The Bike That Phill Built: Saddle

The saddle is an all important bit that will offer the support necessary for my delicate buttchecks whilst peddling for hours on end. Upon seeking advice I was told that each person has a unique bum and as such a bit of trial and error is essential. Further research from a friend alerted me to the fact that a big soft looking saddle doesn't always mean a more comfortable ride.

Satisfying yes...

I test rode a quite small and narrow saddle - the Selle Italia Flite Max Gel Flow (its quite expensive) - but it caused my right testicle to ache after 10 kms or so on the road.
I then tried this saddle - the WTB rocket (team black). Comfortable and yet affordable.

Its the colour that makes it so comfortable

black

240g

leather | flex-tuned shell | comfort zone | dna padding | kevlar corners

Saddle = $63 (including 10% discount)

Total
Frame Set $1099+
Wheel Set $ 495
Handlebars $135
Headset $ 77.50
Cassette $ 89.90
Crankset $198.02
Rear Derailleur $108
Brakes $86.38
Front Derailleur $54
Seat Post $54
Brake Levers $45
Handlebar Tape $22.60
Tubes $12.60
Tyres $71.95
Chain $31.50
Pedals $58.45
Shifters $153.00
Stem $36
Saddle $63

$2890.90

The Bike That Phill Built: Stem

The stem is a piece of equipment that is attached to the front forks via the headset and also holds the handle bars in place. I don't have a close up of my stem but the important aspects are its length - as this dictates how far forward you lean whilst riding, and its bar bore - which needs to be the correct size of the handle bars. My handlebars require a 31.8mm clamp. It also had to match my fork width and I wanted a road stem to suit my drop down handlebars. I bought a Token Matrix Stem.

A picture of my stem sourced from the net

Once I had the stem I took my bike into Maladjusted and they attached the headset for me (this was a procedure that is best done with the proper equipment). The result is shown below!

One happy Gatt and his frame

Bar Bore: Ø31.8mm

Steerer Clamp Dia.: Ø28.6mm

Angle: ±8°

Titanium bolts or Cromo Bolts for options

Extension: 80, 90, 100, 110, 120, 130mm

Stem = $36 (including 10% discount)

Total
Frame Set $1099+
Wheel Set $ 495
Handlebars $135
Headset $ 77.50
Cassette $ 89.90
Crankset $198.02
Rear Derailleur $108
Brakes $86.38
Front Derailleur $54
Seat Post $54
Brake Levers $45
Handlebar Tape $22.60
Tubes $12.60
Tyres $71.95
Chain $31.50
Pedals $58.45
Shifters $153.00
Stem $36

$2827.90

The end of an elastic era

For years I have possessed a remarkable ability to, at full pace whilst carrying heavy backpacks, fall upon either of my ankles and shrug off the injury. My ligaments behaved like rubber bands and would spring back in place with barely a change in my stride.

This all changed on Monday night when out on a light jog I managed to snap two ligaments in my right ankle, forever reducing my seemingly inherent joint flexiblity. Now I hobble like a cripple as I throw money to the local physio in an attempt to return my ankle to its former strength. Most disturbingly this has happened just weeks before the the hotly contested RSC cricket match.

Success in 2009

In an unbleivable effort by our Resident's committe Fenner was able to pull in

2nd in the Interhall Sports Shield

and for the first time in eight years

1st in the Interhall Arts Shield -

we came first in every arts event except talent night (3rd) and Theatre Sports (last). This year I was a member of two teams - the winning pool (8-ball) team and I entered the talent show in the non-musical category conducting a science show in which I set myself on fire (don't try this at home kids).

Road Relay 2009

Road relay is a running event held at ANU between the Halls and Colleges. Eight legs consisting of four 1500m circuits and four 3000m circuits are completed by four males and four females from each university residence. Last year Fenner came 3rd in an amazingly close finish involving Bruce and Burgmann. This year we turned up with a stronger team and hoped to push for a second place finish. We started well and entrenched ourselves in third place by the fourth leg (that's me).

Here I am coming in to the finish.

Once again running the 3km leg I moved myself from anchor to fourth runner to help ensure the other colleges couldn't catch us. I wiped 10 seconds off my personal best with a time of 10mins 15secs.

A photo taken about two seconds later; yes it does look like I'm about to cry, and yes I wanted to.

Unfortunately we were unable to catch John's who finished in second 2mins ahead of us, or Burgmann who had a team of super heros and finished 2 mins ahead of Johns. Our second consecutive thrid place in Road Relay is a nice change from three years ago which was our fourth consecutive last place. It also enabled us to finish second on the Sports shield, the highest we have ever finished in my long time at University.

The 2009 Road Relay Team: Buddee, Tani, Me, Martyn, Jusatin, Tara, Flick, Michelle

The Bike That Phill Built: Shifters

There are a couple of types of shifters - there are some that are incorporated into the brake levers and cost the GDP of small island nations, there are some that sit on the frame and cost as much as a large macca's meal, there are some that sit on straight handlebars, and there are bar end shifters that attach to the end of drop down handlebars.

A shifter set - what I couldn't figure out, though, is why is the box so big for such small pieces

Good shifters are important as they regulate the gear change, and a smooth efficient transition from one cog to another is paramount when your struggling up a steeply inclined rocky path. As I find it necessary to eat a couple of times a day I couldn't afford the fancy brake/shifter combination so I opted for the next best thing: bar end shifters.

Ahh. I see now - there's more stuff underneath. Looks awfully technical.

Model Number	SL-BS77
Series	DURA-ACE
Shift Lever Type	Bar end
Cassette Capability	9-Speed
Front Shifting	Double/Triple
Material	Aluminum/clear coated
Shift Cable Casing	SIS SP41
Average Wight	178g

The shifters are nice, but I think the rug needs a good vacuum!

The set that I bought were the Shimano DuraAce SL-BS77 model. As my front and rear deraillers were Shimano the shifters had to be as well (SRAM have a different gearing ratio), and for those that now a little bit about bikes you will know that DuraAce is the top of the range racing series. The important aspects I had to take into account was that the shifters could cover the range of my front and rear cog sets. As my rear cog set (cassette) is a nine speed I had to ensure the shifters was compatible. I also had to ensure that the shifters were compatible with a three ring front cog set (front shifting).

So close, if I wasn't drunk I'd be excited!

Shimano DuraAce SL-BS77 = $153.00 (including 10% discount)

Total
Frame Set $1099+
Wheel Set $ 495
Handlebars $135
Headset $ 77.50
Cassette $ 89.90
Crankset $198.02
Rear Derailleur $108
Brakes $86.38
Front Derailleur $54
Seat Post $54
Brake Levers $45
Handlebar Tape $22.60
Tubes $12.60
Tyres $71.95
Chain $31.50
Pedals $58.45
Shifters $153.00

$2791.90

Nearly there, all I need is the saddle, the stem and to attach the front forks plus a few little odds and ends like brake cables...

Au domoni Iko - I love you (Beachcomber)

Chronicling the events of Beachcomber is task beyond my alcohol addled memories. The bar was

The staff were awesome, here they let me pour my own beer!

open from early morning until late night and combining this with the three happy hours throughout the day it is understandale my natural compulsion to enjoy a glass of the amber drop was adequately fuelled .

Tash and Amanda: Nick (you'll meet him soon) and I spent all day night with these super girls. We danced, we drank, we swam, and I woke up in my bed. Due to unexplained memory loss much of this night is recorded through the photographic medium only

I met many a great new person, as well as spending time with the old. Katie, Helen, and Rachel were prese for the first night, and Tom joined me for the second and third night (I stayed an extra day to ensure my liver fully understood hard yakka).

Tom and I buy a jug of beer and a shot jaeger each - I think the Black Eyed Peas summed it up the best, Tonight's going to be a good night (played at 8:00pm on the dot; Beachcomber playlist)

I met a few Australians, Marina and her cousin on the first night and some Tasmanians on the the third. I made close friends with some Kiwis - Nick and I bonded over two nights,

Nick and I became firm friends. Soon I'll be seeing him in Melbourne

and Paul a fellow chemist (analytical).

Paul displaying Kiwi pride. I will be visiting him in the enxt 12 months!

I also meet a cute german chemist named Michel.

Chemists uniting from across the world.

The english were there too (as always) and of course - as it was the weekend - there were many japanese.

We buried Oji (uncle in japanese: nicknamed by his friends cuz he is sooooo old). Then I gave him a stick so I could touch his wood

The islands dive instructor was also japanese and not a night went by in which we didn't play his awesome drinking game sae no (remaned to fuck yeah go! by the aussies).

I'm devastated I have forgotted the Dive instructor's name, particularly because I was the only person who could pronounce it.

daytime was filled with sitting by the beach, juggling, cards games and tricks, and volleyball. The night was partying - dancing, swimming in the ocean, singing, drinking - the list goes on.

Nightime antics...

The true feeling of Beachcomber can be summed up in on phrase: To any general statement or question asked [such as what is there to do here? Is this place good? I feel sick/tired/hungover.) It's Beachcomber (optional refrain: relax).

Beachcomber!