After having done nothing but all-out road cycling for several years now, I finally gave in and added another ride to the garage – I went and bought a mountain bike!

What! I hear you say? What? You’re not joining those hairy legged, baggy shorts wearing, beer chugging, stump jumping dirt donkeys are you? Don’t worry team, I haven’t given up the Lycra and leg shaving! I love road cycling. But Tasmania has a reputation for being a mountain bikers paradise, so it was probably about time I joined the fold or at least gave it a go.

Here’s a snap from one of my first rides. I stumbled across this old truck out in the middle of nowhere while exploring. I just had to stop and take a photo of it alongside my new truck! I wonder how long this old truck has been laying dormant there? I wonder who owned it last? Or what it was used for?

Mountain bikes have certainly come on since I last owned one. They are loaded with so much new tech. Seat posts you can raise/lower with the flick of a switch, single ring wide ratio drive trains, hydraulic disc brakes, not to mention those massive 29 inch wheels which roll over everything with ease!

So over the winter here in the Southern Hemisphere I’m going to start hitting up the local trails and sharpen my off-road abilities (or lack thereof). Needless to say, it’s a lot harder than simply hammering the pedals along the smooth blacktop! Here’s to new adventures and learning new skills!