Stockyards Little River

Bike boy took an off road adventure over the weekend and headed out to the Stockyards for a little ride. It's a really great MTB park with lots of different options catering to riders of all types of skill level. It's a decent drive from the CBD, located off a dirt track off Drysdale Road on the outskirts of Little River. For more info head on over to Geelong Mountain Bike Club's website and check out the park info as well as the downloadable maps.

Broken

Bike Boy has a busted saddle. This morning whilst riding in to work Bike Boy noticed a strange creak on the downstroke of pedalling on his right leg. It was a tiny little creak so he wasn't too worried until he pulled up for his morning coffee and almost lifted the saddle off the bike. Check it out:

Favourite Rides

The Guardian has gotten a few cycling illuminati together to post about their favourite rides. Some fun stuff there and certainly worth the read if not considering for your next holiday.

Bike Boy's favourite ride around Melbourne at the moment would have to be the Brimbank Park loop. Bike Boy usually starts in Newport and the loop takes in parts of the Federation Trail, Western Ring Road Path and Brimbank Park to then return on the Maribyrnong River Trail back through Footscray. The loop has many options for detouring and or stopping along the way for a picnic/coffee, and even calling it an early day and jumping on a train home. It's usually a 60km plus ride so it makes for a testing day with a decent mix of climbs and decents, some really off-road! For more info on cycle paths around Melbourne check out Bicycle Victoria's Where to Ride section.

A Bell

Copenhaginize posted this funny video about the power of a bicycle bell. I'm going to try this walking through the city one day, it's hilarious.

Hottest 100 Of All Time

Triple J are currently taking votes for the second Hottest 100 of all time. This year marks the 20th anniversary since the first hottest 100 of all time, back when Nirvana took it out with Smells Like Teen Spirit. I love the fact that Triple J still run the Hottest 100 and Bike Boy's friends usually put together a party every year to celebrate it (and Australia Day of course). All you need to do is vote for your favourite 10 songs of all time. The J's are only going back to the 60's and since it's mainly a "Youth" network it seems fair although looking over my list I don't think there are many songs from the last 40 years, more like the last 15. Bike Boy has voted for:

Metallica - Enter Sandman
Radiohead - Paranoid Android
Nirvana - Smells Like Teen Spirit
Daft Punk - One More Time
Linkin Park - One Step Closer
Muse - Knights Of Cydonia
Fear Factory - Self Bias Resistor
U2 - Elevation
Gorillaz - Clint Eastwood
Hilltop Hoods - The Nosebleed Section

They all mean something to me, a lot or a little, but if you had to create a mixed tape for me to listen to on a deserted island for the rest of my life these songs would keep me happy. Head on over and vote to get your songs in, Triple J will then play the results over a weekend starting July 7. Can't wait to see what gets number one this time around.

Bicycle Safety

I was reminded recently of one of my favourite web cartoons and thought I'd post one of their more humorous videos on bicycle safety. Check out Strong Bad's solution here.