Primal Odyssey

Jayco Herald Sun Tour 2008

2008-10-13T09:06:32Z

It’s officially road racing season in Australia. Over the next few months we finally have a few of the big guns in cycling returning home to take on the elite local riders. This weekend has seen the start of the Jayco Herald Sun Tour with a few local Brisbane boys riding in the Budget Forklift team. Best of luck to Cameron Hughes and Michael England.

I’m a huge fan of Michael England, if he gets a spot on a international pro team…. watch this space!

Some Bunches are Arrogant

2008-10-03T05:58:10Z

This morning I rolled out on my lonesome for a quick dash around the river ride. I had thankfully found a small bunch to hop on the back of (less work for the legs).

A large bunch (+/- 60 riders) from a not to be named coaching service slowly rolled up. At the most inopportune moment (when the road was narrowing from a double to single lane) did the group decide that know it was time to overtake.

The arrogance of the group was soon noted as the smaller bunch now merging due to the lack of a lane ahead was then screamed at “Passing”. Now I’m no stranger to the gentleman’s code of cycling. You know how it goes, respect other cyclist and road users.

Well this lot appeared to have paid a premium and had the rights to the road. At another stage of the rider a 4wd was merging into the lane and between a large gap in the bunch. The 4wd was indicating and merged very slowly into the lane. Now from where I was sitting it looked like a perfectly legal and safe merge.

For the one tools that let the gap open (Due to not having the legs to maintain the speed) decided that arm waving and attempting to tell the driver off was the only option. I was amazed so decided that it was time I did a solo ride for my own safety.

It’s my opinion that this coaching organisation should

limited the size of it’s bunches.
Respect other cyclist.
Respect any other road user.
Pull their heads in.

Queensland’s Biggest Bike Ride

2008-09-30T07:20:33Z

Well after a conversation with NanoMan (the ultimate short course triathele) who is a member of the elite Fat Sprinter training group, currently comprising of myself and NanoMan. I have decided to enter the “Wilson HTM Brisbane to the Gold Coast Cycle Challenge”

NanoMan

The marketing behind the ride is “Queensland’s biggest bike ride”. It’s official I’ve submitted my entry and the pack is in the mail. This year we will be leading out a small group of around 6 in total. A have posted the news on the bikeking.com.au forum so the numbers could grow. We are lining up for the 100km cruise down the coast, all are welcome to join us for a Breakfast at the Gold Coast and a comfy train ride back to Brisbane.

The only negative is that the Primal Odyssey kits will be arriving the week after the ride. Yes they will be delivered 3 weeks ahead of schedule. Champion Systems are great to do business with if you’re looking at having a custom kit made up.

Primal Odyssey Cycling Kits

2008-09-23T22:54:24Z

Don’t worry I haven’t gone commercial on you just yet. The long awaited Primal Odyssey 2008 kits designs have now been completed. Here is the first look at what’s been put together. Like it or not… here they comes!

Sad to say that this is currently been produced in limited edition. Lets call it a proof of concept kit at this stage and they are not avaliable to the public. It might even be a once off!

Tour De France 2009

2008-09-23T09:07:14Z

It wasn’t long ago that I received a MSN message from my mate Rich0, he was heading to my neck of the country and wanted to hook up for a lunch. As I haven’t laid eyes on Rich0 for some time and I love my food I couldn’t turn the man down.

This was to be a life changing lunch/meeting. We had the usual around the table banter and catch up, which in turn leads to a discussion around the Tour De France. (Yes Rich0 knows I’m a devote Cadel worshiper). It turns out that Rich0 is hatching a plan to head over to the Tour next year.

Well I couldn’t let him go alone, As I don’t live the life of a solo man I had some convincing to do when I got home. I turned to my non-existent marketing back ground and started working on a sales pitch for the Management Team. This would have to be a tactful approach with benefits for all partied involved.

All I can say is “The Pitch” may have worked. Cadel it looks like I’ll see you in the Alps in 2009 mate, oh I’ll be bringing my Yellow Jersey from the 2006 Tour Down Under that I never got your signature on. It’s the only missing autograph to complete the collection.

Once the TDF2009 race route has been announce the plans will start to take shape.

He’s Back

2008-09-10T22:52:10Z

Lance Armstrong is back in the Pro Peleton. The world of cycling as we once knew it has returned.

Lance’s Comeback to Cycling in 2009 — powered by http://www.livestrong.com

A Campag Man

2008-08-29T23:37:09Z

I was sent this from an un-named source in South Africa. It’s an excert from www.bicycling.co.za , I’m tipping it’s from the Q&A section. As a Campag man myself I just had to share it with you. Although I do not believe that Campy does not have a marketing department!

I’ve seen guys with a Campagnolo tatoos. I’m a Shimano man through and through. Would it be cool to get a Shimano tatoo? - Chris Muggleston
‘Mainstream’ is the key word here, Chris. Shimano is amainstream, mostly because it is damn efficient, reliable and avaliable. And Japanese. Campagnolo is not mainstream, mostly because it is so damn efficient, reliable an limited in avaliability. And Italian. Everyone knows when Shimano is bringing out a new model of groupset well in advance because Shimano uses a marketing team and a multi-million-dollar advertising budget to tell the world this. Campagnolo just puts a new groupset on display at Eurobike once every few years and lets its devout fans do the marketing with their unlimited passion budget. If you’re a mainstream kind of guy, Chris, and proud of it, get a Shimano tatoo. But get one of those temporary tats. Just in case you one day ride a bike with a Campy Groupset…

Season 2008/2009

2008-08-28T01:38:58Z

And so we begin again, after month of sitting on the couch watching the pros do their thing it’s now my turn to get back in the saddle for the 2008/2009 social summer series. Let me emphasise the “Social” aspect

The past two nights I’ve found myself sitting on the wind-trainer spinning the legs with the iPod to drown out the constant humm from the trainer. After dragging out the old bib nicks (the ones that can no longer be seen in public due to the fact the teams strip has now changed… you know the ones!) Legs no longer shaved… I call this the winter coat, legs no longer prepared to push the “Number 7” setting on the trainer.

This winter has been my worst ever, I haven’t even wanted to look at the bikes and finally the Mrs had me concerned that I would give into a Diabetes or heart failure. Sometimes it’s not the best thing to share your life with a health care professional that is surrounded by illness and handicaps. You tend to get a rude wakening what is out there. The moral on this paragraph is Use it or lose it!

Wind Trainer – Night #1:
Well a sat on old Matt (CAAD7 now been relegated to a wind trainer bike and not much else) for a total of 40 minutes which was an ok effort, the legs felt ok… but then again I’ve dropped the settings to allow a pain free spin to take place. I’m looking at spending the next 6 weeks in base work until I get back the legs.

Wind Trainer – Night #2:
Mmmm… saddle sore, yes it’s that same old feeling. When arse meets seat it’s a relationship that never quite works after a long break off the bike. I warmed up and nailed a good 40min session, this weekend it’s back on the road and I’m sure the legs will complain.

Let the Games begin.

2008-08-09T01:54:50Z

The British mens track team

Very few pitures speak for themselves. There is nothing more that I can say then have a look at the British Mens Track team in practise.

Beijing Olympics

2008-08-11T22:45:09Z

It’s time for the world to stop and watch in ore at the sports men and woman as they all get together for a massive wing ding in Beijing. All the news here in Oz to date has been the pollution, almost all the stories on any channel including the interweb have been about athletes and how they plan on coping with the pollution. I came across a story on the US MTB team, they are staying 600 miles away, flying in to do a training ride and have a look at the village then heading back to their base. They will not return until race day and then leave again straight after the race. Can’t say I blame them, every image you see of the city is clouded by smog.

Orginistations to take a look at.

As I have no intention of starting a political debate I’d just like to state that I’m not 100% for the Olympics being held in China. Human Rights may need to be addressed, in a way maybe China having the Olympics will help in the long run with the amount of media exposure that the games will bring.

Free Tibet

Boycott Beijing 2008

The actual Road Race Profile, Thanks to a comment posted by the FlyingFinn and others on my original post a few months back.

Road Race Update:
Its looks like a ripper of a course, The Australians have a pretty good looking team in the road race. The team is made up of the following Aussie legends Simon Gerrans, Matthew Lloyd, Cadel Evans and Stuart O’Grady, The time trail will be contested by non other than the 3 times world ITT Champion Michael Rogers, Evans might take up the wildcard spot on the ITT if his knee holds out in the Road event. COME ON LADS, a medal is all I ask… no pressure

Beijing Road Race Profile

The Beijing Road Race Map

Beijing Road Race Profile

The Beijing Road Race Profile

Other links of interest:
Contact Primal How is PrimalOdyssey Cadel Watch 08