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bikes canada general

one and a half hours of very little adrenaline and a nice cup of tea

Friday was supposed to be a climbing day, but a sick climbing partner meant that instead I lazed around the house for hours, then eventually took my bike out for a ride to the Nordic Centre, where all the madness of the 24 hours of Adrenaline was just beginning.

 

My bike narrowly avoids falling off the cliff as it admires the view out across the Bow River and Canmore from near the Nordic Centre
 

It’s too easy sometimes to be overcome by inertia and stay in the house, but as soon as you leave you wonder what on earth you were doing sitting inside, and then have trouble making yourself turn around for home. Half the cars round town seemed to have 2 or 3 bikes strapped to them, and the Nordic Centre was rapidly becoming covered in bikes, tents and shade shelters. It would have been tempting to enter the event, but for the fact it was also the World Solo 24 hour Championships, team entry cost $750, and it tends to sell out within a couple of days anyway – I just wasn’t fanatical or fit enough. I miss all the more casual MTB enduro events round in Australia though, and the dirt crits in Melbourne. It’s a pity there aren’t more bike events around here (or are there, and I just haven’t been able to find out about them?).

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bikes european bike epic general

surly

Well the planning is in motion for cycle touring round Europe for a few months next year. There’s a vague plan of the first couple of weeks of June cycling round Hokkaido in Japan, and then on to drop off extra luggage in Ireland, then ferry to France, and away. I’ve been trying to work out which of my bikes to take – the road bike, the Green Giant:

 

 

the mountain bike, the Blue Giant (with slicks on):

 

 

or some weird combination thereof, or maybe going single speed?

But yesterday I had an epiphany and instead I’m probably going to sell my road bike and buy a Surly Long Haul Trucker (or something similar, probably Surly though). With it’s nice steel frame and general suitability for touring it should be perfect for the job – with the added benefit that I can actually get one that will fit me, unlike the Green Giant, which has always been a bit on the large size.

 

 

I’d also stumbled across Epic Designs, all sorts of exciting bike bags and bits, made by Epic Eric. I’ve currently got a set of rear panniers, but a triangle bag with a gas tank probably wouldn’t go astray for creating some extra room (and I’ve fallen in love with the idea of the gas tank – all of my food within easy snacking reach… if it wasn’t too warm I’d contemplate just filling the thing with M&Ms…. yes, I might just have to do that).

Anyone want to buy my old road bike? $550, it’s a bargain. Look, the tyres even match the bar tape!

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general

“and above all else, never forget that you are the lowest of the low”

 
Robo Story! I finally found out the name of the one cartoon I remember from the 80s that I hadn’t been able to track down. With Blueberry the girl, and her dog Loufi and the White Wriggler (the lowest of the low) and Revered Reverence and the Robot Hobo…

 
There’s an episode up on YouTube, starting with this clip.

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general

ooooohh

 

 
My thesis, finally finished, hard-bound, and submitted.

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canada general

the paint pots

 

Ochre beds by the Paint Pots in Kootenay National Park that were used for their colour by both Aboriginal groups and Europeans, before being retired to National Park status.