March was a good month. It’s the start of Autumn here in Tasmania and although we don’t get the same “golden brown leaves” scenery as other parts of the world, it’s still one of my favourite seasons.

The mornings start to get a little darker and cooler and you know that winter is just around the corner, but there’s something special about those Autumnal rides. Dig out the long-fingered gloves and arm warmers, cover those knees, charge up the lights. An early start means setting off in single digit temperatures, but by the time you stop for coffee the sun has burned away the early chill. You can strip off the extra layers at the cafe and top up the summer tan over the second half of the ride!

To be honest though, it’s been pretty warm. I had a fantastic month on the bike with a number of 100km rides and a bunch of personal bests along the way. The start of Autumn means a push to get some solid rides in before winter does finally arrive! I’m not exactly going to get stuck inside with a few feet of snow outside, but it’s cold and dark in mid-winter.

So a few March highlights?

Firstly, it’s got to be those new ICAN Carbon Wheels for the Trek 5200! A big thanks to Jim at Fit Recovery for the recommendation. They roll like an absolute boss, handle well in the Tasmanian crosswinds and really set off the look of the Trek. It’s one mean looking ride now and I love it more with each ride. Sure I’ve got a Canyon Aeroad superbike (that I can ride because my handlebars aren’t broken) but I find myself reaching for the US Postal Trek 5200 more and more…

Then of course it was a 100km spin with the boss! It made me appreciate just how “lucky” I am to be able to work in an industry linked to my favourite sport/hobby/lifestyle (although luck had very little to do with it). I really enjoyed showing him some of my local Tassie cycling roads. If you look closely at the photograph below, there’s even a “Kookaburra sitting in an old Gum tree” in the background, how Australian…

April will definitely see a drop in overall mileage, but that’s okay. According to the forecast there’s still plenty of good cycling weather on the horizon before the full force of winter arrives.

For those of you in the Northern Hemisphere, Spring must be in the air and I’m sure you’re looking forward to a season of increasing outdoor rides in the sunshine! Here’s hoping those of you still in semi-lockdown are able to get out more once restrictions ease. Enjoy the ride! :-)

March Total Distance: 1180 km / 735 miles
Elevation gain: 8468 m / 27,780 feet