This was not really a race that I have ever been interested in but but a friend said that he was keen so I thought why not.
I had this impression that is was a bit of a road race on a mountain bike and it was a bit but still very challenging in the terrain and distance. There was a bit more up and downs and a bit of what I would call mountain biking.
And The scenery was just stunning, the head of the lake and river crossing were picturesque in the snow and it was a wonderful place to be on a Sunday morning.
The race start was at 9am and we got to the start area at about 8.25, no point being too early as it was winter and expected to be cold and wet that day. The day did not start of to cold and it had not rained yet! I should have gotten to the start line a bit earlier as I was about 5 or 6 deep and this was not the best place as I was about to find out.
Off went the starters horn and kaos is what I would call it, as always at the start of a race. I was trying my best to get closer to the front but it is aways hard to get past people and as soon as the track turned up hill and the terrain got a little bit harder people started to struggle which doesn't help when you are trying to catch the leaders. There was about 5 or 6 that had gotten away from the rest of us but I still had hope that we would be able to catch them as there was more of us.
Once we were onto the sealed road I did think we were catching them but eventually this was not to be, some in our group of 8 wanted to work but the others didn't and this then makes you less than 100% committed as you do not want them along for a free ride but it is also very hard to drop them at this point. I think it started to snow on us after about an hour and continued for the next hour or so. Luckily it wasn't actually that cold and it hadn't rained either, it seemed like a long was up the the point where we were to cross the rivers at the head of the lake, the head of the lake had been in sight for quite some time but it seemed like for ever to get down to the river bed.
I was dreading getting cold feet and that is why I had 2 pairs of socks on and booties and this worked a treat. The rivers weren't actually that cold and some were even rideable so that was a small relief but the hands and fingers were getting a bit cold. Some people after the race talked about not being able to change gears very well as their fingers were so cold. I didn't have this problem as I have Sram XO twister (gripshift) and it was great.
The group of 8 didn't seem to be splitting up, everyone knew it would be much easier together than to be left out there by you yourself.
Once past the half way point and the Lillybank valley road, the ride was really a road race on a mountain bike.
I think everyone was feel the pain of the last 2 hours or so and 1 by 1 people started to drop away. It seemed like a long way on this road but before you knew it we could see the relief of Tekapo and the finish line, a couple of guys made a small break in the last 5km that we could not pull back.
In the end I finished 8th and learnt a few lessons that day which is always good.
I will be back next year and better prepared to be at the front of the field.
Thanks to Merida bikes, Macpac and Halswell Butchery
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