The Shop Trading Times

The shop will be trading during the Christmas - New Year period at the following times:

Wednesday 28th: 9am to 2pm
Thursday 29th: 9am to 2pm
Friday 30th: 9am to 2pm
Saturday 31st: 9am to 1pm

Christmas Eve Ride

The ride tomorrow morning will go as planned tomorrow, leaving from craig's bakery at 4.45 am, but the ride will turn around at the calliope pump station, making it an early coffee shop arrival.

See you all out there.

The Best Friend

Meet Lilly. Andy's Best Friend.

This is a DEFINATE watch... it will bring a smile to your face for sure...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8NAytyCF-EM

Oh, and Andy wants to see you do better Gary!

The Gutter Stumper

Well, well, well, look what was found up on the track yesterday morning..... our old friend Kaz! Up here for a few days for work Hef and SpyCat took Kaz up on the Sunshine track for a roll through the wahoo boys and the remainder of our awesome track.... just a shame they didn't mention the drop off to you on track 3!!

And I've finally found Kaz' weakness. Gutters - and I hear there are lots at Otway!!

Trek Remedy receives accolades

Read the story here

The "I Did It Again Ride"

This morning up on the track there were the regulars, BSB and the Silent Assassin, Hef and Me. Hayden Brown also tagged along for a look around the famous Sunshine Track - Hayden's into motocross so he handled the track pretty well for his first go.

Before leaving the track Hef suggests we take another lap around track two. Sure I say. So we head off around the sweeper with me leading and I get the call "put it in a bigger gear.... go faster".... the end result, me busted again!!!

Hef is now banned from riding anywhere near me on any kind of dirt track.

The Are You For Real Moment

When we nominated for the Otway Challenge, I thought we were nominating for one of Australia's most famous, most popular MTB enduro 100k events. But when Sneaky Pete sent me this update, "a new river crossing has been added to this years event due to track wash out", I didn't realise we had signed up for MTBS - mountain bike swimming!!!

All I can say is that I hope Sneaky Pete is kidding me and that I hope Butterfly can swim!!

Merida Ride Lite WSD

Merida Ride Lite 94, full 105 (gruppo, hubs, pedals). It has done approxiamately 22.5km, and in almost new condition.

Asking price is $1300 ono, with shoes, helmet, speedo, cages, and computer.

Give the shop a bell for some more info.

Parkhurst Criteriums

Sunday was the first of many Parkhurst criteriums held by the Rocky Club. Numbers were out in force, and the racing was short and sweet.

Races were a combined C and D grade (25min + 3 laps) and combined A and B grade (50min + 3 laps). Dylan Nankivelle took out 1st place in B grade (5th overall), while Brad got 4th in A grade behind Worm, Jay, and Glen Chadwick.

The crits will be held every Sunday (I think), and day licences are available. If your after a quick fix of racing and still want to be home before lunch, then I highly suggest coming down and having a chop at these races. The course is fantastic, fast, and safe.

See you all out there.

M1 Lands Greatest Pet

So i guess its on between the Blog Mistress and I to find M1 Lands Greatest pet.

The contendors are (as we should all know by know), Andy the cat of some kind- named after Andy Schleck, and Gary the Great Dane- named after Gary Fisher.

So far, Gary can Mountain Bike, and thats albout it. But i found a secret talent this morning when coming into the shop to do some secret eccy work. Gary is also an extremely well domesticated housewifedoghorse.

Gary 2 - Andy 0

The Mutt Ride

Literally every man and their dog - or horse, in Gary's case - is up on the Sunshine Track cutting laps at the moment.

Happy now Grainfed??? Your horse has made the blog, you can stopping whinging now about Andy be favoured over Gary on the blog!!

The Stumped Post

Logging onto facebook this morning I see a notification that Tuggy likes my picture. I'm thinking what picture????

I go to my home page and it appears that Ol Sneaky Pete has been very busy indeed. Doing a bit of photoshopping lately Sneaky Pete???

The Sunday Adventure Ride

If you're interested in heading off road this Sunday for a bit of an easy MTB adventure around a few of the trails in Gladstone, be at the Choice Petroleum (SunValley) at 5:30am on Sunday morning.

There may be a lap around the Sunshine track, a climb up the mountain at the gardens, a scamper through the state forest and a Trek around trails one, two and three. You can rest assured that the ride will be easy paced though and not OVERLY technical - I'll be there remember!!.

The plan is to be out for a few hours so bring plenty of water. If we're lucky we may even see some of the wildlife in M1 land - Drop Bears and maybe even a Butterfly and Dragonfly....

The Bruise

Righto all you Dirty Rat mountain bikers out there in M1 land, I'm laying down the challenge..... beat my latest "tough girl" scar!!!!

I dare you!!!

And I'd really appreciate that Snickers bar Silent Assassin - I feel a little sore and sorry for myself!

The New Track

It would appear from a lap around the track this morning that the Silent Assassin has been hard at work.... yet again.

There's a couple of new bridge additions on track 2 and there's a few extra logs around the track - and the woo boys - to keep you heading in the right direction. But the most special touch are the handbuilt rock wall sections that are popping up around track 2 and 3.

Oh, and the track is in perfect condition at the moment.... nice and TACKY!!!!!

King of the Mountain on Haddock Drive

Will anyone be able to knock Lord Garmin off the Top Spot?

The Lesson Learned

When I first started getting a wee bit of confidence on the MTB, Hef said to me "never get to cocky, always ride within your limits".... for once, yesterday I wish I had of listened to him.

Out in the state forest Sandfly and Blowfly were doing the Gladstone Trails and we ended up back in the state forest near the botanical gardens having a bit of a muck around, jumping logs. Having successfully jumped a rather significant log Sandfly and I felt a huge rush of confidence.

Next log attempt ended in complete failure and me having a completely busted leg like someone's wacked me with a cricket bat.

Lesson learnt - never jump a log side on, especially when it's wet. If you're going to "jump" a log, actually lift your front wheel and "jump", just don't roll over it with your big 29er wheels because the log looks small. And most of all, Kittstar get back in your box!!! Who do you think you are, some MTB legend after 2 months!!!!

Ps - Smpathy of any kind will be accepted - especially in the form of chocolates, cheesecake (hint hint SpyCat) and pink bike bling.

Inspiration...

LEOPARD TREK - Driven Episode-2 from Twinhouse on Vimeo.

The Rumble In The Jungle

Whilst most of us were enjoying a sleep in with the rain this morning, Hef and the RumbleFish were up having a swim on the some what soggy Sunshine Track.

At least the track will be nice and "Tacky" now after the rain. Tacky is MTB lingo for Grippy - See Sneaky Pete, I'm converting quick to this offroad stuff.

Just The Cutest Darn Thing

I think that the Silent Assassin is bringing up some protege's through the ranks, just quietly...

http://youtu.be/Ga72-ASP1uM

The Christmas Wish List

Dear Santa

I don't want much for Christmas this year. Promise.

Just something small... about 17.5" to be precise. I'll make sure my stocking is big enough to get its 29er wheels in so don't worry about that. It's made of OCLV carbon so its quite light, so its not going to weigh down your sled too much as you travel down from the Trek Pole.

If it gets a little bumpy on your way down under, don't panic, the full body armour on the frame will make sure its protected so I won't be disappointed when I wake up Christmas morning.

Just in case you're confused about which Superfly I'm talking about, its the Superfly Pro 100 - I've attached a picture for you.

I'm writing my Christmas wish list to you Santa as the M1 Grinch has told me I haven't been a good enough girl this year..... but what would he know!!

Looking forward to waking up Christmas morning Santa. xx

Rocky Cup and The Toowoomba Crit

The weekend gone was full of racing. Fast and Furious. Track, Crit, and a little bit of Tri on the side.

The Rocky Cup weekend was great. Racing was hard and fast, which made it all the most enjoyable to compete and watch.

Jodi Craig had the ride of the weekend, looking good in yellow and green, and putting everything into the races she could. Her competition had her covered on age, strength, and skill, but Jodi hung on there every race, placing 5th in the 15 lap scratch, and 3rd in the final 12 lap scratch race.

In C grade, Kevin "Ken" Warham placed 2nd in the 3 lap handicap and 3rd in the unkown distance. Gladstone's new comer Archy Davis smacked 2nd in the 18 lap scratch, 2nd in the point score, 1st in the elimination race, and 3rd in the last scratch race. Pity there was no Kieren race for the boys, Archy and Ken would have been a close bet for 1st and 2nd.

Brad Lawlor placed 5th in the 20 lap scratch, 1st in the Kieren heat, 3rd in the Rocky Cup on wheels 1600m wheelrace heat, and 9th in the major Rockhampton Cup on Wheels 1600m Wheelrace.

Full results can be found here http://www.rcow.cqoz.com.

After a few too many beers, rums and UDL's at the end of the night, somehow this managed to be permanantly written on the veledromes bar bench. Sorry to anyone who may be offended!

On the lower side of the state, Dylan Nankivell competed in his very first open Criterium on the newest criterium track in toowoomba, being put straight into the deep end in B grade.




After coming in to the shop and asking how to ride the crit, it was simple, I told him to go off the front, and that is exactly what Dylan did. He found himself in a break away of 5 A graders in the combined A and B grade race. Dylan was the only U17 rider in B grade, and the only B grader to finish the race. Did I mention he won B grade?


Well done Dylan!

The Otway Odyssey

Every now and then I get all excited and throw myself completely in the deep end at something. I think I've done it again. No, I'm actually certain I've done it again.

Thunder and I have nominated for the Otway Odyssey 100k MTB marathon challenge on 18th February 2012 in Victoria. Already there are around 493 entrants in the 100k event. There is also a 50k and 15k event being held on the same day.

To look on the upside, I guess its going to be a good practice run for the Capital Punishment Ride the following month in Canberra.

My goals for the ride:
1. Finish - in one piece!
2. Don't develop a relationship with the "Grimsweeper" who follows the last riders on the track.

If you're game or insane, check out the website www.otwayodssey.com

Strava Tip

Lord Garmin (of course), Bushy and Sneaky Pete, have signed up to Strava and become members of the M1Cycles club on the site and there's sure to be more; I'm sure there's more M1 Garmin (or similar) users aroun.

Remember to join the KOM competition when you sign up and see how many k's of climbing we can add up to for the year.

Tip #1

Once signed in, you'll see your name at the top of the page, there's a drop down from there. Click on 'Settings' in the drop down and then 'Privacy' when the page opens. Be sure to set it so that you truncate your rides around home and work etc, you can have more than one address. Otherwise there'll be people turning up at all hours wanting to get you out of bed to go for a roll. It's a handy little feature, as we all like to log k's from the time we get on the bike; it still records the whole ride stats, just doesn't show the track around the 'truncation'.