Burwood Night Races

What a blast, I would highly recommend that you get out some warm clothes, your night light and get out there for the last two events, check out http://www.bluedogevents.co.nz/
It was very cold and rather wet under those tyres but so much fun it was all worth it, ride there and ride home and it was a great 2 hour training session.

I must say that it does help a little bit if you know where you are going out there, well if you want to be at the front of the race like I did. I think I finished 16th and got passed by five guys two corners before the finish line because I didn't know where I was going.
Hopefully I will do a bit better this week ans see you there.

The Run 77 Lake Tekapo MTB race

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

Merida 96-Team

I have just obtained sponsorship from Merida Bikes and took delivery of a 96-Team full suspension MTB. I have always been a hard tail rider so it was a tough decision to go for a fully. But this bike is so light and that is what sold me on it. I received it on Friday the day before Mt Isobel challenge and I only got to ride it down the street a few times just to set a few it up.
On the day of the race it was great to jump on to the new machine but it will take me a little bit of getting use to and making some small adjustment to the bike and my riding style. I am really looking forward to every ride with the Merida 96-Team.

If you are interested just click on the Merida logo on the right hand side and it will take you right to their web site. And if you decide you just need a new Merida go to The Cycle Warehouse on Moorehouse Ave, Christchurch

Mt Isobel Challenge

Saturday the 22nd of May dawned to be a great one which was unexpected really, the skies were clear but it was cold.....
The start was at 10 am but it didn't warm up much so I was wearing most of my team Merida kit that I had just received the day before along with my new bike. I was very keen to win this race as I had a won it a few times before and this year I was representing both Merida bikes and Macpac.
It all started of well as we all headed up the hill, the field soon start to spread out and I was were I wanted to be, we headed into the single track after about 10minutes and I was in 5th place overall. I soon past a couple that were were actually team runners and I could see Brendon Sharratt and Anton Cooper back down the track and I wasn't making the ground on them that I was hoping to. I got to the transition with one individual in front of me (Norman Dunroy) he has also won the event before so it was going to be hard work to catch him and not to be caught.
I felt good on the bike down in the Clarence Valley but heading up Groan Hill I didn't feel strong like I usually would, I was caught here by Brendon and Anton and I tried my best to hold on to them. I kept them insight until the bottom of the descent but they were working together and pulled away from from me.
I finished in 4th place about 2 minutes and 50 seconds down not quite what I was looking for but still a good effort.
Looking forward to The Run 77 Tekapo MTB race in two weeks.

Thanks to Merida bikes (The Cycle Wharehouse, Christchurch), Macpac NZ and Brad and Moana at Halswell Butchery.