I came across two 650B touring bikes recently that I felt like needed some exposure. The first is this Map Cycles tourer. The details on this baby are so clean. Bi-lam front end, flat stock fender bridge, custom Map stem and one slick drive-side profile.

Next up is Blakey’s Rawland rSogn. This all-rounder, low trail 650b beast will accompany Blake during his Gravel Grinders rides. Check out a lovely full-bike shot and the new Gravel Grinders flier below!

Damn that’s nice. Check out more photos here at Blakey’s Flickr!

This looks like an excruciating time!

Melbourne Gravel Grinders #4 – Winds of Pain

Map: www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/39385082
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Date : Sunday 28th August
Rego opens : 8:30am
Start time : 9:00am
Start location : Williamstown information centre
Finish location : Williamstown information centre
Distance : ~100km
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Course description

The last ride was pretty hilly so we thought we’d turn things upside down and make this one completely flat. Too easy, you say? Where’s the challenge, you’re thinking? The hint is in the name – Winds Of Pain.

We’ll head out west this time to the Werribee Plains. From the civilized cafe precinct of Williamstown we’ll roll out through the industrial areas of Altona North and then keep rolling until the huge distribution warehouses and four-lane truck roads give way to busted wind-blown gravel, corrugated single-lane dirt, and a big big horizon that stretches out in all directions as far as the eye can see.

It’s an “out and back” course this time and the roads are straight, flat and long so it’ll be very different from the previous rides. You’ll be able to see each other a lot more on the course and there’ll be plenty of opportunity to group up and work together against the wind. Echelon anyone?

Generally this area gets wind from the north and west. This means you’ll most likely be riding into the wind on the way out and then you’ll get to hammer it all the way back to Williamstown with the wind at your back. When we reconned the course we were pushing 40km/hr on the way back without even trying. Fun!

Oh, and singlespeeders… choose wisely.
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Pftt. Have fun with that one!