Well, it has been a busy few weeks for the B’n’C team.. The ‘Disciples’ ride weekend, Mount Wellington runs, epic fixed rides, training at Newtown Oval, track racing, bike building, frame hunts, beers, bbq’s and bands! It’s all full steam ahead!!
So a brief overview of a few memorable moments is in order..
Aladdin’s Cave
Mischa and I got wind of a farm shed out in the country jam-packed with old bikes.. We made contact with the owner and got the ok to take a squiz inside and found a treasure-trove of old-school rides! There were bmx’s from the 1980’s, a track bike from about 1910, a fixed Massey-Harris from the 1890’s, about two dozen Malvern Stars with 3-speed hubs and an uber cool Ken Self town bike with sparrow bars dating from approx the mid 1950’s. Must have been 200 odd bikes in this shed.. totally over-awed when I saw it! We’ll be keeping the location a secret, I’m a Surfie by trade so it’ll be like Mischa and my ‘secret spot’!
Iron Chef Grundalingus
This was one event that came outta of left field.. Last saturday at the Macquarie Mansion, Mat Grundy showed that he has more than one string for his bow, whipping up what was perhaps THE best asian stir-fry I have ever had! He catered to all comers, vegan and meat-lovers and did so in style. Not only is Grundalingus a bike mechanic of some repute but he is also a quite capable food mechanic. Top work Mat!
Acoustics in the Park
The Disconnect boys put on a top arvo at the West Hobart SK8 Bowl last weekend. Beers, tunes and a free bbq. The day was an absolute pearler, one of those that make you love being in Hobart. I arrived just as Linc Le Fevre was playing.. He was sitting in the shade under-neath a big tree, cracking out one of his more laid-back numbers, while about 20 or so punters sat around watching.. nice.
We had arounded up another ‘import rider’ for the B’n’C team that morning and recruited him for the festivities. Dutchman Tim Smit had arrived in Hobart the night before and his first Tasmanian experiance was this event. He was pretty stoked as he immediately had secured about a dozen bike riding buddies and had beer being pushed into his hands.. rad way to arrive in a new town eh?
A few of the crew hit the bowl on their skaties. Jib put on a pretty good display, grinding a few lips and turning over the top of ‘thrasher’ corner. No skin was lost.
Track Racing
We’re into our fifth week of track racing now and slowly the B’n’C boys are improving. Clint and I have been getting a few tips from Simon Price, Vanders and Dave about the tricks of track and have even come up with a few er, ‘new’ tricks of our own (read: sprinting flat out from the start.. ie, brawn NOT brain racing! haha!) It’s been pretty fun so far. One friday night we had about 10 or so B’n’C supporters sitting on the grass watching.. The more beers they drank the louder the cheering got and the faster we went!
Hoping to hit a few of the Christmas Carnivals under the B’n’C banner.. maybe Hobart and St Helens? Dunno how we’ll go but it’ll be a good opportunity to learn some more and meet of few of the inter-state crew.
Lesson Learned
..and finally I’ll end with the lesson I learned the hard way.. ‘don’t let Jimmy Black steer the boat’ (it’ll end in tears).
Ben
