i've got some catching up to do

so a while back i decided to leave america and come to perth, australia for a semester. no real reason, i just wanted to get as far away from home as possible and mix it up a bit. having been interested in mountain biking for over a decade, and just about any kind of biking for nearly two, i assumed that when i got here i would continue mountain biking as i had back in the states. since i'd recently wrecked my commuter before i left, i figured i'd rebuild what was left into a cyclocross/29er/commuter singlespeed mix, the unibomber as some fellow rider back in rva called it.

when i got here i immediately met some of the most friendly people i've ever met in my life. the best part was that is wasn't just one person, or one group of people, it was 99.9% of this entire country. after posting a few questions on a local forum, i met pete who immediately offered to take me out mountain biking. he warned that my cross bike might not cut it, but that if i didn't mind loosing some skin i could come along for some local xc riding. i'd heared this from people back home and never had an issue keeping up, but these trails where a whole new animal. well behind the back of the pack for the whole ride, i was amazed when pete called me next week offering to take me out riding again, this time on his full carbon giant. i nervously took him up on it, but again was at the back of the pack. despite the fact that i wasn't used to the trails, the weird pea-gravel here, or the geometry of the bike, there were no excuses this time. not only had this very trusting man handed me the lightest xc bike i'd ever ridden, he'd let me put my pedals on it, adjust everything from the seatpost to the fork's rebound, to the american-handed brake levers. and after all that he *still* called me the next week to go riding.

this time i had to decline his offer as i already had plans to go surfing, but i was still amazed that he'd even consider it again.

that was the last time i've been mountain biking in perth, and it was great, but unfortunately i can hardly find the time. since then i've swapped out my trail tyres for some skinnies, sped up my gearing, and raised the seatpost turning my cross-check into a true urban commuter.

with this new setup i've found a nice group of local fixies that rides on sundays, and i regret that it's taken me this long. last week was my first week out with them, we met in a parking garage, they did some usual fixie tricks, and then we headed out for a ride through the city. the ride started out as i'd expect, but we turned into a headwind and a few of the guys shredded the city streets like i've only seen a few people do back home. and unlike home, these guys aren't just a bunch of trendy yuppies trying to look cool, they actually enjoy the ride. but sprinting into the wind they had more than just the speed, nearly melting tyres on the downhills, and maintaining wheelies uphill across several blocks, these guys showed me one of th best night's i'd seen in this country. after it was all over, prawi even helped me find my way home from the bar.

tonight was no different. i got to the car park, and there were the usual fixie tricks, but then i noticed something new. there was this guy on a rattle-can green surly pulling out the smoothest wheelie-spin things (what are they called?) i'd ever seen, again and again and again like it was nothing. he'd flick the bike back, then forewards up onto the rear wheel, twirl, and smoothly come out of it and just ride off. this week we headed out on a shorter ride, at least it seemed shorter, but maybe it was just the lack of wind. either way, perth is finally starting to feel like home just in time for me to leave.