This year I
entered as a singlespeeder. I’d been keen to try out the Tranny’s prowess on
the trails over this distance – and with Kiwi Brevet looming on the horizon it
seemed sensible to ride the bike I would be using in that event, as a test of
setup and comfort.
Life at home
had been somewhat hectic, just the usual that you expect with a particularly
active 3 year old... thankfully this
year we remained illness free in the lead up. The only key worry was my lack of
trail time prior to this event. Apart from a Rotorua visit in July, my only other
trail riding since the 24 Hour & National Singlespeeds in April had been
one ride with Ling at Woodhill a few weeks ago. I’d successfully made myself
look like a right plonker during that ride, going over the handlebars once and breaking
my chain (replacing brakepads the night before a ride and not bedding them in is
never the best idea). So the question going through my mind was ‘I’ve got the
fitness, do I have the trail skills to match?”
Friday
afternoon, Sandra & Emma arrive home from Kindy just as I’d finished
putting the last of the things in the car. A slow drive south ensued as we
escaped Auckland (with only 50% of other Aucklanders). Register & collect
my Race Number, then arrive at camp. We were able to pitch the tent and get set
up just before dark. Late dinner & then a decent sleep.
Saturday
morning – race day! Sandra & Emma stayed tucked up & asleep while I
quietly breakfasted & got ready, arriving at the start line with 20 minutes
to spare. A few singlespeeders around – I took the opportunity to talk with one
guy from Australia who had come over to race. Sandra & Emma arrived a few
minutes before the start gun – I was able to give them a couple of quick waves.
Into it!
Happy to be finally underway, I was a happy camper as I despatched the first
few trails. The legs felt okay, ‘alive’ but ‘tight’. Tahi, Creek, Dipper,
Challenge, Genesis & Grinder – no problems. Passed a couple of people on
Piglet and Pig tracks, before an old favourite from the 24 hour – Mad if you
Don’t. Caught up with Sandra & Emma at the end of Ball & Chain – my only
request was to add the lube bottle to the stash of half-time snacks.
The next
piece of the event disappeared quicker than I remembered from last year. I was
thinking at one point “gosh this is a long way and I hope my legs hold up and I
hope I don’t crash and I hope I don’t cramp and I hope I don’t.....” when the
next thing I’m already at the start of the first significant climb – Kakapiko,
on the way to No Brains. Walked a bit here part way up, then it flattened off
& I was riding again, having a good chat with an Aussie guy while doing so.
He wasn’t a climber, so I left him to it, fully expecting to be caught early in
the descent. Amazingly, I made it 2/3rds of the way down before he cautiously
picked his way past me.
Thankful to
have the first major climb and descent over, I began the ride up towards Split
Enz, gingerly at first, as this has always been the point where I have cramped
in the past. No cramp – woohoo! Stopping for a minute to open a big bikkie
might have helped too. From here there were about 4 of us moving in a loose
group – Aussie guy, me and another couple of guys. I crept past the Aussie guy
and one other before we made it into one my of my all- time favourite trails –
Split Enz. It didn’t disappoint – lovely & flowy trail goodness! Pondy
Downhill was up next – I was worried about riding the ‘staircase’ just before
the main descent, (first time doing that on the Tranny) – but I needn’t have
worried, the descent was trouble free and as fast as I could make it, riding
the rough trail on my hardtail. Pondy and then the BEST trail from the 24, Old
Chevy were despatched and I popped out at the transition point (63km).
Sandra &
Emma were pleased to see me, Emma especially so – she had been having a lovely
time playing in the sun on the picnic mat Sandra had set up. Chain re-lubed, a
couple of filled rolls were wolfed down, snacks, water & gels replenished
and I was on my way again, chasing after a couple of people who had been well
ahead of me coming in, but were now within my sights.
It wasn’t long and the next section of
singletrack was reached – Spring Roll and Sweet & Sour. I’d moved past a
couple of riders and had another in my sights entering Sweet & Sour. It
wasn’t long before I was on her tail, but decided to hang back & wait for a
passing opportunity. Silly mistake! Following a bit too close, my view of the
track was obscured and rounding a bend I failed to make the necessary swerve
past a large branch sticking out into the track low down. Over the bars I
went.... nutting myself slightly on the way through. I was less than pleased,
but back up again in seconds. This time I moved swiftly and confidently past
the rider in front.
The long haul
around to Frontal Lobotomy went quite quickly. Time for some strategic
walking..... I’d passed a couple of riders and was determined not to let them
re-pass me – so walking the big climbs and half of Frontal Lobotomy was done at
speed, while casting the odd nervous glance backwards to make sure I wasn’t
being caught...... in the end only 1 got past – my friend from Sweet &
Sour.... riding gears she could tackle the steep slope a bit better than my 1
gear and tired legs.
Billy T, G
Rock & Rollercoaster were handled quite expertly, if not cautiously.
Heading up the hill to the start of Hot X Buns I was back to walking again – in
front of my Sweet & Sour friend for 2/3rds of the climb. I was nervous
about Hot X Buns – I’d never ridden that on the Tranny, but it wasn’t long
before I descended (actually smoother than I have ridden previously on Mojo).
Picking off another couple of riders helped as well. Rude Not To and Lion Trail
up next, then some more strategic walking near the top of the Katore Road
climb. I’d managed to re-pass my Sweet & Sour friend and I managed to hold
that to a respectable distance for both forward & back traverses of
Tokorangi Road. The actual Tokorangi Track was great to ride, then finally into
Exit Trail. The climb back up Nursery Road was done as fast as I could manage
(getting tired now!) before the meandering Rockdrop trail. No worries, I didn’t
have far to go (I thought), then finally Rosebank. These trails had been added
this year to push the distance ‘over’ the 100km (it was slightly less last year
and people complained!). Into Rosebank I confidently head – taking the ‘Hard
& Fast’ line over a series of step downs, I failed to see the track turning
right and headed quite confidently off a retaining wall – I just thought it was
another step-down..... over the bars I went – again.... Winded & sore, I
managed to stand up, only to see my Sweet & Sour friend approaching. No
time for a thorough check of bike or body, male pride was at stake here – I
quickly jumped on and rode the rest of the ‘Nana’ line to the creek crossing. I
danced across the creek without wet feet and ran up the bank on the other side.
Pedalling strongly (and in a bit of pain) I crossed the finish line...... 8 hours,
6 minutes.
Sandra &
Emma had stationed themselves over the back of the crowd – Emma found me and
led the way. Prizegiving started 10 minutes later. Despite not really being
able to bend my right leg too much, I actually felt quite good and well
satisfied with the achievement – 104km of Singlespeeding, not a bad effort!
With the mental list of things to change on the bike before Brevet sorted, I
enjoyed the eat, drink and recover while watching prizegiving. Major Spot
prizes were Magellan GPS bike computers – guess whose name was called out? YAY!
Pretty cool little gizmo, which I was grateful to receive.
Back at camp,
dinner for all of us on the picnic mat by the tent. I bbq’d the meat up by the
camp kitchen and had a surge of parental pride watching Emma carry a cold can
of beer for me all the way from the tent up to where I was at the bbq’s – the
first time that has happened. She was concentrating very hard, completely
focussed on carrying that beer safely and without shaking it..... did a great
job too!
It wasn’t too long after and 3 tired but very happy campers headed for
bed and were soon fast asleep.
No comments:
Post a Comment