Round Lake Dunstan 96km Fun Ride 9th January 2012

3 training rides had precluded:
15km around Wanaka 2nd December 2011
50km from Lake Hawea to Makarora 17th December 2011
70km from Wanaka to Roaring Meg Power Station 27th December 2011
25km on the tandem Wanaka to Lugatte and return 1st January 2011

Unsurprisingly, a different bike was rolling for this year’s ride.
The Wilier with Ultegra/Dura ace has a new home, so with a new to me 10 speed Dura ace groupset on hand I quickly loaded it onto the nearest available frame: a 1985 Panasonic Raleigh built from Reynolds 531C steel tubing.



Luckily my prior to event day rides had settled everything down and resulted in a few subtle changes:
A shorter stem
Different wheels with Alex A23 rims riding on 28mm Conti tires
Compact cranks but with a 36 on the inside, not a 34
A quick tune up from Sheldon Sharman who no doubt shook his head over a few small insignificant details that I typically would have overlooked.

I watched the weather like a hawk for a few days before hand....wondering if booties would be needed ?
Event day dawned bright and sunny.
Transport with Leigh (new owner of the Wilier) and Mr Ed (former owner of Radio Wanaka) was filled with speculation of a rolling quartet in tight formation and various other tales of conquest.

The reailty was of course very different as Marc Sheldon Sharman and I ducked off for a coffee up the road and arrived back with two minutes to start.

Marc tried to quietly sneak down the side of the 200 hundred strong bunch and bury himself in the middle, I called him back and said we could jump right in the front when the whistle blew, which is just how it played out.....
So, big ringing it up the road and main bridge over Lake Dunstan, I was bouncing off the cat’s eyes withTom Skully just in front of me.
I pondered how I could gracefully slide backwards through the bunch when the hammer goes down in a hundred metres....

Lucky for me a small gap appeared as we turned and slide over to the inside we go and backwards in one quick manouvre.
I figured a nice bunch would arrive sooner or later that would match my pace.
The tailwind to Tarras passed without event, the cross/tail wind to Lugatte did as well.
The two hills on this leg were ok for me this year – I even grabbed the pre arranged bottle from Keighley on the last uphill....
Leigh & Ed stopped by the Lugatte pub, but got the bottles and their mojo all mixed up requiring a quick swap around with the assistance of the Radio Wanaka car.
I started to hit the wall with about 30km to go, but another hot squishy yoghurt coated muesli bar soon had me back in the drops and ready to fire for the minor placings sprint.
Just so we’re clear here – I ended up 114th out of 215 starters, so it’s hardly podium stuff.....
However it may well have been Boonen, the Schlecks and Vinakorov the way the bunch was behaving....
Or misbehaving.
Chicks were throwing in flyers, I got pushed into the pot holes and gravel to which I sat up and told the bunch they were about of get done over by a chick and they were a bunch of muppets.
Resuming the closing stages I found a small gap, slid through and fed it the jandel, unfortunately not leaving enough room to pass the lady in white shorts on a Bianchi with a squeaking dry chain.
However, a new course record for me of 2hrs 44.01 can stand for another year, while Marc, Ed and Leigh can only wish they’d sat on my wheel from the start.

Oh, I forgot: Joe Cooper smoked everyone with his hairy legs: 2hrs 14 mins

With Spring not that far away and for myself, another year older and certainly wiser, I thought a recap of my own “World Cup of Cycling” was in order.

With some of those highly paid sports stars only showing their faces in a few events this year, I feel somewhat smug in the fact I turn up to work reasonably regularly, support a family, find time to shave once a week and spin the wheels:

Here we go, mostly in the right order.
Summer 2011:
Round Lake Dunstan fun road ride; 92 KM, January
The Wilier performed flawlessly, if only I could say the same for myself.
My brother borrowed my Serotta with 8 speed Dura Ace, his baggy shorts were certainly sneared at as he hung with the front bunch comfortably….
Scotty Rainsford smeared himself all over the road on the uphill after the red bridge, apparently the road could not contain his awesome power and something had to give.
The family came out to Lugatte to watch us sail past.
Neither of us got any spot prizes.
Can’t find the results, but it was a great day out – last year I did 3.01 – I would think I did about the same this year, and I think Trevor was about 15 mins quicker than me.

Over summer a couple of new bike were greeted in the stable.

I got an Intense Spider 29er (mtb for you heathens) which is way cool.


I trialled a Commencal Super 4 ( marathon XC bike) which wasn’t bad, but really only 4 inches of travel on 26” wheels. Come on. Gave it back.


Keighley got a round town ladies bike in the old but fashionably new frocks on bikes style. Ok it’s an old dunger in great condition that’s been pimped out:
Ultegra rear derailleur, Mary bars, my old cyclocross wheels and tires, XT thumbie shifter, full mudguards.

A new to me Panasonic Raleigh road frame to add to the collection; one day it might have full Dura Ace all over it.


And lastly for riding to work, a Schwinn touring bike that got stripped down and now sports Honjo hammered fenders, moustache bars, 700C wheels etc.

Going backwards a little to the end of 2010, there was the Otago/Southland singlespeed champs in Naseby.
Lets say it was bang on target for a typically debauched one gear race.
Stinking hot, start with a beer, a beer each lap, cooked legs, under geared on the flats, over geared on the hills, it was brilliant.
I’m not going to mention the fancy dress.

The Naseby 12 hour teams race has already had an honorable mention, but does get another event in May.

More on that later, because the next event was a 4hr solo effort in Hamner Springs.
Pre entered, along Peter Page from Doctor bike I was ready for anything.
Except the cats and dogs that fell from the sky.
Pete thought he might do two laps because the weather was so shite.
All I had to organize was food for the race.
No time to nip into town, so off to the food caravan waving a $50 note which the dutch proprietor swiftly grabbed and handed me back lolly cake, a coffee, apple strudel and something else I can’t remember and a bit of change.
“Never show a Dutchman all your money’ he said. How true.
After the first lap to sort of learn the way around it was just a mud bath.
My tire choice of Maxxis Ardents was ideal as it was the only pair I had and owned, so perfect really.
Actually they were great.
My family arrived – Keighley was sure I’d be all dog and having a less than fun time.
Ah ha ! Just the opposite I was having a ball.
I think my lap times were about 40-45 mins and I can’t find the results for that one either.
Lets say the winner on the days was the bikeshops that fixed up everyone’s rooted bikes thereafter.
I replaced all the bearings and the brakes pads. Most folks would have been up for a whole drive train as well.
The race organizer decided to shorten the 8 hr race to about 5.5 hrs – that’s how wet it was.
Pete hung in there for the 4 hrs, but his single pivot was no match for the VPP of the Intense.

For additional entertainment over the weekend, there was another earthquake in Christchurch leaving us without power for a few hours back at Pete’s place.
No damage, just frazzled nerves again.
The highlight for the kids was seeing The Wiggles live in concert – holy hell, a bike race and the Wiggles in one weekend. Something for everyone.

Next up in May was the Naseby six hour which was a fund raiser for the Christchurch earthquake.
Something that was unusual in the fact that I had the kids with me, instead of leaving them at home or off loading them to Keighley while I rode around like a hamster in a wheel.
Keighley was doing her first rogaine race with team Milf, so I had the kids and a willing team mate (Marc again) to look after them on alternate laps.
A completely different course to the 12 hour and what a ripper it was.
Marc’s bit of fluff; Hannah did the 6 hrs solo and made it with 10 seconds to spare
We on the other hand, toughed things out all day both on course and entertaining and keeping the wheels on the fun bus for the kids.
Oh, we had 10 minutes up our sleeve upon completion of the 6 hour mark.
Home and hosed you could say.
A clean sweep by Team Redwood Racing.
Then it was off to Dunedin after a gourmet dinner of roadside fish and chips in Ranfurly.
The kids did an awesome job – it was a HUGE day for them as we left Wanaka at about 6.30 am and arrived in Dunners about 9pm
The next day we did the museum and the swimming pools before driving home.
Phew.

Invercargill 4/8 Hr Mid June
Ha.
No kids this time. Flying solo for the weekend
Without sounding like a teenager, I hooked up the meanest digs for the weekend; above Cycle Surgery.
I even slept in Tom Skullys bed.
With only a few beers under my belt, I felt my form was God Like and I would conquer the 35 minute, pretty much flat course with ease.

Alas, my team mate; Marc (RR Dunners) was circulating two minutes a lap faster, so eating into my valuable recovery time and I fell apart at the 4 hour mark.
I suggested we call it a day as I made it with 10 seconds to spare, Marc replied that he would do a lap and we would discuss things thereafter.
He returned and I was in the same place in the tent as when he left, looking highly unmotivated to carry on riding.
So he did another lap.
Hannah had cleaned up the 4 hr girls solo class, so with that done and dusted, she was free to look after her man.
Or in her case, bugger off and get a free massage courtesy of the local Polytech students.
I was under the mild misapprehension that she might wish to contribute to our winning ways.
Seems I was wrong.
No matter.
After food – did I mention I put away two large pizzas over the course of the day ?
I went for a night lap, as did Marc and then the race finished and as usual, Hannah got a prize (admittedly she did win her grade) and also as usual we did not.
Then they drove home again making that about an 18 hour day, whereas I went back to the shop and drank myself into oblivion at the after ride party.
About 1am I wobbled upstairs and into the shower as I was in my riding gear…nice.
Next day was very slow and I’m pleased to note that I made it back onto solid food by mid afternoon.
After much reflection and discussion of this event, I can only assume that my absolute lack of training was potentially my undoing and that a 2 man team in an 8 hour event is a big ask especially with me and my two pizzas contributing ½ the fire power for the day.

National Cyclocross Champs Queenstown – two weeks after Invercargill.
My recovery phase was just about complete, so this was shaping up to be a good one.
Unfortunately the other 30 riders in front of me had more ambitious plans.
On a more positive note the 20 odd riders behind me need to lift their game.
My first official CX race – how exciting.
Queenstown MTB club put on a cracker of an event:
The course was excellent and up to UCI standards (I downloaded the rule book)
The BBQ was awesome.
Great tunes
Tony Moore on the mike
Once again I did not receive a prize.
Most everyone crashed on the super slippery muddy downhill near the finish – bragging here….I didn’t wish to muddy my very pro looking riding gear ..so kept it upright.
60 mins + a lap = very hard work.

The pictures did not upload to this blog, so I'll do some kind of online Flickr thing or whatnot.

Naseby 12 hr Teams Race 2011

Plans were hatched months ago to be there for the 3rd year in a row.

A 29er team was planned…
Tony broke his ankle; he was out.
Mrs Oliver ended up in hospital therefore Phil was doubtful.
So we ended up with 4 x 29ers and a 26er in our 4 person team.
I know – we may have flouted the “rules” but we weren’t here to race as you will soon see…so it really didn’t matter.

So. We’d entered, we had a team, we had a ring-in from Taupo (Matt as in door) – what could go wrong ?



I bailed from work on Friday at 3pm to drop the tent off at the campsite and have some time to kick back at our Palatial Digs in Ranfurly Holiday Park – Motel unit this time, as nobody had booked any accom up till 5 days beforehand….whoops.

I was abducted by locals in Becks who had run out of gas then wouldn’t let me leave until I’d been fed and watered well beyond what someone wearing a uniform would think of as reasonable.
Let's just say I rolled into the Motel unit quite late and then Matt and myself giggled in our bunks trying not to wake up Pixie who was doing 12 hrs solo the next day…..she had earplugs. Wise move.

Saturday: weather: chilly start but fine.
Camp site; same as usual but not so much sun as the damn trees keep on growing and blocking out the sun…A fellow competitor who didn’t get his 29er ready in time had to move to the South side of pit lane but laughed at us in the shade all day.
We may join him next year.

Matt did not put his hand up for the first lap run around the campground, but got the task anyways as Phil and I have both done previously. This would have been the year to take the challenge as it was only a short run, but he had more running in store – stay tuned.

Phil did one lap then went to pick up his wife, then Craig took over but had to pull double duty for his sons team as one of their grommets couldn’t make it or more than likely was in the Alexandra Police cells….

Pixie hammered out the solo laps with Erin Green hot on her tail.
Marc gave me instructions for the handover: bottle, food, change bikes and don’t touch the Garmin – only Pixie can touch it !
Roger that, off he went for his lap.
Pixie came and went, single handedly I did what I was told and pushed her off up the hill with my left hand never to be washed again after been on her butt.

If only the next changeover went as well….

Marc and I were both down the back of the pits area getting things ready when unbeknownst to us Pixie came in, saw no one, grabbed a bottle off Erin’s mum -next door and carried on…
I went out on my next lap which I only think is fair to mention involved the first of a few shoddy changeovers….
Matt made his eyes bleed and pulled a 31 minute lap. He arrived, I was still dressed for snow conditions sitting in the shade drinking ½ a can of Monster Energy…crap. Off I went and man did I pay for it.
Somehow got my riding top off while riding and donned the Rambo sleeveless look and busted out my fastest time all day…33 minutes something I believe.

Pixie evidently came in and shared a few choice words with her crew chief/mechanic/life partner Marc.

Is it too early to mention my observation of possibly the same ladies cleavage as last year ?
A low slung tee shirt, two globes with their own independent orbits and a tattoo as well….
” Great cleavage” I muttered in a low tone – the surrounding tents uttered a collective gasp to which the girl raised her hand in a thank you salute and carried on her way.

I’m not 100 % sure of the next sequence of events but it went something like Marc was up for a lap, but not ready so was fussing around getting sorted when Craig appeared out of nowhere and got the wristband instead so took off….

Marc may have also shared a few choice words and did most definitely drop his bike and left the area and “go to Hell” or thereabouts.

Meanwhile I’m sure the other teams where dining out on our lack of commitment and disorganization, but hey, we had Monster Energy, a crack team or a team on crack (whichever) and 3 x 29ers & a Matt.

A quick check showed us in 13th place in the open mens category. Later on we were 17th. On completion 15th. I’d like to say true grit and determination got us there, but it was really Craig and Matt with their fast lap times.

Hey, lets have a little round up on the technology side of things.

Last year I couldn’t believe how many single speeds there were – this year it’s bloody 29ers.
I can say that as I own 2 of them.
Nice Segue to my own bike of choice: the Intense Spider 29er (dualie) which was awesome.
The only thing I changed for Naseby was my pedals, new seat and a new brand of chain oil. Which for me is an all time record when you consider what I normally get up to.

-Hottest guy would have been the guy wearing fuller upper body armour and a full face.
-Coolest guy would have been Tom from The Surgery Dunedin sporting just a pair hot pants.
-Nicest girl: (well my wife obviously, but in lieu of her not been present) I say the blondie dressed as Mini Mouse – a very good rider; I had to go up 2 gears to hang behind her on the hills…

I’m sure that if someone wanted to make a reality TV show we could have starred in it, but as with most weekends away; you had to be there.
The laughs and laps just kept on coming, so did Pixie and the bloody bike changes.

You could have heard a pin drop as she saw the lights mounted on the Superlight meaning Pixie would have maybe another 4 hrs stuck on the one bike, the one bike she isn’t completely Zen with, then she forgot to swap the GPS over and bumped her lights off the bars while sliding GPS into the bracket, my consoling words were met with anything but thanks. Then to make it worse Matt was trying to ace my turn at giving Pixie’s butt the much needed starting push ! I think not young man, step aside – I am a trained professional and you a mere helicopter pilot. Once again the other teams nearby hid behind their baked potatoes and cuppa soups.

Dusk settles upon us, the laps kept coming thick and fast; the A team of myself and Matt kept the wheels on the solo bus – it was probably Marc in reality but we enjoyed ourselves anyways – Matt sprinted around the campground with another bike and food on a couple of occasions – if it was me I would have disqualified myself for a bike change outside my own pits.

Ce la Vie.

I was offered beer but said I had to do a night lap first, so with that out the way and a calculation of time versus riders I had a beer and a shower and endured the unfruitful prizegiving.
Just so we're clear this picture is not the prize giving but a wee snack that Jeff: our camp commander whipped up...



Matt got the last spot prize; a case of Monster and a 6 pack of Speights (Good on ya mate) for making the journey from Taupo.
Pixie licked all the other girls in the solo class.
Anja Mcdonald smashed all the boys in the solo singlespeed class and won it overall.

Corbett; (Matt to his mum) did not disintegrate on his first foray into the potentially dark world of 12 hrs solo as predicted.
And it transpires that a major motivation for Pixie going at it all day like a 70 old with 7 Viagras onboard was that the boys had a bet on that Corbett could knock out more laps than her…..who would have even thought it ?

We have a whole year to convince Pixie that she should be our support crew and we do it solo next year, but so far this idea has not been met warmly.
Maybe publishing the photos of both me and Matt spooning her as she lay in a
lactic-acid-induced-semi-conscious-state later that night may do the trick ? Who really knows.



PS the longer course this year added 2 minutes to Ryan Cull’s once again fastest lap of the day.

Come in Christchurch; The Redwoods are here

Tomorrow is little Chuckies last day of radiation therapy, so Emily and I left Wanaka and flew to Christchurch to be with the rest of our nearest and dearest.

Leaving them to "re-connect" I took off to run some errands.

Beckenham Cycles where I got to sit in the back of Matt's new van - formerly owned by Cam Cole.

There was an ice cream stain on the back seat, but I hear he's dairy free ?

Anyways, then it was onto Around Again Cycles where I had a shock to deliver.

If you have ever had the opportunity to visit Adventure Cycles in Auckland (aka the gimp pit) then this place is next level.

Words cannot do it justice.

If you wanted to rebuild your Morrison Monark with every period correct piece of componentry etc.

then this is the place.

Kids trike -yep no problem; which year sir?

Raleigh Sports with cool curvy top top and 24" wheels - brand new frame on the wall.

Speaking of 24" wheels if you need a new front wheel for that death sled time trial rig from the Olympics in LA circa 1984 - they have them on the hook too.

If ever there is a shortage of Arabesque - these guys have it covered.

I could have bought DB 3-4 frames in his size that he would have been fizzing over...

GB stems - sure thing.

It really was like I'd put Frodo's ring on my finger and knew I shouldn't have.

I think I was lucky to get out of there with only a pair of 32 hole FIR tubular rims that I probably didn't need.

Resuming normal transmission now I headed to Harringtons Brewery which is similar in the fact that they have, I'd say maybe, 20 beers on tap to fill your own....

"Just a 2 litre of your darkest thanks love"

Only the 3rd time I'd been in there and she remembered Charlie from an earlier visit and was so pleased that it was all working out well thus far.

No surprises I go back there or buy in bottles from our local capitalist supermarket.

Across the road to Cycleways to introduce myself as we've often spoken on the phone - now I can put a face to that Australian voice down the phone....

Phil - their mechanic was regailling us of the time he was in Gordy Macauly's bunch and they were smashing it in a local club race....I thought quite highly of him at that point until he said it was 2 years ago.

I should have said I was riding with John Tomac just last year in Roto Vegas but the moment had passed.

Back home in rush hour traffic which was heavy compared to Wanaka but light for a big little city.

After tea we took the kids for a run around the park opposite the hospital so they're nice and tuckered out for a good nights kip.

Nice one Christchurch - for a strange twist of fate in us being here, you have looked after us well.

Oh this mornings coffee in CHCH was appauling, so we'll be looking for major redemption on that one tomorrow..but their clever marketing was my undoing - a medium was coffee was in fact conjoured by the devil himself and upon delivery was in fact a large cup, with a single shot and cooked milk.

Pah ! i say.

Just wait till tomorrow.

Another Round Lake Dunstan "Fun" Ride

If you have been a follower of my sporadic blogging; last January I rode around Lake Dunstan - which is north from Cromwell and a circuit is 92km.



Today I repeated this journey as part of a fund raiser the local Rotary club (not barp barp barp) put on for three reasons:



- The date is 10/10/10



- It's World Mental Health Awareness day and today you'd be well included for riding in that weather



- They donate some funds to the local yoof to make them better individuals and less likely to smash car windows and the like.






Not surprisingly I did ride another bike from last time - welcome the Wilier Cento to the stable.



I finished putting it together at about 8.30 last night.



It's a bitsa of Trade Me purchases and was in better shape than I was after riding 30kms in a tail wind, 20km in a cross wind and 42km into a head wind.



The only major flaw in my last minute approach was the new 10 speed cassette - um I only did the lock ring up finger tight and as it wasn't on my to do list; well it didn't get done.



So it rattled the whole way around.



I did however finish off the brake cables Friday night, wrapped the bar tape yesterday, installed a new old Ultegra rear derailleur ($26) fitted cleats to my new old Sidi shoes that arrived Thursday ($90) realigned the rear brake caliper which sits on the piss in the frame cause Francesco had Chianti for lunch before he installed the brake bridge - but a tapered washer fixed that problem; then after much deliberation (Oli please stop reading you're about to have a cow)



I swapped out the 39/53 chainrings on the Ultegra cranks ($125) for an old Suntour Superbe Pro 42 and a Shimano 52 of unknown prodigy because I figured if I was in the little ring I could just roll a 42 along and spin a 52 in the tailwind...



And it worked sweet - the teeth measure the same width from 7 speed to 10 speed - go figure.



Or my chain will shatter into sideplate oblivion next ride.



Oh, swapped out the stem yesterday too.



Oh and a few weeks back I figured out that I could run Enduro MTB bearing in the external BB cups instead of faffing around with the plastic top hats and they spin pretty good for a modern set up.



Enduro Bearings take no responsibilty for that set up BTW.



Did I mention it was cold ? I even added a long sleeve merino layer under my short sleeve merino layer, then a vest with fluffy collar, a Buff and a riding jersey.



3/4 knicks and I would have murdered a pair off booties today, strange to think they are voted item I'm most likely to purchase next.



+ winter gloves...and a cotton cap of course.



Me and 2 or 3 girls and another guy rolled around the lake in 3.5 hrs and then got hailed on when putting the bike away.



We were all on a first name basis before too long.



Folks a little slower got a southerly and hail out on the course.



2 bottles of water, 2 bananas, 2 muesli bars.



I finally got a spot prize -a little spongy massage ball, not exactly entry fee back, but nice all the same.



Thawing out was in the local swimming pool spa - add one frozen bike rider and gently simmer until the feeling has returned to extremities.

Pictures of today are here


I might stop looking for more fun rides until the weather hits the late 30's which should be xmas.

Naseby 12 Hour Mountain Bike Race April 16th 2010

This year’s event was showing a lot of promise – we entered on time and had a reasonable show of talent and scuffers alike – just like last year; but with different people.

Myself, Phil from Henderson Cycles in Alex, a friend of his; Craig Wight (pronounced White) and the love of my life – Keighley.

Recent events transpired to send it all pear shaped - read previous blog entry if you need updating.

I informed Phil that he might need another couple of riders just in case....he found a couple of local ladies thru the bike shop.

Then I re-invited myself back into the team as Keighley and Chuck were under control in Christchurch Hospital and no longer requiring my 24/7 bedside attention.

A small glitch the day before when my boss promised his pop up tent to two teams, but that was resolved thanks to Phil who had a spare one...

Jeff was there again, but with a far more palatial camp set up this time. He’d sent a text at 1.02 PM advising he was set up and good to go....you weren’t allowed onsite until 1pm and Jeff was first in the gate at 12.40....Legendary.

There was Cam riding solo again and another 3 teams sharing our digs, but plenty of room for all and sundry - even these guys:

I arrived much later and we quickly added the pop up to the mix thus completing the set up phase.

Next was the roll call phase – The girls were coming up on Saturday Phil said.

I asked where was Craig – our anchor man, the guy we’re hoping to string together endless sub 30 min laps while we drank beer and heckled the solo riders...

He’s in Taupo was the reply.

12 hours to go and he’s driving a truck down from Auckland that broke down, so had to go back to Hamilton to get a waterpump, back to Taupo fit the water pump and then keep going....

But at 10pm that night just as we’d found Phil’s bottle of Old Masters Port; Craig was on the Ferry across Cook Strait – a mere days drive away. Sweet as.

Aaron from RR Sport Dunners had ponied up with amazing accommodation via a family connection so we headed off there and giggled away like a couple of schoolgirls till the wee small hours until we faded away in a boozy haze......awakening in the same boozy haze wishing we didn’t have to go racing.

That’s right; he had his race face on and was out to prove the naysayers very, very wrong – McGrother can smash it all day in the dog people – look out.

I sent Phil out for the first lap as my knee was bung and I did the first lap last year anyways.

Once again the weather was great – warmer this year though and the course was mint.

I learnt the last bit of downhill single track to the finish was called “The cat puncher” for some strange reason that only Aaron knows...even though some guy broke his collarbone and thereafter the race radio referred to it as ....wait for it....collarbone alley.

How they came up with that one I’ll never know. I like Cat Puncher.

I know you’re wondering how I rode a year on from last year – I’d moved my cleats to a much more powerful shoe/pedal position and could really deal it out know. My cranks and bottom bracket probably need replacing I dare say.

New tyres were on the 29er complementing the wash and wax it had lovingly received prior.

And new FOX (there’s the plug) forks now with 15mm axle. Oh yeah baby.

I sucked as usual with times around 31.5 mins or slower which makes me think maybe I exaggerated my lap times from last year. Certainly there was no chance of knocking Ryan Cull from CSI (best prize for a wanky acronym) off his 24.09 min perch.

The day unfolded like a cheap Bali knock off watch – slick handovers or arriving to find no one on our team in the tent – real hit and miss stuff. Classic.

Craig arrived about 2pm and promptly knocked out our fastest lap on a bike I wouldn’t have ridden if was paid to; no suspension, vee brakes, 26 inch wheels, hardtail.

There that should get some discussion going at least....

From our excellent pit set up we watched a lot of Solo riders go past – many on singlespeeds and most with a wretched look on their faces as they ground uphill into the campground.

I may have quietly and politely said “bugger that” because it didn’t look like as much fun as we were having in the cheap seats handing out informal prizes for “most outstanding nipples” and “best cleavage”. I wouldn’t call myself sexist – more of an observational roll is how I’d describe it.

At one stage we were in tenth place in the mixed vets grade – then with the blink of an eye 6^th place, just like that. Must have been that 6 seconds I pulled back one time....

Hannah has taken on the moniker of skate/sifty chick while recovering from a busted ankle so I didn’t have to arrange any impromptu catering this year. Marc may have busted a night lap in a fairly smart time, but that hasn’t been confirmed by the commissaries panel as yet.

My night lap was marred by lack of familiarity with the night time riding environment even though I had a new light set up which bang for your buck (again, there’s the plug) is awesome.

Or was it the total lack of training or recent blip in the game plan ?

All three I’d say – I was done.

Fortunately Craig wasn’t and he bought us home inside the time limit to chalk another lap up for team www.redwoodrevolution.blogspot.com

While we all dipped out at a very well represented prize giving (riders and goodies) Craig did get an honourable mention for most determined effort to get there and some booze to boot. Nice.

Marc was in charge of post event fluid repatriation and thanks to Emmerson’s Brewery, dehydration wasn’t a factor.

Sunday dawned with the frost from Hell – wait that doesn’t make sense, because Hell didn’t actually freeze over, it was just very cold.

The Cafe was shut on (potentially) the most lucrative day of the year, but the girls had the coffee cart cranking again which was a smart move on their behalf.

We were packed up and ready to roll surprisingly early for us – well me anyway.

No trip away would be complete without a few distractions – the private museum in Naseby was a tremendous tribute to the past and his neighbour gets a special mention for his enthusiasm to motorsport; he was racing motorbikes at Porirua when I was in a pram !

Hayes Engineering in Oterehua was impressive for another dose of yesteryear.

And the chow and cuppa at the Cafe in Omakau was very pleasant.

Different to last year, but just as enjoyable for a bunch of different reasons.

Cheers Naseby.

6th of March was supposed to go like this..

A lot happened that day.....

I'd entered the Alpine Classic - here was the words from the Otago Daily times newspaper 2 days later:

On a warm and sunny Saturday morning, about 100 cyclists took off on the tough 135km bike ride, from Queenstown to Wanaka over the Crown Range and back again, in the Outside Sports Alpine Classic Cycle Race 2010.
The field of 67 individual starters and 16 teams took off from Guilty Bar in central Queenstown, and were back in Queenstown in record times, with no accidents along the way.
Organiser Bill Godsall said the race had been attended by cyclists from all over the South Island, and he was very happy with this year's large and strong field.

A friend; Carl Boomsma did the first leg and I rode back to Queenstown - my wife & kids were going to be at the top of the Crown Range to cheer me on - I'd missed the bunch at the changeover so sent them a message I was on my way - Keighley replied that Charlie really wasn't well and they wouldn't make it.
I rode most of the 66km by myself and to make it brief; I suffered like a dog up the climb, descended like a grandma, but only got caught by one person and that was about 6 kms from the finish - he was 4th in the teams, we were 5th. Overall we got 29th from the 67 starters.
I was stoked to do so well.

I'd got a text when descending off the hill and checked my phone - two messages; one from Jess saying that when I got the message from Keighley that I wasn't to panic and it was all under control - the other message said that Charlie my 2 year old son, Keighley and Jess were driving to Dunedin Hospital (3.5hrs away) to get Charlie checked out as he had been wobbly on his feet and not the best for a few weeks....

Next day he had an MRI scan which showed a golfball size "mass" inside his head which was applying pressure to his brain causing him to be unwell.
Later that day he was on the air ambulance to Starship (kids) Hospital in Auckland, 5 days later he endured the longest surgery in the world (well it was 8am-7.30pm before we got him back) and then another 5 days later he was up and about again.

Go figure.
Talk about an emotional roller coaster ride. Phew - words can't do it justice.

Luckily everyone rallied and was super supportive to help us all through it.
Charlie is now based in Christchurch for at least the next 4 months while he starts his year long course of chemo therapy to hopefully show any left over cancerous cells that he's the boss and they just aren't welcome !

There have been numerous articles in the local papers about a fundraiser the neighbours have put on to help raise money; so I can look after Emily in Wanaka (i.e less time for work), also so we can fly Emily up to see Mum and Charlie (her flights are not paid for) and lastly - Keighley had to pull out of her studies to become an Early Childhood Teacher and only got 1/2 her fees back - hopefully she can resume next year.
You can read about us here, here and here.

One of our friends in England suggested putting a Paypal logo up on this blog which works for our Internationals who have flown the coup -
thanks Amy - I'd never have thought of that myself.

Everyone's support and generosity is overwhelming, but will really help us get through this time in our lives in much better shape -

A huge thank you to you all.