Live in Canberra (lucky) and have ridden course. Cardiac climb is well named as heart is exploding at the top. I race club (Masters) races and am just able to ride up it. Then comes a whole heap of techy turns including chain ring busting boulders in the middle of the track that you have to jump over or crash into. After that the Hammerhead is a few boulders that seem vertical when you look from the top and drop about 8m in 20m of track including turns if you take the A line. I can barely ride the B line here. A big hats off to all of the riders that race 5 and 7 laps of this! I can only aspire to be that good as they are – all a big leap above me in skill level! Crashes…well I am not surprised as I fall off trying to pedal up the track and I don't have anyone chasing me!
Come and try it yourself – lots of good photos on mtbreview and rotorburn websites – Have fun!

Handbrake – no probs after it asked me to download VLC…
Handbrake used in the std Touch settings set in program.
Very happy with results of DVDs of TV series and films owned and converted

MTBR forum[/url]

Click on the Australia forum

Was there quite a few years ago (10?!) but would agree with all of the usual tourist sights esp. the markets and the food vendors. We picked the bicycle food vendors with the biggest crowd of locals. They cook it fresh for the rush at lunch and then pedal to the market with the food in an esky on the front of their bike – fantastic.
We were also told to ask the taxi driver how much it would be for the whole day to hire him and the car for all of the main tourist sights – was about $100 – not bad for all of the entry fees and a private car with tour guide! Driver was great and very knowledgeable – chilled out that he had made his money for the day too!
We hired bikes and pedaled around the local villages – was funny and sad to see the locals sizing us up to see how much they could charge and get away with for a couple of bread rolls, water and other fresh stuff for lunch. We usually ended up paying equivalent of a dollar and leaving the change – bonus for them. Marlin beer (strong) gets my vote!

Worked as an Engineer for 12 yrs then did Diploma in Education (Australia). Now have been working as a Maths teacher for 7 years. I would strongly recommend that you find a school to go to for a week and try it out. You have to want to do it otherwise the kids will see through you in about 30 secs! I had a student teacher that I had to supervise…Student came in late to the class and sat at the back with me…Comment: “Sir, this guy’s s..t!” – pretty hard to keep a straight face as student teacher was s..t! Students are brutally honest.
Kids will make and ruin your day – BUT if you are that sort of person, it’s the best job and the money is irrelevant – after all, there is always too much month left at the end of the money!

Summary:
Go get a Dualit – looks great and works well!

Good to hear all of the yarns – on the full sus for the back comfort, but the bloody Masters class is one of the biggest in the XC classes here in Canberra! A spritely 44 here! Keep it up all!!

Facebook is for kids…
(Teacher and father of 16 and 13 year old speaking…!)
Personally, I already spend too much time on MTB related websites – don’t need more computer time, better to get out and ride!

Went from HT to a Giant NRS after doing a 24hr and having a sore bottom and back at the end of the race!! Now am enjoying an Anthem 1 which is very speedy on the ups and lovely on the downs (Masters XC and social rider).
As others have said – try some and enjoy!

This is the Australian TV channel that is covering the race – Love SBS, they are the live TDF presenters here!

Dualit here again – have had ours for 12yrs+ and replaced one element. Enquired where to get spare (am in Canberra) and got a very prompt polite email from UK with the Australian parts agent details and spare part was here in a week – Lovely!
What is even nicer is all of the brass nuts and bolts for the electrical connections and the woven insulated wires – quality. Easy to pull apart and fix – none of the spot welded rubbish and no-tamper screws. It is made to last years and then be repairable if it should break – true commercial standard.
AND – it makes great toast!!!