Category Archives: Art

Everybody is an art critic.

COVID Photo gallery

Dear Rouleurs,

MMT has been busy collating a series of happy snaps and social media memes as a record of COVID-19 and its impact on Melbourne. Most of these photos have been taken whilst MMT has been out and about on his bike. Speaking of which, MMT is quietly chuffed at doing over 1000 km in June.

So the photo below, isn’t included in the gallery as it was taken in Sydney. MMT thinks it perfectly captured the insanity of what was occurring in Australia’s grocery stores back in March 2020.

Chapeau!! to the Newtown branch of NSW Fire and Rescue service. Readers you can find MMT’s COVID Gallery <-here.

Until next time, ride safe and stay safe.

Marv

Product Review: Fausto Coppi Mug

Dear Rouleurs,

It has been a long, long, long time since MMT did a product review. However, something special popped up, that was just too cool. MMT felt compelled to share with all those digital citizens, who quite sensibly, pay no attention to this blog.

Originally, MMT found it on the https://shop.rouleur.cc/collections/mugs-coffee, where, distressingly, it was sold out. MMT then googled the maker and found it available at https://thehandmadecyclist.com/collections/mugs. A few weeks later MMT was drinking coffee out of his new favourite mug. Sadly, they are, now, out of stock.

This bit of blurb is stolen directly from the ‘Handmade Cyclist’ website.

“Fausto Coppi ‘Il Campionissimo’ is one of the true legends of cycling. Idolised in Italy, his reputation lives on as one of the classiest riders of all time. Twice winner of the Tour de France and five-time winner of the Giro d’Italia, Coppi was famed for his effortless pedaling style and climbing ability. But Coppi was also a master of cycling’s dark arts, never more succinctly put than in this classic quote.”

“The design pays homage to the classic Bianchi jersey Coppi wore in his heyday – when jerseys and bikes were simple and beautiful.”

Now due to the current state of the UK Pound vs Aussie Dollar, roughly $AUD30 + freight, this was a rather expensive mug. But just look at it. Its sooooo….beautiful. Also, MMT secretly hopes that when he reappears back at work post-COVID-19 planning, that the quote will freak out the FIGJAM Gen Y, MMT works with.

Agile work practices are killing my blog…sob

<whinge mode>

Dear Rouleurs,

It’s been a while, since my last blog. Unfortunately the day to day drama of working in an agile workforce has become a sinkhole of wasted time. Oh well they pay me I turn up. C’est la vie…

Unfortunately, this has meant much less time to work on this blog. It’s also not helping that my adorable half pint daughter is not sleeping through the night…. Sigh. So this means much less available time and energy to do blogs and generally reflect on MMT’s experience of cycling. Happily, MMT’s weekly kilometres ridden has stayed fairly consistent since Christmas.

With the exception of a couple of minor colds and a deeply peculiar skin virus, MMT’s health has been very good. A quick glance at MMT’s Strava account reveals a steady average of 170 Kilometres a week. Hooray, MMT supposes, that for a near 50 year old man this should be cause for celebration.

</Whinge Mode>

Anyhow, enough wingeing and onto the subject of this blog. MMT spied this awesome piece of…. Street art or philosophy on the Gill’s Diner sign last week and thought it was worth putting pen to paper to publicize it.

MMT doesn’t know who chalked this memorable quote but they clearly have a strong grasp of theology. Hopefully MMT will be feeling more chipper and write a less self indulgent blog next time.

Until next time ride safe

MARV

Bollards to that…apologies to Attilla the Stockbroker

Dear Rouleurs,

I just had to post this one.  Post – that luntatic ice addict driving his car down Bourke St Mall and all the terrible, terrible acts of religious fanatics in London, Melbourne has received its own fleet of hideous concrete bollards.  They are scattered all over the CBD. Whilst these things seem to be unfortunately necessary, they are unspeakably ugly.  The picture below is sufficient proof of that.

A row of concrete eyesores near Fed Square.

So much to MMT’s surprise, an interesting article, documenting a wonderful public spirited response to these eyesores, appeared in the Age a few days ago.  I assume for reasons of cost cutting, after all its Fairfax print, the online version appeared only in the Sydney Morning Herald…WTF.

I’m surprised that anyone in the emerald city of Sydney would give 2 proverbial Shi#ts about these things in Melbourne???’

Another row of concrete eyesores near Southern Cross Station. One of them is just a little prettier, thanks to David Gray, the infamous Bollard Bandit.

Nevertheless, MMT feels compelled offer a polite and heartfelt ‘chapeau’ to Melbourne’s very own Bollard Bandit, David Gray for improving the city scape of Melbourne just a little bit.

Chapeau Monsieur Gray 🙂

Until next time, ride safe, avoiding bollards,

Marv