The Ultra Life
  • Home
    • About me >
      • Shane
      • Shake It Up >
        • Shake It Up - Donations
      • Sponsors
      • Hoodies >
        • Hoodie Order form
      • Contact
      • Links
      • Past Adventures >
        • In pictures
        • Twilight Trail Run
        • Run Around the Bay >
          • Joining Details
          • Shane's Training
  • Latest Adventure Stories
  • Gear Reviews
  • Blogs
  • Photography

Adventure Starts here...

When pink handlebar tape is the only solution

6/12/2015

1 Comment

 
by Richelle Olsen
Soo...5 weeks to go!  And man, a lot has happened in the last week or so!

Last weekend we epic-ly failed our planned "final gear and bikes test".  Buckled wheels, racks that didn't even come close to fitting, racks that fell off, mega rack-related melt-downs, declarations of "we are cancelling the trip" and so on all combined to create some key realisations:
  • The Thule Pack n Pedal rack just doesn't fit on my Trek dualie MTB, which then restricts what I can carry to an unacceptable point, so....
  • I've decided I'm no longer taking the MTB, instead opting for my Surly Long Haul Trucker, complete with a perfectly fitted tubus rack.  A bike designed for specifically for touring, though it is a rigid steel bike, and possibly not the most comfortable over the rough stuff, in fact its a little bone jarring at present.  But after pimping it out with some fat tyres, some hydraulic brakes, and some pink handlebar tape, good ol' Mo (everything has a name!) and I are gonna be buddies!   Slightly shaken, but besties nonetheless!
  • As an added bonus, it appears that I'm significantly faster on Mo, than I was on the MTB, I guess I'm not losing all my precious energy through 2 shocks
  • And after all this, we managed to ride 185kms and 2,500m+ over the 3 days - most I've ever ridden, but I did it!  So far from being prepared, but well on the way!
  • Oh...and I'm selling the Trek Fuel Ex8.....it is a sad sad day coming soon...

I always say everything happens for a reason!
Picture
Sorry Diesel, your time has come....its been fun!
Picture
This is the pre-pimped Mo the Surly LHT...my new ride


To top that off:

  • I've had a 250km week this week (whoaaa!)
  • We have found tenants for our house - woooo!
  • We finally got town planning permission to build on our block at Mt Buller, only took 6 months!
  • Shane put his unit up for sale (maybe we can travel forever?!)
  • We managed to save ourselves over $2k in storage fees, with the generosity of my best mate
  • We finalised our Sub4 customer made cycling jerseys (can't wait to see those in the flesh!)
  • We had I/O Merino jump on board to supply us with our merino thermals for the trip.  Super happy bout that, as we love their stuff, so soft and warm, with no itch!
  • We jumped onto the 99 Bikes affiliate program, to hopefully make some pocket money for when we are on the road.  Be sure to click on the links throughout our blog, as anything you buy using that link gives us a nice little commission.  We love them cause they are pretty much the cheapest bike shop in Oz, and they also have great stores dotted all over the country, with some super friendly staff.  Makes me feel all warm and fuzzy!

As you can see its all happening!!  And its all super exciting!

Righto, off to ride my bike!

1 Comment

    Shane Hutton 

    I am an ultra runner, Mountain biker, Packrafter, Climber, Ironman, Endurance Athlete

    I am a La Sportiva, Io Merino & Kokopelli Packraft Ambassador with a taste for adventure, always up for a new and different challenge.  

    I like to create my own adventures that generally push me to limits. Proving that anyone can do it and raising money for Parkinson`s research as I go........

    Email me the latest blogs

    RSS Feed

    Archives

    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    July 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    January 2017
    November 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    December 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015

    Categories

    All
    800kminandweareatthestart57488981d0dd8610f653
    8 Weeks To Go She Says
    9 Weeks To Go - He Says
    All Done!
    Bike Touring Videos
    Buses And Motorhomes Bigger Than My House
    Colombia
    Gear List
    Into Wyoming...the Good And The Not So Good Bits
    Our Foster Parents
    Quitting Our Lives To Go Ride Bikes
    Shane's Riding
    Shane's Thoughts After Cycling For 5 Weeks
    The First 7 Days
    The Kindness Of Strangers
    We Start Tomorrow
    When Pink Bar Tape Is The Only Solution

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
  • Home
    • About me >
      • Shane
      • Shake It Up >
        • Shake It Up - Donations
      • Sponsors
      • Hoodies >
        • Hoodie Order form
      • Contact
      • Links
      • Past Adventures >
        • In pictures
        • Twilight Trail Run
        • Run Around the Bay >
          • Joining Details
          • Shane's Training
  • Latest Adventure Stories
  • Gear Reviews
  • Blogs
  • Photography