PROLLY IS NOT PROBABLY

Posts Tagged ‘Melbourne’

MelburnOut: Shifter Dan’s 40th Birthday Bush Bash – Day 01

The day began with a cold start up a big climb. Reefton Spur road is a beauty!

“Aged many years in the wood”. How many years? Well, like everything in Straya, there’s a story for that. Daniel John Hale has seen his share of saddle time in the years he’s spent on Earth. An ex-pro mountain biker, owner of the Best Bike Shop in the World and one of the first solo riders to take on this particular area of Australian Bush, Dan’s no stranger to the wood.

Ten years ago, he did a similar ride to what we just completed this past weekend but instead of two days, it took him four. Rather than ride a mountain bike or a geared bike, he took his singlespeed Monster Cross. No GPS, no satellite phone and no idea where he was going, save for a map he bought on the side of the road. Later, he, Dave, Scooter and Andy began to tackle these rides annually. That’s 10 years in the wood of Upper Yarra, familiarizing themselves with the ‘bush, the many off-shooting tracks and trails.

Last year, a very similar ride changed me as a cyclist. It took the 215 pound me and slapped it around before spitting (i.e. shitting) it back out. I learned a lot in two long days, but left Melbourne wanting more. When I mentioned returning this year, Andy proposed me landing in for Dan’s 40th. As Andy put it, “we’ll do another ride”…

I’m now around 185 pounds and have been putting in serious saddle time, so the anxiety wasn’t as bad. Until he showed me the route. Day 01, 100 miles, 16,000′ of climbing. BUGGA!

A total of nine riders started, seven finished. Andy’s brother made it up the first climb before returning home and Scooter, one of the original badass couriers in Australia (and aforementioned Upper Yarra riders) only had time for Woods Point and back. That left Dan, Andy, Joe, Dave, Reuben, Mal and myself for the haul… Enclosed is the ride report for the first leg of this 26.6 MP/C* ride.

Check out a bunch of narrated photos in the Gallery!

Recent Roll: Classic Gios at Northside Wheelers

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Some say the classics never die and with a bike like this, it’s hard to argue. I’ve got a few randoms floating in from some film I developed here in Melbourne and this beautiful Gios that’s currently parked at Northside Wheelers deserves its own post.

See two more below.

Lamour Supreme and FYXO Tees Now Available

When I turned 30 years old, Lamour Supreme gave me this original artwork. It’s hanging above my desk and I consider it one of the best gifts I’ve ever received. You hear that Joel? Seeing this design on a FYXO shirt brings me back to when I first started riding track bikes in NYC. Back then, I never would have imagined I’d be in Australia riding bikes with FYXO, or even running a blog for a “job”. But that’s the point. I don’t think Joel ever anticipated traveling the world, painting murals and designing vinyl…

We’ve all come a long way and a lot has changed since those days but I’m pumped to see such a classic design reborn. Especially with a FYXO logo!

Pick up the original Track Cunt FYXO shirt here!

Merckx Mondays

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It’s Merckx Mondays (in the Northern Hemisphere anyway) and I’m back in the land of Eddy Merckx. Not Belgium, Melbourne. As far as I’m concerned, classic Eddy Merckx bicycles in Australia is pronounced “F Y X O”. Andy’s supplied the world with great photos of classic steel bicycles over the years and his new 7-FYXO kits are looking great. Pick up the 7-FYXO Jersey here and the FYXO classic bibs here.

Don’t miss the full FYXO photoset here.

Event Recap: Northside Wheelers and Shifter Bikes Open House

Rockit Barbers had a chair and were doing shaves and haircuts.

I fucking love Melbourne. It’s without a doubt, the best city in the world. The people, the bikes, the food. Everything about it is exceptional. Today was the open house at Northside Wheelers and Shifter Bikes. It was great to see old faces and new.

Tomorrow, we leave for a two day, 200 mile, 25,000′ ride over the dividing range on cross bikes, aka an Australian ass-whoopin’, so let these photos get you through the weekend!

Check out some narrated photos in the Gallery!

Tomorrow in Melbourne

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You can plan your whole day around these events. Come through if you’re in Melbourne. I’ll be at the FYXO Swap early and then at Northside / Shifter all afternoon.

Shop Visit: Northside Wheelers

When FYXO moved out of the “hub”, Northside Wheelers moved in. Now nestled behind Shifter Bikes, Mal’s shop has expanded to almost three times the size of the old shop. He’s still stocking a lot of the same brands and even some new ones. In a shop like this, you spend a lot of time asking yourself “what’s for sale and what’s for show?” but that’s part of the charm. Check out some more selects in the Gallery!

I Love This Bike So Much…

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… that I refuse to post any of the photos I shot of it today, save these two. Tomorrow, when the light is better, I’ll re-photograph it. All I’ll say now is that you don’t need to have a custom frame to make a tricked-out ride.

Fyxo Double Header this Saturday

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This weekend in Melbourne! Check out Fyxo for more details. Shifter Bikes and Northside Wheelers will be having an open house as well, so swing through.

Black and Orange is the New Black

This site has featured Shifter Bikes numerous times in the past and since arriving in Australia, I’ve already picked up on a few changes at Dan’s shop. Here’s a little preview showcasing some new accents that just so happen to be orange and black…

I’ll be setting up my desk at the shop while I’m in Melbourne, so swing through.