// at the bottom of the ocean.

Makatron at it again. 

If you need to breathe life into a dull urban space no matter where in the globe you reside, look him up.

Mitch Docker (Brunswick CC / OGE)  dreamed of the real Roubaix as he used the back lanes of Ascot Vale in his younger years for training. 

Now with a few of the big ones under his bibs he gives some tips for Roubaix, with critical insight from wheelstand king - Fummy Beppu.

Same principles apply to Melburn Roobaix.

Another tip for Arenberg is it's a bit of a 'hotspot' for bears in the woods so the fastest you get through it, the less likely you are to encounter one.

Still one of the most memorable days on a bike I've had.

If you've ever dreamed of riding the pave of Northern France, you can make your dreams come true and it's relatively easy to do.

Read more: Roubaix Reprise

Stolen from Tracko.

Life as a Pro:  It's not all slurpees and redskins.

Read more: 7-FYXO

If you think guns and gun control has nothing to do with cycling, you are wrong.

Read more: Killing in the name of

Happy Friday!

The weekend is nigh so - Why so serious?

Read more: And afterall...

It has been said Melburn is Australia's Cultural home of cycling. People ask why it is so good here, and I'd like to think in some small way FYXO is part of it.  

FYXO DOUBLE HEADER

World Famous Melburn Bicycle Swap Meet / Melburn Roobaix Early Bird Registration.

Read more: Double header.

Rehashed from instagram.

This isn't about wearing fluoro vests, having more lights on your bike, stopping at red lights, wearing a helmet or crossing your fingers that a car gives you an extra metre of room...

When I worked in London this became a parting catch phrase and it has stuck for life. The first courier I ever be friended has been dead 9 years thanks to a lorry that crushed him. My first week working in New York a messenger was car doored, thrown into traffic and killed by a passing car.

I've worked as a bike courier in nearly every major city on Earth and there is no city more dangerous than any other. I met the humble Scott Peoples months before his life was taken by a driver not paying attention - in Shepparton. The road is a fucking cruel place and I couldn't think of a worse way to end my days than at someone's hands who was 'waiting for a mate'. No amount of money, no foundation, or campaigning will instill respect into those without it.

Do whatever it takes.

Ride safe.

Love.

Andy

We all like different bikes for different reasons...

The ALAN (of the Vitus family) was a bonded alloy frame, state of the art for its time but due the nature of the adhesives used eventually many would come undone.  I've never ridden one, but rumour was they were a bit of a noodle but this icon of cycling is just another example where function has little to do with it's popularity.  Like the Campagnolo Delta brake -  what it lacked in effectiveness it made up for in elegance.

Read more: Living next door to ALAN

Read more: Modern Day Nursery Rhyme

Every city has it's cycling characters...

Read more: Cycling cultural icons

When you've got PINP!

John 'Prolly' has some excellent coverage of the 2013 NAHBS on his site. 

Currently the only thing the internet is lacking is taste - and smell.  When they figure out how to send those sensations down the ASDL line then we will never have to leave home again - particularly with great photography like this.

From what I've seen so far this Bishop Track bike is my favourite.  I don't pretend to be an authority on bikes but I give it a 9 out of 10.

Why not 10?

Read more: Who needs NAHBS..

Read more: Boom!

Read more: My left brains knows that all love is fleeting

Inbox.

Hi there
 
Apparently a couple of years back before you updated your website there was a photo on your galleries home page of me crossing the road in Melbourne with a guy on a bike looking at me.  I just spoke to someone I hadn't seen in years who said they had seen me on your website!  At least you know your web marketing is working.... the guy lives in Sweden and I am currently living in Malaysia. 
 
Was just wondering if there is any way I could get a copy of the photo, or you could direct me to whoever took the photo so I could get a copy?
 
Many thanks
 
MK

Read more: Blasts from the Past

Photo: Kurt Peterson

Once upon a time I was a bike courier. It was a shit job. Horrible pay. Worse conditions. I had shit thrown at me, had my life threatened, rode myself inside out just to make 3/4 of fuck all. For nearly a decade it was my day to day. First London, then Melbourne, Vancouver, San Francisico, New York, London again and even a day working in Berlin. Would I do it again? Abso-fucking-lutely. Some of the best times on a bike were during this time. Even when I was run over by a double decker bus and nearly died. The people I met, the pricks I worked for and the brothers of the road I worked with made this time magical. Oh yeah, I rode a track bike with no brakes not because it was cool - because it wasn't then, I loved the challenge if it. I worked in 40 degree heat, hail, wind so fierce I had to get off and walk, snow, sleet and everything in between. I was the fastest cunt there was and won just about every alleycat worth winning. They used to call me Track Cunt because I started making FYXO t-shirts with that on it I made in my mates kitchen in SF. Still have that first one I made and havent stopped since.

Read more: Once upon a time

WIthin minutes of arriving in Gaiole I was drawn like a truckie to chrome to this bike in the distance.

Prior to going to L'Eroica I had a lot of misconceptions about the event.

I had it in my mind everyone would be on bling bikes, have ironic moustaches, and that I'd need a triple with tractor tyres to complete the course.

Wrong on all three counts.

Read more: Bikes of L'Eroica - MASI Gran Criterium

Style never goes out of fashion.

Read more: Stop!

A frozen stem is a common problem.  Galvanic corrosion occurs between the two metals, in this case alloy and steel and creates a ridiculously strong bond.  There are some basic techniques for trying to remove the stem, and twisting the bars in this instance was just going to twist the fork blades.

When hope seems lost I consult the Lord, and while this is a parody, the method works amazingly well without scoring the headset or damaging the stem. Next time you consider cutting a stem out, or even melting it out consider this approach.  I wish I had a camera for all the times the Gonz has solved a problem for me.  Stuck bottom brackets chainring bolts, stripped threads, cut new threads, braze on cable guides, painted frames,  fixed track adapters to disc wheels, the list goes on.

From the man that brought you the worlds most famous fixie - GONZLAB.

How to remove a frozen stem - Gonzlab Bicycle Tutorial from andy white on Vimeo.