The daily roll.

Long way into work tdy (23kms) – clockwise City Circle path from Moonee Ponds creek path, through Rushall station, hooking up with the Merri Creek & Yarra path, onto the CBD. Many diversions/detours, water over path downstream just after Dights Falls. Saw a rider roll through it, but it almost looked like he got wet socks so I chicken out for the back streets of Abbotsford. I opted for the south side of the river coming into the CBD, taking the Grange Rd bridge over, as I wasn’t sure about taking on the tight corners of the current detour on the north side with the commuter traffic of the morning. As a sign of the wet winter we’ve had this year, my Avid 3s on the Jamis Exile roll through their 2nd set of brake pads for the year. The front brake lever almost hitting the grip before the pads contact (aren’t hydraulic brakes suppose to self-modulate the lever as the pads wear??).The climb from under Heidelberg Rd heading downsteam still stings alittle without anything to shift to apart from getting out of the saddle (single speed).This weekend was the start of spring for me, as even though it was alittle rainy, it was warm enough not to layer up like the Michelin man, before heading out. 3 weeks to go before I cast off this yoke of employment for the task of ‘stay-at-home’ dad for 5 months. Was considering an inclusion of a cargobike but being brutally honest with myself a kiddieseat might be more logical. Although I’m not sure how I place a child into a kiddie seat on a bike with no sidestand??

The Jamis Exile I commute on had since got a new drivechain & cogs, kept the 42/16 ratio, but went for a White Industries 16t freewheel in the XC type, not the trials type. The Trials White Industries freewheel is the one to get because it has extra dogs in it & sounds mad when freewheeling, but it only goes down to 20 or 18 tooth which didn’t fit the ratio I wanted (already had a new 42t chainwheel). So I got the XC type White Industries freewheel which is still great, but has one less dog than the Trials.
Also picked up 2nd hand rigid forks [suspension corrected] to replace the Rock Shock SID Teams I was running. They’re tricky carbon-wrap forks & might sound like the low-tech option for the front end of a MTB, but in a commuter application I really dig the preciseness they offer over the sprung. Track standing at the lights is way easier now too.

Entered the Dirtworks 100 in November 7th, in the 40yrs mens. Something to plan for, like getting out & actually doing some serious kms. Apart from the 'Jeep" (previously the Kona) 24hr in Forest later this year, it's my only other biggie in this pretty light-on for MTB action year for me.