Castlemaine Rocky Riders Mountain Bike Club

Name – Fiona Lewis

Profession – Teacher

Uphill or Downhill? Lots of both (as long as they are not too big!)

Most epic day on a bike? The 100km Otway Odyssey in 2007. I’m still waiting for the retrospective fun to kick in.

I’m currently riding… A Womens Giant Anthem X1.
Good points: It’s small enough that I don’t need to have the seat all the way down.
Bad points: I don’t feel ready to hurt its feelings by talking about any bad points.

Favourite trails (other than Castlemaine) – The Howqua track between Mt Buller and Mt Stirling

If I wasn’t mountain biking I’d be… much more grumpy

One day I’ll ride… through South East Asia

When I head out for a ride I never leave without… some money for a refreshment afterwards.

My race highlight – Competing in the first “Kristy Cup” at Beechworth in honour of a great friend, Kristy Chisholm.

Fiona in action at The Kristy Cup

He’s our reigning Dirt Crit champ and since the World Track Championships has Sir Chris Hoy and Victoria Pendalton as mates. He’s Louis McKenna.

Name – Louis McKenna

Profession – My profession is TBC (Louis is in primary school)

Uphill or Downhill? Uphill – I’m scared of downhill

Most epic day on a bike? The day I got 25 stitches in my leg. (Courtesy of a chain ring)

I’m currently riding a: Giant Boulder 1

Favourite trails (other than Castlemaine) - Some of the trails in the Otways

If I wasn’t mountain biking I’d be… road riding

One day I’ll ride… track

When I head out for a ride I never leave without… my water bottle

My race highlight - YTC (Yet to come – hopefully)

Name – Andrew Bos

Profession – Architect

Uphill or Downhill? No preference. I’ve fallen off on both.

Most epic day on a bike? 2009 Otway Odyssey. I’ve run a marathon and this race made running 42km seem like a walk to the shops.

I’m currently riding… Good points and bad points. Just purchased a Giant Anthem X Advanced. Can’t find a bad thing to say about it. My previous bike was set up more for racing and was not particularly well suited to my less than graceful riding style. The Giant climbs better, descends better, corners better, is more forgiving and feels like a more robust bike. If there is a downside it’s that it sometimes gives me a false sense of security…and with my track record that’s the last thing I need!

Favourite trails (other than Castlemaine) - Rode most of the trails up at Mt Buller recently and had a blast. The descent from Mt Stirling on Stonefly was possibly the best 10 minutes I’ve spent on a mountain bike. Oh and If you happen to be up there with Ben Bailey don’t listen to him when he says “Wow! Check out the view!”. One of the first mtb tips I received was to look ahead to where I want to ride rather than at the ground immediately in front of me. When you’re on the side of a mountain at 1500m above sea level the “view” is not the place you want to be pointing your bike!

If I wasn’t mountain biking I’d be… running still. But my knees would’ve probably given up by now.

One day I’ll ride… and not fall off.

When I head out for a ride I never leave without… my GPS. My obsession with maps is a bit worrying.

My race highlight - 2009 Otway Odyssey. Being new to the mountain bike scene I was rapt just to finish.

Name - Al Gribble

Profession - Teacher at the Coastal School for Student Leadership

Uphill or Downhill? Definantely uphill for sure. I am a bit of a wuss on the downhills and Courtney is sick of buying me new helmets (recently bought my 4th helmet in about 1 year)

Most epic day on a bike? 24 hour races always epic, the mud at the Garmin 24 was pretty brutal but in terms of epicness it would have to be one of Dave Whyte’s death marches through the famed “pipeline” and “bastard hill tracks” in East Gippsland. Mainly epic because he tells you the ride will be about 2 hours yet 7 hours later you crawl home after only consuming 2 muesli bars.

I’m currently riding… Good points and bad points. – A Niner SIR Single Speed. 32-20 gearing.
Good Points: Bottom bracket does not creak or move. Servicing the bike is very easy and more riding and less fixing things. Also, the steel reynolds 583 tubing makes for a comfy ride and is very light for steel.
Bad Points: When you get tired having only 1 gear doesn’t help much. People think you’ve escaped from the psychiatric ward because your on a SS, which is probably true but the stereotype is not fair for the other SS riders out there.

Favourite trails (other than Castlemaine) – Rotorua, NZ. Mt Stromlo, Canberra, Forrest

If I wasn’t mountain biking I’d be… Probably adventure racing.

One day I’ll ride… The Colorado Trail Race, Ride the Divide (Banff to Mexico), The A-Line at Jubberland.

When I head out for a ride I never leave without… My Rocky Riders jersey.

My race highlight – Training and racing in 24hour races without getting injured.

Name – Aaron Davies

Profession – Storyboard Artist, Home Renovator, Stay at home Dad

Uphill or Downhill? – Uphill. I’m a chugger. I’m not fast but enjoy the challenge and don’t have to crash my brains out to get better at it.

Most epic day on a bike? – 14 hours in the Japan Alps on a fully loaded touring bike. Hung over form a night out on the town with a friendly dude from California I met in a bath house the previous day, I vastly underestimated the distance I needed to cover to get where I needed to go. I climbed two alpine passes and made it to my hostell just before nightfall. This was in the days before I discovered chamois cream. It was 3 days before I could sit on my bike again.

I’m currently riding… Good points and bad points. – A retro Orange sub 5. I like single pivot bikes for reasons many find difficult to comprehend. Sure it’s a little dated (the frame is at least 9 years old) and may not track as well as modern “super, magic, imaginary, god partical, pivot ” designs but I like how it rides and I love its blocky war machine aesthetics.

Favourite trails (other than Castlemaine) – Hmmm. Since having children I don’t get out much. Woodend is nice and I love Sparrow hill in Canberra with the single speed.

If I wasn’t mountain biking I’d be… Miserable most of the time. Possibly divorced with my fingers stained yellow from chetos, breath stinking of redbull and spending 25 hours a day playing video games that provide little in the way of entertainment or satisfaction for the sole purpose of passing the time. Then dead before the age of 40 from a marsh mellow and cheese overdose. My children would be raised fatherless and would spend their lives with their heads bowed in shame from the knowledge that that carried 50% of my genome. Where before they would have gone on to become great humanitarians and leaders of men they would now only aspire to be the guys making tea for the annoying Indian tellemarketers who try to scam you with fake tech support. It’s a bleak picture that my wife is, by now, painfully aware of.

One day I’ll ride… The north shore in Vancouver and Moab.

When I head out for a ride I never leave without… Shoes , Helmet , Gloves. Shoes , Helmet , Gloves! Shoes , Helmet , Gloves.!! Shoes , Helmet , Gloves.!!!…..My mantra.

My race highligh – Racing singlespeeds with my little brother at the MTB XC nationals at Eildon. Our closest race ever with lots of passing and neither of us letting the other out of our sight it was shaping up to be an awesome battle to the finish. Sadly my little bro flatted through transition going into the final lap. Although it was a huge disappointment that the contest ended that way, that close competition with my best friend and brother was the most fun I’ve ever had racing mountain bikes.

My race lowlight – Crashing on a straight clear down hill and breaking my collarbone with 2km to go at the 2005 Hiddenvale 100km Epic.

Aaron's in race mode