This is the image that google image serves first for "Hitler cooties"

It's been a dry start to the winter down in Dunedin so the bike tracks with good drainage are still providing good riding. However, the perma-mud has set in on some trails and will likely spread over the next month or so.

My current rear tire is a Geax Aka 2.2 which is extrememly poor in the mud/wet. Anyone got any tips on an effective rear tire that will enjoy the mud, stick well to moist roots during climbs, and stay put on the corners.

This pretty incredible

The first ascent of the north face of Eiger, a mountain in the Swiss Alps (13,025 feet tall), happened in 1938 and took three days. Watch as Ueli Steck climbs it in 2 hours, 47 minutes, and 33 seconds

Source: kottle.org

Imagine if a private company could nark on you for speeding and you could be banned from using the roads for up to six months as a result of such an accusation. Well, the internet equivalent of this what was passed into law last week.

Seems crazy until you take a look inside the sausage factory and see some of the people who are making our laws.

Heres one:

Shit! if thats who's driving the boat I guess we are lucky they didn't make it illegal for Kangaroos to enter barbers shops on Sundays.

Here are some other commentators with better articulated view points than my own:
Juha Saarinen
Colin Jackson
Vikram Kumar
Someone from NZOSS

Auckland, I am looking at you.

Moving Beyond the Automobile: Road Diets from Streetfilms on Vimeo.

Cosbystep

Apparently this is where the sample:

"A stone will be thrown at the state. And a stone will be thrown at the churches."

which appears on the track 9 Samurai by Kode 9 comes from.

The 7 Samurai was on telly the other night on stratos which recently appeared on freeview, its a long movie.

Mountain bike designs are largely variations on a theme but this one looks interesting.

They use a Shimano Alphine as a centrally mounted gearbox, this has the maintence advantages of hub gears but doesn't put so much weight toward the rear wheel as the usual rear hub placement.

The central mount means reduced pedal bob because the chain goes straight up not back to the rear wheel.

well thats what they are claiming, but both those claims certainly make sense and it'd be interesting to take one for a spin...

Heres a video, bike description is at 1m:00s.

VCA 2010 RACE RUN from changoman on Vimeo.

The Valparaiso Cerro Abajo Race in chile, more here

and

http://www.ridemonkey.com/forums/showthread.php?t=229075

http://www.bikemag.com/videos/valparaiso-cerro-abajo-urban-dh-race/