Mountain Beast

We had fun today. We took The Beast all the way up Mt Stromlo and had lunch at SCOPE It has taken 8 years but finally there is a cafe at the top of the mountain again. Yay! It was pretty fun riding up the hill and SUPER fun riding down. Lunch was pretty good too.

The Beast Rides Again

A crazy bunch of endurance junkie mountainbiking triathlon loving high VO2 Max speed skating cross country skiing champions descended from the mountains and landed upon duck central last  weekend.

Something about a mountain bike race or something.

Anyhoo, you wouldn't be a half dutch family without going for a spin on the BEAST would you?

Apart form the pink sunnies, I think this counts as Bike Clobber, wouldn't you say Mr Slow PRM?

A beastly experience

Mr Duck and I met some friends down at the yacht club for lunch today. It sounds posh, but there is a hole in the wall fish and chip place. We traveled by Beast, of course. (because we can, and because I can't keep up with that long legged drake.)

Vicki and Rob rode there too, but from the opposite side of town. Here we are splattered about on the grass, bikes in the back ground.

A jolly good time was had by all. And then we rode home.

Amen.

Mr Duck and the Beast

Second tandem voyage today. Christmas is a great time to get a tandem - all those parties and afternoon teas. While I NEVER drink and drive, I can't say the same for drinking and riding.

I reckon we have clocked up 50km already.

the other eagle has landed

Meet the BEAST. Last night was our maiden voyage on our new tandem. We rode to the City (about 12 km) to meet some friends for dinner. Later that night we rode home through the uni and then around the lake - it was beautiful. Some of you may be aware that the ONC is full of water at the moment. Scrivener Dam was amazing. It may have been the wine and vodka (respectively), but we felt sure that the barricades across the bike path where the Yarrolumla creek flows into the river were not for us.

Pretty soon the flooding water was up over the bike path......I got off and took my shoes off (because I was wearing a skirt and nice shoes that would be ruined if they got wet). Mr Duck kept pushing our bike, which was designed by a Mr Onderwater by the way, and pretty soon I noticed that the water was up over my knees, and up over the expensive 7 speed internal hub of the beast. Did you know that the internal hub generator on the front kept working even though it was underwater as well? So our giggling adventure remained illuminated throughout. My understanding is that these bikes are tough, built to last forever in all weather but riding in over a foot of water may perhaps be pushing their robust design to the limit......so we turned around.

I am not sure if we have done any damage to the hubs......I hope not. But she is fun to ride - big, fat, slow and lumbering but fun. She seems to cope with gutter jumping just fine. It is very companionable cruising along together in the dark, chatting, joking, or just being silent, along the lake, through the forest after a nice night and a few drinkies.

And, now this is the REALLY cool bit, she is an AZOR, which I think is the same factory that made my Workcycles Secret Service frame. So they are like sisters really.

more on the bikes

While we were in Port Douglas this winter for a wedding, Mr Duck Herder and I rented a tandem bike to get around. This was just too much fun. You see, the weather was gorgeous, and while we both ride bikes, we do so at vastly different speeds. I can not tell you how marvelous it was to be zipping along with the enormous powerhouse that is my beloved driving along that little bike at great speed. It was like driving a Ferrari. We could chat. Although I did get told to stop singing "Bicycle Built for Two" at the top of my voice or else I would have to walk.

Anyway, it was FUN and I think Mr Duck was happy not to have to stop and wait for his slow poke wife all the time, and I was happy not to have to huff and puff to keep up. I also REALLY liked using the tandem as a serious car replacement. I hitched up my frock and we rode it to the wedding all the way along the beach. We rode it to dinner. We rode it to the pub. We just rode it around and around sight seeing. And everywhere we rode it, it made people smile and wave and say hello.

I LOVED riding in my civilians rather than gearing up into lycra and silly shoes. Now don't get me wrong, that's fine for heading off into the mountains for some serious single track or on a long road ride, but replacing car trips - shopping, visiting, going to the pub, going out to dinner....well I think it is splendid to do this in exactly the clothes and shoes you want to be wearing when you get there. And I like the idea of slowing down and arriving sans sweat or puff.

Anyway. We have been kinda looking for a second hand tandem.....and then I found this:

Our bicycle built for two. Made to last our lifetime at least.

We have been listing all the places we could ride it.......and identifying all the car trips we could have done on our bike for two if we had him already. Most of the trips we make together are around 10 - 15 km each way. Certainly doable on our bike for two.