HELMET USE

Whilst at the Giro d 'Italia i have little opportunity to access a computer so the photos are piling up and so is the frustration .

Those who follow Twitter and people like the GreenEDGE team and @Richie_porte will have seen recently a photo of me sitting on my butt !

Briefly , i should like to thank Matt White for getting out of the team car to check my health , a really generous thing to do whilst doing a difficult job . Also it should be said that whoever used his camera to take the photo is a quick thinker !

Please ask anyone who has seen this photo to email the links so that i can add the photo to this post !

                                SKIPPI@AUSI:COM

Having driven from Denmark in 15 hours to Kramsach where i currently live , i replaced the bikes used in Denmark with the recently resprayed Pink Bike . After a nights sleep i drove through to Verona area and parked at the Liquigas Hotel about 10km from Verona . Using the bike for the first time since testing after the rebuild i headed towards Verona looking for action . Travelling down a slight grade , i spotted a Squad heading my way . Saw a Petrol station on my left before the squad would arrive so headed in there quite quickly . Regretably the surface was gravelly so skidded to the amusement of the Guys .

 Hit the head three times rapidly and sat up to find Matt White at my side .  Knowing that i knew his name and where i was he accepted that i would survive so went back to work . After straightening the handlebars and checking ALL was working as it should i headed on into Verona and started mixing it up with the other Racers out training .

Luckily i had been to visit RUDY when i was with the Giro del Trentino so when i got back to the car i was releived to see the new helmet was there . Funnily enough before starting into Verona i had been talking to RUDY's man , Ivan , at the Camper he uses to entertain the Racers about the new helmet . I NEVER CYCLE until i put the helmet and glasses in place !

IF IT CAN HAPPEN TO ME let's hope it won't happen to YOU !

HELMET and Glasses are as necessary as Brakes , DO NOT LEAVE ANYWHERE until they are in place !

 Yesterday i rode with a Lady Olympian , she nearly left the coffee break without her helmet . Like me she is so used to not taking it off , and so does not notice that it is in place , it is a fact of life for us both !

Helmets do not spoil your hair do BUT gravel rash or a more SERIOUS INJURY will do more that spoil your day !

SAFE CYCLING starts with the correct equipment and for 14 years RUDY PROJECT have made my life safer !

AUSTRALIAN CYCLE RACING SCENE

Whilst I am whizzing around the Ski Slopes and the bike is idle , Oz is being treated to a Cycle Race Fest ! Interestingly enough there are many new faces emerging that will push the envelope and create additional excitement this year for the Australian Cycle Race fans . GreenEdge Team has scored it’s first Race Victory with Gillow in one of the Women’s Races but the victory of Chloe Hosking and the subsequent press interview was the story which has grabbed the headlines ! What is the difference between Women and Male Cycle Racers ? Men are guaranteed a minimum wage level and the Women can look after themselves as far as the UCI are concerned ! Photo of a worker !

Currently “ Cycling Australia ” are seeking an apology from Chloe Hosking for her remarks last weekend about Mc Quack otherwise known as a “ D**K ”, or that was Chloe’s description of this colourful nonentity ! Cycling Australia can shove it when they cannot support the women in their quest for fair treatment ! Expecting Aussies to fly the flag on the smell of an oily rag is just not on in this century and Mc Quack knows this as he has been reported to have been an event organiser before he was allowed to hijack the office of “ President of UCIless ”! Photo of a winner !

Just what do the Women pay annual dues to UCIless for , if not for fair treatment and FULL SUPPORT ? Are the Women’s Annual Dues less than a Male payment and thus they are treated in a lesser manner and given less support ? Aussies have always called a spade a shovel and it is time the other Aussie Women spoke out in support of Chloe , and Mc Quack can go whistle ! Should those speculating in the CNF Mushroom Farm have their way then Chloe’s description would have been correct ! From my point of view UCIless needs to go to work and see that the Women are no longer exploited and thus treated with more respect . Cycling Australia needs to get behind the movement for a “ Liveable Minimum Wage for Women ” comparable to that of the men ! What have you lost this time ?

BEST WISHES TO THE WOMEN RACERS FOR 2012 ! You were the Road racers that brought Oz the Gold Medals in the past and you can do it again at London 2012 Sources http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/hosking-to-apologize-for-remarks-to-mcquaid http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/hosking-takes-swipe-at-pat-mcquaid

SBS CENSORSHIP AGAIN !