29er.....

Just finished building up a 29er with Silver Aireal XC hubs and EV2 Headset - it rolls so, so smoothly - what a beauty. We are very proud of this build.

Nice.......................

Hey, here is Austen showing off those new Aireal violet hubs and headset on some Melbourne BMX tracks over the long weekend.

What a beautiful world........

What a way to spend the long weekend - camping and riding.
Brilliant stuff.

We found a great spot on the coast to test out our Aireal XC hubs and want to share some piccies with you. Yes, we rode and carried and pushed our bikes to get to the top of both these super spots - hard work but worthwhile for the views - but if you want to know where these piccies were taken you will have to leave a post to find out. Cheeky hey!!! Sorry - but we don't want every man and their dog to be there next time we want a weekend away.......

Some super Aireal news - Aireal Road hubs have just been on display at Interbike at the Velocity stand. Tom from Velocity built up a set of our black Aireal road hubs into his Velocity rims and we are waiting, waiting, waiting excitedly and patiently to hear back from Tom about the reception he received in the US.

And the team at Aireal wish great racing to Nathan Dyke competing in the Tour of Tasmania this week on Campag compatible Aireal road hubs.

Well that was a while ago.......

Thought I'd finally put up some pictures from our trip to the Adelaide race - thanks for a great weekend guys.
These piccies show some beautiful country and some of the easier parts of the tough course.....

Westward bound......

Off to Adelaide at the end of the week for one of the Aireal team to race in the Foxy1000 - just for a bit of fun and punishment. That should put us far enough away from all the APEC hoo ha!! Keep tuned for some pictures of the road trip and race.

What beautiful weather for us here now - clear, blue skies but still a bit of a crisp frost to start the day - a great time of year. Makes that winter worthwhile after all!

Violet all the way.....

Well........finally it is finished. Austen's bike! How awesome do those hubs and headset look - what a great effect. It apparently rides well too.

If you've got a piccie of your ride with Aireal components on it please send it in - we love showing off your favourite things.

Dusty and cold......

I was wrong about the possibility of mud - it was so dry in Canberra, so dusty, and a little bit chilly too. That cold wind whipped off the snowy mountains and right into that pine forest. I have included a few shots of the start of the racing - but I deleted the "oops"one that just had legs and wheels in it.

Congratulations to CORC and Bright Orange Events for putting on such a great race with good facilities too - and to Bright Orange Events and KHS for a great 8hr Series.

I highly recommend you go see "24-Solo"- it was a fantastic insight into the preparation and exertion that goes into competing in one of these 24 Hr events. It also highlights the stark differences between the fully sponsored, supported rider and the one who just gets in there and has a go on limited funds. And the winner is..... well, we all know who won. All those at the premiere were privileged to hear Craig Gordon talk about his experiences in this event - an extraordinary fellow doing what he loves. Thanks for sharing with us Craig.

Canberra bound......

Off to the ACT tomorrow as Mick is racing in the last round of the KHS Working Week Series at the Sparrow Hill course. Could be a touch muddy but let's hope for good weather. Also looking forward to the premiere screening of 24-Solo at the Dendy Theatre - from the producers of "Off Road to Athens", 24-Solo is the inspiring story of Craig Gordon's ride in the 24 Hour World Solo event in 2006 in which Chris Eatough was expected to win and claim his 7th straight title.

Monday night is looking good too - bit of a plug for our broadcasters Aunty Jack and SBS here in Aus - firstly it's TOP GEAR on SBS at 7.30pm (EST) not just for the petrol heads - a brilliant and witty show and I know, I know it's made in the UK but do they get it so right??!! Then, the nights not over - watch Enough Rope with Andrew Denton on ABC at 9.25pm as he is interviewing ........Cadel Evans!!! Can't wait.

Aussie, Aussie, Aussie hubs and Cadel......

Look at those colours - just to show you our whole colour range here are some of our latest Aireal Single Speeders and a front XC hub. Starting from the left we have Gold, Red, Blue, Silver, Black, Orange and then my favourite in the middle.........Violet. All pretty self explanatory really - don't they look good!!!

Wow, our first Aussie on the Tour de France podium - what a superb effort by Cadel Evans. A guy who excelled in mountain biking is now excelling in road racing and is a top bloke too. Looks like it's back to a normal nights sleep now......till next year.

A jumble....

Well yes, this will be a jumble and ramble of things as I haven't been here for a while. Firstly, it will be a late night tonight watching the Tour - go Cadel. After such a frustrating and disappointing Tour with injuries, and the other stuff we won't mention cause everyone else is talking about it - it would be so, so perfect for an Aussie to win.

Secondly, talking about Aireal parts - we are getting some very positive comments about our new colour Violet - it is superb and a real standout on a bike. Also check out our tech info page as we have just put up some new details about our components. Thanks to Luke for that!!

Thirdly, just for fun have a look at this big stuff up - someone goofed when they ordered these bikes!!

Have a great weekend from Aireal.

Snowing......

It's been snowing again - we actually had a light dusting everywhere yesterday. That may seem pretty insignificant for many of you in colder climes and the northern hemisphere, but for us it is pretty special - makes this darn cold weather feel worthwhile. And it is pretty.....

Not too good for riding this weather though - but the sun is out so once you are rugged up to the hilt you can do anything! Life is good when you feel well again.

Here and there........

Oh, it really is bad being crook with the flu - there are books to read and telly and dvd's to watch but that gets a bit much after a while and you just want to do things, normal everyday things, without feeling horrible. Life just wants to gain some normal rhythm, some sunshine, some cleaning, some jobs to do, a little work, some talking without breathing germs on all. I think I am back now.......just taking it slow.

Thank goodness the "Tour" has been on - that is so worth watching. Every year your own little visual trip around France and that spectacular countryside. Poor Stuey, poor Mick Rogers - for both a terrible way to end their tour!!! So, go Cadel - climb those mountains!

Great review......

Just received a great review from Hayden over in the UK - he has been riding an Aireal hub for just on twelve months and loves it. Thanks Hayden! This is his Santa Cruz - lovingly called "Mabel".

Oooh...it's cold....

Wet, windy, cold weather all around us and a bit of snow....

"The more it snows (tiddly pom), the more it goes (tiddly pom), the more it goes (tiddly pom), on snowing. "

Wonderful rhyming words courtesy of A.A. Milne - you know - the guy who wrote Pooh Bear - no it wasn't Walt Disney!!!

Nothing to do with bike components I know but seeing snow around the outskirts of our town just makes me think of that poem. There is more rain around too - especially in Victoria - hi to Austen who is so keen to build up his new violet DH Headset - if he doesn't float away first. Can't wait to see the pictures - of the bike that is, not the floods. Shall post them as soon as he sends them on.

We are back.....

Hello, well we have been away for a few days as one of us has been pretty crook and off his bike - not me!!! Still a few days rest, a few more dvd's, another bicycling book and things should be on the mend and back to normal. At least the cool, rainy weather here means it is real easy to stay in bed!

Speaking of rainy weather..... a cheerio to all those in the Newcastle and Central Coast region who have been inundated with too much of the wet stuff. Including some of our relatives. A big hi to all and hope things improve quickly. To the guys at Drift Bike Style - hope you get the van back soon.

On our news front.... we have just released our Downhill EV Headset - see the piccy above. This baby is a heavier duty version of our EV2 so more suitable for DH and Free Riding. Machined from 7075 alloy we have added a larger Enduro bearing which will withstand whatever you want to throw at it - the cup also has a deeper insertion into the frame for the ultimate in stability. These are available now - in Red, Black, Orange, Silver, Blue and........Violet!!!!

Our Tandem hubs are ready too - shall place a picture very soon.

Oh.... last but not least, Nick is on his way to Helsinki - he left from Mt Wellington near Hobart on Sunday. See storytransect to catch up with his ride.

Hobart to Helsinki........

Aireal is proud to support the up and coming 20,000km cycling adventure of Nick McIntosh. Nick, who lives in Hobart, Tasmania, will be setting off in ten days time to cycle to Helsinki, Russia and along the way will collect local people's stories from at least 15 of the most remote and least known countries in the world. What a tremendous effort that will be. We are really looking forward to reading Nick's stories and wish him a safe and exciting adventure.

To keep track of Nick's expedition please check in at www.storytransect.net

New colour........

Did you guess? Did you have any idea? Well, here is a little peek - our new colour - let's christen her........."Violet".
She is a beauty - so sleek, so out there, so superb. The Violet anodised finish will make your Aireal Headset stand out from the rest. Orders are being taken now........order online or contact your local bike shops within Australia and New Zealand or Topshelf Components in the UK. See our website for more details.

Mmmmmm......red all over!

Look what I have been busy doing - anodising lots of hubs and headsets ready for export. Don't you just love our red? - it is such a deep colour. And a surprise is in store - a new colour will venture onto this blog next week for Aireal components - any guesses to what it will be??? Keep posted.

Brilliant spectator sport.......

The 2nd State Round of NSW Downhill has been won and run at Lidsdale - what a super way to see downhill racing. The set up of the dual tracks through the pine forest allowed oodles of people in to watch the racing up close - and you didn't need to be a mountain goat to get to the top or bottom of the track. Here are a few piccies of some riders on their runs on Sunday morning. Well done to CTMBC again for putting on such a great show.

Tandem hubs

Well our tandem hubs are in the cnc machines as I write this - material is being machined to absolute precise measurements to create a beautiful hub with a very specific purpose. Keep posted - we will have a pic soon.

This weekend sees the 2nd NSW State Round of the Downhill series being run just down the road at Lithgow - not on the State Mine Track though - it's demise has been sealed officially now. So Flynny - the hard working CTMBC presidente has organised dual DH tracks at the Lidsdale site for this huge event - as he puts it "Two short trails will be used, both starting and finishing in the same place, completely different but within seconds of each other. Riders get a timed run down each track then times are added together to give you a total." That should make things very interesting!!!! We will fly the Aireal banner there tomorrow and take some pics.

Aireal around Australia and further.........

Well, our Aireal components manage to find their way to many different parts of Australia - we have included the picture above that was supplied recently by Tim from Velosmith in Tassie who took his bike and a friend touring. Part of that trip was on the Birdsville Track - and all up they travelled a staggering 2000km. The Aireal headset performed beautifully and Tim's words were as follows -

"The bike is one of my Velosmith "Jotas" on the Birdsville Track, a desert trip I know but a little rain turns the place into a mud bath. I had a look inside the headset at the end of the trip (2000km) which was of course very dusty too and it was as clean as new."

You can see Tim's beautiful bikes here - www.velosmith.com.au

Also, at the top of the page you will see that Aireal components can be found in Singapore - here is Mohamad Adenan competing in a recent race at Kent Ridge Park in Singapore - it is definitely a little greener and quite a contrasting environment to the Birdsville Track! Mohamad is riding on an Aireal XC wheelset that he built up himself with orange 32 hole hubs and an orange EV2 Headset.

New Engraving on our EV2.......

We really like our EV2 Headsets but realised that they just don't stand out enough and shout "I am here!!! Look at me!!" on our bikes and yours.
So... we tweaked the engraving design and came up with a bit more of a wrap around style. Hope you like it. It is here to stay.

Superb coffee.....

The morning after the race at Wingello we enjoyed a superb coffee at "Ye Olde Bicycle Shop & Cafe" in Bundanoon. They have an array of cycling memorabilia on the walls which makes interesting reading and a great atmosphere.

Here we are......

Well, this little blog has been sitting around hidden for a while - ruminating as such, trying hard to decide how to escape, launch itself, and become part of the bigger picture at Aireal Australia's website. This little sibling couldn't decide what it wanted to be.... now we know! This little blog will be our way of keeping you up to date with our new products, ideas, supporters, sponsored riders, distributors, racing results, latest best coffee experience, etc. etc.! Though whose know us well would have expected that last bit about "coffee" - they know we like our coffee about as much as our bikes.

So to the latest at Aireal - did I mention that we are 100% Australian owned and our components are 100% Australian made. Hey, we gotta import the raw materials - sorry. Last week saw Mick racing solo at the lastest 8hr event put on by Bright Orange Events. This was held at Wingello - a beautiful little spot just right for camping and run beautifully by the organisers and Southern Highlands Cycle Club. We had a great time and Mick successfully completed 7 laps in his first solo event - not a bad effort I thought - on Aireal XC hubs and EV2 Headset of course. Great effort also by a few other Central Tablelands Mountain Bike Club members.

Aireal Australia's re-designed web site has just been launched - we now have an online store too! Check it out..........www.airealaustralia.com

Aireal's latest baby........EV2 Headset

Aireal EV2 Classic Headset

Aireal has been busy again re-designing and tweaking their 1 1/8" Headsets. What's new? Well all machined components in both the classic/standard and semi-integrated 1 1/8" Headsets are CNC machined from 7075 Aluminium billet. A newly designed top race ring fully covers the O-ring to assist in keeping all trail rubbish out and away from the bearings. We now use 36 x 45 ACB Stainless Steel Enduro Bearings and another option available is Stainless Bearings with ceramic balls. Of course they are O-ring sealed, topped off with a carbon fibre top cap and come with three sizes of carbon fibre spacers. Anodised finish is in a range of brilliant colours - Red, Blue, Silver, Orange, Gold or Black.