Weighed in at 88.3kg this morning.

Dropped the bike in to Clarence St. Cyclery for a service this morning. I described the issues I had with my shocks at the weekend and asked what were the minimum shocks they would recommend as replacements. He suggested the Rock Shox Duke SL for $590! Screw that, I’m not putting $600 forks on an $800 bike! I’ll have to do a bit of research into a new bike.

Picked up the bike in the afternoon and it felt great. Gears changed smoothly, and the computer worked properly. Tried it out on the way home:

Distance: 11.1km

Avg. Speed: 19.8kmh (including sitting at traffic lights)

Top Speed: 55.2kmh (down Old South Head Rd.)

B: 13km

Went mountain biking in Kangaroo Valley today and had a blast. We left Bondi at 9am and met up again in Bowral for a coffee. Kev was the only one who’d been on the trail before, and there was a fair bit of faffing as we tried to find it, since he wasn’t too sure exactly where it was. We drove down past Fitzroy Falls, through the switchbacks, then myself and Tom got some gourmet chutney & jams while we were waiting for Kev to show up. He had been ahead of us, but had stopped in the information office without telling us.

Left Kev’s car at the bottom of the run, then drove back up to the top. Set off into the damp, misty forest, along a fire trail. That petered out after a few kilometres and it was into the forest proper. Up hill and down dale, swooping in amongst the trees. The trail wasn’t too narrow, though there were a few places where you got whipped by bushes as we went past. There were also a couple of fallen trees blocking the way in a few places. My front wheel was bouncing all over the place, since my front shocks are pretty crap, but it was still great fun.

Tom and Kev sounded like they were having great fun behind me doing the odd jump, whereas I couldn’t risk it as I wasn’t at all confident of being able to keep control of my front wheel upon landing. Swapped bikes with Tom for the last 10% and it was a whole different ball game. A real front shock which actually worked properly! The front was as solid as a rock and I could jump to my hearts content. I have to either buy myself a new fork which works, or else buy a new bike. I think I’ll have to make do with a fork for the moment. Had a quick look when I got home and a basic Rock Shox should set me back about $200. Will have to talk to the guys in the shop and see whether it will fit my bike.

So, had a nice bit of nosh and then hit the road back to Sydney. Kev planned to stop en route for a power nap. Overall, the day was fantastic. I can’t wait to get a real fork and let rip properly on the trail. I’m hooked!

This Week:

Bike: 50km road, 1.5hrs offroad.

Turns out Kevin didn’t pick up the bike on Thursday night, so we wnet back to Woolly’s last night to collect it. Rode home with himself and Tom. Went up the hill in the 2nd gear on the middle chain ring, which is one lower (?) than normal. I’ve no idea how many teeth are on each ring, and which way is higher and lower ;-) Will have to figure that out.

B: 48km

We had a bit of a vicarious shop last night. Myself, Tom and Niall met up with Kevin, to give a bit of a hand as he bought his new MTB. He decided to go with the Giant XTC2. Myself and Niall left the two lads having a coffee as they waited for the bike to be built up. That’s everyone with a bike now, so it looks like the trip down to Kangaroo Valley for my first bit of downhill MTBing is on.

Niall came and did the Alpe de Vaucluse, just to see what it was like. I swear it’s getting easier by the day. I didn’t envy him having to turn around and go back up Old South Head Rd., but he’s been cycling in and out of work for two years, so he should be well able for it at this stage.

B: 39km

The plan for this evening was to meet up with Niall, Kev & Tom for a ride around Centennial Park. Just as I was leaving the office, one of those afternoon thunderstorms kicked off, so the plan got abandoned. The storm eased quite quickly after that, so I decided to cycle home anyway, stopping off in Woolys to pick up a mudguard.

B: 24km

Back on the bike yesterday for the trip home. It took around 32mins, as I decided to go through Bondi Junction in order to avoid the uphill bit on Edgecliff Road. Won’t bother doing it in future as you end up farting around through the pedestrian section and that bit where they’re doing all the building.

Timed the Alpe De Vaucluse: 4.5mins of leg burn and gasping for breath, made even worse yesterday as I’d left the water bottle at work, it was bloody hot, and the wind was in my face. Just what the doctor ordered for the end of the cycle home.

The new bike gear worked flawlessly too. Nice, comfortable padded arse, pockets on the jersey took all the stuff I needed to bring home, so now backpack.

Still, did the fat test last night and I’m down to 19.2% so the plan is working. Only another 0.2% and I move from the ‘Overweight’ category to the ‘Healthy’ category. Nice.

B: 14km

No cycling today as I left my bike in work over the weekend & because we’re going out to Jacqui’s sister’s for dinner tonight.

Weight: 89.0kg

Just got back from Woolys where I picked up the remaining bike gear I needed. Got some proper cycling shorts, as my arse was killing me from cycling in non-padded shorts, some gloves, mainly in case I fall off for any reason, and finally, a bike jersey with pockets on the rear.

The plan now is to take my laptop & some clothes into the office in a backpack on Monday, then leave them in the filing cabinet for the week. Then I only need to carry phone, wallet, keys & iPod dduring the week, which can all fit in the pockets in the jersey. Then on Friday I can pack everything into the backpack for the trip home.

The only down side is that I’ll have to hold the gut in a little with the ol’ Lycra top on ;-)

Cycled in this morning (via the ferry), narrowly missing the rain! I’d been in work about 15mins when it started pissing down. Rained all day, and although it had stopped when I left, I decided to leave the bike in work over the weekend as the spray from the rear wheel woudl have soaked me anyway.

B: 26km