Bike Riding Alligator takes on Crowe – both win!
Crowie wandered down to Cycling Edge, (204km round trip, over the hill both ways) to learn about his new racing steed for the New Year – Moots RSL with Di2 and Ridewiser colour touches – “that gets 2015 off to a ripper start!” came back over the shoulder as he headed home.
@Moots , @ridewiser and @Stalds – even better together!
“So these guys think they are fast!”
The above quote was from an escorting motor cycle policeman commenting on the Cycling Edge “Rider Support Vehicle” at Hepburn Springs as we watched the lead bunch drop down hill to the Lavendula turnoff .
Rider support? No not for these guys but for the two who were just fitted and ordered their PARLEE Z5Slis at Cycling Edge in Woodend! Lunch was very pleasant at Beer and Breakfast in Daylesford – do yourself a favour!
And, to top it off, this guy won the day!
Alligator Prowls Bright after mauling Wombat!
Kyle Rickard, latest addition to our “Team” had a busy couple of weeks. Here is his summary of his first race on the electric shift MootoX RSL. As they say on Little Britain – “Dust anyone, Dust…?”
“Dusty tracks were the daily special for the Bicycle Superstore Bright 12 hour with over 250 teams coming from around the nation to take part in the classic bike race. The race took place just outside the centre of town with a 16.5km track testing everyones technical and mental strength. With fast pine decents and some of the most free flowing track I’ve ever ridden – the race had it all and the Le Mans start certainly didn’t disappoint. The 200m sprint for the bikes left most riders clutching their hamstrings while others struggled once on the bike. A brutal start to a challenging race.
With the boys from Torq quickly setting the pace I felt like I only had to follow – tailing the wheel of world series rider Jack Haig for a lap, only to be out done on the final climb by a slight mechanical problem. The Moots MOOTO X RSL seemed to catch the eye of all riders as the customised Di2 shifted flawlessly – even in the rockiest bits of track.
Team Cycling edge (Elite male pairs) got off to a bright start with the Moots mastering a 45 minute first lap – the third fastest lap in Male pairs. My partner and I then took it in turns until lap four when the competitive instinct took over and pushed the Moots out for back to back laps – a hard ask for the sweltering conditions. With the sun bearing down on the second lap and sapping the life out of me, I made a crucial mistake, miss judging a berm and peeling the tyre off the Easton Haven carbon rim, a small price to pay when compared to the advantages of running tubeless with low Psi for exceptional rolling grip from the Pair of Maxxis tyres.
By lap six the Titanium established a rhythm, punching out consistent 53 to 54 minute laps of the 16.5km mountain circuit. Nearing the final hours of the completion I was pushing hard using the swift shifting derailleur to my advantage through the undulating terrain, riding Cycling edge home in 8th (out of 28) position in Male pairs.
On the bright side, a brilliant first race on the Moots – despite the loss of a few inches of skin.”
A few days earlier Kyle took the bike out for a run and set a new record on Strava for the Wombat Loop. You can follow the link here.
The Otway Odyssey is next.
MOOTS Mooto X RSL out and about
A day off is a great day to explore new territory and on the way out it seemed like a good spot for a photo in dimming light and hopefully winter….
It didn’t look like this at the end of the ride…
Crankstar delivers yet another Parlee Z1
More detail about this build and Crankstar – Brisbane’s home of cycling excellence, follow this link: /www.crankstar.com.au/?p=882
A Kiwi on a Croc looking for a Pub!
Paul Larkin pushing the concept of the Moots PsychloX as a “go anywhere” bike!
Not sure if that’s an attempted bunny hop or not…
Larkin’ about on a MOOTS PsychloX
Paul had been planning this creation in minute detail and when all the parts came together it was a very quick build indeed.
It is a little unusual here (and probably anywhere) due to its Ultegra Di2, its discs and its custom paint and anodised highlights.
It has been out and around quite a bit racing and cruising and is about to hit Rotorua to extend his fear threshold with some mountain biking. Literally right after Sunday’s DDCX.
Two Moots in the You Yangs
In gentle repose after some fun on the trails are Tim’s Cinco and Rob’s MootoX RSL. I don’t know how they picked the day. There would have been more but it was DDCX the same day. The next target for an owners’ ride looks like September.
Andrew Stalder’s Parlee Z5
Well it has been a month or so now since “Stalds” got his hands on his new “every day” bike and new position after a quick review of his fit and pedal stroke. His partner Gemma, a photographer (www.gemmacarr.com.au), took the shots below for us.
You can find Andrew’s reaction to his Parlee on twitter @Stalds or you can ask him at the National CX Rounds in Melbourne this weekend. Alternatively you will find him on Strava here and there….
Can he run? Can he jump?
Moots on NZ’s Heaphy track
Melbourne MOOTS owner Tim took up the challenge of this ride and you can read his experience via this link: Heaphy Write Up
Two Alligators took a Soul mate to play with a Wombat
Last Saturday we hit the single slush, sorry track, in the Wombat state forrest with our MOOTS Rigormootis, MOOTO X RSL with the “Di2X10 XTR” and Paul’s Soulcraft 29er.
Lots of laughs, plenty of “try this one now” and more than a little waiting for me to catch up.
Great bikes and lovely beer at Woodend’s Holgate’s micro brewery (note to self to eat before the ride next time).
We all found the electric shift an initial challenge. When you are used to reaching for the “relief” of a big push on the thumb levers the buttons feel dead. It doesn’t matter how much effort you put into it or how much travel you try and induce in desperation, the shift is the same. It just happens, everytime without fail. When you adjust to this it is soooo good and just rounded out the RSL experience! Or so Mitch tells me.
Now for the “fun” bit below:
“Tonite’s the nite we’ve waited for” — DDCX is go!
Racing, laughing, eating, racing, drinking, laughing, racing etc. etc.
2.5 hours to go and the guys who started supporting a bunch ride at 5.00am are ready to roll.
Mitch was last seen levitating above the studio floor whilst channeling Lars Boom and patting his bike which is finally in full racing trim.
Paul will switch to a Moots PsychloX for the Prologue and customer Chris Mason jumped at the chance to race the Parlee CX tonight. Simon “knees” Carey will probably throw stuff at him from the sidelines…
Hopefully the 2N’s will return to fight for the coveted “N1” designation with the corresponding skinsuit.
Drop by and say hello as if we all huddle together it will be warmer!
Oh yes, here is IF Steel Planet X before he hits the sandpit…
Off The Planet X
DDCX is nearly here and the activity is furious below as one man sweats over his new toy. Here are few snippets of details of the build before the final reveal.
I am told he will be out testing the new “low drag anti-cling” finish in the morning as he has been muttering something about “its just like a Belgian summer” all day!
Mitch’s just reward!
The crucial moment came about 35 kms out from Falls Creek. As we drove past Nick he looked the worse for wear but responded he was fine and then shouted “I’ll have the red one!” The deal was done.
Mitch’s incentive for the 2012 3 Peaks was that if he was first home he could have his choice of any bike in the shop. Over the preceding weeks he had done a few road tests and was torn for choice across various Moots, IF and Parlee models but in the end it was the SunGraphics finish on this Parlee Z3 that swayed him.
Now with the new SRAM red, Thomson post and stem and fast set of custom built wheels it will be hard to get it off him!
Time to do another design.
Next stop for both is Italy next week on a Cadence Tours Giro adventure.
Incredible MOOTS Adventure bike challenge
Can you spot the kitchen sink?
It used to be how many people can you fit into a VW Beetle or a Mini. Now the World by Cycle guys have apparently taken it up a notch.
An alternative theory is that this is the UCI’s next step in Team budget reduction moving to the self sustaining Pro Tour rider – think of the savings!
Crankstar does “individual” in style
Our Brisbane retail partner, Steve at Crankstar in Camp Hill, continues to shine in consistently delivering outstanding individual bikes to his clients.
Here are three teasers from his Blog which can be found here at www.crankstar.com.au Enjoy!
How do you measure your race bike?
Do you assess your bike in terms of frames per season or seasons of sustained performance per frame?
When you “ride a bit”, “race a bit” and love to have a real go… what you expect to do with your bike after a solid 2 years and countless kms?
Replace it? Repair it? or can you just touch up the paint and strap on your ” RIDEWISER legs” and give it another season of flogging? and another…and another…..
PARLEE Z3 product proving rob@ridewiser style!
Thanks to PARLEE for the bike, Rob Crowe for the output and Aaron Upson for a great photo!
All I want for Christmas is a Z1
What a rush to get this into the owner’s hands before “the big day” but well worth the effort and a beautiful build by Crankstar our retail partner in Brisbane.
Di2, ENVE cockpit, custom alloy “speed wheels”, TUNE skewers….To see the full detail go to: crankstar.blogspot.com
Finally, Andrew “give it hell” you won’t wear it out!
Mitch throws down gauntlet – we introduce the PARLEE ante!
Nick Mitchell has tweeted a sub 7 hour challenge for the “3 Peaks” so we thought we would encourage him by introducing a “Pink Slip” deal to add a little further spice to the equation.
People think the photo above is his race face, no he just heard our proposal!
When drag racing commenced they were racing for the deed to each other’s car – The Pink Slip. So given that Mitch is 2 from 2 in this event and was 41 minutes up on second last year, the first person to beat him home this year gets to take his Parlee home right then and there as is (personal items excepted ofcourse)!!
Here it is in training guise – it will have something “just a little quicker” in the wheel department on the day!
Now there is an upside/downside to this opportunity. To get the PARLEE, you must have a confirmed and receipted donation of $100 to the Amy Gillett Foundation made between February 1, 2012 and the day prior to the 2012 event.
Simply be first to finish the full 3 Peaks Challenge, produce proof of the donation to the Amy Gillett Foundation in your name, and Mitch will hand over the bike!
You may think that this puts pressure on Mitch and it does. However, you can rest assured that Mitch has an even better incentive to be first home……..be warned (no not Shane!) that he is out there and working very hard indeed.
Crankstar dance card
The bikes are racked and ready and the kit is ripe for the picking….don’t let the dance card fill before your turn on friday through Sunday at Crankstar in Brisbane.
Show and tell at Crankstar now!
We arrived today at Crankstar in Brisbane with a selection of IF, Moots and Parlee bikes and frames. So come and see Steve what some options for your next bike – key word is “your”. Built for you just the way you want it.
Nick Mitchell’s “new” Parlee
Nick is back and needed a steed so we pulled “this ol’ thing” from the rack –
First ride Message yesterday reads :
“In sorrento. Where is the off switch for the motor you put in it??” – under the saddle of course Nick!
T-REX rides MOOTS to Aussie SS Title
Kiwi import “Tim” aka T-REX (above) borrowed our MOOTS Rigormootis (converted to Single Speed for the Adelaide based event by fellow RoadWorks promoter Paul Larkin) and won!
Hmmm, bike’s a 19″ frame and the van is 1.94m tall – Tim’s a big boy perhaps that should be “Mr T-Rex sir”! The look is because of the green and gold wheel stickers – no silver ferns allowed.
The race report from Paul was “T-Rex won and I drank lots of beer”. Sounds like a fair division of labour.
PS Oli (Mr Roadworks in Wellington) invoice for exposure on its way!
Parlee and Moots ‘Cross Wang
Two bikes went to Wang for the race last Saturday and, with a fair measure of luck, we got them back!
Niether rider had tried ‘Cross before and both of the thoroughly enjoyed the experience and the bikes to the point where they didn’t want to send them back. Here are some shots from the day.
Cycling Edge 