Prolly X Deus Ex Machina

John 'Prolly' Watson posted photos of a visit to DeusCYCLEWORKS today, including one of the two Velocity B-43 rims I painted at the last Swap Meet. I'd wondered what happened to them! Check out the rest of his post here.

Pony Bikes vs the ACCC

My best mate Sasha runs the best little bike shop in Melbourne, Pony Bikes. She and Fyxomatosis Andy were interviewed recently by The Age to comment on the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission's intent to fine bike shops for selling fixed gear bikes without back brakes. read the whole article here... Yet another attempt by the man to sterilise free thinking and de-sensitise our society.

Where They Create by Paul Barbera

Wanna get inspired? Where They Create is a series of photoshoots by Paul Barbera of various creatives and their spaces. It's a Selby-esque insight into quite personal physical environments. Especially interesting is the offices of Monster Children and Sneaker Freaker magazines...

Sydney Cycleways Support Rally tonight Town Hall 6pm BE THERE!

Just to prove that Sydney is no slouch when it comes to bicycle advocacy, at 6.00pm tonight at Town Hall there will be a rally to support the City of Sydney's Cycleways program. Unfortunately, Sydney is an anomaly when it comes to bicycle infrastructure. It's very hilly, and the roads were originally created for horses and carts – very narrow and lack the ability to be modified to cater for a cycle lane. Which is one of the reasons talkback radio host Alan Jones's nose is out of joint. He is simultaneously conducting a rally at Town Hall at 6.00pm to block the Sydney Cycleways project. Have a look at 2GB's website for an idea of what Sydney Cyclists are up against. I'm sure there'll be heated debate and lots of flashing lights and florescent yellow but it's important to be present and demonstrate that we are not a minority group. What Sydney really needs is education, in order to raise bicycle access to the level of other international cities... like Melbourne. Here's the Facebook page for the event!
You can also show your support by grabbing one of these shirts at the Three Point Turnz online shop! Thanks for the tip Candy Cranks!

It don't take too much high IQ's to see what you're doing to me

Candy Cranks successfully hosted what was possibly Sydney's best ever alleycat last Saturday night, in terms of organisation and participation. What a great crew Sydney has, and continues to grow with in strength, numbers and enthusiasm! The occasional downfall certainly didn't dampen any spirits, and just left us keen for the next one! Congratulations to all the winners and huge thanks to all the sponsors, mucho gracias! See more shots of the night on the Candy Cranks flickr...

Head on one side as you pull, you look almost regal

My bad! Star Trak is actually being organised by Candy Cranks. It's going to be an awesome event, so dig out your velveteen skivvies and get along!

Come on you raver, you seer of visions

Sasha's mate Moo sporting a cute bit of ink on Saturday. Barcelona style!

When you got lost into the city, got lost into the night

The Mayor of Sydney, Clover Moore, continues to bring Sydney into the 21st Century by updating the infrastructure for cycling, and it's a wonderful thing. Here's the latest progress, improving the entry into Hyde Park from Oxford Street. To put it into perspective, you come bombing down Oxford, catch the right turn lights at Liverpool and whereas before you would get caught in a bottleneck of pedestrian crawling up the stairs, now we have a massive ramp. Awesome! Thanks Clover!

Settle for love I'm never far from home

Found this in one of my old Thrasher mags. Josh Bonner flyin' high at Santa Rosa skatepark. Funny thing is, I used to own this deck, a Powell longboard. Had it set up with Indys and Bullet 66s. Sweet ride. Spent many a lazy arfternoon on it, carving up the sidewalks inbetween Surry Hills and Hyde Park. Sasha from Pony Bikes will remember it. Damn thing got stolen from our house one day by some junkies. Never saw it again, and haven't been able to find out any info on this particular model. Always wanted to get the graphics tattooed on my thigh. See that longboarder hangin' ten, toes on the nose? That's what it's all about, man.

I'll come around and make peace, get down have a barbeque

My first 'real' MTB (after my GT Outpost Trail) was an Iron Horse MT400, similar in layout to this ARS 8.0, but in steel. Jesse from the Bike Bar sold it to me, stock, rigid, with an STR gruppo. Did pretty well in a couple of local cross country races on it, too. It actually inspired me, after college, to get a job as a bike courier so I could train for the Olympics and win gold for Australia. But Lordy, the ARS 8.0 was my DREAM BIKE. It was the bike I was going to do it on. But as any bike courier can testify, after a few years as a courier, well, you just don't need to race anymore. As we say in fencing, what's the point? Thanks Jesse.

Time, time, can it be reached? Can you cheat time?

A few shots from the Commuter Cup this afternoon. Ride joyous!

It used to be LaToya and jim hats, but now it's uzis macs and g-packs of cracks

Georgia from ThreePointTurnz just posted up her new idol, and I'm inclined to agree, although I'd prefer a 24" cruiser... Sweeeet!

I see her face in every passerby

Taken down at Woolloommooloo on one of those crazy mornings when you find yourself down at Woolloommooloo. With two of my my babies. I know where one of them is. The third one, well, I don't know where she is at all...

Only you, you cool my desire, oh, oh, oh I’m on fire

This is the latest build from the Pony Bikes stable, and it's my favourite yet. It's up for sale, and it's a bargain if you ask me. SE Draft frame with custom powdercoat and custom build by a mechanic who puts her heart and soul into everything she does. Sasha may be my best mate but I can be objective about what she does as well, we're good like that. And she is one of the few mechanics in this country I would entrust my ride to, and trust that she'll do a top job. Check out the Stormtrooper bike on her BLOG!

Well the hills are pretty and rollin', but the thorn is sharp and swollen

Last night was the Super Mario Track alleycat, presented by Le Pista Resistance. These rides are just going from strength to strength, it's so encouraging to see so many riders turning up, last night there was about 70 Sydney cyclists. I'm sure there would be more if there wasn't such a stupid prejudice about these rides being fixed only. One fact I am continually becoming aware of is that Sydney is not a cycling friendly city. Try riding it, you'll find out. So it's important to encourage the community and not be biased against about what you're riding or what other people are riding. To quote Sable & Argent, 'Anyone on two wheels is a friend'. Come along to the next one, leave your hate at home and just have a fun night with people who love to ride!
Thanks to Lewis and the LPR crew for organising, the sponsors, the checkpoints, the Cricketers Arms, Jewelz for taking the snaps and above all the riders for coming along.
Get over to the Le Pista Resistance BLOG for Emma's excellent review of the night, too.

Shazam!

Tomorrow night, 7pm at the Cricketers Hotel, Fitzroy St, Surry Hills! Suit up! Ride bikes! Win prizes! Le Pista Resistance!

When the emptiness finds you, you find all the numbers you need

Met up with my mate Sticks tonight for a couple of beers at The Clarendon on Devonshire St. He rocked up with his old Azonic DS1. What a legend of a bike, 10 years old and still looking as phat as it ever did. This bike has won State downhill champs and is now running 25:12, still going strong! Word!