That Genuine Guitar God, More Bike Porn, and the Freeway Bike Hike.

Bloody hell x 2!

Now Jan and Feb 2009 have howled by - *sniff* – bye bye!.

OK, first genuflections to the maestro, the God, the One and Only Jeff Beck! He came, I saw, he conquered. So glad to have seen a living legend in the flesh and whipping up a storm. What has always appealed to me about Jeff is that he sounds like NO-ONE else. He is a singularly unique and immediately recognizable player, yet with a vast variety of sounds, styles and tempos at his disposal. I rate his interpretation of the Beatles Classic "A Day in the Life" as one of THE best covers of an original ever. He played his heart out, and by the end of the concert he was more than a little knackered! But he came back for one more encore! Cheers Jeff!

Next, More Bike Porn!

This time, what may very well be my next bike - the Colnago CX-1.

Since I first clamped eyeballs on this beast, it's dug its claws into me. First off, there's the mythical Colnago name and aura: Merckx's 1972 World One Hour Record Breaker 'Nago, their straight-bladed fork, the revolutionary C-40, and their presence in most any Euro peleton. Next, well I'm a sucker for a red, white and black bike, and the CX-1 in ACRD does it for me. Third – well, most everyone longs for a bike that is a thousand times more capable than themselves! Colnago lust just happens to be my poison! Check out the site:

Colnago CX-1 in ACRD

And, a piccie ripped from their site:



Also, a review up at Bicycling CX-1 Review

Finally, once again the HBF Freeway Bike Hike for Asthma is looming (no - you don't do it to get Asthma, although it can tend to be a lung buster!). March 22nd – the countdown is on!


Ride safe!

Zooming into 2009: TDU, Bike Porn and a Genuine Guitar God.

Bloody hell!

Was that Xmas 2008 and New Year 2009 that just howled past? Glad I wasn't standing in the road! So, now that I've lost that part of my life forever, time to get back into the swing.

First up, the Tour Down Under.

Really looking forward to this, mainly because the presence of the 'Lance-man' has actually galvanised the freekin' TV stations into providing some much needed coverage. That may explain why I actually saw a good little segment of the final of the Bay Cycling Classic on tele on the weekend! Yay Lance!

Seriously, love or hate the guy (I'm just thankful he turned up!), his presence has made a massive difference to the profile of this race, and all for the better. The field has some quality riders in it, and more importantly, gives our home-based riders a real chance at being exposed to racing Tour-style at something near its best. Now, if Oz could suddenly sprout a few decent sized Mountain passes, we'd be set!

Speaking of sprouting things, my favourite little pocket-rocket Robbie McEwen acquired an extra pair of quads and did his now-famous 'invisible man' act to take out the Cancer Council Classic over 51km in Adelaide over the weekend. After a tough season last year with Lotto, in which he didn't receive a lot of on-road support, and got beat up by Mark Cavendish at the TDF (altho who didn't?), he's bounced back with a new Team and a first up win: here's hoping 2009 is a good one for the little master. Mind you, he definitely looks like he's muscled up a little! - check out the pics and all the TDU news at:

Cycling News

Next, Bike Porn!

Specifically, the new entry level bike by Look - the 566.

Billed as a 'relaxed geometry' frame (translation = more upright stance, longer wheelbase and more comfortable for old farts like me!) there's something about this bike that I really just dig! Skinny, almost slightly ant-ish side profile, weird flat top tube, X chainstays, slightly 'leaf-spring' seat stays as per the Cervelo RS: it all looks curious but rather irresistable. Hmmm...how's the bank balance? Piccies at:

Bike Radar

Also, a preview up at Road Bike Review

And finally, three days until Geoffrey Arnold 'Jeff' Beck hits Perth at the Perth Concert Hall. Man, I am SO looking forward to this!

Ride safe!

"What Mama Said"

Well damn – just damn!

Just picked up a pre-sale ticket for one of the few living guitarists deserving of the sobriquet 'Legend' - the mercurial, eclectic, visionary, masterful, the one, the only Jeff Beck.

I first heard of Jeff when, as a teenager, I came across the album "Truth" when he was then part of the eponymous 'The Jeff Beck Group' featuring none other than Rod Stewart on vocals and Ron Wood on bass. It was released in 1968, but I didn't come across it 'till '75 – still, as soon as I heard it, I understood the pre-eminence of the album: here was pretty much the template for many of the riffs of rock and heavy metal which followed.

Since then, I've been a fan. Across many styles and paths, Jeff's forged a sound that, unlike many of his peers, isn't scared to evolve and grow: no-one could ever claim that he's chased manufactured fame.

So, I finally get the chance to see, hear and experience an idol!

Jeff's playing in Perth on Friday the 23rd January, 2009 at the Challenge Stadium. Tickets available at Jeff Beck Tickets: Challenge Stadium Perth

There's so much good Jeff out there: personally I think some of his best work features on the Roger Waters album 'Amused to Death'.

Hit up YouTube for other Jeff action. Here's an embed below – "A Day in the Life":



Ride safe!