Ah yes, just back from a ride and I see the best thread on this BBS is still alive and well. Wicked. Beach Rd. report - Classic Melbourne weather out there. Wind has special ability to know which way you're going, miraculously managed to avoid any rain, except for the rain on the road which sprayed down my crack and made my road bike dirtier than my mountain bike. Still, felt good today, averaged a smidge under 30kph for 50kms. Not bad for a hack.

Buckleyheaven - I live in Kensington and there are quite a few tracks and bike lanes in our part of the world. I think there's a book you can get that outlines all the bike paths and bike lanes in Melbourne. Out here in the inner west, there's Moonee Ponds Creek trail, Maribyrnong Ck trail, and the Bay West trail which goes forever. To be honest though, if you've got a road bike you have to ride it on the road.

Now, as for those Learsports, I have one thing to say. Who?

As for anyone buying or thinking of buying a Madone - I can do a Custom Tephra Ti with Dura-Ace for less than that plastic piece of poo that Lance doesnt even ride anymore. In one corner we have Lance A Wannabe. In the other, we have John K Citizen, free thinker and purveyor of all things funky. I know which one I am. ( I'm the guy in the other corner having a winge about his sore legs )