Beware of Juniors

We came. We saw. We conquered. We also nearly got a sun tan and I didn't have to spend ages cleaning my bike afterwards!

After watching the spectacle that is kiwis building snowmen on the bonnets of their cars at the summit of the Rimutaka Hill Road then driving them back home (true story), I was somewhat surprised to be welcomed by stunning sunshine in the Hawkes' Bay.

Winning the NZ National Cyclocross title yesterday was super cool. This time two years ago, I was experiencing a breakthrough in form. I was finally able to race at the level I'd always imagined I could (but never managed to quite put together). It was nice to have some evidence that I wasn't completely delusional. Achieving it with 'cross racing was probably no accident. I'd never raced cyclocross before and, to be quite honest, didn't particularly expect to kick ass at it. The beauty of 'cross is that it doesn't matter if you screw up - you actually expect to! You learn pretty fast that at some stage of the race you are guaranteed to end up losing traction at an inconvenient moment, stumble your way over some obstacle, wrap course tape around your bars, roll around in the mud and generally just feel like you're making what appeared to be a very straightforward course during your casual pre-ride seem like really, really hard work. It will rarely look graceful and it taught me to let go of trying to race perfectly and embrace the inner mongrel.

It's fair to say that the transition between stage racing and the World 24 Hour Solo Championships wasn't forecasted to include too much cyclocross racing. But, a change is as good as a rest. Spending the last 3 weeks remembering how to race a 'cross bike and reminding myself how much a 40 minute race really can hurt has been a lot of (ouchy) fun. This time of year, there isn't much that makes me smile more than going out for a shred and deliberately riding through as much mud as possible. And I even get to call it training.

Moral of the story? Try not to overthink your racing - be more bad ass than perfectionist (relax and just do your thang). Set goals and smash them - but also don't be afraid to mix it up (it might not improve your love life but it will make you a better racer). And finally, beware of juniors. Team Barnes joined us for the trip to Napier last weekend. After cruising round the course, I innocently advised 15 year old youngster, Martine Barnes, not to be scared about trying to beat as many of the racers in the Open Women's category as possible. She replied, "Yep, I will try to. I will try to beat you Kim!". Thankfully, I escaped this year. I'm going to make the most of it while it lasts.

PS This cool chick got some awesome action footage from the race...watch this space for a rad video! Big ups to all the Wellington riders shredding it and taking home five of the eight white and black jerseys that were up for grabs, with a special mention to fellow road trip buddies Team Barnes (Martine taking the Under 19 Champion title and Jonny grabbing the Under 19 bronze medal) and Rob Kilvington (Master 3 Men's Champion). Good stuff!

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Return to Mt Climie

The beauty of reminiscing. It's the mid 1990s. Purple anodising is in. Alongside way bigger chainrings, way smaller cassettes, way narrower handlebars and bull horn bar ends. Not to mention the bedazzling colours adorning lycra everywhere. Back then, my fully rigid bike weighed more than my full suspension rig does now and I'm proud to say I cut my bars down extra narrow to go even faster and raced in purple, yellow and red lycra. Oh yes. It was a beautiful thing.

Mount Climie was home to some classic kiwi mid 1990s mountain biking. And 21 years since the last race was held, we figured it was time to go back. Plus, that piece of gravel track holds a special place in my heart. Many a happy (and even the odd unhappy-please-when-will-this-end) hill rep has been had on that track in the last couple of years. And there's a beautiful view from the summit (on a clear day).

So here's the deal...

On 17th August, we'll be holding Return to Mt Climie. It's a "back to the nineties" type of race and fundraiser to help us get our wrench monkey to World 24 Hour Solo Championships.

 

You've gotta get yourself and your fine steed from the gate (at the upper car park of Tunnel Gully) to the trig. Pedalling is recommended. Pushing is a valid alternative (especially on the steep bits). It's a 4.4 kilometre almost relentless grind up 610m of altitude gain with an average gradient of 14% and some pitches up to 20%. Mr Dave Sharpe's PB up there is 29:41. My best effort is 33:40. I guarantee it will keep you honest (trust me, I'm a doctor).

 

If the uphilly stuff is not so much your thing then sign up for some old school drifty gravel corner downhill action. Or, even better, do both!

Race Categories:
Mountain Goat (Hillclimb)- Billies (M) & Nannies (F)
Gravel Ninja (Old Skool DH) – Shinobis (M) & Kunoichis (F)...
Mountain Ninja (fastest combined time) - King & Queen of the Mountain
Best Nineties Racing Outfit

Hillclimb will be a mass start in two waves:
Pinners (9:30am) - you think you can keep up with Eden Cruise
Winners (9:15am) - everyone else!

Downhill will be started individually with 30 second intervals from 10:30am onwards. We will NOT be able to transport you to the summit. If you are a grand mountain ninja who does not like going uphill so much, you are more than welcome to set off early for the long walk and heckle the mountain goats as they go by.

We will have super rad photography by Running Quail Productions (check out more of Ricoh's fantastic shots here), cool prizes, a raffle, some homebaking as well as smiles, banter and COWBELLS!!! And a handy vehicle to transport warm kit to the top or the bottom for you while you race. And maybe a beautiful view at the summit.

Do it. You know you want to.

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Broken Record

Karapoti 2014. We did it! New women's course record. 2:45:29. Proper post race blog soon, in the meantime here's some cool shots from a special day of racing.

 

 

 

 

 

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