Fire in the sky.

It stopped raining today. It's been raining since I got home from Adelaide. I went for a ride this evening and wasn't sure if the Apocalypse was coming....



It must be; and instead of horses, War, Famine, Pestilence and Death have arrived on very small wheels.






Notice any resemblance?


And much to the dismay of any fixie hipster/officionado out there, I have attached bull horns to the Retard. I like them. Ole!

Big loads.

I've been thinking a lot lately about how easy it actually is (in most circumstances) to ride everywhere and use public transport, using a car only for recreation on weekends and the occasional carriage of large objects or groceries (not stealing furniture on hard rubbish day Rachael). This also got me thinking as to whether the inevitable increase in fuel costs will eventually see every day people riding 500 meters to the local shops or video store instead of driving, I hope so. (Remember when there were corner stores on every corner? Why don't they exist any more? Because people drive to malls instead).

I think I'm doing pretty well riding EVERYWHERE on my fixie and carting stuff around on my back, although I certainly looked like the Hunchback Of Notre Dame on the way back from the post office the other day, my Chrome Mini Metro bulging at the seams. I even caught the bus to town on Saturday night. It's come to the point where I actually feel guilty all day if I drive to work or use my car to go shopping, but sometimes I have no choice, a weekly grocery trip means six or seven green bags. Then I came across this at a local bike shop.

The Kona Ute is a sign that the world is changing. When you see a huge bike company take an idea like this and run with it, you know attitudes are changing, even if only a little bit. Big companies don't take risks so they obviously know that they will sell enough of these to make it worthwhile. How great is that!!

I want one!! Now to justify another bike in the stable, and convince Elroy to ride on the back.

Wet weather and the Retard.

It's been a bit of a shock returning to normality after having such a good time over Christmas. The weather here is tremendously humid and wet, but surprisingly nice when the wind is rushing past on a bike. So I've been spending lots of time just cruising around rather than being in the house, increasing my carbon footprint by using the air conditioners.

The tropical cloud formations are awesome though.


And the Premier Cycles bike has been officially named 'Retard'. Long story, but in short a certain forum I frequent is full of non-fixie-believers and after posting a pic of my latest conquest the question was raised as to how I 'retard' the speed (read: where are the brakes?). Other forum members replied that there was plenty of retardation, some of it sitting on the bike. So the name has stuck, literally. And who in their right mind would steal a bike with no gears, brakes or pedals (to speak of) that has pink wheels and 'Retard' emblazoned on it's side? My Kriptonite Evolution is less of a deterrent than that I think.


Oh, and I tried some fixie cyclocross at the marina construction site. Not overly successful, skid stopping on mud with 28mm slicks isn't really skid stopping, it's more like just plain sliding. Damn good fun though.

Holidays are over.

I'm sitting at Brisbane airport on my way back to the 'ville. The holidays are over and tomorrow it's back to the grind stone. A sign of a good holiday is when it feels longer than it was, and it feels like I was away for months. Time well spent I say.

Here are some images from the last few days.

Tim and Chloe demonstrating responsible driving through teamwork.


Langers arrived on Thursday for some Adelaide time. Gotta love breakfast pizza!!

Then we ventured to the Belgian Beer Cafe (Oostender) for some Leffe,

before retiring to the Seacliff Pub, my home away from home away from home.


Shadows from the Seacliff Pub.


The next day saw more hot weather so we went for a swim at Glenelg,


then consumed much Sangria and Margarita with dinner as the sun set at Gringos Mexican Cantina. Oh, and the food was great too!!


And my final sunset with Rach at O'Sullivans Beach.



Until my next holiday I'll be the one staring at my computer from behind my desk, dreaming of days like those just gone.

Christmas is over, it's a New Year.

So another Christmas is over and the decorations are coming down.


New years came around quickly so we headed to the Fleurieu Peninsular to get some camping in. It all started at the Cape Jervis Tavern. Gotta love those carpets.

As night fell we headed to the camp site.


And by day it had transformed from 39 degrees the previous day to low twenty the next, so the jumpers came out.

And a New Years Day walk through the city.


Then I ventured out to see the wine country today on a magnificent trail built over the old railway line all the way from Adelaide to Wilunga.