Cheers mate . I think a CX bike and crappy weather go together . Getting bloody hot here , early or late rides only for five months . In summer we do plenty of night rides but the wild life like snakes and pigs can be a hindrance but riding is riding

 Thank you sir

 Yeah I did a short ride and took it too the shop for new pads a brake bleed . It's actually cheaper than buying a bleed kit . Bike was great but no brakes

 It's surprised that the brakes went off after few months of not use. What are they - Giant branded or some Elixirs?

 Shimano SLX . They needed a bleed a while ago but the pads are shot . All up they needed a bit of work .

 Good all works fine, now enough chatting, back on the trail!

 Fatter than ever bro haha

 so cool to see the rig ready to roam again...nice work stand my man and I think you did good by keeping the front mech, a bunch of xc and cx racers are going back to the double ring setup, including riders sponsored by sram...I'll probably end up mounting a front mech too, the 36x11t is nowhere fast enough on some gravel roads and also wish I would have lower gearing than 36x36t on steeper hills...

 I would not be able to ride the 9km on road to the trails without the big ring and couldn't do half of the climbs without the little ring . It's about being practical these days lol . Was a good ride only just getting the heart rate up and getting the feel for the new stem . Couple of mods after Xmas coming

 did you feel a difference riding with the shorter stem ???...

 Yes , switch backs both up and down were messy lol and steep climbs the front wheel lifted a lot but mist of that was trying to ride fatigued and first time back on flats for a while as my pedal stroke was inconsistent but the down sections felt crazy cool with better control . My brakes are shit so took the trance to the shop for a rotor clean and bleed with new pads . It's actually gonna work out cheaper than buying a bleed kit and doing everything myself

 it's so much easier to just bring the rig to the lbs, I do the same when it comes down to bleeding the damn things,,,how are your brakes performing now bro ???...I hope they did a good job...I've never wanted to deal with the dot fluid but might give the zee a go as I need the lines to be shortened some more and the back brake still works like shit...

 Still at the lbs mate . Pick it up Tuesday . They are crazy busy and only one mechanic ATM . I do. 90% of my own work but leave the messy shit to the pros . Hoping for a nice smooth rude now as the running gear has been stripped and cleaned months ago

 Thanks. . Four teeth are through and it happened pretty easy for him . We were lucky they didn't give him trouble

 Thank you

 You know it . Gonna take many kms mate to get back but it's a start

 Nice mate. We are in Rocky for the next few days..we have our xc bikes.. any advice if good xc loops to ride near Rocky on Sunday?

 Shit mate I'm working all weekend ! Ok , look up German st and sunset dr . Go to the end of sunset dr and the trails are in behind there .

 Cool. Thanks man. Will do. Sorry to miss you yet again!

 Yeah mate , retail sux lol . Heaps of signs etc one u find the trail . If u can't just ask a local where the first turkey trails are

 There is a small car park on the corner of German and sunset . Park there and ride down sunset drive . The trail goes behind the homes on the right after the park

 Cheers Mick. Might check it out this arvy. How goods the weather here in Rocky mate?

 It is not the best looking bike around or the best spec'd but it is very special to me as I have always had 2nd hand bikes. It gets me around trails a lot better than I am lol