It is 11 am Monday morning.  I have 1hr to write this, well that is my goal!
It's a blog about my bike, it's a dirty secret I have.  I take my road bike on the dirt and I do it deliberately and often. Yes, I have a CX bike, and 3 mountain bikes but this bike...well she is good.

She is Avril the Avail. Available for anything.  
Her birth name is Liv Avail Advanced Pro - what a mouthful!

Earlier this year I had my eyes on adding this versatile bike to the stable.
She has disc brakes and a much comfier

The Story of the Surf Coast Trail Marathon.

Back when I was 16 or 17 I did a 10km fun run around Eastern Gardens, it hurt like hell. But somehow I would go out for for random runs even though I was fairly bad at it. No talent scouts ever tapped me on the shoulder as I plodded my way around the streets of my neighbourhood of Whittington. I was not Lee Troop who was also pounding the pavement at the same time and is only 1 month younger than me.  He ran so good he went to the Olympics

Its has been 7.5 weeks since my crash resulting in concussion and memory loss, time off the bike and all that drama at Easter on the Monaro 1000 Cloudride.
My biggest regret is not riding along and giving myself 7 days to complete it, instead rushing in head first trying to smash myself and race it.  
The entire region is amazing, so many pictures I wish I had taken, so many places I wish I had stopped and soaked it in.
To be honest I am not at all excited about writing about it. The ride itself was quite big, consumed a

FOREWORD:
You might need to take you smart phone to the toilet or read this on your tea break over 2 coffees, much to divulge. Apologies in advance.
In 2006 I started my journey proper on the bike, pushing boundaries to improve my skills and fitness, intrinsically motivated. Yet somehow people were looking on and taking an interest. I have always wondered why and I have come to the conclusion it’s because I tell the truth, I am just an ordinary person that has sucked up my hard times and made them good times. I have succeeded despite my

Norm and I returned home from Europe on the 30th July, for me it was after nearly 7 weeks of sunshine, bike rides, looking after other people, sleeping as much as I could and enjoying my time doing something different to the normal grind.
Its now time to share where I went, who I did it with and the finale that was 4 days in Paris.

Opportunity comes from time to time and its in saying Yes that it becomes real.
David and Emma from Top Bike Tours asked Norm and I to do guiding work for them in 2016, for me

The “ladies” saddle to end soreness, chafing, red raw stinging and all that lovely stuff!

My name is Jess Douglas.
I am 43 years old, have given birth in the normal way (need I say more?), have a backside not too generous but the hip bones are sufficiently childbearing.
But more importantly I am a woman that rides bikes, a lot and have done so all my life.

What is the number one issue for women riding bikes, besides comfortable fitting cycling attire?
The Saddle!
It is so important that some people who enjoy the idea of riding bikes do not pursue it due

Much too much to report...life is full and as I would have it, its busy and time is scarce.
Let me fill you in.

I had a great February, trained and raced really well in the 10^th Giant Odyssey. Nothing to complain about there.
Back on the bandwagon pronto and off to work for a week at Mt Buller with a school group.
Hard work but riding and guiding on the mountain was and always is a blessing.

On my return I had 4 weeks to nail the Otway 300 course, so Norm and I spend many spare afternoons and weekends mapping it

​There was a big race I turned down to attend my 10th Odyssey, it was the World Solo 24hr champs in Rotorua and apparently it was a course the would have suited me..blah blah…

Well back in 2007 I promised myself after hurting a lot on the inaugural Otway Odyssey that I would do every single 100km Odyssey until the event ceased or I did.

So when the dates clashed, it was an easy decision to make.

I love to ride and am better suited to a longer course, like a 100 miler or longer still is even better. This time

There is no doubt I am not alone here, work hard in most parts of my life but put off the small things that end up mattering.

Eg: Massage. I need one, but don’t have the time.  
Hair. OMG, it is so dry and brittle with grey hairs poking through everywhere, but hey I use the purple blonde shampoo that spruces up the highlights and a hair tie.  These things allow me to extend the hair appointment being made for up to 3 months.
Sleep.  I want to have 10 hours a day but generally am stoked to get 7.  By