There's no money in movie making...

When I first started riding I loved watching riding DVDs like the collective, Roam, Seasons etc. These movies are all classic mountain bike movies that make you want to drop what you're doing and hop on your bike. Recently, I havn't realllllly seen any movies that come close to these films...

About a year ago I stumbled accross The Coastal Crew, this is a must view blog of movies!!! These guys started out as a group of mates filming their riding throughout BC when Red Bull approached them and asked them to help film the Red Bull Rampage. The guys have now produced their first film titled 'InsideOut' which I'm itching to see.

Anyway, support these guys! Here are some movies to get you going!

The video that made these guys famous

My personal favourite

InsideOut Trailer

Heads Down Thumbs Up

Ho Ho Ho..

Wow everyone seems to mention how fast this year has gone. This year for me has included moving into the city, doing the least amount of riding for the past 7 or so years, starting some more uni study (idiot), and enjoying time spent with my wonderful girlfriend Lauren (who reads this blog..) and some great friends.

As mentioned in an earlier post, I had some goals to set in the past week or so, and one of them is to get myself onto a structured training plan for next year. After jumping from coach to coach for the past couple of weeks I have found one I am happy with and am willing to give him a shot.... meaning, just do everything he says and hope for the best!!

So what does the plan look like? Secret!.... no not really, just detailed. The focus for last week and this week coming is basically to get some fitness back before a long slog of base training over Jan and Feb. I have also put on about 6-8kg so this 2 week interum was also used to kick start some weight loss.

In short, 2 weeks of riding with a high cadence and distances of around 2.5-3.5 hours on the bike. For me, high cadence means high heart rate... so trying to keep a balance of watching my Cadence at 90-120 and my heart rate sit at about 150-160, but trying to ride non stop for 3 hours.

 The road bike is the easiest tool for this job. This is where the saying Heads Down Thumbs Up comes from. The cool little game that kids love to play when their stressed teacher needs 5 minutes to organise the next literacy or numeracy activity. I'd throw in a picture of my 27 year 2's playing away but it's not appropriate.

Whilst riding on the road bike and keeping cadence/HR set, I seem to change gears alllllllllllllllllllllllll the time. Hence using my thumbs constantly!!!! I did 3 river loops this week, one of them extending out to 65km and sent me riding from my unit at South Bank out to Jindalee and back. That's alot of Heads Down and Thumbs Up.

I woke up to a beautiful morning earlier in the week and set off for a long slog, but this time on the mountain bike. Keeping a high cadence the mountain bike is all about fire road... and usually ones that head Up, Up, Up... Head for the hills...

River loop from home, over Cootha via channel 9 trail, up Mt Cootha Road, down Highwood Road, 30km of Gap Creek fire road (with a few sneaky single tracks to break it up), back up highwood road, down Mt Cootha on the road, round the rest of the river loop, cafe stop, home)

I get xmas and boxing day off, then back on the road bike again for a couple of days. I am doing a big Southside Epic with Derek on Wednesday and will probably shove my rest day in on Thursday. More high Cadence riding this week then I start my Base training. How exciting!

Merry Christmas!

A slow week for the blogger...

With a big uni assignment due on Friday it meant no riding and plenty of sitting in front of the computer (and a pile of books which i've put to good use........more on this later). I did however squeeze out for a quick ride with the Wednesday Morning Crew and a big xmas catch up thanks to Max.

I arrived late Wednesday, and thanks to OutdoorGaz leaving his mobile phone on the InsideGaz of his toy truck I couldn't find the group. No matter though, Jaman was turning up to work so I snuck it a quick coffee and a catch up while we waited for the group.

In other news I bought myself a wind trainer. Cool little toy that will help me in times where I lack time. Also, the good use for those textbooks? Excellent height for keeping the front wheel level on the wind trainer! Although I think they are due back on the 6th of Jan to the Griffith library ;)

Bob Irwin with Terri Irwin



My wheel isn't true but it's not shaped like an egg in person



Reading up on how to make conversation with OutdoorGaz on the Wednesday morning ride.

Pictures from the Past...





Friday morning... 5:30am... Sun Shining... A group of blokes I know are riding up the Eastern Escarpment as we speak... yes I was invited... yes I have uni work to do instead... yes, i WILL procrastinate!

What's a blog without photos?!

In true 'outdoorgaz' style... Here are a bunch of pictures showing me "outdoors".

Let's start in New Zealand:



Day trip hiking out to a glazier to do some ice climbing



  

Lauren joined in with a broken arm from 2 days earlier. Only person they've had with a broken arm climb the ice. It was a hard day for her as any small jolt would hurt like hell. And only 1 hand to hold her axe in.

 

Woooo

Queenstown



I took this photo with my crappy point and shoot, I think NZ is one of those places where you can take photos like this and it has nothing to do with the camera. It's just beautiful each direction you look.



Next lets look at some climbing in SEQ...

Toowoomba Ranges

Toowoomba down the bottom...

Ngungun... This place is magic. This was my first REAL outdoor climbing experience. The abseil/climb itself is very easy, but it's 60m + to the bottom. Imagine Kangaroo point x3. I never forget throwing the 70m rope off from the top and watching it just scrape the ground.

By this stage, I had abseiled all the way to the bottom, hooked up the climbing gear, and starting heading UP UP UP. Surreal views.

One of my favourite photo's from the day.

 Bushwalking in SEQ and Northern NSW. Not my most favourite activity, but with good mates it's always a great day.

On the way up to Lizard Point. An all day, off track, uphill walk using a dodgy map and compass. I loved this day!

I won't add many riding pictures, but Canberra has to get a mention for awesome spots I have taken the bike...

Top of Mt Stromlo after being schooled by Dave on climbing a mountain.

 Lastly, no matter where you take yourself there's nothing like the feeling of heading into your own backyard. Daisy Hill has been my backyard for a while now, as is the Brisbane river. Here's 2 parting shots just for you Pete.

Daisy Hill at night

Taking the yaks down the "backyard" and out to the Brisbane river

 Hope you enjoy.



It's all in a name...

Nobody likes a blog without blog posts... so hear's my attempt at making a couple of starting posts.

Firstly, welcome. If you are reading this chances are you know who I am so no use introducing myself. I made this blog to keep myself motivated throughout next year. For around 7 years now I have been mountain biking with friends and strangers and I have loved every minute of it. It has gotten me through some tough times and I have made some truly lasting memeries. It's also kept me from becoming a fat slob who does nothing ;)

Next year is looking like an exciting year for cycling. For once I have gotten myself into a mindset where I want to see some serious results and have set myself some very short, short, mid and long term goals which are all attainable. I will reveal these later, for now it's time to get some pics and stories on the blog to acctually make it look good.

Thanks for visiting :)