Lots of riding – not much talking. Talking about some things is too depressing.

Been a while – been a long while. Masses of kms have passed under the wheels but little to write about: guess I have been focused on the blog as a space to write about new toys, but there haven't been any of those of late.

The Colnago CX-1 road bike has become a much loved tool for experiencing life at the top on the roads and bike tracks of Perth, whilst the Mach 429 29er has proved to be a king of the off road trails. Guess it's a nice position to be in not to crave for something new to re-engage my enthusiasm for biking – the fact that these two weapons have proven to be the kind of bikes that can give me the “day one” enthusiasm when I pop my bum in the seat for every next ride is a great thing.

Am hankering for some more road tours of the US – it's been a long while and there are so many new places to visit that the treasure of choices is mouth-wateringly mind blurring. The need to plan such stuff is something that Real Life intrudes on, plus there are so many quality blogs, pic sites and tour reviews that, whilst not a complete replacement, they at least satiate a little the thirst to actually get the arse up and out there! Still, time marches on, and soon I'll be having to ride in the autobus if I don't get out there again!

My other major interest in cycling, the competitive side, has always been a mainstay, at least in terms of watching (rather than active participation). I've always been fascinated with the racing scene, especially the Euro based campaigns. To me they represented the pinnacle of the sport, not just in the competition itself, but also in the majestic backdrops that serve as the playgrounds for these epic races: they always inspired me to travel and to hope one day that I may set wheel upon them.

I've pretty much come around to the fact over the years that the exploits of the riders are not necessarily something to hang your hat on: the judgement of history is that it has rarely been about a simple “man vs man in all their natural supremacy” battle. I do not ascribe to hero worship – there to me is a deep well of disappointment for those that dive in. I've tried to view it as entertainment, a gladiatorial spectacle, albeit with a slightly more even playing field than Christians vs Lions! I've always been a skeptic re: the superhuman feats that the pro-cycling marketers have hinged the sport's success upon: the need to create myths of mere humans seems to me to be an ultimately futile exercise, as humans are demonstrably renowned to be just that.  And yet, to see the current predicament of the sport is nonetheless disheartening and a little crushing – I guess even in the most profound of cycnics lies some still pool of hope.

But what to do? At various times I rail against the Lances of the sport, all the participants who lie, cheat and bully. I fume at all those facilitators and enablers who cover up, vacillate and protect. I mumble bitterly against an administration which propogates the cleanliness of the sport whilst aiding and abetting sham procedures which serve to prop up the whole collapsing edifice. I vent against all those who taint the sport, seeking restitutive penalties against committers, enablers and blind followers.

And yet, at the end of the day, I just don't know what to do? Am I really going to devolve into the it's all too hard pack?

Really?

Maybe.

Fuck it, I am just going to go out there and ride my bike – after all, that's what started it all for me.

Ride Safe!