This blog has moved - go to http://www.maxxxie.net/

Yesterday, I had to attend a seminar in town, so I rode in on The Noble Steed. I was laden down with a pannier that contained: shirt, undies, bra, jeans, socks, belt, shoes, thongs (to wear in the shower), toiletries bag, headlights (wasn't sure if I'd be back in daylight or not), batteries for same, yellow tinted glasses (for low-light riding), spray jacket, keys, wallet, bike lock, banana, energy goo, energy bar, notepad, pencil, reading glasses and... I think that's it. There might be more, but my mind has repressed the memory. It felt like the bike was a pack horse. SO HEAVY! And that's after I removed the laptop because it was just so heavy with it in. In fact, when I loaded it all up the night before, I could barely move the bike's back end. It disheartened me, and I was so depressed about it, I just curled up on the couch in a sulking ball of misery. But I snapped out of it. And I have to admit that on the actual ride, it wasn't that bad. Mind you, that was without the laptop, of course.

I didn't set any speed records, but I made it into town in well under an hour. At that time of morning, there was bugger-all traffic on any of the roads I had to traverse. My only hiccup was having to stop at a stop sign (like you do) to turn left... onto a hill. In the wrong gear. Ever tried to do a hill start on a bicycle, in the wrong gear, laden down like a pack horse? I don't recommend it. I think I will try to find another side street that doesn't end in a stop sign up that hill.

I tried out the King George Square Cycle Centre, and it was every bit as magnificent as I'd imagined. If you live in Brisbane, and work in the CBD, I highly recommend it. Here's a rundown of what they offer: A safe place to store your bike; fresh towel; locker; hot shower, on-site mechanical workshop; hair driers; ironing facilities and a valet laundry service. This is the sort of facility that would actually make me consider taking a job in the CBD.

So. I have completed phase 1 of Max's Commuting Challenge: getting to the CBD without getting killed. The next step is to get from the city to Griffith Uni, then from the uni to work.