Graves DH Bike...

Graves Downhill bike was sitting next to his truck at Round 2 of the National Series, and what a fine looking beast it is.
The split top tube is a unique design, and looks amazing up close. The welds through-out the bike are amazingly accurate, and the bead it true and smooth.

The RAIL technology gives the bike a sleek look, a great design...

Beyond the bike, even his truck is sweet looking...

Especially since this sticker is what started it all for me personally, some 15 years ago I received a sticker like this. And treasured it, never sticking it on my text books at high school...

HAWSON vs. COLLETT

National XC Round 2 @ Illinbah, Gold Coast

ASR v ARC

Youth v Experience

Victoria v Queensland

Mountain Biker v Roadie...

Apparently its been raining up there in Queensland...... An ideal playground for Victorians...

The battle kicks off Saturday 1pm.

OTHER NEWS

Congrats to ASH and Em who tie the knot this weekend. Best wishes to you both.

AND, rumour is some custom yeti wear will be floating around soon... keep posted for spy pics

Tuff Guy/Idiot of the Year

The award goes to this guy...

For spending 1, maybe 2 years with this....

Yep... chipped bone. That little smiling piece of bone is supposed to be attached to the bigger one. And, according to the doctor, the whiteish line around it means its starting to heal.. Been there for awhile yeah.

New Zealand 12 hour? yep.

Ararat DH? yep.

Subaru 12hour? yep.

8th of december it gets removed..............

New Tyres and Thorn Bushes

Since getting an ASR my 575 has been left in the corner a bit. So, to give it spruce up I decide to try some new tyres.
Maxxis tyres have been my tyre of choice for a few years now. Larsen TT, High Roller, Crossmark, Ignitor, Medusa, Rendez(the tyre that doesn't exist according to maxxis.com) even some Minion DH tyres.
The new tyre to try is called Ardent, its a large casing 2.25 all mountain tyre. Perfect for a long travel XC bike. The only drama is it doesn't come in tubeless. So its back to tubes....

Straight away these tyres look the goods. Fast rolling centre strip and wider spaced side knobs for traction. Lean over on the footpath and you can feel the change in tread.

On the trail these tyres are great. The centre strip rolls fast and hooks up well, lean over and it bites into the trail. I had a set of 2.35 Ignitors on before and found them a little squirmy in cornering. The lower profile knobs of the Ardent keep the bike in control through corners and drift time is super controlled.

SO much super cool drift it was sure to get me in trouble.....
Yep, i rode off the trail and into a thorn bush.
Boo.
Now I'm a bit scuffed up on the lower legs, as usual

Worst bit was fishing myself out of the thorns, every move meant more jabs. Plus my rear tyre got a thorn in it. First flat in years and my spare has an extra hole. Time for a little bit of MacGyver work.

Awesome. Gets me to work, just.....

2009 Yeti Jersey's

The new 2009 Jerseys (promo design) are a success, and with the power of the blue bonds singlet, Rhino was able to capture another win aboard the lovely tourquise beast...
Sacrifices had to be made however, and the result of a mis-timed pedal stroke created a nice crater into my shin.

South Australia National Round

with thanks to Tim McGrath

Not really spy pics but still super cool...

Pit Lane

"Old Man" Collett on the attack.....