What sits behind all of our activity online are massive data centres that store all of the ... well, data.

Not mind-blowing news, I'll admit. But the video below is an interesting story of evolution.

A paper mill in Finland was purchased by Google so that it could be converted to a data centre.

There's a lot in that, isn't there. Paper mill making way for data storage.

Things in the physical world change to accommodate our online activity. This is not always obvious to us but I think this particular example is a fairly punchy one.

Some people have actually made their donations conditional upon seeing me in the suit. So, for the sake of those in need, here it is ...

I'm standing there while it's pitch black. It's 3'C. I'm wearing a head to toe body suit made of some wafer thin synthetics. I can't feel my feet. I'm freezing and I'm being yelled at by the world's most passionate coach

That's right - I'm a cyclist

It's 5:30 in the morning and with a bunch of other guys, I'm standing there taking tips from our coach before we head off for 90 minutes of physical heartache

Few mornings come and go without the question – why am I doing this?!

Well, now, I’ve got a brand new reason and it’s pretty good

Our club has organized a big two-day ride for anyone who wants to get involved. It’s a 15km sprint on the first day and then 150km up and down hills on the second day – pretty heavy

But that’s not the good reason – the good reason is this: the race is all about raising money for a really worthwhile cause

James Pitts, the CEO of Odyssey House, came and spoke to all of us the other day and shared some stories about the people that his organisation looks after. That guy and all the folks at Odyssey House are literally saving lives

So, when the invitation came to pedal my heart out for a good cause I said “yes”

Now I’m in training. Every Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday morning, rain, hail, hangover or shine, I've got to squeeze myself into my little lycra suit (photo NOT attached) and pedal like someone’s life depends on it

I’m trying to raise $3,000 for Odyssey House and I’d really like your support. Some people have already been kind enough to donate $680 so we’re away but I hope you can help me get a bit closer to the finish line

Can you please click on the link below, head to the website for donations and dig deep.

Tomorrow morning while you’re alarm’s going off, spare a thought – I’ve just done 60km training, my heart just about jumped out of my chest, I’m freezing, I’m being yelled at and I’m wearing a skin-tight body suit

… it’s for a good cause, it’s for a good cause …

http://www.everydayhero.com.au/eastern_suburbs_cycling_clubalbion_cycles

This is James Pitts, CEO Odyssey House, receiving the cheque from last year's ride.

Hey everybody! Thanks a lot. I had a great time

Now, before you go, leave a comment in the comment section below

Love Wayne

Guys, firstly I just want to say thanks a lot !!

I was making excuses

I like riding bikes. I'm good at it but it's something that I'd like to be really good at. So I train ... and I train

In January, my pretty girlfriend (Kate) came up with a pretty stupid idea

She said - "why don't you ride up the hill at Balmoral Beach"

Now, I don't know if you've been there. In case you haven't let me see if I can give you an idea of the gradient that we're dealing with here ...

Let's say you dropped a ball on the ground at the top of the hill you would not bother chasing it. That is just a lost ball my friend

Or, drivers are not sure which gear to use as they go up this monster so most slow down to about 20kmh and use first gear

For you locals, it's Awaba Rd, Balmoral - home of the Awaba Burn where runners compete to see who can make it up the hill first, on foot

OK, so I think you've got an idea - it's STEEP!

So, upon the suggestion of this pretty girl I thought I'd head down there and just size it up. It's now the start of January

Lesson #1: Hills don't look as steep as they feel

My mind, which I hope is the same as yours - normal - works in a funny way. It's both friend and foe and not necessarily at the right times

Here's what I mean ...

In summary, here's how the mental chatter sounds as I make my way up the hill

"Gee, this is steeper than I thought ..."

"Oh this is stupid. What am I doing this for?"

"I don't know if I'm going to make it"

"I don't know if I'm going to make it!"

...

"I'm going to make it ...!"

"I'm going to make it ... !!!"

"This is such a great feeling !!!"

And when I finally get to the top I feel so good about having made it that I convince myself to do it all over again

"Gee, this really is a lot steeper than I thought ..."

____________

Well, the first day I did the hill 3 times in a row and I felt pretty good about that (I probably felt better telling Kate!)

I waited a few days and I went back and then did it 4 times. Nice work champ!

It's still early January so I was in the middle of doing some planning for a big 2010. You know - writing down some goals, making a plan

One of the things I wrote down was - "Balmoral Hill 10 times, non-stop. Before the end of January"

So now I'm in training ...

The next time I did it 6 times but the following time I could only manage 4

The next time 6 again. the next 8!

I looked ahead and I saw Australia Day coming up - 26th Jan. Perfect

So here are the ingredients:

(1) I wrote it down; and
(2) I told Kate my plan

No backing out now

I got up early on the 26th and headed down there. Kate did too. She stood at the top of the hill to count my laps (it's not like she doesn't believe me!)

So I pedal. And it's lap #1 and it's the same old routine ... "Gee, this really is very steep ..."

It's amazing how many excuses came to me between laps 1 and 7.

Oh, I think my tyres are a bit flat
Is that noise coming from my bike?
I didn't eat right yesterday
The weather's not right
My knee is really sore

Anything to get off the bike

But I stayed on, and I kept going

Laps 1 through 7 taught me a hell of a lot about life

It's so easy to find excuses. Good ones too! No one else was out there riding with me. That's a good enough reason to stop isn't it?

By lap 8 I knew I was going to make it and the last 3 laps - 8, 9 and 10 were the best of all and far from being the hardest. They were absolutely the easiest and definitely the most enjoyable

When I finished the last lap I felt full, complete, in charge of myself and as though I could do anything I chose to write down

You might draw your own lessons, or not. But, for me, this all amounts to this - Push.

(download)

Click here to download:

First_flight_in_Sydney.zip (8.55 MB)

A new mate of mine, Richard, was kind enough to introduce me to the guys at Curtis Aviation, Camden and I took my first flight in Sydney with him and Rob, the instructor
 
Flew from Camden over the Blue Mountains, down to Woollongong
 

I didn't get my hands on the wheel unfortunately. Next time ...

Magic day!