patham

Thanks for the back story, learnt something new today.

99.9999% of digital watches do nothing for me, but boy this is an exception. As a design detail, if they could have made that small raised bevel around the display flat I would consider it perfect- but that’s just me with a fetish for flush finish faces (and alliteration apparently).

El cheapo Zefal plastic side loader cage has lasted two bikes and 10 years. Bottles are random goodie bag freebies that I dig out the cupboard. And never an issue to date (mtb)

Luckily my rooinek status means I have never been sent an invite to one of those. But then again, the first rule of Sokkie Club is that we never talk about Sokkie Club!

I also remember fondly the cotter pins on the cranks of this bike- NOT! After leaving school I drifted away from cycling for 20 years or so, and I was so glad that the technology of how to attach pedals to a chainring had moved on.

My mother would use Gentian Violet or Mercurochrome. So not only would it sting like blazes, you went to school dyed either purple or red. As a result, I would try and sneak into the house without telling her. However, the blood drips on the floor- because I only ever wore flip-flops so my feet always took a beating- were a dead give away. And I too had a Mk 2 chopper. Shocking rolling resistance with the fat tyres and heavy weight but so much character. But had a bad OTB on it that led to me grinding the skin off my face which wasn’t fun! Great thread by the way OP- thanks.

Lego Technics for the win. We used to get most of the good sets when my son was into it….they still take up half the spare lounge. Those F1 sets are still my faves, love how they do the suspension.

Windsurfing- are you stuck in a time warp from the 90’s, that fad must be about 2 or 3 behind the times😉 I think there is some element of wind surfing in Brisbane proper, but probably not the advanced stuff you saw in the old cigarette ads, the barrier islands protect the bay from high winds and seas. The current cool kids are kite surfing at Noosa- a 2 hour drive north from Brisbane, combination of both sheltered and exposed waters, and more people to impress being a holiday hotspot.

Sure I can't tempt you? I'm not Mr Active, but there are a few other Brisbane based old Hubbers who do a lot more than me. Winters here are great (minimums around 10 on average), and max of 24, so good for long rides, etc. Rainy season is typically in the summer, with just the odd cold front with some rain in June or so. Rain in summer is typically very warm, so at least if you get caught out you are just wet, not cold and wet which is a lot more miserable. February is normally terrible - hot & humid. Can't even beat the heat by going out at dawn, as it can be 24 degrees and 100% humidity at first light. Heatstroke material if you exert yourself too much as your body can't cool by sweating anymore, I think a lot of the active folk then take up paddle boarding, kayaking etc, so they can be out on the water where you don't feel it as much. The sea near Brissie is sheltered by some big islands, so not much waves. Hence no sand beaches or surfing close by, but good for the paddle boarders etc. I am by the Mt Cootha forests, so good MTB trails, running trails - and if you have one, horse trails. Used to see loads of horses when I arrived in 2013, now they seem extinct. Which is not a bad thing, as horses and MTB's need a lot of space to pass each other - they are big creatures when you're on a bike.

Many people here don't die every day. I live a row of houses away from the forest (say 40 m), so I probably am at more risk than most. The Golden Orbs look nasty, but don't venture inside. The Huntsmen (the big rain spiders back in Sunny SA) look even scarier. In my 10 years I've had to evict two that were so big you could hear them pitter patter on the drywall. Bigger than my biggest tupperwares in fact, so I could only shoe them out with a broom. But Brissie seems to be lacking in dangerous spiders. And no venomous snakes in our yard, but say a total of five carpet pythons, tree snakes etc over the years. And they're good for the rats, another unfortunate import from the colonisation process. As you move further into the heart of the 'burbs in Brissie, the rate of wildlife encounters will drop off, but then you get further away from the MTB trails (which was 50% of the reason for choosing this suburb). But there are reasonable bike paths around in some (not all) areas so in theory you can get more exercise in. But I knew from the outset that if I need to put on a bike rack, attach a bike, drive, unpack etc, my riding would fall right off. Living on the trail edge has helped to keep me in the sport, and also my son to excel- as he could just go for a trail ride with himself/buddies at the drop of a hat and no adult required. Which is a bit scary when it gets dark and he's not back yet..... Edit: added pictures of the cute wildlife that visits. Although I made the ducks leave, chlorinated water is not good for them, and the little ones can’t get out easily and can drown.

My contribution today is “Where has your bike taken you today, but then left you there.” If you look closely at the pic , you’ll see that I got home on a carbon balance bike. A function of a snapped chain, and me travelling light as they are my local trails. As a FYI, my second snapped chain on these hills in 10 years.

My local trailhead looking nice and green after a good wet season. Sometimes it’s only the dodgy septic tank soakaway (the barricaded area) that always looks lush!

Came across this undated image taken at Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo (Bulawayo memories website). Look at the chainring on the tri-dem!

One for the “bad” category today. Went for an early ride today in the local forest and was a sweeper for the trails, and did get the odd cobweb to the face. Stopped off at the end of the ride at the picnic area to munch my trail bar, and realised I had picked up a hitchhiker on my helmet. After dislodging her (pretty sure it’s a Golden Orb, just hasn’t eaten well, they normally have a tubby body) I checked to make sure it was alone. Found the hubby (males are much smaller spiders, no colouring) hiding in a vent. Evicted him as well. Noticing a dead juvenile red bellied black snake (pretty venomous) about 5 m away from the picnic table just after this made for the critter trifecta!

A mate has this Trek, maybe a year old, and I was surprised to learn he was thinking of selling it. I got the impression he is not convinced of long term durability, and wants to pass it on before he invests his own money in fixing it. I think he also realises he’s maybe underbiked himself. He took it over to South Island a few weeks ago to do the Trans NZ (he is an enduro-bro), and he said it was overly sketchy at times. So maybe he thinks he will be overly demanding of it. I looked at the Cannondale website after seeing your post. The Neo SL looks OK ( although I don’t trust flexstays), but their full size Morterra’s look butt-ugly with massive motor housings.

I still try and get a weekend ride in most weekends here in Brissie, but it helps that I live next to a trail head (probably hard XC, medium trail, easy enduro type levels). But on the e-bike thing, I reckon this year is the first time I have noted more e-bikes than normal ones on my trails, the tide has definitely turned. Thing I noted is that a few years back, good e-bikes were a huge premium to the manumatic ones. But now, conventional bikes have gotten so expensive, that the cost of the motor is actually not that much more of a step up.

Hi Wyatt Resurrecting this thread, having just bought a XT5, any suggestions on lenses? Mix of landscapes, cityscapes, natural sciences (my phrase for flowers, insects and other small creatures), with the odd game viewing. For now I just have the kit zoom (see sample pet pic). In particular, any views on the Tamron 17-70, my interest is piqued with its constant aperture throughout the zoom range?

Limpopo sunrise on a game viewing drive.

KZN sunrise.

Nice! I think Citizen and Seiko often get overlooked in the watch business, my eco drive has not left my wrist since buying it 12 years ago. If I ever feel the need to splash out on a pricey one I would be tempted to get a Grand Seiko, meant to be amazing quality but without paying the name brand premium. And I think you get the satisfaction of being in a limited club where few people know about craftsmanship you are actually wearing.

Took a break from the trails and went city-slicking for a change to spot the new Brisbane bridges. I think times are getting tough even in first world nations though. The cycle paths by the river are becoming a homeless shanty town in places - that just reminds me of the Spruit.

Yep, no daylight savings time in sunny Queensland. Because of cows (well the farmers actually, but they say it’s because of the cows. I think it’s just cos they like to be the first ones up and don’t want us plebs up at the same time. And no-one really knows why the middle (of the continent, but also no-where) wanted a shift of 30 minutes- that’s just silly.

Be like the USA and try to pass laws that make daylight saving time permanent, I.e. year around. Seems contradictory, but that’s the US of A for you. I also have Monday Binday, which I address by taking the bins out the night before. The recycling truck comes by at a respectable time, but it’s impossible to rise before the garbage truck.

Who would have guessed? Oh wait, I think we all did.

Congratulations and strap in to enjoy the ride. Hopefully she learns some better habits over the next 18 years, but with teenagers - no guarantees!