Introductions - Hello from Australia!

Hey everyone!

My name is Ben and I'm a mountain biker/tourer from Tasmania, Australia. I ride a 2001 Avanti Aggressor, its basically standard, LX/XT, new Answer Protaper riser bar, Michelin tyres, Mavic rims, Manitou SX forks.
I'm 18, work part time as a radio announcer and part time as a student. Life's pretty easy where I live, its not really a big city, but there are plenty of places to go riding. Lots of trails and schools to muck around in.
My flatmate is also an avid cyclist, he rides an Avanti Comp, 98 or 99 model, I'm not really sure. I'll get him to sign up for these forums tonight.
I'm looking to tour around Germany and France next year (being 2004), when I get the chance, and am always looking for someone to ride with, regardless of where you are from. If you have any plans similar to mine, drop me a note either via email or PM :)

Hope I can have a positive input to the forum!

Thanks..
Ben

Welcome aboard. There's a few people from Tasmania on board I believe.

Good luck finding someone for your Eu adventures. All the times I've been has been business related and haven't taken the time to see it properly on a bike :)

Next time I promise myself to take some time off and do Portugal on bike.. Might be a bit hilly though? Maybe Netherlands would be a better start

;)

Geez, all these Taswegians! Welcome to the forums! I'm headed for your part of the world, probably in December of this year. Got a tour of my own planned.

Thanks guys :)

I'd like to do the Netherlands as well. I'll wait until my girlfriend finishes her apprenticeship, because she is a keen cyclist also. I'm sure she'll join me :)

Chris- When you are heading this way, let me know. Should catch up for a drink or a chat.

Nice to meet you guys :beer:

Welcome to BF from a fellow Tasmaniac. In which part of this fair land do you reside Aggressor?

Hi Jaimie :)
I'm from the North West, I'm in Devonport.

I see you are from Hobart, I'm occasionally down that way. 3 hour trip from here though, I just want to ride the city one day.

Welcome! :)

Hmmm...

Devonport wasn't quite on the itinerary for this year. I won't be too far away though, maybe I can take a little detour or something.

Where were you planning on touring Chris?

Cheers

Another Tasmanian, there everywhere, must be the cold weather.:D

Welcome!

CHEERS.

Mark

Devonport hey, was there recently on the way home from the mainland, was on one of the Premiers nice new red spirits - looks like the city is coming along in leaps and bounds since the last time I was there.

Now there is going to be a third boat from Sydney to Devonport that would be an amazing trip along the east coast of the north island.

I guess you probably drink Boags being from north of Oatlands.

For those from other parts of the world (like mainland Australia) Tasmanians either live in the north, north-west, west or south. The dividing line for north and south is Oatlands.
If you live in the north-west your commonly referred to as a coastie (short for north-west coast).

Let me know if you are down this way again, could catch up for a ride, or a beer or something.

Peace

Originally posted by Dutchy
Another Tasmanian, there everywhere, must be the cold weather.:D

Welcome!

CHEERS.

Mark
Yes, it's the cold weather. We need something to keep us warm... a good bedtime physical activity... with anyone...

Oops! That doesn't do our our two-headed image any good, now does it?

Originally posted by Aggressor
Where were you planning on touring Chris?

At this point it looks like Deloraine (or possibly Sheffield or Gowrie Park) is the closest I'll come to Devonport on the abovementioned tour. I've got a friend from up here who's keen to join me in Launceston to ride the west coast (I'm doing the full circuit) and who might need a couple of shorter days to warm up for Cradle Mountain. Of course, I could be wrong as my itineraries have a habit of changing.

Heading to Queenstown? My family lives there. I'd like to catch up and say gday in Launceston, as I am there a fair bit. :)

Great! I'll probably be in Launceston for a couple of days, and I'll be passing through Queenstown a little later on (not sure I'll stay there for the night, however, I like trees! :p ). It'd be good to catch up. I'll let you know some specific dates when the time comes a little closer.

The trees in Queenstown have almost grown back, seriously :)
Where else are you traversing?

The very rough early itinerary includes Mt Wellington, Bruny Island, Tasman Peninsula, The East Coast including Freycinet National Park & Bay of Fires, possibly Ben Lomond National Park (saw pics of Jacob's Ladder, I'd love a crack at that!), Cradle Mtn, Strahan, Lake St. Clair, Mt Field and perhaps Strathgordon if time permits. Not to mention other points in between that I'll discover when I'm down there.

Have I missed anything important?

Originally posted by Rowan
Yes, it's the cold weather. We need something to keep us warm... a good bedtime physical activity... with anyone...

Oops! That doesn't do our our two-headed image any good, now does it?
Hey ! what you lot done with our mate Mark "toolfreak" he went to Tasy , & hasnt been heard of since , has he been eaten by the locals or has he been captured & used for stud purposes to widen the gene pool :D

I dont think you have missed anything really worth seeing, you'll enjoy the East Coast and Tasman Peninsula.