This year, I was all over it - handing out advice to first timers like jelly beans.
My nonchalant attitude wouldn't let me down on the day - I had a check list !
Accomodation - sorted.
Crappy nights sleep - check.
Helper on race day - sorted
Ok, I didn't have this as sorted as last year.
Bikes x 2 - sorted
I only rode one all day.
Game Plan - optimistic
Less organised than last year, but good at crisis management.
Sign on was the night before, so that was done.
Morning arrived not soon enough - I snore like a lumberjack and sharing a room basically means I don't sleep.
Oh well.
After racing the 24 hour Solo Worlds in Rotorua in Feb, I considered myself a bit of an expert so had two bikes this year.
But one number plate.
A bit of pissing around and misappropriation had me numbered up and ready to roll.
The first few laps were like having the flu standing in a puddle: congested and wet underfoot.
A recently logged section had queues of riders stacked up waiting.
They stressed out; I waited my turn, cleaned the ups and downs and got on with my thing.
On the second lap I thought my shoes felt a bit roomy and realised I hadn't put in my orthotics. Pondering if I should carry on and what would be the long term implications of this I pulled in, undid the laces ( so hip right now, but jeez they ain't fast ) found my inner soles and rejoined the masses.
The laps passed me by, as did my realization of how good I had it last year with Trudy feeding myself and Matt Corbett...
This year I had a loose arrangement with Kristal ( looking after Gavin Mason's team) and Doug E Fresh ( looking after John Mezger ).
Unfortunately the food didn't really flow into my pockets in quite the right rhythm so a bit of extra time was spent fluffing around in the pits.
Otherwise everything was about the same as least year - lap times, weather, the course, the constant round and round, eat, drink, pee, repeat.
I couldn't be happier - stuck to the plan: start slow and aim to get slower, I walked the same hills again, a few yelled words of encouragement from old and new friends around the pits as you pass by.
Bike was running perfectly - much better than Rotorua where we shagged around changing my gear ratio and tires trying to tame those nasty tree roots. Naseby is a great course for a single speed if ever there was one.
Later in the day I waited for Kerri to roll past so we could ride together for a while - I'd talked her into going solo and felt somewhat responsible.
"How's your day going then ?"
She'd crashed into the water race, had a bit of faff time in the pits, but seemed to be enjoying herself. I think we did a couple of laps together then she crashed hard down the Cat Puncher which I didn't know about as I was in front and had my own schedule to keep.......
Around 6ish it was time for tea, lights and a change of clothes.
4 more laps should do the trick.
9.38pm rolls around as I cross the line; so that's me done for the day.
14 Laps, 168km and third on the Vet Mens Single Speed podium.
Same as last year, but running one gear smaller. Go figure.
Pack everything up then back for another uncomfortable nights sleep.
Sunday I had the company of Kerri on the way home and that was the start of a whole new adventure..............
Oh, Cheers to Matt Corbett Photgraphy for the snaps.
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