http://www.ssnats.org.au
Check the site out for all the details on the SS Nationals to be held in canberra in September. The BSS&SS are aiming to have a warm up event about a month earlier so stay tuned.
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
A few cold ones after the Husky 100
A six pack of coldies after the Husky 100
1. Solitude
Nothing beats getting away by yourself, camping in the back of your ute in a swag and staring into the big sky at night. I got the opportunity at the Husky 100. It’s not something I would like to do every day, but it is nice to break away occasionally and have some ‘me’ time.
2. Old Friends
I still get blown away with the friends that re-appear in your live. Nick and Ally Munting, Timmy Hunter, Andy Lloyd are people that have reappeared in my life after decades of zero contact through events like this.
3. Good manners & respect
I rode with a guy on a back dual suspension and red jersey up to the 70km mark. Not that I was at the pointy end, but we raced as hard as we could. We swapped turns, waited for each other at the feed zone and when I clipped a peddle in the single track, we passed the slower riders as one and communicated the same language to the 50km riders as well as the volunteers marshaling the course. He dropped me up a fire road climb somewhere between the 70 and 80km mark, and he respectfully waited at the top for me to catch up. I was shot and flagged him on. It was nice riding with him – who ever he was.
4. Country Hospitality
Nothing beats a smile and the genuine feeling that someone is happy that you are in their town/ racing their race/ interested in their product. Mum always said that it is nice to be important, but more important to be nice. The hospitality that was shown over the weekend brought that lesson back home.
5. Cold beer
It is tradition to stop in and have a beer at the pubs “off the beaten track”. Even if I was travelling solo, I felt it my duty to call into the Nerriga Pub and have a snappy on the way home. They had the fire raging with video clips on the TV. The beer was cold and it was good.
6. Coming Home
The family and dogs were still at Grandma’s, but I am pretty sure that the chooks rushed to the gate to say that they missed me; the cows seemed to bow their head in a regal sort of way to say that they were glad that I was home and the fire seemed extra kind in warming the house so quick. It is nice to come home.
1. Solitude
Nothing beats getting away by yourself, camping in the back of your ute in a swag and staring into the big sky at night. I got the opportunity at the Husky 100. It’s not something I would like to do every day, but it is nice to break away occasionally and have some ‘me’ time.
2. Old Friends
I still get blown away with the friends that re-appear in your live. Nick and Ally Munting, Timmy Hunter, Andy Lloyd are people that have reappeared in my life after decades of zero contact through events like this.
3. Good manners & respect
I rode with a guy on a back dual suspension and red jersey up to the 70km mark. Not that I was at the pointy end, but we raced as hard as we could. We swapped turns, waited for each other at the feed zone and when I clipped a peddle in the single track, we passed the slower riders as one and communicated the same language to the 50km riders as well as the volunteers marshaling the course. He dropped me up a fire road climb somewhere between the 70 and 80km mark, and he respectfully waited at the top for me to catch up. I was shot and flagged him on. It was nice riding with him – who ever he was.
4. Country Hospitality
Nothing beats a smile and the genuine feeling that someone is happy that you are in their town/ racing their race/ interested in their product. Mum always said that it is nice to be important, but more important to be nice. The hospitality that was shown over the weekend brought that lesson back home.
5. Cold beer
It is tradition to stop in and have a beer at the pubs “off the beaten track”. Even if I was travelling solo, I felt it my duty to call into the Nerriga Pub and have a snappy on the way home. They had the fire raging with video clips on the TV. The beer was cold and it was good.
6. Coming Home
The family and dogs were still at Grandma’s, but I am pretty sure that the chooks rushed to the gate to say that they missed me; the cows seemed to bow their head in a regal sort of way to say that they were glad that I was home and the fire seemed extra kind in warming the house so quick. It is nice to come home.
a six pack after capital punishment
Just like cold beer, I thought of the 6 best things about the Capital Punishment 100km – May 20 2010
1. Catching up with mates.
Racing is a great way to catch up with old buddies, either locals or from out of town. It also gives you another ‘war story’ to re kindle the dialogue on email or phone conversation until the next race comes around.
2. Bitumen
I dreaded the thought of the 2 road stages when reading the race profile days before the event. But, when the first bitumen stage came a few k’s after Majura, I almost kissed the pavement like the Pope. The feeling was religious-like for me.
3. Lollies
My manners were poor when I got to the aid station at Majura Winery. My mother would not have been happy with the way I scoffed the lollies down, and the way I was snorting as I shoved more than my fair share of the complementary lollies down my gob. Sorry mum.
4. Pennies in the bank.
Racing in those conditions are tough. The benefits from pushing through the barriers, mental and physical, will last for years and return interest for many races to come.
5. The purpose built tracks of Stromlo
How sweet were the trails at Stromlo. Glen Jacobs and his crew deserve a cold beer for their efforts in building sustainable tracks that flow so sweetly.
6. Defeating the demons of Kowen and Stromlo
The 2003 Stromlo 24hr and 2006 Kowen 24hrs were raced in similar conditions, and I still carry the mental scares of those races and those tracks to this day. Riding through these trails last weekend brought back nightmares of these races. But this time – the trails didn’t beat me, and I finally said goodbye to the demons of races past….for the moment anyway.
1. Catching up with mates.
Racing is a great way to catch up with old buddies, either locals or from out of town. It also gives you another ‘war story’ to re kindle the dialogue on email or phone conversation until the next race comes around.
2. Bitumen
I dreaded the thought of the 2 road stages when reading the race profile days before the event. But, when the first bitumen stage came a few k’s after Majura, I almost kissed the pavement like the Pope. The feeling was religious-like for me.
3. Lollies
My manners were poor when I got to the aid station at Majura Winery. My mother would not have been happy with the way I scoffed the lollies down, and the way I was snorting as I shoved more than my fair share of the complementary lollies down my gob. Sorry mum.
4. Pennies in the bank.
Racing in those conditions are tough. The benefits from pushing through the barriers, mental and physical, will last for years and return interest for many races to come.
5. The purpose built tracks of Stromlo
How sweet were the trails at Stromlo. Glen Jacobs and his crew deserve a cold beer for their efforts in building sustainable tracks that flow so sweetly.
6. Defeating the demons of Kowen and Stromlo
The 2003 Stromlo 24hr and 2006 Kowen 24hrs were raced in similar conditions, and I still carry the mental scares of those races and those tracks to this day. Riding through these trails last weekend brought back nightmares of these races. But this time – the trails didn’t beat me, and I finally said goodbye to the demons of races past….for the moment anyway.
Monday, June 7, 2010
BERM CITY
Both the Prestontown and Burkville trails are getting a little bit fancy of late. Wooden berms are the latest trend and it was go go go last weekend.
Burkeville's berms will include 'non-slip' adhesive and a panic button in case of slip failure and further injury.
The Prestontown berms will include the see-saw and flying fox.
Either way - cold beer were drunk and one gearded bikes were ridden
Burkeville's berms will include 'non-slip' adhesive and a panic button in case of slip failure and further injury.
The Prestontown berms will include the see-saw and flying fox.
Either way - cold beer were drunk and one gearded bikes were ridden
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Royalty at the 'moon'
The Hoskinstown trails were blessed with the upper echelon of the SS movement in ACT this morning. Davo and Sam made the trek out, and after a quick cuppa, we hit the race loop. I was keen to get some honest opinion on the tracks 'flow', and have a good chat about the organisation of the 2010 SS Nationals that the guys are running in Majura Pines on September 10 and 11.
The trails got the thumbs up, my crash in North Shore got a double thumbs up, and if I could do a cartwheel, I would when I got the details on the race they are planning in September.
The ride became an official Single Speed sanctioned event, we had a beer. It was cold; it was good!
Join the mailing list for the Nationals. Email Michael on 2010assn@gmail.com.
Keep up to date on the Bungendore Single Speed Championships by logging on to this blog.
The trails got the thumbs up, my crash in North Shore got a double thumbs up, and if I could do a cartwheel, I would when I got the details on the race they are planning in September.
The ride became an official Single Speed sanctioned event, we had a beer. It was cold; it was good!
Join the mailing list for the Nationals. Email Michael on 2010assn@gmail.com.
Keep up to date on the Bungendore Single Speed Championships by logging on to this blog.
Sunday, May 16, 2010
...small things x 3
Turned my stem upside down on the Salsa today. It reduced my handle bar height by 40mm or so, and now is almost identical to the Gary Fisher Rig. Rode for an hour or so late on Sunday afternoon and I found perfect happiness. The new bike glow had worn off and I was wondering why the new Salsa Dos Niner wasn't feeling quite right. I compared seat height, seat position, geometry, bar end angle, seat angle, bottom bracket height and then I realised how dumb I am. Inverted the stem - as on the Rig - and just like a gay looking magician in Vegas - magic happened.
12 wheelbarrows of dirt; and a swim prevention device has been created.I was worried that without a berm on the western end of the ELERINGTON, there would be too many bikes in the dam. Now that it is going on winter, swimming in the dam is no longer an option. It is something that I have been putting off for a while now, but a solid hour on the end of a shovel has done the trick. Whilst the berm still needs a bit more physical labour, the back has been broken, and a small amount of effort has made the track all the more sweeter.
I raked the North Shore extension again today. It's probably the 5th time the add-on to North Shore has been groomed this way, but this time, it seems that I have reached the hard stuff, and now the corners can be hit at speed with confidence.
Life is good!
12 wheelbarrows of dirt; and a swim prevention device has been created.I was worried that without a berm on the western end of the ELERINGTON, there would be too many bikes in the dam. Now that it is going on winter, swimming in the dam is no longer an option. It is something that I have been putting off for a while now, but a solid hour on the end of a shovel has done the trick. Whilst the berm still needs a bit more physical labour, the back has been broken, and a small amount of effort has made the track all the more sweeter.
I raked the North Shore extension again today. It's probably the 5th time the add-on to North Shore has been groomed this way, but this time, it seems that I have reached the hard stuff, and now the corners can be hit at speed with confidence.
Life is good!
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
We're going to the worlds!
The entire membership base of the Bungendore Single Speed and Social Society are heading to the World SS Champs in New Zealand in October.
Swell design group, and a band of merry men grooming the tracks of PRESTONTOWN will ensure the BSS&SS gain international status in 2010!
Gotta be happy with that!
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Storms trash trails.
72mm of rain in 90 minutes has created some havoc to some of the trails at Orana Moon.
The 'big rain' caused big run off and created unique rivers through the property.
The leaf litter that gum trees are renowned for, as well as fallen branches, ended up bunched and in some weird and wonderful places, and showed the high tide marks and route of the make-shift rivers.
All of the bridges have been located, and a few hours with a chainsaw and rake should get all the single trail around the front nine rideable again.
It is not all bad though; the down hill trails have been swept clean by the current, and now are buff and smooth; and the natural flow of the rain has been identified so that the trail devastation can be prevented when the next big rain happens; and the dams are full.
Time to drink beer and celebrate I say!
The 'big rain' caused big run off and created unique rivers through the property.
The leaf litter that gum trees are renowned for, as well as fallen branches, ended up bunched and in some weird and wonderful places, and showed the high tide marks and route of the make-shift rivers.
All of the bridges have been located, and a few hours with a chainsaw and rake should get all the single trail around the front nine rideable again.
It is not all bad though; the down hill trails have been swept clean by the current, and now are buff and smooth; and the natural flow of the rain has been identified so that the trail devastation can be prevented when the next big rain happens; and the dams are full.
Time to drink beer and celebrate I say!
Friday, February 5, 2010
The 2010 Orana Moon Poker Champion
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It is only fitting that Single Speeder Andrew Hearne won the annual Australia Day Poker Classic at Orana Moon. Whilst there were penalties issued for gearded riders; bikes with gears were granted permission to ride the day. They were crap, they whinged and complained, and as a result, the kindness granted to them this year may well and truly be revoked next year.
Once the kids race was complete, each rider was sent on the time trial - a single loop of the signature trail "Y&J", to not only earn valuable extra cards for the finale and to decide the ultimate winner, but also to give the handicapper something to base his marks upon for the Cross Country race to follow.Sydney sider Scott Nolan was first in the time trial followed by Ben McDuff (SS) and Wayne Spratford. All three place getter's were only seconds apart and it was amazing how a 1.5 minute loop can really burn the legs and rip your lungs.
The cross country race was a 2, 3, 3.5 or 4 lap race depending on your perceived ability and experience. It was designed to give all levels a solid ride and a chance to win....good in theory. We don't actually know who really won this race. There were a couple of trail heads that were lacking some distinctive markings, there were a couple of tactical short cuts taken by people on gearded bikes, and there was beer on ice at the finish line! Despite these factors, the tracks flowed sweetly and the obstacles proved a challenge, yet not unrideable.1st place was given to first time mountain bike Brad Davidson, 2nd place given to the Rock, with single speeder Marty Boyd was awarded 3rd place and dealt 2 cards for the final game.
The final event of the day - "The Skid - Off" was heavily affected by alcohol and the unfamiliar ride of the neutral bike used in this competition. Newcomer Davidson stole the show with his sideways drift, cheeky smile and big arms.The defending Champion Patty Chivers was awarded second place and the favourite with the ladies, The Rock, coming in third.More beer was drunk, the BBQ was fired up and the cards were dealt! Two pair; Aces and Kings won the day for Andrew Hearne from the South Coast Single Speed Chapter, so we celebrated with more beer; after all, it would be unAustralian not to!
Next year - keep Australia Day free.
Saturday, January 2, 2010
2010 ORANA MOON POKER CLASSIC
If you haven't recieved your invite, let me know.
Australia Day has just got better (again) and just got messier (again!)
The sweetest tracks just outside the Nations Capital have been groomed to perfection, and the flow has been enhanced - non-chemically of course!
DON'T MISS THIS ANNUAL EVENT
Australia Day has just got better (again) and just got messier (again!)
The sweetest tracks just outside the Nations Capital have been groomed to perfection, and the flow has been enhanced - non-chemically of course!
DON'T MISS THIS ANNUAL EVENT
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