Saturday 16th June and 23 June have been quiet, not many visitors. We have taken the chance to have a good tidy up.

The workshop remains open Saturdays 9 to 12. All welcome to visit.

Might have mentioned this before - but the Workshop depends for on-going funding, on donations from the public, for e.g use of the facility; getting secondhand bike parts; etc. The donations are voluntary -  volunteers feel,  they have been there for the cycling community, and tried to put…

Some time ago a visitor bought a steel frame road-bike to do up – nice bike, in good condition, maybe 30 years old. However   the seatpost was too low , and stuck.

Seat posts fit frames snugly –  0.2 mm - but  usually are adjustable. The  trick is bolt a saddle on top, and use that to get leverage. Once you can get the post twisting – you can  then adjust  height.   Seat posts sometimes get stuck if they're not greased, or they're the wrong size and hammered in, or someone has bent…

What Motivates One to Ride Over 200 km's

It would be difficult to pinpoint any single motivator, it is more a group of ideas that would be more acurate.  There is the knowledge that it will take at least 8 hours of actual riding time requiring stamina, determination and a tough butt! The knowledge that if you can do this it expands your horizon on what else you can do and what places you can visit on your bike.

In these winter months its difficult to get a lot of riding in…

About eight weeks ago I came off of my bike quite seriously. I'm keen to get it down and share some learnings.

I was out with two mates aiming for our longest ride to date -120km- and we had just crested Norton's (where I had gotten a personal best!) and were cruising down the long hill after Ashton on Lobethal Road. The last thing I remember was Sam overtaking me, and me shouting out for him to watch the red car also attempting an overtake on a corner (a bit stupid really). Anyway,…

I thought I'd share the route I take when I'm riding to work as an example of how to not think like a car driver when choosing a route that is safe and enjoyable to ride. It isn't perfect but it is the best I've come up with so far. If you have suggestions on how to improve it let me know.

I used to ride through the Southern park lands and down Greenhill Rd but was not happy with the speed and safety. The park lands are slow and Greenhill Rd, particularly in the morning, is dangerous.…

It was suggested by a friend to go for a mid week ride up to national park.

We initially planed to go Tuesday morning but the weather was grey and I couldn't even see the hills.

For those of you who are geographically challenged Belgium is a long way from Adelaide.

A quick phone call and we rescheduled for Wednesday.

Wednesday came and there was even some sunshine.

We rode to Belair via Flinders University and some side streets.

Eventually we arrived…

A Week Forecast with Rain

This week we saw a forecast of rain for every day. I slight glimmer of hope was for Wednesday where it was forecast for late showers. Unfortunately it was also forecast for northerly high winds of 40 kph gusting to 70kph. I must admit I don't like either wind nor rain and especially not together.

Because Wednesday was going to be the only day I was going to get a ride I decided to make the best of it by going for a 100km + ride around…

Well after being support last year i was looking forward to riding this time,but my back said otherwise,so it was support again this year.As the day went on and the weather got worse riders were dropping out one by one,even a couple of broken legs it would seem! that would be fine by next week lol .As start time…

After a week or so off the bike due to work pressures it was good to get out for a mountain bike ride this morning.

While driving over to Stirling I was surprised to see plenty of roadies out on the wet roads. Good to see. However, on the way back when the fog had set in it was not so good to see that most of the roadies didn't have any lights. It is winter folks. The weather changes rapidly. Bring your lights regardless of how sunny it may be in the 'burbs when you walk out your…

Just practicing... 

I have been lurking around Groups, comments and discussions, then found Blogs.

I have Blogs outside of this community. one for my mum, one for cycling, one for music, ... and some I made and have stopped using.…

I took the Gitane out for a ride today, the first (apart from "setting up") since I got it.  From near Hadleigh Rise, Upper Sturt, into Stirling, and return, via Sturt Valley Road.

The bike is now set up as 3x7 (48/38/28, 11-28) instead of the original 2x6.  The triple came about because the chainwheel-side crank on the double was bent, so a new crankset was needed anyway.  A headstem with a…

News from Augusta Park Primary School, Port Augusta - re bikes the Workshop donated in April

Yesterday got a nice phone call, from teacher Ben Kitchen, at Augusta Park Primary School, Port Augusta. Readers may remember, the Workshop earlier got together a “class set” of bikes for the School, and donated them shortly after Easter.

Ben was    delighted with the  30+  of BMX & childrens  bikes. Ben says the bikes from the…

A Weekend of Different Styles of Rides

Saturday had a big combination of rides. A commute to the Start of the SSRC 'L' Ride route 2 from McLaren Vale, the SSRC 'L Ride, a difficult hill climb and the SSRC "Rag Tag Trailer ride" in the afternoon from Willunga. On Sunday a long ride to Jaspers, Gawler and back trying out a new, shorter route to see what the benefit might be.

Lets Dissect Saturday

Ride Down to SSRC 'L' Ride

Leaving home at 6:35am to meet Matt…

I did not really plan to ride 100km today. But in the end, I did. It wasn't fast, it wasn't glorious, I'm pretty exhausted, but I'm also pretty chuffed after riding my first century, and thought I'd share on here :)

I started out at a quarter to nine from Prospect, aiming to get to Dan's house near the top of Flagstaff Hill for ten. Going along Marion road was pretty flat, and the cool weather only encouraged me to ride faster. From the Start of Anzac Hwy to the start of Flagstaff…

I had an opportunity to do some riding whilst on a recent stop over on the Gold Coast on my way up to Cairns for a Half Ironman.

I was a little concerned at being able to find somewhere good to ride whilst staying in Surfers Paradise as its a busy place and like everything, local knowledge is required to find the quality experiences.

I put the word out on a Triathlon forum and came up with a few suggestions to head out to the Currumbin Valley and Tomewin Mountain Rd so I…

Just wanted to say i had a great time on my first (but not my last) ride with the Gawler Wheelies on Saturday.

Thanks for making me feel so welcome, great group of people.

See you all soon.

Cheers, Shane Loftus.

1. 144 - My First Time To Mount Lofty…

Well another Half Ironman (70.3) under my belt and I have to say what a cracker of a race!

The Cairns Ironman 70.3 is held in conjunction with the full Cairns Ironman event, turning the city into a bustling, energetic, festival with over 2000 people competing in the 2 events.

The race was held in the Sailfish Quay in Cairns (1.9Km swim), the bike leg on the closed Captain Cook Hwy that runs from Cairns to Pt Douglas and the run from Yorkys Knob to the city finishing on the busy…

A Busy and Painful Weekend

On Saturday, I had the chance to go for a long ride. I had not ridden for 6 days so I was happy to get on the bike once again. I had been playing with the idea of riding through Meadows to Crafers, down to the Tollgates and through Glenelg to home.

I decided it was also time to climb Old Willunga Hill again as I really have not achieved a very good time for it. Many of you may already have realized I am…

1. Don now has his multi-tool back!.   People might remember a few weeks back,  he lent it to someone at an education evening, and the “borrower” chose not to return it, even when asked. However two weeks ago it turned up - the worse for wear - in a box of spares. To the guy who took it  -  as the tool had been well used when you returned it  -  it's fairly clear you didn't just 'forget' to hand it back earlier. Not impressed. But let's leave it at…