Monday, February 28, 2011

It's not a Trek Speed Concept - Haha

So here's one of my big announcements that I've been toying with over the last few weeks. Rumour control had it that I'd ordered a new Trek Speed Concept but come on guys, how could I do that to Black Beauty? What I actually bought was a Trek Elite 9.9 Hardtail Mountain Bike. GORGEOUS or what?

I've decided to do Xterra Philippines on March 6th and was quite happy to do it again on Shilpa's Trek 1400. It is basically an entry level bike and takes two people to lift it. However, I came second in my age-group and qualified for the worlds in Maui two years ago when I last rode it so I wasn't really fussed about the weight. I've only ever ridden a mountain bike 3 times in my life I didn't think that a heavy bike would make much of a difference.

What I wasn't prepared to do though is take out a loan to be able to pay for the excess baggage charges going to the race. So I asked around for a loan of a friends bike and although a couple of people were kind enough to volunteer I know that if something was going to go wrong and the bike get lost or broken it would a borrowed one.

Not only that but my stable of bikes was severely missing a high end MTB. So, what the hell I thought and made the plunge. Now all I have to do is learn what to do with all the hi-tech stuff on it, learn how to ride it and then justify having sent so much money on it - all of this by this Sunday hahahahahahahahaha!

On the serious front though, I really do have another couple of amazing announcements to make, hopefully I'll be in the right space to make them next week.


















































































FIRED

(Courtesy of Ian - I guess you've got to be a Star Wars geek to appreciate this one - luckily I am)

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

The Luckiest People On Earth

(Courtesy of Bryan Payne)



AMAZINGLY LUCKY PEOPLE. Personally, my favourite was the bank robbers although I've no doubt it was staged (probably a commercial I'm told).

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

A national hero? A world hero me thinks

Azizulhasni Awang had a bit of a crash at the Track Cycling World Championships in Manchester yesterday. He ended up with this "little" splinter in his leg and can you believe it, he got back on the bike and finished the race? He received the Bronze Medal for the race but more importantly the overall crown as Keiran World Champion for the series.

He was front page news yesterday in Malaysia and deservedly so but what an athlete, what a man. Someone for us all to look up to, respect and emulate (His courage I mean, no need to go to these lengths haha).

Friday, February 18, 2011

The Patient Grandfather

(Another classic from Disco Dave's Mum - particularly relevant as my Mum and Dad have just been over to visit and although they love my boys to bits they do think they're a little loud sometime).


A woman in a supermarket is following a grandfather and his badly behaved 5 year-old grandson.

It's obvious to her that he has his hands full with the child screaming for sweets in the sweet aisle, biscuits in the biscuit aisle; and for fruit, cereal and pop in the other aisles.

Meanwhile, Granddad is working his way around, saying in a controlled voice, "Easy, William, we won't be long . . . easy, boy."

Another outburst, and she hears the granddad calmly say, "It's okay, William, just a couple more minutes and we'll be out of here. Hang in there, boy."

At the checkout, the little terror is throwing items out of the cart, and Granddad says again in a controlled voice, "William, William, relax buddy, don't get upset. We'll be home in five minutes; stay cool, William."

Very impressed, the woman goes outside where the grandfather is loading his groceries and the boy into the car.

She said to the elderly gentleman, "It's none of my business, but you were amazing in there. I don't know how you did it. That whole time, you kept your composure, and no matter how loud and disruptive he got, you just calmly kept saying things would be okay. William is very lucky to have you as his grandpa."

"Thanks," said the grandfather, "but I'm William . .. . the little bastard's name is Kevin."

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Broken Bike Trainer - Awesome Customer Service

Now despite the continued abuse that I get from my Canadian Twitter buddies I still swear by my one (and soon to be two) indoor turbo sessions per week. They're part of my Ironman training plan and they are a miserable painfest workout - my favourite kind of workout.

Basically after a warm up you do maximum resistance intervals at a super slow cadence of 50rpm - not much choice on the rpm anyway, as I mentioned they're maximum resistance. Finish off with a cool down.

The whole idea is to engage ALL of the muscles in the legs which helps create awesome leg strength. The only problem is that by 50 minutes into a 91 minute session you would happily take a bullet between the eyes to put you out of your misery rather than even contemplate finishing. Of course I always finish and feel like a superhero for doing so.

I was a few minutes in to a session about three weeks ago and the drive band broke between the roller and the magnetic resistance. So you can imagine I had rather mixed feelings of relief and loss.

The trainer is a Minoura that I bought in Australia over ten years ago. I've rarely used it until the last couple of years but I have found it invaluable once I worked out what training to do with it and why. (Most people use a turbo because it's too cold, wet, icy, windy, dark etc but in Malaysia there's no winter and not much need for a turbo other than for strength sessions and single leg drills, I've never done the latter but know I should).

So I went onto the Minoura website and was impressed to see all of their obsolete models listed for the last 10 years as well as their current models. Ah-ha, mine was so old it wasn't even listed. So I emailed their USA and Japanese offices. The USA office was closed for two weeks but they still replied to me the next day! They asked if the band had teeth or was smooth. I replied it had teeth and they wrote straight back apologising that they no longer made that band. They did say the smooth band might work but they couldn't promise.

In the meantime Takashi Minoura wrote back from Japan asking the same question and my address. I explained that the band had teeth and he replied that they didn't make that anymore but he'd send me the smooth one anyway without charge. He didn't remember whether it would work or not.

It arrived a couple of days later, I fitted it and it worked. What a result! You'd think so at any rate, HOWEVER, half way through the session the resistance knob broke - I guess I can't complain with such an old machine - I've had my money's worth.

However, I wrote back to Takashii and explained the problem and insisted that I'd pay for a replacement. His reply was unbelievable, he'd sent one straightaway by courier and once again free of charge. Don't worry about it just tell your friends about us he said.

It was on my desk when I came into the office this morning, so I'm telling you about this amazing experience, not so much as returning the favour to Takashi Minoura but because this type of service is almost unheard of these days and I think many of you would like to know and I suspect will take this into account when you buy your next turbo. I know I shall.

Minoura trainers can be found in Malaysia at: -

MALAYSIA Gin Huat Cycle
Selangor / 03-6038-3703

KSH Bicycle
Selangor / 03-7877-0450

Montana Cycle
Kedah / 04-7143071

Their website is www.minourausa.com
Their facebook page is Minoura CO., LTD.

The only other similar experience I've had was with Cat-eye the bike light and bike computer maker. Funnily enough another Japanese company!!!!

Thursday, February 10, 2011

3 Awesome Beer Commercials - What?

(Courtesy of Ian Hay)





Wednesday, February 09, 2011

When I was a boy

Some dastardly "friends" uploaded some old images of me on Facebook from my sailing club days (probably 15 or 16 years old I guess). Thought I'd share them for a giggle plus some of the comments.

And yes that is Carlsberg Special Brew at 9% alcohol (Please take note Bryan "Coors Light" Payne).

And yes I did own a ferret but that is teenage acne not ferret bits!

And no my hair wasn't permed - I can't help it if I've got naturally gorgeous hair!













































Tuesday, February 08, 2011

Run NYC Half Marathon and support The Fresh Air Fund

Simon says: -

I have received this email request from Sara Wilson of the Fresh Air Fund again. A great cause and for anyone thinking of running the NYC Half Marathon then you should seriously look at supporting this wonderful organisation.




"Hi Simon

The Fresh Air Fund is looking for runners and sponsors to join our Fresh Air Fund-Racers team for the NYC Half-Marathon this coming March 20th and I was hoping you might be able to post something about it on Tritwins to share with your readers. This is a great way to participate in NYC's premier road race while helping Fresh Air Fund children. Please feel free to repost anything from our news site here:

freshairmarathon.com

We are also in need of host families for this Summer. Host families are volunteers who open their hearts and home to a child from the city to give them a fresh air experience they never forget. Please let me know if you are able to post or tweet and if you could send me the link that would be wonderful. Together we can help make sure these children have everything they need!

Thank you so much,

Sara
--
Sara Wilson,
The Fresh Air Fund
sara@freshair.org
www.freshair.org"

A Postcard from Kona

Hey how cool is this? A postcard from Bryan Payne when he was at the Ironman Worlds in Kona Hawaii 2010. He sent it to my Mum and Dad's address so I only just got it.

I shall be sticking it on my bathroom mirror to help inspire me to qualify this year too.

Thanks Bryan

Monday, February 07, 2011

Belgian Stefaan Engels completes record 365th marathon

(Courtesy of Chantal and the BBC)

A Belgian runner has set a new world record by completing 365 marathon races in a year.

Stefaan Engels, dubbed "Marathon Man", began his challenge in Belgium a year ago and has since run a marathon every day across seven countries.

He crossed the finish line in the Spanish city of Barcelona after running 15,000km (9,569 miles) in a year.

"I don't regard my marathon year as torture. It is more like a regular job," the 49-year-old said.

He averaged about four hours to complete a marathon. He said his best time was 2 hours and 56 minutes.

Engels suffered from asthma as a child and had been told by doctors to avoid sport.

Before Engels, the record marathon man was Akinori Kusuda of Japan - who ran 52 races in a row at the age of 65 in 2009.

Simon says: - Very cool

Wednesday, February 02, 2011

I thought they were supposed to get smaller

(Courtesy of Shilpa)


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Altitude Tent - shall I? Mmm?

(Sent by Mohan the Great)

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Just kidding - I'm not really thinking about getting one. (Not for now at any rate - haha)