Just Living....

Time for another blog update, and really, we're just living.... !

Another fairly hectic weekend, even with the absence of racing. This time with a whistle stop visit back to Palmerston North (via Raetihi and Wanganui). Friday night I was guest speaker at the Sport Manawatu Grassroots Sports Awards. Kind of cool honour to be asked. Firstly, in that it recognises I might have something valuable to say. And secondly, I must be getting better at them?!

Seriously though, it was a great opportunity to give a bit back to the sports community where I developed myself as an athlete. And also where I hopefully made some impact on the youth too.

So Cabin got a haircut, and a real job!!!

Was a great opportunity to think about and acknowledge all the club volunteers whose tireless work allows us to do what we do. Fittingly, a number of the award winners on Friday have directly influenced me over the years, and I was able to acknowledge and thanks these people on the night.

If you compete at all, can I suggest you take a moment to think of all those that assist you.... and perhaps say thanks. Without them we don't have a sport/sports.

At least I thought I was entertaining?!

Finally, we moved into our short-medium term accomodation on Sunday night (until we find a suitable house to buy). Residing in the basement of the Diproses new place. Must say it's awesome to no longer be living out of bags (as I kind of have been for about 8 months now), and having some sort of regularity back in my life.

Guess that means it's time to start a proper training program again then? Wonder if I can still remember how to swim?

The Whaka 100....

Fot the third time in three years I'm feeling a little broken from chasing Scot Thorne all around the forest during the Whaka 100. And I didn't even race! It was a little different this time...

.....after a good break (like a whole month of complete laziness for Cabin.... a wee bit less for Nic), we hauled the bikes out again last week thinking a 100km race wasn't too smart, especially with a desire to do a long steady build up to the 2010 season. So Nic decided to race the 50km option, whilst I strapped a helmet camera to my head with the intent of capturing some good in race footage for future highlights/promo films.

Turned out to be a fun (and a little bit painful) day. Happily stayed with the lead group for approx 30km, before taking a shortcut to relocate to another filming position. All the while watching an inpressive Scott Thorne control the race.

Jumped in and out of the race and captured the crucial moments (I think... haven't watched the footage yet), and experimented with a few shots as my creative side came out?!

Stopped for a break at 60k, and joined in behind the 50km race, following Nic, as some poor chap desperately tried to prevent himself being beaten by a girl. Nic's mean. Despite a gnarly crash early on she ended up winning the womens easily and nabbing 3rd overall in the 50km. Amazing what a decent break and feeling fresh does for you.

Meanwhile I decided to keep Mr Thorne company as it looked lonely at the front. After another 40+ mins following I decided the last hill was a bit much so left the man to it and shot back to the finish for a rest and a much needed feed. And in time to watch a very impressive and strong looking Thorne take his 3rd stright title. He's looking good for Maui and am excited to see what he does.

Looking forward to ressuming training now. Looks like I've got some ground to make up

The Cameraman hangs on for grim death behind Thorne
Nic waaayyyy out front of the womens 50km

Thanks to Alan @ Fotoengineers for the images

Team N-Duro Shirts Available

Need a new riding shirt for summer? Or possibly some xmas gifts for someone? Anyway, we are getting ourselves a few new Team N-Duro shirts made up in the next few weeks, so leaves the option open to include orders for anyone that wants one (or three).

$130 delivered. For orders e-mail cabinracing@gmail.com by Friday Sep 25th to get yours.

Shirts will be available end of October

Weekend Reading

Looking for a bit of weekend reading? Or some fresh mags for the coffee table? Let us make some reccommendations. Turns out we've been fairly active on the media front in recent times, and have been asked to make a variety of contributions to a number of great kiwi publications. So in the interests of blatent self-promotion..... Can we reccommend the October issues of the following :)

Lot's of interesting Kiwi Motorcycling content as always. But this time includes a 4 page feature on my attempts to crossover to dirt biking this past winter. Hopefully makes an interesting read to others and prompts a bit more MTB vs Moto crossover


Okay, so this is the current cover.... but look out for the October issue of NZMTB'r on the shelf soon. Includes cover of Nic's Worlds campaign, a "getting fit for MTB" feature (yes, I wrote it), and of course my column.

And Endurance Sport, with its ever improving content. This month featuring Nic's veiwpoint on stepping up to World Cup level as "Team N-Duro goes World Cup racing"

Happy Reading

Muppets?

Part of an interesting campaign/experiment today. Currently Ridestrong is driving a petition for law changes requiring drivers to give cyclists 1.5m of space when passing. The reality is most drivers tend to give more thought and consideration to animals.

Thus, an experiment was devised. For results, over the coming days keep an eye on Ridestrong

And of course an opportunity to add your voice, and signature, to the petition

Worlds wrap from nic...

Smooth through the rocks.... Thanks to Jo for the pic

'35th elite women'. It doesn't quite have the ring to it that I was after. Did my aspirations outweigh my capabilities at this point in time? Maybe. I had a good race, and put together the best I could on the day, so I am happy enough. I shouldn't get too hung up about the end result if the process was as good as I could deliver, so I won't. End of story.

Ok I will tell you about my race though...

The course was a tonne of fun. A few of you might be aware of the rock infested 'cardiac climb' for which I had made the specific 'big ring off and bash guard on' modification to my bike. It worked a treat and I was stepping up, around and over the 1-2 foot high rocks neatly in practice. Oh for practice... b/c come first lap with O2 debt, deprived legs and in a fluster fest I suddenly lost my finesse!

The second half of the course had a beauty bermed descent, several table tops, short dual slalom sections and heaps of flow - wicked! But it was fast and therefore gaining a decent speed differential to pass was tricky.

During the week I had constructed a start plan, as you must. I was called up in 42nd - i.e. back of the grid. There was a bit of a chicane before we swung right onto a fire road that was a gradual incline of about 1km before we hit the narrowed single track of 'cardiac climb'. Your position here would be crucial, and sure enough everyone else had figured this too.

My master plan was based off a similar one I used at Mte Ste Anne that worked a treat. In this case I would line up in the left, stay out of trouble through the first bend then slingshot around the outside on the right hander into the fire road. Unfortunately as the big space opened in front of me to gap it up the side I got cut off and ended up braking hard to avoid a prang. I recovered ok, & pinned it to get across to the bunch that had formed up the fire road.

Note to self, female MTB bunch = absolute shocker. We surged, braked & sprinted for the next 500m and even managed a crash! No shit, a pile up on a 6m wide uphill fire road. Craziness. So my start was not brilliant and I was not where I needed to be as we hit cardiac climb. Hat off to Katie Compton (USA) though, as she was on the same row as me & was apparently 6th going into cardiac. It can be done....

Out back there was a second section of fire road of maybe 500m, a great opportunity to pass. But again it was a gradual incline (not a strength of mine)... and the Euro/road girls just hauled up this section. I tried to hang tough, but I was eating dust. I need some road quads and a butt to boot. I'll be working on it!

I definately took a bit to settle, but by mid-race (lap 3 of 5) I felt I was riding better. I was enjoying the technical sections, taking the 'hot lines' and managed a few passes. It feels so good when you romp a section, make a pass and the crowd goes wild. I had heaps of support out there, it was fantastic.

Another positive from my race was that in the 5-laps my individual lap times differed only by 6-seconds! Yay for Ms.Consistent, just need to get consistently faster now. I am excited, I feel I have a whole lot to look forward to in the next chapter, I have weaknesses to work on and strengths to build upon. Bring it!

Right now though, I have a short break from biking practice. In this time Cabin & I will get ourselves established in Rotorua, I will go hunting and spend some quality time at home on the ranch before settling into a new physio position in the big stink of Roto... yayaa!

Thank-you every-one for your continued interest and support, it is hugely appreciated. Also to my sponsors... Avanti Bikes (DT Swiss & Kenda tyres) & Avanti+ Mt Maunganui, n-Duro events Rotorua, Balance Nutrition, New Balance, 2XU & Ridestrong... these people literally spin my wheels. Thank-you all!

World Champs....35th

Quick update.... many will already have seen, but Nic put together a very strong ride yesterday at Stromlo for 35th in her Elite World Champs debut. She seem's happy enough, but always wants more so pretty motivated for what comes next.

I'll wait for her to write her own take on the days events, as all I did was stand in the feedzone and yell!