Off To See The Wizard

Booked my ticket with the girlfriend to Australia today. Off on the 9th July for a year at least hopefully. Seeing how it works out, and may stay indefinitely if I can. Depends on my visa. Gonna be starting off in Adelaide (her hometown) and then maybe over to Melbourne.

Asked the dude in the travel agents about taking my bike but he had no idea, so I'll need to find out if it is included in my luggage weight or not etc. Anybody know?

Hoping to get a track frame for cheap when I get there. Already got some feelers out there (Verbs&Nouns on here). Already joined Fixed.org.au and watching ebay.com.au.

It's not the snakes or the spiders or the sharks you need to look out for.. it's the fucking Aussies!

Nice one, there are lots of Aus on here and most will agree Melbourne is the place to be for fixed gear and really everything else good in the world. Take your bike with you, good track frames cost a bit in Aus so your better off forking out for excess luggage and taking it with you. Shouldn't be to bad but it really depends on the air line and the person at the check out desk.

Fixed.org.au is the best start and its sounds like you have found that, don't think there is much of a scene is Adelaide "but its ok". You may find some tressure troves of track bikes near old veledromes but gut feeling is that most of them will have been fished out by now.

Just learn to love Coopers Red and Green, watch out for sharks and accept that Aussie drivers are worse than a white van driver in a mini cab combined with a bendy bus and a HGV and you will be fine.

I sent my bike here using an 'unaccompanied baggage' service. You don't pay the fucking ridiculous costs of airline excess baggage (check, since you might be able to sneak it in for nothing as some airlines ship "sports goods" free) but the bike arrives a few days after you do.

Adelaide is okay. Melburn is where it's at (of course I'm gonna say that).
fyxomatosis.com is andy white's awesome site and he's based in Melburn. Sells track bits and bobs.

Coopers was yum (although now, after drinking proper English ales and belgian brews it makes me ill). Mountain Goat is a fine Melb brew and I've heard there's lots of other micros now.

Aussie drivers are idiots. The ones that aren't idiots are cunts. All of them. Including me.

check out shifter bikes. theyve got a cool shop. you'll find some nice track bikes there

bike is incl in your overall luggage allowance but i suggest bring your bike over (via unaccompanied or one of many door-to-door services). £ is losing out big time against the AU$.

Cheers for the advice.

If I have to, I'll just take my bike and clothes I'm standing in! Surely I only need a pair of board shorts and some flip flops anyway?

Not in Melbourne in July mate! Thongs* and boardies wont cut it!

*please sort this out before you arrive

OMG, adelaide (city of churchs), dullest place in the world. will be chilly in july in melbourne.

I think Canberra is trying to lose that 2 horse race also. Ever been to Dubbo? Largest number of motor inns per capita on the planet. NB: this may be a lie.

http://www.fixedgearrepublic.com/group/adelaidefixed

"Members:1"

:)

http://adelaidefixed.blogspot.com/

You lucky bastard (apart from the Adelaide bit)! My gf spent some of her youth in Adelaide and hated it... Easybeats hometown tho', that's gotta be worth somethin'... Good luck dude, I'm very jealous (apart from the Adelaide bit)...

i would stay in Adelaide until September when it gets slightly warmer, and then hotfot it to Melbourne as quickly as possible.
Better bars, better coffee, better food, bigger city, more jobs.

Agreed. In terms of capital cities, Perth is always popular with UK visitors because its warm and relaxed and theres good nightlife. Was in Sydney last weekend with some mates who live there and it was terrific. Not been up in a while and had forgotten how good it is. Anyway, Melbourne-town FTW!

Not in Melbourne in July mate! Thongs* and boardies wont cut it!

*please sort this out before you arrive

Just joking. Partly why we are going then. I'll need to aclimatise myself first!

i would stay in Adelaide until September when it gets slightly warmer, and then hotfot it to Melbourne as quickly as possible.
Better bars, better coffee, better food, bigger city, more jobs.

That's the plan. Stay with friends in Adelaide and sort out a move and job in Melbourne. (St. Kilda looks nice and cheap-ish).

http://www.fixedgearrepublic.com/group/adelaidefixed

"Members:1"

:)

http://adelaidefixed.blogspot.com/

The guy in the second photo is Verbs&Nouns on here. That's who I'll be staying with for a bit in Adelaide.

He told me they get over 7 people to their rides now!

Perth has some of the hottest women you will ever see, as well.

Perth has some of the hottest women you will ever see, as well.

Nah, they're all in Brisbane... ;]

That's the plan. Stay with friends in Adelaide and sort out a move and job in Melbourne. (St. Kilda looks nice and cheap-ish).

St Kilda has some nice areas, and some fucking scummy areas, so be a bit wary.

Teenslain: i said SOME of the hottest women, fool!

Perth has some of the hottest women you will ever see, as well.

You have clearly not been to Dagenham on a Saturday night.

You have clearly not been to Dagenham on a Saturday night.

Grab-a-Granny?

Perth has some of the hottest women you will ever see, as well.
+1

remember going to the cottlesloe hotel for a sunday session. absolutely amazing, it was spot the ugly bird, not like in the uk when it's spot the good looking bird. all fit, tanned...............drool.

with a nice beach out the front.

make sure you eat lots of asian food in melbourne - it's the best in the world and much better food and value than yuppie venues. then drink coopers until you drop.

You might be surprised about Adelaide. Don't write it off. I personally really like it. It's not as show pony as melbourne and syds. You have to go looking for stuff. But, when you do, you'll find a significant underground bike culture (there's at least four different freakbiking groups and a burgeoning fixed alley cat thing happening and lots of penny riders) plus cool urban caving, as well as great climbing and lovely beaches.. and did i mention the food and beer! And it's a very easy city to ride around with the hills offering good hill climb training and mountain biking.

About flying with a bike. If you've booked with Virgin, you're set. They don't advertise it, but they allow one free piece of sporting equipment in addition to your 20kgcheck-in and 10kg carry-on. Sweet. Otherwise you are stuck trying to wangle a bike into your normal check in allowance.

Hey doug.

I flew Qantas last April to Melbs and took the bike in box for free.
What are you planning workwise in Melbs? Might be able to hook you up somewhere.

As for bikes, try Dan at Shifter as mentioned. Also fixed.org.au as mentioned also and keep up with Fyxomatosis as Andy lists all the roller racing on in pubs around the city.

And, say hi from me!