Rhino Racing.....!

Team Enduropulse

2011-07-17T20:22:00.003+10:00

Just because I have not been blogging (find me on facebook or twitter....its far easier), I do have some very exciting news. My ever faithful teammate Ben and I have signed up with EnduroPulse. Ben and I have enjoyed success with support from YETI and AYUP Lighting for a few years now, we race as a pair, have alot of fun along the way and focus on riding and not training.

Enduropulse were also sponsored by YETI, so it seems natural for us to combine forces. It also means that occasionally Ben and I get to race a 24 Hour as a team of 5......totally unheard of! We also get some amazing support from some amazing sponsors.

Look for Ben and I to be cutting some laps soon, in some very custom skinsuits.......

http://www.enduropulse.com.au/

The quick catch-up.....

2011-03-25T09:36:00.002+10:00

Right, things certainly have been busy. Very busy indeed. The last time I really wrote, I crashed very very heavy into an unmarked bollard. All my good form from overseas went in that instant, and I started the long-ish road to recovery. It wasn't easy, getting back into singletrack took longer than I wanted, and confidence to throw a bike hard it coming back slow.

Oh well, this is why we all ride.

In new news, the shed had adopted another bike. A YETI ASR5 has been included, and will be a great bike for all day epics, and in the later hours of pairs 24 hour races (if I can manage not to destroy myself in the prologue).

The other big news, is we have bought a house. Finally, after years of being a nomad and working around the world, I have come back to Victoria to settle. I am now in Riddells Creek, which is close to the famous MTB trails in Woodend, Macedon and Mt Macedon and also int eh famous road racing area of the Northern Combine.....

Along with a house, I have started a new job. I am still in the Earthmoving Industry, and loving every minute of it. I also have a job that I am not familiar with, and that is being home every night after work. No more international travel, airplanes, airports, taxi's and missing out on all the things that I missed.

Finally, I got married as well. It certainly has been a hectic couple of months, but it was also a magic time. Certainly some stress, but in the end everything is amazing. I rode into the wedding ceremony by myself on a tandem, and rode away with a beautiful bride....

Well, I do promise to wrote again, I always enjoyed blogging. However, the move to the country has also meant getting Internet access is a wee-bit of a issue. No matter.

Hope to see you all out on the new local trails and back to racing in VIC.....

YETI ON....

RHINO

Finally.

2011-01-19T20:27:00.002+10:00

Its been far too long, but it has been great to take a break from the world of blogging for so many years. For a while it was a daily routine, a thing I did first thing of a morning, but of late it became a hassle. A chore. Plus with my broken collarbone, not much happens.

Or does it.

The past 2 weeks have been big. A new job. Bought a house. And a wedding looms in the not too distant future.

So it has been busy. Great things going on. The new house is close to some of the best MTB and Road riding in Victoria, and will see me happily explore new trails in the future, and with a 94km round commute some days to work, will also supply my legs with some much needed kms.

Somehow with the crash, the return to cycling has been also good for the mind. Last year, with so much racing, I was burnt out, but with a 3 month off-season I can now start to build up to some big races this year. MTB XC, MTB Enduro, Northern Combine Road and a wee bit of track will keep me smiling all the way until November.

And lastly, hubs will be ordered very soon for my Dugast Tubular Wheelset. Things have taken a while to happen, mainly as I seem to still be living out of the same suitcase of stuff that I took to Europe. When we finally do move into the new house, opening all the boxes that have been in storage for a year will seem like Christmas.

Well, see you on the trails.

Over N Out,

Rhino

Jeep 24 HR (in 2 minutes)

2010-11-28T20:50:00.002+10:00

I am now "that guy"..

Yep, there is usually one in every race, "that guy' is the one that hits the bollard at 45 km/hr+ and smashes his body/bike senseless.

I would take a guess that I was around 3 minutes into a 24 hour race, in-fact I wasn't even on the course for the race, just the prologue lap. I had a great start, sitting very comfortable in 4th wheel and feeling great. We were flying around the course, and we flicked right onto a walking path, that was straight for around 400 meters.

All I can remember is I was sitting in 5th place, in a very strong paceline and moving very quick. All of a sudden the front guys dove left and right, there was a very slight hesitation from the rider in front of me, and before I knew it I was staring straight at a 60cm high thick wooden bollard in the middle of the track.

I remember NOTHING, and vaguely remember staring at the marshalls that SHOULD have been making said bollard aware that it was in-fact there. No marking, no caution.....just a bloody bollard in the middle of a race course.

My bike is a mess, with its rear wheel axle now ripped through the hub body. Carbon bars need to be replaced. Cranks might need to be replaced. Rear derailer is smashed up as well.

My body is even worse. Knees now bandaged. Hands smashed. Left foot bruised/smashed. Shoulder is a swollen heap, and I can't really move my left arm. Skin missing from my left shoulder down to my left bottom. All with a lovely bump on my head. Best of all, it hurts to breathe.

My helmet is split, and I can never thank it enough. In-fact I think I will mount it on a shrine.

The only good thing regarding me hitting this bollard at full whack, is it meant that I saved someone else from hitting it, as I was just the very first rider (#5) to come through. I have no doubt that a rider would have gone down. The marshalls that were just watching my crash unfold quickly realised there error and manned the bollard straight away, but I think my body/bike covering the path in a small part helped slow the traffic down so no-one else hit it.

Whats worse and annoys me the most, is these marshalls had only moments before my crash said to one another they should be marshaling it. Sure, I should have seen it, but have you ever raced flat out in a paceline. I admit the guys in front didn't really slow and point "bollard' out, but the truth is only the very first guy knew it was there, the rest of us were riding blind.

I now have the fantastic pleasure of having the best form of my year spent on the couch for a couple of weeks. Sorry for the whinge, but I am struggling to remain positive after this crash.

LESSON LEARNT. I guess.

Over n Out....for a long while.

Rhino

Finding feet.

2010-11-07T16:20:00.004+10:00

After not posting a blog for a while, I have no real idea where to begin, so a dot point will have to do;

- still living with the same clothes as in Europe/UK
- Not much riding, and if I have been, its been on the road bike.
- New 1 x 9 YETI built, ready to give XC racing a go
- House Hunting
- Job Hunting
- Car Hunting
- Wedding Planning
- Sick and Run Down
- Family Time
- Sunshine and Cafe's
- Bike Building
- SRAM to CAMPAG
- Bike Dreaming
- Dreaming in general
- Stress
- Content and Happy

Its funny, with so much going on, once again its the cycling in my life that offers to chance to think things through and offer some stability.

HOME?

2010-10-14T18:00:00.002+10:00

Well, it had to happen sooner or later, and I have finally arrived back into Australia (Melbourne to be precise). The trip home was long, but broken up with a stopover in Dubai that really opened my eyes to a new level of a everyday car...

Things are going to be very busy, so please don't expect many blog updates over the next month. House Hunting, Wedding Planning, Job Hunting, Bike Building and finding my feet back in the state of Victoria Bitter.

Life is setting up for another adventure, and I am ready for everything,

I have to say, it finally hit me when I stepped into Australian Immigration, and just what had happened over the past 5 months. So many stories, so many adventures and so many countries that I have been too.

I will do a final wrap-up soon.....

Cheap beer and free chilli at the Fleece Inn

2010-10-01T20:08:00.003+10:00

Welcome to the FLEECE INN, which was home to a regular Tuesday night ride that I rode this week.

However, this was no ordinary night ride - it was elevated to a whole new level.

Not only is the organiser of the regular night ride a great and passionate MTB rider, he also happens to own the pub. Beyond that, for all the riders that turn up, he offers up a free bowl of hot chilli con carne at the end of the ride (along with a happy hour if you choose to wash down your chilli with beer). Which I did, 3 pints to be precise.

I then took my Tuesday night ride beyond this, to a platinum level, and checked us in for a night at the Bed and Breakfast they offered. The room we were given was 5 stars (with a 2 star price), with a massive room, very comfortable bed, and a view that looked over the whole valley. When I woke up, I was served a huge breakfast and enough coffee to have me running for the rest of the week.

This night was perfect, the weather was good, the riders that showed up all came back for the free chilli (and happy hour). This was not a ride, but a social evening beyond expectations.

My recommendation is, if you are in a 100 mile radius of this ride, it is well worth the drive to make it. Plus, the street that the pubs sits on has a huge variety of cafes/shops/etc that you can wander around and look at.

Do what I did, and check in for the night so you can shower and then come back down for dinner. It was a great night, and if I was ever back in the UK, would return...

Details of the pub are here:
http://www.fleece-inn.co.uk/

Details of the night ride are here:
http://www.fleece-inn.co.uk/downloads/mountain-biking-club.pdf

Last weeks.....

2010-10-01T19:26:00.002+10:00

What a pretty view......this was seen at the On One factory outlet, which just happened to be on our way down to this weeks Marin Dusk till Dawn....picked up a few items as well

Also, have ridden the Dalby World Cup course both during the night and during the day. During the night is fine, you just follow your path of light and bump along. During the day, the true technical nature of the course hits you, as I saw all the "black" lines that were included for the race. Sure they saved some time, but the risk was high. A true XC course, almost has me thinking about having a dedicated XC season maybe.

Things you don't want to see in a race...

2010-09-29T00:48:00.002+10:00

Welcome to 3 Peaks CX...........

3 Peaks Cyclocross

2010-09-29T00:28:00.003+10:00

I am going to start this blog post, with the words I said as soon as I finished this race, and I was quoted as saying "There was nothing fun about that race...". I was sore in the shoulder from carrying my bike for 8 km, my hands hurt from flying down steep rocky walking tracks on a rigid road bike with 80 psi, and my legs have not ran up steep climbs ever.

HOWEVER, the next morning I told Marnie "If I was to do this race again.......".

Lets start at the beginning. I wasn't in the mood to race, and only really woke up an hour before the start. Feeling very flat indeed, and I dare say 5 months of racing will do that in the end. However, I bounded out of bed and went to rego. Picking up the race notes, it was stated on the front page welcome that a certain rider had come from Australia to race.....and that was motivation enough to very quickly build up my CX!

This is me putting pedals on, handlebars on and then having ran around the carpark asking the PSI question finally got ready. The last thing I did was strap some padding under the top tube (as I had seen another bike that had one and was quickly advised it was a good idea). Twenty-five minutes till start time..

Lucky I am like SUPERMAN, in that I can be in my lycra ready to ride in around 3 minutes. The motorhome has everything within arms reach, so I was ready quick. I was here for FUN, it was a novelty event for me and I ambled down to the start area.

Mind you, canti brakes are a little different to my discs. But I was sure it would be fine, I mean how hard can this CX thing be (I said in my head).

FIND ME! The start was chaos, but as I said I was here for fun and it didn't really matter where I started. Well, I should have been smarter as the next 8 kms of road was chaos, and being near the end was dangerous. No matter, I finally worked myself in the first 40 (but it was hard work).

Manchester TREV and I...........no smiles as we are wanna-be-pro's.

RIGHT. The next 61km was amazing. The 3 climbs were that steep that I was using handfuls of grass to help pull me towards the top, I will post another pick straight after this blog post to show you what I mean. The uphill running with my bike over my shoulder was ok, and I used my long legs and ability to let me mind wander while the pain increases. However, the downhills were what was killing me, they were very rocky and hard to ride on a CX bike. It took me a while to understand how to ride down these hills fast, and that was to shoulder the bike and run down....it was quicker and safer!

I will find a few more photos around the net to show you how hard this event was.

Anyway, 61 kms later I was flying to the finish. I have not been so happy to hear Marnie yell out RHINO. I believe I came just outside the top 40 in my OPEN Men Class, but I know that if I could race this event tomorrow, I would be so much smarter and shave another 30 minutes off my time.

Amazing, no punctures and 100% fine all day. In the end I stopped choosing anything line the smoothest line and just nailed it as much as I could. In some sections I was on my limit, only to be pasted by guys hammering over the rocks, and in the drops. So much to learn.

This was the moment of the quote.......

Finally a smile, and an example of how I ran with my bike for the 8 kms.

So, that is that, and I am glad I did it. An amazing experience to be had. Now onto my final event on this trip, a lazy dusk till dawn 12 hour. And with no events planned after that, with only 25 hours in a plane to get back to Melb, I can hurt myself bad and be happy not to sit on a saddle for a month...

Grumpy Jumper

2010-09-21T00:41:00.001+10:00

Taken from the Isle of Man race, I don't think I really need to explain my unhappy facial expression, but I could have at least smiled for the camera.

GMBC Enduro

2010-09-21T00:31:00.002+10:00

Its taken a while, but I finally managed to organise the Ay Up Logo onto a race plate.

The race itself was 50 kms long, and in the form of two laps, each on the same course. I vastly underestimated just how tough these loops were, both on body and on the bike.

I had amazing legs for the race, and was flying along with the lead group (of three of us), with a tactic to stay there and just 'give it' with around 5 kms to the finish. Sadly, my bike had totally other plans, and thanks to the fine granitic mud, it wore out my brakes pads, and before I knew it.......I was braking with backing plate onto rotor.

I made an awful decision, but a smart one, it have to pull the plug while being in such a great position and feeling great. The course had some very technical downhill sections that for the life of me I couldn't control my bike down, it was dangerous.

My poor beloved YETI is tired. I don't think there is much that hasn't been replaced, re-built or on its last legs. The frame however is still smashing along fine, although there are now alot more dints, scars and paint chips from when it was new. I will not ever get rid of this frame now, it has been part of my daily life now for the whole time over here, its my work horse.

Although I do predict a second YETI Arc coming when I return to Aust.

Well, off to get the brakes re-bleed, new disc pads, fork service, hub service and the gear cables replaced.

A new chain and cassette already went on this morning.

More Stanes

2010-09-21T00:25:00.002+10:00

I saved the last the last of my 7 stanes journey, for the place that had come the most recommended to what I would like, and Dalbeattie sure was a great ride. Unlike the other parks, this was more natural, and had minimum man-made sections other than keeping the singletrack signed.
Endless 30km section of singletrack, and boy were my arms sore at the end!

I turned a corner and was fronted with this amazing bit of downhill track, it caught me by suprise but by the time I pointed my front wheel down I was commited.

Another 'skull' black diamond section. A rock wall downhill. It was slightly wet and I rolled to the top of it twice, before 'zipping my man-suit up' and rolling down. Once at the bottom I was giggling and rode it again, but on this time things got a little sketchy halfway down and I was lucky not to leave vast amounts of skin on the rock.

In other news...............

Over n Out,

Rhino

The 7 Stanes

2010-09-21T00:15:00.003+10:00

For the past couple of days I have been bouncing around the 7 Stanes Trail Centres, and been having a really great time. More singletrack than my hands can handle....but its been amazing.

Fixing the almost "2 flats a day' that I have been getting lately. I can't run my tubeless tyres anymore (worn out), and with just 3-4 weeks of this trip to go, I am running tubes.
The 7 Stanes has an even amount of technical uphill as it does downhill.

Come accross a few of these signs, and as I have been riding by myself, I have to take it a little easier. So I usualy scout the area first, and then ride as hard as I can. With no mobile service at these places, and I was riding during the week when no one was there, I am not sure what I would have done if 'something' had gone wrong.

Yes, this was a 'singletrack' section....

I have to say, riding by myself has been good. Not in a hurry to push hard, and if I liked a section I would re-ride it. Lunch was always taken when I was out and about. I got four days straight riding out of my ground effects supertankers, they have been one of the best things I have bought on this trip. 5 years old, and still going strong.

Isle of Man end2end

2010-09-15T17:34:00.002+10:00

The course was a point to point race, which effectively starts at the northern point of the island, and traverses 3 mountains all the way to the southern tip of the island. The race is 75 kms long, and the winners are doing around 3 hours, and the last place getters are taking almost 8:30 hours.

The course is a varied mixture of sealed roads, forest roads, walking tracks, dedicated singletrack, paddocks and local by-ways. With views looking out to the blue ocean on the climbs, and the variety of terrain that is placed before you, it’s a challenging event to finish. The 3 major climbs are very steep, and the downhill sections are very rocky and loose. The best part of the course is the final 2 kms, which is straight up a very steep sealed road up towards the final mountain top that overlooks the southern part of the island. It’s a very tough way to finish an event.

The race was run in perfect conditions, with sunshine the entire day (rain settled in at night so the timing was perfect).

Breakfast of Champions..
Walking off to the start, it wasn't cold but with a ripping wind I needed a jacket. We camped at the northern most tip of the Island the night before, and the start was a short walk away. Still, but the time I got there, it seemed that the other 1350 riders were already lined up.

The start was amazing, with so many riders filling up a single lane road, if you had your position early there was no real way to push forward. I am not sure how, but I ended up on the 3rd row. Ready to go, and give everything in this race. In my heart, I believed I could win.

The start hits off for around 13km of sealed road, and then turns sharp left and points straight up a steep/long climb. I wanted to get to the climb first, and if I could, have some time up my sleeve to cruise to the top and still be with the leaders. It took some attacking, but around 7km into the race I was alone off the front. Legs were feeling great, and the motorbike camera crew were following me the whole way. The crowds in the small towns I went through all were cheering, and I was smiling. This was going to be a great day.

I got to the climb first, and around halfway up was joined by the leaders, I tagged along behind, and was pleased my plan was working. A small mishap happened around 5km later, when I got a front flat. I was quick to fix, and back on the bike in 30 seconds, and chased hard ot get back to the front group.

I would remain chasing all day, I had two more rear punctures, a broken chain and hit my front wheel hard enough on a downhill section to break a few spokes.

This just wasn't my day, everytime something would happen I would chase harder and harder to make up time or keep my position. In my heart, I knew this could have been a good race to win. It suited me well, and I was putting it all on the line in the climbs.

In the end I got 1st Overseas rider, 5th in my class and 10th overall. I was pleased that even with a few problems, I could keep it going. It came at a price, with all the chasing/stopping I only drank a single bidon during the race and 2 gels. I think I was running on stress. No matter, it was a great event.

A bit of a twist and it will be fine, was very sketchy on the fast downhill singletrack sections.

Finally the yellow shoes were used. These have been sitting new for a while, and I promised myself if I was going to wear bright yellow shoes, I had to be feeling strong/fast and believe I can win the event. Today was the day they were used, and I forgot how comfortable they are.

As you are reading this, I am travelling up in Scotland, still discovering there 7 stanes trail parks. Its raining so hard outside that I can't see, and the wind is so strong is pushing the motorhome nearly over. Crazy weather...

Isle of Man Night Ride

2010-09-11T18:00:00.002+10:00

Caught the ferry across the the Isle of Man, and with the time of arrival very close to the Manx MTB Thurs night ride, I was getting dressed into lycra as we docked. A gent was waiting for me as we drove off the ferry, I parked up and got my bike, waved Marnie off to drive the motorhome home to the campsite and I was off.

No more than 20 mins of being on the island, I was sitting in someones house eating cake and drinking tea. The smile on my face was huge..
We have 7 guys turn up for the ride, and as the End to End challenge is up on Sunday, the numbers were a bit down as people were tapering. The event here is huge, as bragging rights stay around for a year if you are a local. So everyone is keen to race hard. What was going to be a just a quick ride, slowing got longer as they showed me around the island. The climbs are hard, but the views....well, amazing.

The sun was started to fall, and some 'singletrack' was going to be presented to me to ride. The group split soon, and three of us continued on, taking in the race course for Sunday. Fast, Open, Rocky and headwinds will be my four words to use on Sunday, but that's a whole day away.

Riding on the Isle of Man, and riding along roads that still have all the protective padding on them from the moto TT last weekend was good. Even driving along the roads in the motorhome with the padding made me feel safer.

Anyway, it was time to ride some local known singletrack....and I was ready.

I stopped taking photos, as the singletrack was a natural flowing section that I would have been happy if it went forever. Slightly damp but not muddy, and the steep off-camber corners were still alot of fun.

With around 3 hours riding in my legs, I was pointed down a road towards the campsite I was staying at (I just hoped Marnie found it as well), and with 30 minutes riding along the moto TT course, I found the campsite.

The Isle of Man is an amazing place, and the friendly nature of the MTB crew have made me already feel like a local. I have alot more exploring to do here, and in a first on my journey, I have to buy myself a MANX jersey to remember this place.

100 Mile.......fun?

2010-09-06T06:47:00.002+10:00

Awake in the dark, to try and get some food.......at this stage it was just a pile of clothes under a set of AyUp Lights.
My bike just waiting to be ridden.

I hate to say it, but it was just one of those days today. I rode, but didn't really turn the pedals in anger, but stuck into my 24 hour pace and rolled along. It was a longer day than expected, but I have to say when I finished I would have been happy to keep on rolling......

It was good to be able to ride a 100 mile, in around 9.5 hours and still want to keep going. The endurance is there, but the high speed kick isn't. However, do I want it back??

Will write more, but pounding out the e-mails.

Time stolen.

2010-08-31T04:54:00.002+10:00

Special thanks to vdubber67 for taking this photo, not that I knew it was being taken, but I really like it.....and as always, there is a story.

This photo must have been taken within 30 mins of me finishing Trans Wales, after I had quickly eaten/showered and then grabbed the Kangaroo to watch everyone else finish. I am standing at the bottom of the downhill section of the last time section of the event, and this corner (right in front) was catching most riders out. It was slippery, and around 40% of riders were crashing.

Soon, this corner was a hive of activity, with loads of people standing/cheering and the odd rider getting a bright yellow kangaroo thrust towards them. Some riders were warned of the slippery corner, other were yelled at to 'get off of the brakes', but above all everyone was cheered on in some form.

To me, this is mountain biking, and this is our community. Not only do we race/ride alongside each other, but we cheer each other on as well. We ride the courses, and we watch others ride the course, we stand in the rain/cold and we all have a story to tell at the end.

In-fact, MTB riding becomes the best source of stories, be it in an amazing trail, a singletrack horror story, or an epic ride that you 'nearly' didn't finish.

Long live singletrack......

Rhino, Kangaroo and Marnie!!!

Westvleteren Beer (the story)

2010-08-30T02:07:00.005+10:00

Westvleteren Beer, the 'unicorn' of beers to try before you die. Trying to get them is almost impossible, and when you can get them you are usually restricted to only getting a six-pack, and that is after phoning the trappist monk beer hotline and finding out which date/time you have to drive up to the abby, hand over some money through a hole, and get your beer....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Westvleteren_Brewery

Well, during a random meeting of a bunch of like-minded MTB riders, and being invited for a 'beer' back at his place, we got talking about riding/beer and then I hear a single word overheard in a converstation that I wasn't a part of, and that word was "Westvleteren"....

I dropped out of my conversation, and like a muted ghost, said "pardon'. Marc replied, have you heard of Westvleteren beer? I said yes, I knew the story of how hard it was to get, that I had really wanted to find some when I was in Belgium last year but couldn't find any etc etc etc etc.

Would you like to try some?

I said yes straight away, I was excited and nervous. They went to the cellar and bought up 6 beers that were left out of a crate. Everyone took great amusement in how serious I was, in-fact they got a newspaper out, just so I could get a photo of the top of the bottle with the date!!

Like a crate of sunshine and rainbows!

I had my hands finally on a Westvleteren Beer, maybe even two if I was good, and it was a moment I wanted to savour. I was shown how to open the beer, how to pour the beer and told to let it settle just a little bit.

And then finally, the moment came......the first taste!!

I hate to use the words 'smooth' and 'velvet', but thats the only words I can use to describe this beer. They are served slightly below room tempreture, and in a very big glass (like a red wine glass), and that taste is just like those two words. I won't lie or hide my smile, I had two..........

Maybe once in a lifetime, but I had them, and now thats another tick off my 'life' to-do list.

Holland 'wet wet wet' 24 Hour

2010-08-30T01:50:00.002+10:00

Made it to Holland, via the "fat bike wednesday night ride", and this was the 24 Hour race that I had been looking forward to. It was the first 24 Hour race on my EU/UK calender, and from all the race reports it was a fun track that flowed with lots of singletrack.

Although the course was fun, this wasn't an event that I would be racing, as the EXPO was going to be good, with a few customers tracking me down on facebook to see what time I would arrive.

I was also looking after some great people with lights for the race, Morgan Pilley (an Aussie) was looking for some lights to shine his way to another race win, and the Cube Professional MTB team were also looking for some lights to help them win the overall title of the race.

The CUBE set-up was amazing, and there extended trailer set-up, was like a rolling home!

The race was a blur for me, on the expo stand from 8am till 11:30pm, with my only time away was to do the le-mans run and first lap (so I could get an offical result of 1 lap).

The rain came and went up until midnight, and then it came down, and came down hard. When thunder and lighting felt light they were hitting the motorhome around 1am, it was decided the race was put on hold till 7am. Once that time had come, and around another 50mm of rain had fallen, the 7.5 km course was almost all under water.

Take a look at the tents below......and these were in the high part of th camping ground!

Thats in the middle of the tent!

We didn't think too much about the rain, until we had to drive out of the expo area, accross the camping ground and try to make it to the road. With both of us in 'full faith' that we would 'make it easy', we set-off and never stopped moving forward.....

Kinda annoying the mud, as that motorhome was sparkling clean around 2 weeks ago.

Well, the rain is still coming down and hard enough so I can't hear the music on my laptop......

Over n Out,

RHINO

Antwerp Stopover - Sandman....

2010-08-26T18:40:00.003+10:00

Wednesday Night Ride, with a very big (fat) difference...

Note the amazing paint job.
Quick stop to step up the psi to double figures.

About to head into the forest.

This was fine stead for the night.

What a mob.

The yellow beast...

Mr Sandman's personal ride.

Marc's bike was another high quality paint job, on top of some very amazing welds...

After riding one, and seeing what/where can be ridden, I am looking forward to building my own up and exploring the Victorian high country.

Trans Wales - Review

2010-08-23T05:06:00.004+10:00

Well, where to begin really......

This race was hard, but after a solid 7 days of racing I was glad to get the win. The linking stages that tied the whole event together were tough - it was between 55 and 80 km with a minimum of 2100 m of climbing each day, and combined with the wind/rain/cold, it was also mentally tough. It was a gamble on the linking stages, to either ride them quick to get out of the weather (but hurt your legs), or ride slow to conserve your legs (but risk getting sick).

The Special Stages in short:

SS1 (500 m uphill stage) - Tough, uphill with a headwind. 500 meters doesn't sound like much, but it seemed to go on forever. I felt strong, and with a nice vomit at the end knew I had gone hard.

SS2 (7 km downhill) - Racing against local lads, who ride this downhill each weekend, and with me having to race it sight unseen was a real battle. I cannot describe how rocky/wet/loose this downhill was, and in some sections you had to run downhill as there was no clear path. Having a dually would a have been nice, but not really a mega huge advantage. I rode hard, taking all the risks I shouldn't have to stay in the lead. I hit what I thought was a launch ramp, but in fact it was a huge rock rollover. I was in the air thinking I am screwed, and threw my bike and landed into rubble. I stood up thinking I had broken my collarbone, but gave myself the A-OK and kept riding. Very loose, and got 4th on the day and maintained 2nd overall.

SS3 (8.5 km XC loop) - Down now by 50 seconds, but still in 2nd place, I knew today was time to turn myself inside-out to get back some time. I smashed the early part of the linking stage to get to the SS first, and it worked well. With a clean run in front, all I had to do was take every corner hard, and attack the climbs like I was an insane Australian. I attacked the downhill, riding over my limit and knew I was flying, I hammered into a berm and rolled my front tyre. Lucky I had a premonition this was going to happen, and had already cracked a CO2 ready to go in my rear pocket. I put the tube back on, and hit it with the gas....it held and I was back on and fuelled by a anger to win that filled me with power. I hit the climb (around 3 km long with 320 meters elevation), stood and mashed the big ring all the way. Gasping with air, vomit on my chin, teeth clinched and nostrils flared, I hurt myself, and hurt myself good. I crossed the line and sat down, my legs shaking. Had I done enough, did the flat tyre ruin my chance??? Nope, I won, and climbed back onto the top step.

SS4 (Night XC loop - 6 km) - It was pouring rain, and the course was slippery, rocky and didn't flow at all. My goal was to ride the uphills hard, and use my lights to shine the way. Weird maybe, but I ran 2 sets of lights on my bars (both intermediate) and a narrow on my helmet. I wanted as much light showing me the way. I was focused - not only did I want to keep my lead, but I came to this race to win this stage outright, especially as it was sponsored by Exposure Lights! Again, I raced hard but this time I enjoyed myself. Racing in the dark, flying through unknown singletrack with mud flying everywhere.....it was magic. I crossed the line, and knew it was a good time when I was handed a beer!!!

SS5 (2 km singletrack time trial) - After 500 odd kms, and around 15,000 metres of climbing, the final race (special) stage was the last 2 km of the course. I had a 2:07 lead at this stage, and only a mechanical could see my off the top step. I got to the final race stage, and was worded up by Marnie to "ride easy, don't mechanical" and just get through. The course was raced up a 500 metre, almost unrideable bog hole climb, and I ran the final 200 metres, and then dove into a super flowing, technical singletrack in a dark forest, it was rooty good fun. I rode easy up the climb, but hit the downhill and just flowed easy. In my mind I was like 'don't rip your derailleur off', don't puncture and don't crash. The last 500 metres was a slalom course down a grassy hill and I could see Marnie down the bottom, so with a grin on my face I let the brakes go and slid around each corner, smiling. I was so close to victory, and a big one at that. The last 100 metres were all cheers, and upon crossing the line I jumped off my bike and let it continue onwards. Relief came quickly. No more stress over time, worries of punctures/mechanicals/crashes. It was done.

At the final ceremony, the race organisers gave me a Australia hat with corks hanging off it!!! And a little Skippy made his way up to the podium...

Relief.

Happy.

Five loads of washing to be done. And now very sore and run-down....

Its been an amazing week, things went wrong and things went well, but to finally keep it all together, and stand on the top step after 7 days.

Amazing.

Thanks to all the messages I got through the week, it was great to come in after a full 6 hours in the wet and be cheered up.

Special thanks to Marnie, without her looking after me, this event would have been so much harder.

Wales

2010-08-14T04:03:00.002+10:00

The Europe section has ended, and it was a weird feeling sitting on the ferry to come back to the UK. We landed, organised sim cards for the phones, did a big supermarket shop and everything was overwhelmingly easy.

My sim card gives me unlimited Internet. It was only a week ago that we went to 5 different caravan parks in a day, trying to find one that had Internet/wi-fi so I can do some work. Now with a press of a button, I have everything. Amazing. Supermarket shopping was also easy, we didn't have to take a gamble that the picture on the label, was the food inside.

After some great night riding in Derby, I have headed down to Wales to attend the famous Trans Wales event. 7 days of amazing riding, with race section in-between. The thing I didn't count on, was the daily rain and cold weather. I should have taken advantage of the cycling clothing sales in Europe a little more, to stock up one cold weather kit.

For all the wonder of having a unlimited data account on my i-phone, I still have to find a signal. Today it involved a hike up to the top of the nearest hill, and sit on a bench chair. I have to say, Wales countryside is a fantastic view to work with.

Its time to ride, and I am ready.....bring on the tight and twisty.

I also have a Internet Dongle as well, so I should be back to daily updates...stay tuned.

24 Hour of Duisburg....QUICK UPDATE

2010-08-11T02:03:00.002+10:00

Father and Son team managing the EXPO area, along with a kangaroo.
All demo kits were out on course.

The rain came, and it was heavy....I am standing in a ankle deep water around the motorhome.

However, finally got my European Victory.

And the fun continued while we packed up.

Enter the....

2010-08-11T01:56:00.002+10:00

SANDMAN......my new Snow/Sand frame has arrived!!

With capacity to take up to 4" tyres.

And it wide 1665mm rear hub.

Such an amazing paint job, welding and finish.

Very custom indeed....

Pity I won't build it till November.

For those that love Nutella

2010-08-06T02:22:00.000+10:00

and no, I have not shrunk at all...

France

2010-08-06T02:02:00.002+10:00

In the 6 month Ay Up Lighting trip, we have one weekend that isn't filled with a 'awesome' MTB race. A quick decision to where we should head was made, and we drove only a couple of kms into France. In our entire trip to Europe, we had only spent a total of mere hours in France. Plus, with Marnie understanding the language, it was a great choice.

Not a entire weekend without bikes, as I did manage to find us a pair of 'amazing' bikes that we could borrow to ride in and out of the local towns that surround us. I also managed to check out the lighting competition......

It was a pretty magic afternoon. No nightmare little towns to drive the large motorhome through, no scouring every campsite around us trying to find one with internet, no driving forever with the fuel light on.....just a gentle trundle in France.

And while we were riding, we stumbled upon a Champagne tasting, as we were smack in the middle of the Champagne district of France. Our tasting was very different to Australia, here we got very full glasses of each one we tasted, after trying 4 it was enough for me and we made our way slowly home.

A match made in heaven!!

24 Hours of Duisburg this weekend, and I am teaming up in a mixed pair with Alex Kiendl.....should be a great weekend.

Click.

2010-07-30T05:03:00.001+10:00

Racing in Italy.
Beers at the bar half-way around the course.
Fun.
Good Times.

Smiles.

24 ore de Stevena'

2010-07-26T06:31:00.006+10:00

Arrived at Stevena, home of a new 24 Hour race in Italy. The rain had been a constant friend of ours for the previous 48 hours. We were shown to our campsite, and started to un-pack the motorhome and get ready for the race. Lucky for us, we can now do this in around 10 minutes. Everything has its place, and we have a 'system' for getting ourselves changed from 'driving' to 'camping' mode.

Right before the start, feeling ok. The rain had cleared, and the heat had settled in. The start was at 11am, which was nice. The le mans start had us running down little cobbled streets into the centre of town, where our bikes we racked. It was a fantastic running start for me, getting to my bike in around 10th place.

Around 4 hours into the race, and I stopped for a coffee. At this current point in time, I was the solo race leader. However it was getting very hot and lap times were slowing for everyone. Due to the layout of the course, getting back to my camper to get food/water/drink and getting back on took around five minutes. So it was easy just to pull off the track in the centre of town and go to one of the shops. Brilliant.

With lap times between 12 and 15 minutes, it was like a rollarcoaster. The below photo is solo riders 1 and 2, we would each ride a lap out front then swap over, like some sort of time trial. Communication was done via simple words, or pointing and laughing. Its amazing how when you really break down communication around the world, everyone can at least make some connection, not matter what barrier there is.

I don't have the photos of night just yet, but I do have a story.

Around the course were 4 bars, and at night each bar has loads of local people out drinking/having a great time and cheering on all the local riders. It took a while, but one guy found out that I was from Australia, and he took it upon himself (and his belly full of beer) to make sure that EVERYONE at the bar would come out to cheer me on when I went past. This was an amazing feeling, having 70 people rush out from an outside bar to the side of the track and yell/scream/cheer me on. After many more laps the 'rhino ringleader' held out a beer in-front of me. Shocked to him, I stopped, thanked him and drank the beer. It was so hot, event at 11pm at night that the beer felt wonderful. Everyone cheered, I thanked the crown and off I rode.

The funny thing was, the beer gave me the feeling of being refreshed, I felt wonderful. It also secured all those cheering me on, would continue on into the night. It was a very unique moment.

This is me coming in/out for my final lap. The heat was really starting to get hot, and even with some sleep I was tired and slightly sore. All the body parts that I crashed on during the week were highlighted with pain.

On the last lap, all the locals that had help there single position over the past two days all said good-bye, again it was a very wonderful moment.

Devil's Mouthwash, it was the one thing I crave during a 24 hour race, and I had 1/4 bottle waiting for me at the end of the race. At the end of the race, all the riders stood around shaking hands, or hugging. The race had around 200 riders total, so everyone knew everyone at the end.

As with most 24 Hour races here in Europe, at the presentation after the race, all the solo riders are called up to stage. We are presented to the crowd, mainly as the lunatics that try to ride for a full day.

Beyond this, I was called back up to the stage, and presented with a crystal bowl, and a great pair of Italian socks. I was one of 6 people called up one stage, individually to receive this gift. I am at a little bit of a loss to what the award is for, but it is certainly one that I will treasure.

Ride on,

and on,

Rhino

Dolomiti Superbike (Cover shot)??

2010-07-23T18:28:00.003+10:00

For the Dolomiti Superbike, the tourist board decided they would interview/follow a total of 4 'international' riders that competeted in this race. An interview 3 weeks before the race, an interview the day before the race and a post-race interview all help me net the front cover.

Then again, if I had actaully won the race, I would have made a front cover somewhere....

Oh well, I am now off to another 24 hour race, the 24 hours di Stevena in northern Italy. I feel good for this one, well to be honest I have not ridden since the crash although I have fixed up all the broken parts.

Should be good..

Crashing good fun...

2010-07-22T20:33:00.004+10:00

I said I would be ten minutes, that's all the time I needed to quickly head out onto some local singletrack and get some final footage.

I remember hammering this rooty singletrack section, hoping that my helmet camera would capture the moment, and then I remember that familiar feeling that I am going to crash, and hard.

Its a weird moment crashing, but even more so when you are in the middle of Italy, and all by yourself. I lay winded on the trail, and struggled to collect my breath. I sit myself up, and then stand. I raise my arms up high, to make sure I have not broken a collarbone. I check for cuts, and then check my bike. A wee bit of blood, and my shoulder, back, thigh, wrist and head are starting to ache.

I then ride slowly back to the motorhome. Marnie hears me clip out of my pedals, and just as she was about to stay "I thought you were ten min...", it changed to "I will get the first aid kit". Sadly, the motorhome first aid kit is really just some bandaid's.

With Moutain Bike Riding, every now and again you need to pay your fees to the singletrack gods. Trail maintence is the best way to pay this annual fee, but if you don't, its a little bit of blood....
Best bit, its on camera, and I will upload it as I speak. Sadly the crash is in one of the easiest parts of the singletrack, looks like my front wheel rides along a root that kicks the bike from under me...

And VOILAhere it is.

Toys....

2010-07-20T23:11:00.003+10:00

Thanks to Mr Adams pointing me in the right direction, a few clicks on e-bay this has arrived for me. I am having a few troubles getting it to work, but will figure it out soon enough.

Will use it to expand on from this...

Salzkammergut Trophy VIDEO!!!

2010-07-18T22:52:00.003+10:00

Finished uploading the footage from the race, you can find it right HERE........enjoy!

Post Race Salzkammergut

2010-07-18T22:40:00.002+10:00

Paul and I rode the last 10kms in the a torrential downpour, then made the very smart decision to ride back to the campground, another 16kms long. So with a total of 8 hours inside a pair of gloves and shoes, the result made us look like dead people.

My hands were a mess...

But Pauls feet just looked downright creepy....

Lucky food was not far away, and with 2 feeds as soon as we got back, we were happy men again.

ENJOY.....

Salzkammergut Trophy post one...

2010-07-18T22:24:00.002+10:00

Again, I have a video which does such a better job of showing you the Salzkammergut Trophy that I can display in pictures. However, in no real order...

Stopping at the halfway point of the race (well, the halfway point went stright in front of the campsite we were staying at)..

An amazing singletrack section dug into the side of a mountain, have video of riding this in the clip.....wonderful.

Just a sea of riders in front, and behind....a total of 4000 riders yesterday!!

Riding and Raced with Paul Errington from http://shoestring-racing.blogspot.com/

We climbed ALOT of mountains in the two days before the race, and added another 4000 meters of climbing in our legs on race day.

A quick shot of me shooting into some uphill singletrack, again right near the campsite.

Spent some solid time at the EXPO in the days before the race, which was wonderful to meet so many people...

Always smiling....

Updated Calender

2010-07-13T20:58:00.004+10:00

Updated the race calender for the next 4 months, still a few races to be confirmed, but do have some exciting ones in there.

Trans Wales, 3 Peaks CX race, over to the Isle of Man, some big 24 hour races, a hundred mile event.....its all good.

Scope it here...

One tasty drop of beer.

24h Della Serenissima Video

2010-07-13T05:01:00.003+10:00

Sorry, that it took a while, but I finally got the footage uploaded from the last 24 hour race. Its 9 minutes long, but I uploaded it to You Tube and you can find it HERE.

This was my first video for the trip, I am learning as I go along. Like the Dolomiti Superbike, I found out how to add music, and I will get better at blending scenes as well. PLUS, instead of actually holding a digital camera I will have a better (more specific) bike camera to use, so I can get more of the technical single track.

Over n Out,

Rhino

Dolomiti Superbike VIDEO

2010-07-13T03:03:00.003+10:00

Got the video of the Dolomiti Superbike up and running, just a few shot clips all put together. You can find it HERE......

Dolomiti Superbike

2010-07-13T01:33:00.003+10:00

The Dolomiti Superbike, has been completed. Its a race pretty close to my heart, as it was the World Marathon MTB course that I had the lowest point in my cycling career. After that race, on the place home, I was going to leave the world of cycling behind. Figuring that I had done everything I could, to be the fittest to race the worlds, and when it didn't work out I was lost.

Lucky for me, several years on, I see that race as a critical point in my love of cycling. It was on the way home, that I figured that although I can't be the fastest in the world, or win/podium everything, I can make sure that I have the most fun doing every event I enter. Its the reason why I smile so much.

Anyway, I do have video for the race, its 3:30 minutes long, and being uploaded to You Tube as I speak.

LUCKILY, my parents arrived the day before the race, so with our only camera in my hand taking the video, my parents were able to also get some photos!!

This was in the canopy of trees.....

40 kms to go, and about to hit the last major hill climb of the day. Around 5 minutes after this photo, a huge thunderstorm rolled over the mountain. It was amazing to be riding, and hearing the thunder be so close.

Closer to the finish, Marnie and my parents stopped to cheer me on. Always great to see the Aussie flag flying, but upon seeing it I knew my family was close-by.

I would say the above is a very typical photo of me. Coming to Europe this time, my love of eating watermelon is huge, and the beer was a free on at the finish. I crossed the line, and headed straight to the food tent, the photo above was taken by my Mum....she must be proud!!

My YETI ARC.

Its still going. It a soldier, and set-up to be a workhorse. The parts might not be the latest, lightest or the best but is was put together to survive. After five 24hour solo, two 4-day stage races, street criterium and a marathon.....its still going a treat. The only small problem I have, is finding ISIS bottom brackets for the Middleburn duo crankset.

A second pair of wheels is coming, which is good for the 24-hour races should (when) the weather changes, also for the Marathon/XC races later on that have a tech zone. Oh, and I stripped the bolt in the stem......but other than that, its still going strong!!!

So far, most races have been entered for fun/training/laughs, but I do have some races coming up in a month, that will be full-gas and time to hammer. Intensity training starts tomorrow.....

Equations....

2010-07-10T03:08:00.003+10:00

Simple, take the CX disc wheels out of Marnie's bike.

Which are 700c x 35 mm....

And place them in your YETI.

Voila....now just have to wait for the perfect race to use the combo!!

Not quite the new 29er YETI...

VIDEO - Dolomites

2010-07-09T23:19:00.005+10:00

Right, I have decided to move on from taking heaps of photos from the evens I attend, and start making some video. The hard part is getting them to upload, but here is the first.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yfjec4yVgig

Around ITALY!!!

2010-07-09T23:10:00.003+10:00

The Dolomite Mountains look amazing....

But so much better without my head blocking the view.

Marnie 'thought' she was ordering a pizza with potatoe, but were we in for a suprise when it came out. We did eat it, or tried to...

The Yellow Mavic shoes have had there first outing for the trip.......but only for a photo shoot.....

Ok, so we have had a lot of coffee so far on the trip, and the best coffee we have had so far......was in Bolzano!!!

Roel Paulissen PRO Bike...

2010-07-09T22:56:00.005+10:00

Pretty PRO so far....

I will get to these with better photos down a little bit....

Having coffee this morning, and whose bike should I park my YETI near. Anyway, with Roel having his back to me, I thought it would be interesting to see what a real PRO has on his bike....(actually bikes, as they seemed to be both his).

A seat, just like the rest of us.

Full SRAM XX groupset, just like we can all purchase if we have big wallets..

Now, MAVIC Crossmax Tubulars, I know these are not yet available...

Custom Dugust Tubular Tyres, now these are really PRO.....right down to the handwritten description of the tread pattern.

Will go see what else is around tomorrow.

The latest trends in MTB in Europe

2010-07-08T03:11:00.003+10:00

1) White is still in!!! Especially white tyres, they are rare at the moment so if you find them, get them.

2) Carbon hardtails with intergrated seatposts!! They are everywhere, and seem to be 'it'.

3) SRAM XX is very popular.

4) Barends.

5) Road saddles on hardtails.

6) Tubulars are popular, but only in XC and Marathon events, and you just carry a CO2 canister that fixes tubulars.

7) Not making this up, but skinsuits are very popular, but so is racing in just your bib knicks.

8) SIDI shoes......the latest RED ones for MTB.

9) Peaked helmets still rule in MTB over here.

10) Short sock height.......which just doesn't look right!!

24 Hour of Venicia

2010-07-08T02:49:00.004+10:00

OK, so the race wasn't run around the tiny streets of Venice, but a very small Italian town around 80 km away. We arrived on the Friday, and it took close to an hour for the final 30 km to arrive, due to the tight/steep/narrow roads and the very wonderful first and second gear of the motor home.

We stepped out of the van on Friday, and were just hit with such a dry intense heat that had us looking for water. It was hot, around 38 degrees, and the temperature was expected to hit low forties over the weekend.

All wasn't lost, I managed to register, showcase the lights, get a good nights sleep in a paddock and drink around 3 litres of water. I was ready for a good weekend, or so I thought.

Saturday arrived, and even at 9 am (with a 1 pm race start) it was amazingly hot. I skipped the idea of a practice lap and went to find some shade. Finding shade isn't an easy thing to do when you're camped on a football oval...

The start-line was near, and due to the heat the idea of a Le Mans running start was gone. I had a few inquires about the lights on the starting line, which is always good to eliminate any nerves I might have had. As with the past 24 hour races, the start just comes way to fast....

The heat in the valley was amazing, although the course was 7 km long, that was enough to drain my bidon, and drink a further 2 more cups of water and eat a large bit of watermelon eat lap and still have a mouth that felt like a beach. I slowed by pace to a crawl, spoke to as many people as I could, Marnie event went to get some ice creams for me to eat, anything to keep me cool. The first 7 hours were a blur, and then I remember riding along the top, and thinking to myself, I really can't feel the lower part of my body. I had been so careful with my fluids/food but the heat was getting me. I was in the lead, and made a very smart decision to stop at the motorhome, and drink some fluids and rest until I could pee. I thought this was smart, as then I knew I would be getting fluids going through me, and my body would once again be connected to me head.

I sat in the motor home for alot longer than I thought, lucky when I did pee, it was almost time to do some night laps, and I was thrilled to once again be getting out there.

The views during the day were nice, but as night, you could see all the towns and how close they were. During the day I felt like the town was in the middle of nowhere, but at night I could see towns only a few km away. Such is the beauty of Italy.

The night came, I decided to stop taking photos, instead I have made a movie......I am still working on it, and need a good internet connection to upload, but it follows me on the Sunday doing what I need to finish the race. I have only just started to put it together, but in some of the sections, even I can tell I was a little affected by the heat. Give me a day, and it will be uploaded.

Over n Out,

Rhino

P.S. Did you know that doing laps without the transponder isn't very smart.....

The Geologist

2010-07-02T18:24:00.003+10:00

I love nothing more that getting to a city I don't know, having a map, and setting off to find a few places. The other day I found 11 bike shops around Bolzano, put some dots on a map and away I went. Not only did I find all the bike shops, but I found so many little shops, sites and just daily life.

Of course, the above always helps when you are not in a rush, and even better if you are by yourself (so that if you do make a navigation mistake it's not pointed out)....

Bolzano, Italy

2010-06-30T19:12:00.004+10:00

We have arrived in Bolzano in Italy, right at the start of the Dolomite Mountains on our way down to the 24 hours of Venice event (which is 80 km away from Venice). I had this crazy idea that the laps would go in and around the city, and twice a day the track would be flooded with water, sadly it's not to be.

After coming accross the border into Italy, it took me only a mater of hours to have a pizza, a coffee and a gelati. The amount of food that I have been eating lately is enough to have Marnie shake her head at me. If I am to be honest, I ate the pizza below in the same amount that it took her to eat 1/8th of hers. Being the gent that I am, I helped her out a little as well.

The campsite has a salted swimming pool, which will do wonders on my body. The campsite also has a solid wireless, which means my swearing has dropped 80%. To top it all off, the washing is only 3 euro, which again is a blessing with the amount of cycling clothing I go through in a 24 hour race.

Bolzano is also the perfect place for a 4-day stopever, and with 11 bikes shops within 5 km, it will be easy to get my forks, hubs, cranks, headset, brakes, gear cables looked at, along with a chance to get maybe purchase some new handlebars, stem, seatpost and grips. Its fair to say, that both bike and body have been through a bare-knuckle fight, and I am not sure if I won or not......

That fun bit...

2010-06-29T00:03:00.002+10:00

In every 24 hour event, there is always one section that you love, and its that section that gets you back out there lap after lap.

Well, this was Alex and my favourite section..

Racing...

2010-06-28T22:17:00.003+10:00

The balloons were realeased at the same time as the gun went off......

It was pretty nice feeling to pass the Ay Up flags along the course..

This corner was right outside our campsite, you actually had to ride past it twice. The first time I would yell out to Marnie what I would like, and in 1.5km time I would come past to collect it.

Alex is a natural 24 hour racer, jsut keeps on ticking over the laps.....and makes it look easy!!

Despite it being a tough race, I don't think there wasn't a time when I didn't smile....it was a fun course, with a great atmosphere and I was proud to be involved! Not only was it a great race, but it also had the best racer showbag ever.

Ok, I lied. I did find a photo of me not smiling. Lets just say that one minute I was wide awake, and the next thing I know the sleep-monster had tackled me to the ground, and punched me out!

There are always parts of the course that make you want to ride 'just another lap', and this was mine. A jump off the side of the road, it would always make me smile...

So many different energy drinks, gels and other things to be had in Europe, and many I have not seen before. This was a straight caffinee shot.....not sure why I just didn't have a coffee.

Tasted like cough syrup, and not the good tasting stuff either.

Come Sunday, and it was still good fun. Both Alex and I had a bit of sleep over the night, and then came out to 'just have fun', and we certainly ticked that box. Alex would keep her second place, and I would try my best to stay or get into the top 10.

The views on each lap, and I know I have said this, were amazing. A great course, in a great country, and organised to Swiss perfection!!

The start/finish area that had crowds for the entire race, and each time I heard 'Go Aussie'...

Still chasing Alex, which is no an easy task. However we rode the last 4 laps of the race together, and crossed the line together. It was a great way to end a great race..

This is my parting shot, and to me sums up myself riding a 24 hour solo event. I am suprised that I was sitting, as I had stood for almost the last 4 hours. I know this photo was taken on the last lap, with just 500 meters to go. My legs felt great, but my hands were not doing so well. At one point I had to wear 3 pairs of gloves to starve off the bumps (my forks may need a service), but I finally have found my 24 hour groove...

Over N out,

Rhino

Euro 24 Hr Champs #2

2010-06-28T21:56:00.002+10:00

The start of the 24 Hour Champs was very similar to the Olympics, there were a total of 10 different countries being represented. Before the le mans run, all the starers had to stand behind the flag-bearer holding out countries flag, and then we all walked into the start area. Australia, and presonally myself, got to walk into the start area first, and the cheering was very loud indeed. It was a memory that will last a lifetime.

Alex was also at the champs, and we made a dynamic Ay Up Lighting duo out on the track. It also made sure that Marnie had company back at the motor home, as Andy was looking after Alex.

Ah, the nightmare that is finding your bike after a le mans start. I should (and will) start to run during the week, and I have heard rumours of some 24 hour races in Europe having up to a 5km long le mans run before getting to your bike. Lucky this race was only 400 meters.

One could say that I was very relaxed, and yes that is Alex on the far right hand side beating me to the bikes. I have to run holding my back pockets, so my multi-tool and CO2 pump doesn't fall out..

And away I go. I just realised that I had both my Ay Up lights on flash, and in all the start photos not once did we get it timed correct. Anyway, the start climb was fun, and from this photo onwards I settled into a good sequence of ride some laps, talk about Ay Up Lights, ride some laps, showcase our product and so the process when over....

More to come....

Euro 24 Hour Champs #1

2010-06-28T21:43:00.002+10:00

Ok, so I will do a race report sometime soon. We have just arrived in a small village in Italy, and had to drive through the Swiss alps to get here. So many great and fantastic views to be had, and it was with a great success that the motor home made it over. However, all small little villages have these tiny low bridges you need to drive under, and our motor home just won't fit...so you have to do a 12 point turn and find another way around.

We stopped at a campsite last night, but couldn't get the Internet or the washing machine to work. We spend so much time hunting down Wi-Fi and Washing machines, that I think I might write a guide book at the end of this trip.

Anyway, below was the race site in full flight...

This is me on the Thursday night, having been given 7 bars of local chocolate....that's one big smile! Sadly, those bars of chocolate have now been on 'rhino rations', and although the motor home is small, Marnie can still hide things!

Race Day came, and the weather was amazing!!

My pre-race lunch....as the 2pm start time was a little different to Australia, but did mean a sleep in.

I can honestly say, that my bike is starting to need a lot of maintenance to survive. The forks are leaking oil, the cranks make a sound (but only when cold), the rear hub needs a service, the chain needs a very good clean, the carbon bars make a clicking sound, the stem has mis-matched bolts, the headset needs a re-grease.

BUT the thing that really is in need of the most maintenance....

Keep on riding............

RHINO

NORDIC 24 Hour...

2010-06-21T04:21:00.003+10:00

The Nordic 24 Hour, a nice 18 kms out of Copenhagen is the most northern point of our trip, and I had been looking forward to coming to Denmark for a number of years. A quick lap of the course on Friday had it fast with a good mix of fire roads and technical/rooty/flowing single track sections. However, all that "might" change if it rained, as it would turn the course into a boghole...

The start was a nice relaxed 1km le mans start, it might be hard, but I can you find me???

That super fast "dry" course lasted the first 4 hours and then the rain came, and came and came. Any incline had me walking, and all the single track section was like riding on ice. The roots were so numerous that each section was a gamble to if I would still be upright once I had passed them. Thankfully, as each race in Europe has been raced over wet roots, that I am finally starting to get the hang of riding them quickly. Basically you point the bike at them, say a quick prayer and voila...you have crossed them!!

The feed zone was full of energy drink and fruit, however they did supply a dinner, midnight snack and breakfast. This is me chowing down dinner very quickly, while having the most heavy rain was falling. I had to clean my bike each lap, and was doing my best to stay 'dry'. I was having fun, and in-between laps I was helping out at our expo area which was giving me the inside gossip on the track, best tyres to use, new lines and all the great single track in the area.

Mud, and more mud. I think I was riding sometime at night, and dreaming of a dusty race. Where all I had to do was wipe down my bike, put some lube on the chain and put it in the motor home garage. Continental Race King tyres are not the best of choice for riding in the mud, but when your mechanic (almost myself) refuses to change to mud tyres.

Sometime late at night, the sleep monster came and grabbed me, and I got a nice 5 hours sleep before up again and riding/handling the expo area. Time was going fast, and I was having fun. It got alot better when I rolled in at 11:20am and was given a spot prize, but I didn't know what was happening. I came in to roll back out but everyone was clapping me, I stopped (looked dazed) and was handed the backpack. A truly brilliant spot prize (as we needed another one) and had me ride off to the motor home to show Marnie my prize...

No, this isn't me sitting in the Medic tent, but me all finished another great event. I had a fantastic crash on my last lap, which had me a little bruised on my right side, but even that can't knock my smile off.

Solo 24 Hour racing is great fun, when you want it to be fun. You can speak to everyone, eat like a king, enjoy the best parts of the track over and over, and listen to endless amount of music.

RIGHT, My crash. I was about to enter a very wet/rooty off-camber single track section and saw around 7 other riders walking it. I decided to ride it like I had been all day, but maybe a tad faster than usual, before I knew it I was upside-down and stuck in a small creek. Still, I was smiling...

http://www.nordic24.dk/index.php/nyheder/239-morgen-2010

Want or Need???

2010-06-21T04:17:00.002+10:00

Found it, and I can really see this in somehow coming back to Australia with me.....however I still wondering if I NEED this, or just WANT this....

Full XT groupset.....and carbon.

Normal drive-chain..

Feels comfortable, and valuable pre-training before a 24 Hour race..

Rides like driving a 7.2 meter motorhome.....

Brilliant good fun.

Random Views!

2010-06-18T17:24:00.002+10:00

Also added to the 'list'.

These below were popular with the Mums dropping off kids to school.

A fancier version of the above.

Interesting, and must have been ready for battle in the winter.

I leave the motorhome for 5 minutes, and somehow (anywhere) Marnie will have found more animals. Dogs, Cats and now Ducks.....but the trip isn't over!

Ok, better be off to pay for a $1.44 shower that give me a full 3 minutes of hot water...

Add it to the list.

2010-06-18T17:17:00.002+10:00

"Basket bikes" are popular in Copenhagen, with everything from tradesmen to mums carrying up to 4 little kids to school in them. I just think they are a bike that "needs to be added to the list"...

Up front you have many different combinations, similar to the UTE tray designs in Australian. There are everything from actual baskets, to trays, to boxes and the list's go on...

Internal gears are a must, and with Shimano about to update the Nexas design, it might be a worthwhile option to look at for racing in winter..

Copenhagen

2010-06-18T17:03:00.002+10:00

Copenhagen is one of those cities, where cyclists actually get respect on the road. Not only do you get your own lane to ride in, but you get your own (smaller) traffic lights.
Ok, so you have your own lane, your own traffic lights.............how about your OWN cycling turning lane!!!

Bikes are everywhere, all kinds and types and all kinds and types of people riding them. Marnie and I had the pleasure of riding home in 'cycling rush hour' and it was fun. It was like being swept along with thousands of the other cyclists. Passing, getting passed, riding and enjoying the view.

Voila....sunshine! Finally got to wear some shorts and thongs!! No, better make that shorts and flip-flops.

So after seeing the 'lucky little viking', I off to fight another 24 Hour race. All the lights are charged, the bike is still working and I have 4 fresh/clean cycling kits thanks to the AUD$10.00 washing machine we used at the campsite....

Over n Out,

Rhino

Blog Links are BACK!!!

2010-06-16T02:07:00.001+10:00

Friends 'BLOG' links are back, but I am sure I missed quite a few. I do apologise, as I will keep updating them as I go along, but if you want to help please leave the links in the comments section.....

The Feed Station.

2010-06-16T01:19:00.003+10:00

Food Stations!

When racing in Australia, especially enduro type events, going food shopping before the race is a marathon in itself. In Europe, the vast majority of races have full catering and so each lap you do, you get to ride straight past a feed station like the one listed below. The amount of food available, had me saying to Marnie during the race that I was actually putting on weight by racing, it was brilliant.

As well as food, they also have a vast array of drinks as well. In Belgium I could have flavoured Soy Milk, in Austria they had bidons filled of Energy drink that you could take on each lap and in Czech there were 4 different types of fluid to choose from.

My all time favourite food offering so far was in the past Czech 24 Hour, when after coming in from a rainy/cold lap I was offered up sausages with bread.

Not only do the feed stations suprise me, but with your entry you typically get all you race meals included, along with a beer or two as well.

Not bad for a 35 Euro solo entry......very good indeed!

Berlin

2010-06-15T03:25:00.003+10:00

Some 5 hours after the finish of the 24 hour race, we were in Berlin, inside a camping ground right in the city. We were totally unaware that the World Cup was on, but as the city streets were empty, took a quick look around the city.

In my case, a very quick look, my body was kinda angry to be getting back on a bike....!!

Lastly, my latest bling for the bike.....white tyres are getting popular in Europe, but seemed rare when I left Australia, but luckily I managed to come across a set....not the easiest to keep clean.

It's RACE DAY...

2010-06-15T03:12:00.005+10:00

With a prime race position, some friendly faces, and a evening spent watching some great local bands (11 meters away from the Motorhome) I could only smile at the thought of having a great race, and one of my first ones since coming to Europe that would be in the dry.......or so I thought!

The track was 11.6 kms long, and just a great, fun track. The uphills seemed easy, and the single track was all pointed down....and the faster you went, the more fun it became. The first 8 laps seem to fly past, as the food table always seems to be filled with food, which filled my mouth, which powered up my legs for another lap.

At around 10pm the rain started, and it came down heavy. Riding tracks became walking tracks, and the downhills became slippery slopes to 'somewhere'. With my limited cycling kit running out slowly, I decided to keep on riding as much as I could.

The sausages at the feed station were a big hit for me, and seemed to be good race fuel, along with the red bull which also sponsored the race.

The race continued onwards, and the thought of clean cycling tops/jackets were incentive enough to keep on going. To put it very simply, I was having fun. Not riding too fast (except for one lap where I raced a friend I met in Czech, and instead of doing my usual 42 minute laps, busted out a 30:09....not the smartest of moves).

In the end, I got some sleep, and got up to cheer on the fellow Ay Up Lighting team of four who had held onto there 2nd place during the race. The atmosphere was fantastic, and I am now looking forward to the next 3 straight 24 HR races...

Czech carbon bling was everywhere during the race, and these deep dish carbon MTB tubulars really caught my attention.

Over n Out,

Rhino

Tezka Pohoda 24 hr, Czech Republic

2010-06-13T00:24:00.000+10:00

Four hours 15 min into the race....

Lining up at the start - realising how far I had to run to get my bike. Involved up a hill, across a bridge, back down a hill, then trying to find my bike again.

The Ay Up pit stop - we had a VIP space reserved for us which was awesome, right next to the stage.

End of lap stretches, feeling the effects of the Alpen Tour last week. Change of saddle, two pairs of knicks, and some good ole 'Aussie Butt Cream' to keep me going.

Race buffet is awesome, loads of bread, salami, cheese, fruit, muesli bars, wafers, drinks. Brilliant.

Ay Ups ready for the night laps. Only gets dark between about 10-4 here though...we also have lights on a Czech team of 4, currently coming 2nd.

Prague Race of Stairs

2010-06-10T18:58:00.004+10:00

We are making our way from Austria up to the Czech Republic for this weekends 24 Hour MTB race in Liberec. I had heard about the 'race of stairs' in some magazines and few video clips, and the timing of our journey worked out perfect. I did try to get an entry to the VIP race before the pro's, but it just didn't happen.

I got some good video of the stairs, and it can be found; http://www.youtube.com/user/AyUpRhino

The last lap attacks down this were great to watch.

But on the final lap, the attacks on the climb on the other side of the course were even better. The speed on the last lap was insanity, and it was just good viewing.

All in all, it was way too much excitement, and I needed some cooling down...

The Maths Equation!!

2010-06-08T00:22:00.003+10:00

Eating and riding are a great combination.

Race hard, and then ordering that dessert is guilt free!!!!

Alpen Tour

2010-06-07T23:56:00.006+10:00

What a fantastic 4 days of racing. My legs certainly know they have ridden, with 9500 metres of climbing to be had. However, this was to be the 'base training' for the upcoming month of four 24 hour races in a row.

The Alpen Tour was 4 classic days of riding, with around 2500 metres of climbing each day. Each stage took in great mountains, fantastic singletrack and the Schladming downhill course to end each day - it had all the ingredients for a wonderful stage race.

With an average of 4.5 hours of cycling each day, the time went so fast. I am sure that I would

the time could have come down to 4 hours if it wasn't for the views.....again, and I know I say this a lot, the views were amazing!!

Snow.

I have never ridden in snow, and it took until the last day until I came flying downhill to cross sections of snow. Just another thing that made this event great was the sheer diversity of landscapes that we got to cross. One thing that I hadn't encountered was, single 1200 metre elevation climbs. I hit the bottow on the last day with exactly 60 minutes on the watch, and finally got to the top some 81 minutes later.

The downhills in the area were amazing, it's been a long time since I had to put my bottom just above the back wheel to safely get through some of the singletrack sections. Brakes are on full, my eyes are focused, and I have this massive smile on my face. It's hard to express in words that feeling you have when you safely get to the bottom of some technical sections without crashing.

Finally, dinner on the last night we got taken to a classic Austrian Pub, for a truly massive feed. I had to say it, but being the glutton I am, I did finish mine quite quickly.

Out and About....

2010-06-07T21:33:00.003+10:00

Steyr City Kritierium

2010-05-30T18:24:00.004+10:00

I once read a magazine article, about how some mtb crits in Europe are held in and out of the little cobbled side-streets, where you ride down the stairs, run up the stairs, and there are tight corners and large crowds.

An e-mail sent, and I was on the start-list for the "krit' in Steyr in Austria, at 7pm at night...

I had no idea what to expect, and to see all the other racers arrive with 1.25" slicks, and carbon rigid forks made my 2.2" tyres look huge, but I was smiling....

International start lines are always fun, I sit there and pretty much have no idea whats going on or what they're saying. Even when they do the start line roll up, I have to wait to be tapped on the shoulder when its my time to go.

Now, this course was 1.2 km long, and we had 15 laps. The first 900 metres was open and wide with a tight right-hander going straight up a cobbled climb, then right again down a fast cobbled backstreet, then swing hard/fast on a downhill tight right-hander into the main street, then you did another right into a very thin cobbled side-street between two shops, from there you RAN up stairs and then jumped on the bike for a staircase downhill and back onto the main street.

Somehow I had a good start number, and got around a 2nd row start. I knew my legs didn't have the intensity, but I knew if I got into a good group I could hang on.

NOW.....lets talk about carbon soled shoes!!

The start goes, and I slam my left foot into the pedal and smash down again, I must have missed the cleat and WHACK, my whole body smashes onto the stem. Ouch....

The course was great fun, and the crowds were huge. There were little launch pads around the course (speed bumps) where I would launch into the unknown for the massive amount of kids standing to watch. And being the only Australian, I did attract a fair bit of attention and support from the 2-3 deep crowd around the course.

I was however, caught in no-mans land, strong enough to hold of those behind, but not strong enough to catch up. I took massive risks on the downhill stairs and the tight corners, but on the flats anything made up was lost. With 2 laps to go, the leader (who was around 1/2 in front of everyone) flew past me.......I managed to stay with him until the 'run up the stairs' and his technique was fluid...he put 2 seconds into me just up 12 steps.

All in all it was an amazing race, such a great atmosphere with the large crowds, most of which wanted to know was a single Australia was doing in a small town in Austria...

LOFER 24 Hour!

2010-05-26T19:31:00.006+10:00

Tight and twisty roads through a village, riding through a tunnel in the side of a mountain, steep singletrack downhills, great food, atmosphere and 500 like minded cyclists. It was a great weekend. Sadly, the rain started almost 3 days before the race, so it became a muddy course with no dry lines. No matter, with around 4 sets of kit, and a motorhome parked on the side of the track, it was all smiles from me.

Zooming in and out of the little streets in the town was great, they had set up outside bars everywhere, and the crowds really got behind the race. With the announcer stating my name, that I worked for Ay Up, and I was Australian, I quickly became known as "Aussie Ay Up Ryan". It made me smile each lap.

With the rain coming again during the race, the singletrack sections on the side of the mountain had to be taken out, and the course that was left was a fast paced route in and out of the mountain, and around the tight corners of the town.

Mud, mud and more mud. It was hard to keep clean during the event, and after only 4 hours (with 20 remaining) it was impossible to stay clean at all. The mud got into everything, and had me stopping every 3 laps to stop and hose my bike.

I have to admit, with my bike not really working and the rain kept on coming, I had a bit of sleep during the night. Then I got up, spun some laps and then had a trackside coffee with 4 hours to go. I am not sure why, but that last 4 hours had some of my quickest laptimes.

Sadly, I didn't get to stand up on the stage, but seeing the Ay Up logo on the background in an event in Austria, made me pretty proud.

Well, its now onto Germany for a XC and Marathon race one day apart.....till then.

RHINO

Austria!

2010-05-26T19:22:00.004+10:00

Well, we have made it to Austria and simply put, fallen in love with the area. The views, people, riding and the views again are postcard perfect.

Below was the grass downhill in the race, 2 days before the event. It rained so much that after 2 laps on raceday, this downhill was like a huge slippery slide. On one if my laps, a gent crashed in front of me and I had nowhere to go but ride over his bike. Whoops.

Marnie and I went exploring one day, and we found a paddock, inside the paddock was a very curious foal!

The cold weather still remained, although as I type this, I am outside in shorts and t-shirt. Finally we are seeing signs that summer is coming along.

The CX bikes have been the perfect choice while over here. We ride on-road, off-road and everything in between.

His and her shoes.....

A thousand words!

2010-05-24T22:00:00.003+10:00

Flashing Views!!!

2010-05-20T04:13:00.004+10:00

After the race in Belgium we were heading to another campsite before we left, we took a wrong turn and somehow ended up in Germany. No small problem, but it did make me smile to think that crossing country boarders was so easy.

I just downloaded the camera - here is some random photos.

Driving the motor home......we take it in turns really, and as the van is so wide it seems one person drives and the other reads. We found a very cheap English bookshop in Munich, and stocked up quite a bit. I am hitting up some of the classics...

The start of Stage 2 at the Belgium LCMT. It was a great event, but a cold streak in the weather made dressing a tad tough. I had on a winter undershirt, 2 sets of arm warmers, 2 jerseys, my wind vest and my rain jacket over the top. Believe it or not, I keep it all on for the whole 108 kms.

The WEB of bike locks. We were running the double while in Munich - we have a combination lock, and a 4 foot long padlocked cable. It works well, but takes a while to set-up and then get the bikes out of the web....

GERMAN Beer Hall. We have the most amazing (huge) meal in the beer hall, even on a Tuesday afternoon it was filled with people. Marnie and I each had a 1 liter monster, and I am not too proud to say it took a while to get through.

Finally, this is the view as I am typing my e-mails, blogs etc.......its simply amazing!

Over n OUT,

Rhino

British XC Round 2

2010-05-10T05:41:00.003+10:00

The motor home got us to the race site on Saturday afternoon, and with plenty of parking we were able to set ourselves up nicely. I did a practice lap of the course, and it was a bumpy roller-coaster. It would be fun.

Somehow, during the night, the motor home fire alarm started up, and I jumped from the bed above the cabin to the alarm in a single bounce. Once awake again, race day bought with it some cold weather (well cold for me) and I tried my best to warm-up.

I did the once over of the bike, and snapped a chain-ring bolt off. I did a quick patch repair, but it was going to be a noisy race.

Before I knew it, my first race was to start....and I proudly took up my designated position given to me by British Cycling (last place on the start).

I had a poor start, and trying to get around people took some pushing, but gaps appeared up after and any thoughts of a brilliant race were going away (and my severe lack of intensity riding in the last 7 weeks didn't help either). In the end I decided the best way to start my 6 months on the road, was to have a fun race. Ride the single track with a smile, and spin up the climbs.

My "race' continued on, my legs were hurting and then felt weird. A quick stop revealed a loose cleat. In the end it didn't matter, it was a race and I was here. The cold isn't my friend at the moment, but once my body gets used to it, and I get some solid kms into my legs everything should fall into place.

One of the crucial requirements of this trip, was to be able to hold all the 'stuff' that we need for 6 months on the road. Bikes are awkward to have, and take a lot of room, however some motor homes have a garage. Well, ours certainly does, as seen below....

The parting shot, something new for Marnie and I.....CX bikes. I will start to race 'cross' when I find some races. However another reason for the pair of bikes, is to get out and do some touring while in Europe. Will we rock the Ay Up Lights around the place, and when the weather gets nice do some overnight rides. Stay tuned.

Tomorrow or Tuesday we will board a Ferry and cross over to Europe. UK has been easy to find a good data plan for my mobile, but we don't know how it will work in Europe. I am sure I will sort itself out.

Onwards and Upwards

2010-05-07T02:29:00.004+10:00

Simply put, I underestimated the weather.

Sure, we came across with around 80 kilos of luggage, have bought alot of stuff here and also had things shipped over. The one thing missing, a warm jacket. Montane came to the rescue and now I am ready to tackle the next 6 months.

The organisation of putting together a 6 month road trip was a roller coaster, but I feel now that it has all come together well. We are on the cusp of leaving the UK to head over to Europe (just after the British Round 2 XC Champs), and the motor home has had a IKEA injection to make the next 6 months very comfortable indeed.

The learning curve of living in a motorhome has been steep, little things take a while to solve (i.e.: the fridge not working on gas...check the pilot light is on). All in all, the adventure has started and the fun is about to begin.

I am looking forward to talking to anyone and everyone about lights, cycling or any other adventure they have in mind. The schedule of races can be found over on the Ay Up website.

The next 6 months is busy, with races on every weekend across a total of 12 countries, but all I can do is smile.

Over N Out,

Rhino

Arrived in the UK......

2010-05-05T19:03:00.001+10:00

Driving Dennis

2010-04-09T13:56:00.002+10:00

Well, what a fast-paced 3 weeks.

Life in Melbourne has been anything but slow, with organising the upcoming trip, singletrack to explore and friends/family to catch up on. Its almost been a 'meet n great'. We will be here for only 3 more weeks, until we pack up and set off for 6 months in Europe and the UK.

In a couple of days, a new blog will be created for the Europe/UK portion of the trip, and like when I was in Belgium last year, I should be updating it everyday. I have found a great cycling video camera as well, and should also be uploading video onto You-Tube, hopefully bringing you footage of racing, singletrack and amazing views.

A change in phones/laptop has meant getting photos between one another took sometime, and I don't like to blog if I don't have a photo.

Over N Out,

Rhino

Changes and Upgrades

2010-03-10T19:08:00.003+10:00

Changes and upgrades are a way of life for a cyclist. We look at our already impressive bikes and ponder just what part we need to upgrade, even when nothing is wrong with the part to begin with.

More carbon, save a few grams here, new tyres, more colour, more black, more titanium or a lighter saddle. We do this in pursuit of enjoying our bikes, and life. However, when do we look at the reflection in the mirror and give ourselves a change or an upgrade?

Well, I have 'upgraded' my life and have accepted a job at AyUp Lighting, and in less than two months I will pack my bags and head for a 6 month journey in Europe and the UK (I will be in Europe in May, June, July and the UK in Aug, Sept and October).

Truth be known, my bags (and townhouse) are already packed and shipped down to Melbourne, another little change/update in my life. I have just 9 more days in the state I have called home for 4 years, and have enjoyed every sun soaked day.

We have all heard that famous saying, find something you love doing and you will never have to work again, and I am indeed doing just that.

So sit back, and stay tuned.....as soon you will be able to follow me while I roam the globe in pursuit of finding some of the best trails, places and countries.

Regards,

Ryan Hawson

Its RACE DAY

2010-03-10T19:02:00.002+10:00

Racing is awesome.

Racing right alongside your best mate, who is also your teammate is so much better. The DT Swiss Moutains to Beach has been raced, ridden and already planned for next year. Ben and I had a good event, winning stage 1 and building on our time all through the week.

The long stages we smacked it, and the shorter stages we focused on having fun...that combination was the key to having a great time,

Even better, we made the media....you can read about it here.

Click.

2010-02-08T11:13:00.003+10:00

Some people have a great skill in that they can make a photo truly reflect the moment.

Below is me on a warm-up lap of the XC event on Sat. It was still dry, the rain had yet to come in, and this climb was around a 1/3 of the way through the course. Could be a slight case on vanity, but I like this photo. It captured the moment.....thanks Richard.

His second photo is another good shot, again on my practice lap. I don't have a care in the world, and all of life's stress/drama is gone and my only concern is getting through the next corner. To me, that's why I race, everything becomes so simple.

Racing for me, especially on YETI is Therapeutic. There are no 'monthly reports', no 'updated forecasts', no 'hedging exchange rates', no 'e-mails' or 'phonecalls' as it all disappears into a world of pedaling.

MUD XC FUN

2010-02-07T08:21:00.005+10:00

Last night was the first of the 'summer series' XC races here in Bris, and there was not much summer in it. The rain was heavy, and the course was negotiated by following the 1" high stream of water. I made some BIG rookie mistakes that I will put down to 'training', but I know I really could have done with lights on the last 1.5 laps, some clear glasses and a bidon cage that actually held my bidon instead of throwing it away.

Lap 1. Alright start, straight into second, and then into first 400 meters down the track. The course is slippery, and I am a little too cautious on some of the corners. Holding a small lead of around 5-10 seconds when I finish the lap.

Lap 2. I know longer feel my battery is on my helmet, or rear pocket and all I can think is if the light is going to hold. I back the pace of slightly, to conserve some energy. I smack the climbs, but take a little longer through the tech singletrack. Lead holding to 10 seconds.

Lap 3. The rain eased, so the mud becomes sticky, and my eyes feel like they are covered. Why didn't I bring clear glasses? I reach for my bidon, but its no longer there. I have an almost huge off while going through a corner too quick, and the front slides out and over a tree root. Dave is on my tail. I roll in together with Dave on lap 3.

Lap 4. Its now a game of overtaking people, if you can time it perfect, you can get past another riding, knowing a gap will be closed and give you some space to 2nd place....and Dave was doing this perfectly to me. For every second he would put into me in the tech stuff, and I would make up on the climbs. Is it me, or is it getting dark? Gap behind Dave now at 5 seconds.

Lap 5, Last Lap. We are passing riders, and I know Dave is trying to put riders between me and him. I see him put a foot down through a corner, and I know if I speed up a I can get on his wheel, but my acceleration makes me put a foot down in the same place. DAMM. Its getting dark, I am squinting and taking risks just to hold his wheel. I am hammering the climbs to reel him in, but without seeing the line I am taking its a bumpy uphill task. With half a lap to go we are still at 5 seconds, but the last half lap its dark. In the end I hold onto 2nd, around 10 secs back....I am pleased.

The beauty I take from this sport, is that I am still learning from small mistakes. I should have secured my lights better, I should have worn clear glasses, I should put on better bidon cages, and Marnie is telling me I should smile more when I race.....

Have a great weekend,

Rhino

I am now off to bath in a tub of cash....

Lust.

2010-02-03T15:53:00.002+10:00

Cyclocross, I am still waiting for it to become popular in Australia. I can really see it working in VIC, especially during the winter.

In-fact, after the mud bath of a XC event last weekend, I could have found one of these really handy. Very handy indeed.

However, the rule of the house is a bike comes in, a bike 'should' go out.....but what to move. And if I strip a frame, does that could as a bike or a part.

Rules are always open to interpretation.

I like this one above, but not too keen on the pedal choice.

Mavic Classics SCC - finally.

2010-02-03T13:51:00.003+10:00

Last year, while in Belgium I wrote about my "the wish list'...my desire to find a pair of wheels that we made some 8 years ago. I think I have spent 2 years searching for them. I looked in Europe, tried tracking down a pair when I was in New Zealand, and even hunted with random google searches, but to no luck.

Well, the lovely 'soon to be MRS RHINO' tracked down a pair for my birthday. What a present they were, simply amazing.

Whats even more amazing, is they are BRAND NEW, never used. The stickers were coming un-stuck, but nothing some double-sided tape couldn't fix.

However, I think I now need to search for a 'tubular' pair.

The hunt continues.

Replace

2010-02-01T12:26:00.002+10:00

So no 12hour this weekend due to a large amount of rain that is falling around the area, so with that plan scrapped I managed to race a crit and find a local club MTB race.

The course was literally in someones backyard, and they have managed to make a 5.5km course, with so many twists and turns, and the straightest bit of track was around 30 meters. In the dry, this would be very quick, but with a heavy rain shower just at the start, it had me racing back to the car to put on my mud tyres.

It was only a mud fest for the first 2 laps, and every corner had you looking for traction on the inside/outside of the corners. Lap 3 was wonderful, nice and tacky but on the 4th lap is started to drizzle again and the turns once again needed to be taken a little slower.

It was a great course for the skills to be updated, but a bad day for keeping anything clean. When the chain sounded like a chainsaw, and the gears were getting limited, my smile started to rise.

I can't wait to race on this course in the dry, over a single lap it would be around 3-4 minutes quicker, but I can't complain as the fun factor was high.

A win was a win, and with some muscle building juice for the victor means that no-one will recognise me the next time I show up..

So a month to go before the DT Swiss race, things seem to be coming together.

Oh well.

2010-01-29T09:36:00.002+10:00

Training this week has been great, the perfect taper to get myself and my mind ready for this weekend 12 hour race. My bike has been into get serviced, my lights charged, gear organised, the training scaled back a little and best of all, my parents flew up last night to help Marnie look after me during the night.

I was ready, and ready to do well.

This morning, the race was cancelled.
Not to worry, there is so much racing in Brisbane at the moment regardless. So I will race a crit on Sat, and a MTB XC event on Sunday.....

Brilliant.

FAMOUS

2010-01-26T20:31:00.005+10:00

There are a few cycling websites I like to check out, and since Belgium Knee Warmers has been a little slow, I find Red Kite Prayer has given me my daily cycling fix. I log on today, and click the latest update, and to my surprise.....staring directly at me in the photo, is a photo of my Mum front and centre with George Hincapie, sporting a rather dashing yellow commuter jacket.

You have to understand, my family is a little cycling crazy, so it comes to no surprise to see my Mum in these photos. Heck, my Father and Sister made the newspapers over in France while the tour was on, and come to think of it, Dad made a couple of appearances in the Croc Trophy TV show as well.

If I was to do a quick summary, I can tell you this.

My Dad, he is a Campy man, don't talk any of that Shimano/SRAM rubbish with him. My Mum, she has eyes only for her Bianchi, and maybe Jens Voigt. My Sister is all about her pink/white Orbea with matching Helmet, and climbing up long hills. Together, they all took on the 110km Ride at the Tour down Under, no doubt attacking one another in the process.

I can't be more proud.

Happy Australia Day everyone......

Clink the link Mum

Pave Kid.

2010-01-25T09:50:00.003+10:00

I read with interest that the 2010 route for the Tour of Flanders has been annouced, and it makes me pretty damm happy while reading through the lists of climbs, and remembering going up them myself.

My month long Belgium trip in 2009 was amazing. I can remember watching old grainy VHS tapes of the Tour of Flanders/Roubaix and being amazing at going over the cobbles, even as I boy I desired to ride over the cobbles.

When I was 18, I remember riding the 30km from the family home into Melbourne to find cobbled laneways to try my hand at riding the pave. I remember bouncing all over the place, trying to keep my arms loose and pushing the big rings just like the stars did. It must have been this reason, of not having cobbles, that I turned my head towards racing MTB.

What I never imagined back then, was trying to ride those cobbles up the steep inclines like that in Belgium. They are steep, hard and you need to be riding fast to make them up.

The Classics are coming.....

Prep-Time

2010-01-25T09:43:00.002+10:00

The Dust till Dawn is fast approaching, and the ASR needed a little bit of some lover to get it ready for the weekend. With FTR re-greasing all the linkage points, its now slippery smooth and ready to hopefully roll the entire 12 hours through the night.

I have the new white YETI saddle to put on, but not sure if I really want a brand new unknown saddle on the bike for a 12 hour race. I am looking forward to the race, and it should be a good one.

Now comes time to worry about tyre choice, but I think a set of Kenda Smallblocks will be put on......or maybe the ONZA....

Racing.

2010-01-25T09:28:00.002+10:00

It must have been 2 months, maybe closer to 3 since I last pinned on a race number on my jersey, and raced a crit. They had become lackluster, and no desire in my legs to chase breaks or go on an attack. I simply missed the dirt.

Come January I didn't renew my licence, but was training heaps on the road, and then while doing the red rooster ride, pulling a huge turn the desire sparked back into my legs, and I was ready again.

Synergy Park last week was the first race back fro me, and it was good fun to sit on the front, chase/attack to get a break happening, but in the end it finished in a sprint. On Saturday, it was all or nothing, and I wanted a break to happen, and it did. There is a small joy in knowing you made the right move of the day, and were one of the strong ones pulling turn hard enough to hurt.

With my eyes firmly looking forward to the Dt Swiss Mountains to Beach, and late on the Australian Marathon Champs, I need to be laying the base work now. Hard kms, but not overly fast kms...
Like racing, it had been sometime since I climbed up Mt Nebo, and with that look of when you find something buried in a pile at home that you had been missing for years, my eyes lit up and I was in my element. Mt Nebo kicks, and drops, and isn't constant for any longer than 600 meters.

It is however, a classic climb in Brisbane.

Also, you can't start a new year, without new socks........

Allez...

2010-01-22T15:35:00.001+10:00

What a damm great idea...

http://www.melbournecyclist.com/forum/topics/arthur-vichot-tdu-rider-going

YETI Carbon 5

2010-01-20T14:29:00.002+10:00

Paul Rowney has just built this amazing 1 x 10 YETI Carbon 5 with Sram XX, and it looks killer. Not that Ben or I need anymore proof of our decisions to move towards these frames. Our ASR's are damm quick, but with the desire to race more 24's as a pair, and our move to race the stage races this year, not to mention individual goals at 6/8/12 hour solos.....it was a natural choice..
I just love that little YETI on the top tube.....

Frame Weight, sent to me via Zen Master.....

And a photo of Pauls complete bike...

This decision sadly leave me with an issue, I now must sell my ASR......so enquires are welcome.

Temptation.

2010-01-20T14:26:00.000+10:00

well, I had to have shoes to match my bike......

The Coffee Run

2010-01-20T14:08:00.002+10:00

Garage, Merlo, Brothers Espresso, Hard Coffee, Little Larder.

My typical haunts for a caffeine fix on my way to work, pending on how many extras I want to do, or not do pending on the previous day.

Yesterday, it was a new day, and I stopped halfway over the Goodwill Bridge for my fix. The coffee was ok, served only in takeaway cups, but the view is one that certainly makes up for the throw away cup....

Brisbane certainly is a great city.

Lizard.....

2010-01-20T13:58:00.002+10:00

Brisbane is again hot, well not so much hot, as humid. If your riding, you just keep drinking, and don't stop until you go to bed a night.

However, the idea of the importance of water really only hit me the other day. Like most mornings, I pick up my coach Steve, and we head off. We drink a bidon of fluid and typically always stop at the water tap on the bike path opposite the Regatta Hotel. If we are lucky, the lizards will be waiting for the leftover water from the tap to hit the group, and off they go drinking it.

Its a pretty unique thing to see... Very soon, the picture quality on this blog will be enhanced, mainly due to another mobile phone about to be thrown into the Brisbane River.......

Also, the new 99 Bikes team kit looks good. Very Cervelo....

DT Swiss Mountains to Beach

2010-01-13T13:12:00.002+10:00

http://www.wildhorizons.com.au/mountains-to-beach

Ben and I are going to be racing this one, and as with most things, its a little late notice but just enough time to get the legs up and running for 5 days of torture. We will be racing pairs, and the rules are that we have to stay in 'sight' of one another......

It will be a good time to get those Mavic Yellow Shoes all dirty again.....

There is the slighest of chance that we will be on the new YETI Carbon 5, which would be amazing.......then its just the decision to pull the trigger on SRAM XX or not.....but I already know the answer..!!

KMS, laps and Cross Training...

2010-01-12T14:01:00.002+10:00

My first race is a good one, SOLO MEN at the upcoming Dusk till Dawn race on the 30th of January. In Brisbane, its dark at 7pm (race start) and at around 4am you can turn your lights off and keep on riding.

In a strange way, I am looking forward to it. Although its way too early in the year for me to even contemplate hammering the laps out, my intention is to just plod along and just keep moving forward.

KMS on the bike is still being done, and this week will ramp up close to 20 hours, and then keeps on going up over the next couple of months. Also, to maximise my time, I have started to swim at the local pool during lunchtime. Swimming for me isn't fun, I must look like a blender in the water.....lots of splashing, and not much moving forward.

The other cross-training stuff was helping out friend renovate a townhouse. It was damm hard work, the endless list of 'little things' that needed to be done kept the body moving, and the amount of 'stair repeats' had me feeling it when I laid down at night.

The only negative thing at the moment, was a single puncture this morning on my ride to work. It happened on the busiest road I ride on, and with a 2" nail helping make my puncture a quick one, it made the 150 meters on a rim a tad scary. No matter, thank inventors for C02 cartridges.

Time to charge up the AyUp lights, replace some bearings in the YETI and purchase some more chamois cream.....12 hours of 'racing' awaits.

Di2

2010-01-12T13:53:00.002+10:00

MTB and Road technology is moving ahead crazy fast. On the road you have the new Di2, and from my little taste am amazed at how fast it is. On the dirt, it seems suspension and the new SRAM XX is the new technology that is also so fst, light and seems the must have item for 2010.

First up, is the decision on Di2, and if it really is all its cracked up to be. The setting up is amazing, just a couple of buttons pressed to get the trim correct on the rear mech, and voila.....its all done. I do wonder however, if the next generation of Di2 will be installed in Shimanos 'PRO' line up of components.

I can help but wonder why all the exposed cables couldn't be installed within a stem or handlebars..

I guess my only hesitation with Di2 is the rear mech, if you crash in a race, or if someone hits you from the rear in a crit, its this fine piece of engineering that will be the first to be wrecked, and its an expensive replacement part...

The battery isn't as big as I thought it would be, and with friends on Di2 stating they are getting 2 weeks worth of riding, my concerns of being stuck in the 53 x 11 are no longer there....I can predict that the battery technology might increase, but the size will stay the same.

The sound the derailers make when changing, sounds like a light saber...

Will I join the Di2 club.........all reports inside my head suggest YES!!!

And as for SRAM xx on my MTB, my head already pre-approved that deal a long time ago....not jsut waiting for a carbon YETI 5 frame to put it on....

The Thief.

2010-01-07T11:06:00.002+10:00

Its too early in the morning.

Both the wall clock, the microwave and my watch all say I am running late to get onto the bike. I waste some time wondering if the clocks are all running fast so I am on time, but then realise I am wasting that time by wondering. Its a never-ending circle of confusion.

I am ready. My bike is ready, albeit with a rather soft front wheel.

No time to change that flat I think, and I 'borrow' the front off Marnie's. I stand there, and am now not content to ride mis-matched wheels, so I 'borrow' her rear as well.

Why can't I ride mis-matched wheels...

Have you ever noticed, that a cyclist will never say they are riding well. You get to the start line, and ask how everyone is going, and all of them will say 'been training heaps' or 'tired' or 'just a hard training ride'.

I am bucking the trend, and in the first time in 17 months, can say that I am training/riding well. I can feel it, pedalling feels easy and I notice the speedo showing higher numbers that this time last year.

Pacelines are fun, hills are good and motivation....its in abundance.

BUT best of all, I want to pin a race plate on my bike....and holding myself back is the hard part.

Even my ice cubes in my Jack are good for motivation.....

PS: Guess by this post I have officially busted myself in regards to the wheels.....unlucky!!

Heros...

2010-01-06T14:14:00.002+10:00

You see amazing things when your out riding, your closer to the road, closer to the action and along the way you really do see some good things. The amount of random items on the side of the rosd (always right hand shoes), the animals (living and flat), the hoons, the near misses, the rain clouds and the views.

You also seem some increadible acts of stupidity, and at the other spectrum you see acts of kindness (weirdness).
BUT Today, was special. I watched a 'mate' kindly take a little Caterpillar off his bike before rolling off, and putting him back into the flowerpot.

Moving on.

RIGHT, so today after a very solid morning, we roll into what 'used' to be a great cafe. Cheap, good coffee, great muffins and friendly service. Somehow this has all been changed, and although the outside looks the same, inside was a different story. The owners must have sold up, and the new owners had taken on over.

I will be honest and upfront, I drink all coffee. Damm, I have gone to mine sites in the middle of the jungles in PNG, where there is no milk and the coffee comes from a rusty tin....but I will still drink it with a smile. I don't claim to know (or understand) the subtle differences in blend, creama or bitterness...as long as I don't gag, I will be fine. However, I do know one thing.

If you make my coffee (or any other drink), with curdled/crap/old/off milk....then I am really only left with one option...

Over n Out.

Rhino

Building Base...

2010-01-05T09:14:00.002+10:00

I have long thought about hitting the road, with panniers and maybe a trailer on my bike, rolling off into the QLD sun. When I raced the Croc Trophy, I was amazed at the landscape thats within Australia, as for years I had flown all over the world for 'wonderful views'.

Since then, the urge to explore Australia has burned a little brighter, and although the thought that it could wait until I retire in 30 odd years and buy a huge 4WD and equally big caravan sounds good, the idea to see it a little more closer and slower lingers.

Every 3 months of so, I click around the Internet looking at bike trailers, routes or other peoples adventures. Sometimes I stand in my garage, wading through the spare parts boxes in hope that there is enough parts for a 'touring bike' to be created. Then, this morning I came across this, which then lead to me this informative website.

Travelling with a dog, on the back of a trailer or on top of the pannier rack seems a great idea. Sure you have to budget a few more kilos of gear to accommodate, but overall it seems reasonable.

The big issue will be not going in State Forests, but sticking to main roads, and also...finding accommodation for a dog is always a problem. The best thing however, is the idea is sticking inside my head. What better way to get some hard base kms in for the rest of the year, but to rack up some long, slow kms with a bike laden full of camping gear, and a dog sitting on top..

I am waiting for reality to crash in soon, but I just can't see it happening. I wonder if I could do a MTB marathon race with Herbie in a trailer.....

Rolling.

2010-01-04T10:38:00.003+10:00

Training in 2010 has been good, not solid or hard, but good. Rolling around a couple of kms slower, looking around the world without a care in the world.

I always feel that I know if the next year is going to be good or not, but how I ride on Christmas Day, and considering I rode twice (both up hills) I think that this year is going to be a good one.

The rain in Brisbane seems to come down right at the moment that I want to go ride, and as I am still on 'holiday time' the desire to get up at 5am is slipping.

Sadly, tomorrow is again a 'morning time' ride.....bring on the Rooster.

Happy New Years.

2009-12-31T11:58:00.002+10:00

Well, 2009 is done.....the last training ride was done this morning, and I can feel the slight 'ouch' in my legs.

2010 is going to be great, some big races already on the calender, and hopefully another big trip overseas.

Over n Out...

Rhino

Random.......

2009-12-31T11:53:00.004+10:00

Herbie enjoyed his trip back to Melb, and why not......he got another house made more him.

There is always something strange about driving your old car.........I got my little 4WD for my 21st, and that was almost 10 years ago........good on me for handing the keys over 4 years ago to my best mate when I moved up to Bris.

He let me have a drive for 'old times sake'.........and I think I want it back!!

The KMS.

They have been rolling along, some hard/some easy.....this period of base kms for the rest of the year has been good, and been done right.

2010 looks to be shaping up well. Gone is the lack of motivation to hammer myself, its back and it getting angry...