The FYXO Melburn Roobaix is part scavenger hunt, part showcase of Melbourne cycling culture. I recently attended the 10th edition of the event after hearing how popular (and fun) the previous years had been.
Melburn Roobaix isn’t exactly the most competitive event (seriously, look at the photos!). Its website states that those at the finish first, second or third don’t stand a chance of winning. Dressing up is strongly encouraged, and following ‘the rules’ is advised against. If you own some cycling gear that should by rights be burned rather than letting it see the light of day, it seems this is the day to break it out.
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You know the event is lighthearted when some of your 'competition' are wearing this type of svelte skinsuit
With all that in mind, this isn’t the most serious Horse for the Course, either. The outcome wasn’t for the fastest bike – it was for a bike well suited to the course, for no complaints from the ‘pavé sectors’ or parkland riding… and to facilitate a cheesy smile along the way.
I didn’t want to take anything too racy, and likewise, with much urban riding to be had, a mountain bike seemed like overkill. Enter the entry-level Merida Cyclo Cross 500.
- The course: The 10th anniversary Melburn Roobaix. Starting at an outdoor velodrome just down the road from the original birthplace of the Malvern Star brand, find your way to the checkpoints on the map and stop for some fun along the way. Finally finish some odd 43km later (if not lost – ours was much longer) at Brunswick velodrome with the approximately 2,500 other participants.
- The equipment goal: A dependable and comfortable multi-terrain bike that was up to the cobbles, but still efficient on tarmac. Nothing too flash given the high likelihood of stopping for a coffee mid-event in urban Melbourne.
- The horse: A 2015 Merida Cyclocross 500, with the inline brake levers removed for better brake feel, added tyre sealant to the tubes to prevent flats from grass (bindis) and glass, Shimano XT Race pedals and a Speedsleev on the saddle rails for spares, Indigo Dual mount off handlebar with GoPro Silver 4. No GPS computer in the spirit of getting lost. 10.2kg all up.
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