This morning the parcel arrived. I was very excited to fit Kedan Griffin’s, The Bike Bag Dude’s bags to my bike straight away. They were a perfect fit.
The top-tube bag fits my charger battery perfectly, and the connector from the USB goes nicely through the concealed hole at the front.
I am very pleased with the quality of Kedan’s craftsmanship. Also, extremely thankful that he manufactured them for me so quickly. I found dealing with Kedan extremely easy and satisfying.
The frame bag has an internal divider. My water bladders will fit inside the top half. My tools will sit in the lower compartment. The top tube bag will house my phone and the charger battery for re-charging my lights, phone, GPS, and other electronics. There is a concealed hole at the front of the top tube bag for the connector to go from the USB and the charger battery. The bags are double lined and waterproof.
You’ll note that I’m proudly wearing Kedan’s Bike Bag Dude T-shirt. (Even the T-shirt is an excellent quality Gildon T-shirt.) Plus, another lovely touch, including some little sachets of Vegemite 🤗 I’ll be taking them on my next bikepacking trip. Nice.
I’m going to remove the bags temporarily. I need to install DataDot anti-bike-theft bike ID kit and register it. Plus, I intend to wrap the frame with clear aeroplane tape to protect it from the bag straps rubbing.
Later, when I’m all packed up to go on a proper expedition, I’ll post some more photos.
Thanks indeed Kedan Griffin for his excellent service. Thanks must also go the Adam at Commuter Cycles for recommending you. Such an excellent recommendation.
I followed Bicentennial National Trail to Hall then rode up One Tree Hill.
The Bicentennial horse trails were obliterated by long grass and new suburban development in places. It skirts along the western edge of our ACT Border with NSW. There were a few creeks to cross.
In one section the tall grass was swamped in flood water for about 150 metres. My fat tyres enabled me to float through.
Flooded Creek
I had a few mates along the way
This creek was dry last time I crossed
In some places, the original National Trail route has been disrupted by urban development of new suburbs. So I had to search around the streets to find where the Trail kicked off again.
Gate to re-enter Jarramlee Nature Reserve.
West Belconnen Pond going north from Jarramlee Nature Reserve.
After the pond, I picked up the trail again. This view looks south from near Douglas Waterhouse Drive, Dunlop.
Once I was on the Canberra Centenary Trail the track was better formed and the trail markers were easy to follow.
I enjoyed a break, with an apple for a snack at Hall Showgrounds. This is where the Australian Sheep Dog Trials are held each year in January.
Climbing One Tree Hill
Now it was time to test to see how well The Tumbleweed climbs with its Rohloff gears. I’ve ridden up this steep climb with my son Steven before, but always with my e-MTB.
The climb was tough. I mostly used 6th, 5th, and 4th gears with a very high cadence.
Over the last 2-3 years the Canberra Parks & Gardens folks have installed these cattle-grid crossings at every fence on the way over One Tree Hill. Much better than when we had to lift our bikes over the top of the numerous fences in the past. They are tricky to ride over, though.
This one is wider. Some are narrow for the handlebars.
Getting higher. View across the Gungahlin Valley to the southeast towards central Canberra.
Still climbing…
I needed a rest, plus something to eat.
After nearly 3 hours in the saddle, I needed to get home in time to pick up my nephew Liam from school. So I turned around for a quick dash back down the mountain. The Tumbleweed handled the fast decent very ably. The big tyres absorb the bumps and hits, and the cornering with the Jones Bars gives excellent control. I followed the Canberra Centenary Trail. It is well marked.
Although, on my way home, I did make a mistake near Ginninderra Creek and had to loop back.
On the way home. Looking to where Ginninderra Creek flows under the bridge into Lake Ginninderra. That’s Belconnen Town Centre in the distance.
I was tired by the time I made it home. The bike needed a good wash, and I needed plenty of liquids.
Well folks it’s the month of November again. That means the challenge is on to ride lots of kilometres for a cause. The cause is Movember.
This year I’m growing a moustache, and cycling 600kms, and walking my dog Manneke for 50km. Please take a look at my Mo space: https://au.movember.com/mospace/13642554
Movember fundraisers are a global community of fired-up Mo Bros and Mo Sisters – aka rock stars making a difference in mental health and suicide prevention, prostate cancer, and testicular cancer.
Donations could help save a father, a brother, a son, a friend, a partner, a man’s life.
Group ride around Lake Burley Griffin
29 October 2021
Last Friday I rode with my two friends from DIGITAL days, Dave Knowles and Blair Phillips. We did a circuit of Lake Burley Griffin, Canberra’s ornamental lake. It is the centrepiece of our beautiful bush capital. Finally, after months of isolation, the ACT Covid-19 lockdown restrictions were eased enough to allow us to ride together more than 5 kilometres away from our homes.
Dave rode his Greenspeedrecumbent trike. Blair rode his Cannondale cyclocross bike, and I rode my Specialized Turbo Levo e-bike. We enjoyed a lovely sunny spring day. There was a bit of a north-westerly wind in our faces to deal with. So we decided to do a clockwise loop of the Lake, starting near the bird sanctuary at Dairy Flat at the East end of the lake. That way we’d enjoy a tailwind on the way back to our starting point.
Dave Knowles is 78. Dave has an impressive history of bike racing in England and Canada. He recently suffered from a badly broken ankle from a bike fall on the cycle path near Merimbula. He had to have pins inserted by the orthopaedic surgeon, and his recovery took many months, including physiotherapy closely supervised by his daughter Jane. So these days Dave’s newest toy and preferred mode of travel is his shiny yellow Greenspeed recumbent.
Dave in the car park near As Nature Intended
Our greatest joy on this day out was on a steep pinch near Black Mountain Peninsular when Dave was working very hard uphill. He suddenly exclaimed, “This is my BEST ride ever!” Dave credited Blair out-front setting the pace with his good time. He set a personal record for the Greenspeed of 17 km/hour.
Afterwards, we enjoyed coffee and a nice healthy lunch in a safe outdoors setting at As Nature Intended.
Afternoon Around Belconnen Bike Paths
I thought I would take the e-bike to get some kilometres done for Movember. Except, stupidly I didn’t switch on its motor. For a while I was thinking, these hills seem tougher today. Then I realised.
West
East
The remaining ride sections seemed easier 😜
Another excellent day at the Arboretum
03 November 2021
I met up with Blair at the National Rock Garden. He on his new Merida e-MTB; me aboard the trusty Mighty Steed.
Going into the Arboretum via a different entry point proved to be a novelty. It put a different emphasis on the choice of hills to climb.
We began by climbing up and over Wide Brown Land. Then we moved onto the lower loop on the western side.
Blair admiring the view
Our run down the lower slopes towards the Molonglo was curtailed by some new road construction, meaning we had to cut out some sections, as well as ducking under flagging tape barriers. It was a little confusing. We finished off with a quick run around the top loop.
Then we road out to Curtin Shops for an outdoor coffee. A pleasant day was had.
Thanks Blair
Lake Ginninderra and Ginninderra Creek Circuit
06 November 2021
Getting the miles up for Movember.
Around Lake G then down Ginninderra Creek
I visited Steve on the way home. His recovery from knee surgery seems to be coming along nicely. We watched a bit of Crankworx in Rotorua. Caroline Buchanan was awesome.
