Author: Mischa

If you like dirt, trees, and seeing people in pain then this weekend has it all. The Aussie mtb nationals series is down here for the 5th and final round, which means a heap of fit and fast people riding around in circles, over jumps, or down steep hill. It’s out at Glenorchy MTB park and is definitely worth getting along to check out. Bring a six pack of beer, grab your cowbell, and scream obscenities at people who can ride better than you. There’s even rumours that Sam Hill might show up and mumble something to himself. While he’s renowned as the world’s most useless ambassador for professional mountain biking, he sure knows how to play well with gravity. Luke Madill (of Olympic BMX potential-fame) will also be along for the 4X, and there’s a good chance a few other not-really-famous-but-with-familiar-names sorta types will show up. I know I’ll be there at least (ho ho).

My Disco are playing on the Saturday night at the Brisbane as well, so you can keep drinking there. And apparently there’s an after party on Sunday night at the most shitful hollow empty place around, The Observatory. At least you know that you won’t be embarrassed the next day after getting drunk, spewing on a few random strangers and abusing the bouncers. After all, they probably deserved it.

Don’t be shit, get involved. See you there.

Saturday March 14. 4pm. Pirate ship park above Salamanca. Bring the usual.

I’m posting this so I don’t flake out again. Poster soon. Get training!

See you at the pub.

Bruce motherfuckin’ Springsteen. They don’t call him The Boss for nothing. Easily one of the greatest song writers ever, and one a lot of us have grown up with (those who have grown up at all). So it must be confirmation that there’s some kind of higher power (or maybe proof that The Boss is actually THE Boss) when there’s a page on the internet with some of my favourite bands playing Springsteen covers, as part of some ‘official’ tribute. We’re talkin’ The Gaslight Anthem, Bouncing Souls, Tom Gabel, Ted Leo, and more.

Go check that shit out. Here’s a taster…

Whilst browsing the literature over at Fyxomatosis, a few happy snaps caught my attention. “Bloody hell, that’s Tasmania!”. Actually, it was the old track out at New Norfolk, where a few of the BnC crew had been a little while back. Draped over the fence was a damn fine looking bike, and a few clicks lead me over to Andy Bell’s Bellie’s Racing Blog. Tassie history and a damn fine restoration, all in the one spot. I’ve never heard of Cyril Abel before, but the paint job is damn impressive. I know there are a bunch of BnC faithful who’ll dig it, so go check it out.

Also, I want another 56cm track frame, anyone got a spare?

Previously mentioned Ride Like Heck gang leader Josh has been spending some time off the bike (which is how he spends most of his time to be honest), makin’ shit with his hands. Go look at his website, ’cause there’s some mad action goin’ down over there.

While We Sleep

My love of Rapha and their very stylish aesthetic is fairly well documented on this here website. Smooth as hell, with a classic style and ridiculous price tag to match, they make cycling products that are a step above many of the branding-heavy gear we see daily. My favourite thing about their website has always been the Features section, with a heap of stories that usually have me inspired to be out at 5am, turning pedals and sweating onto my handlebars (never really translates to actual results, but I’ll be a lazy bastard til the bitter end). Recently they’ve been doing a heap of stuff in their Continental series, documenting rides across North America.

The latest of this is a series of videos covering their riding of the Tour of California route. Complete with trendy beards, tattoos, black bikes and pink accents, the riders trundle along putting in plenty of KMs. It’s all shot in the indie-film style you’d expect, and I can’t help being a bit of a sucker for it. It really does a good job of capturing that feeling you so often get when you’re out on the bike. You may be out with a group, but it’s you and you alone who’s pushing your pedals over and over, and your mates aren’t going to help. There’s a reflective solitude in this, even if pain is usually the only thing staring back into your eyes.  I guess having all the right gear and clothing helps make it all the more comfortable, but the truth is, that feeling is out there and waiting for you all the time.

So I’m going to sit here and dream of epic, painful rides and glory through suffering, softened by clothing aimed at dentists and surgeons. Tomorrow I’ll jump on the rust bucket out the front, with the buckled rear wheel that rubs on the chainstays and the brakes that barely work, and somewhere between here and the beach, I’ll find that same feeling.

Check out the Rapha videos here, and their website here.

Proof that Ride Like Heck can colour-coordinate just as well as BnC. Even the firepower is custom designed. Gangsta what!?

A holiday ain’t a holiday unless you pick up a rust bucket and roll it to the beach! Day 1 in Byron and the Northern Star has had the milkcrate wired to the back, the seat lifted, and she’s ready to roll. Good times ahead!

We’re up here rollin’ with the Ride Like Heck crew, so stay tuned for more updates.

This book was easily my favourite as a kid, and I don’t reckon I’m alone in that. The upcoming movie was exciting news, the fallout between Jonze and the studio seemed to be tragedy, and the (so-far) movie-like happy ending is all that we could have wished for. Now we just need to see the damn thing. I feel like a kid with his first bike, totally in awe of the posibilites ahead, yet a little worried about ending up bruised and broken.

Go read this interview with Jonze, it’s probably pretty good. The screeners look awesome and I get the feeling this movie won’t disappoint.