Cold.

For James.

First One Out The Gate.

I've gone international

Photo Of The Day

From the Santa Cruz blog

Pink Mists/Dark Days {Telecaster Nation}

Stones Horsley's flying circus swooped into town on Saturday morning, what followed involved frenzied climbing, a war of attrition on bikes (spokes [mine], derailleurs, chains, seats and seat posts) mud and some rain, muesli bars, more climbing, mists, inarticulate happy noises made in the throats on the descents, sweat, warm, cold and Stones himself. Unfortunately I had to peel off early to head to work (which I was already an hour late for), Regretfully leaving Nigel and Hayden (who were going up to tackle Split Enz et al) I lead Stones and the others back to the car park via The Menu and Be Rude. By the time I arrived at work The pink mist of endorphins, bromance and exhaustion had well and truly set in. I only thank the good lord that the team of nurses I lead run shit sooooo tight that they can let their hefe's fixed smile and twitchy legs slide occasionally. Sympathy for the health care workers? Damn straight (the one's that work with me anyhoo...). Today dawned mild and overcast, spoke dutifully repaired (Thanks Marcello!!) I repaired to a bunch of chores before braving the sketchy looking skys for a late afternoon hit out. The ground remained dry for the first hour of my ride, however when I dropped into the trees at the beginning of Grinder and it was DARK at three in the afternoon my threat sensors twigged somewhat. It all went monumentally pear shaped about half way through the second section of Bunny Jugs (my new favourite trail) Not rain, rather a downpour of almost biblical proportions..my thoughts of climbing hill rd again to git up to Roller Coaster were dashed, and it was exit stage wet. I arrived home some time later, sandy/muddy and cold, however like any good mahout I made sure my steed was put away dry and clean before attending to myself. Now I sit before my laptop warm, full and wittering away excitedly because the little lady and our kids come home tomorrow!!!! JOY!!! Riding bikes is awesome, however having nothing to come home to is most definitely not. I can't wait.

The Big Guy txt me today, all excited (rightfully) because he'd just gotten his favourite guitar (Maton 12 string) set up nice and it was all ready to go. That got me thinking about guitars (which was the other thing apart from bikes that I used to think about a lot) and reminiscing about my special favourites. Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you a fine example of three Telecasters played rather well. Lovely.

The Gathering Storm.

I rode smarter today as I was saving myself for the Death March. Tomorrow, Stones Horsley and his flying circus will be descending on our sleepy burg. Once here, happier than a cat with a strawberry flavoured arse, Stones and his boys will rampage hither and yon detrminied to ride as many of our trails as possible before fanging back to the big smoke. I'll be riding with them. Should be a dead set blast as A) I thoroughly enjoy Stones' company B)Several hours of hard riding should take the sting out of missing my family C)It's always fun throwing the SS amongst full suspension disciples.

Inside The Belly Of The Beast...

I'm receiving packages with increasing alacrity from The Big Guy.. Today, upon arriving home to a cold, empty house (my family are in the "old country" for a week) I was greeted by a nifty little envelope containing some beautiful blue and black rubbery Park Tool Screwdrivers.. Thanks Dad!!

Apparently, they are made of "Chrome Vanadium". Having never heard of this magical, mythical compound before I did some exhaustive research* and this is what I found.

"Deep beneath a secluded beach front villa in Martha's Vineyard, a group of ex Nazi(under the duress of the OSS, which Became the CIA) scientists looking for a means to clone J Edgar Hoover found encoded in the dust under the finger nail of Truman Capote's corpse a single strand of DNA. After a complicated period of incubation, cracking and isolative distillation they found not the answer that they had sought, rather a metal of exceptional durability, torsional rigidity ,dense molecular ventriculization and a pleasing minty tang. Knowing that their lives would be forfeit if the scope and reach of their discovery was ever uncovered by their masters, these scientists were able to (by a process of inter nicene blood letting) sell this marvelous discovery to the Shah of Iran for $4000 earth dollars. In 1964, during the Iranian civil war, The incoming theocracy exiled the Shah and his followers, thus placing the discovery back into the hands of the CIA. Chrome Vanadium flooded the tool market (in the manner that Heroin flooded the ghetto), park tools was born and the free mason movement gained significant financial power".

So, there you have it. Krosch has (somewhat unwittingly) provided me with the last piece of the puzzle by which I can launch East Bay Racing??? on the world! In this feature, I'll offer you a never before seen insight into the vortex of East Bay Racing????

My World Headquarters.



Like any Mogul, I have some luxuries therein...

Fine Art


Motivational Tools


And of course, my Silver Spoon


Okay, that's about it for the infrastructure. Now, anyone know where I can get some EPO? I'm gonna need it for the "training camp" that I'm embarking on now that my family are away. Boo(nen)Yah!




*Read:I made it up, all of it.

Hoonin' like Boonen.

It was even muddier out amongst it this morning. Fingers off the brake levers, Head up and hammer was the name of the game. Had I a camera, the drool hanging from my brake lever amongst the mud etc on the bike would have made a great "My Winter Season Training Is In Full Swing" type photo. Ah, well. you'll just have to let your minds eye do the work for you. Cold mud, gnar, big wheels and rigid you cup of tea? mine too.

Winter Classic.

I returned to work on Thursday last week, and after four very busy days I'm left feeling as if I've had the life kicked out of me (figuratively, not literally). I had a surprise package arrive on the day of my return to work. It was from The Big Guy and well and truly reversed my monumentally surly countenance.



The package contained this....




Some zippy zappy 2.0 racing tyres and rim strips, so that I can get all tubeless. I'm glad that my Hairy God Father continues to look out for me. Oh, and Matt? You got it wrong.. It's not East Bay Racing.. It's East Bay Racing????

What's the weather been like in my neck of the woods? ummmmmm.

That's HAIL



Hail ball fight anyone??



Oh, and did we mention cold?



Surprisingly, the hail was still there this morning when I awoke and headed out. Turns out that thankfully(!!) the hail had melted in the forest, into ice cold mud/slury. I've never been that cold on a ride before..I returned a few hours later, caked, numb and happy.



Australians. Don't get them wet, Don't feed them after midnight. Or you know what will happen They'll breed. Oh, Wait. that's Gremlins. sorry!! (In no way am I attempting to make a link between Gremlins and Australians..In fact 90% of the people who have inspired and contributed to my love of riding bikes have been Australian, it's just how babies are made, right??)Anyhoo.. You put a Guy like this..



And a Girl like this



Together and you know there's gonna be fireworks!! Congrats on the impending happy arrival, dudes..It's gonna be plastic chains and baby bottles for a while eh? Awesome!! I feel a new line of baby wear coming on..welcome to the club.

Gee, this is dragging on a bit aint it? Right. Go get amongst it. I'm really starting to show my age...

SVBBS of Doom.

I got it bad. A momentary lull (one day) in tonnes of awesome riding, Syndication, other exciting times and holidays have all collided on a Tuesday night to give rise to the worst case of SVBBS in living memory. Alls I can do is ride it out.

And man, have I ridden it out, Randomly searching youboob for something suitable to post I recalled a song by the Ex models that I heard on a mixtape a girl made me once. This lifted the mood somewhat...



This also......A blast from the past!

Black Lips, India. India, Black Lips.

This is bar none the funniest thing I have seen in a long, long while. I challenge any of you, ANY OF YOU!! to wig out this hard.