MC Cyclery, you guys rock!

10:09 pm, April 30th, 2009 | 1 Comment »
Posted in bikes, local, roundups by Jarod

In all my years of biking, I’ve never had a bike shop to call my own. Sure, I’ve had my bikes serviced at various bike shops, but I can’t say I’ve ever felt comfortable leaving them there for various reasons. Well, this has all changed with buying the Salsa from MC Cyclery.

The main reason why I like MCC is the bike culture they’re trying to foster. Most companies treat profit as their number one priority, and sure, I agree that it’s important. But MCC are one of those all too hard to find companies that want to be in business to properly serve their customers and generally do something good in this world. This rates pretty highly with me.

It’s also a refreshing change that the staff at MCC treat you like a person, as opposed to a vessel that brings their bike shops money. They have a great range in store and a killer website complete with daily updated blog. Everything a web savvy bike geek could hope for.

To offer a parallel, before Secretnet closed it’s doors they were a similar business. In an industry that didn’t keep customers informed, Secretnet bucked the trend and offered customer service which was literally second to none. As a result, I graced them with almost 10 years of my computer equipment purchases. I put both Secretnet and MCC on the same level.

As I understand it they aren’t quite finished with their current rebranding, but the plans they have in place will truly see them as one of (if not the) best bike shop in Sydney. In summary, MCC rock, and will continue to get my business for the short, medium and long term.

Crossposts galore…

6:30 am, April 28th, 2009 | No Comments »
Posted in boythings, girlthings, local by Liz

If you go have a look at SavvyCat, it covers Train’s awesome spectacular and amazing cat run…

Linky.

Jarod did it all, really. I kind of watched and encouraged and got excited. Yay!

Graphic Design?

1:00 pm, April 26th, 2009 | 2 Comments »
Posted in girlthings by Liz

I’m thinking I’d like to learn more about graphic design.

Does anyone know of a good graphic design course that could be completed part time? (I don’t have the funds to support me being a full time student and paying the rent)
The only one I can see around in Sydney is Shillington College, and that seems a little on the expensive side.

Or, is it easier to just look up stuff on the internets?

Diary of a Diplodocus.

8:58 pm, April 25th, 2009 | 1 Comment »
Posted in girlthings, internets, photography by Liz

Awhile ago while researching stuff for SavvyCat I stumbled across this really cool print on Etsy.

After a couple of weeks of convincing Jarod it would look wonderful on our wall, I purchased it. I then handed it over to KORU framing studio on Enmore Road (also conveniently close to the Cat Protection Society), and today I picked up my lovely framed dinosaur print.

The only space big enough for it (once framed) was above our bed, so that’s where it sits for now. I don’t mind though.

The stegosaurus is my favourite kind of dinosaur, but this guy comes a close second.

The Salsa Casseroll Single Speed

11:04 pm, April 24th, 2009 | 3 Comments »
Posted in bikes, boythings, photography by Jarod

For a few months I’ve been wanting a single speed road bike that I could use to get around the Inner West, as well as commute to work on. I looked at converting road bikes, but then I’d have problems with chain tension. Second hand ebay bikes can be very hit and miss in their quality. And brand new bikes can be very pricey.

Through the Bikes Move Us forum that I particpate in, I found out last Friday that MC Cyclery were running a promotion to promote single speeds and fixed gears. Hell yes! I was in their shop on Saturday getting myself sized up. The frame was ordered on Monday. And as of last night, I was the proud owner of a Salsa Casseroll Single.

Part of the (awesome) deal that I got on it was that the bike was delivered in a box and needed to be assembled. No problems, I can put together a bike! Especially when the most difficult thing to do was cutting down the steerer tube and inserting the star nut.

The following photos are of the unboxing and preliminary assembly. At this stage the things left to do are to wrap the bar tape, cut the brake cables to length, remove the reflector from the wheels and chuck a cyclecomputer on there. Oh, and you betcha there’ll be more photos after those bits and pieces are done. After that, it’s modding time!

On a side note, there’ll be a post soon on how awesome I’ve found MCC to deal with. They’re a refreshing change from the norm of bike shops I’ve visited in my time and they’re definitely my bike shop of choice now.

For now though, I do believe it’s time for some hot Salsa action.

Dirtworks is getting closer

7:49 pm, April 23rd, 2009 | No Comments »
Posted in bikes, boythings, roundups by Jarod

I think I’d decided on a bike/setup for it. Details are as follows.

As for which bike, the old Giant hardtail has gotten the nod. It’ll be fitted out with raceface evolve stem and dues xc risers. With ODI Rogue Lockons and Avid Levers completing the cockpit.

If when I arrive on the morning there’s been some rain or the track could be damp, it’ll be a High Roller up front and Larsen rear. If it’s dry, Larsen front and Crossmark rear.

Brakes will be the Avid BB5 Mechanicals which were stock on the Gary Fisher. I flirted with the idea of splashing out and getting some new Avid Elixir CRs for the front and rear, but that’d set me back near on 600 bucks for a bike which in all likelyhood will be shelved during winter.

Lastly the drivetrain will consist of a brand new e13 32T single speed chain ring, half link chain and a 16 or 17 tooth rear cog. I normally run a 32/16 combination, but I think the 17T will just make my endurance over 50km a bit better.

So yes, that’s the plan. Need to crack on with some riding in the next week as there’s only really 7 days worth of trainable days left.

An inadequate guide to gig photography.

8:04 am, April 23rd, 2009 | No Comments »
Posted in geekery, girlthings, photography by Liz

This week at work I had to do a presentation at a big team meeting about what I do when I’m not at work. ‘The Internet’ was too big a presentation, and ‘Sleep’ wasn’t very interesting, so I did the below. It’s meant to be amusing, not technically accurate. There was talking that went with it, but it’s mostly covered in the text on screen.

Thanks to Jarod who assembled and photographed the LEGO men… not that anyone realised they were original, most thought I’d stolen them from the net, but oh well.

Help the RSPCA and sponsor Train!

9:00 pm, April 20th, 2009 | No Comments »
Posted in girlthings, internets, local, traaiiiiin by Liz

What do you mean you don’t read savvycat? That post about the RSPCA Millionpurrs was pretty informative.

Do you feel generous today? Would you like to support the RSPCA without having to get off the chair/couch/floor? Excellent.

Train has her own profile on RSPCA Millionpurrs.  If you like, you can head over there and sponsor her or buy her a virtual toy. All donations over $2 are tax deductible, and you’ll make Train (and a whole bunch of homeless animals) very happy.  I’ll even make sure she doesn’t bite you next time you come over. Promise. And you might even feel a little warm and fuzzy.

I’m not on facebook anymore

8:24 pm, April 20th, 2009 | 5 Comments »
Posted in boythings, roundups, whinging by Jarod

The title of this post could have been, ‘Mike, you should be proud…‘, but I decided to go with the slightly more informative version above.

If you wanna talk to me outside Facebook, leave a comment somewhere or send me an email. Mobile telephones are also an option, as is smoke signals.

Bye Facebook!~

The Easter Egg Hunt.

12:12 pm, April 12th, 2009 | No Comments »
Posted in geekery, girlthings, local, photography by Liz

Jarod didn’t sleep very well last night and managed to wake up at 5.30 this morning. He says he just caught a glimpse of the easter bunny running away, but I’m pretty sure he was delirious and hid the eggs to surprise himself later.

By the time I woke up (9.30am) he was rather excited, and sent me on a sleepy egg hunting mission, which mostly consisted of me asking where they were, and him telling me that he didn’t know because the easter bunny hid them.

Happy Easter, kids.

Dirtworks is creeping up on me

7:09 am, April 11th, 2009 | No Comments »
Posted in bikes, boythings by Jarod

Dirtworks is 22 days away. Not overly sure how I’m going to go with the amount of training I’ve done. I can rattle off 20kms pretty comfortably, 30kms if I properly have to. But I kinda signed up for the 50km event….

Mmm. Now there’s motivation to be awake at 6am on the Saturday of a long weekend.

So if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got a date with the Royal National Park.