The other day I removed the towel hanging over my bathroom mirror. Saw a tall bearded fellow standing in some cycling clothing. The first impression was I have aged somewhat in the last 25 years. Gone is the head of hair, greying what remains, a beard that is mostly grey, a face of wringles developing, beginning to push me into the state of old age.

When I consider that in 2007 I weighed 115 kg, now I look thin at 81 kg. The advantages I have gained include having less risk of heart…

Act one, Scene one: At the top of Mount Lofty.

'So you're Snappy Don?'

'Er, Yep.'

(pause, and then in slightly incredulous tones)......'Really?'

The rider may have already asked me who I was before we'd started to climb Lofty. It's likely he was simply checking that he'd heard correctly, having reasoned that snappy was analogous to fast. In his head I'll bet he…

A cautionary tale.

I come across as pretty laid back sometimes, but just below the surface of any sports lover is a competitive spirit. And when my good friend ZimmZamm writes about striving to lower his Personal Best up Norton Summit, half of me is cheering him on, but the other half of me is wondering if I could have beaten him. C'mon, admit it. Just reading that sentence has got you wondering what his time was, and how it compares to your own. I'm not telling- you'll have to flick…

My alarm woke me abruptly at 5:15am. Working full-time and with a young family means cycling for me is generally a VERY early morning affair. Drag my body out to the kitchen and firstly check the rain radar...two big yellow/blue blobs inching their way across Adelaide, mmmm, should I go back to bed? Step outside and stare at the driveway, yep its been raining. My plan was to head into the hills, but I'm never that enthusiastic about getting wet and then having to clean my bike after a ride.…