My Zebdi has finally found a new owner.

Alex will be punishing it now as it properly deserves!

In an attempt to save some dosh, I’ve put the horizontal dropout mod on hold and I’m just going to update the driveline with new parts. I’ll keep the Shimano Acera-X Death-Trap(tm) cranks for now.

On Saturday I bought a 32T Stronglight chainring (the more expensive 7075 aluminium version) and a nice, new chain (Sachs).

With any luck, my order for some Shimano DX freewheel cogs (15T and 14T, hopefully) will come in soon.

I might leave the derailer in place as a tensioner but it does look fugly so a replacement is still desirable.

There’s a new 1″ XT headset that might replace the loose, original GT one – if it fits..

(Click image for full size Sunraysia Daily article)

Here’s some gibberish point-form notes that I might one-day turn into a proper race report.. ha!

Low-Mid 30’s (degC) most of the weekend. I had later and cooler lap first.

Lack of prep (road trained, no mtb’ing)

Black Snot from the dirt

Sore ribs from the OTB Killer stick (still sore a week later!)

Dust

Stubby holder great idea, beer even better 😉

Sid Taberlay lap times and crazy speed as he flew by me up long hill

Pinch flats on 2 laps (rigid ss understandable, hardtail – what the?! at the 2k to go mark too – nooo!!!)

Soooo many lollies!

Rested some more, sore ribs when lying down

Cool teammates

Guy falling off ramp at the start

Karate Monkey crash final lap – funny, max respect for the rigid/ss rider

Dust

Rocks

Nice people encouraging me and friendly passing (“take your time”)

Jukka (on our team last year) “Good Samaritan” award, pump, tube and multi-tool in one lap!

Solo efforts – Saul Britton 24 laps in 24 hours (actually 19)!!

9 laps Michelle Wallace!!

Shower – great.. I was sooo dirty!

Kids race was cool to watch

Running low on spare tubes (Paul I have one of yours!)

Saved the “finishing” beers for after I made the drive home.. how sweet were they!

BikeSoiler claiming to see scorpions but I only saw centipedes and spiders.. 😉

Stubby holders with drink were a frickin’ grouse idea!!

I heard the bike cleaning was great – Neil dropped in a $5 for their efforts

1:03 out of my first battery for the 10W helmet light. Goal is to finish a lap on one battery 🙂

Additional

“eddiec” wrote: “How’d your night-lap(s) go?”

Better than last year. I got 1:03 out of my VistaLite 10W NiMH before I had to change batteries. I pinch flatted right at the 2k to go sign – damn I was pissed off! You could probably hear my swearing at the camp.. 😉

Didn’t see any of the scorpions BikeSoiler was talking about but plenty of centipedes and some spiders. It was actually some good riding at night – I was moving well in the cooler temp..

“eddiec” wrote: “How many couches in the campsite?”

I brought three chairs, Phil had a foldout table/chair setup with 4 chairs as well as a bed thing, Ryan had chairs, Bikesoiler had chairs.. the point I’m trying to make is that we had enough chairs! 😉

Couches = 0. No room in the car for that bulk – I’ve got bikes to carry!

“eddiec” wrote: “See the guy on a rigid mtb with racks front ‘n back and drop bars…”

The guy on the touring bike? Yeah, there’s a pic of him on the website. I saw him coming in on one lap, spotted the drops and thought it might have been Dan on his cyclocross bike, but then I saw racks!! Nutter! 🙂

“eddiec” wrote: “Were you one of those intimidating types on the trainers in the transition area?”

I thought seriously about warming up but never did. We weren’t ever going to win it so there wasn’t much point. It might’ve made the initial climb a little more pleasant, but it wasn’t necessary. Besides, people might think I was ‘serious’!!

“eddiec” wrote: “who won the good Samaritan award and what for?”

hehe.. it was actually one of our team from last year’s race.. Jukka. He got it for giving away his pump, a tube and his multi-tool in one lap! The recipient of the multi-tool was also one of our team members from last year! Go Jukka! 🙂

FGP Pics: http://fullgas.fotopic.net/

hippy Pics: thehippy.net 2004 Kona24 gallery

So I got lost again trying to make it to the dirt crits!

Riding down South Bank, turn left after crown and I’m supposed to turn right on Museum Rd. Riding.. riding.. riding.. road ends. No frickin Museum Rd! Don’t these city people know what street signs are?! So, I’m riding around these streets, some signed, some not getting angrier and angrier and I find something that sounds familiar, so I take it. Riding.. riding.. dead end.. FARK! Riding.. U-turn.. riding.. Holy Crap! Two street signs on one intersection.. and both of them are on my “map”!!

Right if that goes there and that goes there.. then I’m here and I need to go… over that bridge! Riding.. riding.. FGP sign, I’m close! Carpark, track markings.. where’s the start? Find Snozza walking the track..

“You missed the start by 5mins”

“Ah fark!”

“Jump on the back of C grade and check it out”

“Cool, thanks!”

So I did a lap of the course. Apparently it was slightly modified due to some singletrack being under water 🙂

I learned a few things: Either I can’t follow directions, I can’t see properly or using a 1982 street directory isn’t a good idea in 2004. I learned I can’t ride mtb for nuts! I learned that dabbing SPDs into mud sucks arse and I met Phil who is one of the riders on our Kona 24hr team.

Speaking of the Kona 24hr. I just entered our team of 6 – the “Miscellaneous Miscreants”. Damn I need to ride off-road some more before then!

www.bennybros.com

The seller: aus.bicycle’s “PiledHigher”

The bike: Cougar All Terrain MTB

Planned Use: Bike Polo machine

The cost: $50

The weight: 87.85kg(3)

Removed screw-on freewheel with correct Shimano tool in vice(1)(2).

Removed stupid chain guard.

Cleaned and repacked rear wheel.

Removed pedal toe-clips.

Removed stickers and mud.

Tightened chainrings and bottom bracket. Adjusted gears.

New Weight: 87.84kg(3)

(1) Would previously have used large spanner and chainwhip but lost large spanner and headset tool when I left it on the back of Tee’s ute.

(2) Vice recently acquired from my Dad. The legend heard that I didn’t have one so he constructed a take-down workbench and included a vice! Thanks Dad!

(3) Okay, so I may have exaggerated a little bit, but not bloody much!!

See it before mods and with my cat, here:

http://www.thehippy.net/gallery/thumbnails.php?album=80

The nutters at Surly have created Pugsley, a bike with 4″ tyre clearance!

I’m probably 4 times his age and he’d kick my arse!

http://www.raceface.com/craponmydesk/Episode2-Winner.htm