The best things in life come at some risk. This July we defied our circumstances and took off for the French Alps. The journey may have seemed unlikely in the preceding weeks. It had been a difficult winter in Melbourne: the loss of a dear friend, followed by a period of reduced riding, and a…
It was only the other day. I eased up the volume on Alex’s stereo, having just moved the stylus on to his Sgt. Pepper’s LP. I wasn’t sure how loud I should mix the music with the hum of conversation from the mostly 50 and 60-something party. ‘No, right up!’ said Alex. Here, at his…
2016. What a year! At times it might have seemed like the world was fracturing: with wildly unexpected political outcomes alongside ongoing turmoil and suffering. Against this backdrop my world of amateur bike racing stood in stark contrast. Racing in Melbourne continues to grow and the contests of the Victorian Road Series and local club…
The 2016 Tour of Bright was, for me, the culmination of my most committed period of training since I took up racing. A race that started well enough, my Tour almost ended in disaster before ultimately resulting in one of my most satisfying achievements. There is, perhaps, a psychological danger in committing so much preparation to…
Two years ago I limped to the finish of the Strade Nero road race after crashing before the start of the dirt climb. Last year I missed the race altogether, having crashed badly before hand – a story my friends and blog followers know well. So this year I was looking forward to the weekend…
The 2016 Mt Baw Baw Classic was easily the hardest race of my life. Finishing second was an achievement, but it felt bittersweet after having led the race in a solo breakaway for 70 kilometres only to be caught with 1000 metres to go. A case, perhaps, of stealing defeat from the jaws of victory.…
At the start of 2016 I had to decide what kind of year I was going to have on the bike. 2015 had held its share of highs, but the lows were pretty bad. As the new year came around I was pushing on hard and improving, but still with lingering difficulties from my bad…
As for many Australian roadies, the Tour Down Under is for me one of the defining experiences of the summer. For the third year in a row I made the pilgrimage to Adelaide. Unlike previous years my focus was less on the race itself and more on riding with friends, old and new. Perhaps for…
For the third year in a row I headed off to Mt Buninyong yesterday to watch the Road National Champs. It was an extraordinary day, and perhaps the most fun I’ve ever had at the event. The fact that only 15 of 127 riders finished the men’s race is a testament to what a grueling…
I was moved by Peter Sagan’s victory speech at the Road World Championships in Richmond, Virginia. Not only was his win electrifying, he took his huge achievement and dedicated it to the fight against human suffering. Many media outlets have mentioned Sagan gave much of his speech to discussing the refugee crisis in Europe, though…
Allez Alain 