Clean Fleet....

Today I got me some Pedros Bike Lust (silicon spray). Randall has been going on about this kind of stuff for ages and I finally got around to trying it. I got a bit carried away and ended up cleaning most of my bikes. The biggest advantage of this product is next time you wash your bike, the job is made much easier because the dirt has nothing to grip to and just slides off. It also gives the bike a fantastic shinny finish.

The "fleet" hanging out to dry....

Pop Winning...

“Here is a pic of Pop ‘throwing for the line’ at Newtown to beat N. Wood and win the final of the Southern Tasmanian Half-Mile Championship in March 1950 (a pic from the Mercury newspaper 20 March 1950). Look at the frame, not sure if it is the one we have, it should be but perhaps with the original paint? The handlebars, headstem, cranks and chain ring are the ones we have – note the white toe straps. Check out the other guys elbow and arm pads, and the helmets (or stack hats as we used to call them). I remember I had one exactly like the other guys – there were two in the shed when I picked up the gear, but the leather was so badly rotted I didn’t keep them – I should have! On this pic you can see the lacing pattern if you zoom up. Note also on Pop’s back wheel there is a cog on either side of the hub, so he could choose a different gear for specific distances. The wheels on this bike are the alloy ones we have.”


I received this email from my Uncle Richie in WA today. Between him and myself Pop’s bike restoration may come together sooner than first thought. I am planning on sending the frame to Richie in the next week or two for him to organise the re-pray and hand painted decals. It’s all coming together nicely.

New Ride...

I finished putting my new ride together yesterday, a 2009 Kona One20 Supreme. I have gained 20mm of travel front and rear (over the Four Supreme) with only 60 grams weight gain in the frame. Once I get my new Rock Shox up front The whole bike will be set up considerably lighter than the Four Supreme was. Bring it on...

With a new bike comes the pending sale of my old one. I will hopefully have it all together soon, but it will be along the lines of 2008 22" Kona Four Supreme frame (less than 12months old) with mostly new bits on it. It will also have the option of upgrading the wheels to Mavic Crossmax SLR (6 bolt) in place of the stock ones. The wheels are up for grabs now if anyone wants them.

Restoration update....

I finally got the call from the electroplater on Friday. Pop's bike parts have been given a new lease on life and I am very happy with the result. Below is a sample of the work done.

Not bad hey. I'm guessing a lot of time has been spent polishing out impurities. I nearly gave up on saving this head set, but I handed it over to see what could be done and I am impressed.

Under Wraps...

Tomorrow I may get the chance to unwrap my new ride for 2009. This time I am going longer with 120mm of front and rear travel. Can't wait to see how where this bike will take me.

I am recovering quit well. I had a light spin yesterday and am planning to get out in the morning. My back is feeling good after seeing Phillip at Rosanna Remedial Massage this afternoon, I am once again all back in alignment and free from soreness.

Scott wrap up...

The Scott 24 is such a big event, it is the pinnacle race in Australia for an enduro MTB racer such as myself. Thanks everyone for your support and encouragement during this extremely demanding race. Of all the 24 hour races I have competed in, this was the first time I have come into trouble this early on and it was difficult to summon up the courage to continue racing knowing the pain I was in at the three hour mark was only going to multiply with every hour on the bike. But I think this just goes to show if you are determined to do something and are faced with huge obstacles, the human spirit can push on and ultimately push the demons aside.

This is where my weekend started. Leaving Melbourne Thursday afternoon in the Kona van with my brother, Daniel. I have made it a tradition of mine to camp somewhere off the Hume every year I have travelled north for this event. Always somewhere different. Friday morning we woke to a fresh but beautiful day, only 2 hours of driving to do before reaching Mt Stromlo.

This year, once again, solos got to start on their bikes on the flatter (but longer) blue lap. I was happy to let a few riders ride away from me, after all this course is soooo demanding on the body and with much less time spent on the bike this year for me body conservation was my plan. If you look closely at my bike you can see the new forks I am running - SID Teams, these things rock.

Still rolling, but the pain is beginning to build.

I don't have many race pics yet (am waiting on the event photographers to upload theirs), so here is one of me straight off the bike after riding for the best part of 24 hours. I think all the pain I was focusing away hit me in one almighty wave. I was sore from head to toe and not to mention my back.

I was very happy to be standing on the number two spot of the dais. Jason rode a great race and I was relying on him struggling big time come dawn if I was going to have any chance. My recovery is going well. I think I may even do another solo 24 before the year is out.

Here I am again on the big screen. Bit scary hey??

A huge thanks goes out to my support team, in particular my wife Robyn for 1- having the skills to subdue the pain in my back and 2 - for knowing me well enough to make me push my body further than I thought I could. Ben Jones from Kona for looking after my bikes and making sure they ran smoothly. My brother Daniel for driving me almost all of the 1400km round trip, helping out at the race and taking some photos. And my parents for supporting me in my selfish pursuit as an athlete.

Also thanks to my sponsors, Kona, AyUp (seriously, the best lights ever), Mavic, Shimano, Rock Shox, Suunto, Adidas Eyewear, Maxxis, Ozriders, Pedros and Limar.

results...

I am not too sure what Ben and Robyn have posted so i will be brief and will add more when I get home.

I perservered with back issues and managed to ride through the field and finish second - one lap down on Jason English and one lap up on K.Kris (European National 24 MTB Champion).

I was a bit of a mess by the end, but very happy with how I performed.

Yeah Bellie!

Andrew is up to second and feeling pretty good, 4 hours and 40 minutes to go.

Bellie up to 4th

Back problems are sorted and he is winding up those big legs. Ben.

Update from the Scott 24 hour

Howdy all. Just got a call from Robyn at the race site. As of 7:30pm Bellie is in 6th and Jason English leading, 45mins up.

Andrew has had some early issues with his back. Almost pulling out of the race a few hours in. But a quick massage and some motivational words from the pit crew got him back out. Back in the race way off the pace(60 somethingth place) he has moved back upto 6th.....

Night time and AYUPs ahoy!

The race doesn't start till dawn sunday they say and i reckon it'll be a close one...

More updates will be posted when i get them.

Winning combination??

 

 

I Just got handed a set of the new Crossmax SLR wheels. These things look trick. I will be running them on the Four Supreme over the weekend and of cause they will be running Maxxis Crossmarks and SPEX tyre sealant. I don’t expect to have any issues with such great products.

If only I could ride a 24 hour race eating M & M's. They are the best.

Prep...

Life is back to normal life in Melbourne. The kids need to go back to school to give us some piece at home. It's come around too quick, but it's time to get all organised for the trip north to Canberra for the Scott 24hour. I am looking forward to this event. It was huge last year and looks to just as big this year.

One of the keys to riding a good 24 hour solo race is bike preparation. Some thing many may not know is that I do all my mechanical work etc myself. I believe having a sound understanding for your equipment is a great advantage. It gives you the power to choose the best equipment and bike set-up to suit riding style and make riding for 24 hour as comfortable as possible. Throughout the year my race bikes have been used across many shorter races, but when it comes to 24 hour set-up I like to make a few changes.

I have been trialling Ozirider's foam grips for a few month now and I really like their feel. I will be running the softer black ones on the Four Supreme and the newly released, firmer Blue ones on the Hei Hei. I find the slight change in density to give a slight relief to the hands as the race progresses. Oziriders latest product will also make its' way onto my bikes for this event, SPEX tyre sealant. From all reports it is the product to use if you want reliability.

Another product I have been testing of late is the Ascend Recovery Bars. I used them as my sole food energy source in the 12 Hour in NZ and am planning on doing the same at the Scott. The Felt Epix boys swear by Ascend products and I am beginning to see why.