence, and it's guaranteed to blow your head off!

Carl Williams.

Tool steel coffee tamp...

2009-06-17T06:15:00.003+10:00

(sorry about the rubbish photo, its early!)

I think I've made close to my ultimate improvement!

A tool grade steel (hard as @#$%) coffee tamp!

With thanks to the guys at Glenmount Auto for the lathe tutorial and help, its turned out pretty well!

Is this the beginning of the end? Either I've totally lost my s%&# or this is so damn outasight cool!

And amusingly enough, it actually changed the flavor of the coffee so it *actually* does something other than sit on my bench and be a conversation piece!

Now, whats next! (and this time its not out of tool steel! Damn that stuff was hard!)

Happy friday

2009-06-12T07:37:00.001+10:00

"Its not an adventure till something goes wrong"

2009-06-11T10:47:00.000+10:00

Ken Block - at it again!!!

2009-06-10T06:33:00.004+10:00

Ken Block - at it again!!!

2009-06-10T06:33:00.001+10:00

Wish I could have done this...

2009-06-09T22:49:00.000+10:00

I used to work at a transport company for a while, and whilst it was a crap job surrounded by many horrible chemicals, I did get to drive one of these!

But I could never do what this guy can...

2009-06-04T06:24:00.003+10:00

Woah...

2009-06-02T06:34:00.000+10:00

Some interesting Top Fuel dragster facts
Pretty interesting stuff here!

Some interesting Top Fuel dragster facts:

* One dragster's 500-inch Hemi makes more horsepower then the first 8
rows at Daytona

* Under full throttle, a dragster engine consumes 1 1/2 gallons of
nitro per second, the same rate of fuel consumption as a fully loaded
747 but with 4 times the energy volume.

* The supercharger takes more power to drive then a stock hemi makes.

* Even with nearly 3000 CFM of air being rammed in by the
supercharger on overdrive, the fuel mixture is compressed into nearly-
solid form before ignition. Cylinders run on the verge of hydraulic
lock.

* Dual magnetos apply 44 amps to each spark plug. This is the output
of an arc welder in each cylinder.

* At stoichiometric (exact) 1.7:1 air/fuel mixture (for nitro), the
flame front of nitromethane measures 7050 degrees F.

* Nitromethane burns yellow. The spectacular white flame seen above
the stacks at night is raw burning hydrogen, dissociated from
atmospheric water vapor by the searing exhaust gases.

* Spark plug electrodes are totally consumed during a pass. After 1/2
way, the engine is dieseling from compression-plus the glow of
exhaust valves at 1400 degrees F. The engine can only be shut down by
cutting of it's fuel flow.

* If spark momentarily fails early in the run, unburned nitro builds
up in those cylinders and then explodes with a force that can blow
cylinder heads off the block in pieces or blow the block in half.

* Dragsters twist the crank (torsionally) so far (20 degrees in the
big end of the track) that sometimes cam lobes are ground offset from
front to rear to re-phase the valve timing somewhere closer to
synchronization with the pistons.

* To exceed 300mph in 4.5 seconds dragsters must accelerate at an
average of over 4G's. But in reaching 200 mph well before 1/2 track,
launch acceleration is closer to 8G's.

* If all the equipment is paid off, the crew worked for free, and for
once NOTHING BLOWS UP, each run costs $1000.00 per second.

* Dragsters reach over 300 miles per hour before you have read this
sentence.

* Top Fuel Engines ONLY turn 540 revolutions from light to light!

* The redline is actually quite high at 9500rpm

* To give you an idea of this acceleration, the current TF dragster
elapsed time record is 4.477 seconds for the quarter mile. This means
that you could be coming across the starting line in your average
Lingenfelter powered "twin-turbo" Corvette at 200 mph (on a FLYING
START) and the dragster would BEAT you to the finish line FROM A DEAD
STOP in a quarter mile distance!

2009-05-31T21:18:00.003+10:00

Off to the high country on the weekend, having a ball in the sunny weather.

Found this amazing canyon out the back somewhere. When I see the good photos of it, I'll find some to post, but until then, this'll do.

Musta been a special on silver cruisers...?

2009-05-21T06:21:00.003+10:00

if it looks like this blog hasn't changed much recently, you'd be right as there is too much else going on...

Boat works are in full effect this winter, soaking up heaps of time, as well as another new toy but more on that later. The boat will be like new come summer, so a few sacrifices are having to be made in order to make that happen, as time is one thing I can generate, money however always seems to be limited. So late nights it is.

I'll post up some before and after shots of what we are doing, give you all something to waste time on at work, k?

And seriously, how good is this!!

2009-05-17T21:37:00.001+10:00

2009-05-17T21:37:00.000+10:00

Just a little more...

2009-04-29T22:19:00.003+10:00

I had this great video of an offshore race boat cornering (in oat cam shot) and it catches a roller, and the crew gets flipped straight out quick as a flash.

But I can't find it again.

So this will do for now.

2009-04-20T21:47:00.002+10:00

There is a track under here somewhere....

GPS was working well.

Some chose not to drive in....

Constantly sharing space..

Have a nice day.

2009-04-19T19:06:00.000+10:00

Fraser Island trip

2009-04-18T11:59:00.004+10:00

Spent the last few weeks on a trip heading to Fraser island. Sadly we saw today that people died doing just what we had been doing (traveling along the beach) - such a waste. Above is one of our many beach camps.

How about the lakes?

Low tide is like a highway on the beach.

And the Low pressure that gave us some pretty shite weather, also helped the surf along the coast! Noosa was going off its head for waves like this, absolutly manic in town!

2009-04-18T05:59:00.003+10:00

So that'd be a postal address the residents love...

2009-04-17T21:40:00.002+10:00

Somehow, anyhow, do a lap of Mt Panorama at Bathurst. The racing car drivers sure earn their paychecks!

Dusted

2009-04-02T06:42:00.000+11:00

Bootie fab reins...

2009-03-30T21:57:00.005+11:00

When you see something as handy as this...

That does something like this...

And this you get all Aussie on it, and realise that when your garage contains these...

A bit of time and effort will leave you with this...

Which will hopefully save me both $300 and getting stuck in the sand...!

Perhaps...

2009-03-29T21:37:00.001+11:00

2009-03-29T21:20:00.000+11:00

'waiting for a replacement'

2009-03-26T06:35:00.001+11:00

I wonder if this caption could ever happen on any of our epix...?!

Click for the photo

2009-03-22T19:47:00.001+11:00

Forks EAston EC90 SLX for sale - check 'em

And the road bike has hit Ebay...

out.

Absolutely amazing!

2009-03-22T09:25:00.000+11:00

Follow this through, its amazing!

MUTO a wall-painted animation by BLU from blu on Vimeo.

The inner voices

2009-03-19T21:59:00.003+11:00

A few years back, I was on down the beach getting along at a decent pace with Joel and he had a bit of a moment. Things were a bit nervous in the bunch and he said "stuff this, lets get out of here" We dropped out the back, and a few corners on we found a good part of the bunch picking itself up off the deck.

Since then, I've tried (often unsuccessfully) to listen to the voices. Tonight was a prime example. Forgetting my lights as I'd stripped the bike for sale, I was headed for Tour De Burbs. About half way there, I realised and it was too far gone. I continue on to see what I could salvage of the ride before dark. Almost there, 2 Degani bakery riders ran some lights, and had a 'play' with some cars. Then riders crossing Chandler to join the bunch at the start point continually were nearly cleaned up from doing dumb stuff. I turned and looked in the bunch and saw about a dozen familiar faces out of 50-60 that I was happy to do a bunch ride with. And then as we rolled out, we got one red light, then another which split the bunch then it just slowly turned to chaos. Chasing, on the rivet, hooking, swerving for glass. Thanks but no.

Straight on at the first roundabout, and I'm outa there! There's other days for riding, sometimes it all just piles up against you, and I try to take heed. I'm just not very good at it...

That said, cool sunset!

Got skills?

2009-03-18T06:42:00.002+11:00

Art almost always is in the eye of the beholder, but what happens when you add practicality to it? What does it become? Even those with a distaste for motor/engine/stuff can see the talent involved in producing something like this...

2009-03-13T18:57:00.000+11:00

Whilst I still profess my hatred of jetski's and I wouldn't expect anyone to actually sit through the 7 mins of the vid - check out some of the stuff this guy can do!!

2009-03-13T18:29:00.002+11:00

One engine - good. Two engine - BETTER! :)

For those that love to abuse their kidneys...

And you'd just have to wonder..

mmm, k...

2009-03-10T18:44:00.002+11:00

Thanks for the heads up :)

Now remember people, hell ride is baaad...

Some different views...

2009-03-09T21:12:00.008+11:00

And that concludes our summer I believe... The boat goes in for some winter fabrication now and comes back better than ever next season, and some mid winter squirts at Hazelwood.

2009-03-09T18:57:00.000+11:00

A bit too Epic for me...

How's this madman...?

Its all got to go! :)

2009-03-05T15:32:00.002+11:00

For anyone who wants to buy an awesome lil house, its on the market!

And also the F1C is still on the market also, so don't delay.

Firey destruction

2009-03-04T06:41:00.001+11:00

Check out some photos of Kinglake, from someone who has official access to the area (so don't be a dickhead, and try to get up there yourself...)

2009-03-02T06:05:00.001+11:00

A very fun weekend...!

2009-02-27T06:37:00.002+11:00

been slow times down here...

Sorry about the lack of updates, I'm sure the 'regular' readers are devastated... ;)

Its been a trade school week which means I can get out and do some riding after hours, so I've been rocking the road bike along the beach and the burbs. And then facing up to another day at trade school. Good thing is, there isn't much more to go! :)

So this weekend will include a decent MTB ride on the compulsions with Jason, and then a bucks turn on a hand build BMX track! Think a paddock somewhere out of fire danger, an excavator and a whole lot of love, combined with some really shitty BMX's and a few beers - can't wait!

And it would be remiss of me not to mention that the F1C is still for sale! Its heading towards a few websites, the trading post and possibly ebay, so if you know anyone who wants a top value, ultra light road bike, you'd best be getting in soon before it goes to the masses!

later,

Going, biiiig!

2009-02-21T10:16:00.001+11:00

Have a crack at how big these guys are going!

Don't forget everyone, my road bike is for sale, so if you know anyone, please please tell them about it and make everyone happy!!

2009-02-20T06:49:00.000+11:00

Road bike for sale

2009-02-13T06:13:00.001+11:00

My road bike has finally come up for sale, with the arrival in Australia of the new AR series of bikes. That means mine is now for sale, so check it out at the Felt Epix blog if you are interested...

Felt F1C link

2009-02-10T17:22:00.001+11:00

2009-02-10T06:47:00.002+11:00

2009-02-08T19:22:00.002+11:00

Its not been a good weekend...

I think we were in the only place that wasn't 'affected' by bush fires. That said, I'm sure it close to being toasted right now...

Places I know, people I know, its all so much closer than the media can make it out to be.

Check out these images...

Every time you step out the front door, make it an adventure. This weekend - done.

2009-02-04T06:33:00.002+11:00

This is how this week feels - heaps to do, and only so much time...

Castlemaine and Picnic gully.

2009-02-01T21:29:00.003+11:00

Pretty sweet place for a picnic on a hot day...! Fresh cider from Henry of Harcourt, cheeses', salami, breads, all fresh from the market that day. The good life!

Castlemaine riding and video to come on Felt Epix in the next day or two.

2009-01-29T22:17:00.002+11:00

Everyone's been moaning about the heat, and well, fair enough. I thought I'd share some of my experiences over the last few days...

Airconditioning in my house had a rare problem. It got too hot and stopped working.... WTF?? Its aircondtioning, you use it when its hot!!!!!!? After a day of playing in and near a 70degree roof space, I then had the pleasure of sitting in my own ceiling for half the night testing things to do with the climate control. Solution - pull the panels off the condensor, keep hitting reset and spray endless water over the thing to get it to cool down...?! Bizarre...

How about firetrucks attending power lines that just snap in the middle for no good reason?

Or the late model BMW driving along the freeway that simply had a tread of its tire peel off, and the car continued to drive along on the sidewalls of the tire, driver oblivious to the rest of the motorists weaving around the tread which was doing 80kph along the freeway on its own.... I pulled alongside the BMW and explained to them they only really had 3 wheels - amusingly it took a few tries to get the message across!

What else? Spraying train lines with water to stop buckling...? What the hell do they do up north where its 40deg every damn day?? I hope they're using recycled water...

Thats it, its hot and not looking like its going to change any time soon. I like it tho.

Australia day weekend

2009-01-28T06:05:00.000+11:00

Got wake...?

2009-01-21T06:37:00.000+11:00

2009-01-21T06:18:00.000+11:00

New bikes are in...

2009-01-17T18:27:00.003+11:00

Man, hell ride was back to the bad old day this morning. A hell of a lot of people, no cops, and a tailwind... Super, super fast. I was firmly tacked on the back all day, suckin' wheels and hoping to not get a crap light run. We did gt split at a red, so with Cam Carlyle and a few others, we chased 'er back down. That was about 95% effort, not much left in the tank, so with a fair way to get home, it was on the back for me for the remainder, and staying out of trouble. And grover, whats your excuse...!? Super saturday my ass...!

The boarding platform is complete,

What do you reckon, I'm pretty happy with how it turned out. Thanks to Matt for all his help!!

And how about my booty fab parts washer! Add a 12v, low pressure fuel pump into a recirculating barrel of Kero, a splashback of sorts, and a decent frame to sit it on, and I'd be good to go.

This mind, it never stops.... ;)

I love news.com sometimes...

2009-01-15T21:33:00.000+11:00

A CHILD named Adolf Hitler Campbell and his siblings have been taken from their family by child welfare workers.

The New Jersey Division of Youth and Family Services removed three-year-old Adolf and his younger sisters, JoyceLynn Aryan Nation Campbell and Honszlynn Hinler Jeannie Campbell from their home on Tuesday, The Associated Press reports.

Agency spokeswoman Kate Bernyk said it would not provide any details on why the children were removed.

The kids' parents, Heath and Deborah Campbell, received worldwide attention last month when they complained that a shop had refused to make Adolf a birthday cake.

Mr Campbell, 35, has decorated his home with swastikas and says he is related to a member of the SS.

But he said it is the store that wouldn't write "Happy Birthday Adolf Hitler" on a cake that should have shown more consideration for other people's feelings.

"They need to accept a name. A name's a name. The kid isn't going to grow up and do what (Hitler) did," he told the Associated Press at the time of the cake incident.

But the ShopRite store that refused the cake request says it did the right thing.

"We believe the request ... to inscribe a birthday wish to Adolf Hitler is inappropriate," spokeswoman Karen Meleta told the Express-Times newspaper.

The store has also refused to make a cake bearing the name of JoyceLynn Aryan Nation, who turns two next month.

Honszlynn Hinler Jeannie Campbell, named for SS head Heinrich Himmler, turns one in April.

He said he named his son after Adolf Hitler because he liked the name and because "no one else in the world would have that name".

"They're just names, you know," he told the Express-Times newspaper.

"Yeah, they (Nazis) were bad people back then. But my kids are little. They're not going to grow up like that."

"Other kids get their cake. I get a hard time," he said. "It's not fair to my children.'

Mr Campbell said he didn't expect the names to cause problems when the children start school.

WTF??

2009-01-14T22:54:00.003+11:00

The diff rebuild has begun, this time leading to hopefully bigger and stronger things...

Its hot, damn hot!

2009-01-13T21:16:00.004+11:00

me via text - "39deg, 7pm, no wind, riding beach road"

Nathan via text - "8am, 4deg, eating breakfast at work"

Glad I ain't in london...

What is this yellow thing????

And seriously, rose coloured glasses is one thing, but this??

And I watched this (not the youtube clip...) last night! A damn good watch! Even Em enjoyed it.

Platform diving

2009-01-09T07:57:00.004+11:00

So if you wander past here with any regularity, you'd know there is a boat that gets around. That same boat carried Nath and myself the entire length of the murray a few years ago, and recently got a great deal of mechanical loving.

Seeing as how the insides now go so well, I thought it only prudent that the outside gets a bit of a tart up.

We're forever bitching about not having a boarding platform at the back, so its being rectified. Who knows if we'll rip the back off the boat, we hope not, but we shall see in due course. Its getting some large deck boards across it, so it should work out well!

part II

2009-01-05T08:57:00.006+11:00

On our little xmas and new year sojourn, we did some k's. Oh boy did we do some k's... Some of them were frustrating k's, some were nervous, others were boring, but for the most part it was just fun to be somewhere else!

We came off hotham back down the same track, wich was a good chunk of fun. Nothing silly, just very pretty terrain which we'll be back to see soon. Into Bairnsdale to see family, came accross some crazy ass people, full fruit picking hillbillies, and we got the hell out of there! Family duties done, and awaiting the arrival of friends, we headed into Bairnsdale for supplies. On the drive in, a long straight road with a slight bend, something in the front diff siezed and then let go with the loudest bang I've ever experienced in a car! The entire front end locked up, then stepped about 2 ft sideways in a cloud of dust and tyre smoke. Realizing something was heavily amiss, we removed the front tailshaft to stop drive to the front diff, then were also forced to remove the front axles to totally free it all up. So basically, something went boom, and chances are its costly... Sigh, happy holidays. Oh well, we're still going :)

We got that shite all sorted, only to realise that we're left our tent back up at hotham, after drying it out. So we had to drive the 2.5 hours each way to go get it and be back to meet freinds, so it was a little bit frustrating, but thems the breaks eh...

Nonetheless, we made it to Cape Conran after some more driving, and kicked back for a week by the beach. On the $50 fishing challenge, we were excited - spend $50, no more, on the sales at Kmart and see who catches the most fish. By the end of the week - we'd blown $50....... One fish, about 5cm long, reeled in by Em...

Nick, onto the proverbial 'one that got away'...

Me, having lost my rig for the last time, running out of sinkers finally...!

However, we'd also picked up some crab pots, and I swam them out to behind the breakers tied to some coke bottles. A few hours soak time, and I had to swim back out (after we found how far they'd drifted) to retrieve them, then skull drag full pots back in against an angry sea and rips.

Sand crab - no size limit, no bag limit, no worries!

A pile of fresh crabs, with potfuls still to come!

There is a few more photos to come of the other batches of crabs we caught, but they were very tasty, let me assure you!

Diving for the last fork in the washing up, or perhaps it was hair washing day...!?

So we hung out down there throuughout new years, and had an amusing evening being entertained by the kids from next door. An 8 year old boy, staying next to us, had such a command of his situation that he offered us pearls like 'I'm a donor child', and don't worry, my parents are related, they're cousins...!' With wisdom like that, how could we not be in stitches all night!?

Below, Point Hicks. Nice place, would be a devil of a place in winter though...

Underwater cameras offer some unique views on the world.

More to come when I find time.

Pointless, but could imagine it at a callout!

2009-01-05T08:50:00.001+11:00

Xmas part 1

2009-01-05T07:35:00.004+11:00

As is usual for me it seems, how about a photo essay - what did you do on your holiday? I know there is going to be some interesting stories, but whether they make it to the blogs, who'd know. I know that AJ had a good holiday, Bellie was down the coast, Troy is riding from Sydney to Melbourne (the hard way) and Grover is always good for some content, not to mention Winny.

Here's mine, grab a coffee or a beer...

This year we decided to escape everything and head for the hills for a while, so after a stop in at Glenmount, we were on our way to Dargo. The route was Hotham via Dargo and the Dinner Plain Track and it was going to be a long night. Somewhere around midnight, after spending 2 hours driving at 15kmh in pea soup fog, we threw down the tent trackside. We'd made it through to about 20km shy of Dinner Plain itself, but the sheer monotony of the fog, and the obvious navigational difficulty of not being able to see a DAMN thing had worn us out.

Next morning, we downed the essentials (no coffee machine this trip. Instead we took the 'George Foreman steamer' so we had a healthy supply of fresh steamed dim sims!) Heading off, Dinner plain was on the cards, and we cruiser our way upwards.

Plenty of spectacular views to be had out here!!

There's even plenty to learn about how the Aboriginals used to utilize the area, moving up and down with the seasons, and traveling vast distances to harvest the huge bogong moths (which seem to be making a comeback after many years of not being around)

Dinner Plain Track winds its way atop a ridge, through meadows and across cliff tops.

Finally making it to Dinner Plain, we found the track sneaks in the side of the village, something I'd never noticed before, but I know its going to get used again!

There really is some awesome architecture to be found down here, this is the showpiece of some italian designer that I should recall his name. Regardless, its really pretty cool!

ScubaSteve was doing well all day, but had a bit of an unexpected mischief later in the trip...

And so we made it to Hotham, and stopped in for a night at Karnulurra which was also Christmas day night. We took a bit of a wander about the resort, down Blue Ribbon and back out Heavenly Valley to check stuff out.

How about a random patch of turf...?!

So what did you do for xmas day...!?

2009-01-05T07:34:00.001+11:00

What is it called when someone has their helmet so far back, the harness system is practically sitting on their shoulders?? Surely there is a name for it.

Sighted riding today, sadly no photo...

2008-12-23T06:33:00.002+11:00

Whilst I don't purport to be the greatest supporter of one L.Armstrong, the guy sure does know how to play the game. In my humble opinion, and this is well trodden ground, it would take something special (thats thinly veiled code kids...) to be able to be good, nearly die, go through a chemical treatment designed once again to take you as close to death as possible, and then return once again to become the 'greatest' cyclist our generation could ever hope to know..

Somehow beating many people who fall into the trap of drugs.

He must be real good...

SO, point of this is...

This biopic website by Elizabeth Kreutz does something to let you into his world, a world that appears to have a singular purpose. You can't say he certainly doesn't look the part of a tour contender, but you'd be pretty pissed as a current elite racer to have him come back and head towards the top. Surely you'd be asking yourself what LA was doing in training to reach that goal?

So do yourself a favour and check out the photography before the french cycling association has him knocked off. He may look ugly on a bike, but damn he seems to go fast! That Learjet thing sure does have a nice look to it though!

That website again? Elizabeth Kreutz

2008-12-21T22:04:00.001+11:00

Everyone loves a good fail video...

2008-12-21T11:10:00.002+11:00

Ascend bars - possibly a handy breakfast substitute when old mother hubbards cupboard was bare...!

So I got out for hell ride yesterday with Bellie. Whilst there was a good size bunch, even Phil 'Skippy' Anderson was spotted riding along the footpath for some strange reason, I though I was going ok...

Sadly things started to conspire against me. Sitting towards the back having a chat, we got split at the lights and had a bit of a chase to get back on. Somewhere in there, we hit 10/10ths and my body started to collapse at a rapid rate. I don't think the virus has quite finished with me... Do you remember that taste when you licked a 9V battery (c'mon, we've all done it once...), that was me for the next half hour, with a set of lungs seemingly the size of a thimble.

Done, your honour...

Turning at the top of Olivers, I rolled home with Sean Hurley, on his way to Werribee crits, perhaps a little lost?!

I don't think that hell ride with no breakfast after 6 weeks off was the best idea. But you have to try, don't you! This was the sum total of our fridge - flour, an egg, a few bits of bacon and some Ascend... Yum...

Sliders are almost done :)

2008-12-07T22:20:00.004+11:00

At the moment, I've lost my voice, and battling with this crappy virus that everyone I know seems to get getting/having/recovering from, so riding has been strictly errands and commuting...

Which is absolutly killing me as I've got new toys to play with, motivation and everything else I need to get back out there riding bikes...

But the body is simply refusing.

Damnit...

Still, better than Randall, who after colliding with a fridge last week, goes under the knife in the very near future for some more (unrelated) fun. Still, should be an improvement he says, so we'll hope it works out for him!

At least I've been able to get something done, a ebay special GPS almost mounted up. A panel of carbon went in after the photo was taken to fill the hole, but its pretty much done.

2008-12-07T12:07:00.002+11:00