Courier bikes in Tokyo

Here's a couple of bikes that get well used. The black one I snapped at night and I didn't get a chance to see what it was. I don't even know what the hubs are, I'm sure lots of you do know. The blue one is a Panasonic (I think). The shot-in stays should be a giveaway, but I'm not that great at remembering who offers what style.








Also, the Tour de France starts tomorrow, and I think it'll be a great one for the Aussie riders. I'm tipping:

- Northern Territorian Cadel Evans to win overall (a dark horse, but has had better form than the red-hot favourite Alexandre Vinokurov)

- Brisbane's Robbie McEwan will take the green jersey for best sprinter

- The hill-climber's polka dot jersey will go to the Dane Michael Rassmusen (no Aussies can match him in the mountains)

- The white jersey for the best young rider will go to Amets Txurruka.

But back to the Aussies, I predict Brett Lancaster will win a stage as will Stuart O'Grady (look out for O'Grady on stage 1 on Sunday).

The other not so hard to make prediction is that the Astana team will be raided more than once to check for drugs. In fact, not only will their hotels be raided, their bins will be emptied, wives' and girlfriend's cars checked, and massuers frisked. Despite riding in blue, they're known as the Men In Black - shady characters who seem to be a little too strong.

Oh, and followers of the Brits - the prologue is tailormade for Bradley Wiggins. He'll have a tough time beating Fabian Cancellara, but I think he might just do it. In Chris Boardman he's got the best coach in the world.