By Annette Sharp

IT IS an accepted view that if one lives by the sword, so might one expect to
die by it.

This week this columnist tasted the tip of her own sword - as thrust by the
Gladiator himself, Russell Crowe - after an item in Sydney Confidential raised
the actor's ire.

The story took a shot at Crowe's fitness after he was photographed puffing on a
fag while cycling in Sydney. After the bike ride he tucked into a plate of
tacos.

The next day the phone rang. It was Crowe's man in the city. Crowe was laying
down a challenge.

"Get on your bike. Russell wants you to go riding with him," the spokesman said,
adding: "Are you ready to die?"

When you make a living throwing stones you expect that one day someone is going
to lob one back. This was that day.

A 20km ride from Crowe's home at Woolloomooloo to Bondi was proposed. We were to
meet at dawn. Crowe's weapon of choice, the bike.

Having spent the past nine months honing his form to play Robin Hood in director
Ridley Scott's latest romp, Crowe was in good condition. Not so this mother of
three.

Crowe was waiting at the end of the wharf wearing a South Sydney vest. He
offered me one before asking: "You can ride a bike, right?"

We were joined by Crowe's assistant - biochemist turned businessman turned PA -
Texan Keith Rodger.

Within moments the actor had launched himself from the footpath and into the
early morning traffic. By the time I'd waited for the traffic to clear, Crowe
was out of sight. The game was to be cat and mouse and it seemed we'd be jumping
kerbs.

"You'll soon realise that from Woolloomooloo, everything is uphill," he called
over his shoulder after we'd found him.

He was right. We climbed up Bourke St and into Surry Hills, then turning our
bikes left to the new Redfern Park.

Crowe, the South Sydney team owner, is rightly proud of the transformation here.
At this point my duelling opponent had become a tour guide. "This is actually
not a workout. This is just something I love doing in Sydney," he explained,
"and LA."

Gallery: See Rusty and our Annette in action

On through Bondi Junction, up to Bellevue Hill to admire the outstanding view
north and east from the summit and then we headed into Cooper Park - off road.

I was sliding exuberantly down the track when, with a thump, I came off the seat
and landed painfully on the crossbar. Soon I was on the ground.

This was surely it. His victory moment, with me sprawled in the dirt. Yet he was
gracious, concerned - the perfect gentleman as he rolled up my trousers to check
my knee.

We got back on our bikes and rode on. Everyone should see Sydney like this.

When we emerged from the gully we were in Double Bay and Crowe decided I'd had
enough - 20.3km covered at a speed of 15km/h. Not bad for a first-timer.

"Better than Baz Luhrmann," he offered. "You're twice the man Baz is."

See video here:
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/entertainment/sydney-confidential/movie-star-vs\
-gossip-girl-now-looks-whos-rusty/story-e6frewz0-1225769326285


All the best,
Andreea