So last weekend I took a ride to my regular destination Murray Bridge. This time though I had some extra time and I decided to try a new route. Head south to the badlands of Mexico and wind my way through Clarendon, Strath, Langhorne Creek and up to Murray Bridge via Brinkley. After getting some route advice on how to get from the Veloway to Chandlers Hill from a notorious local bandido who prefers to affect an Irish name my course was set.

The first section from home to Veloway is…

Murphys law or Sods law or is there a similar law that is cycling specific.

Went outside early this morning and noticed that there had been a few drops of rain but the cloud cover had thinned, just like yesterday, a perfect cycling day. Joined the Grinders for a hills ride following the BUPA route as far as Kersbrook. Light shower started at One Tree Hill, continues all the way to the top of Kersbrook hill, not enough to warrant stopping and donning the jacket. Fanging down…

I discovered a couple of weeks ago that The Elizabeth Star Cyclists ride on Monday mornings as well as Wednesdays and they don't start until 9.30, given that on alternate weeks I work 7 days and feel fairly buggered on Sunday night this seemed an ideal group for me on my fortnightly Mondays off.

Having checked Google maps and Cycle Instead I plotted my route from home to Star Cycles. Unfortunately that was more than a week ago and a photocopy of the relevent street directory would…

As mentioned in a discussion earlier this week I set out on Friday morning for Murray Bridge. The route, Gorge Road, Gumeracha, Mt Pleasent, Keyneton, Sedan, Murray Bridge. I ride to Murray Bridge quite regularly as my wife has family there and we enjoy the break and their company and I like to try differant routes, this time I wanted to go down Sedan Hill. I rode up Sedan Hill on Grand Slam 5 and really wanted to ride the descent.

I had intended on getting an early start, 05.30ish as…

Went for a ride this morning with Gillian and Don, started a little late, no Don wasn't late he was just in another place. So up Gorge Road we go quite breezy in places and unkindly the the God of wind was blowing in our faces (but no smell). Regrouped at KC Dam, Don using all his muscles including the walking ones up the steep bits and the smiley ones once he had caught us. Onward to the Top Shop in Gummeracha for another regroup and a longer wait, how I remember those walks on my first…

Did one of my favourite rides on Friday. Modbury, Gorge Road, Gumeracha, Birdwood, Tungkillo, Palmer and Murray Bridge where I overnighted. As the forecast was for 37 degrees I wanted to get an early start but after a few 04.30 starts during the week and the body clock said Nooooooo so the 06.30 start became an 07.30 start. Nice and cool riding up to Gumeracha. a deli stop (the only one for the day Pat) then on to Birdwood, still some very high light cloud cover so not to hot yet though the…

Rode from Modbury to Pt Noarlunga to meet with the Southern riders today. Roger joined me at Darlington and we headed up the Velloway. Made good time and hung around for a while waiting for the bunch, hung around a bit longer until the party was over.

Then Roger and I were guided by Pat along with Baron toward Hallet Cove where we parted company. Some of those suburban streets are real buggers and quite steep and my first warm hot ride for the season was beginning to take it's toll.…

So after 2 attempts at GS4 were curtailed by lady luck leading me astray and/or dumping copious amounts of water on me not to mention trying to blow me back from Nairn to Woodside and beyond I finally completed the full 150km course today. Observations, I much prefer loop2. The hill from Woodchester up to Wistow wasn't nearly as bad as I expected and when I got to Wistow Quarry I wondered what the fuss was all about, then I discovered that Wistow is some km's further on. One of those tricky…

Had a really crappy ride today. Decided to tackle GS4. After a week of early rising (04.30) I should have known better but decided to give it a go as the weather forecast looked promising. Started off well (if a little later than intended) Aldgate Valley Road is alway a nice ride, up or down so long as the up is at the beginning of the day. Weather was pleasent and nothing too hard in the hills. Got a little confused in Bridgewater as the road signs don't match the on line directions and the…

It seems to me that we are unlikely to see scenes on the same scale here as we have seen in London given the differance in population and population density. However we have had and are having some pretty scary things. Cronulla, Australian Open Tennis, soccer matches, bikie shoot outs, drunken street brawls Most recently (I think it was yesterday) I heard that following an attack and robbery of a group of students in Festival theatre Plaza, two arrests have been made, one 12 year old boy and…

I finally did GS3 today, solo. Barry was due to ride with me but is down with some kind of terrible fever, it could even be Man Flu.

Departed Williamstown at 09.30 and really enjoyed the 20 odd kms to Gawler thinking how good is this. Gawler to Kersbrook via One Tree Hill Rd and Humbug Scrub argh, a long long up hill stretch. Near the top of One tree hill road and near Alexander Ave I got swooped for the first time this season by a very persistant Magpie. Nice long downhill to…

I heard it on the radio 891 this morning. Cadel Evans has signed a petition which seeks to make the Give Cyclists a meter reccomendation turned into law. Some discussion followed and the RAA had a rep on the show, unfortunately I was a bit busy at the time and couldn't hear too much of what was being said.

However, how would this be implemented under law. Is it really practical to suggest that motorists may not pass a cyclist unless they can give them a metre clearance or should it be…

I've been wanting to ride to Murray Bridge for several months now and finally yesterday I did it. Gorge Rd, Gumeracha, Birdwood, Tunkillo, Palmer and Murray Bridge. Although the temps got into the mid 30's it was an enjoyable ride, unusually I chose to ride with music, Santana, Mark Knoffler and Leonard Cohen live. After a refuel stop in Gummeracha I sailed through Birdwood, had no difficulty with the steady incline to and beyond Tunkillo. The long descent down to Palmer and beyond was…

Joined the community ride today. A bit of a shambolic start, met quite a few people who were under the impression that there would be parking available at the start. About 80 or so riders started out but many had parked half way up the ride so presumably they didn't do the full circuit. Having said that it was good to Mark back on the wheels, Angus and Roger, I think I saw Heather Mc as well but she was going in the opposite direction but if it was, it was nice to see you and irrespective of…

1st trip from Modbury to McLaren Vale via Veloway stalled by malfunctioning Deraillieur

2nd trip on a new bike made it though I did have 3 punctures.

3rd trip made it without bike problems though the headwind on the return ride took the shine off the day.

4th trip today. Spinning along nicely down Nth East Road and despite some quite thick fog I'm feeling good. Walkerville a loud bang and the rear end wobbles like a belly dancers muffin top.

Replace tube found the…

So a month or so ago I tried to ride the Veloway with Adelaide cyclists but pulled out when I couldn't get my bottom chain ring to engage. Today, five days after my first ride on a new bike I returned to the scene. of defeat. I rode there from Modbury so had already clocked up nearly 30 km. I must the first 2 or 3 kms up the hill were tough on me and I stopped once or twice to catch my breath but from there on it was a relative breeze all the way to Mclaren Vale, I looked for the coffee shop…

Some weeks ago I reported that Kathmandu were opening a large store in Modbury on Nth East road. A few days later I noticed that it was open but also noticed that something was lacking. Despite the glossy brochure and the huge poster on the front of the business promoting cycling accesories and clothing there were no facilities for cyclists to secure their bikes to whilst spending money in the shop. I sent an email to head office to draw attention to this oversight. I received a response…