The Bike: Super sexy BMC Pro Machine.  Campag Record Groupset, Fulcrum 1's.  Good Points: Killer Looks, light (1kg lighter than the ex dream bike), handles brilliantly.  Bad Points:  It's NOT UCI Illegal....missed it by that much and it’s not as light as my current dream bikes (yes plural), also I am not yet a member of the deep dish wheel club, which will no doubt improve all aspects of my riding and increase the coffee shop compliment factor.

The Rider: Started riding almost too long ago to remember. Actually it was 30 years ago when I started racing BMX on my red and blue Super Max.  The Super Max gave way to a GT, which gave way to a Crisp (home grown Aussie BMX bike from Brisbane).  I also added a cruiser (24”) to the stable.  It was the cruiser that I won the state titles for the 14-16 year olds in a clean sweep of all the qualifying races and the final.   Also took 3rd in the age group.  I took great satisfaction in that effort and planned to attend the National champs thinking that no way is there enough space for many riders between my 3rd and the reigning National champ who was 1st. It was clear during the national champs that there was in fact room for MANY riders between me and him.  I think I made the quarters which means in the top 32.

When I turned 18 I moved to Adelaide for an apprenticeship, I didn’t have a car or my BMX coach (Poppa) and was introduced to a distraction in the form of nightclubs, drinking and girls, which became part of my routine instead of sprint training, gate starts and jumping skills and I gave it all away.  For some time I didn’t have a bike at all, which looking back now were very dark times indeed, mainly because I was hung over a lot. I did eventually get a hand me down bike from my dad and started commuting and doing the odd Bike SA Grand Slam rides.  I also got a mountain bike when I moved to Leigh Creek and promptly sold the roadie and it wasn’t until I moved back to Adelaide and had the mountain bike stolen that I got another road bike.  This time it was an aluminium Trek 1400.  As hard as I try I can’t get my first ride with Moo Cow out of my head.  He was riding with Moose and I had heard of this group they rode with so some prep was in order before I started to make an appearance with the group.  So Moo Cow and I headed up Belair or somewhere similar, me on my new Trek and Moo Cow on his mountain bike and he smashed me.  I had to stop half way up and rest my legs on the armco railing to get some blood back to my head.  Thankfully it wasn’t long after that that I discovered my liking for hills and I still get a rest when riding hills with Moo Cow but now I wait for him at the top. I also used to race him down hill but I have abandoned that practice after an unplanned dismount on Mount Osmond and he gets to wait for me at the bottom.

Weekly kilometre count is less than I would like at about 50-100km. I am always going to build up the KM count and it will happen one day, probably when the kids are a bit older, which is getting closer all the time. I love the social aspect of group riding and especially the coffee.

Famous for: Not taking enough notice of well informed advice and breaking my elbow on the now named Hogg’s Elbow at Mt Osmond. Also chairman, designer and logistics coordinator for the FRAKC (FRA Kit Committee).

Nickname:  Hoggy, or Boss.  I got the nickname Boss from Burner after he watched the DVD box set of Dukes of Hazard. This should in no way be interpreted as me being the boss of anything.

Rankings (0 bad - 5 champ/legend):
Hills 4 (when fit)
Sprints 3
Endurance 4 (but I have to watch the pace)
Flat 3.5
Fair weather (assume 5 means I'm "soft") 3
Coffee (assume 5 means "addict") 6
Level of Bike Maintenance (with 5 being "anal") 4

Howdy! It’s Dana again with my last pen pic for my Dud. He will have to do his own from now on as I have moved out.    He’s well past a million now and is exhibiting this with lapses in memory and intelligence. Currently he is hanging on to his youth by any means and this week it is suffering from Childhood diseases like chickenpox (shingles). Actually he’s had them for months so like Burner says he should just “ toughen” up although come to think of it Burner actually says it differently.

The Orbea (aka Ming there is a story ask him) is hanging in the garage all sparklie and shiny because it never goes out and must be feeling very lonely. I just checked and Ming is a 2008 Orbea Opal. Ming’s got Campag Gears, Campag Wheels and according to Mum it’s the 2007 TDF Euskadi Frame (is that good?) and it has a great colour scheme.  Back to the rider there is some good news he’s registered for the ATB ride again this year and is using that as a target to get back on the bike. He’s got to finish by early am on the Monday (everybody else will finish on Sunday) or Heff will make him walk/ride home to Adelaide.

I’ve had a look at the other profiles here and there is nothing else I can add. He’s been in the FRA for a few years now and has done absolutely nothing. He’s famous for nothing, has no special powers, looks awful in his favourite colour apart from the really bright Euskadi version and does not race. He’s no good at climbing, sprinting or endurance and does not have a favourite ride apart from and I quote  “the finish bit on King William Road near Cibo’s either direction”.

So ratings:

Hills – almost 1 unless it’s a long one.

Sprints – giggle increasing to belly laugh

Endurance – 3 ish

Flat – depends on how the endurance is going apparently

Downhill – he’s actually reasonable at this so I am told still all that weight going in one direction has got be good for something.

Bike Mtce – he’s always washing Ming so probably a 4.

Coffee – expert.(drinking not making)

He’s a good Dad tho! Um I did not write this line .. signed Dana

Why Cohenator?   Back in 2007 I fitted the BMC with "Mavic Cosmic Carbonne" wheels and the whole bike dynamic changed. So did my nickname.

The Bike: BMC SLTO1 - full carbon team bike in Black, now with Lightweight Wheels. Yes, …the lightweights are on to stay.

The Rider :  A tuned athlete, strapping good looks, toned muscular legs, chiseled features ... are all characteristics of elite road cyclists and none that I have. I'm aged 48, live and work in this great state of SA and took to cycling like a footy supporter to free beer. Good thing too as I don’t follow football and I don’t really drink that much beer. The rider is a lot quieter these days, especially on the forum. The rider is not afraid to call it as he sees it, and has a strong dislike for LOL’s, OMG’s and winky dinky faces. The rider is looking to the future after a slightly higher 50,000 km’s on the BMC and now eyeing off a new frame. I trust and believe the N+1 theory and that means a fixie is also in consideration.

FRA Cycling Achievements:  Highest ever scorecard for plate presentation, overall flavor and quality of serving at the FRA Tour de France at-home dinner. Worst cramped legs 2008 RTB. Worst decision to throw empty Heineken Keg down rubbish shute 2010 RTB. Best forum post for FRA Providence.

Famous for: Fastidious cleanliness, absolute order, neatness and complete logic, … at everything.

 … oh ... and these little dots …

and how to correctly lean your bike against the Cibo wall. (see point 1)

Favourite Saying:           “Click click”

Favourite principle – Every action has an equal and opposite reaction.

Favourite Ride – (At Home): Toll Gates / Crafers / Oakbank / Lobethal / Gumeracha / Gorge Rd / Cibo (Norwood).

Favourite Ride – (Away): France - around the beautiful town of Annecy at the base of the French Alps. A place that I will not only return to, but probably retire, hopefully with the Specialized Angel (pictured left) … and Caroline.

Cycling Goals : Keep on top of Pales chatting. Keep on top of Briggsy’s broken “I’ll see you in the morning, Cohenator” promises.
Still trying for a consistent minimum 200kms per week ... week in week out. Still seeking my target weight and BMI … alternative sport to riding probably only answer, and drinking less beer.

Rankings (0 bad - 5 champ/legend)

Hills                  :           2
Sprints              :           2
Endurance         :           4.5
Fair weather      :           5

Foul weather      :           4.5
Coffee               :           love it, full milk strong flat white

Bike Maintenance:          Uh, hello?

The Bike: 2006 Trek Madone 110 OCLV with sexy Dura Ace, and non of that Campag shit.   Choice of wheels, Ksyrium SLs or eurocool Mavic Carbone's for racing, or just when the bike feels like looking even cooler.   Red handle bar tape to match the red striping in the frame, and a Selle Italia SLR Gel Flow saddle with a fart hole to keep my chod cool.

Nickname:  Burner, why....... a bit of a spin from my name, but because I like to try and ride faster than everyone else, all the time, which can be annoying to everyone else.....but I dont care.   Nickname given by the Cohenator, which is payback for me coming up with his nickname.   I would also like to lay claim to the following other nicknames in the peleton, Moose, Boss, Pill, Captain Calves, Raisin Toast, ....the list goes on.

The Rider:  Coming from a sprinting background of the running type, with a 3rd place in the Stawell Gift of a tightish handicap and a National 4x100m relay title in the bank for SA (state record to boot), speed and hard training have been a part of my life for about 20 years.   Yes, Thommo, bragging again, but it's all important in context!    Swimming is for duds, hacks and ducks, so cycling was a natural transition when my knees pleaded for less impact.

Jedi Powers: One of very few members of the FRA with a high Mediclorean count.  Famous for being able to get out riding whenever I want, getting out for a beer whenever I want, having a few beers and still fronting in the morning for pain and suffering.    Some say (aka the Stig) that Burner is the high water mark for leave passes, others just say he's just not as soft as the other pussies in the group, too scared to cut a deal with their partner.   Try as he has to teach others in the ways of the Force, the Force is just so weak in the FRA! 

Favourite Ride:  Any ride where I beat everyone home........often involves avoiding long hills then.    Any ride where there is a sprint.   Racing in the crits........Coming down the old Freeway...............making sure Paley isn't the first to coffee.

K's per week:  4 to 5 days, so 250k ish per week to 300k in summer.

Likes:    Beer, Iced Coffee, click click......Beer....click click and Iced Coffee............and riding fast.................ooh and I've got a soft spot for the mankini now.......maybe not quite so soft.

Dislikes:  People who ride slow, people who complain the group rides too fast, people that dont turn up,  dudes in pretty red Cibo Team Racing gear!.......... they dont race!!!!!!!!!.......and they ride slow.

Famous for:  Having the best kids in Adelaide despite their father..............Quick one liners......click click action................how's the serenity............racing off at random...........posting insatiably on the forum.........giving Thommo shit.......giving Pales shit, though he really does deserve it.

UpHill:   3 better than I used to be, and 4 on the short hills
Sprints: I give myself a 5 in the FRA, but maybe a 4 in Vets aiming toward a 5
Bike Maintenance: 1

The Bike: Bikes which have been on FRA rides:
2010 BMC SLC 01 pro machine  (Carbon at last) Red and Black matches my FRA kit well.
2005 Cannondale CAAD 8
2003 Giant MTB
2004 Cannondale Tandem
Other bikes
2005 Trek single speed commuter
2004 Fuji Pro Track ­ single speed aluminium track bike

Favorite Sayings ­ too much riding is barely enough, Ideal number of bikes is N + 1 where N = the current number of bikes, Make pain your friend, HTFU, It¹s just a bike ride.

The Rider:  ­ X dressing fatboy, ridden as long as I can remember, road riding for 10 years, fatboy since 2000, regular but infrequent FRA rider for about 5 years. My wife - Felicity has been a regular FRA rider over the same period but more invovled with Skinny Lattes these days. Started racing in 2005 after the Masters Games ­ mainly crits and track. Peaked at B grade vets road races and A grade track (when the SASI kids aren¹t there). 2010 has been a slow year due to injury.
 
Bad points: 105 kgs + 7.3 kg of bike (incl pedals), crap for climbing but good for long descents and great to draft behind.

Good points: enjoys fast rides, used to have a good sprint but as I enter my 50¹s I am happy to be the lead out man - #2 or 3 in the train. Height and width to provide good draft on the flat or downhill especially when the tandem is motoring.

Kms ­ commuting ­ 6km x 8 = 48 km across the city.
    -  group rides ­ Tuesday 50km, Sat 50 km and Sun 50-80 km = 198 km
    - firm believer in cross training Row, Walk, Gym
 
Strong point ­ crits and track sprinting, Kieran, Match Sprint and Scratch race. Enjoys ­ cycling ­ fast or slow. Just happy to be healthy and exercising with a good group.

Favorite route: Mount Lofty across to Montacute on a hot day early in the morning.
Favourite ride: Sea to Vines 2007 on tandem
Hardest Ride: 20 minute criterium around Norwood Pde for TDU 2008 and 2009.
Least enjoyable ride ATBIAD 2006 ­ too wet, too cold and too long.
The least likely ride I will participate in: Alpine Classic or anything over 120km.

Rankings (0 bad - 5 champ/legend): diametrically opposite to Sugar in ride
ability but equal enjoyment of racing!
Hills         2 ­ I weigh >100kg say no more
Sprints      4.5 ­ being of the larger variety I have to wind up or have a good lead out ­ so high speed sprints at the end of a scratch race, Kieran or coming off the bank in a flying 200m (fastest time 2009 12.41 secs.)
Endurance    2    fast twitch doesn¹t help much
Flat         4.5 ­ I seem to enjoy the wind.
Downhill      4 ­ punish the lightweights
Coffee           5 ­  Latte Grande or Iced Coffee Alto. Hard to imagine a group ride without the coffee.
Level of Bike Maintenance 4 ­ enjoy tinkering but of to the LBS for anything serious

The Bike:  2010 Scott Addict R2 – racing red and black colouring – full dura ace componentry.  Apollo tandem for beach rides with Bronwyn. Trek 1500 – wet weather bike (and useful for building strength to climb hills quicker than Sugar – still working on this one).  Apollo Concorde – hand me down to friends wanting to learn to ride/

Good Points: The Scott is 7kg, fits like a glove, and colour co-ordinated with the FRA kit. Dura Ace is super smooth and easy to maintain and tweak.

Bad Points: Not allowed to keep it in the bedroom. Gets dirty when I ride it in wet weather. Developed a crack in the first Scott, and had a few issues getting a replacement frame under warranty. The 2010 frame has been rock solid.

The Rider: Over the hill. First bike at 8, and rarely been without one since. Absconded from home at 10 and rode my first 50km ride on a single speed to top of Mt Dandenong in Melbourne – broke the chain coming down hill – never told mum. Every descent since then takes me back to being 10 years old. Most memorable moments are sitting behind a pack of FRA jerseys winding our way through the hills in single file. Only started riding with FRA group two years ago, prior to this, most rides were commutes to and from work. Only three rules applied: 1) not allowed to see a bike in front of you, 2) prior to passing, drop down two gears and cruise past to make it look easy, 3) no one EVER passes you.

Famous for: Sugar’s domestique, and drafting anyone silly enough to be in front. Best rides have been with PM, LRHM, Sugar and Dominatrix –seen a lot of country together and ridden through all sorts of weather, hit the wall several times, but never come to grief when we’ve ridden together.   

Nickname:  Schleck, rhymes with Frank

Rankings (0 bad - 5 champ/legend):

Hills 4, don’t mind the hills, and seem to get a second wind half way up. Managed 16min 50 secs on expressway hill climb event, only to be reminded by coach Sugar that he did it last year in 15min 50 secs (pre Ridley Helium!!). For sale, one brand new small chain ring – (haven’t been able to work out what it’s for).

Sprints  3 ordinary. Have trouble timing the jump, and invariably end up providing a good lead out for others.

Endurance  4  Coast to Coast 2010, 100km at ave of 38 with the FRA train. I don’t care if I never do it again, it was the best ride.
 
Flat  3  In the CycloSportif, I’ll be the one trying to hang on the back while on the flats thinking that if I do fall off, at least I’ll catch up on the hills. Cyclo’s are the most demanding of any rides I’ve ever done. I may have ridden harder, but it’s the fear of letting everyone down that creates that additional pain. 

Fair weather (assume 5 means I'm "soft")  2 – Will ride whenever possible, but won’t take the bike off the verandah while it is raining. If caught out in the rain, that’s another story. Do own a wet weather bike, but it doesn’t go as fast as the Scott.

Coffee (assume 5 means "addict")  Bronwyn insists it’s a 5.

Level of Bike Maintenance (with 5 being "anal")  3-  Shed’s are for working on bikes, not storing furniture etc (why don’t women understand this??).

The Bike: Number 1 bike: Baum ristretto Ti frameset (circa 2007) with Reynolds 50mm rake fork, DuraAce groupset, PMP hubs, Mavic. Ksyrium ES wheels, Dura Ace pedals, San Marco Glamour saddle , Ritchey WCS carbon seatpost, Chris King headset, FSA K-Force Light Compact MegaExo chainset, Deda 4 girls handlebar, 2x King ti cages, Shimano Flightdeck.

Number 2 bike:  Baum cappuccino steel frameset (circa 2007) w/ Reynolds 50mm rake fork, Ultegra groupset, PMP hubs, DT RR 1.1 rims, Ultegra Pedals, San Marco Glamour saddle, Ritchey Pro seatpost, Chris King headset, FSA SL-K Compact MegaExo chainset, Deda 4 girls handlebar, Deda Newton stem, 2x King Ti cages, Shimano Flight Deck.

Number 3 bike: Old trusty Trek 7200 FX Hybrid...and yes, it does have a rack and panniers. This is my foul weather bike. Keeps me grounded in strong wind and gives me a chance to smell the roses.

The titanium and steel frame ride very differently. To me, the titanium is the nearest to a 100% carbon frame. Steel has a different feel - more springy, slightly heavier but an awesome training bike.

Bad points - performance wise, none. I guess the Baum's don't look as glamorous as some bikes on the market, but that doesn't bother me. That being said, I still appreciate other people's good looking bikes!

The rider: As a kid I rode in Southampton, England, where I was born. Children could attend a course (which was run by the police) which ensured they knew how to ride a bike safely. A certificate was presented to those that passed. Luckily I did pass. Not keeping that certificate when we emigrated is one of my regrets. 

Swimming is the only sport I've been trained in, again in the U.K. Whilst at high school I was good at running and hurdling, but studies consumed my time and I let my sporting activities slip for a while. It wasn't until the mid 80's that I started swimming again, but this time only for fitness and not competitively.

At 41yrs old I started jogging again as it was easier to fit into my life with shift work (diagnostic radiographer). Cycling's renaissance occurred when I turned 42 - and it hasn't stopped.

2006 and 2007 were my highlight years. I rode Adelaide to Melbourne in 2006 and rode through Provence and the Pyrenees in 2007. Not surprisingly, my k's were highest then too: 2006 = 19,682.97k and 2007 = 15,600.66k.

I got married for the first time very late in life - not long before my 46th birthday in 2002. Steve (husband) and I met over a cat scan (computerized axial tomography) machine (how romantic!). We did buy Steve a bike, but after owning it for just 11/2 days, he fell off whilst riding down our driveway (think Corkscrew and you've got the idea). This resulted in a dislocated shoulder.  He hasn't ridden since. Despite this, I am lucky to have a spouse who is very supportive of my riding.

Rankings (0 bad - 5 champ/legend)

Hills: 4 (I LOVE the hills)

Sprints: 2 (just don't have the strength)

Endurance: 4 (I can just keep going and going and going...)

Flat: Ummm...I'll say 3.5 (however, I lose it when a head wind is involved)

Fair weather: Used to be a 5, but now downgraded to 3.5

Coffee: 5 (yes, addict)

Level of bike maintenance: I'll say 3.5.

The Bike: Racing Bike: Merida Scultura Evo-909 Di2 Lightweight Wheels, this is an awesome bike, light, fast, twitchy and with electronic gears every change is perfect.

Good Point: Smooth lines, looks great and very light

Bad Points: It gets very dirty easily being white and it’s hard to accept being anal.

The Rider: Started riding 6 years ago and in that time I introduced myself to the FRA which has helped me hone my abilities and strength on the bike not to mention the great friends I have made. I have great endurance and love pushing myself to the limit.

Favourite ride: McLaren Vale Loop (Heff Special) Follow the coast done to Maslin Beach on to the bike track between Main South rd and Victor Harbour Rd (The Cutting) through McLaren Flat on past Clarendon all the way home.

Famous for: Having a lot of free time to Cycle whenever I want, working from home gives me this luxury along with other things and not eating carbohydrates after lunchtime unless racing. Weekly Kms 350 - 400

Ranking (0 Bad – 5 Champ/legend)

Hills 3.5

Sprints 4

Endurance 5

Flat 4

Fair Weather 3

Coffee 3

Bike Maintenance 5

The Bike – Colnago CLX w Dura-Ace
Wet weather bike – trusty 12 yr old Avanti

The Rider - Former triathlete (50th place / 250 1996 Nat Long Course Champs) One of the Cross Dressers, Fatboy since 1997. FRA rides limited to mid week; Fatboys on the weekend.
Started racing last year with Southern Vets – won a couple of C grade and 1 B grade race. Have lots to learn.

Favourite ride – Norton Summit, Basket Range, Forest Range, Lobethal, Mt Torrens, Birdwood, back via Gorge Rd on a summer’s morning.

Km count – hit 300km most weeks.

Likes
- riding my bike
- I think the soft-close drawers you get in new kitchens are really cool

Dislikes
- trying to stay fit for cycling and then expecting to be able to paddle out for a surf – different muscle groups
- when family interfere with cycling and surfing
- anything less than asbestos melting, roof of mouth burning, ouch that is actually too hot, coffee
- incorrect placement of apostrophe’s

Favourite sayings:  Melancholy is incompatible with bicycling.  ~James E. Starrs
Get a bicycle.  You will not regret it if you live.  ~Mark Twain
Nothing compares to the simple pleasure of a bike ride.  ~John F. Kennedy

Cycle tracks will abound in Utopia.  ~H.G. Wells
HTFU. ~M. Opie

Ranking
Hills – 3.5
Sprint – 3.5 but improving; must remember not to go too early in races.
Endurance – pretty good after 1050km of Melbourne to Adelaide in 2010
Flat – 4
Downhill – 3.5
Bike Maintenance – c/- Peter @ International Cycles
Coffee – Well, can you tell me what it feels
like. Fool, it's hot! I told you again!                  
Were you born on the sun?
It's damn hot! 

Nickname: LRHM(Little Red Headed Man) but somehow I have ended up with the aliases of Batman and Rusty.

Why these nicknames?:  You might need to ask the FRANNC for the real story but I believe LRHM  was something to do with Briggsy asking who the Little Red Headed Man was and the irony being that I am 185cm tall. Rusty was something the ‘Good Guys’ came up with during a ride but it has failed to be endorsed by the FRANNC and Batman I believe is something to do with my super hero looks and physique but you might have to ask Burner and Moose if that is correct!!

The Bike:  My first bike was a 2005 Avanti Team Corsa with Ultegra. Whilst this was a very nice bike to ride I realised very early that it was probably not going to cut it under the scrutiny of the relevant FRA committee so I upgraded to a Merida Scultera 909 with SRAM Force. Again a very nice bike and has served me well as a back up since I had an argument with a taxi just before last Christmas. The top tube of my 6 month old 2010 Orbea Orca was cracked in the accident so I am currently waiting for my replacement frame to arrive from Orbea. The new frame will be a 2011 Orbea Orca Gold frame (Black/Silver/Red) with my 2010 Dura-Ace components and Flashpoint 60 wheels. (Picture provided is the 2010 model).

The Rider: Unfortunately I have never been an elite athlete but have always tried to stay fit and active, spending most morning’s jogging.  I participated in many fun runs over a number of years and the Barossa half marathon but I only started riding regularly sometime around 2006. Chris Hargreaves (no nickname) got me into it, convincing me to buy a bike so he could stupidly challenge Keith Middleton and Brian Bradford on a race up to the bollards. Chris took me out on the Mega Bike ride with him and then I didn’t see him on a bike for about 6 months after that. Needless to say we lost the race up to the bollards. Despite what people say about the Mega Bike ride it is a great way to get into group riding and meet new people. This is where I met up with Sugar, Dom, Trev and Schlek (although I knew Schlek before this through work) I joined the FRA via the invitation of Phil Chapman around December 2007 and quickly became hooked on cycling, coffee and the friendly banter that comes with riding with the FRA. I am currently riding about 250kms per week but sometimes manage to get up around 300 or just over. I would need to move house if I want to regularly get over the 300km per week as I live only about 500 metres from Cibo on KWR.

Favourite Ride: I love any group ride but my favourite would be Bollards, Piccadilly Valley, Balhannah, Hahndorf via the wineries, Bridgewater, Stirling, Crafers and home via the freeway or Belair National Park on a nice day. My favourite downhill section is Montacute Road but the old freeway is pretty good too. 

Rankings: (0 bad – 5 champ/legend)
Hills:                 3.5 – don’t mind them but don’t go out deliberately looking for the steepest climbs
Sprints:             3.0 – should be better at them and need to improve, perhaps I need to resign myself to being a lead-out man
Endurance:        4.0 – Don’t mind long turns at the front or long rides and tend to finish pretty strong
Fair Weather:     4.5 – but expect to slip down a bit this winter as I will tend to get on the trainer if it’s too wet. The Tram lines on Cross Rd have reduced my confidence on wet roads.
Coffee:              4.0 – Love a good coffer after a ride (or anytime) but only have 2 or 3 per day.
Bike Maint:        3.5 –Keep the bike pretty clean and well maintained but don’t spend hours on it myself.

Nickname: Funnel (go figure), Poompa (Italian for pumper), what ever you like (a number will say I don’t hear my name when called anyway).

Bikes: damaged (soon to be rebirthed) Fuji SST1.0, Reynolds 38mm carbon clinchers/Mavic Krysium SL, Duraace.  Specialized entry level Roubaix (elite), Duraace WH7850, Duraace.

Good Points: The Fuji is a nice solid bike – stiff yet supple (too good for me) – 6.7kg without pedals, bottle holders and computer, so under 7kg complete.  The Specialized is the training bike; it’s got 36,000 km on it now and is bullet proof.

Bad Points: The Fugi is under repair after a recent racing crash – cracked lHS rear seat stay in two spots.  I hope it will be as good when I get it back.  The Specialized is a 9 kg bike with all the paraphernalia on it.

The Rider: Started riding 4 ½ years ago now whilst living in Griffith NSW.  I had led a sedentary life in my 20s and 30s (wine, woman who was a great cook and song), I’d slowly ballooned to 124.5 kg (and I’m only 171 cm), I was morbidly obese. You know the fat guy and the little kid innocently asks his parents within earshot why that man is so fat – that was me.  So it was a 2007 New Years resolution:   I started doing an 11km loop on my hybrid, that became 14, then 18 and so it grew.  I bought the Roubaix in September of 1997 and joined the local cycling club. Did my first handicap race with them off limit and won (it was 45km and we averaged 30 km/h) – I’ll never forget it, that was it, I was hooked.

And so it grew: Club racing, D grade Interriverina (2008 scratch champion), NSW masters twice: road race and crit (first go: finished road race 34^th of 45, lapped on crit and pulled, 2^nd go: dnf road race and 11^th in crit).  Wagga Open, Cootamundra Haycarters………. and the list goes on.  Heaps of great memories: a number of wins and places.  Having landed in Adelaide and spotted by Burner circling the infield prior to a NCC crit as a potential “Bad Boy”, I reckon I’m a solid open C grader with aspirations of being  B’s.

Favourite ride:  The Adelaide culture is amazing and I continue to revel in the diversity of the terrain, within 15 min of the GPO you can be on the coast or in the hills (many and challenging hills).  I’d have to say my favorite Adelaide ride to date has been the Coast to Coast – after some early teething problems – the spectacle of 20 or so Bad Boys/FRA guys riding tight in a bunch sitting on 45’s – 50’s happily chatting – unreal: the fast finish, the 120 or so k's @ 35km/h avg and the Chilton Surf Club afterwards.

My all time favourite ride probably isn’t what you would call a favourite, but self defining: the inaugural 2010 3 Peaks – 238 km, 5,155m of climbing (Towonga Gap, Hotham and Falls Creek).  It was rainy, windy, cold and of the 1,500 starters there were only 700 finishers – I completed in 10 ½ hrs riding time, 12 hrs door to door.  Coming up the final climb of Falls  14-18% grades with 200 km in your legs – on your own, cresting into the final aid station and the Medic assessing you – you’re OK  mate, you’ve only go 20km to go – you’ve done it and finally entering the finishing race with families waiting for their spouses etc, cheering – unforgettable.  What is probably even more amazing is the Pro Tour guys will do this type of thing 18 times in 21 days – truly amazing.

Famous for:   Not sure about being famous, probably infamous.  Not immediately understanding FRA/Goodguys/BadBoys/Power On/Dimmer Switch/Lights On etiquette.  Probably accelerating too hard at lights, not listening when spoken too. Maybe a small amount of rivalry perpetuated by The Kid. Others maybe better to comment here.

Ranking (0 Bad – 5 Champ/legend):

Hills 3 (not sure fat blokes are supposed to go fast up hills –but we go down well though, however, did a leisurely 10:35 up Corkscrew with A3 and Assos yesterday)

Sprints 4 (I aspire to do a 60km/h sprint – I reckon I’m good for 54s - 55s now: one of my training goals and to beat Burner)

Endurance 5 (I come from the flat lands of the Riverina – big gears into the wind, 100 km road races)

Flat 4 (I come from the flat lands of the Riverina – big gears into the wind, 100 km road races)

Fair Weather 3 (Will ride if I have to but have a wind trainer)

Coffee 4 (Partial to a coffee or 3)

Bike Maintenance 5 (Pretty anal – am called upon by work colleagues for advice and repairs)

The Rider: have been riding for about 3 years so have much to learn and many more pedaling kilometres to pump into my legs. I’ve done the usual C2C , Amy’s ride and TDUs with my very first one being the 134kms Strath to Mannum (orange year) after having my bike for 2months. At the time I thought this was epic, but this is just where my addiction began. Not long after this, I met the Skinny Lattes where my thirst for hill climbing began and I was known as an “upper” not a “downer”, or just a plain scaredy cat! Being one of the youngest in that bunch, many of the ladies took me under their wing and built up my confidence on the bike. Since then, I’ve been running a-muck in the Adelaide hills, I have raced with the Skinny Lattes, socially ride with WOW and look forward to getting faster and stronger with FRA. Most notable achievement to date is definitely the 200km Alpine Classic 2011.

Favourite Ride: Any ride that includes Woods Hill Rd in either direction…love it!!!

Nickname: A Cubed. Having been issued this nickname from the nick names committee I am forever grateful.   I believe Ball Bag was the other option because of the massive kit bag that hung like a set of …under my seat when I first came out

Bikes: Merida Scultura Evo-907, Mavic Krysium elite wheels, ultegra goup set. 

Good Points: great paint job...very smooth on all surfaces

Bad Points: …a few scratches from a run in with a blind p plater would look nicer with a set of Zipp 404…do like the dimples though BURNER;-)  

The Rider: Brisbane …1979…my first bike … a purple girl’s bike with the big loopy handle bars and a glittery seat, magically appeared on our door step. I think it was love at first site… every spare moment I had [which was pretty much all the time, not having a job or a steady girlfriend as a 4 year old]  I was out on that bike. Not long after the trainer wheels came off, Mum got a job at toy world.  With the new job came a shiny black BMX…the 80s saw the young Thompson family return to Adelaide and I was pretty soon racing up and down the streets of Belair then Coromandel Valley…jumping driveway inverts and bunny hopping anything that didn’t have a say in the matter. 

However the late 80 and all of the 90 had the [now] mountain bike take a second place to soccer….and ….sugar and spice and all things nice …if you know what I mean…..

After playing in a losing state league final in 1998… I packed it in… [For the first time] … I then spent time at a health retreat I got my head together and started doing triathlons. With that came my first roadie... a wheeler 7400..air craft alumimium with Shimano 600 everything…after a second place in a west lakes short course I had a silly crash [branch fell out of a council truck on Linear Park and snapped my chain stay]. So like all devastated riders after a bingle I took the bike in to Unley Standish cycle thinking in a couple of days and a few hundred dollars I would be back out on the road.  Sadly it was not to be. I was told that it was terminal…so out I walked into the cold realisation that my first roady was dead [or so I thought]….The pain was too deep. So I sold my place, put on some different boots and went overseas…travelled for 12 months to the day. Came back with those same boots [that now stunk like a fettered canal] a skin head and a ridiculous amount of hats from the land of the Stans and the Middle East 

Back in Adelaide in 2001 it was time to settle down.  I started uni and worked part time at Marshall Thompson Homes which I now affectionately know as the black hole. At the end of 2001 I started  to realise that I was going deaf in my left ear...thinking it was a lump of wax I went along to my GP who pretty quickly quashed my theory and sent me along to have an MRI.  The scans showed a tumor in my ear canal pressing on my brain. The ENT surgeon [probably one of the nicest blokes I have met] comforted me by advising that he was 90% sure it was benign. Notwithstanding something had to be done. That something was 11 hours of brain surgery. I then spent 10 weeks shuffling around like a 90 year old, reading books and watching daytime TV.  One of the books I read …you guessed it …was “it’s not about the bike”. To be honest the first time I read it lance and his cocky Texan ways annoyed the shite out of me but for some reason it made me want to start riding again. So back I went to Standish Cycles Unley. I got talking to one of the guys and found out that the Wheeler [the very same I had walked out on 2 years previous] was still there…..!!!. Not only that they had fixed it. Technology had advanced in my dark ages and the bike was now brought back from the dead.     

I would like to say that that’s where the love affair started again… but realizing I was still alive I went on a war path … I had an amazing few years. And put on some serious pork to show for it. No one around me was ever shy enough to let fat boys be… I was constantly being told...”you look like you’ve been in a good paddock Thommo”

Anyway… that all came to an end one night in the front bar of the Royal Oak. Having a drink with her mum on a quick strip home from working overseas was…. “The one”…blond hair blue eyes and she smelt fantastic. Well out of my fat league…but …Not being able to help myself I told her how nice she smelt….she thought I smelt pretty good as well and pretty soon we were sniffing each other at every opportunity we had….who said flattery will get you no where. Not long after we shacked up [imagine film speeding up. dinners pillow fights…parties…her laughing at my…shite in a bin on the turkey, Iran border storey…that sort of stuff ]. Then she was knocked up… [Shocked but happy the boys were working]…then I got fatter…I went kilo for kilo on my lady’s pregnancy gain. Then one 38 degree day… [After becoming a proud father of a baby boy who was always going to be Fletch]… I was riding home from mum and dads place at Kensington and for some stupid reason I decided to take a detour……..up Old Belair Road. Don’t know why I did it. May be the sirens were calling….anyway I didn’t enjoy one second  …in fact I had to get off three times and sit down on the side of the road before I fainted. Cars were beeping at me …guys sticking there head out the window laughing. It was a proud moment…  But, in that moment a voice inside my head started chanting “ride fatty ride”. I became obsessed with riding up hills. Then I lost my license and had no choice but to ride. Each day I felt better. Slightly less fat. I could see chins disappearing…one maybe two at a time.

 One Sunday arvo after a coffee in Rundle Street I bought the 2003-2007 Tour de France box set. Next thing you know I was watching it every spare moment I had and after seeing Lance get ripped off the bike by a spectators bag...then get up chase down Ulrich and annihilate the field up Luz ardiden… I was hooked.

After 12 months of riding up everything I could find and losing 20 kilos in the process… I took my little family off to France to ride in the 2010 etape. Nuff said.

 Soon after I returned home I joined Norwood cycling club and whilst signing on for my first race I met Assos [ASSOS CAME SECOND THAT DAY…. I GOT DROPPED IN THE FIRST LAP…GOOD TIMES] and Burner. Not long after that I came out for a “recovery ride” on a Tuesday morning with the FRA boys and the rest is history.     

Ranking (0 Bad – 5 Champ/legend):

Hills varies between 2-4...depends what day of the week it is  

Sprints 4 … my calves aren’t painted on!

Endurance 3...

Flat 4…but prefer being up in the hills  

Fair Weather 3  

Coffee 4 will only drink whilst out for a ride….

Bike Maintenance 3…sometimes I am like a German engineer others an Irish clock maker 

Nick Name: The Kid

Bike: Scott Addict R1 – SRAM Red – (bike weighs in below the UCI 6.8kg limit, so great in the hills.)

Why The Kid?: My youthful looks and kid-like enthusiasm resulted in me being named the Kid. Although last summer I qualified as a veteran and I made it out to a few Wednesday night crits.

The Rider: As a teenager I had a passion for tennis.  Like my cycling I was very enthusiastic but only had limited ability, played half a season in State League Pennant, but was unable to cement my spot in the team. After I realised I was not going to make it on the circuit I took to tennis coaching and still to do some coaching today. Currently my playing career is in retirement as it affects my cycling too much, but I am prepared to come out of retirement to take on Pales and Mal as I have heard a lot about their tennis prowess.

I started cycling after meeting the Cohenator on a South American Mountain Climbing Trip. I borrowed a mate’s bike one Saturday morning and rode up to Mt Lofty, I didn’t fit into his shoes, so just road in my runners on his pedals all the way to the summit. That afternoon with the Cohenator in tow I headed out to the bike shops to find my first bike. Having got the bug a couple of years later I upgraded to the Addict.

Favourite / Toughest Rides: I am quite lucky to have been to France twice in the past few years with my bike. The first time with Moose and Steady in 2008 to ride Alp D'Huez and follow the tour. The second time in 2010 with the lovely Felicity to do the Etape Du Tour which finished on the Tourmalet and to visit every women’s fashion shop in Europe. The Etape was definitely the hardest ride I have done and after 10 hours I was completely spent. The Adelaide hills just do not compare to the French Alps or Pyrenees.

FRA Cycling Achievements: Friday night 2007 around the bay in a day – what a big night – BOG and I still don’t think any one has eclipsed my performance. The creator of the Cork Screw Challenge and the back to back winner in 2009 & 2010. After taking offence to this new guy coming out (Sugar) and him talking up his climbing abilities I decided somebody need to put him back in his place, so a number of challenges were issued to him, the first being a race up Windy Point – which as the dark horse I won, the next and unofficial sparring battle on the Old Freeway which was taken by Sugar and the third the 2009 Corkscrew Challenge which I won again, after no one expected me to win.

Also famous in the FRA for my love of all things Euro cool, constantly annoying Paley and Cohenator, regularly making claims of being highly motivated and then the next week totally losing motivation, and insightful one-liners such as 'They don't hand out the Corkscrew Challenge trophy in March' and 'It's not time up the mountain but time on the mountain that counts at this stage'.

Rankings              (0 bad – 5 Champion)

Hills                      3.5 (not really built for them, but I go okay when fit)

Sprints                 3.5 (recent crit racing showed I was a better  sprinter than I thought)

Endurance            2.5 (I’ve had a few house of mirror experiences)

Coffee                  4.5 (Addicted)

Friday Long Lunches    5.0 (Fine-dining establishments only)

Trash Talk             5.0

Nickname: Self inflicted PM, not very imaginative.

The Bike:  My first bike was a Giant OCR 1, aluminium frame with carbon seat post, forks & 105 groupset. Soon after I upgraded the wheels with Mavic Ksyrium SL’s.

In October 2010 I treated myself to a FOCUS, the same frame that was ridden by Pro Team Milram. Add a dash of bling i.e. white TPR carbon brakes, white 3T seatpost, stem and bars. Powered by Durace and 50mm Cosmic Carbone SL wheels and you have a bike that no old bloke could possibly do justice to.

The Rider: In 2000 I was told I had no cartilage remaining in my right knee. I thought my days of physical exertion were over. Then cycling!

Only now, learning to chill and keep the competitive dial turned done. Previously though I tended to be full on. Firstly football (State of Origin, South Adelaide, VFA rep etc) then tennis (District A grade) then Golf (8 hcp). I have really enjoyed both the physical & mental challenges. Competition puts you in situations where you have to learn to handle anxiety, free the mind and trust the body. Easier said than done but I am glad I have developed that mental strength. I’ll put it to good use.

The elephant in the room is that in 2008 I was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma, a blood cancer. Unfortunately not a curable cancer but there is hope that it may continue to be treatable.  So there may be periods off the bike, hopefully short and temporary!

Favourite Ride: Fond memories of discovering all the quality rides with LRHM, Schleck, Sugar, DOM & Sticks from Strathalbyn to the Barossa. Gotta love the safe, fast descents of Lofty, Windy Point and Montacute.

Memorable Rides: My first 100km hills ride. Some bloody hill in the North somewhere just went forever. Get used to it buddy!

Favourite Sayings: You can go back to the place but you can’t go back to the time!

“If I had to choose between winning the TDF and cancer I would choose cancer because it made me a better person.” Quoting Lance (from memory). - It’s not about the bike.

Rankings: (0 bad – 5 champ/legend)
Hills:                 2 – What goes up must come down. I’d settle for a not bad for big fella.
Sprints:             4 – Sorry guys but it may be more a reflection on the Good Guys. It’s all relative. I get a lot of enjoyment in getting the tactics right.
Endurance:        3 – This one’s a roller coaster. I’ll need one of Matt’s formula that calculates the relationship between the km’s ridden and the months since the last chemo.
Fair Weather:     3 – Getting less likely to brave the weather.

Coffee:                2 – I may have said, Coffee is Coffee but if I did I can’t recall and apologise if anyone took offence (my wife Angela works with lawyers).
Bike Maintenance: 4 –OCD diagnosis in the near future. Love a clean Focus, Only lose points because I get Schleck to change my chain and anything else too mechanical. 

The Bike: 2004 Giant TCR Team bike. The last ONCE bike. Full Durace, with Mavic Ksyrium SL wheels.

The Rider: Riding since late 1990’s, if you don’t include cruising around on my Ricardo 3 speed with Cow horns as a kid. Raced Triathlon since 1999. Have won a couple of State titles. The cycle leg is certainly my worst of the three but riding with you guys is helping improve that.

Famous for: Nothing really.

Dislikes: Having to stop at traffic lights. Getting sprayed by the water coming off the wheel in front on wet days. I know, I should just stay on the front longer!!

Favourite ride: Bollards to Crafers, Norton Summit.

Rankings (0 bad - 5 champ/legend):
Hills – 3, working at it.
Sprints – 3
Endurance - 3
Flat – 3
Fair weather – don’t mind the wet.
Coffee – don’t drink it
Level of Bike Maintenance - 2 (not often cleaned)

Nickname: Scud

The Bike:  Got a couple of antiques:

• My main bike is a red 2001 Aluminium Fondriest 'Top Level'  which I won in a Ride Magazine competition(frame and forks only). I built it up in 2005 running Campag Record with Mavic Kysium ES wheels which didn't last too long (They suffered their typical cracked rim fault) I'm now running Reynolds Assault wheels.
• My commuter bike, which comes out when it’s wet (i.e. low or no maintenance provided post ride) or if I come straight to FRA rides from work, is a red 2001 Sintessi Steel frame running Durace 9 speed with a recent wheel upgrade of Fulcrum 3 wheels.
• I also have a 07 Giant XTC hard tail Mountain Bike, colour red of course. Enough said about that as apparently MTB'ing is a different sport to cycling according to some.
• Last but not least is my 1995 Avanti MTB which is pretty much retired to 'pullin' the Trailer bike on school runs. by the way it's not red!

The Rider: Got on a bike age 4 as a kid, started riding and never looked back however the problem is I still think I'm that kid riding his bike now. Mainly rode for freedom and transport. My chosen sport when young was lacrosse,so I started cycling/Mountain biking as cross training for lacrosse but then gave away playing lacrosse due to being too injured to ride, go figure. Started dabbling in racing the last couple of years as I enjoy the adrenaline rush however have a lot to learn.

Famous for: Falling off bikes or anything in general for a dare/laugh/alcohol related, see photo. Greek Roman wrestling. House extensions performed in a timely manner. Allegedly something to do with the ROTY wheel's disappearance......Exactly.

Favourite Ride: Any ride that involves having coffee afterwards

Memorable Rides: As a kid of about 10 riding my Red dragster (hmmm is that where the 'red' fascination came from) to 'Dingley Dell' or Ayliffes/Shepherds reserve, which was about a 12k round trip from home,only to ride about 200mtrs on the dirt tracks/jumps before getting a dozen 3 corner jack punctures and then pushing my bike the whole way home.  

Any ride where I have remained up right and have a coffee afterwards.

Favourite Sayings: Once you learn to fall off a bike, you'll be doing it for the rest of your life. Exactly, sorry let me put that in context EXACTLY!

Rankings: (0 bad – 5 champ/legend)
Hills: 3- Are over rated especially on an 8kg+ bike, unless your going down them but happy to ride anywhere to get to a coffee shop            

Sprints:  3 Unless there is a chance of giving Burner a little pain then I can briefly rustle up a 4          

Endurance:  At time of writing this I'd rate myself at a solid 1 but generally would be a 3 maybe a 4 on a good day     

Fair Weather:  Again at the time of writing this less than 1.........I'm just going soft 

Coffee: 5 Riding is only another excuse to drink coffee, let me put it another way, I'm still trying to work out how to replace my blood system with coffee - either that or alcohol.              

Bike Maintenance: Varies from a 2 to a 4 depending on mood

Ciao, the name’s Dominatrix. Not entirely sure why the “Nickname Committee” chose it, I got rid of my leather and spandex a long time ago. I still have the whip though…

The Bike: Carbon Bianchi 928, with Campag chorus group set and Shamal wheels. Weighs about 7.6kg.

The Rider: Bought my first road bike in the early eighties, after giving up soccer and hockey due to knee and ankle injuries. It was a steel frame Macini, with Campag bits; my first true Italian masterpiece. It still hangs prominently in my second home “The Shed”, as I couldn’t get rid of my first real love.

However, in 2007 my then neighbour Schleck, encouraged me to come out and cycle regularly with him. This soon led me to riding with the FRA guys.

Of the rides in the last four years, the most challenging so far has been the Audax Alpine Classic. Proudly completed with two seasoned FRA men, in Schleck and LRHM (Batman).

Rankings (0-5)

Hills 4 – I don’t whinge too much about the climb, although when times get tough, I wish it were as easy as a crack of the whip. (I’m no jockey)!

Sprints 1.5 – I’m no Captain Quads, usually start sprinting way too early and run out of puff.

Endurance 3 – Have my moments, but consistency in this area is always difficult to maintain.

Fair Weather 2 – Rode a lot in the rain last winter, but things will be different this year.

Coffee 5 – Was probably addicted to coffee while in the womb. (A true Italian = Coffee addict from birth). It’s not about the bike, it’s about the beans.

Level of Maintenance 3 – Sort of guy that gives most things a go, but is not ashamed to take it to the bike shop when it’s completely stuffed.

Nickname:  I don’t believe I have come to the FRANNC attention. Must be my unremarkable riding ability J

Why these nicknames?:  Good question?

The Bike:  One of the three amigos FOCUS team.  Izalco Pro Team  Frame, Durace gearing  Durace 35mm wheels. Much better than the Giant TCR-C0. I love the FOCUS but not happy Jan...that I fell off after only 5 rides and am still getting used to the seat.

The Rider: I started riding cause I couldn’t run anymore. The knees had been worn away by running and other sports like skiing, but that’s not going to stop me from skiing ...so I have always been interested in sport.  Started with FRA because I lived opposite David KJ and the Pales and they encouraged me to join rather than ride solo. They have since left and the house prices have skyrocketed. I must admit I love riding in a group now, except for accidents.

Favourite Ride:   Mention Education Road, Belair National Park, Little Italy and I risk pissing myself!! No I love them dearly. I know the hills are good for me but it does take some convincing. I do like the Montecute ride and enjoy the bakery at Meadows.

Rankings: (0 bad – 5 champ/legend) Its all relative isn’t it? ie I am a champ in my own mind J
Hills:                  2.0- I think I am the anchor now on the hills.
Sprints:              2.0 - Do we have them?
Endurance:         3.0 – I’m always there at the end
Fair Weather:     5.0 – Great my average has improved markedly. Enough said. BTW, 5 means I am a legend at this!!
Coffee:              4.0 – This is an addiction – got to be good for you
Bike Maint:        2.0 – What? Doesn’t it maintain itself?

Nick Name: K-Man (also known as “Special K” and “Vitamin K”)

Bike: Colnago CLX 2009 – Shimano Ultegra SL – Mavic Kysrium SL’s – Compact Cranks (for the Hills)

The Rider: Late entrant to the noble sport of cycling. Hit age 30 and was getting a bit fat, so taking up a sport where the peer pressure to get out of a warm comfortable bed, leaving a warm woman behind, and put on the lycra to go riding in the dark, bitter cold, windy and wet morning, makes a lot of sense, I think? (I need to rewrite this in the summer time.) Love the serenity of a sun-rise in the mountains with the rising mist. Been riding with the FRA a little while, still remember the flashing lights in the dim morning light on Killicoat St, and have had periods of absence whilst on tours of duty for FRA-Dubai and FRA-Perth, but always make the Christmas Eve ride and breakfast.

Favourite / Toughest Rides: Hills.  I am crap at them, so I figure the more hills you do the better you will get. There is something about riding 5 mins from your house to the meet, then 5 minutes to the tollgate and then having a whole 2 lane (old) freeway to yourself, riding up the highest mountain (hill) in the state and then being back at the coffee shop in under an hour. Did the Alpine Classic in 2011 for the first time and although being a long day in the saddle, and a long car trip to get there, was great fun, particularly the Karaoke (thanks Alpine Crew and Perfect 10). Really enjoyed the 2010/11 Cyclo Sportif, despite the fitness levels go down through the season.

Favourite Saying: “It says something of the character of a man, who in this age of abundant technology, chooses to ride up hills using only his strength”.

Rankings (0 bad – 5 Champion)

Hills                      4.0 (The more you do – the better you get, the faster you go, the harder they get, the longer you ride.......you get the idea!)

Sprints                 3.0 (Love them though – that build up of expectancy is great)

Endurance            3.0 (Hard to find the time for the long rides, but secret is to remember the hare and the tortoise)

Coffee                  -5.0 (Tea is my choice of drink – yes a tea drinking, lycra wearing cyclist)

Wine                    5.0 (Older the better)

Bike Maintenance 3.0 (Your supposed to oil the chain????)(Once The Kidd introduced me to Mr Sheen, the bike has never looked better!)

The bike: Baum Ti Corretto, DuraAce groupset, TWE wheels.

Good points –Titanium so virtually indestructible, hand-crafted, custom-made, stiff, light (weighs in a little over 6kgs), and a very cool paint-job.

Bad points – no excuses any more.

The Rider:  Started riding in 2004 as an alternative to running after a third operation removed the cartilage in my right ankle. The initial terror at sharing the road with traffic, sitting on the wheel in front whilst attached to the bike through the soles of my shoes soon gave way to enjoyment and is something I am now passionate about.  I have early memories of riding with the group (in our FRA heritage kit) to Waterfall Gully on weekday mornings. Lengthy Sunday rides included Norton Summit to Lofty. And back! My first ‘long’ ride was the now defunct Sea to Vines in 2004 and I have many great memories of ‘event’ rides with the FRA, with my favourite being the Coast to Coast.

Famous for:  never having changed a tyre.

Favourite Adelaide ride – Lofty to Marble Hill and down Montecute.

Memorable Moment – my first 200 (actually 276km) in the mid-North. Also 2011 Alpine Classic; the breathtaking beauty of the scenery helps to distract the mind from the pain of Mt Buffalo.

Rankings:

Hills – 3.5 (Love descending. Is there any other reason to climb??)

Sprints – 1 (Spat out the back at the first hint of a surge.)

Endurance – 5 (Can ride all day.)

Flat – 5 (Drafting with a tail wind). Otherwise - 2

Fair weather – 4.5 (toughen up princess)

Coffee – 5 (definitely, work permitting)

Bike maintenance – pardon? Outsourced to Peter from BMC

The Rider:    Ken

Nickname:   none (have managed to fly under the radar so far)

The Bike:       Giant TCR Euro – about as Euro-cool as I get

Started riding with FRA July 2009 after leaving bits of my spleen on the road in a mega-bike ride a few months earlier. Have appreciated the safety track-record of FRA ever since, although several unfortunate incidents recently have conspired to blemish the crash and injury records.

Prior to that, had a mis-spent youth playing way too much soccer. Always keen to stay fit, dabbled in a number of sports after soccer – running, triathlons, tennis, jet-ski racing, and the ever present snow skiing. Now spend most of January each year chasing powder snow in Niseko Japan.

In late 2007 I found myself swept along by the tidal wave of middle-aged men with dodgy knees who were turning to cycling, getting back on the bike after a 15 year hiatus.  Admit to joining FRA with the misconception that it was the Fair-weather Riders’ association.

Built more like a jockey than a cyclist, I have a definite preference for riding hills, and can usually be found more towards the pointy end on climbs, somewhere in the pack on flat and/or windy rides, and at home in bed on single-digit °C mornings

In light of the various GG / BB / Power On / Dimmer Switch factions, have considered starting my own FRA splinter group that only rides in Summer, doing Hills and occasional Tour rides (TDU Challenge, Amy’s Ride, C2C, Ride Like Crazy). Would be called SHaT, and would need a new kit design based on the ever-popular baby-poo brown of Team Footon.

The Rider:  My name is Lauren and I ride with my dad Keith (see below). 

The bike: My bike is a 2010 Giant Rabobank Team issue 10 Speed Shimano Ultegra group set with Dura Ace wheels.

Hardest ride undertaken: Amy's Ride (100km) including Willunga Hill, Tour Down Under (126km) including conquering Checkers Hill and Coast to Coast (110km).

Favourite Ride: FRA Wednesday mornings fast.

Strengths: My weight :) I only weight 49 kg.

Weaknesses: Food, I love eating, especially ice cream! 

Favourite Sayings:

 "What's for dinner mum?"

"Go faster dad!" 

"So much to do, but I am already flat out!"

Favourite Rider: Of course, Lance Armstrong, no one else. 

Famous for: Sprinting

The Bikes: Colnago C50 and Colnago EPS

Wheels: Mavic 

The Rider: Started in June 2005

Love to ride but like everyone never get to ride as much as I would like.

Had great fun this last year riding with my daughter Lauren

Riding achievements: include all the SA based long; ATBIAD and the Alpine Classic (2008)

Famous for: Nephew riding as a semi pro with S&L team and completing all the Australian domestic races with some podium and KOM results

Personal best: last year Tollgate to Bollards in the great BSL challenge in an official time of 28:51

Favourite Ride: when I am up to it, it’s the FRA fast group - it's a great feeling to be able to keep up with all the guns

Rankings; Just getting out is terrific

The Bike:  2010 Cervelo RS – silver, black & white – full Ultegra 6700 componentry, Dura-ace carbon laminate training wheels, Easton EC90 Aero tubular racing wheels.

Good Points: Light, comfortable with the thin curved rear stays but still stiff enough for racing.

Bad Points: None I can find. Not the S3 I really wanted, but that will come…

The Rider:  That’s me on the right with Burner & our mate Lance at ATB 2010. Obviously not the “Lance”……

Turned 40 this year. Started riding in Oct 2007 due to stress fracture in shin training to break 50 min. in the City-Bay (haven’t run since). Played footy for Pooraka in SAFA & Amateur League during the nineties, managing to jag a SAFA & Div. 2 Amateur premiership along the way.

I like to think I’m a handy tennis player, currently playing Div. 1 for Tranmere in the morning grass competition in which we won the premiership this year & looking forward to having a hit with the Kid someday.

I don’t mind the occasional golf game, when I get some spare time (rarely), own a motorbike (Yamaha R6) which try to get out when I can & terrorise cyclists up & down Gorge Rd. Work at Wallbridge & Gilbert (23 years) under the fearless leadership of Burner which is how I got introduced to the FRA. 

Favourite ride: Norton Summit onto Mt. Lofty, then back & across through Marble Hill & down Montacute. Includes a couple of nice stretches of bitumen, Woods Hill Rd & the bottom section of Montacute where you can really open it up.

Famous for:   Still waiting for my 15min. of fame…. Even 5 min. will do. 

Nickname:  Mal… Awaiting suitable replacement from the nicknaming committee.

Rankings (0 bad - 5 champ/legend):

Hills - 4 - I quite like the hills even though my size (85kg) doesn’t really lend itself to them. Best time of 15:41 up Norton Summit. Was looking forward to giving the Corkscrew Challenge a crack this year but unfortunately have coaching duties on the day.

Sprints  - 3  - I tend to get too eager or get caught out of position in races & invariably start sprint too early so recently I’ve been avoiding the sprint by taking off with a lap or two to go & try to win it from there. Has worked on a few occasions last season coming up with a couple of wins & second places.

Endurance -  4  - I like to think I can punch out a good pace for a long time. Have done Around the Bay in a day without any problems & 200km Grand Slam of which the last 80km was done alone.

Flat  - 3  - Can push out the k’s on the flat if I have to but can tend to bore me a bit. Prefer some hills in a ride.

Fair weather - 4 - Happy to ride in the wet. I should be I’ve bought enough gear along the way to be able to cope with it. Only if it’s bucketing down when I want to leave & looks bad on the radar do I generally back down.

Coffee - 3 - Not a necessity in my life. More in winter, less in summer.

Level of Bike Maintenance - 5 -  I enjoy tinkering with my bike & clean/maintain regularly. The bike always gets a wash after riding in the wet. Ideally I’d like to be setup so I could retire from current work & be able to work as a bike mechanic. Awaiting redundancy package from Burner to fulfil this dream.

James

Nickname: (for consideration) The Boy

The Bike:  Azuri Mezzo Team RL, SRAM Red with Shimano RS 80 wheels. Reckon its lighter than my Dad's BMC but don't tell him. Got this courtesy of the insurance payout when Mum drove Dad's Colnago into the garage roof. Love it when a plan comes together.

The Rider:  Been riding for 3 years on and off between cricket, footy, basketball, athletics, oh and school (that's for Mum in case she ever reads this). Represented SA in Triathlon last 2 years and have raced in SA school's cycling time trials and road race competitions. Love watching the Giro and le Tour on Foxtel, riding away from Dad up Lofty and spending time filling the "shopping basket" on Wiggle with "need to have" bits and pieces.

 Famous For: Leading Dad out on the Wednesday morning Good Guys sprint so he can try to out kick PM. Unfortunately he's still perfecting his end of the deal.

Favourite Ride:  Gorge Rd, Lobethal, Norton Summit, home.

Rankings:

Hills - 4 (helps that I'm 60kg and 180cm)

Sprints - 3 (better as a lead out man)

Endurance - 3.5 (need to ride more)

Fair Weather - 4 (Dad's the wimp)

Coffee - 0, Milkshake - 5

Bike Maintenance - 4 (mine and Dad's)

Chris (no FRA nickname)

The Bike:  2010 BMC TeamMachine in black and white, SRAM Red, Durace 24mm and a set of Mavic Cosmic 50mm wheels. I purchased this bike after my physio (and Chiro Ken - also an FRA rider) said I should stop running and only ride. He said the TeamMachine is like riding on a trampoline - it's that compliant through the rear stays. Anyway my troublesome back loves it and I'm now back running.

The Rider:  Have ridden for a long time with first major rides being a cycle tour with a mate around Tasmania in Dec 1982  and then competing in the 2nd ever triathlon in Australia, an event in Wollongong in April 1983. I was the first "Shellharbour competitor" (!) and my mate came 2nd overall. Have ridden on and off ever since competing in over 100 triathlons with no notable achievements other than a few age group placings. Met up with Paul Bennett whilst living in Sydney in the 90's and rode, and competed with him as members of the LAPD Tri Club (inner west of Sydney). Became proficient at drafting behind Paul and trying to outrun him. Ride behind us and you'll still hear us recounting the past heroics.

Moved to Adelaide in 2001 and didn't do much for the next 5 odd years as was busy with 3 boys under 7. Did encourage workmates Mike (Batman) and Paul (PM) to ride though and then after returning from an expat stint in India in  July 08, joined the FRA after they invited me out. I still remember a time when I was giving them cycling advice! Now a proud "Good Guy" rider trying to clock a consistent 100km/week in addition to 50km of running. My current goal is to run a sub 3 hour marathon, then I can hang up the shoes and stick to riding. My 3 sons enjoy my passion for running and cycling with 2 of them runners and 1 bike rider, James, who is now riding with the FRA too.

Famous For: Being late for the 6.15am Wednesday ride, winter hibernation and trying to convince Batman that we could beat Keith and Brian up to the Bollards (see Batman profile).

Favourite Ride: Either the Montacute ride or Gorge Rd, Lobethal, Norton Summit, home.

Rankings:

Hills 3.5 (at 67kg I should be better)

Sprints 3.5 (bought my Mavic Cosmic's to try to out kick PM, still trying)

Endurance 3.5 (depends on my run to ride km ratio)

Fair Weather 2 (don't like getting wet and hate the cold)

Coffee 4 (isn't it all about the coffee)

Bike Maintenance 1 (that's why I got James my son into riding).

The Rider:  ‘Thommo’ has many other nicknames, including: The Black Wiggle, Thommonator, Avocado Man and Captain Grump. Thommo only wears PowerOn Kit.  Thommo likes it because it’s black, although deep down he wishes the white stripe was also black.

Likes: Thommo likes things that are black, coming up with excuses for not riding and getting into e-mail wars with Burner.

Dislikes: Thommo dislikes crowds, big crowds, small crowds, in-between crowds, doesn’t matter, just crowds in general.  Thommo also does not like things that are not black or white (but faced with a choice between black or white, he would always of course choose black).

The Bike:  Thommo rides a black Look nicknamed ‘Firefox’, equipped with Campag. 

Good points: It’s predominantly black

Bad points: It could be blacker

Famous for:  Thommo is famous for loving all things black, sweating a lot, falling off park benches and always being grumpy (but we still love him for some reason!)

Rankings (0 bad - 5 champ/legend):

Hills: 2 ­ - Thommo will go to his grave wishing he could have broken 30 minutes up the old freeway
Sprints: 3 - Thommo did once win the Outer Harbor sprint
Fair weather rider: 5 - Thommo is without peer in this regard

Bailing at the last minute: Also a 5