He carries one of the more recognisable surnames in Australian cycling. Last month 12-year-old Mitchell Neiwand wrote his own impressive chapter in a story that stretches all the way back to the late 19th Century when Alf Middleton, on the maternal side of the family, won the 1894 Austral Wheelrace on the hallowed turf of … More Riding his own story: 12-year old Mitchell Neiwand’s big day out
Thanks to FulGaz, I’ve just completed a full four-lap test ride of the Mount Pleasant City Circuit that will decide all the road races at the upcoming 2022 UCI Road World Championships in Wollongong. My ride was around 65km all up with 1,200 metres of climbing. The elite men will tackle this circuit 12 times, … More Four (not-so-pleasant) laps of the Mt Pleasant City Circuit
I’ve always enjoyed the solitude of riding on my own, whether out on the road or sweating away on the trainer in the garage. But, oh, how I miss the bunch rides. Deep down we’re all social creatures and, frankly, the novelty of Sydney’s extended lockdown wore off many weeks ago. I miss the faces. … More Bunchie Lockdown Lament.
‘Taipei Cycle 2021’ International Media Launch A year is a long time in cycling. But when that year also involves a global pandemic, well, all bets are off. Twelve months ago, I was sitting in a conference room in the southern Taiwanese manufacturing hub of Taichung; now I’m watching on from 7,200km away via a … More Cycling through Uncertainty: TAIPEI CYCLE 2021
Am I too close to the front? Yeah, there’s a long way to go in this thing. Only takes one of the leaders to swing off and I’m in the breeze. Way too soon. Need to ease back and keep the matches dry. I don’t have that many to begin with these days; Father Time … More A Sunday spin.
The Tour de France is a peculiar animal. It’s one of the few major annual professional sporting events where a significant portion of participating teams have zero hope of achieving ultimate victory. They know it. Fans know it. Yet they eagerly line up in any case, year after year, seeking to ‘win’ in other ways. … More When winning isn’t the only way to win
Ride on the road long enough and it’s almost inevitable you’ll be hit by a car, or know someone who has been. Sadly, like many reading this post, I know far too many whose lives have been forever changed due to the inattention, or more intentional misdeeds, of an errant motorist. Watching them, and their … More Why forgiveness shouldn’t eliminate consequences
Who’d have thought a humble fabric could cause so much angst, heh? Well, it’s the fault of a guy by the name of Joseph Clois Shivers Jnr, a Virginia-based textile chemist working for DuPont back in 1958. He’s the man who invented the thermoplastic elastomer that became Spandex, or Lycra as we know it … More Losing their %$#@ over Lycra
MY LIFE AS A MIDDLE-AGED HATE FIGURE Collingwood supporters. Almost from the moment their club was formed way back in February 1892, the black and white army has set the gold standard when it comes to being the object of Australian hatred. It’s a proud mantle, certainly hard-earned, rivalled perhaps only by incumbent Prime Ministers. … More FEAR & LOATHING IN LYCRA
Let me start this post with a confession. I have precisely zero idea who that guy is who rode straight through that red light in front of you the other day. Just like you don’t know every car driver who speeds past you on the freeway. This is a big country you know, around 25 … More ‘All’ cyclists
Carbon Addiction 