Happy Birthday M1 Cycles! 1st December 2009

Where have the last six years gone? It only seems like yesterday that I decided to make a career change and follow my dream to open up a bike shop. In the early days I roughed it a bit, camping out the back of the shop on an old mattress listening to the gheckos. Looking back on the first year, Peter Rasmussen was the very first roadie to come in to the shop and check it out. From the slow pace lines of the early days averaging about 33 kph for roughly 5 klms to today's pace-line for 13 klms with an average speed of nothing less than 41 kph. The biggest thrill I get is to show average people how to become bike riders and survive high end speeds.

I would like to personally thank everyone who has supported me in helping me make my dreams come true. I wish everyone the best in the oncoming years and hope that I can support you in every way to help you achieve your personal goals, whether it is to ride A Grade or to lose a few kg........only to put it back on at the coffee shop!

Rider Profile - Popey Rider

1. What bike do you ride?
Trek 1.2
2. What would be your dream bike?
Anything with an alloy frame and carbon forks and seat stay. Just like Pyney's. No bottle cages.....Don't need em.
3. What's your day job?
Queensland trainee of the year and working at the farm with Pyney & Zulu.
4. What's your favourite ride?
The Thursday roll and the Saturday bunt with the odd hundy with no water. Especially if I have to do some coaching and look after newby's. Or just riding off away from Pyney into the sunrise in time trial mode.
5. Most memorable biking experience?
The Biloela Classic with no water or food. Harden up you all. And of course every time I pull on those cool pink socks. Bling Bling! And taking Pyney off to hospital and driving quickly round the corners just to make sure his collar bone really is broken.
6. Least memorable biking experience?
I can't remember? But had something to do with Pyney.
7. Bike rider you admire the most?
Guess Who?......................Warren Pyne.

SUNDAY MORNING MOUNTAIN BIKE RIDES

Are you tired of looking over your shoulder every 100 metres to check on looming cars? Then turn up at 5:30 am every Sunday morning at the Choice Petroleum Service Station on Phillip St.
The mountain bike rides have been going strongly for nearly two months now. Zulu and I are the die-hards that turn up every Sunday. Do we know where we are going?.....NO! We just follow the endless supply of dirt tracks that Gladstone has to offer. Who knows you might even get fit at the same time. Bring some coin......we always end up at the brew shop.

City Slicker Adventures

Having spent a few days in Bris Vegas with my red rocket, I soon came to realise the following:
1. If you think the traffic in Gladstone is bad, rude and inconsiderate - It's not that bad, there are worse.
2. If you think Gladstone is full of hills - It's not that bad, there are worse.

The Saturday morning River Loop with some of the old M1 crew - Karen, Pete and Whitey - was in stark contrast to the Saturday morning smash I'm used to. But, I'm very pleased to say that I found out Pedro and I both have something in common (besides a love for bike bling) - bike rides are just a long way to get to the coffee shop!!! I am sooooo hearing you Pete.

Speaking of coffee shops, if you're ever in West End, go to Albertos - the atmosphere is great, the coffee was fantastic and the conversation even better. Except for Whiteys Mankini plan!! I'm still laughing :)

The Nearly Perfect Ride

I think the best place to start with last nites ride is with the jersey that Nudgee wore. You know the one - its got the big big target on the back? Nudgee, it wasn't a smart idea to wear that jersey when you've got the King sitting right behind you on the way out to Yarwun!!!!

In the end, we got to Yarwun safely - after a few sprays, a few laughs, a few more sprays and even more laughter. Oh, and then we were pulled up and given the weekly speech - then we laughed some more. We won't mention what Matty's first coach told him, lets just say that the coach taught him everything he knows.

The wallabies were out thick across the way around through River Ranch. Thankfully the little bandits all jumped off the right side of the road.

The "In Man" Ride

The numbers at the start of the ride was up, but the number of riders pulling turns for the paceline were down.

At some stage or another, we've all copped a spray from Thunder for not calling "in" when we're sitting on the back of the paceline. Correct? I'm sure you'll all agree. Well today, Thunder was on the other side of the fence (so to speak) - sitting on the back of the pack calling "in". He lasted half the paceline before he decided calling "in" was just tooooooo much!!! Perhaps the boys should have given you a spray Matty and returned the favour!!!

As a result of you missing this mornings ride Stu, you've earned yourself a new blog name - Sweeny Todd. How appropriate.

The Bikes Of Stages

If you're after some serious, serious, serious bling, have a look at the following page www.trekbikes.com/au/en/stages

This site has all of the custom bikes ridden by Lance Armstrong upon his return to pro racing last year. Each bike has a story to tell. The bikes were recently auctioned off for Lance's charity to raise money for cancer research.

If you thought the Project One's were expensive, wait until you check out the winning bids for Lance's bikes. No wonder the TT bike that was stolen was quickly returned!!!

For me, the personal favourite has to be the butterfly bike by Damien Hirst. Now I just have to come up with the "cool half a mil" - as Pedro put it - to pay for it!!!!

Don't drool too much.

The 1950's Ride

Lets take a step back to Thursday nite.... Arriving at the back of the shop for the Thursday float we were greeted by the return of not one but two, M1 roadies - Le Pyney returning from Europe and Mexican Scottie who was visiting for a few days.

Le Pyney, you were making me very hungry from all those tales of pastries, cheeses, more pastries and some wine. Scottie - get your bike out of the shipping container so you can post some comments on the blog!!!

Now, this mornings ride. Well done to Pommy Paul who turned right for his first hitters ride. Johno came up with a new name for the bunters - the bunnies. Much more fluffy and nice I think - kind of like Popey's pink socks. I did notice Johno that I didn't hear the King tell you to close the gap once on this mornings ride - well done to you!!

And Maree, don't ever mention to anyone ever again that you make sure Zulu has a pillow on his lap before you serve him dinner in the lounge!!!!! It ain't the 1950's anymore!!!

For me, knowing there was a maccas coffee waiting, got me around the block. Oh, I almost forgot to mention Nudgee's choke on Haddock drive. Half way up the first climb on Haddock it was all to hard for Nudgee so he did a U-turn and floated into maccas!!!

Wednesday Nite Ride - 11th November

Last nite saw the Barber turn up for his first Wednesday nite smash. It probably would have been more enjoyable if he didn't get a flat!!

The boys spent the latter part of the rider trying to put some logic behind the Thunders' random blasts out to Yarwun..... speeds were varying between 42 and 48's for the boys pulling turns, but not all of those with the highest speeds were copping an earful!!! In the end I don't think the boys got it figured out.

I probably would have enjoyed my trip around the block if I hadn't been attacked by the dog at Shillings lane - I'm sure he'd been waiting for me to turn the corner before I even got there!!!

Good to see you turn up again this week Ben 10.

The Masters Athlete

Associate Professor Peter Reaburn, a fellow endurance athlete and sport scientist from CQUniversity in Rockhampton, will be doing a book signing of his recently published book The Masters Athlete at M1 Cycles in Gladstone on Saturday, 5th December between 10am and 12 noon.

The book is a world first. It’s focus is on bringing the science of sport (e.g. training methods, nutrition, recovery, weight control) to older athletes in language they can understand.

Peter has a long and successful career as an athlete including:
· Winner of the first triathlon in Queensland (Sri Chimnoy, Palm Beach, 1982).
· Outright winner, Cairns Ultra-Distance Triathlon, 1986 (10hr 20min).
· Sub three-hour marathoner.
· Grafton-Inverell Bike Race (228 km) 2007.
· Three times Queensland Long Course (45-49yr and 50-54yr) Triathlon champion.
· Australian Ironman Triathlon champion (50-54yr), 2005 (9hr 56min).
· 7th place (50-54yr) Hawaii Ironman, 2005 (10hr 21min) and backing up in a few years for another go – unfinished business!

Peter is also a leading academic and sport scientist well known for ‘bridging the gap’ between exercise and sport science and athletes. He has written books on endurance training and chapters on sports nutrition and the aging athlete within Clinical Sports Nutrition texts.

Please spread the word to others and drop by and have a chat about the book and pick Pete’s brains. Hope to see you at Matty’s M1 Bike Shop on the 5th.

Tuesday Ride - 10th November

When I received this picture from Ekka this morning, I thought for a moment he must have been out and about taking happy snaps of this mornings paceline, but alas, when I had a second look it was not the M1 crew in full paceline mode.....

It was a tough day at the office this morning. Although the bunch had the numbers, the pack blew apart with only 7 riders left to pull turns at the end of Hanson Road - the first time!! By the end of the second Hanson Road lap, the bunch was down to only 4 turn-pullers. A bus just after the Port Authority round-a-bout livened up the front markers up - man, did anyone see where that thing came from????

After this mornings effort, Thomas the Tank has been renamed Thomas the Turtle. Too much pre-Christmas cheer doesn't make for good bike riders Thomas!!!

A reminder that the extention to Haddock is only available on Tuesday and Saturday mornings. Please don't use the road at any other time - for more info, speak to the bunch wannabe P-Star - LG. And by the way, "How You Doing LG?"......

The Gumby Mark

Ahh, the Gumby Mark. Usually a tell tale sign of the novice or beginner rider, the Gumby Mark often strikes the right leg calf muscle when the rider has or is about to fall off their bike from forgetting to pull their feet out.

The Gumby Mark has also been known to strike forgetful riders who have been riding for a number of years - as was the case for me on the weekend, when I ALMOST came off in the driveway - damn, did I actually just admit that???

BSB - Thank You

For some reason, I've always wanted this picture. Taken from the 2000 Tour De France, its the peleton riding through a huge field of sunflowers - just in case you couldn't see!!!

Finally, I have the picture and many thanks has to go to BSB (Ken) who owns Gladstone Picture Framing. He's done an excellant job, not only on this frame - which is now proudly hanging in my office - but also on the other 20 or so pieces of art and sporting memorabilia we have had framed for our new office.

Thanx again BSB!!

The Stalker Ride

It was a bigger than usual bunch for the Thursday nite roll last nite. The bunch was graced with the presence of Wazza B and Krystal Cranks - who knows what we did to deserve that??!! As the bunch rolled out from the shop and we were followed by a red pajero.

On lap one, it was rather uneventful, up until the point where Ati nearly cleaned up the entire back of the pack in two rather ungraceful moves!!! Paul - you did well to hold yourself and Ati up out of the gutter and off the bitumen!!! The red pajero followed.

Finally, I know who got the kick last nite - and it didn't come from any spy reports AND I wasn't there to see. For the second week in a row, Bloomers got the maximum points ahead of BSB and Mecca. How do I know?? hmmm that's my secret!! The red pajero was still there.

Wednesday Nite Ride - 4th November

Ok, ok, so I've been a bit slack this week with the blog posting - its' not like I've had anything else keeping me busy this week!!

Onto the riding. For those of us that turned up last nite it was a case of - If we were told once, we were told a thousand times. The Wednesday nite bunch rides in the roadie off season are NOT for smashing. If you want to smash - jump down the road on your own and rejoin the bunch when you've finished your effort.

After the struggle out to Yarwun in the cross winds and a discussion about Gary Fisher's knicks, we had lost one rider and the bunch was pulled up for yet another reminder on the purpose of the bunch rides. And rightly so.

BSB had left early and joined the bunch at the River Ranch Hills. Well done to Mecca who rode both the River Ranch Hills and the Haddock loop - next week Mecca you gotta hold that wheel without a push from your boss!

Review - Trek Madone 4.5

Pick up the latest Bicycling Australia magazine and you'll find a review on the 2010 Trek Madone 4.5 on page 114.

In a nutshell, the review had nothing but positive things to say about the 4.5 - as you would expect!! The reviewer has also test ridden the 5.2 Madone and notes that the 4.5 handles and feels very similar to its higher end cousins - even though it doesn't have the integrated seat mast and the carbon is TCT (not hand made in America).

The only "not so good" comment passed about the 4.5 was the weight of the standard wheelset. But hey, if you're saving nothing less than around $3,000 and getting almost the same ride as a Series 6 Madone, then whose going to complain? And anyway the wheels make good trainers, and if you're serious about racing, you'd have a set of Carbon XXX Race Lite's already.

Interestingly enough, the picture used in the magazine is not the colour of the 2010 4.5. Go figure?

www.trekbikes.com

The Movie Ride

I always thought that the movie was "The Mask of Zoro"... I guess I was wrong, it's actually "The Mask of Zulu"!!!!

Now that really is an attractive look Zulu. The modern day Bushranger.... I don't know if it will catch on though??