With the last stage of the Tour de France this weekend I am almost inspired to hop on my bike and head for the hills! Racing down hill looks like great craic.

Up hill?! ARE YOU HAVIN' A LAUGH'?! Even as a kid I recall riding down a hill, getting off at the bottom, then walking my bike back up to the top to do it again. And again, and again. I spent entire Summers in this fashion...it would NOT have occurred to me to stay on the saddle and ride back up.

So fair play to you lot out there with those thighs of steel who don the lycra, clip onto your peddles and boldly brave the ascent!

This blog is dedicated to you.

[caption id="attachment_393" align="aligncenter" width="600"]Pop Chart Lab - The Evolution of Bicycles Pop Chart Lab - The Evolution of Bicycles - Poster[/caption]

If you are serious about bikes...you NEED to know where they came from...

[caption id="attachment_395" align="aligncenter" width="370"]Bold and Noble Yellow Jersey Teatowel Bold and Noble - Yellow Jersey - Teatowel[/caption]

So you might never win a Yellow Jersey on the Tour, but you CAN get one in the kitchen.

[caption id="attachment_402" align="aligncenter" width="516"]James Kelly - Pushing for Home - Original James Kelly - Pushing for Home - Original[/caption]

"Get on his wheel!"

[caption id="attachment_396" align="aligncenter" width="376"]green-jersey Bold and Noble - Green Jersey - Teatowel[/caption]

ALLEZ ALLEZ ALLEZ!  The drying is waiting!

[caption id="attachment_394" align="aligncenter" width="525"]Compendium Posters - Tour de France 2014 Bikes Compendium Posters - Tour de France 2014 Bikes[/caption] [caption id="attachment_399" align="aligncenter" width="567"]Foss - I Like Your Bike Foss - I Like Your Bike - Signed Print[/caption]

Initial training for the Tour...

[caption id="attachment_398" align="aligncenter" width="650"]Prints NR - Paris in Blue Bicycle Prints NR - Paris in Blue Bicycle - Photograph[/caption]

I'm not sure you would make it too far on the Tour with a bike like this, but damn you'll look fine on the city streets...

[caption id="attachment_397" align="aligncenter" width="573"]Dick Bruna - Miffy on a Bike Dick Bruna - Miffy on a Bike - Limited Edition Print[/caption]

Inspire the kiddies when they are young! Get up there Miffy!

[caption id="attachment_400" align="aligncenter" width="600"]Garance Doré - Bicycle Garance Doré - Bicycle - Print[/caption]

This was like me cycling in Brisbane...minus the flowers and hat...but, with the addition of sweat running into my eyes...

[caption id="attachment_401" align="aligncenter" width="625"]Sasha Harding - A Red Bike Sasha Harding - A Red Bike - Signed Limited Edition Print[/caption] [caption id="attachment_404" align="aligncenter" width="389"]Blanca Gomez - The Cyclist Blanca Gomez - The Cyclist - Print[/caption] [caption id="attachment_392" align="aligncenter" width="600"]Andy Gibson - Photograph - Team Sky Andy Gibson - Photograph - Team Sky[/caption]

"Go wan ye's boyse ye's".  Team Sky during the Giro D'Italia 2014 in good old Ireland!