Madone - On the Rivet

On the Rivet have a few selected demo models for riders to try out in the real world. It is a great way to confirm any doubts when buying a bike, and for me it has been a hard choice, and one I want to get right. With my road racing increasing over the past year or so I want to make a good choice. So without a roadie I have been getting my fix with a Trek Madone 5.2.This is similar in spec to my old Giant TCR Alliance, so the Ultegra components was very familiar and I felt right at home. The frame was a 54cm, a touch small for me but it gave me a really good idea on the frame characteristics.

The look is great, some very nice details, and Trek have finished it off nicely. The very wide BB, unique tube shapes, internal cables, all finished off to perfection and hard to pick any faults. The 5.2 is very stealth, it was nice but personally not quite what I want but it is a personal thing. The 5.5, 5.9 definitely appeal more to me in the paint department.

The frame really is where it all matters, and while this is a 5 series and not the top of the line 6, it still had most the design qualities of the 6 and comes in at a lower price. Having being so adapted to the Giant I could feel instantly the differences in the frame. The bike was stiffer yet less harsh, I found as soon as I put any effort in I was rewarded then and there with the bike jumping forward, but also smoother to ride. It felt like a racier bike yet more comfortable. Designs change over 3 years and the Alliance was partly alloy, but the Trek did feel like it had the perfect balance.

I decided a ride up Honeysuckle would be the best choice where I can do my timed run and compare. It was great I never felt sluggish and definitely felt lighter, and easier to punch over the steep rise. My time was off my best and I must admit I am in no shape at the moment to get close to it, but I was not far off, the bike without a doubt improved the climb. The decent was quick...too quick, I felt uncomfortable and it was not the bike slowing me down it was me. The bike handled speed so well I just did not feel right going so quick into the corners I had to brake. There was no twitching, flexing, it was smooth and stiff. I was the weak link, I've never felt that descending on a road bike before.

Overall I really like the bike, it has everything I want plus more. So the decision has been made, I know what I want, it is just so hard to choose the model. Each model has a great spec and all look fantastic it is hard to make that choice. Hopefully the next month I can move forward and get back to the road efforts.

Thanks On the Rivet for the test ride, you have eased the itch temporarily :).


Seems I need to clean my phone camera lens :)

Where to go?

Well to be honest lately I've been in a spin. Up till about 6 weeks ago it was all fantastic hitting all the numbers, good build happening for Easter solo then sickness came, I was thiniking all good plenty of time to bounce back. I built back up and was looking good again, then Bella happened. Mont had come with little riding in the week leading in, I must admit I was a little flat but still riding well. But since the mont I have been suffering hand numbness but battling through it, and looking at bike positioning again. Then my wheels were taken out of me by a bull bar. All is good physically a little sore but not too bad, roadie did not cope too well a write off, but at least the driver was good about it claiming responsabilty (well so he should). The "sorry mate I did not see you" words were used as I was getting myself off the tar. Things like that happens unfortunately and the driver was a good bloke in making sure I was OK and taking me home. Hopefully I will have some luck with the claim.
So with all this happening, 6+6 will be over for me (although I decided that on the weekend), and I may even give the Rockytrail race a miss. Really depends on how I feel riding over the next few days. But somehow I think somebody is telling me something, maybe I should just sit on the couch and get fat.........sounds fun, but that is not living.
So today I went out for a fun ride, and really just what I needed. Nothing beats a good day out, no intentions, no numbers to chase, it cleared my head and for the first time in a few weeks I really felt back at home on the bike.
More details to come on that ride.
This weekend of course the Easter solo's is on, feeling a little dissapointed I'm not doing it. It's strange sitting this one out after doing the last 5 (well last year was a real failure, so I guess that does not count). But it is all for the best, and I'll be out there cheering. So good luck to all, and hit up a few laps for me and make them fun one's!

The rockin Mont 24 hour

Radical Lights 6 mixed team.
Yeah late report again...I know.
What a fun weekend, and really what I needed after a hard couple of weeks. But with a great team of 5 (Jase McAvoy, Andrew Hall, Garry James, and Kath Bicknell) I knew the good times were ahead of us.
The start of the race was up to Jason or I, and I was very glad when Jase put his hand up, my head just was not up to the chaos at that stage, so I jumped out 2nd and was very happy with the clear run that Jase left for me, so nice to get into the groove of a fantastic course. My last 3 laps were all night laps, and the last 2 were filled with some cramping but it was so cool to hear that guitar rockin, my was head was nodding to the tunes and distracted me from the pain of the final climb. Honestly the riding was soooo good out there, it was great fun, perfect track conditions, awesome descents, and rockin tunes. I really can't see how these guys could have made me grin anymore.
Our team just worked like clockwork, such consistent reliable riders, nothing seemed stressed it just worked. I was lucky enough to add an extra bar light (Jeremiah Bishop's ex light, with auto dimming when my speed dropped), and my first night lap was less than 3 minutes down on my first, and I really think it was only due to the traffic, as my first lap was a clear run. The radical lights really did make it like day.
Off the track it was all happening, mate's to catch up with, good food, and loads to keep everyone entertained. The vibe just keeps getting better with the mont, and it was so good to be amongst it. The crew are definitely making a new standard in 24 racing, and when sparrow and the kow get linked up who knows what will happen.
Huge thanks the Radical lights team it is always fun and great to be amongst it with you guys!

Hopefully I'll get my bot in gear and post some pictures.

The Bella Story

It is really amazing the impact best friends make, and sometimes it is not till they are gone till you really understand what you are missing out on. I know to some people dogs are dogs, pets are pets, but those people you have really missed out on some of the best friends anyone could have.

The Bella Story
I remember Kendra coming home one day, saying I just saw this beautiful dog down at the shops, I really like her and you have to come and see. Oh yeah OK (thinking here we go, soon we will have 2 dogs, it must be cute). So we walked Elsa down to and had a look, Bella was the only female (Kendra seem to only like female pets she want to outnumber me), and was the only one to go to the window to get excited to see Elsa. Then she was straight to me, back to Elsa, then me all excited. Bella was sold as soon as the she was taken out of the enclosure to run to Elsa. We walked home with Bella in Kendra’s jumper pocket. We were pretty worried about her falling down a drain.
Bella was a funny little character with some big assets. Those that knew her, knows it was not just her ears, she had a big heart and a load of love to give. You show her kindness and you were rewarded 100 times over. She was a Staffy X Jack Russell she was the boutique dog, before I’d even heard of one, I guess you could call her a Jaffy, Stack, or a Ruffy. We always got in trouble for her being too fat, but with her Staffy body, Jack head and a huge love for food it was always a challenge, but her energy always kept her in good form. With daily walks, it was not long till Kendra was recognised by many around our area and was very well known.
The beach was great for the dogs. With Elsa I always ran down into the wet sand and wait for the wave to come, run back as Elsa got dumped by the water, it was a little game, as she always got to jump on me with her wet sandy paws. The first beach visit with Bella, and Elsa was running in with Bella following. It was pretty funny to watch her show Bella the game. Bella looking like she nearly drowned but came out all smiles. She leant early and was always quick to run back.
The Brisbane years were hard on our dogs, but Bella did really show how amazing she was during this time she proved she was special (more on that later). Being small(ish) she never really felt comfortable around large or aggressive dogs, but with numerous visits to dog parks she was getting her confidence. Till one day Kendra was walking them and 2 dogs decided to have a go, one dog was between Elsa and Bella, the other attacked Bella. With Kendra on the ground after the leads were tangled and pulled her legs out, we were very grateful to the guys who stopped to help. With stiches and drips Bella was always very cautious around any other dog until they showed their friendship.
She is just amazing, and proving she was not just the dog that followed in Elsa’s footsteps she had her unique abilities. One day I got a call at work, saying that my dogs had been let out (previous occupants had signed a letter saying the fire ant sprayers were allowing in our backyard, so they went in but let our dogs out). Bella came back but Elsa kept running away from anyone she did not know, and was chased far from home. I came home and searched everywhere hearing different reports of where she was I searched from about 2pm till 9pm mostly driving around walking across ovals (I should have been a bike rider back then). Our last effort for the night was to let Bella go and follow we thought it was a long shot. Bella started running, and running, it had been a while since I had run that far and really did not know what she was up to. We were about 3k’s from home till she stopped, she stood there looking around and barked. Elsa popped her head out of a shady bush obviously hiding away in the summer sun. I was stunned (Elsa was too), I still am amazed and scratch my head over that one and would not believe it unless I was there. She proved she had smarts, and obviously knew more than we did.
We moved back to Canberra, and really when my MTB riding resumed after many years of other things. The dogs got a Cat to play with again, and loved racing into the water pools near our house. Our friends brought a farm and it was time for a few visits. Bella loved it from the time we got there, and she jumped out of the car and she chased this black fox (which was twice the size of her) she got pretty close but I was happy when she could not catch it and came running back very proud. They had a few big weekends there, and they always finished the day absolutely buggered. They lived for weekends away where we just could not wipe the grins off their faces.
The girls have slowed down since those trips, but they could never knock back the good times, Bella grew a grey goatee around her mouth, but her mind was always like it was when she was a puppy. She finally found a love for squeaky toys and instead of Elsa ripping them apart; she allowed Bella to have a few months of joy from each one, before Elsa had enough and ripped them to pieces.
Bella never stopped being a friend; she was always with us in the yard, never in the way, just there. She always sat on the pavers in 40 degree days while Kendra hung the clothes on the line. She was there helping me wash my bikes, and always happy for a pat, even if it was a cold wet hand in the middle of winter.
Our final weekend away was such a good weekend, Bella went into the surf and this time she was riding the waves, she was no longer running from them (unlike her dad), she was the big girl. She snuck some cuddles in, sneaking up onto the bed through the night. We went to a friend’s wedding one afternoon while the old dogs rested. But deep down we knew this maybe the last special trip away. We knew both our dogs were getting on and they have lived through many of their dog friends passing. We look back only a few weeks ago and cherish that time when Bella was last herself.
Since that time Elsa has been whining some nights and, the Bella we knew slowly faded. She fought till the end as she gave us one last walk as a family. The following morning her will was gone, and no longer could she keep fighting against her disease. We walked from the vets with a squeaky toy which she spent her last night with (we could not have had her there sleeping alone).
Bella has left a huge hole, which will never be fully filled. She gave us so much love it was like a bucket overfilling. Elsa and Millie have been looking very lost without her and Kendra and I, between us just can’t match what Bella use to give. She will always be a beautiful character that will always be missed.
RIP Bella, most of all we will always miss the look of excitement and happiness every time we saw you.
Thank you to all that were apart of Bella’s life, I know that through every part of it she had made some special friends.