After the crits I decided to take a day off the bike in Amsterdam with Emma Mackie, a fellow Aussie. We decided that while in Amsterdam we should actually do something educational so we chose the Van Gough Museum and the house of Anne Frank.  This decision was followed by an hour trying to find the Van Gough Museum and figuring out the Tram system.  Nonetheless, it was a most pleasant hour as we travelled on trams and walked through Amsterdam seeing all of the beautiful buildings and parks.  We arrived at the Museum and had a good look at the artwork of Van Gough, which turned out to be a lot more diverse than I thought.  After the Museum we took an hour-long tour of Anne Frank’s house.  The house is actually devoid of any furniture, but has a lot of information about the Frank family and the war. The tour is really great and I’m sure it would have a big impact on all.

Thanks to Kimble for this video coverage of the Mt O'Reilly Challenge!

Click here to view it!

Since arriving in Holland, Id taken a week recovery to get over the two tours I’d just competed in; The Giro and Thuringen. I ended up pulling up really tired after the German tour so the week’s rest was great and sorely needed.  After an easy week I was finally keen for some more training and racing, so I started it off with one of the Dutch post tour crits (post Tour de France). 

The Hartogs are my Dutch host family. One of the first things they told me on my arrival was that anything goes in Holland.   This was a pretty scary statement as I’d never been to Holland and my beginner’s knowledge really didn’t go past Clogs, Windmills, Canals, Dykes, Fries with Mayonnaise and Amsterdam and the red light district!!!   With all of those great things plus a bizarre host family to boot I really should have figured it would be a great country to live in. For a while anyway!

23rd of August see's the latest night ride departing the shop car park at six pm sharp. Get along for this fast dark and fun night on your bike. Bring good lights and eat your carrots, we will be back into town about eight thirty pm. The weather at moment is fantastic and the nights are slowly diminishing so come along to what could be one of the last truly dark night rides.

This weeks shop ride will be the Nudgee Loop. We will depart at six thirty Saturday morning and ride the 45klm at a steady pace between 25-28klm/hr. We will be back into the city about eight o'clock and will stop at "Euro Cafe" for breakfast.

Come along its a great time of year to be riding.

I have to say that I am getting quite use to the glamorous lifestyle of an elite athlete, flitting around the world competing in European Cycling Tours and day races.  It’s the second 10 hour car trip I have taken in three weeks and both times it’s been in the back of the team bus with no air conditioning in 38 degree heat, sweating bullets.  I mean seriously how much more glamorous does it get!!! 

Many of you may be aware that one of Lifecycle's favourite sons is heading south at the end of August. This is sad news for the Lifecycle family, but we are all very proud of his career change. He promises that he will still regularly be in touch with frequent visits back to Brissy for shop rides as well as helping keep the website up to date.

Saturday 26th August will be our "Mt. O'Reilly King of the Mountain". 

Mt O'Reilly's rd. is situated in the Samford Downs and is without question the steepest hill in all of Brisbane. This the 4th Mt O'Reilly King Of the Mountain that we have held and at this stage only 5 riders have conquered the mountain.

Honour Roll

To join the prestigous honour roll you must ride to the top of Mt. O'Reilly's rd. without stopping. Less than 10% of people who try make it, so come on out and get amongst it!

Miss Josie Loane

Mr Blair Stockwell

Major Dave Thomson

Mr Luke Stockwell

Mr Greg Ellis

Mr Jay Stockwell