tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-224593730200110852024-02-19T16:25:19.625-08:00Redwood RevolutionRedwoodshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03235559243736752735noreply@blogger.comBlogger74125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22459373020011085.post-20586800619491641672016-11-24T18:00:00.000-08:002016-12-07T15:14:54.419-08:00Contact Epic 95km April 13 2016<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://redwoodrevolution.blogspot.co.nz/2013/04/hawea-epic-95km-2013.html" target="_blank">Epic 2013 was just that</a>.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Epic 2014 came to a crushing halt 12 hours before the start - thanks to the 48 hour flu</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Epic 2015 I was a roving mechanic...jumped in the truck and drank beers with 20km to go...so only really did about 70km.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS2roQNOR0HzpjxyICr8jyQwuet_ET5VKThHji4zXtEIOQBuuVE0QPahOvdmEBo6IdV0XIC9tRWa2ye5yyQYkyW88nYxRkyNGtfempbUi-XDfmIrGsRaiPrmTpp-1FgTjkK-JHm-eglw/s1600/1429432524593.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS2roQNOR0HzpjxyICr8jyQwuet_ET5VKThHji4zXtEIOQBuuVE0QPahOvdmEBo6IdV0XIC9tRWa2ye5yyQYkyW88nYxRkyNGtfempbUi-XDfmIrGsRaiPrmTpp-1FgTjkK-JHm-eglw/s320/1429432524593.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Epic 2016 - hello my old friend - and hello my new friend Kerri, <a href="https://inspiringadventuresblog.wordpress.com/2016/07/24/epic-dark-spot/" target="_blank">who was having her first crack at it.</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I was trying to be helpful with useful advice:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">You might want a vest with pockets for easy access to your food</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">- Why would I ride in a vest ?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">What cycle jersey are you racing in ?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">- why would I wear one of those horrible things - they're like, not even merino</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Are you riding in knee warmers ? I am - they're really good.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">- I don't own any, I'll wear tights instead</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">That might be too much</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">- I'll wear shorts then</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">That might not be enough, you can easily take knee warmers off if need be.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">She borrowed knee warmers and they were great. Phew.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Can you change a puncture ?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">- Why don't we ride together</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Mops took us to the start with John-Jo and Whitney in tow.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">"Hey Whitney can you reach over the back and grab me a gel - I need to keep to my food plan"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">- sorry Mops I get car sick said Whitney</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Kerri reaches over - Mops is happy, outside it was still dark, inside the car it suddenly was too.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The 95km people had started and I was still getting dressed after a last minute trip to the loo.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Kerri is panicking - I am not.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We start passing riders before the first hill. They might have passed us back as I tuned Kerri's gears.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">No matter, we roll along it's all good.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">No rush, it's a big day.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Dougal and James ( 2nd & 1st podium) pass us before Boundary Hut - holy shit they are flying or we are not.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The turn approaches - some Muppet jumps the fence and cops a torrent of abuse. Wanker.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The river was wet, but at least it was a tail wind home this year..</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Green bush hut pit stop sucked up too much time, but no matter, we were just cruising with no agenda in mind.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Or so I thought...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">"Richard, do you think you could go faster on the downhills? I'm having to ride my brakes a lot"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">- FFS I'm on a freaking hardtail and I just passed a guy in a dry river bed - I'm pretty much on the limit here (Kerri s on a 27.5 dualie)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">So I gave her That look - yes that look and rode up the next hill and like that she was gone burger.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Nina McVicar was there instead, so we shared 24 solo stories then I dumped her on a techie uphill too.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">My God, I was on fire.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Mental problem though - I said I'd ride with Kerri all day...but she was OTA.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I had half the tool kit and she had the other half.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Maybe I'd just ride till I exploded and wait for her at the Dingle scone stop.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Like heck - I was still in front of Nina, I wasn't stopping for nothing.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Descending around the Bluffs I did think that if I got a puncture I was royally screwed and if Kerri got a puncture - well much the same.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Nina passed me as I rode ( yes, I rode all of it ) up Timaru Creek...her 1x11 was like a f'd chainsaw.... my 3 x 10 was mint as bro.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I leapfrogged a few riders down towards Johns Creek then unleashed a big ol' can of Whupass.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Well until the headwind hit me like a ton of bricks.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">No matter - not far now.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Crossed the line in just under 6 hours and sweated the remaining 40 odd minutes until Kerri rolled in puncture and mechanical free.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">High fives all round - what a day.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">A first for her and redemption for me.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Home for a shower, food, a wee kip and then back for prize giving....won nothing.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">But I got my knee warmers back, don't you worry about that.</span><br />
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<br />Redwoodshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03235559243736752735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22459373020011085.post-12063354040725605812016-11-24T16:38:00.000-08:002016-11-24T16:38:53.395-08:00Naseby 12 hr mtb March 2016<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Naseby last year was an unknown attempt at solo, riding one gear for 12 hours.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">This year, I was all over it - handing out advice to first timers like jelly beans.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">My nonchalant attitude wouldn't let me down on the day - I had a check list !</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Accomodation - sorted.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Crappy nights sleep - check.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Helper on race day - sorted</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Ok, I didn't have this as sorted as last year.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Bikes x 2 - sorted</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">I only rode one all day.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Game Plan - optimistic</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Less organised than last year, but good at crisis management.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Sign on was the night before, so that was done.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Morning arrived not soon enough - I snore like a lumberjack and sharing a room basically means I don't sleep.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Oh well.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUBYjr1vfJUae5vKVlCOZnDVfuvi2JxVBXAdNT9PPdoAQduIiJe-0c5sCSDPRcg-pdQ-rkj_bQ5fBq8g8Z_6-_d_-5wgFOKKza0rSNo4wwxzsexmxY4RHkrS-x4ucCJcnugZ1Ejb5RUg/s1600/IMG_3310.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUBYjr1vfJUae5vKVlCOZnDVfuvi2JxVBXAdNT9PPdoAQduIiJe-0c5sCSDPRcg-pdQ-rkj_bQ5fBq8g8Z_6-_d_-5wgFOKKza0rSNo4wwxzsexmxY4RHkrS-x4ucCJcnugZ1Ejb5RUg/s320/IMG_3310.JPG" width="228" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">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. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">But one number plate. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">A bit of pissing around and misappropriation had me numbered up and ready to roll.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">The first few laps were like having the flu standing in a puddle: congested and wet underfoot.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">A recently logged section had queues of riders stacked up waiting.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">They stressed out; I waited my turn, cleaned the ups and downs and got on with my thing.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">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.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdiMnEZtSr4Fnlwb018EJY8cnekCx0JC3KeXPOHzkC-jTtV9iv1E5JuYqrEkapGdHqrzALPDYmfuxbFQX6YiQGWzEJbeVm3jqjqeynVXN7vWdB9BUHc9MQiXyMVyPB1WqTNQQK3RrEVQ/s1600/naseby+12+hour+2016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdiMnEZtSr4Fnlwb018EJY8cnekCx0JC3KeXPOHzkC-jTtV9iv1E5JuYqrEkapGdHqrzALPDYmfuxbFQX6YiQGWzEJbeVm3jqjqeynVXN7vWdB9BUHc9MQiXyMVyPB1WqTNQQK3RrEVQ/s320/naseby+12+hour+2016.jpg" width="213" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">The laps passed me by, as did my realization of how good I had it last year with Trudy feeding myself and Matt Corbett...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">This year I had a loose arrangement with Kristal ( looking after Gavin Mason's team) and Doug E Fresh ( looking after John Mezger ).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">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.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Otherwise everything was about the same as least year - lap times, weather, the course, the constant round and round, eat, drink, pee, repeat.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">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.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">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 </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">a great course for a single speed if ever there was one.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Later in the day I waited</span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"> for <a href="https://inspiringadventuresblog.wordpress.com/2016/05/23/naseby-12hour-solo/" target="_blank">Kerri </a>to roll past so we could ride together for a while - I'd talked her into going solo and felt somewhat responsible.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">"How's your day going then ?"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">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.......</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo6L9YIGUypBjiHwxEsjrId_kLbX14VoHpugr6pACq4XV8WRcPVjM07YAJrI6F3e4DS3qGphluKcvhx0PUHU1b8Bb4CX4hpxgBjjodAzAJK1Ji_DzBzwyQL_00vzl1n8jwRhkL0pnvng/s1600/naseby+12+hour+2016+b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo6L9YIGUypBjiHwxEsjrId_kLbX14VoHpugr6pACq4XV8WRcPVjM07YAJrI6F3e4DS3qGphluKcvhx0PUHU1b8Bb4CX4hpxgBjjodAzAJK1Ji_DzBzwyQL_00vzl1n8jwRhkL0pnvng/s320/naseby+12+hour+2016+b.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Around 6ish it was time for tea, lights and a change of clothes.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">4 more laps should do the trick.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">9.38pm rolls around as I cross the line; so that's me done for the day. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">14 Laps, 168km and<a href="http://api.ning.com/files/4ZOdnxlws1UVw6DvJBWFWsSNX8jckx9mlOto6Rf8SelEtqt74QfVIWxt951i*J*5IMpbnYNW-bmtlIUTZXrhQJK*DQbIQn5M/2016Naseby12hrResults.pdf" target="_blank"> third on the Vet Mens Single Speed podium.</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Same as last year, but running one gear smaller. Go figure.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Pack everything up then back for another uncomfortable nights sleep.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Sunday I had the company of Kerri on the way home and that was the start of a whole new adventure..............</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Oh, Cheers to <a href="https://www.facebook.com/matt.corbett.14224?fref=ts" target="_blank">Matt Corbett </a>Photgraphy for the snaps.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>Redwoodshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03235559243736752735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22459373020011085.post-78997805556220788452016-05-18T01:47:00.000-07:002016-05-18T01:47:57.466-07:00Tekapo 10 Hour 31 Jan 2016<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Last year, we raced this excellent course as a 4 person team.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">And we came away with the win in the vets grade + 3rd overall.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I've never been so dusty.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">This year, in preparation of bigger things; I solo'd it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">My good friend Peter Page also rode solo, but with gears, so that was the soft option.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Tekapo is about halfway between Christchurch and Wanaka, so an easy drive for both of us.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">After an ok sleep in the local campground, we had a cruise down to the start for a 9am kick off.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Unlike John Mezger who woke up late in Wanaka and was turning an easy 3 hour drive into a frantic 2.5 hour pre race-race against the clock.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I had two bikes for the day - the Chinese Mystery hardtail with gears and Hard Eddie; set up all single speed.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgozwD0zERDTOHAGXO1RGzTh2vOAoqLcV01d8P1Aboqo4P9gLv4lJaw36oBsrOul9K-BDYZIgIMozRkfwitYz2rdgc_wwgh9cFz4qDJLkpUvemvHj7gCvEW38kI3amOl4NzZKZBmbpkmw/s1600/12604933_757088924391881_472471236951980335_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgozwD0zERDTOHAGXO1RGzTh2vOAoqLcV01d8P1Aboqo4P9gLv4lJaw36oBsrOul9K-BDYZIgIMozRkfwitYz2rdgc_wwgh9cFz4qDJLkpUvemvHj7gCvEW38kI3amOl4NzZKZBmbpkmw/s320/12604933_757088924391881_472471236951980335_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">4 laps on the geared bike to get things rolling was all good, then I thought it wise to swap to the single speed.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ9S_V62652TJ2vibjWPcMtN1rxkoioaNbfFr6cOYxD5Hu4XqJG39Y53meZhx4_hAO0Kraj1cEMNTwbtVgj2GhkrTllskP2vUEHTqIridSE3VC_-rWDnCGfzjWw_P01ElpBaKRHmG6Bg/s1600/12622152_757090477725059_2345327471920937488_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ9S_V62652TJ2vibjWPcMtN1rxkoioaNbfFr6cOYxD5Hu4XqJG39Y53meZhx4_hAO0Kraj1cEMNTwbtVgj2GhkrTllskP2vUEHTqIridSE3VC_-rWDnCGfzjWw_P01ElpBaKRHmG6Bg/s320/12622152_757090477725059_2345327471920937488_o.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Well - what an eye opener that was.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The handlebars sucked - Salsa bend 2's....actually they're great probably for bike packing, but the stem was too long to race on.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">After a couple more laps I decided the wheels needed a swap around so off came the gears, on went the single sprocket and back out I went some 30 mins later.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I know it was a slow pit stop as Peter passed me twice and commented accordingly.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEpeXpN17t1eR8iBcjC0eYxSuc3ILwnJa-1x66jjhaKQdgU0QIub7iI8fzoepBC79uCNIrOMJOJXa5y5Tvl02AW_adHiGQilUdPTgJAwB3x8Tgw1rurHgxXcLYB1hPscB7YNt8_5VV_Q/s1600/12622308_757091104391663_5676723496193820689_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEpeXpN17t1eR8iBcjC0eYxSuc3ILwnJa-1x66jjhaKQdgU0QIub7iI8fzoepBC79uCNIrOMJOJXa5y5Tvl02AW_adHiGQilUdPTgJAwB3x8Tgw1rurHgxXcLYB1hPscB7YNt8_5VV_Q/s320/12622308_757091104391663_5676723496193820689_o.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">He was lapping it up on his Pivot dualie 29er running 27.5+ wheels. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">What an over achiever.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">John Mezger was killing it on his Epic.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWUNgpJF6QbuIbkB85184qFW2QbwobAFSQeerZK3E-XlCYzA8Yk9rv0IAqR5AtrYu64klU8l4a7LRfqvr1jToiHuR20WvTQ-Q7-uWl-wb_Jfdal2uBk-IwZwfZ30o5b-BPwTVGf1g6jw/s1600/12646621_757091011058339_3886404804801472463_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWUNgpJF6QbuIbkB85184qFW2QbwobAFSQeerZK3E-XlCYzA8Yk9rv0IAqR5AtrYu64klU8l4a7LRfqvr1jToiHuR20WvTQ-Q7-uWl-wb_Jfdal2uBk-IwZwfZ30o5b-BPwTVGf1g6jw/s320/12646621_757091011058339_3886404804801472463_o.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I swapped bikes for the later part of the day to bring it on home - it seems a 10 hour that started at 9 finishes at 7pm, not 5 pm ( thanks for sorting that out for me Pete ) so the last couple of hours was a bit of a struggle.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The results say I chopped 18 laps at an average of 32 mins and a total of 127 km.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">With the racing done I headed back to the motorcamp for a shower.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I wasn't staying the night, so had to be a bit stealth....</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Parked up next to a tent site, hit the showers to find I left my wallet in the car - required as showers were pay first.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Got dressed, head back to car.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Ok, now have wallet and ready to shower..........</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">No change in wallet.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Got dressed, drove down to office, get small change.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Park up, hit the showers, put money in meter and finally have shower.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Phew.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Thereafter I arrived in my driveway, not really recalling many details of the drive back.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">An excellent weekend and a great chance to iron things out prior to the 24 solo worlds in Rotorua the following month.</span>Redwoodshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03235559243736752735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22459373020011085.post-14916237739604482362015-06-11T01:59:00.000-07:002015-06-11T04:04:15.134-07:00Naseby 12 hour, April 2015<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Matt Corbett is mostly responsible for the years installment of the Naseby 12 hour mtb race.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Whilst selling the solo idea to me, he said you do more laps than in a team, and at a slower pace.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, I signed up.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Then Matt asked if I'd entered singlespeed ?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Not on your life I replied.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So I changed my grade to singlespeed after Matt again gave me his snake oil answer.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'd recently smashed my previous time at Karapoti and the bike was still a mess, so I thought it quite smart to remove all the dirty parts and worry about them next summer.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Trying to find the magic gear and a chain tensioner that didn't slip was nigh on impossible, but I nailed it with a half link and a fat 1/8th pitch chain - and no tensioner.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was in a post Club Road Champs slump after been dropped 5 km into the 100 km race so wasn't really enthused about road biking.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mr Corbett was up in Wanaka a few times before the Naseby race; on wedding organisational duty so we did a few laps of Deans Bank and Luggate.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Easter Friday we knocked out 70 km in 4 hours on the singlespeeds which impressed the heck out of me - that's a long way with one gear in my world.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, with a week to go - my riding was back online, the bike was sorted and of course I had a to do list as long as my arm.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There was just the small matter of what to eat for 12 hours and trying to stay away from the pub in the last 24 hours.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sausage Rolls looked promising, but on advice from Gavin Mason they were dropped for pre cooked Cheerios.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And Pizza, bananas, gels, and the usual water and electrolytes in the bottles.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Managed to get to bed with only 3 beers or slow release carbohydrate drinks under my belt and dreamt of the unknown day ahead.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR1IB13nxuP5a7EfP6_dZC6pA6h827mwmU3E2o-PabbcQXnwoJGxx5K7u_xRNKyvL9a8Gu6O3c1dADiJYIo5X__l3o_hKvqsD0u-l4cas6VH_xjf39vRz4drPQqaS_-Myigpnly1Wyqw/s1600/11074514_10153269816599255_4844832523350418710_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR1IB13nxuP5a7EfP6_dZC6pA6h827mwmU3E2o-PabbcQXnwoJGxx5K7u_xRNKyvL9a8Gu6O3c1dADiJYIo5X__l3o_hKvqsD0u-l4cas6VH_xjf39vRz4drPQqaS_-Myigpnly1Wyqw/s320/11074514_10153269816599255_4844832523350418710_o.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Race day weather was chilly in the morning, dry and not a snowflake to be seen.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My first lap was slow, I thought I was the only person around me with clip in pedals.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was soul destroying compared to other years riding on the red line, served up with a side of vomit: in a team.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I can't remember if I stopped on the 2nd lap or not, but when I did call into the pits for food and drinks Trudy just piled the food into my back pockets, swapped empty bottles for full ones and I was off again.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'd like to say I tore out of the campground and up the first hill like a bat out of hell, but I didn't.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I walked it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And cruised around the water race like I was holding an ice cream.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The plan was going perfectly, in that I didn't have a plan, so it couldn't fail.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Early on 3rd lap it was action stations - slipping seatpost alert.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Like a knight in shining armour who should arrive ?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Marc Sharman, my usual partner in crime, who said he was really flying and couldn't stay and help.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, that's how it was then.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I enter solo one time and that's it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">All those fun times in a team with Marc and like that, if was over.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I did my best to ignore Marc throughout the day when he tried to engage me in idle chat after that sideswipe.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A lightning pit stop, bottles, food and a seat post change over.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Boom, I walked out of the campground eating my peeled banana up the hill this time.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Things were looking up.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Righto</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My food choice was good, the packaging not so good.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Everything was in one pocket.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Pizza, cheerios, peeled banana, jelly beans, muesli bar: all together.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Next lap, I'd inform the crew chief and we'd do better.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Although riding solo, I found a lot of other folks to talk to - who like me, weren't in a rush and were in for the long haul.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'd been chatting with Cam Mchardy for a while, but didn't recognise him again after he stopped for a pee.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Great, three laps in and I'm losing it already.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Only 10.5 hours to go.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lots of stuff was happening, but mainly plodding along trying not to break a sweat and remembering to eat and drink everything each lap.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Next pit stop: Trudy said Matt was dicing for 2nd or 3rd place !</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Holy crap, it was on in the Corbett camp.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He had unleashed his can of whip ass early on against a young guy riding a rigid single speed with taped up wrists ;-like a boxer.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Myself, I had nothing like that to report, except smoking a few riders on the downhills while they then passed me back on the up hills.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Maths not being my strong point my 50 minute laps had my brain working overtime figuring out power output, lactate thresholds, rpm, tire wear, calorific intake, liquid exit strategy, and how many times I would make it around now I had completed 6 laps in 5 hours.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Normally 6 laps takes all day and a chunk of the night and here I was mid afternoon and I could have called it a day and still be further ahead.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Wednesday Night crew from Dunners were in full flight and not far off cracking into the beers, they were taunting me.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKA6AnoXoyo5XKe-o4E1pAb5divuMRPenOVFS5L3WfliSNvENd22HgN4yR1Ue765H75c7lq_uhAOR_JnFQE8KnmJ4Xol8kgQdqwsHGwdBEWpNsOL86P9jTKUqpDTiuKxfURtqF3ZQ6cA/s1600/11134044_10153269816874255_2087154402905328637_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKA6AnoXoyo5XKe-o4E1pAb5divuMRPenOVFS5L3WfliSNvENd22HgN4yR1Ue765H75c7lq_uhAOR_JnFQE8KnmJ4Xol8kgQdqwsHGwdBEWpNsOL86P9jTKUqpDTiuKxfURtqF3ZQ6cA/s320/11134044_10153269816874255_2087154402905328637_o.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I soldiered on with a quick stop to don vest, arm and knee warmers now the sun was getting low.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Round and round we go.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Having a Solo Rider yellow tag hanging under your seat tells other riders you are mental and have no friends, so they offer encouragement as they fly past.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"You suck loser "</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"God you're slow "</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Then they see you have only one gear.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You might as well be in a wheelchair and have a sign saying you have the plague.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Except Jess Simson who not only recognised me but said I was going great.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Anyways, around 530 I met Matt out on the course as I was walking up Ramp Road.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"How's it going ? "</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- "First time I've walked this bloody hill all day - and you ? "</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Mate, I've been walking it all day! "</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- "I'm pulling the pin after this lap, my knees are shot"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Bugger, oh well maybe there was something in that woosie small gear I've run all day and all those hills I've walked up ? "</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT1QFKlCtbrFl8DTD8Rr5hi76kAi1kS_DolBn6Y5SZ1xfyFeb_AbaFQ_bIdbm1lWwwU2Cu11tM0CF9UE-D9EsnFbYeDCX-M8WDLrOfqJRVzJDTRAdJV6nUzrw_9jRaySXCRWgkQ3WvOA/s1600/11154996_10153269817869255_186834089112255659_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT1QFKlCtbrFl8DTD8Rr5hi76kAi1kS_DolBn6Y5SZ1xfyFeb_AbaFQ_bIdbm1lWwwU2Cu11tM0CF9UE-D9EsnFbYeDCX-M8WDLrOfqJRVzJDTRAdJV6nUzrw_9jRaySXCRWgkQ3WvOA/s320/11154996_10153269817869255_186834089112255659_o.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">6pm</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Matt Corbett pulls the pin, Rick Woodward has a full change of gear, lights on.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3 course dinner: soup, lasagne, stewed apple.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">20 mins and we're off again.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Some would say that was slow, but I'd been slow all day - who cares !</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Another 2 laps pas by, a 3 minute pit stop to change batteries and refuel.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'd clocked up 12 laps !</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And worse than that I was 3rd singlespeed overall.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Podium only goes to 3rd.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mental arithmetic overload: 50 minute laps, 2 hours to go.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I could just stop now and suffer the humiliation from my peers for the next 12 months or plod along and prey for a mechanical.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Made it in with ample time to spare.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Suffice to say I felt pretty stoked standing on stage.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This one wasn't a medal for turning up, I'd actually done something quite well, for many hours.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Earned it you could say.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Man I was fucked the next day and the next and the next.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And then by Wednesday my heart rate was back to normal.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">24 solo anyone ?</span><br />
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<img src="http://cdn.mos.bikeradar.imdserve.com/images/news/2007/07/31/5Craig%20in%20pain-crop-320-80.jpg" /><br />
<br />Redwoodshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03235559243736752735noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22459373020011085.post-17866325006394307952014-03-06T01:56:00.000-08:002014-03-06T02:01:26.684-08:00Mountainbiking finally resumes in 2014<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://redwoodrevolution.blogspot.co.nz/2013/04/hawea-epic-95km-2013.html" target="_blank">Last April, I rode around Lake Hawea on my dualie 29er.</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Then it had one more ride before <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2vRAPLJ6Sv0" target="_blank">Alex</a> (our summer intern from FOX) went home in May.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Then it got stripped back to a skeleton and had the suspension bearings replaced.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">9 months later I had finished and came upon the next hurdle of which bike to raid back for parts....</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Carbon hardtail or Bike Packing bike ?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">- Might still fit in one more camping adventure if the weather plays nicely.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">- Carbon hardtail has an internal brake hose - be good to leave it in place.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Pondering that issue I then got a call from a friend who was stuck for time to have his shock serviced before taking off on the Godzone adventure race.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">So I did the good thing and lent him my shock.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Which prompted <a href="http://www.odt.co.nz/sport/multisport/204634/multisport-competitors-advised-pace-themselves" target="_blank">Marty</a> to clean his frame properly and found it had cracks.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Which cracked him.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Then his replacement frame arrived and it was too small, which cracked him further.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">- I hope it works out for him.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Maybe my frame will be reunited with it's shock by end of the week and I can find another Juicy 3/5 rear brake ??</span><br />
<img src="http://www.bikeman.com/images/stories/ProductTesting/BR6990.jpg" height="242" width="320" /><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I'm planning on riding around Lake Hawea again, so best I get it rolling shortly.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.rabbitridge.co.nz/">www.rabbitridge.co.nz</a> has been running a 5 race XC series this summer - so far I've number 2 & 4</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The clusterfuck I mentioned in my previous post joined me for both.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">A loose bottom bracket prior to the start had me using a cone spanner to tighten the end cap on the cranks.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The course was 4 laps, about 30 mins each.</span><br />
<img src="http://www.odt.co.nz/files/story/2010/10/jim_hawkridge_4cc409ef63.jpg" height="320" width="320" /><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">When Jim Hawkridge says he might need another couple of gels on the start line you know it's going to be a toughie.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">And it didn't disappoint - sweet place to race.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">In between races I stripped down the bottom bracket but didn't test ride it.</span><br />
<img src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41EY7RxR3sL._SL500_.jpg" height="319" width="320" /><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Muppet.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">So I had to use the cone spanner again, seating the seals properly this time.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Sign on guy: Steve, said put your number on the front of your riding top - I might have said I wasn't running a marathon and would put it on my handlebars: thanks.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Funny thing, got a flat tire on the start line and was then lent a bike.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Lost a few minutes swapping that pesky number over.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Ha ha.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">A different course this time - fireroad climb, sweet single track with swoopy downhill berms for the first part.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Got passed by a girl on a 26"dualie on the uphills then realised I was kinda thirsty - my drink bottle back at the start on my bike.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Bugger, better peg it back a notch lest I expire.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">A bottle of bright blue Powerade </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; text-align: center;">materialised track side.</span><br />
<img src="http://cdn2.sbnation.com/imported_assets/161650/powerade.after.jpg" height="320" width="237" /><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I grabbed the front brake so hard I nearly flew over the bars !</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Now back on track and sucking someone else's bottle of blue germs, but really did I care ?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Fiona was back in front and the course was getting shorter.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Smoked her by the bottom of the dual slalom and then past dayglo shoes guy in the last corner.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">A hollow victory if ever there was one, but I now lead the points table for Vet Mens Long Course.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">One race left and I could win a drink bottle or a tube.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Here's hoping.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>Redwoodshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03235559243736752735noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22459373020011085.post-88849166874013936632014-03-03T00:47:00.000-08:002014-03-03T00:47:13.811-08:002014 Cycling Season Resumes <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">January 12.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> Around Lake Dunstan, 90km mass start.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Wet. Really wet. Again.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Awesome ride - hung onto main peloton in howling tail wind for about 20km. Rode with another guy from Invercargill for 30km.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Got picked up by another bunch at Luggate for the final 40.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Everyone just put their heads down and got on with it - and it was crap.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Well if you were a fish it was great, riding a road bike in a 20 strong bunch: not much.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Got rolled on the line for a second place in the gallop and finally broke the spot prize drought.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Mr Sharman and Denise stayed with us for the weekend and did the ride too.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Much pre race nerves over the correct level of clothing etc etc, but Marc carved a way thru the chaos like an icebreaker with Little Toot following faithfully behind.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Then she drove home 'cause Marc was fucked.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQlZfUpnR6nCVx1SUBQcrIo-CSFGU_IUJVPqjovpxIXSXEVwONipxK2JM9tB-YY_M_C-HEUFYAxm2pEr0svDuRxhl9VtSMiDdkUUq_HXeUHQL6m1JCq7ok4RcbGadeiJRTX8jtF1DVjw/s1600/Rick+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQlZfUpnR6nCVx1SUBQcrIo-CSFGU_IUJVPqjovpxIXSXEVwONipxK2JM9tB-YY_M_C-HEUFYAxm2pEr0svDuRxhl9VtSMiDdkUUq_HXeUHQL6m1JCq7ok4RcbGadeiJRTX8jtF1DVjw/s1600/Rick+2.jpg" height="320" width="224" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Feb 16</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Alexandra to St Bathans, 75km handicap</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">This is the start of a clusterfuck of recent racing nightmares.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Drove into Alex to realise the start is on the back road, not the main road, so a quick phone/maps look up and arrive with time to spare.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Front tire is half flat from when I pumped it up earlier that morning - threw a tube in while race briefing is happening. Get covered in tubeless tire sealant.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Leave repair bag/tube etc in car. Hope for no more self deflating moments.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">- Ces (my new nemesis) did puncture 5 km in, leaving 4 of us to head off the faster bunch behind - they caught us after 14km, then scratch caught us just over halfway.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">So that was it then; the laughing bunch for 30 km, which then decided we should keep smashing it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Not a great start back on the horse.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Luckily got a lift back to the start with one of the lads, so at least I didn't have to keep my bottom lip off the handlebars all the way home.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Feb 23</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Roxburgh, Moa Flat, Raes Junction & Return, 75 km handicap</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Driving down with Russell and he says </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">"don't rush the hill, it's like a half hour climb"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Bullshit.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">It actually took me 44 minutes : Tom Vessy = 28 mins.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Got dropped, got back on, got dropped, got back on.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Swooping downhill and cross wind; hung in there. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Raes Junction and I was on my own.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Got on a couple of bunches, but really I was dreaming.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">60 km mark (Millers Flat) and I was getting hungry - it was lunchtime after all.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Passing through Ettrick and the 60 year old powerhouse that is John Alabaster said jump on behind Ces.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Fuck me, that guy is strong - pulling 28km into a headwind that had me at 18-20.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Got spat and grovelled home.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Coffee order got screwed up at cafe for prize giving - of which there was none for me.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Very humbling experience; 10 km hill climb and gain 400 vertical metres. Ouch.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">March 2nd</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Chatto Creek, Oterehua Loop, 100km handicap</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">2 climbs within first 20 km, then rolling, so stay together - that was the plan on the start line.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Reality - our bunch of 5 got splintered by the schoolgirl climbing machine (Mikayla Harvey - new resident of Albert Town) and then we didn't regroup for another 10 km. Good one.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Picked up Darryl along the valley so we hustled along to Oterehua when everyone was a bit flat.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Turn to head home and it's howling head / cross winds and road works.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Bunch broke up again, Mikayla dropped us then bridged to next bunch.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Another 10km and got passed by Russell's bunch and that was it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Laughing bunch with 40 to go.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Kept the foot on the gas, only got caught by Gav Mason & Jim Hawkridge ( fastest time of the day right there) in the last 5 km.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Standing round saying how hard that was and the young girl who went off first with one other rider, puts on her running shoes and goes off for a jog.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Guess we not that hard after all.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">MTB notes to follow in next installment.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Many things also not going to plan.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Stay tuned.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>Redwoodshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03235559243736752735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22459373020011085.post-16014144901476296292013-09-04T03:29:00.002-07:002013-09-04T03:34:20.706-07:00Christchurch CX Race at Steamscene July 14 2013Took Friday off work to drive up to CHCH.<br />
1hour 10 to Omarama, looking forward to coffee at the Mobil station; the disappointment lasted all the way to Twizel as it was thermo nuclear.<br />
Lunch at Farm Barn cafe near Fairlie = yum everytime.<br />
Finally found the elusive Thompsons track which basically follows the old train line from Geraldine to Rakaia.<br />
Then the new motorway leads round to Woolston way nicely without any of that snarl up through Hornby etc.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRgg_21FWlK3KjPP6NZExYgKOpvUzhuzaF1bu1rvTIE7M5zkFueEIUTG8zUmbncfQj8Y0Ri2vxIrOXGsuXAEdaaSHcsl9ct7ljxxx7emo9vEW0yLV0l-YtfEzmeAZdp6UX5y6DtbGW5A/s1600/DSC_0158.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRgg_21FWlK3KjPP6NZExYgKOpvUzhuzaF1bu1rvTIE7M5zkFueEIUTG8zUmbncfQj8Y0Ri2vxIrOXGsuXAEdaaSHcsl9ct7ljxxx7emo9vEW0yLV0l-YtfEzmeAZdp6UX5y6DtbGW5A/s320/DSC_0158.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
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My host for the weekend; Marc Sharman said meet me at the Brewery<br />
Pizza, beer and a friend of his; Ali who physco analysed me all night.<br />
I was easy - she's a child physcologist.<br />
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Saturday we managed to achieve very little - at the market, a visit to Eastgate Mall which had Mr Sharman climbing the walls to escape the Zombie Apocolypse, coffee here and there and we didn't even get into the CBD.<br />
Oh, I forgot Ewen chased and faced the headtube on my dualie 29er while Marc ogled the Cup Cake girls.<br />
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No pub before race and due to a lack of geographical awareness no coffee enroute to the race either.<br />
Lucky we smashed one down in St Martins early in the morning.<br />
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Scott, Jeremy and the gang ( I guess we could mention Timo here and his nodding Mercedes dog) put on another sensational course with a spiral of doom, hail and rain at the start a new section out the back with actual sand, noted that it wasn't liquifaction !<br />
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Anyone in fancy dress or a skinsuit got a headstart on the Le Mons running start through the spiral of doom. Have to say that running in cycling shoes in ever decreasing circles is pretty dicey.<br />
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<span style="text-align: center;">Somebody won, probably Logan or Dayle.</span><br />
<span style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://southerncrosscx.blogspot.co.nz/2013/07/a-few-photos-from-sunday.html" target="_blank">Results and more pictures here</a></span><br />
<span style="text-align: center;">I finished in front of the first Lady home and Marc and Peter Page so that's my bragging done.</span><br />
Um, Darron Burns pasted me in pure straight line speed in his first CX race but did have to crash a few times in the corners. Top effort.<br />
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Then we went to the pub for Collector Card number 2 release party.<br />
Special thanks to Ewen for bringing his stunt double along without a translator.<br />
A good turn out, with Shark Marmon co-ordinating his floozies nicely throughout the night so there was never any down time.<br />
For a Sunday night we once again behaved like small children who like drinking. Awesome.<br />
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Monday was low key, pack up have coffee with Marc & Scott then back track home with a stop at the museum in Fairlie for chow which was excellent and highly recommended.<br />
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<br />Redwoodshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03235559243736752735noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22459373020011085.post-7644924263823810582013-09-04T01:43:00.002-07:002013-09-04T01:44:05.231-07:00Cycleworld Dunedin CX Race 4 - Kaikorai Valley<br />
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OMG, the courses just get better and better.<br />
This one through a garden centre and surrounds which used to be a firewood and car wreckers yard.<br />
I thought it much like Kosovo mid conflict.<br />
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Puddles over your shoes and you have no idea what's lurking beneath.<br />
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A fast pace on a long course meant this week I pretty much sucked.<br />
Mind you I didn't crash or puncture.<br />
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Craig Bates came back with a vengeance after I pasted him the week before at Forester Park.<br />
Kashi Leuchs pasted most everyone and finished second behind Tristan.<br />
Speaking of Kashi - I've never raced with him previously - no surprises there, but man can he ride - he flows like water. Very Impressive.<br />
Timo & Dayle and Dayle's hot Mrs made the trip from Christchurch and weren't disappointed.<br />
Neither was I.<br />
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This race also marked the unveiling of the Richard Woodward Collector card series.<br />
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Thanks to Matt & Trudi for the accomodation and my family for braving the cold weather on the day.<br />
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.620628074623201.1073741834.384402804912397&type=3" target="_blank">Brendan Ward Photgraphy</a> was there again which contributed the next card in the series, but more on that later.<br />
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<a href="http://cycleworld.co.nz/dunedin/cx-4-chaos-in-kaikorai/" target="_blank">Results and more race details here</a><br />
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<br />Redwoodshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03235559243736752735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22459373020011085.post-29649433378138352592013-06-28T02:45:00.000-07:002013-06-28T02:45:28.904-07:00Cycleworld Dunedin CX Series Race 3Like one glass of red is never enough, I was back for more.<br />
Keighley had worked Saturday, I was 50/50 on making the 600 km round trip for another hour of mud and splash.<br />
The weather was also in question after Wellington's south coast had been slammed by weather not seen since the Wahini disaster.<br />
Wanaka and Central Otago had snow too.<br />
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Within 15 mins of Keighley arriving home, I was back out the door wishing the Tardis had been first cab off the rank on Jumpstarter....<br />
So I drove the 3 hours with snow chains at the ready, but alas they stayed inside the truck.<br />
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Matt & Trudy were once again gracious hosts with excellent coffee, muesli, toast, cheese toasty sandwiches and muesli bars all on tap before the leisurely start of 2.30pm.<br />
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A different location this week around the Forester Park - just up the valley from the steepest street in the Wooooooooooooooooooorld. <br />
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<b>Great course</b>: tar seal, muddy walking track, bark garden, uphill walk/carry, culverts to cross, plywood covering the same culvert down the hill (slidey slidey), singletrack in the Spooky Forest, tight turns and the BMX track......<br />
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Not surprisingly Scott Lyttle again lapped me - but only once this time.<br />
Maybe he was toying with me like a cat does a mouse, maybe I had him strung out and he was on the ropes ?<br />
Guess we'll find out in Race 3.<br />
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Mechanicals played havoc with a couple of locals before the start with punctures, mud ate most everyone's traditional brake pads away during the race.<br />
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My prediction is that next year disc brakes will be the norm, not the exception.<br />
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Wellington & Christchurch hosted their first races the same day and had good turnouts - no mention of Fight Club though.<br />
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Round 3 is ooking good with the import controls being relaxed to allow a couple of Cantabs in da house.Redwoodshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03235559243736752735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22459373020011085.post-69264994194446356252013-06-23T03:06:00.001-07:002013-06-28T02:00:50.061-07:00Cycleworld Dunedin CX Series Race 2<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The local Cyclocross season was already one race ahead of me
and my enthusiasm was low.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Enter Big Gav, also from Wanaka, who said he would collect
me on Saturday and “be ready”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Luckily he hadn’t prepared a playlist in the style of “As
Good As It Gets” and we arrived in Dunners 3 hours later.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I had quietly observed him devour a packet of Jet Planes
single handedly and wondered what else he was on?<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">So much potential for crass blokey humour as this point.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I stayed in Mosgiel. The rain was horizontal.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Gav was in the North end of Dunedin where the street lights
were still on mid morning.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Perfect biking weather.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Tomahawk is on the East Coast and comparatively sheltered.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Cycleworld had set up a brilliant course around the sports
grounds with a road section to join it back together – after we’d splashed
through the estuary.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">31 riders started, 30 finished. One hit the road and then
tried to hit the rider that he hit.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Around 50 mins later Scott Lyttle passed me for the second
time, timing couldn’t have been better as that meant just one more lap.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I was pretty cooked so that was a blessing – except the
timing lady insisted it wasn’t the bell lap….my new friend Nick and I discussed
the ramifications of this and trundled around for one more and maybe one more.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Gav and Tristan Lawrence passed us just short of the finish
line for 2<sup>nd</sup> & 3<sup>rd</sup>.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRxKcueh2-fiGpsXhOV3FehKRGm3hCQ1PdMaQ9tuSy1Utb48nb1IdNPt76L5ODO1mr_vTpQ0w0qfpqCTYfPjA2S_r9jmHnsaxzLdfBk6ozjq9FRbluujRhhnxyZYoj3FBW4ttf71mFrA/s1600/1005961_615593745126634_2024291917_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRxKcueh2-fiGpsXhOV3FehKRGm3hCQ1PdMaQ9tuSy1Utb48nb1IdNPt76L5ODO1mr_vTpQ0w0qfpqCTYfPjA2S_r9jmHnsaxzLdfBk6ozjq9FRbluujRhhnxyZYoj3FBW4ttf71mFrA/s320/1005961_615593745126634_2024291917_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Nick and I thought we were owed an extra lap so we used that
as a warm down and swapped stories; he’d watched the first race of the series
the week before and stepped up this week for a ride.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Post race smack talk had rumours circulating of an
altercation during the race.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> It turned out it was just
like Days of Thunder : “rubbings racing boy” except it had escalated to Fight Club. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Good times.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Our trip home was looking low key, just 3 hours, until we
hit Clyde. Rather big rocks had hit the road and closed it prior to our arrival
and wasn’t reopening till the next morning.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Two options, no three presented themselves.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">1)
<!--[endif]-->Find beer and consider next move.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">2)
<!--[endif]-->Ring Bluebird Malcolm and invite ourselves round
for the night. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Gidday it’s Malcolm here, super busy right
now, please leave a message”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">3)
<!--[endif]-->Go cross country up and over the hill to
Bannockburn was what we tried. Last time up that hill was for downhill shuttles
in a big 4WD – we were in a Subaru Outback with a river running down the track
towards us.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1-ig_ty3g7U8u3_gi8tFEhiY0S7Uht-fUke8FU7UyZH3Nsoa7iHKwLkf29hH3yoev_DLS__e1l2mmD1hWwTai89J-IqCZW_aIJPe8oppua45e22vhu1m51KKKe-iwyy7bod37uX3_SA/s1600/IMG_20130623_214919.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1-ig_ty3g7U8u3_gi8tFEhiY0S7Uht-fUke8FU7UyZH3Nsoa7iHKwLkf29hH3yoev_DLS__e1l2mmD1hWwTai89J-IqCZW_aIJPe8oppua45e22vhu1m51KKKe-iwyy7bod37uX3_SA/s320/IMG_20130623_214919.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Up the top things got progressively worse; the puddles
bigger and deeper. We turned back when the water was over Gav’s gummies.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Another call and a few beers later had us, well me, snoring
my way thru a forest all night long.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Driving home next day you couldn’t see any sign of the rock
fall.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Oh well, no matter. Happy Birthday Gavin.</span><o:p></o:p><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">16 June 2013</span></div>
Redwoodshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03235559243736752735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22459373020011085.post-57174668826767300232013-06-02T14:22:00.001-07:002013-06-02T16:36:38.233-07:00Tarras - Roubix 2nd June 2013<span style="font-size: large;">Paris - Roubaix; a race steeped in history.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Tarras - Roubaix; a ride steeped in filth and a little cow shit.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">So a wet and windy day greeted the Gentlemen this morning at the Tarras Coffee Shop. We </span><span style="font-size: large;">supped coffee while waiting for one late entrant to arrive.</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnVgD9g0F9z2H5xwqNqFPGVDlHs7RqJXIC4mIZemVSSCAB82pjW7Efi9yLswCrjxhddpKqUTLweNG1QmZnKGDH2i7rbWYVA8bgHCg3ENqO1rB-cfdlIVMxq86WFvykIpWqM9-a1RFijw/s1600/P6021354.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnVgD9g0F9z2H5xwqNqFPGVDlHs7RqJXIC4mIZemVSSCAB82pjW7Efi9yLswCrjxhddpKqUTLweNG1QmZnKGDH2i7rbWYVA8bgHCg3ENqO1rB-cfdlIVMxq86WFvykIpWqM9-a1RFijw/s320/P6021354.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Scotty Rainsford - local Outside Sports bike shop guy and carbon cop out.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">Myself - informal Club Captain for the day.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Matt Corbett - a visitor from Dunedin with most unsuitable bike of the day rolling tubular tires and no spare, until I lent him a couple.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">David Drake - obviously riding with me last weekend didn't scare him off for today.</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI3-G2XEiSwXOpqoAkqgGb9xDgLz8FlIXERgB_31BH0YooeatxgDxsKbL-13iihVjeWHQ4TcP34tsv0IF-2eelAfaw-klaVzX1n0ya78zPp88YmRoq9t155UBkYRdQl9D8t5yFX4RraA/s1600/P6021353.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI3-G2XEiSwXOpqoAkqgGb9xDgLz8FlIXERgB_31BH0YooeatxgDxsKbL-13iihVjeWHQ4TcP34tsv0IF-2eelAfaw-klaVzX1n0ya78zPp88YmRoq9t155UBkYRdQl9D8t5yFX4RraA/s320/P6021353.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkVVqwoAzrtDnrlvjtNNLTV_ENDejckcHnjFaFE_nD1KGvFc5LWIwihljqQzu6AMr-P8s8cPoCUWBr0OR6JDw4xEqCiVA6WAyLQK2VDMoV9gXouGzltiGI6CgnW65tlBOYfdAgS89RHw/s1600/P6021355.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkVVqwoAzrtDnrlvjtNNLTV_ENDejckcHnjFaFE_nD1KGvFc5LWIwihljqQzu6AMr-P8s8cPoCUWBr0OR6JDw4xEqCiVA6WAyLQK2VDMoV9gXouGzltiGI6CgnW65tlBOYfdAgS89RHw/s320/P6021355.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Marty Rowan - the smiling assassin. Turned up with a Titanium bike and 23mm tires and rode strong all day. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">Gavin Mason - Didn't need knee warmers. Everyone else did. </span><span style="font-size: large;">Certainly had a spring in his step.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Sarah Goodwin - another visitor from Dunedin, actually a 28 year old dentist with excellent oral habits; no doubt.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Seat height difference - you do the math...............</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy701vZ73RUelAL5AlYrnIsuG_TXoO4fDkjnyS9dAu8U7XHzacD-637tBjMiqf7OjPVgIjP6uR_i71WrUi8U47Jhy2kH7T2K81JmjG_pWLAc6n83pcLTtHG_wPPt6F8dCxHPyycnK-Aw/s1600/P6021356.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy701vZ73RUelAL5AlYrnIsuG_TXoO4fDkjnyS9dAu8U7XHzacD-637tBjMiqf7OjPVgIjP6uR_i71WrUi8U47Jhy2kH7T2K81JmjG_pWLAc6n83pcLTtHG_wPPt6F8dCxHPyycnK-Aw/s320/P6021356.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">Dan Van Asch - the elder statesman and our late arrival sporting a fancy new bike to ease his old bones.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">A 10am departure led us north towards the Lindis Pass, about 10km on the road. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkwG785bE-CAwjURE_lymipbRvEUJEvBekbsddfuF5bcWiXcw5C_FBMWiutRByZFSbvkpDXzdBmwiHXiMRYc3RyQ-alwN8Qbrd6S2ilOiE6XNq9OvlP1qkKe4XceyiJraym-kOxy6DEA/s1600/DSC_0038.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkwG785bE-CAwjURE_lymipbRvEUJEvBekbsddfuF5bcWiXcw5C_FBMWiutRByZFSbvkpDXzdBmwiHXiMRYc3RyQ-alwN8Qbrd6S2ilOiE6XNq9OvlP1qkKe4XceyiJraym-kOxy6DEA/s320/DSC_0038.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">A real mixed bag of cross winds through the trees, getting blown up Cluden Hill and hanging on for dear life on the way down: I mean really hanging on not knowing which way the wind would try and whip your bars.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Down on the flat Scotty had obviously forgotten the gentle part of the ride and bought his heart rate up to cruising speed, of course Marty and David couldn't leave him alone.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I felt like the little that engine that couldn't.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">A couple of times I felt helpless in a 39 x 24 headwind haze.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUAPz3d7rxHEK-LhnL_DN7C9evxFuzoi6QqNEPPs_TxgQBbq4Tv3UNjbQR0f4CqO8ldndy2tAahfC2xWsNjc1DtCabmrma4f_VlqgNNF8Cp1KPpgvDHL5UbpxzkVZLDKXIMCtoAF5RtA/s1600/DSC_0040.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUAPz3d7rxHEK-LhnL_DN7C9evxFuzoi6QqNEPPs_TxgQBbq4Tv3UNjbQR0f4CqO8ldndy2tAahfC2xWsNjc1DtCabmrma4f_VlqgNNF8Cp1KPpgvDHL5UbpxzkVZLDKXIMCtoAF5RtA/s320/DSC_0040.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">A quick regroup and photo, then off up the gravel hill to home.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijecgoh7brCiLNr-QNKQEjFZA3t4c5G2s8Gzd0nV741Qx5ozn7jZaz6SJlsXcxRa7Fu9oHBkPW5dL1VIeJs5HPeInPcy3PNgRLpzEZTYnMJlcfrQYi9et6OosKih87qX4X01lQ8M2x3A/s1600/DSC_0042.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijecgoh7brCiLNr-QNKQEjFZA3t4c5G2s8Gzd0nV741Qx5ozn7jZaz6SJlsXcxRa7Fu9oHBkPW5dL1VIeJs5HPeInPcy3PNgRLpzEZTYnMJlcfrQYi9et6OosKih87qX4X01lQ8M2x3A/s320/DSC_0042.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">Yes, I was last up the hill - I was in no hurry.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Actually I was trying as hard as I could and still went backwards compared to the others.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">That's ok, I didn't have to wait at the top in the rain.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyT5CSZp96r-VfFoUu3l9RLG9fM9HZxtGFHk74qiFMkvV2m7pH5JJb1exueSBRqZaWJmG2reAYOxZgXS7b7x0ZYLETlHkDft5Kbu7zH1ySxOBYz5MotjIr7qVNggSnHed2hAFFJB5tLA/s1600/DSC_0044.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyT5CSZp96r-VfFoUu3l9RLG9fM9HZxtGFHk74qiFMkvV2m7pH5JJb1exueSBRqZaWJmG2reAYOxZgXS7b7x0ZYLETlHkDft5Kbu7zH1ySxOBYz5MotjIr7qVNggSnHed2hAFFJB5tLA/s320/DSC_0044.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijecgoh7brCiLNr-QNKQEjFZA3t4c5G2s8Gzd0nV741Qx5ozn7jZaz6SJlsXcxRa7Fu9oHBkPW5dL1VIeJs5HPeInPcy3PNgRLpzEZTYnMJlcfrQYi9et6OosKih87qX4X01lQ8M2x3A/s1600/DSC_0042.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijecgoh7brCiLNr-QNKQEjFZA3t4c5G2s8Gzd0nV741Qx5ozn7jZaz6SJlsXcxRa7Fu9oHBkPW5dL1VIeJs5HPeInPcy3PNgRLpzEZTYnMJlcfrQYi9et6OosKih87qX4X01lQ8M2x3A/s1600/DSC_0042.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> </a><span style="font-size: large;">The descent was long and fast - remember this is gravel and had turned into an impromptu Enduro, as is the go these days.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Taking a few right handers mighty fast the wind catches you like bringing a boat into the wind and slows things down sufficiently.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Some of that poo on the road might not have come from cows ya know ?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Some tailwind action brings the speed right round till you're all out of gears - holy shit, I'm spinning out the dog - yee ha.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">16km of gravel bought us back around to the cars and another coffee.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The ladies thought we were nuts before we went riding and cussed us in the kitchen for dripping all over the floors afterwards.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Scotty is hatching his own version in a few weeks, but it shouldn't clash with any CX action.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">A good couple of hours in atrocious weather.</span>Redwoodshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03235559243736752735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22459373020011085.post-75333971587116648392013-04-26T03:39:00.000-07:002016-11-24T17:50:16.407-08:00Hawea Epic 95km 2013<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">How hard can it be riding a farm track around a lake - water is flat right ??</span><br />
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"much to learn in 6 hours and 40 minutes you have"</span><br />
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- Look Yoda, its a cold southerly, dark and drizzling - what would you know.</span><br />
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Apparently he knows lots, cause I did learn many things that day, just a week ago.</span><br />
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4.45am is really early to wake up, have coffee and try to keep breakfast down</span><br />
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5.30am is not any more civil, but the lift to the start with Zeph & Sarah was.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">"Here, let me put your bike on, have another coffee"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Love that shit.</span><br />
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Note to self, take a head torch next time, trying to wipe your bum in a DOC toilet in pitch black is pure guess work.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijABwdGbw1y1tkYv3VfoWKNjRLCA898z0m8Eu2YRs152bWNzDX2CIVpAjgWnPSdcz5pu8aZ9ks28Xc6MjBAenkFnvwYYUC-lJosf_1avpKAAqKA9WZQwUE7IPnxE2_4XJL6sFPEW4BlA/s1600/522056_10151557158133493_1981549676_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijABwdGbw1y1tkYv3VfoWKNjRLCA898z0m8Eu2YRs152bWNzDX2CIVpAjgWnPSdcz5pu8aZ9ks28Xc6MjBAenkFnvwYYUC-lJosf_1avpKAAqKA9WZQwUE7IPnxE2_4XJL6sFPEW4BlA/s320/522056_10151557158133493_1981549676_n.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
Ok, 5 mins to start. We are in the first 3 rows. It is dark still and then we ride through a tree canopy which is darker.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Some muppet tries to lock handle bars with me, but he ends up in the water ditch. A few folks have lights - they are my friends.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
A 2 km climb early on has many many people removing jackets. I unzip mine and sweat it out.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
I pass many slower riders on the downhills.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">They pass me right back when I get a flat.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I pump my shit arse little pump like maybe one hundred times, the tire self seals and we're off again. I catch Sarah crossing the river at the top off the lake.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">As soon as I turned into the headwind it was much much colder - funny that.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Gloves saturated from rain and river crossing. Can't move ankle/shin interface, so stomp on pedals like a Russian.</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The first 4 guys in the 125km race pass me soon after - they are like a team pursuit on the track.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Didn't look like fun so left them to it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
Saw my personal photographer, Stefan and mechanic Nick at Green Bush hut. Refill camelback, eat food, put on knee warmers and jacket.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Happier now.</span><br />
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<br />
<br />
Riders with grim faces on hard tails pass me, they are hating life right now. Glad I stayed up late the night before and made a few quick mods to dual suspension 29er:<br />
<br />
<br />
Install new used brake pads.<br />
<br />
Tighten headset.<br />
<br />
Changed wheels.<br />
<br />
And cassette.<br />
<br />
Oiled chain.<br />
<br />
Forks had the new cartridge installed mid week.<br />
<br />
New bearings installed after facing bottom bracket shell.<br />
<br />
Swap out pedals - hate mine to fall off, huh.<br />
<br />
Otherwise I just pumped up the tires<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
The scenery is stunning - the near valleys are topped with snow - it really is picturesque. <br />
<br />
I feel like I'm stuck on the slow lane and the only people I pass are broken down. This is hard work.<br />
<br />
<br />
Trying to eat and drink is a chore. Every time you think It's food time, an up or down arrives that requires either two hands on the bars or an empty mouth to breath.<br />
<br />
<br />
Drink some water - sure thing. Take a leak - it's really cold.<br />
<br />
Repeat all day.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUl-CxXPllHJYoA1oNYojFsgy8AfX4bbPBg3oQuQ_1mNmyk2mZhDMMDwXMiu61jAcILBKbwKnZkJyvDcRanOZgL0iUf0ZCX4ddktsLUGmTWwH0L8HcDT1Xx7JCmg1eMrloRR-YiBsXYA/s1600/P1010858.JPG"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUl-CxXPllHJYoA1oNYojFsgy8AfX4bbPBg3oQuQ_1mNmyk2mZhDMMDwXMiu61jAcILBKbwKnZkJyvDcRanOZgL0iUf0ZCX4ddktsLUGmTWwH0L8HcDT1Xx7JCmg1eMrloRR-YiBsXYA/s320/P1010858.JPG" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
I caught Sarah who had a puncture.<br />
<br />
I took over while she ate.<br />
<br />
We laughed at some guy who was laughing at us, until he realised he had a puncture too. He was n't happy and his mother would not of approved of his potty mouth. <br />
<br />
We were gone before he even had a tube in.<br />
<br />
<br />
Steve Gurney nearly takes me out as I veer left to go around a big hole/puddle. He's coming up the inside, but not fast enough. I can see his bars beside me so I do the nice thing and go through the hole. I laughed and said a few words.<br />
<br />
I also said "you're lucky I'm not a train Steve"<br />
<br />
He laughed and commented that my jacket was the same colour.<br />
<br />
Ho ho ho.<br />
<br />
<br />
Dingle Station was serving tea and scones. <br />
<br />
<br />
The ride thus far was serving up pain and suffering.<br />
<br />
It was fun fun fun and then it wasn't anymore.<br />
<br />
I thought Keighley might not like to do this next year.<br />
<br />
<br />
No matter, the last 30 kms was on gravel road that was damp and not fast. <br />
<br />
Oh, unless your name is Gavin Mason and the big diesel was finally getting would up after too much steamed pudding the night before. Freak.<br />
<br />
<br />
I walked up the hill out of Timaru Creek so I could eat and stretch everything.<br />
<br />
Melissa Newell passed me looking very wobbly.<br />
<br />
Squeaking chain - hey lady, can I oil that for ya ?<br />
<br />
"sure, got any water and food ? I'm frozen"<br />
<br />
She finished 9th women home in the long one.<br />
<br />
<br />
Hannah Thorn caught me at the top while I was taking another leak. Her chain was barking too. She passed Melissa before the finish.<br />
<br />
<br />
Sarah and I rode and rode and rode. I'm sure the distance signs were up the shit.<br />
<br />
<br />
No matter, we crossed the line to rapturous applause from the locals and then were besieged by the local CRT real estate agent and his mate the cop.<br />
<br />
"how was it, would you do it again? do you like my new bike?'<br />
<br />
"Hard, no, that's nice."<br />
<br />
<br />
I felt pretty broken, my eyes were full of crap - glasses got rain on both sides early on, so sat atop my helmet the whole way. Might go pursuit helmet with visor next time.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP6X2w3krxg8qNJAaBBWHNK-Q2RzYwDv8fFQ9P-OkLoR7po7a-GX6BhYpru6tTldJP9g657XoEXKZVYgq3qVXvcPkQRNlCY6sozhyOiBdEFyb-w1MPSdcqPuTN7Sz1IMRpXA2Ijae4Jg/s1600/378331_10151557161078493_2017839540_n.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP6X2w3krxg8qNJAaBBWHNK-Q2RzYwDv8fFQ9P-OkLoR7po7a-GX6BhYpru6tTldJP9g657XoEXKZVYgq3qVXvcPkQRNlCY6sozhyOiBdEFyb-w1MPSdcqPuTN7Sz1IMRpXA2Ijae4Jg/s320/378331_10151557161078493_2017839540_n.jpg" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
My back was so sore I nearly asked Keighley to undo my shoes.<br />
<br />
<br />
Yes, I fell asleep on the couch mid afternoon and had an early night.<br />
<br />
<br />
I have no idea why I rode to work on the Monday, but I did.<br />
<br />
<br />
It was a big day out or me, but hey, a few guys did it twice in one day last year and while I rode for just over 6 hours, in Rotorua the 24 hr champs were on - many people were riding solo, much of it in the rain and dark.<br />
<br />
Spare a thought for those suckers.<br />
<br />
That's truely a big day out.<br />
<br />
<br />
How about next year the 24 hr champs bring themselves to Hawea and we see you solo's bust out 4 laps ??<br />
<br />
<br />Redwoodshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03235559243736752735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22459373020011085.post-15255942728429257452013-04-18T02:22:00.001-07:002013-04-18T02:22:24.257-07:00Naseby 12 hour MTB Race, 2013Entering this race is prestigious in itself.<br />
45 mins after they open, the entries are full.<br />
Luckily for me, we sponsor it, so staying up past midnight was not required.<br />
<br />
Our usual compliment of men folk were up for it: <br />
Marc Sharman - now residing in Christchurch, working for KRD who are an importer of wonderful MTB goods such as WTB, Raceface, Lezyne and more, I'm sure.<br />
Matt Boulcott - recently married to the lovely Emily and more recently residing in Palmerston North where he deposits over 1/2 his paycheck from flying helicopters, directly into the bike shop called Crank It.<br />
Myself - still in Wanaka - no recent life changing events to report other than given up the devils drink since January, this is actually in question as to whether it is making me faster or slower.<br />
<br />
Two new additions to the team for this year.<br />
<br />
Simone Maier - superstar of the Ironman and Adventure racing circuit. Recent awesomeness include smashing the Motutapu race record by 8 minutes, but due to a technical bumble you won't see her name on the winners board.<br />
Moving on she won the Goldrush a couple of weeks back by like an hour. <br />
And finished 4th in the Challenge Wanaka Ironman in January.<br />
<br />
Melissa Newell - Tall, Blond and with dodgy hips, I can say no more at this stage.<br />
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<br />
Mr Corbett had entered Solo, withdrawn, faltered, withdrawn his withdrawl, then turned up to ride Solo as if nothing had happened. And he did the most laps with a sneaky beer in between. Confusing I know.<br />
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<br />
Zero degrees and frozen windscreens greeted us in Ranfurly.<br />
Dropping our gear out of a chopper would have been slower than our dump and run with our 3 cars and 6 people at the pits.<br />
<br />
Cam McHardy had the helm at our campsite this year; his dad Jeff who is our regular camp mother had St Johns duty this year. We share with 4 other teams, so there is always plenty of action going on.<br />
<br />
The only thing I forgot this year was arm warmers, but Mops (Melissa) had some new kit from one of her long line of sponsors, I borrowed them and they were great - so good, that if I was in a position to do so, I'd be buying a new home from <a href="http://www.mikegreerhomes.co.nz/" target="_blank">www.mikegreerhomes.co.nz</a> <br />
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<br />
As you can see from the live timing system that Emily was in charge of, there was no delay in disappointment (in my case), much chest beating (from Marc Sharman), who the hell messed with my suspension ? (Matt Boulcott), well I'm still awesome (Simone), and take that you pussy boys - fastest lap hell yeah (Mops)<br />
<br />
Early on we were in 6th place in the Mixed Teams, we liked that spot so much we stayed there right to the end.<br />
<br />
It was truely a great day out - a constant stream of riders passing by from the kids, solo's, singlespeeders, fast whippets, not so fast older folk, fancy dress - you name it, there it was.<br />
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<br />
Having done this event I think 4 years now, you get to recognise many faces and meet a few new ones and a few faraway voices over the phone.<br />
<br />
For myself, it's especially a big day out.<br />
Organising a team, the tent, timing, food, 2 bikes and riding laps too.<br />
Then there's the other stuff, like been first into the showers, yelling at unsuspecting souls from the sidelines with the only saving grace being: there is little chance of anyone turning around to discuss matters further.<br />
<br />
If I had one request to make it better - top the trees so the sun can reach us all day long in sponsors row.<br />
Sure does look pretty at nigh though:<br />
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<br />
Next year is the tenth anniversary.<br />
Feel free to submit your application to be on my team, you're welcome.<br />
<br />Redwoodshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03235559243736752735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22459373020011085.post-69744794558102816282012-12-16T19:55:00.002-08:002012-12-17T23:05:49.223-08:00Let's go Road Racing<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"At least they only run that course once a year"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- My response when asked how I enjoyed my return to Road Racing.</span><br />
<br />
The chap who now owns my Willier asked if I'd like to come over to Queenstown and race to Glenorchy - a mere 43km away.<br />
<br />
Not having been to Glenorchy previously, this was met some enthiusiasm and ticked a couple of boxes.<br />
<br />
I drew on some sagely advice from a stallwart of the Canterbury Road Racing scene (CRRS) <br />
They love acronyms in CHCH these days.<br />
<br />
<em>"Start the race with some "smack talk" </em><br />
<em>like are you going to be racing ?wearing those girls glasses! </em><br />
<em>That breaks the ice with the group and puts there heart-rate up and they will pedal in anger for the start. </em><br />
<em>Then half-whe<span id=".reactRoot[1].[1][2][1]{comment4173630378742_53522678}.0.[1].0.[1].0.[0].[0][2].0.[3]"><span id=".reactRoot[1].[1][2][1]{comment4173630378742_53522678}.0.[1].0.[1].0.[0].[0][2].0.[3].0"><span id=".reactRoot[1].[1][2][1]{comment4173630378742_53522678}.0.[1].0.[1].0.[0].[0][2].0.[3].0.[0]">el every bastard there, then gutter them once you have finished with! then and smile and say thanks for the team effort mate ! </span></span></span></em><br />
<em>then just start yelling at people about the way they ride or what wheels they have on or things like "thats a shit helmet did you mum pick that one out for at the shop ?" </em><br />
<em>Dont forget to have a few carbo-shots and a bananana or something always save the peel as they go good in spokes of other riders and if it's a team throw your water bottles at them if they try and out sprint you.</em><br />
<em>If you have to lead out don't! pretend your legs have no power and soft pedal turning it into a negative race. Then look for the breakaway stick with em then roll them for the sprint! and dont forget to fist pump over the line. great for photos </em><br />
<em>Oh and because youré a road cyclist "racing" you are the most important prick out there so ride in the middle of your side of the road so traffic have a hassle getting around i think that's pretty much how it's done well that's how i have been shown over the last 3 years road racing in canterbury."</em><br />
<br />
Ten bucks for entry and a day licence, stern words at the race briefing about NOT crossing the centre line and we were off in D grade.<br />
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<br />
Yep, only the broom wagon behind us.<br />
Off we went into a howling headwind and the first of a few hills - that being my perception.<br />
The reality was a howling headwind and many many hills - to which I present the course profile:<br />
<br />
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<br />
I thought I would shun the latest in technological developments and left the Garmin, SRM's Powertaps, Deep Dish Carbon Wheels at home.<br />
Just the Heart Rate Monitor thanks.<br />
Amy - I can still crack 175 BPM ! <br />
Can't hold it, just the high score !<br />
<br />
One one of the hills in the middle I remember pulling up so hard on the pedals my cleats were click clacking like Mr Eds hooves.<br />
No matter, 36 x 27 = made it.<br />
<br />
So, some 2hrs and five mins I rolled over the line in 6th place.<br />
Maybe next year I'll feel like rolling back to Queenstown in the bunch after prize giving ?<br />
<br />Redwoodshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03235559243736752735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22459373020011085.post-17080670923116064572012-10-23T02:15:00.000-07:002012-10-23T02:15:16.410-07:00My Name is Earl<span style="font-size: small;">Here's where it all started.<br />
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<br />
<br />
Tom couldn't buy beer at the Soopy because he didn't have any ID. Marc went to buy the beers for him and the checkout lady said he could n't do that either. <br />
<br />
Then I stepped in, told Tom off, told the lady he was my son, she told me I should know better and we left with no beers.<br />
<br />
Tom not happy.<br />
<br />
I drove to next liquor store and ordered everyone to get out.<br />
<br />
We had a pint of Emmerson's Pilsner.<br />
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<br />
Then another.<br />
<br />
Then I think Marc wanted to go home, but I said we'll have another and Marc can you drive please.<br />
<br />
I think lots of Dunedin mtb people converged upon Pembroke Wines & Spirits at this point because the place was packed.<br />
<br />
Then I saw this guy walking across the street, yelled at him, he yelled back then joined us for more beer.<br />
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<br />
We got silly, told filthy jokes, I dropped my camera in my beer but it still works because it's waterproof.<br />
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<br />
Keighley texted and said where are you ?<br />
<br />
I replied we had done the shopping and were nearly ready to collect the pop up tent for the mtb race the next day.<br />
<br />
Marc was urging us to go - evidently rang Keighley and said Richard won't leave - help.<br />
<br />
Keighley texted me and said come home now, you're fucking it up for everyone.<br />
<br />
We left.<br />
<br />
Except I co-erced Tom into doing a runner to Waterbar where they were having Octoberfest.<br />
<br />
We, mainly I, thought we were hilarious with our $10 Steins of Carlsberg.<br />
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<br />
Just before 9pm, Tom texted this message to Marc:<br />
<br />
<em>"Richard is hammered. Please come and get us in 28 minutes when I have finished this stein"</em><br />
<br />
Then the bouncer(s) walked in wearing a shirt and tie under a hoody to which I enquired why would you wear a tie in Wanaka ?<br />
<br />
Tom was frantically trying to tell me he's the bouncer, to which I paid no heed.<br />
<br />
"Because I work here" he replied.<br />
<br />
What do you do I asked ?<br />
<br />
"I'm the bouncer ! "<br />
<br />
Hey, buddy you can wear whatever you like as long as I leave with my teeth shortly.<br />
<br />
Marc arrived, we went home, my name was mud (again) I may have been just the tiniest bit sick and went to bed with no supper.<br />
<br />
In fact I couldn't stomach anything until 12.30 the next day.<br />
And after seeing Marc <em>running </em>with this man/girl I'm not surprised.<br />
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</span>Redwoodshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03235559243736752735noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22459373020011085.post-60834987825544871512012-10-18T01:46:00.002-07:002012-10-18T01:46:40.708-07:00Let's talk about new fangdangled formats for just about everything to do with today's modern MTB.INTENSE HARD EDDIE 29ER FRAME<br />Frame material: Carbon Fibre.<br />
<br />Bottom bracket - Oversize hole 46mm diameter. <br />
Had to buy a plastic push in thing so I can use my "old" fancy pants threaded bottom bracket.<br />
<br />
Headset - Lower = drop in 1.5" internal bearing. Top = drop in 1 1/8th" internal bearing. <br />
Can't use Chris King "regular"1 1/8th headset.<br />
<br />
Front Derailleur - most of today's derailleurs have all the guts hanging out the back - rubbing on the tire in this instance.<br />
Fortunately with good stock to draw on I have a late model one that'll work.<br />
The 1990 XT with steel cage lives in the parts box for another day.<br />
<br />
Rear disc brake - runs underneath the downtube and along the underside of the chainstay.<br />
Needed a new longer hose fitted.<br />
$100 ouch. And I measured it wrong, so had to cut it once home and now requires re-bleeding.<br />
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<br />
Shifter cables - run internally, but unlike the 4 Kleins I have owned they do not come with pre lined inners.<br />
Note to self: next time run the cables through the frame before excitedly installing new bottom bracket assembly and headset.<br />
This will enable quick and easy installation of said cables instead of blindly wriggling them around in a post caffeine overloaded state.<br />
<br />
I think that tomorrow I shall try just 2 coffees, they say one should cut back gently.<br />
<br />
Other than that, looks nice.<br />
Weighing in at 24.11 pounds - some 5.5 pounds lighter than the dual suspension Spider 29er.<br />
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<br />
<br />
Redwoodshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03235559243736752735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22459373020011085.post-47619875747168834962012-07-04T03:40:00.002-07:002012-07-04T03:40:38.222-07:00Queenstown CX race round two 2012 - special Tech Feature<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj20RVU5lSkbYIz07hEqcbVLaRbh1nkxgt9IbU3CI_HurdRzJVADM2zbOJdR9X8AkuejRiugqakED_yjdvIBs9wPsZVkKZ04QJ58XuLvBmHZu0TU8yFJSkCsD-SlTvr2gh4FYBCLFYjCQ/s1600/P7010155.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj20RVU5lSkbYIz07hEqcbVLaRbh1nkxgt9IbU3CI_HurdRzJVADM2zbOJdR9X8AkuejRiugqakED_yjdvIBs9wPsZVkKZ04QJ58XuLvBmHZu0TU8yFJSkCsD-SlTvr2gh4FYBCLFYjCQ/s320/P7010155.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
For this prestgious race, our ramshackle team selected nothing but the finest of accomodation.<br />
Photo credit: Wang Chung.<br />
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First up we feature Ken Feist's new FELT carbon CX spectacular. Note the white cantilever brakes on the front forks.<br />
Photo Credit: Wang Chung.<br />
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<br />
And also brakes on the rear of the bike too. Note the nifty hanger with it's subtle banana like stance.<br />
Photo Credit: Wang Chung.<br />
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Looks like the owner prefers FSA carbon cranks and a suitably well matched ceramic bottom bracket assembly. Note the Shimano pedals - everyone's prefered choice for shoe/crank interface.<br />
Photo Credit: Wang Chung.<br />
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Here's something you don't often see in Tech Features - the filthy underside of a saddle. Fascinating.<br />
Note the 5 screws holding the scuff cover on. <br />
How about that two bolt seat post.<br />
Photo Credit: Wang Chung.<br />
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Here, the fork crown seamlessly integrates into the frame. The Pro issue carbon lookalike tape adds a measure of security for the electronic shifting molecular moment transfer cables.<br />
Photo Credit: Wang Chung.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQsooXMeFefadKq_ft0W3dUuG7juSTRCQhLQahv9Uw7a8ll76mbInnkKf5FOZEwW_bL9yP1ByUOjCpyEMpFnHqfUtoRx_OIdnPcU_LrWFjJ9IUDwVK0mi_jCG8cUTS9ScAOExjpyJNfw/s1600/P7010162.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQsooXMeFefadKq_ft0W3dUuG7juSTRCQhLQahv9Uw7a8ll76mbInnkKf5FOZEwW_bL9yP1ByUOjCpyEMpFnHqfUtoRx_OIdnPcU_LrWFjJ9IUDwVK0mi_jCG8cUTS9ScAOExjpyJNfw/s320/P7010162.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Old meets new. In a previous life there would have been a drink bottle cage mounted here. <br />
So handily the battery pack is mounted here instead, for all the poor people to see.<br />
Photo Credit: Wang Chung.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLmrBl-34YcbHcS4mnhBvJmquwoMT1m2u1svMsHV3B9-BLGqySkTkhUiam0k3Eh0UVhwnWrRXB2uIduzrl7EyRyDaEVj8JKvsGWgYCHWKluc5pPlC6cAzSKd_zxYiKZczu1YldHiWNlg/s1600/P7010163.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLmrBl-34YcbHcS4mnhBvJmquwoMT1m2u1svMsHV3B9-BLGqySkTkhUiam0k3Eh0UVhwnWrRXB2uIduzrl7EyRyDaEVj8JKvsGWgYCHWKluc5pPlC6cAzSKd_zxYiKZczu1YldHiWNlg/s320/P7010163.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Another angle showing the battery pack, front servo shifter and chainring combination. We couldn't see any markings on the size of the chainrings and were too stupid to cound to 36/48.<br />
Photo Credit: Wang Chung.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHFKcF8-XWb-nyXnTiE6ZAJ_X3ThlZ-xz6tWG0qNdEPCx2g93eJb-vZSgKhl1F6saReEvXYn5yoLSQPriv-2pY3Bw7S0gHc_Np4CB0pqJhk2D_-jq633X6SL5KZqK4bHNmiwcyxJqTDA/s1600/P7010164.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHFKcF8-XWb-nyXnTiE6ZAJ_X3ThlZ-xz6tWG0qNdEPCx2g93eJb-vZSgKhl1F6saReEvXYn5yoLSQPriv-2pY3Bw7S0gHc_Np4CB0pqJhk2D_-jq633X6SL5KZqK4bHNmiwcyxJqTDA/s320/P7010164.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
And the rear servo shifting mechanism. Once again the Pro issue tape securely holds the moment transfer cable in place. The backstays also have the manufactururs name displayed.<br />
Photo Credit: Wang Chung.<br />
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Ample tire clearance here. If it all went pear shaped and by some unfortunate accident your balls got sucked through the forks I'm guessing it would still smart.<br />
Note the helmet jauntily placed on the handlebars.<br />
Photo Credit: Wang Chung.<br />
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Rear tire clearance - much less room for ball sucking here.<br />
Note the chain.<br />
Photo Credit: Wang Chung.Redwoodshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03235559243736752735noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22459373020011085.post-53810631806970217822012-03-30T00:38:00.003-07:002012-03-30T01:02:22.659-07:00In reply to facebook post of 30/3/2012https://www.facebook.com/#!/photo.php?fbid=248933215202929&set=a.140499106046341.28180.100002587574083&type=1&theater<br /><br /><br /><strong>Matt Keen:</strong> I'm too old to fully gain the benefits of paperboy delivery size wheels.<br /><strong>Ewan Robertson:</strong> I'm all about brand loyalty: not counting the 3 Cannondales etc etc in the garage...<br />Fa<strong>st Freddy:</strong> Oh yeah ! Heaven~<br /><strong>Scott Emmens:</strong> thank god for a sane comment<br /><strong>James Service:</strong> As Ollie Brook-White reads most FB posts, of course the tires are aligned correctly. Have you read those warning stickers ? A truer word as never spoken. And lets face it. non Mac users would never have spotted it.<br /><strong>James Pollard:</strong> I bought it locally, so its OK.<br /><strong>Cam Cole:</strong> Fucking pro as always.<br /><strong>Steve Collins:</strong> you should see me with ahrdon.<br /><strong>Jono Baddiley:</strong> I still get the invites as Keighley is with the dark side, but I choose not to go. Kind of like AA meetings for quitters.<br /><strong>Mary Lou-Roulston:</strong> good spotting, obviously posted before the second bottle kicked in.<br /><strong>James Lewis:</strong> after al lthe shit I gave you last night, I'm glad we're still talking<br /><strong>Matt Boulcott:</strong> arse kisser<br /><strong>Gale Stonë:</strong> you could still have me.<br /><strong>Grant Tyrell:</strong> mid pack is ok these days, I have a whole Dictionary of excuses.<br /><strong>John Oldale:</strong> nobody's mrs has ever complained about an extra 3 inches.<br /><strong>Luke Hollister:</strong> ssssssssssssssh. before you know it they will be cool.<br /><strong>Ken Feist:</strong> that's what the Cannondale is for, but a JT tribute bike with drops would be so frikken cool....Redwoodshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03235559243736752735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22459373020011085.post-45126627823404768032012-01-15T00:58:00.000-08:002012-01-15T01:29:14.172-08:00Round Lake Dunstan 96km Fun Ride 9th January 2012<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4M1qsomHnl-9Q3TKAzGM5psetzmkVTmM0uIFYAe67as6wa8_xdwrxBrWd9tdL0J6tNwiccVNheCoHNQPUBJDNYeTgNBsPae6_8jY74-HKnkRVYeHXKVQGGfRUHSqsxIcAtH8OvEdxVQ/s1600/P1080460.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4M1qsomHnl-9Q3TKAzGM5psetzmkVTmM0uIFYAe67as6wa8_xdwrxBrWd9tdL0J6tNwiccVNheCoHNQPUBJDNYeTgNBsPae6_8jY74-HKnkRVYeHXKVQGGfRUHSqsxIcAtH8OvEdxVQ/s200/P1080460.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5697781504434683810" /></a><br /><br />3 training rides had precluded:<br />15km around Wanaka 2nd December 2011<br />50km from Lake Hawea to Makarora 17th December 2011<br />70km from Wanaka to Roaring Meg Power Station 27th December 2011<br />25km on the tandem Wanaka to Lugatte and return 1st January 2011<br /><br />Unsurprisingly, a different bike was rolling for this year’s ride.<br />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.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE3PS57Wij3Wka9DYTwKk-Y3FRwEohNbjENaiW1WrptwyNEoqrkbxGOQFw-BPi7UvbKdCGgNoEltcEefKsBYnZj9Qi4KnWzqPvj-aIuwmctPBWqNOvJ5tIvFsfuqXU-qcOg4U1VSrWNA/s1600/P1080481.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE3PS57Wij3Wka9DYTwKk-Y3FRwEohNbjENaiW1WrptwyNEoqrkbxGOQFw-BPi7UvbKdCGgNoEltcEefKsBYnZj9Qi4KnWzqPvj-aIuwmctPBWqNOvJ5tIvFsfuqXU-qcOg4U1VSrWNA/s200/P1080481.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5697787682074738466" /></a><br /><br />Luckily my prior to event day rides had settled everything down and resulted in a few subtle changes:<br />A shorter stem<br />Different wheels with Alex A23 rims riding on 28mm Conti tires<br />Compact cranks but with a 36 on the inside, not a 34<br />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.<br /><br />I watched the weather like a hawk for a few days before hand....wondering if booties would be needed ?<br />Event day dawned bright and sunny.<br />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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.....<br />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.<br />I pondered how I could gracefully slide backwards through the bunch when the hammer goes down in a hundred metres....<br /><br />Lucky for me a small gap appeared as we turned and slide over to the inside we go and backwards in one quick manouvre.<br />I figured a nice bunch would arrive sooner or later that would match my pace.<br />The tailwind to Tarras passed without event, the cross/tail wind to Lugatte did as well.<br />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....<br />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.<br />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.<br />Just so we’re clear here – I ended up 114th out of 215 starters, so it’s hardly podium stuff.....<br />However it may well have been Boonen, the Schlecks and Vinakorov the way the bunch was behaving....<br />Or misbehaving.<br />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.<br />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.<br />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.<br /><br />Oh, I forgot: Joe Cooper smoked everyone with his hairy legs: 2hrs 14 minsRedwoodshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03235559243736752735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22459373020011085.post-73351876941937785302011-08-10T03:08:00.000-07:002011-09-02T17:34:02.688-07:00With 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.
<br />
<br />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:
<br />
<br />Here we go, mostly in the right order.
<br />Summer 2011:
<br /><strong>Round Lake Dunstan fun road ride; 92 KM, January</strong>
<br />The Wilier performed flawlessly, if only I could say the same for myself.
<br />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….
<br />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.
<br />The family came out to Lugatte to watch us sail past.
<br />Neither of us got any spot prizes.
<br />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.
<br />
<br />Over summer a couple of new bike were greeted in the stable.
<br />
<br />I got an Intense Spider 29er (mtb for you heathens) which is way cool.
<br />
<br />
<br />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.
<br />
<br />
<br />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:
<br />Ultegra rear derailleur, Mary bars, my old cyclocross wheels and tires, XT thumbie shifter, full mudguards.
<br />
<br />A new to me Panasonic Raleigh road frame to add to the collection; one day it might have full Dura Ace all over it.
<br />
<br />
<br />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.
<br />
<br />Going backwards a little to the end of 2010, there was the <strong>Otago/Southland singlespeed champs in Naseby.</strong>
<br />Lets say it was bang on target for a typically debauched one gear race.
<br />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.
<br />I’m not going to mention the fancy dress.
<br />
<br />The <strong>Naseby 12 hour teams race</strong> has already had an honorable mention, but does get another event in May.
<br />
<br />More on that later, because the next event was a <strong>4hr solo effort in Hamner Springs.</strong>
<br />Pre entered, along Peter Page from Doctor bike I was ready for anything.
<br />Except the cats and dogs that fell from the sky.
<br />Pete thought he might do two laps because the weather was so shite.
<br />All I had to organize was food for the race.
<br />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.
<br />“Never show a Dutchman all your money’ he said. How true.
<br />After the first lap to sort of learn the way around it was just a mud bath.
<br />My tire choice of Maxxis Ardents was ideal as it was the only pair I had and owned, so perfect really.
<br />Actually they were great.
<br />My family arrived – Keighley was sure I’d be all dog and having a less than fun time.
<br />Ah ha ! Just the opposite I was having a ball.
<br />I think my lap times were about 40-45 mins and I can’t find the results for that one either.
<br />Lets say the winner on the days was the bikeshops that fixed up everyone’s rooted bikes thereafter.
<br />I replaced all the bearings and the brakes pads. Most folks would have been up for a whole drive train as well.
<br />The race organizer decided to shorten the 8 hr race to about 5.5 hrs – that’s how wet it was.
<br />Pete hung in there for the 4 hrs, but his single pivot was no match for the VPP of the Intense.
<br />
<br />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.
<br />No damage, just frazzled nerves again.
<br />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.
<br />
<br />Next up in May was the <strong>Naseby six hour</strong> which was a fund raiser for the Christchurch earthquake.
<br />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.
<br />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.
<br />A completely different course to the 12 hour and what a ripper it was.
<br />Marc’s bit of fluff; Hannah did the 6 hrs solo and made it with 10 seconds to spare
<br />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.
<br />Oh, we had 10 minutes up our sleeve upon completion of the 6 hour mark.
<br />Home and hosed you could say.
<br />A clean sweep by Team Redwood Racing.
<br />Then it was off to Dunedin after a gourmet dinner of roadside fish and chips in Ranfurly.
<br />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
<br />The next day we did the museum and the swimming pools before driving home.
<br />Phew.
<br />
<br /><strong>Invercargill 4/8 Hr Mid June</strong>
<br />Ha.
<br />No kids this time. Flying solo for the weekend
<br />Without sounding like a teenager, I hooked up the meanest digs for the weekend; above Cycle Surgery.
<br />I even slept in Tom Skullys bed.
<br />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.
<br />
<br />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.
<br />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.
<br />He returned and I was in the same place in the tent as when he left, looking highly unmotivated to carry on riding.
<br />So he did another lap.
<br />Hannah had cleaned up the 4 hr girls solo class, so with that done and dusted, she was free to look after her man.
<br />Or in her case, bugger off and get a free massage courtesy of the local Polytech students.
<br />I was under the mild misapprehension that she might wish to contribute to our winning ways.
<br />Seems I was wrong.
<br />No matter.
<br />After food – did I mention I put away two large pizzas over the course of the day ?
<br />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.
<br />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.
<br />About 1am I wobbled upstairs and into the shower as I was in my riding gear…nice.
<br />Next day was very slow and I’m pleased to note that I made it back onto solid food by mid afternoon.
<br />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.
<br />
<br /><strong>National Cyclocross Champs Queenstown – two weeks after Invercargill.</strong>
<br />My recovery phase was just about complete, so this was shaping up to be a good one.
<br />Unfortunately the other 30 riders in front of me had more ambitious plans.
<br />On a more positive note the 20 odd riders behind me need to lift their game.
<br />My first official CX race – how exciting.
<br />Queenstown MTB club put on a cracker of an event:
<br />The course was excellent and up to UCI standards (I downloaded the rule book)
<br />The BBQ was awesome.
<br />Great tunes
<br />Tony Moore on the mike
<br />Once again I did not receive a prize.
<br />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.
<br />60 mins + a lap = very hard work.
<br />
<br />The pictures did not upload to this blog, so I'll do some kind of online Flickr thing or whatnot.
<br />
<br />
<br />Redwoodshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03235559243736752735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22459373020011085.post-27497005705329035232011-04-10T03:23:00.000-07:002011-04-14T00:06:23.891-07:00Naseby 12 hr Teams Race 2011Plans were hatched months ago to be there for the 3rd year in a row. <br /><br />A 29er team was planned…<br />Tony broke his ankle; he was out. <br />Mrs Oliver ended up in hospital therefore Phil was doubtful. <br />So we ended up with 4 x 29ers and a 26er in our 4 person team. <br />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. <br /><br />So. We’d entered, we had a team, we had a ring-in from Taupo (Matt as in door) – what could go wrong ? <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsHsMldgP4DQP6Z3l4lHTx9bxhRXXFG6WPw6ASivs2nwt2O6dJCGNJJh70G-nFUOv4LiK1eIsizB-Bj_mm-h2-2iZqUWJknpSrp58uLTdvDe8MZAI1u2n0OMtV8dmS2DE1nsa8SwN8DA/s1600/matt+marc+rs.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsHsMldgP4DQP6Z3l4lHTx9bxhRXXFG6WPw6ASivs2nwt2O6dJCGNJJh70G-nFUOv4LiK1eIsizB-Bj_mm-h2-2iZqUWJknpSrp58uLTdvDe8MZAI1u2n0OMtV8dmS2DE1nsa8SwN8DA/s200/matt+marc+rs.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594970115777342114" /></a><br /><br />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. <br /><br />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. <br />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. <br /><br />Saturday: weather: chilly start but fine. <br />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. <br />We may join him next year.<br /> <br />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. <br /><br />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….<br /><br />Pixie hammered out the solo laps with Erin Green hot on her tail. <br />Marc gave me instructions for the handover: bottle, food, change bikes and don’t touch the Garmin – only Pixie can touch it ! <br />Roger that, off he went for his lap. <br />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. <br /><br />If only the next changeover went as well….<br /><br />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… <br />I went out on my next lap which I only think is fair to mention involved the first of a few shoddy changeovers….<br />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. <br />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. <br /><br />Pixie evidently came in and shared a few choice words with her crew chief/mechanic/life partner Marc. <br /><br />Is it too early to mention my observation of possibly the same ladies cleavage as last year ? <br />A low slung tee shirt, two globes with their own independent orbits and a tattoo as well….<br />” 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.<br /><br />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….<br /><br />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. <br /><br />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. <br /><br />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. <br /><br />Hey, lets have a little round up on the technology side of things.<br /><br />Last year I couldn’t believe how many single speeds there were – this year it’s bloody 29ers. <br />I can say that as I own 2 of them. <br />Nice Segue to my own bike of choice: the Intense Spider 29er (dualie) which was awesome. <br />The only thing I changed for Naseby was my pedals, <a href="http://www.bikethrones.com/thrones/beer-bike">new seat</a> and a <a href="http://www.fenwicks.co.nz/Dry%20Conditions%20Lube.jpg">new brand of chain oil</a>. Which for me is an all time record when you consider what I normally get up to.<br /><br />-Hottest guy would have been the guy wearing fuller upper body armour and a full face. <br />-Coolest guy would have been Tom from The Surgery Dunedin sporting just a pair hot pants. <br />-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… <br /><br />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. <br />The laughs and laps just kept on coming, so did Pixie and the bloody bike changes.<br /><br />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. <br /><br />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. <br /><br />Ce la Vie. <br /><br />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. <br />Just so we're clear this picture is not the prize giving but a wee snack that Jeff: our camp commander whipped up...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRH0sAAZBV673DdHMPNTv0gqHgP_Z9IVJ0fdiekjG0Ix2D54GxhpZaqTXD24W3KwurBs-OJ9fLgIbXmqz6fjosB0ktO0YmPpsRvuBYPbF4sTslRDdvhnLjW6P8XJ91g9OR0rk8iODkxw/s1600/bbq+rs.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRH0sAAZBV673DdHMPNTv0gqHgP_Z9IVJ0fdiekjG0Ix2D54GxhpZaqTXD24W3KwurBs-OJ9fLgIbXmqz6fjosB0ktO0YmPpsRvuBYPbF4sTslRDdvhnLjW6P8XJ91g9OR0rk8iODkxw/s200/bbq+rs.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594969607626458914" /></a><br /><br />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. <br />Pixie licked all the other girls in the solo class. <br />Anja Mcdonald smashed all the boys in the solo singlespeed class and won it overall.<br /><br />Corbett; (Matt to his mum) did not disintegrate on his first foray into the potentially dark world of 12 hrs solo as predicted. <br />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 ? <br /><br />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. <br />Maybe publishing the photos of both me and Matt spooning her as she lay in a <br />lactic-acid-induced-semi-conscious-state later that night may do the trick ? Who really knows. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhISIbfRwkG8W5KhEA9dVe7_j6kVyDkmagv-KLtbS_HElgqtMkM9apv2lV0bw0Mwhyphenhyphen9sHIU3SZ1mg2ei4KilFbshZ8cRgQW27f_ksHLRsBEWSJ7yYDC9rsTscHCKfMSfeoflkWMDvWxRw/s1600/wooden+bike+rs.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhISIbfRwkG8W5KhEA9dVe7_j6kVyDkmagv-KLtbS_HElgqtMkM9apv2lV0bw0Mwhyphenhyphen9sHIU3SZ1mg2ei4KilFbshZ8cRgQW27f_ksHLRsBEWSJ7yYDC9rsTscHCKfMSfeoflkWMDvWxRw/s200/wooden+bike+rs.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594970958293076114" /></a><br /><br />PS the longer course this year added 2 minutes to Ryan Cull’s once again fastest lap of the day.Redwoodshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03235559243736752735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22459373020011085.post-13661839621366921732010-11-04T01:25:00.000-07:002011-04-10T01:55:18.532-07:00Come in Christchurch; The Redwoods are here<div><span style="font-family:Arial;">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.</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:Arial;">Leaving them to "re-connect" I took off to run some errands.</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:Arial;">Beckenham Cycles where I got to sit in the back of Matt's new van - formerly owned by Cam Cole.</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:Arial;">There was an ice cream stain on the back seat, but I hear he's dairy free ?</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:Arial;">Anyways, then it was onto Around Again Cycles where I had a shock to deliver.</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:Arial;">If you have ever had the opportunity to visit Adventure Cycles in Auckland (aka the gimp pit) then this place is next level.</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:Arial;">Words cannot do it justice.</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:Arial;">If you wanted to rebuild your Morrison Monark with every period correct piece of componentry etc. </span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:Arial;">then this is the place.</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTq6WS6U5aO_aCQcRTdHOPptNqh_-AyC2dscKVOtG4BRpv18RpyUac6dzesPZwKqN3wS35E1m8MwyT1QO0nHYdyGQMdgl4LTdnogm_t7bXB-ieL3aiYar10bvx-KXYiEg42rlowFRKiQ/s1600/3.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535614300409163426" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTq6WS6U5aO_aCQcRTdHOPptNqh_-AyC2dscKVOtG4BRpv18RpyUac6dzesPZwKqN3wS35E1m8MwyT1QO0nHYdyGQMdgl4LTdnogm_t7bXB-ieL3aiYar10bvx-KXYiEg42rlowFRKiQ/s200/3.jpg" /></a> <img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535614417174903282" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCAti2Urulb_5ff99vfyq-6-HyHdOdcj91y4PdFpyl2L4BkFTkwm0rKpm1_HF8_rFSPkSomyTn27Ru6qo3Shcq5_2gOrx2LGgG-nIVj6T_rHGb-RmONgDkEZXxkQn9MQxL-C2s6qHh6Q/s200/2.jpg" /> <br /><div><span style="font-family:Arial;">Kids trike -yep no problem; which year sir?</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:Arial;">Raleigh Sports with cool curvy top top and 24" wheels - brand new frame on the wall.</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:Arial;">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.</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:Arial;">If ever there is a shortage of Arabesque - these guys have it covered.</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:Arial;">I could have bought DB 3-4 frames in his size that he would have been fizzing over...</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:Arial;">GB stems - sure thing.</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:Arial;">It really was like I'd put Frodo's ring on my finger and knew I shouldn't have.</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:Arial;">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.</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:Arial;">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....</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:Arial;">"Just a 2 litre of your darkest thanks love"</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:Arial;">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.</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:Arial;">No surprises I go back there or buy in bottles from our local capitalist supermarket.</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:Arial;">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....</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:Arial;">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.</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:Arial;">I should have said I was riding with John Tomac just last year in Roto Vegas but the moment had passed.</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:Arial;">Back home in rush hour traffic which was heavy compared to Wanaka but light for a big little city.</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:Arial;">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.</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:Arial;">Nice one Christchurch - for a strange twist of fate in us being here, you have looked after us well.</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:Arial;">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.</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:Arial;">Pah ! i say.</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:Arial;">Just wait till tomorrow.</span></div>Redwoodshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03235559243736752735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22459373020011085.post-57742880045410008062010-10-10T00:04:00.000-07:002010-10-11T00:51:10.253-07:00Another Round Lake Dunstan "Fun" RideIf 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.<br /><br /><br /><br />Today I repeated this journey as part of a fund raiser the local Rotary club (not barp barp barp) put on for three reasons:<br /><br /><br /><br />- The date is 10/10/10<br /><br /><br /><br />- It's World Mental Health Awareness day and today you'd be well included for riding in that weather<br /><br /><br /><br />- They donate some funds to the local yoof to make them better individuals and less likely to smash car windows and the like.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Not surprisingly I did ride another bike from last time - welcome the Wilier Cento to the stable.<br /><br /><br /><br />I finished putting it together at about 8.30 last night.<br /><br /><br /><br />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.<br /><br /><br /><br />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.<br /><br /><br /><br />So it rattled the whole way around.<br /><br /><br /><br />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)<br /><br /><br /><br />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...<br /><br /><br /><br />And it worked sweet - the teeth measure the same width from 7 speed to 10 speed - go figure.<br /><br /><br /><br />Or my chain will shatter into sideplate oblivion next ride.<br /><br /><br /><br />Oh, swapped out the stem yesterday too.<br /><br /><br /><br />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.<br /><br /><br /><br />Enduro Bearings take no responsibilty for that set up BTW.<br /><br /><br /><br />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.<br /><br /><br /><br />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.<br /><br /><br /><br />+ winter gloves...and a cotton cap of course.<br /><br /><br /><br />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.<br /><br /><br /><br />We were all on a first name basis before too long.<br /><br /><br /><br />Folks a little slower got a southerly and hail out on the course.<br /><br /><br /><br />2 bottles of water, 2 bananas, 2 muesli bars.<br /><br /><br /><br />I finally got a spot prize -a little spongy massage ball, not exactly entry fee back, but nice all the same.<br /><br /><br /><br />Thawing out was in the local swimming pool spa - add one frozen bike rider and gently simmer until the feeling has returned to extremities.<br /><br />Pictures of today are <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/RedwoodRevolution/LakeDunstanRide?authkey=Gv1sRgCJrcquarq42x5AE#">here</a><br /><br /><br />I might stop looking for more fun rides until the weather hits the late 30's which should be xmas.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwqjXzSDFEySYGi20KjclgjxbIQx5N-nbhDOfyaDixe9c7vu-vp4LyNdRfoVNc1jeCJzUI5AB0lGe7ENcORx7toj0Igai2-L524VP3lfUXhnT1Jh35zBMZmrb27zaiwZ08ou84XpdMSQ/s1600/tumblr_l98226jRrs1qbwzv9o1_500.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 188px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526319794274679858" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwqjXzSDFEySYGi20KjclgjxbIQx5N-nbhDOfyaDixe9c7vu-vp4LyNdRfoVNc1jeCJzUI5AB0lGe7ENcORx7toj0Igai2-L524VP3lfUXhnT1Jh35zBMZmrb27zaiwZ08ou84XpdMSQ/s200/tumblr_l98226jRrs1qbwzv9o1_500.jpg" /></a>Redwoodshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03235559243736752735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22459373020011085.post-59394904180945895442010-04-24T03:01:00.000-07:002010-04-24T04:08:45.252-07:00Naseby 12 Hour Mountain Bike Race April 16th 2010<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyi3nrKjOc_83QjZkO7NriTSJycpGY-v387ZDfyOg6g_g4uE-lN5g53zPBDVpaBwnm7RE8XIxzUi2EXuRXHABScA9B6aaBoPZtIzb4Jy_JFHOuuMt7dj0Zw3DX8lr4ld_CNm6LxkMQCQ/s1600/IMAGE_065.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5463651586512247778" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyi3nrKjOc_83QjZkO7NriTSJycpGY-v387ZDfyOg6g_g4uE-lN5g53zPBDVpaBwnm7RE8XIxzUi2EXuRXHABScA9B6aaBoPZtIzb4Jy_JFHOuuMt7dj0Zw3DX8lr4ld_CNm6LxkMQCQ/s200/IMAGE_065.jpg" /></a><br /><div><br /><br /><div><br /><div><span style="font-family:Calibri;">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.</span><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><div><p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">Myself, Phil from Henderson Cycles in Alex, a friend of his; Craig Wight (pronounced White) and the love of my life – Keighley.</span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">Recent events transpired to send it all pear shaped - read previous blog entry if you need updating.</span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">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.</span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">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.</span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">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...</span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">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.</span></p><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">There was Cam riding solo again and another 3 teams sharing our digs, but plenty of room for all and sundry - even these guys:</span></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjgCPoLJN-eWtM1HWNpewPXCfrgIb2Wi9sB0fgEZl6dZEItjOzk42YAu2l9CKVVyoZhtWdscW_8D0_3gU3F0dzVibhdIe7OQzLj4jX4WnNQ_i5dFceBnCuRSyvjXoW232YirF3FWQ_Fg/s1600/1447.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 150px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5463645056050392946" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjgCPoLJN-eWtM1HWNpewPXCfrgIb2Wi9sB0fgEZl6dZEItjOzk42YAu2l9CKVVyoZhtWdscW_8D0_3gU3F0dzVibhdIe7OQzLj4jX4WnNQ_i5dFceBnCuRSyvjXoW232YirF3FWQ_Fg/s200/1447.JPG" /></a><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 150px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5463645281887696242" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5ex7lT9b4ZEez1v1Lg5yX_G2MwbniGlketQIxQnnW2uOp39LsIdvcYbKmMNilMDHZiVEqKclIgMhjHGsOSA67gvs1r77BrXBBk7jE1rqXwOxhV0P1X57ezPcVqlY2PlyeQ69psJnJdQ/s200/1454.JPG" /><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">I arrived much later and we quickly added the pop up to the mix thus completing the set up phase.</span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">Next was the roll call phase – The girls were coming up on Saturday Phil said.</span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">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...</span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">He’s in Taupo was the reply.</span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">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....</span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">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.</span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">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. </span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">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.</span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">I sent Phil out for the first lap as my knee was bung and I did the first lap last year anyways.</span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">Once again the weather was great – warmer this year though and the course was mint.</span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">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.</span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">How they came up with that one I’ll never know. I like Cat Puncher.</span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">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.</span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">New tyres were on the 29er complementing the wash and wax it had lovingly received prior.</span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">And new FOX (there’s the plug) forks now with 15mm axle. Oh yeah baby.</span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">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.</span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">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.</span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">Craig arrived about 2pm and promptly knocked out our fastest lap on a bike I wouldn’t have ridden if<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"></span>was paid to; no suspension, vee brakes, 26 inch wheels, hardtail.</span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">There that should get some discussion going at least....</span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">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.</span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">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.</span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">At one stage we were in tenth place in the mixed vets grade – then with the blink of an eye 6<sup>th</sup> place, just like that. Must have been that 6 seconds I pulled back one time....</span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">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.</span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">My night lap was marred by lack of familiarity with the night time riding environment even though I had a <a href="http://www.nitelights.co.nz/">new light set up</a> which bang for your buck (again, there’s the plug) is awesome.</span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">Or was it the total lack of training or recent blip in the game plan ?</span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">All three I’d say – I was done.</span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">Fortunately Craig wasn’t and he bought us home inside the time limit to chalk another lap up for team </span><a href="http://www.redwoodrevolution.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">www.redwoodrevolution.blogspot.com</span></a></p><p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">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.</span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">Marc was in charge of post event fluid repatriation and thanks to Emmerson’s Brewery, dehydration wasn’t a factor.</span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">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.</span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">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.</span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">We were packed up and ready to roll surprisingly early for us – well me anyway.</span></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3w3pVtxIBrjEzf-x9PIyqKfs575I2rA7XgWgitjIn_8JvFd33r0by15Y17Y8BnvN_HTsKpHgDn6YMdu0EfZphgMzzpFjCX_4V1Q25mGE2ZsjU4ctEZf3p_oPhICf44vmYo27xR2CsNg/s1600/IMAGE_063.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5463650465154634818" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3w3pVtxIBrjEzf-x9PIyqKfs575I2rA7XgWgitjIn_8JvFd33r0by15Y17Y8BnvN_HTsKpHgDn6YMdu0EfZphgMzzpFjCX_4V1Q25mGE2ZsjU4ctEZf3p_oPhICf44vmYo27xR2CsNg/s200/IMAGE_063.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">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 !</span></p><br /><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">Hayes Engineering in Oterehua was impressive for another dose of yesteryear. </span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">And the chow and cuppa at the Cafe in Omakau was very pleasant.</span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">Different to last year, but just as enjoyable for a bunch of different reasons.</span></p><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">Cheers Naseby.</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></p><p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p><span style="font-family:Calibri;"></span></o:p></p><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family:Calibri;"></span></o:p></p><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family:Calibri;"></span></o:p></p><p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"> </p></div></div></div></div></div>Redwoodshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03235559243736752735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22459373020011085.post-68606739479752263962010-04-13T03:12:00.000-07:002010-04-13T14:46:14.057-07:006th of March was supposed to go like this..<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw3QfYJZIrIP6Jfv4tD0J_YXTwq1k0FI4g-x-Y_bZpzknzoiMZ4yOcHGvAHAHwqHmEi-bX_1-_VfFOdLC-u3s4TAeiBaRUEEtLfSQmDMib8RgcsHzV-7Bsqb9kJmDovDYNswIT2G4Qxw/s1600/March+2010+003.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459580035311872946" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw3QfYJZIrIP6Jfv4tD0J_YXTwq1k0FI4g-x-Y_bZpzknzoiMZ4yOcHGvAHAHwqHmEi-bX_1-_VfFOdLC-u3s4TAeiBaRUEEtLfSQmDMib8RgcsHzV-7Bsqb9kJmDovDYNswIT2G4Qxw/s200/March+2010+003.jpg" /></a><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;">A lot happened that day.....</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">I'd entered the Alpine Classic - here was the words from the Otago Daily times newspaper 2 days later:</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><em><span style="font-family:georgia;">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.<br />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.<br />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.</span></em><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">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.</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">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.</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">I was stoked to do so well.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">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....</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">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.</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">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.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Go figure.</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Talk about an emotional roller coaster ride. Phew - words can't do it justice.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Luckily everyone rallied and was super supportive to help us all through it.</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">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 !</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">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.</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">You can read about us </span><a href="http://www.stuff.co.nz/southland-times/news/3571010/Albert-Town-rallies-for-Chuck"><span style="font-family:arial;">here</span></a><span style="font-family:arial;">, </span><a href="http://www.odt.co.nz/news/queenstown-lakes/101291/community-unites-support-family"><span style="font-family:arial;">here</span></a><span style="font-family:arial;"> and </span><a href="http://www.thewanakasun.co.nz/news_headlines.html"><span style="font-family:arial;">here</span></a><span style="font-family:arial;">.</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">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 - </span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">thanks Amy - I'd never have thought of that myself.</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Everyone's support and generosity is overwhelming, but will really help us get through this time in our lives in much better shape - </span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">A huge thank you to you all.</span></div>Redwoodshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03235559243736752735noreply@blogger.com0