Posts
Ahhh ya it's on! A bit of a reunion for Big Big Love, a Single Speed mountain bike team that started at 24hours of Old Pueblo. Ryan and Derryl have arrived from Utah in Auckland and are being entertained by BW until our 24 hour race in Rotorua this Saturday. Wish us luck. I'm so excited to have a boys week.
I'm sure there will be a big "wright" up to follow.
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Fly'n my new colour, Karapoti Brown
...o^'0 The Karapoti Classic: 4hrs 2min
...o^'0 The Map & Details: 50km; 2800m
...o^'0 The Results: 407/865 finishers; 394/800 all men; 117/238 my category
...o^'0 The Photographers: I'm thinking of buying but not sure just yet.
...o^'0 The Technicals: Five flats: 3 tubes, 2 patches and a hole in the tire patched as well...
...o^'0 The story:
First a big thanks to the Slovak's for putting me up and entertaining me the night before.
The pictures here of the mud don't tell the whole story. Most of it was washed away w/ the final river crossing, have a look at the first image from the photographer above.
This is "the" talked about mountain bike race in New Zealand. So of course I had to do it. I signed up months ago and thought that was plenty of time to get out and pre-ride the course... The one time I tried w/ my mate Brett. I made it over the warm up climb (see map) and ended up catching a branch in my wheel tearing off the hanger, breaking the rear derailleur in two and tweaking the wheel. :( Hooray I got a 14km walk-a-bike back to the car park.
Thanks to Singlephile and On yer Bike for parts and help getting the rig ready to ride the Alpine Epic the following week. I then thought I'd get out for one big ride after the AE but thought better not to go out and risk breaking my bike or me with less than a week to go time. All of you know something bad would have happened...
It was raining when I arrived and continued through half of the race. I'm kind of a warm weather man myself. I don't so much mind a bit of weather when I'm already out but have the hardest time pushing my ass out the door when it's windy, raining, snowing or the occasional hail. I'd be ly'n if I didn't admit almost going back to bed that dreary Saturday morning.
This race is broken down into sections: Warm-Up, Deadwood, Rock Garden, Devils Staircase, Big Ring Blvd. and Dopers.
My category, Men 30-39, was the third group to start. I made my way to the front knowing full well that I was going to be passed by everyone behind me. I saw my friend Josh also ready with both feet and bike in the river waiting for the start. I was gonna keep my feet dry for as long as possible; that was pointless, what would another minute on top of the 4+ hours of river, rain, puddles and thick mud hurt? Ok Ok I'm a pu...
The horn goes off and I'm on the other side of the river. I was feeling pretty damn good this day and I had been doing some training so I kicked in race pace. Bryon, do you remember what the feel like? ;) OK I'll stop taking he piss out of ya, maybe.
By the top of the warm up climb I was pretty sure I was in the top 30 or so of my class. Heading down I'm paranoid as all get out watching for sticks and twigs! Clear and smooth except for the punter skidding all over the place in the scree. A loud, on your left, an bang zoom another person in my class eats my dust err mud.
OK so this is where bobby is riding blind. I've not been on any part of the rest of the course. I keep telling myself, pace yourself and all is good. I was supposed to be doing something else too.... O ya eat and have a gu! Am I nutz or does this power food taste awesome? My climbing strength is pretty good so I was passing a few more people but I did have to hike a bike a few times because I'm weak and of course the guy or gal I'm following decide they can't ride any more and stop in the middle of the only rideable line, GOSH! All the time I'm singing to my self "Just keep spinning, just keep spinning" as I make it to the top of the steep bit. Here I'm glad I got a tid bit of information bit from the guy that bought my Fetish carbon stem ($30 kiwi, what a steal). He told me to save some energy for the "rollers" at the top of both Deadwood and Devils Staircase. O man and am I glad I did. These rollers went on for days! In any case that part of my life is over and I'm excited to see what the Rock Garden has to offer. errrr brakes. What a big as que. Many people off walking their bikes some riding past screaming out, my line was "Coming in HOT!" I'll describe the rock garden as a steep tree covered trench from 1-2 meters wide with various loose rocks from the size of a pebble to that of a beach ball. Lest I forget to mention a couple drops well over a meter. There was no way of riding some of the more technical portions because of the clutter of people and bikes. At one point I found a window, was on and clipped in to indo just after cuz I glanced down at my foot and missed turning for a boulder... No thing but a chicken wing. I wasn't hurt, bike was good and the guy right behind was at least 3 seconds away.
I'm blanking how the garden ended and devils staircase began but I think it was a stream crossing into some mud then the grueling 3km hike a bike, most of the time it was on my back. I remember asking how much further at some point that seemed to be along way into the climb and the reply was "we're about a 1/4 the way up" WTF OMG. There wasn't much room to make up ground since it was a single file que all the way up. There's a pretty good pick of me on this section from the photographers. I was still steam'n along when we made it to the top. I was expecting the rollers and smashed them out. During this portion I yelled out "I thought this was supposed to be Big Ring Blvd," to which the reply was "you'll know when it starts." I did and this is where my fantastic ride started to turn to shit. With the big ring turned on and suspension open I was bombing again passing at least 10 people when all of a sudden I start to get a bit squidy on a corner. Look down and the rear goes flat. Dam I say and poll over, quickly pull out the co2, tube and change what should have been a fast exchange but I was frozen up by the co2. I've never used on in the rain and it turns out that when the co2 comes out it's pretty cold and welds my glove finger tips to the nozel. F&*k comes out as I rip my gloves and slowly get the unit off and the wheel back on. Only 4-5 people had passed me so I was pretty hyped and thought to myself, "that wasn't so bad, you're gonna rock this course." Awe well not 3 minutes later another flat. I told my bike, "you have to be kidding me" but instead of filling back up w/ air the tire shrunk under my evil glare }8| Thankfully I brought 2 tubes and 2 co2's. Another quick change, this time spitting on the nozzle to bring the temp up a bit before grabbing on. Woo hoo OK Rob now take it a bit slower, you don't have any more tubes... So I did and then it did it again. NO F'n way! I pull over and the presta screw, whatever was gone along w/ all the air. My shoulders sag and I bust out the quick patch kit, you know, the kind that are like stickers and don't function in the wet! F THE BIKE GODS I LOATH YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It had stopped raining but I was soaked and I had nothing to dry the tube so I wiped the best I could and stood there blowing on the tube as I watch ride after ride pass me. :(
Eureka stick'm was on and I was pumping away. More riders go by, more questions "Are you OK?" I was getting pretty sick of saying "ya sure." With the wind lost to my sails I took it much slower than I would have normally just to be sure that I wouldn't puncture again. 30 minutes later I'm feeling pretty good again and am hammering the Dopers climb. Only one short section that I had to walk. My heart and legs are pumping and the world is good until I stop feeling the rocks under my rear wheel. I closed my eyes, looked up and prayed that the gods were just playing with my head. Looking the other way they weren't. Not only was the wind gone but the water had also drained form the ocean around my little vessel. Everyone I had just passed riding up the hill were now making their way bye. I started asking everyone for a normal patch kit. One guys stopped to lend me one then another guy stopped and offered me a tube. He said it's a shradder and I said that will do just fine. He hands it to me and the patch guy takes off too. Hmm anyone know the problem? WTF am I thinking, a shrader, I've not had a shrader wheel for years! Ug! O well, I'll do what I can to fix one of my three tubes. I tried pumping all three and none would give me enough pressure to find the hole. What have I done to anger you so? So this princess named Michelle Duffy rocked up and offered me her tube. Michelle, if you're out there and see this post I have a tube and a beer/coffee waiting for your hands.
At this point I had lost so much time I had a proper sit down and decided to have a look at the tire. After turning the tire inside out and having a close inspection I found that something had made a 2cm gash and could have been the culprit. I let the tire dry and used two of my patches to cover the rough rubber. Some more pumping and I was climbing once again. I wasn't going to let this damn race get the better of me so I decide to power on and stay in the saddle pushing my ass off. As I passed Michelle hiking I said "you are a life saver" and she asked how I was doing. I said shit and she said "at least your still riding..." trudat! I had the rest of Dopers for lunch and I was off to the races for the final downhill and out. I kept the hammer down and played leap frog with some guy a few times but he finally gave up. I had no idea how much time I had been out but I WAS determined to still come in under 4 hours. In front of me was the final river crossing, the same we started crossing so I rocked up to the edge jumped off and instantly cramped and started getting swept down river. I've never had that feeling before but I was kinda scared because the pain was so bad and I couldn't move easily yet I knew I had to move because I may just drown. Well probably not w/ so many people around but I still didn't to be rescued... Ah well I powered through gritting my teeth and finished. I thought I heard 3:48 when I pulled in and told my mates that is what I got until I went and looked at the results :( 4:02 BS o well, I bucked up and told them. They all beat my time. Ahh well good job anyway guys.
We had some lunch, a couple beers then hung for a bit of the awards.
I think that's enough words for now, don't you.
...o^'0 The Map & Details: 50km; 2800m
...o^'0 The Results: 407/865 finishers; 394/800 all men; 117/238 my category
...o^'0 The Photographers: I'm thinking of buying but not sure just yet.
...o^'0 The Technicals: Five flats: 3 tubes, 2 patches and a hole in the tire patched as well...
...o^'0 The story:
First a big thanks to the Slovak's for putting me up and entertaining me the night before.
The pictures here of the mud don't tell the whole story. Most of it was washed away w/ the final river crossing, have a look at the first image from the photographer above.
This is "the" talked about mountain bike race in New Zealand. So of course I had to do it. I signed up months ago and thought that was plenty of time to get out and pre-ride the course... The one time I tried w/ my mate Brett. I made it over the warm up climb (see map) and ended up catching a branch in my wheel tearing off the hanger, breaking the rear derailleur in two and tweaking the wheel. :( Hooray I got a 14km walk-a-bike back to the car park.
Thanks to Singlephile and On yer Bike for parts and help getting the rig ready to ride the Alpine Epic the following week. I then thought I'd get out for one big ride after the AE but thought better not to go out and risk breaking my bike or me with less than a week to go time. All of you know something bad would have happened...
It was raining when I arrived and continued through half of the race. I'm kind of a warm weather man myself. I don't so much mind a bit of weather when I'm already out but have the hardest time pushing my ass out the door when it's windy, raining, snowing or the occasional hail. I'd be ly'n if I didn't admit almost going back to bed that dreary Saturday morning.
This race is broken down into sections: Warm-Up, Deadwood, Rock Garden, Devils Staircase, Big Ring Blvd. and Dopers.
My category, Men 30-39, was the third group to start. I made my way to the front knowing full well that I was going to be passed by everyone behind me. I saw my friend Josh also ready with both feet and bike in the river waiting for the start. I was gonna keep my feet dry for as long as possible; that was pointless, what would another minute on top of the 4+ hours of river, rain, puddles and thick mud hurt? Ok Ok I'm a pu...
The horn goes off and I'm on the other side of the river. I was feeling pretty damn good this day and I had been doing some training so I kicked in race pace. Bryon, do you remember what the feel like? ;) OK I'll stop taking he piss out of ya, maybe.
By the top of the warm up climb I was pretty sure I was in the top 30 or so of my class. Heading down I'm paranoid as all get out watching for sticks and twigs! Clear and smooth except for the punter skidding all over the place in the scree. A loud, on your left, an bang zoom another person in my class eats my dust err mud.OK so this is where bobby is riding blind. I've not been on any part of the rest of the course. I keep telling myself, pace yourself and all is good. I was supposed to be doing something else too.... O ya eat and have a gu! Am I nutz or does this power food taste awesome? My climbing strength is pretty good so I was passing a few more people but I did have to hike a bike a few times because I'm weak and of course the guy or gal I'm following decide they can't ride any more and stop in the middle of the only rideable line, GOSH! All the time I'm singing to my self "Just keep spinning, just keep spinning" as I make it to the top of the steep bit. Here I'm glad I got a tid bit of information bit from the guy that bought my Fetish carbon stem ($30 kiwi, what a steal). He told me to save some energy for the "rollers" at the top of both Deadwood and Devils Staircase. O man and am I glad I did. These rollers went on for days! In any case that part of my life is over and I'm excited to see what the Rock Garden has to offer. errrr brakes. What a big as que. Many people off walking their bikes some riding past screaming out, my line was "Coming in HOT!" I'll describe the rock garden as a steep tree covered trench from 1-2 meters wide with various loose rocks from the size of a pebble to that of a beach ball. Lest I forget to mention a couple drops well over a meter. There was no way of riding some of the more technical portions because of the clutter of people and bikes. At one point I found a window, was on and clipped in to indo just after cuz I glanced down at my foot and missed turning for a boulder... No thing but a chicken wing. I wasn't hurt, bike was good and the guy right behind was at least 3 seconds away.
I'm blanking how the garden ended and devils staircase began but I think it was a stream crossing into some mud then the grueling 3km hike a bike, most of the time it was on my back. I remember asking how much further at some point that seemed to be along way into the climb and the reply was "we're about a 1/4 the way up" WTF OMG. There wasn't much room to make up ground since it was a single file que all the way up. There's a pretty good pick of me on this section from the photographers. I was still steam'n along when we made it to the top. I was expecting the rollers and smashed them out. During this portion I yelled out "I thought this was supposed to be Big Ring Blvd," to which the reply was "you'll know when it starts." I did and this is where my fantastic ride started to turn to shit. With the big ring turned on and suspension open I was bombing again passing at least 10 people when all of a sudden I start to get a bit squidy on a corner. Look down and the rear goes flat. Dam I say and poll over, quickly pull out the co2, tube and change what should have been a fast exchange but I was frozen up by the co2. I've never used on in the rain and it turns out that when the co2 comes out it's pretty cold and welds my glove finger tips to the nozel. F&*k comes out as I rip my gloves and slowly get the unit off and the wheel back on. Only 4-5 people had passed me so I was pretty hyped and thought to myself, "that wasn't so bad, you're gonna rock this course." Awe well not 3 minutes later another flat. I told my bike, "you have to be kidding me" but instead of filling back up w/ air the tire shrunk under my evil glare }8| Thankfully I brought 2 tubes and 2 co2's. Another quick change, this time spitting on the nozzle to bring the temp up a bit before grabbing on. Woo hoo OK Rob now take it a bit slower, you don't have any more tubes... So I did and then it did it again. NO F'n way! I pull over and the presta screw, whatever was gone along w/ all the air. My shoulders sag and I bust out the quick patch kit, you know, the kind that are like stickers and don't function in the wet! F THE BIKE GODS I LOATH YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!It had stopped raining but I was soaked and I had nothing to dry the tube so I wiped the best I could and stood there blowing on the tube as I watch ride after ride pass me. :(
Eureka stick'm was on and I was pumping away. More riders go by, more questions "Are you OK?" I was getting pretty sick of saying "ya sure." With the wind lost to my sails I took it much slower than I would have normally just to be sure that I wouldn't puncture again. 30 minutes later I'm feeling pretty good again and am hammering the Dopers climb. Only one short section that I had to walk. My heart and legs are pumping and the world is good until I stop feeling the rocks under my rear wheel. I closed my eyes, looked up and prayed that the gods were just playing with my head. Looking the other way they weren't. Not only was the wind gone but the water had also drained form the ocean around my little vessel. Everyone I had just passed riding up the hill were now making their way bye. I started asking everyone for a normal patch kit. One guys stopped to lend me one then another guy stopped and offered me a tube. He said it's a shradder and I said that will do just fine. He hands it to me and the patch guy takes off too. Hmm anyone know the problem? WTF am I thinking, a shrader, I've not had a shrader wheel for years! Ug! O well, I'll do what I can to fix one of my three tubes. I tried pumping all three and none would give me enough pressure to find the hole. What have I done to anger you so? So this princess named Michelle Duffy rocked up and offered me her tube. Michelle, if you're out there and see this post I have a tube and a beer/coffee waiting for your hands.
At this point I had lost so much time I had a proper sit down and decided to have a look at the tire. After turning the tire inside out and having a close inspection I found that something had made a 2cm gash and could have been the culprit. I let the tire dry and used two of my patches to cover the rough rubber. Some more pumping and I was climbing once again. I wasn't going to let this damn race get the better of me so I decide to power on and stay in the saddle pushing my ass off. As I passed Michelle hiking I said "you are a life saver" and she asked how I was doing. I said shit and she said "at least your still riding..." trudat! I had the rest of Dopers for lunch and I was off to the races for the final downhill and out. I kept the hammer down and played leap frog with some guy a few times but he finally gave up. I had no idea how much time I had been out but I WAS determined to still come in under 4 hours. In front of me was the final river crossing, the same we started crossing so I rocked up to the edge jumped off and instantly cramped and started getting swept down river. I've never had that feeling before but I was kinda scared because the pain was so bad and I couldn't move easily yet I knew I had to move because I may just drown. Well probably not w/ so many people around but I still didn't to be rescued... Ah well I powered through gritting my teeth and finished. I thought I heard 3:48 when I pulled in and told my mates that is what I got until I went and looked at the results :( 4:02 BS o well, I bucked up and told them. They all beat my time. Ahh well good job anyway guys.
We had some lunch, a couple beers then hung for a bit of the awards.
I think that's enough words for now, don't you.
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Da Alpine Epic Bro
Months ago I signed me 'n a bro, Byron Wright ;) , up for this 4 day 5 stage mountain bike race from Mt Somers to Lake Tekapo called the Alpine Epic. This short 243km ride with a measly 6300m ascent was the first of it's kind in New Zealand and Aroha Nui Nui ('Big Big Love' NZ Style) was going to knock it down. In case you need some assistance with the metric conversion: 150.9932 miles and 20,669.2913 feet of Ascent but really it was more, I just don't have the details handy 8)
(':^)~(':^)~(':^)~(':^)~(':^)~(':^)~(':^)~(':^)~(':^)~
If you want the Google Earth tracks let me know and I'll email them. Below I'll include a map but it's not the route we took.
Click here for my pictures and here for Bryon's and here for race results
(':^)~(':^)~(':^)~(':^)~(':^)~(':^)~(':^)~(':^)~(':^)~
I had done a few training rides but Bryon Epic Wright figured he'd just wing it. Now that takes balls. Our goal from the beginning was to finish and have a good time so we stopped here and there to take photos whilst people zoomed past us with perplexed looks like "WTF mate, are you a tourist?!?!" We did finish and with every passing minute after that point BW's hind sight was convincing him that he had a great time. Many things were said and I found his quote the day afte the race to be most suiting "What is said on the mountain stays on the mountain." 
In all my years not of riding w/ the guy I've never heard him whine so much LOL I love you B!
It was an auspisious start; the forecast looked good, our bikes were not damaged during the flight and we were together for another big long ride.
We took off from Mt Somers on the tar seal (asphalt) for a bit then onto some shingle (gravel) roads and then onto farm land using 4wd tracks, mud bog paddocks, tussock hills and of course the occasional sheep and game trail. Day 1 was pretty short and easy we started around noon and finished the 35km ride in under 3 hours. Camp was made at Inverary Station (Farm/Ranch) on soft, luscious green grass that had sheep shit all over... I'm pretty sure I've now eaten more than my fare share of shit. My tyres (tires) and those of the people in front of me had me covered in mud and dung each day.
After a quick clean up of me and the rig we had some time to kill before dinner so we watched an episode of the Simpson on my PSP. Of course I brought entertainment: 5 Simpsons episodes, The Bucket List, Family Guy season 6, Once Were Warriors and ... I brought a book too, An Empire's New Cloths, but that didn't get much use on the trail; airport and plane reading. I also brought my IPOD which got destroyed by water from all the stream crossings on day 3! :( It plays still but the screen is completely dead... Hey there's a gift idea for ya ;D
Day 2's start time was pushed back, hell ya, from 8 to 9am but breakfast was still from 6-7 :( Grub then back to bed for another hour. Today was going to be our first real test. Two stages: 35km-1250m and 15km-220m. Today's routes were changed so the 35km was little shorter and the 15km was longer, I think it was close to a wash. Stage two was a difficult climbs at times up to Brown hut. BW's egg beaters were destroyed and we were just hoping they would make it the rest of the day. On the back side of Brown Saddle was our first real downhill. There was a check point at the saddle but B just wanted to get it over with, he's not happy when he doesn't know how many climbs to expect; damn route changes... This downhill was over 600 m in less than 5 k and dropped us out into a valley and then the Rangitata River where rafts were working to ferry all of us across(t). After an hour of waiting around we were finally on the other side with cold muscles and not so ready to start stage 3. This was all on shingle roads to the Rangitata Rafting company. Here we found out why BW was struggling so much, his BB was shot and it was pushing against his chainring. What a struggle he had today. We stopped some 4 times to tighten it up as best we could w/ a leaterman and rock hammer. Camp was a great location with hot sausages, a bike wash and warm showers; high school style, with towel snapping and all.
Another great dinner and we had the luck again. Dinner was served buffet style and each table was called individually. Three of the nights we were first in line whilst others waited at least another half an hour to grub, we blamed it on the Headless Horsemen and they said it was us. Either way we ate good and made some pretty cool new eating and riding buddies. Well at least B will have some new riding buddies, they were from Auckland. It was a fitful night of rain and an ontime start the next morning.
Stage 4 was to be the monster 80km-2150m. A big climb up and over Coal Hill then a long and steady climb up the Hewson River Valley down then up to Meikleburn Saddle before making the short 17km road ride, complete with head wind, to Sherwood Hall. More sausages, bike cleaning, drying of wet cloths and the tent and chating up a storm w/ the other riders about the day's rugged ride. We were riding w/ some of the best riders in the country, many men and woman that are or were national champions in mountain biking and cycling. Which brings us to the last day.
Day 4 an 8:30 road race starts out on the shingle road for about 15km. Mountain bike racers are sketchy in draft formation! So many brake taps and gaps opening up constantly. Today BW and I were in race mode. Not really by choice but we weren't about to be working outside the pelaton when there was energy to be saved. This went on for a long time like 40minutes until the first real climb and the group broke. O well back to kick'n it mode :D Well not really but we didn't keep race pace for sure. The Horsemen finally passed us and we didn't see them the rest of the day. The route had been changed again and we were told at the first check point we had an hour and a half to go... over 3 hours later and many many endless climbs, riverbeds and valleys we pulled into Lake Tekapo! B's spirits were low and I've never heard the guy go on like that. It was a hard day and raining the last 30 minutes of it to boot. Nothing at the finish :( no ride set up, no sausages... We got our gear to the campgrounds, drama, cleaned up with a 4 dollar shower; damn good shower by the way and it was time to get our drink on. We had to hitch to the awards ceremony... There was Moa beer and wine to drink while we looked at the $10/each photos taken by the official picture taker dude. We both bought 2, I'll get them in the post soon and he said I could get jpeg's too, we'll see. There were awards, much banter amongst all of us and then a drunk'n stumble back to the campgrounds. What a great race! There's probably some more tidbits but I can't be bothered just now. It's 1am! Say good night Gracy!
View Larger Map
(':^)~(':^)~(':^)~(':^)~(':^)~(':^)~(':^)~(':^)~(':^)~
If you want the Google Earth tracks let me know and I'll email them. Below I'll include a map but it's not the route we took.
Click here for my pictures and here for Bryon's and here for race results
(':^)~(':^)~(':^)~(':^)~(':^)~(':^)~(':^)~(':^)~(':^)~
I had done a few training rides but Bryon Epic Wright figured he'd just wing it. Now that takes balls. Our goal from the beginning was to finish and have a good time so we stopped here and there to take photos whilst people zoomed past us with perplexed looks like "WTF mate, are you a tourist?!?!" We did finish and with every passing minute after that point BW's hind sight was convincing him that he had a great time. Many things were said and I found his quote the day afte the race to be most suiting "What is said on the mountain stays on the mountain." 
In all my years not of riding w/ the guy I've never heard him whine so much LOL I love you B!It was an auspisious start; the forecast looked good, our bikes were not damaged during the flight and we were together for another big long ride.
We took off from Mt Somers on the tar seal (asphalt) for a bit then onto some shingle (gravel) roads and then onto farm land using 4wd tracks, mud bog paddocks, tussock hills and of course the occasional sheep and game trail. Day 1 was pretty short and easy we started around noon and finished the 35km ride in under 3 hours. Camp was made at Inverary Station (Farm/Ranch) on soft, luscious green grass that had sheep shit all over... I'm pretty sure I've now eaten more than my fare share of shit. My tyres (tires) and those of the people in front of me had me covered in mud and dung each day.
After a quick clean up of me and the rig we had some time to kill before dinner so we watched an episode of the Simpson on my PSP. Of course I brought entertainment: 5 Simpsons episodes, The Bucket List, Family Guy season 6, Once Were Warriors and ... I brought a book too, An Empire's New Cloths, but that didn't get much use on the trail; airport and plane reading. I also brought my IPOD which got destroyed by water from all the stream crossings on day 3! :( It plays still but the screen is completely dead... Hey there's a gift idea for ya ;D
Day 2's start time was pushed back, hell ya, from 8 to 9am but breakfast was still from 6-7 :( Grub then back to bed for another hour. Today was going to be our first real test. Two stages: 35km-1250m and 15km-220m. Today's routes were changed so the 35km was little shorter and the 15km was longer, I think it was close to a wash. Stage two was a difficult climbs at times up to Brown hut. BW's egg beaters were destroyed and we were just hoping they would make it the rest of the day. On the back side of Brown Saddle was our first real downhill. There was a check point at the saddle but B just wanted to get it over with, he's not happy when he doesn't know how many climbs to expect; damn route changes... This downhill was over 600 m in less than 5 k and dropped us out into a valley and then the Rangitata River where rafts were working to ferry all of us across(t). After an hour of waiting around we were finally on the other side with cold muscles and not so ready to start stage 3. This was all on shingle roads to the Rangitata Rafting company. Here we found out why BW was struggling so much, his BB was shot and it was pushing against his chainring. What a struggle he had today. We stopped some 4 times to tighten it up as best we could w/ a leaterman and rock hammer. Camp was a great location with hot sausages, a bike wash and warm showers; high school style, with towel snapping and all.
Another great dinner and we had the luck again. Dinner was served buffet style and each table was called individually. Three of the nights we were first in line whilst others waited at least another half an hour to grub, we blamed it on the Headless Horsemen and they said it was us. Either way we ate good and made some pretty cool new eating and riding buddies. Well at least B will have some new riding buddies, they were from Auckland. It was a fitful night of rain and an ontime start the next morning.
Stage 4 was to be the monster 80km-2150m. A big climb up and over Coal Hill then a long and steady climb up the Hewson River Valley down then up to Meikleburn Saddle before making the short 17km road ride, complete with head wind, to Sherwood Hall. More sausages, bike cleaning, drying of wet cloths and the tent and chating up a storm w/ the other riders about the day's rugged ride. We were riding w/ some of the best riders in the country, many men and woman that are or were national champions in mountain biking and cycling. Which brings us to the last day.
Day 4 an 8:30 road race starts out on the shingle road for about 15km. Mountain bike racers are sketchy in draft formation! So many brake taps and gaps opening up constantly. Today BW and I were in race mode. Not really by choice but we weren't about to be working outside the pelaton when there was energy to be saved. This went on for a long time like 40minutes until the first real climb and the group broke. O well back to kick'n it mode :D Well not really but we didn't keep race pace for sure. The Horsemen finally passed us and we didn't see them the rest of the day. The route had been changed again and we were told at the first check point we had an hour and a half to go... over 3 hours later and many many endless climbs, riverbeds and valleys we pulled into Lake Tekapo! B's spirits were low and I've never heard the guy go on like that. It was a hard day and raining the last 30 minutes of it to boot. Nothing at the finish :( no ride set up, no sausages... We got our gear to the campgrounds, drama, cleaned up with a 4 dollar shower; damn good shower by the way and it was time to get our drink on. We had to hitch to the awards ceremony... There was Moa beer and wine to drink while we looked at the $10/each photos taken by the official picture taker dude. We both bought 2, I'll get them in the post soon and he said I could get jpeg's too, we'll see. There were awards, much banter amongst all of us and then a drunk'n stumble back to the campgrounds. What a great race! There's probably some more tidbits but I can't be bothered just now. It's 1am! Say good night Gracy!
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