Cargo Bikes

Reading through some more of Copenhagen Cycle Chic saw a link to these guys. Larry vs. Harry make a range of cargo bikes called the Bullit. They're pretty crazy looking but really cool at the same time, especially if you're looking at hauling a lot of gear! No idea if they'll ever get to Australia but still check 'em out!

As to what Bike Boy has seen, he's knows some people over at BikeFun that use the Surly Big Dummy or the Kona Ute. They're a really neat concept and something Bike Boy has considered. Of course he'd love to cruise the kids around in a Christiana. When Bike Boy does get to having children that is ;)

Charity Rides

Last month Bike Boy was involved in the annual MS Melbourne Summer Cycle, a charity ride benefitting Multiple Sclerosis Australia. Last year they made an impressive total (which I've long since forgotten) but this years total was aimed at $350 000. I'm happy to say they acheived that result, plus a little extra, with the total just in today reaching $442 591.

The ride itself takes in some of Melbourne's CBD and inner west with a nice loop through some of Bike Boy's local digs. You can view the course map here if you're really keen. This year saw us start and finish in Princes Park and whilst we kicked off at stupid o'clock (anything before 10:00 on a Sunday morning is stupid o'clock) it was a decent ride in to Carlton in the wee hours of the morning. Thankfully it was a bit warmer this yeah and the warmers were off well and truly before hitting the start line.

After some completely incoherent announcer trying to talk up the event over the PA we had a guest starter in Melbourne's new Lord Mayor Robert Doyle. I'm sure he said something very positive about encouraging cyclists but the jury is still out on Mr Doyle as I'm unsure as to whether his promise about removing busses from the CBD has actually come to fruition. Once he said his bit we were off down Royal Parade and into the city. It was a smart move by the organisers to run us that way as it spread the groups out while waiting for traffic lights. With the exception of some boat-head on a dually riding everywhere he pleased, and the constant stop starting clip-out clip-in of course.

Once through the city we were out to Port Melbourne and the up and over the Westgate Bridge, truly the highlight of the ride! The MS Ride always cuts a course over the outbound side of the Westgate bridge and while not necessarily the best side for photo opportunities it does make the descent a bunch of fun. Bike Boy wasn't as fast on the way down compared with Around the Bay but 60km/h on the Bowery is plenty fast enough.

It was a trouble free event after that with the group completing the ride before 10.30 in the morning and having time for a stroll around the park afterwards. MS put on a bit of a party at the end of the ride but for the Pedal Monkeys the lure of beer and brunch drove us back out to Kensington. The Quiet Man puts on a mean breakfast for those interested.

This year there were only 3 of us but I'm sure we'll have more join us in future years. A good ride all for charity, and a lot less intimidating if you fancy riding over the Westgate without doing Around the Bay. I'll certainly be signing up next year.

In The News

The Age has an article up about Melbourne's new cycling plan that has been included in the state transport plan. Exciting news for cyclists and one Bicycle Victoria has been pushing for for some time. Bike Boy is happy BV were listened to by the state governemt in shaping Melbourne's future. Major upgrades in Bike Boy's neighbourhood so it's really cool.

The Wheel Saga - Part 2

"Where's the rest of it?" Said the elderly woman as Bike Boy walked off the tram, holding his original busted rim in one hand.
"I'm off to find the rest!" came the snappy reply as Bike Boy hurredly left the tram stop.

The wheel saga continues with testing various wheelsets only to discover that it's not the wheel at all but the frame. Turns out the poor Alias can't handle the beating that Bike Boy has dished out and the frame is flexing, which is the source of the disc rubbing. There isn't a fix for frame flex (W00T alliteration!) so the new plan is to sell the bike and buy a new kick arse hard tail or possibly and dual suspension trail bike. Bike Boy is liking the looks of the Scott Spark 50, the Haro Mary XC 29er or the Scott Genius 50.

Hipsters love fixies

Sorry to steal the title wholesale from the vine but it's true; hipsters do love a fixie! In case you missed the memo, it's trendy to have a fixed gear road bike these days, as the story goes here.
I must admit I've fallen to the trend to a certain extent, especially previous posts about wheels. Velocity make wheels just for this sub-culture with a huge array of colours and options for your fixie rim. But enough about that, Bikeboy rides a Bowery which is a pretty cheap SSFG bike for those looking at getting into the trend and not spending more than $700 on a new bike. It's not perfect but I love it, and after 12 months working out ratios and riding style I finally broke a freehwheel forcing me to try fixed gear riding. The 08 Bowery I have came with 48:18 on the fixed side which is a decent ratio for getting around town, not too hard to take off but not super fast when you do want to get a bit of curry on.
Anyway, this wasn't meant to be a review of my bike so I'll get to the point. After riding around fixed for a week I can't say I enjoyed the experience at all. First and foremost, as long as the bike is moving so are your legs. You can idle a lot but for me nothing beats a good free-wheel down a hill or a rest anywhere you like really. The flip side is you can control your speed a lot easier with back pressure on the pedals but it does exert your knees a lot more than just using brakes. I never worked out skidding and as I ride clipless I never felt confident enough to try. It makes hopping curbs a hassle as well as you have to be mindful of the pedal stroke, and cornering at speed can result in scraping pedals. I never fell off whilst riding fixed but it's such a hassle I can't understand why people flock to it. I think fixeis are a great way to get run over. Give me a free wheel any day!

Ghost bikes

Following my post from here it seems the Melboure cycling community has left it's tribute. I was informed of the Ghost Bike tradition from a friend of mine and whilst I thought it was a really nice idea I'd never seen one until the other night. Whilst out drinking in the city I stumbled across the Ghost Bike left for the cyclist killed in my previous post. Check it out below:

The Wheel Saga - Part 1

So bikeboy has broken a spoke or three on his MTB and decided that enough was enough, time for a new wheel. He took his bike into his LBS and asked them to fit a new wheel. They had suggested a few options but the best one seemed to be a wheelcraft wheel. In the process of getting a quote another staff member suggested a Velocity wheelset they had already built. It worked out that bikeboy would get the front and rear for the same price as the rear only from Wheelcraft so it was decided and the work went ahead. Velocity Aeroheat 32 hole, 14 gauge spokes, 26 inch rims were installed along with new 5 post brake discs.

They seemed fine until bikeboy was riding home and noticed the rear disc rubbing, for anyone that's had disc brakes rub you know how annoying it can be so needless to say the bike went back. After a couple of days of turning up in the morning saying the disc is rubbing and the shop trying a couple of fixes, we'd worked out that it wasn't the disc but the wheel flexing under bikeboy's weight. Bikeboy is a clydesdale folks so his bikes have to be fairly tough, along with replacement components.

From here it was decided that a “stronger” wheel was needed, and the specs are 36 hole, double butted 14 gauge spokes, double walled 26 inch rim. The hubs and discs are decent quality but the main point being the rim wall/spoke combination. Pricing this setup with wheelcraft turns a $200 replacement wheelset into a $400 rear wheel only. Needless to say that was too expensinve even for bikeboy so a cheaper Velocity Cliffhanger option was chosen. Since that was the better option it turns out that this particular item is out of stock with Velocity for 4 weeks! Bikeboy's shop is trying a few options but it looks as though he'll be without his MTB for at least a month!

Stay tuned for the next instlallment.