G’day fellow MTB net heads, I have been thinking over the last few weeks about the amount of coverage our sport gets in mainstream media. Sure you may see a small snippet of some poor sod taking a big digger at an event either here or around the world, tucked conveniently before an ad break on Sports Tonight. Better still, we copped a few half-hour sessions on SBS late last year/ early this year as apart of their Cycling Show. But gee, in a year (last one) where Australian Mountain Bikers stepped up and took names internationally you’d think we could have raised more than the whisper that was 2002. Read the rest of this entry »

OK, that sounds a bit harsh but it’s the general feeling around these parts.

Reading the journal of Mr. Pizzaz, I got to thinking that a diary from the point of view of someone trying to actually get back on the bike, might make an accessible read some out there could relate to. Who knows, it might even inspire one or two of you… or motivate myself. Read the rest of this entry »

I was thinking about the post “Mountain Bikers Care About Wild Places” in conjunction with the recent “….tap, tap, tap …..” forum post regarding the aging mountain biking demographics as I rode along yesterday.

I mountain bike because its fun, challenging and it puts me out in the bush in differing conditions regularly (and my family like me better if I have got out and thought and spun).

My appreciation of the sport grows as I get older. I think it is one of the few sports that a person can do for life and that the people who enjoy mountain biking average in their 30’s is not surprising as to enjoy the sport is not generally a cheap one nor is it one that can be learned overnight. Read the rest of this entry »

I’m lucky. I can ride out my garage and be on the dirt in five minutes. I can be in a park in 20, and then have trail and fireroad choices that can keep me out longer than I can ride. The Santa Monica mountain range in Los Angeles cuts 60 miles or so east-west from the Hollywood sign to the Pacific Ocean. Twenty miles offshore, the Channel Islands are mountaintops from the same range. Read the rest of this entry »

So the programme has been going along ok for a few weeks now. Time for a bit of a progress update.

To date I’ve been focusing on two things. Loosing bulk (from me!) and lifting my lactic threshold. So firstly, the easy thing to quantify… the bulk bit. Since changing to a reduced carb diet, so far I’ve lost about 2.8kg in 3 weeks or so. J so this takes me back under 90kg for the first time in about 7 years or so. Putting this in perspective, that’s better than the weight difference I lost when I upgraded from my Prophet to my ASR! Considerably cheaper to do as well… Read the rest of this entry »

Hello All,

Below and attached are some details on a very important chance to gain more equitable access for cycling on land managed by the Sydney Catchment Authority. Some of you are already aware of this and some have put submissions in already.

Please, if you are a cyclist living in the Sydney Region (read anywhere within 200km of Sydney) or if you have a general interest in cycling access, read the documents, put in your own submission (as an individual or perhaps representing a cycling club or organisation). Also please pass on these details to any of your friends, contacts, who you feel may have an interest in pushing for change to these regulations. After many years of high level meetings and correspondence with the SCA I should tell you that there is NO point in to arguing for access for XC trail loops, trail building, events etc etc. What we are trying to open up to cyclists is permission to ride existing roads and management trails within SCA managed Special Areas. To achieve such would be a substantial victory over an organization that sees exclusion as the easiest form of management.

The article from Mountain Biking Australia magazine [here] will give some background for those who do not have it already.

Best regards,

Huw Kingston

A ONCE IN A DECADE CHANCE TO OBTAIN BETTER CYCLING ACCESS TO SYDNEY CATCHMENT AUTHORITY MANAGED LANDS.

The Sydney Catchment Authority (SCA) is carrying out a review of its General Regulations, the rules that govern what can and can’t be done in the huge tracts of land they manage or jointly manage to protect Sydney’s water supply. This is a once in a decade opportunity to argue for cycling access to roads and management trails that is currently banned. Whilst over the years the cycling community had been promised consultation on the new regulations, the SCA has drafted new regulations without prior consultation and then made these available on May 2 for public comment. The Draft Regulations are even more draconian than the ones they replace and it is vitally important that any riders with an interest in riding classic routes such as Katoomba to Mittagong, make submission on these regulations. A joint submission has been prepared by MTBA and Bicycle NSW and this is attached. You can also read the Draft Sydney Water Catchment Management Regulation 2008 and associated Regulatory Impact Statement [here] by close of business on 6 June 2008.

Whilst a date of 30 May 2008 is given for Submissions we have been given an extension of one week. So please make submission to [regulations@sca.nsw.gov.au] by close of business on 6 June 2008.

For any further information contact Huw Kingston on 0418 977609 or email: huw [at] wildhorizons.com.au

Download Submission to SCA on Draft Regulations.doc [here]

Discuss [here]

Are we in danger of becoming bike snobs? Do we really have to spend $5000+ to have fun? I’ve seen and heard riders pooh poohing other riders for their cheap, uncool brand bikes. I’ve also seen riders on cheap bikes out ride those on cool brands. Just goes to show. Read the rest of this entry »

Rarefied mountain air sucks past my dried out epiglottis, tunneling down into every available alveoli in my lungs as I struggle for breath up yet another sharp crest of the fire trail. I gush out the expired oh-two and feel the surging beat of my heart’s every straining moment through the back of my eyeballs. When is this bastard of a climb ever going to finish? Read the rest of this entry »