Training for a ride?? When did this happen

The weekend gone saw me go on a training ride for the Brissie to the Bay event. This is a first for me... I'm not a big one for training... I guess some where along the way I became a cyclist and this is the sort of thing they do.

It was kinda fun having never cycled that far before, the ride next weekend should be a bit of fun!

I managed to reach my goal so after a call from MS Events I've doubled my current total to see if I could make it before the weekend.... (you can donate here if you feel so inclined)

A big move!

After 6 years in the same place we have packed up and moved (all be it only one floor). I found it pretty sad to move out of our old place. I surprised myself with how emotionally attached I'd become to our old house. Even now I still have no real logical explanation for why, but it made it quite hard (and sometimes stressful) event.

A big thanks though to those who helped me lug all my gear around. It would have been impossible to get it all done without everyone (especially as we didn't have any movers)

Now to the important stuff... all the Tech....

Probably the nicest thing (well for me) is there is now a study to get all the Mac gear setup (including the very nice house warming gift of a G4 Cube).

And the arcade table has it's own dedicated nook which is probably best placement it's had since I'd got it. (Although it does have to share it with the new bike as well, jury is still out as to whether it gets cycloc'd to the wall)

The biggest question at the moment is what to do about rear speakers, the current thought is a wireless solution. The two best options I've found so far have been from JBL and KEF. The JBL one is the current pick (mainly because of price). The JBL WEM-1 looks like it would do the job perfectly but it's still an expensive solution vs tripping over wires.

The other option is to go for a sound bar (and the obvious choice there is the B&W Panorama) but there is a big expense in swapping out all the existing gear I have dedicated for surround sound.

Time will tell...

Pimp My Ride

So I've had my new bike for a little while now (a bit over a month) and I've done almost 500km on it and started the pimping process already.

First of all I managed to track down some Kestrel branded water bottles and holders (which are actually in the shape of the logo).

I then swapped out the tyres because the Slicks made me nervous especially if there was any water around and as the Water bottles and Tyres were red highlighted I continued the trend and added a new Fi'zi:k Antares Saddle in Red with matching handle bar tape to finish off the carbon/red look.

Taking the bike from this

to this

Signed up for a ride and some fund raising thrown in

This year I've signed up to do the Brissie to the Bay ride to support MS. Like a fun run though this fun ride is about raising money.

So if you feel so inclined my donations page is here http://www.msqldevents.org.au/Enerflex-MS-Brissie-to-the-Bay-Bike-Ride-2011/CAMDS

Sent from my iPad

The end of an era?

Could it be? The end of the nespresso? Our Nespresso has started to play up and seems like it's on it's last legs. The odd flashes of the lights warming up doesn't look like a good sign.

It's given us many long years of service (I think maybe 6? And I'd hate to think how many coffees) but maybe it's time to upgrade to one of the Pixie models.
http://www.nespresso.com/pixie/

Sent from my iPhone

Bloggn' from my new phone.

After all the bike talk lately it's about time there were some more gadgets on here.

My old iPhone 3GS finally stopped connecting to the phone network and suddenly became an iPod touch. Having to switch back to my nokia 6110 for a day was enough to get me to walk down to Optus and get a shiny new white iPhone 4.

My screen has been broken so long going to the retina display is just amazing.

The most impressive feature though was the upgrade. Plugged the phone in. Prompted me to say I'd synced a phone on here before and would I like to restore the new one from the old image. Done. Simplest change ever

Sent from my iPhone 4

And the New bike, Stolen bike, no bike saga ends.... with a KESTREL Evoke SL

Well the saga of my new bike is at an end...

A bit over a month ago I took the plunge and decided to upgrade my ancient Apollo RDZ3000 that I'd been riding since before time began. I picked up a very cheap Specialized Festina Team bike from eBay and after one ride was super happy.

Unfortunately after one ride it was stolen from my house and thus the saga. I have to say the response from the Police and insurance company was very quick but sadly the bike was long gone.

The Insurance company came back right on time with a very generous payout considering I'd only just got the bike. The only small issue with them was where I had to source the bike from... Initally I had to get my bike filled from a Melbourne store while I live in Queensland. But after a bit of back and forth we came up with a cash settlement and it was time to go bike shopping.

The purchase happened very very quickly. The day after the settlement was agreed I started my shopping list and narrowing down my specs. But all that went out the window after following Valavien (and complaining about having to go) into Gold Cross Cycles (formally Victor Cycles) in the city.

I wandered past a Kestrel Evoke SL with a price that seemed too good to be true. I knew nothing about them, but I could see the glimmer of carbon weave through the clear coat. I picked it up and it seamed amazing light... A quick search on my iPhone confirmed the SL in the name as Super Light which meant a 7.3kg weigh in. Then looking at the spec the SRAM Rival with double tap and in my size and I hit up the sales guy for a test ride. I love the ride and being nothing more than a weekend warrior on the bike it fulfilled the most important criteria.... it looked awesome in all it's naked carbony goodness.

 So I did the deal then and there. Got a few other bits and pieces thrown including a Garmin edge 500 for a great price of the already amazing price on the bike (but not the Cosmic Carbone Wheels, sorry Tom).

I've since taking it for a couple of spins and had a fit up, I loved the ride of the Specialized but this is something else again. I don't think I could have hoped to get a bike this light and fast for my budget.... but for the money I payed it should be a crime.

Lastly but not least to prevent the same happening to this as to the Festina I picked up a Cycloc and the Kestrel now sits proudly in the hall way safe and sound... not unlike this

So as annoyed as I was to lose the Festina, it's ended very well.. I have a new bike and more than enough cash for some serious tech spending... did I hear someone say iPad 2?

Musing over an upgrade for my turntable

I have no real need but I've started to think about upgrading/replacing the tivoli that is the heart of my turntable setup. I have no real reason. Sure the tuner has started to go but most stations I could stream to the airport express if I'm desperate.

I think the lack of traditional speaker setups in my house has been starting to chip away at my and it's started to form into an idea.

I love the thought of a valve amp running off the B&O turntable to round out the vintage technology. But I'm equally drawn to the simplicity of a Geneva L sitting next to the turntable on a red ikea PS cabinet.

It's nothing more than an idea chipping away at the back of my mind. Hopefully the current bike obsession and purchase will keep the upgrade at bay for a while.

Sent from my iPhone