| | | | | |  | That's February folks
| | Hi achternaam, Come the revolution, the mob that made us accept these bloody unreliable computing machines as part of our gotta-have-rely-on kit will be the first to the Gulags. I spent time and effort on the last newsletter only to find that only about 50 of yers got it. I blame some software 'Stuff-Up-Date". Apparently it's all fixed now.
The coming of driver-less cars will herald some wierd sh1t going down if the ordinary email newsletter is any indication. I can see me dropping off for a nap on 'The Diesel' (Hume Hwy) and waking up in Bathurst. At least I would've got there safely!
Having said that though, the old frustration box's control of a car couldn't be any more un-re-libel as a hamburger eating, off-their-face, stressed mother with 3 screaming kids in the car. That reminds me of the supposed inter-action between Microsoft and GM.
| At a computer expo (COMDEX), Bill Gates reportedly compared the computer industry with the auto industry and stated: “If GM had kept up with the technology like the computer industry has, we would all be driving $25.00 cars that got 1,000 miles to the gallon.” In response to Bill’s comments, General Motors issued a press release (by Mr. Welch himself) stating:
If GM had developed technology like Microsoft, we would all be driving cars with the following characteristics: 1. For no reason at all, your car would crash twice a day. 2. Every time they repainted the lines on the road, you would have to buy a new car. 3. Occasionally, executing a manoeuver such as a left-turn would cause your car to shut down and refuse to restart, and you would have to reinstall the engine. 4. When your car died on the freeway for no reason, you would just accept this, restart and drive on. 5. Only one person at a time could use the car, unless you bought ‘Car95’ or ‘CarNT’, and then added more seats. 6. Apple would make a car powered by the sun, reliable, five times as fast, and twice as easy to drive, but would run on only five per cent of the roads. 7. Oil, water temperature and alternator warning lights would be replaced by a single ‘general car default’ warning light. 8. New seats would force every-one to have the same size butt. 9. The airbag would say ‘Are you sure?’ before going off. 10. Occasionally, for no reason, your car would lock you out and refuse to let you in until you simultaneously lifted the door handle, turned the key, and grabbed the radio antenna. 11. GM would require all car buyers to also purchase a deluxe set of road maps from Rand-McNally (a subsidiary of GM), even though they neither need them nor want them. Trying to delete this option would immediately cause the car’s performance to diminish by 50 per cent or more. Moreover, GM would become a target for investigation by the Justice Department. 12. Every time GM introduced a new model, car buyers would have to learn how to drive all over again because none of the controls would operate in the same manner as the old car. 13. You would press the ‘start’ button to shut off the engine. (Bugger the new fob system does this.)
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| | This month's newsletter is gonna have to be brief and pictorial, as I'm a bit behind due to swanning around New Zealand for a couple of weeks. We set out to explore the south of the South Island and visit the Burt Munro Challenge (BMC). 
Those of you who've been to Kiwi will know just how beautiful it is. The riding is stunning and the nanny state is yet to make itself a pain in the RRs. Phillip Island could take a few leaves out of Invercargill's book and demonstrate a welcoming and co-operative approach. Them Kiwis have so much 'sussed', it makes for a relaxed and tolerant place. It's my third biking visit and I'm smitten. I never felt like I was 'looking over my shoulder' in case I might get booked for doing $1.10 in a 100km zone, the road marking almost says "off ya go, and don't be an idiot."
'The Burt' as the Kiwis call it, is a riot of fun, racing and spectacle. It's laid back with just a touch of larrakin. 
The photos don't do it justice, as for most photos of the place, they just can't capture the majesty. The Oreti Beach racing was the most spectacular and left the most lasting impression with me.
Put it on your Bucket List! bikesales.com.au will have my full story in the next few weeks. 
| | Avduro II - The Journey Continuez For those who missed out on the last newsletter. Our individually numbered 20 year, Limited Edition, Ochre Red Avduros reached the limit. Yep, all gone. Fret not, we've incorporated the best bits of the LEs into our 'stock' Avduro Pannierz. The main body of the bag is unchanged, it's just the extras that are getting a makeover. I really liked the larger rear, roll top pocket and the front mesh pocket with it's bottle retainer. They worked seamlessly (sorry) on my No 1 LE bags. I also decided to use the same Ladder-Loc buckle we use as the base strap to build in a bit more 'crashability'. Not that the D-Ring system is faulty, it's just that under (really) extreme stress they can break. Below is an account of the situations where it might happen. Another Rob clouted a cow, he broke a D-ring and tore away the partner strap. I reckon that the Ladder-Locs are a little less 'fiddly' too.
| Whilst on my latest adventure up through Dangalli I managed to hit an Emu at about 80 or so Ks. After eventually stopping and checking for damage, I didn't really notice too much and hence continued the ride. Later whilst looking at the bike I noticed the LH bag was hanging a bit off square and upon checking found one of the D-Rings broken on the Front LH bag mount. I didn't really think about this too much, just tied it up with a zip tie and moved on. However it was later when getting my gear from the bag that I found my 2 cans of soup with bottoms blown out, 1 jar of coffee, 1 plastic coffee cup, my 4 weetbix and small milk in another plastic container and 1 container of fruit absolutely obliterated "What a mess in the dry bag"!! all my food and gear trashed in one hit. I would never have thought it possible given the only damage externally was a broken D-Ring. |
Unfortunately the extra work, materials and a fabric price increase had edged up the price, but only by a few bucks and less than the Limited Edition bag set. | | | You might be interested - The record so far for a set of our pannier bags is a pair that have covered around 600,000km, no bull! | | | Supplier Price Rising 'Tis the season of the supplier letter. "Dear Andy As you know the Australian Dollar has fallen in relation to the US and"......blah blah. You get the picture. It means that we'll have to look closely at our costings and inevitably pass them on. Death, taxes and price rises the triad of progress.
It will happen in the next few weeks as I get the 'round-tuit' out. | | | No Gloves A summer bites I'm seeing more and more riders out there with no gloves on and it sends a cold shiver down my spine.  | In my last life as an Emergency Nurse, I saw the results of the Sans Glove riding and it is not pretty. Apart from our lips, the old pinkies are the most sensitive and complex bits of anatomy we posess. And, it hurts like F*#+K! A cross section of a hand shows just how complex the structures in ones mitt are.
The offending majority seem to be young tradie commuters and riders of 'American Iron'. |
Like I said to a blubbering bloke with his grated hands in a bowl of antiseptic. "Ride naked mate, but wear gloves!" | A Bit of Cupping I recently came across these neat insulated cups. Although the keep cup is everywhere these days a good one is not so easy to find. I like this one as it has a high grade food grade stainless inner not 'who-knows-what-ite'. Mine doesn't leak even when I knock it over packing my tent. They have a positive close lid and silicone cover for a positve grip. The pack says 2 hours hot and 4 cold. Two sizes 227ml and 340ml in black Click here for more info |  |
| | Get Out the Worksheet Yer down on yer knees, yer hiding from bees, the ants are getting into the cheese. Mate; you need one of these. Sorry, that was a bit naff. The latest offering from Strapz HQ is the Worksheet. It's useful wherever a clean surface is needed. Use it as a ground sheet, work surface, table cloth, rain shelter, shade sail, whatevs. Reinforced corners contain eyelets and the edges are bound. Worksheets weigh less that 200 grams and folds into a small roll. Made by us, here. Click here for more - Only $32 and only in blue (get over it). 
| | | |  | Ladies Balance Friday 8th March 2019 is International Women’s Day. The International Women's Day 2019 campaign theme of BalanceforBetter is a call-to-action for driving gender balance across the world. In the spirit, for some time Andy Strapz has been incorporating more female specific gear to help balance our range for all. Held Gloves, Carese Jackets and Pants all come specifically in women’s cuts. Ladies Air and Dry gloves are now in stock. |
| | | | That's about all I have to write at ya for now. Copyalater | | | | | | Here's a list of things that need to go. | All coloured Schuberth C4 helmets in stock are going out discounted. We have a selection of colours and sizes. Priced at $835 from $1100 59 - L - Matt Blue, 61 - XL - Matt Black, Matt Blue. 63 - XXL - Legacy Yellow. Email us |  |
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