Hey, I have nothing against carbon fiber. I think it's 'magical qualities' are bullshˇt, but appart from that, it has awesome potential. My biggest problem with it is this 'five sizes fits nobody' crap, but now that I can do custom sizing......*mwuhuhuhaa!*.....problem solved!

So if anyone is looking for an insane bike and has a huge wad of cash burning a hole in their pockets, you know who to call. Retail will be AU$4995 for frame, fork and headset. ( Mates rates for pre-orders quite considerably less ). Yup, I can see the queue forming now! NOT!

Hitchy, cool that you got fitted up. The burning glutes phenomena disappears after a week or so. Basically what you're doing to now using more of the muscles on the back of your legs rather than the front, which before were being under utilised. That's my understanding of it anyway.

What changes did Kennedy make to your set-up? Did you have to change any components, or did he just reposition your cleats, push your seat back and say 'buy a shorter stem'?

In terms of getting bored with the same old routes, yeah, that's a big problem. I can see why people resort to Beach Rd., but I'm just so frikken tired of that stretch. If you want a abit of adventure, here's two new routes for you eastern suburbs types to try -

Werribee South via Williamstown / Altona / Point Cook

Cruize into town and find your way to Footscray Rd. or Dynon Rd. From there, left down Whitehall, continue South, under the West Gate, down Douglas Pde into Williamstown. From there you can do a loop of Williamstown following the coast, down the awful Kororoit Ck Rd, left down Millers Rd to Altona.
From Altona it's West down Queens St to Laverton / Western Gardens, then down the long windy Point Cook Rd / Aviation Rd ( 'round past Pnt Cook RAAF base ) until you hit Duncan's Rd. Werribee South.
Turn left, and follow Duncan's Rd down to Werribee South.
from there you can either ride back or check out the various loops you can do ( I often do a circuit arround W'bee Sth / Hoppers Lane / Sneydes Rd / back to Point Cook Rd. )

This circuit is a bit of a hike - nearly 80kms from my joint in Kensington, so add the distance of however long it takes for you to get to Kens X2 and that's your distance.

Diamond Creek / St.Andrews / Eltham area

This one is a bit convoluted and I have about 4 variations, but this is a good way to get up into the hills.
From my place I go due North until I hit Cooper St Campbellfield/Epping. From there it's East to Yarrambat and Diamond Creek. From there I either head NE to Hurstbridge / St.Andrews way and loop back through Panton Hill / Kangaroo Ground / Research / Eltham.
Once in Eltham it's either go with the flow directly back to the city and then home, or through Lower Templestowe / Doncaster / Kew back home.
See, I told you it's convoluted! But hey, I've done it so often now I don't even need a map.

From my place, there are variations on the theme varying from 70 to 100kms. Not mega distances, but when you add in the hills.....oh boy.

I need to get back on the roadie - haven't done much in two weeks coz I'm doing some work in the garden and been playing a bit of tennis which has wrecked me.

One of these days I'm going to catch a train to Lilydale and ride out the back of Silvan / Monbulk / Emerald / Beaconsfield and maybe catch another train home from Cranbourne. Hopefully the bogans won't beat me up.