Gravity 12 Hour

I'm back!

I have had 4 months off racing as Kim has gone back to work full time and I have not had a break from racing for a long time. I needed to reenergize myself. With KONA being a major sponsor of the Gravity 12 Hour I thought this would be a good opportunity to get back into the swimg of things. I have raced Solo for the last 2 year but decided it was time to give pairs racing a go. I teamed up with Phillip Bellingham, we had a ripper start with Phillip leading the run before getting on the bikes. We came 3rd in the pairs. It was hard work but alot of fun riding. I pulled up alright and look forward to racing with some of the young guys from the KONA team at the KONA 24 HOUR in a couple of weeks time.

Chase the Sun Round 1 - 8 hours

Last Sunday was the first round of the Chase the Sun series. There was not much sun to be seen. With forecasts of heavy rain and strong winds it was just a matter of time before the race turned bad. We were lucky to get out 5 hours before the race was stopped. I finished up 2nd. Kim took Alec home early and I managed to get a lift home with Tim from Kona - Thanks Tim.

Alec's face says it all, this is what the liitle fella looked like before the race even started.

Thanks Tony (Luke Fetch's Dad for the photo)

BMC 100km Woodend

We spent the weekend at Kim's cousins place in Woodend which made the early start on Sunday not so bad. The race was delayed half an hour. We headed of at 7.30am. The mountain bike tracks were alot of fun. I wasn't exactly fired up for a fast race so was happy to come away with a top 15 place.

MONT 24hr Canberra (The Bird)

The MONT 24 hour was the first time I have raced in a team. It was a great experience and a lot of fun. The KONA cross country team was all ready to race until 2 weeks out Simon Flower broke his collarbone then 1 week out Geoff Schilg came off his bike ending up in hospital luck to have not done too much damage. So.. we were 2 riders down. Geoff's younger David filled in and Brian.
Our 6 man team consisted of 3 old blokes (Andrew Bell, Brian Johns and myself) and 3 young blokes (Campbell Townsend, Phillip Bellingham and David Schilg). Not that we are that old but the young guys are only 18-21.
We got off to a good start but when the first results were posted we were 20 minutes down. By 1am we were only 2 minutes away from 1st place. This was when I went to bed. I was able to get 5 hours of sleep. Through the night the boys were very consistent and we tustled for the lead until morning. When I woke up it was very close. We decided I would do an extra lap as a couple of crashes and doing the laps in the wee small hours had taken it's toll on the young guys. We ended up coming away with the win 8 minutes up.

6 Hour Enduro at Mount Beauty

Spent the weekend at Mt Beauty for the 6 hour Enduro. Rode a couple of laps on Saturday with my cousin Ian Franzke.
The race started with dark clouds, rain and thunder. The word was that it would all pass fairly quickly. The rain helped settle some dust and cleared shortly after the start. Adam Gibson did a hot lap right from the start and was close behind me after that for the rest of the race. I came away with the win which was a first in the KONA colours and got to defend my title from last year.

Labour Day Long Weekend in Albury Wodonga

Spent the weekend up in Albury Wodonga for a round of the State Series and the Multisport Spectacluar Weekend. I was part of an Allstars team for the Multisport race (swim, mtn bike, rollerblade, paddle then run) It was a bit of fun. I only had to ride 8km. Our team came away with the win.

Fires close to home

Monday 23rd Feb - fire started near Birdsland Reserve

View along the bike path

Upwey Train Station


Upper Ferntree Gully Train Station



View from Dandenong Creek

The Otway Odyssey

Waiting for the start of the big race with Luke Fetch.

I rode into a deep four wheel drive bog hole at the 40km mark.
Finish the race 9th.

Rode back on the road to Skenes Creek, more up hill than I thought. Had a quick swim with Alec.

Spent the next 2 days recovering from food posioning from Fish and Chips.

First hit out on the race bike

Rode the race bike for the first time at the You Yangs 6 hour on Sunday. I had a few teething issues after the first 2 laps so I stopped and fixed these. I went out for a few more laps but stopped at 3pm. I had next weekend in the back of my mind (The Otways).


It was a relaxed race feel with everyones minds on the fires that have devastated the state over the past week. It was estimated that the day raised close to $35,000.


Thanks to Tim and Shelley McColl for letting us use their tent. Out little fellas are getting on well.

I have spent some time getting the race bike ready for the upcoming season. Some weight reduction was needed with a starting weight of 12.17kg. I've upgrades the running gear, seat and post, handle bars and head stem, wheels, pedals and drive train (basically the lot). I hope to get the bike down to around 10.5kg.

Took the little fella out for another ride. This photo was taken close to the Upper Ferntree Gully Train Station. The fires have been close to our place. This small fire burnt down to Burwood Hwy.

Resistance Training

I took the little fellow for his first ride in his bike trailer the other day. Hard work for me but not for him he fell asleep after looking a little worried.

The family spent the long weekend down at Forrest. I went out each day training for the Otway Odyssey with a mate from Canberra. The trails were great, pity about the snake I saw on Saturday and the 5 I saw on Sunday.

Thanks to Norm and Jess Douglas for the ride on Sunday.

Xmas - New Years Holidays

Just got back from a weeks holiday at the Rover Scout Chalet on the Bogong High Plains out from Falls Creek (team Franzke training camp) (my 2 cousins Matt and Ian missed this year, they were skiing powder in the Swiss Alps - dirty dogs).

I rang Luke Fetch (Team TORQ) when we arrived in Mount Beauty so I could organise some rides but no answer. I started riding up the Falls Creek Rd alone and around the first corner ran into the TORQ Team, AJ, Paul Van and others. The company was great.

I spent most days riding down to Mount Beauty for some single track with company. The area was full of athletes (triathletes, runners, roadie, rowers and us MTBikers).

I also got some good riders in up on the High Plains with my mate Row from Canberra.

I finished the week with an epic ride from the Rover Chalet down to Mount Beauty some single track with Row, Paulie, Jack, Tori and others before heading over Tawonga Gap alone through Bright and ending in Myrtleford where I meet Kim.

My new bike felt great on the single track in Mount Beauty and in pro pedal was very efficient on the gravel and bitumen.