Specialized Rib Cage Carbon

A new bike deserves new cages and you know what they say... you can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink from old bottle cages!

~VL

Rapha Chamois Cream

A bit of a touchy subject (look away now girls); but in the last couple of weeks I had been experiencing a considerable amount of discomfort in the downstairs area as I tried to break in a new pair of knicks.

I've been riding for a number of years and thankfully to date had not previously experienced any rubbing, chaffing or pain from any of my knicks. I'm not sure if I this is because I am (was) super tough or just pretty good at choosing riding gear. Either way; it seemed my luck had run out as I spent more and more time riding the pain train.

Strava iPhone app

I had been waiting on the arrival of a new Garmin Edge 200 GPS for the last couple of months (I ended up with an Edge 500 but more on that later) so I could join all the cool kids on Strava. One day a couple of months ago I stumbled across the Strava iPhone app and decided to give it a go.

Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL4 at Total Rush

I was down at the local bike shop earlier this week when this awesome Specialized Tarmac SL4 caught my eye.

In standard guise the SL4 looks as tuff as pair of old boots; adding a pair of lightweights just takes it to a whole new level.

Of late I've been hatching a plan to pick myself up a low end Tarmac as a wet weather trainer; but I have to admit that as I get ready to hand over the old 'hard earned' I am very temped to throw in a few more dollars and get one of these instead.

~VL

Velo Liberte - Missing in Action

Apologies for the disappearance over the last few weeks; I've been travelling on the other side of the world and have been unable to post.

Posting should return to some type of regularity over the next few days as get over the jet lag and re-adjust to everyday life

I hope everybody has been having a great time out on their bikes; I am dreading that first ride back after 3 weeks out of the saddle.

VL

Mark Cavendish - World Champion

Last Sunday Mark Cavendish capped off another stellar year by clinching victory in the men's elite road race at the World Championships held in Copenhagen. This is the first time in 46 years that a British rider has reached the top step of the podium in the men's world championship road race; the last being Tom Simpson in 1965.

S-Works Project Black Venge at Total Rush

Down at Total Rush, Richmond on Saturday for the morning bunch ride to Mordialloc and back when Skinny Luke goes and busts out this awesome S-Works Project Black Venge.

Core Carbon Titanium Skewers

A few months ago I was out riding to Kinglake with some friends when one of them (in between the torture he was dishing out) pointed down to his wheels and shouted in excitement "hey check out my new Core Carbon titanium skewers".

Using what little energy I had available (between heaving breaths) I mustered up the words "yeah.. they look sweet", to which he promptly replied "they are really awesome, 45 grams and only $50... you should get some".

Miniature S-Works SL3

I was playing around with my Canon S95 yesterday testing out a few different settings before an upcoming holiday.

I was pleasantly surprised with the quality of the tilt shift-esque 'miniature' effect. It makes the SL3 looks like a little toy.

~VL

Bike No. 1 - Torker2 280 Air

Way back in 1987 I was 10 years old. Thanks to the video release of the film 'Rad' I developed an unhealthy obsession with BMXs. This obsession never quite passed and over time has gradually morphed into the road bike version you see some 24 years later.