Monday, August 31, 2009

Cyclogaine, Peachester Queensland

So 3/4 of our 2010 XPD team loaded up our bikes, map boards, sense of adventure & headed north of Brisbane for 45 minutes & ended up in Peachester.


The first control point was our most challenging. A bit of a warm up one. Then we just smashed the rest. After my other two team buddies reeled me in from the bottom of an awesome fun decent. We continued on.
There were awesome views like this all day! I am taking about the mountains Al, not your legs.


We arrived in enough time to pick up our maps. Seen above is our team captain. We just call her Butt kicker Kirstie' ! Don't let the georgous smile & stunning legs fool you.



Seen below is our 2IC. We call him Al. We are yet to decide what Al is 2IC of.



No GPS or bike computers "Use the skills you were born with" was the comment on the rules sheet. It was agreed that when we were born we could only pee, poop & scream. This might just work!?



The trails were sweet! Some of the fire trails were so steep & technical many walked on the downs. The worst part of the day was having to put the brakes on for a nav check part way along an awesome decent or bit of single track. Oh well, it is a navigation ride after all hehehe...

I took the Ay Up race machine on it's Sunday outing. The single speed, Ventana 29er built by Black Sheep Imports here in Brissie was the perfect bike for the day.



It was agreed by all that as a team we had acheived all of our objectives, & a couple of check points, so we headed back to town. Someone say food!!! Show us the way Al.




The event was well organised. The catering! After we got back to the community hall in Peachester we were greeted by an AMAZING spread of freshly baked scones, cakes, there was icecream, soup, fresh bread, quiche, more cakes, slices... Mountain bike race organisers have a lot to learn!!!




Saturday, August 22, 2009

Next Adventure...Expedition Style




No, I haven't taken up riding a time trial bike in speedo's. An adventure racing team has accepted my expression of interest to join. So, 2010 XPD, here we come.




When: May 2010


Where: Far North Queensland (Meet in Cairns)


Why: Because we can


How: Drive to Cairns with all of our crap & just do it!


Disciplines: MTB, kayaking, walking, archery (wtf?) & what ever else Craig & his awesome team at Geocentric Outdoor Adventures can squeeze in to punish our minds & bodies!




Check it out for yourself http://www.xpd.com.au/




Friday, August 14, 2009

Ay Up in the UK & Europe


Here is the link to the brief itinerary for Mr. Ay Up's trip to the UK & Europe.


4 months of travel, riding, racing & some beer drinking too I suspect ;-)

One of the major reasons for this trip is to reassure our existing & potentially new UK/EU customers that we are continuing to drive forward in support & supply of these awesome lights.

Mr. Ay Up is also supporting/sponsoring local mountain bike & running events as a way of putting some back to where it came from.

So if you are nearby any of the events or competing, be sure to keep your eyes open for the Ay Up banners & cruise past say G'day.

Sunday, August 9, 2009

Religious experience in the mountains.

I found that if you drag out the picture it makes the mountain look steeper.




I was looking for a group ride today. Everyone I came across was going for a flat ride. I wanted to head to Mt Mee. So, as with many of my training rides, it was just me. On the way down off the mountain I sped past some of the awesome QSM dudes & dudettes on their way up. So I finished the decent & headed back up again. One climb turned very quickly into 4.


I was cruising along the flat towards the bakery with Michael & we were talking about the mountain. He then said "I like this mountain. Come to think of it I like Cootha too. Oh, one more I like ....mountain" I said to Michael "I like your attitude dude!"


So after spending a religious, Sunday morning at the Church of Mt Mee, giving praise to lactic acid, giving myself to the god of two wheels, praying for smashed legs & attacking mates, watching the moon set over the promised land of mountains I have fed my hungry soul that feeds on altitude & two wheels.

Saturday, August 8, 2009

12 hour Dusk 2 Dawn MTB race in Perth


I will fly to this event given it would take 5 long days to drive there.
New trails, new people & a bike race, sounds like a perfect trip to me already.
In the 3 years I have been racing I have noticed there are event organisers & then there are event organisers. Been to awesome & not so awesome events.
I have exchanged a dozen or so emails with the organiser of this event & I am confident it is going to be an awesome one!
See you roosters & hens there!

Sunday, August 2, 2009

New Ay Up Website (& new Ay Up Bling)




I will let the new Ay Up website do all of the talking

www.ayup-lights.com

Now time to pack the car, put the bike on the roof, drive to Canungra for a 4 hour xc race organised & run by TwoWheelPromotions. This is where they will be hosting their 24 hour race in a couple of months. A great opportunity to get a few recce laps in.

Russell Worthington is BACK! Back from going for a little ride somewhere outback. Check this crazy shit out!

Nutrition tip: Porridge & Nutella with chopped strawberries is AWESOME!