Te Rauparaha's Revenge 19th October

A fine day with almost no wind provided a nice change from previous years (it's often fine but almost always with a breeze in some direction).  There was quite a good number in the race class as the organisers decided to combine all racers into one group.

At the start there were a few attacks but it wasn't until the start of the hill where the action really began.   George attacked early on.  I decided that there was better to get over the hill with a small group as there was a long way to go.  Rob set the initial pace with me taking over through the middle section.  Kieran completed the top part.  At the top we had a handy group of about 8 so we soon caught George through the valley.  The Rai caused no problems - I think we lost one rider on the way down the hill but the group was mainly intact.  

I sheltered myself after the hills.  It's an uphill finish for TRR so I figured that if I conserved my energy that I may have a good chance at the end.  In Havelock as we approached the turnoff to take us to the hill I got a puncture which had to be the worst possible timing.  George won the climb with a total time of 2:07:14.  I quickly changed my tube and finished in 2:13:58.

Maybe I'll have better luck next time.

Takaka Hill Time Trial (Oct 12th)

Well after the previous days marathon effort I was really wondering if I would make it up the hill at all.  Numbers seemed down with very few racers turning up.  I started 2nd to last with George the last rider off.  Along the flat before the hill I felt terrible.  George caught me just at the start of the climb and flew past.  I could see Jeannie and Pete M just ahead and caught them through the steepest section.  I was starting to feel ok now and just kept pushing ahead to catch whoever I could see next.  I caught Bruce just past the Limeworks.  The finish had been slightly extended which made for some initial confusion however I finished in 46:55 which is my fastest time yet and placed 2nd.  George did an amazing time of 38:56 and bet the record.  While I would have hoped to have done a better time if I hadn't been so tired from the day before I certainly would never get close to his time.  I think that perhaps I could do a 45 - maybe next year.

S&G Race 11th Oct (Richmond, Dominion, Motueka, Ngatimoti, Waiwhero, Central, Moutere, Redwoods)

It was windy - not Seddon windy but windy enough to average 40kph from home to the start line so it was a bit of a dejavu experience from the week before.  

During the week I had gone for a small run which had proved to be a mistake as my legs had really ached since then so when I found myself under pressure in the cross wind at the 3km mark I found myself unable to respond and I was dropped.  With only 85km left to race this was going to be a long ride.

Determination (or stupidity) saw me press on.  At the top of the coastals road I saw Henry who had also been dropped.  I thought he might have jumped on behind me but a short time later when I saw Roger at the top of Dominion Road I realised that he hadn't so I was on my own.  The ride down to Motueka went ok as there was a tailwind but the turn at the Airport and the ride up to Ngatimoti was horrible as there was a head wind all of the way.  I consoled myself with the thought that no one in the group ahead would be interested in working so if I continued on I might actually catch them.

It wasn't until the top of Central road that I saw anyone at all.  By this stage I was dertermined to just get the ride over so I wasn't slowing down for anyone.  At Upper Moutere I saw Chris C who had stopped with some riders at the shop and was just starting out again.  I rode past and he jumped on and rode with me to the end.

I finished not far behind Ritchie V and averaged 32.48kph - not bad for a solo effort!  The ride home was a real struggle and in the end I phoned Hannah to pick me up.  I was pretty tired all evening.

Center Club Champs TT 5th October

The TT was held on the Waihopi course.  Thankfully this year the winds were not as strong as before.  We had a tail wind out to the turn around and I made good time however due to my efforts from the day before I paid for it on the return trip.  There was quite a strong breeze coming up the valley and I suffered.  In the end I placed 2nd with a time of 0:37:38  just under my target of 37 minutes.  Conway Taylor won with a ride of 36 something - I can't remember and the Cycling Marlborough website is never up to date!

Centre Club Champs Road Race - Seddon Oct 4th

This year the Centre Club Champs were held on the Seaview Circuit at Seddon.  The course started near the pub then quickly climbed up to a ridge and headed out to the coast.  Oddly enough this year the race was run as a graded race instead of in age categories like normal.  Apparantly this was to make the race harder - although the course took care making the race hard it was probably a good idea given that there would have only been about 3 riders in M1.

The weather was windy and with forecasts of gusts of up to 120kph and almost the entire course running at right angles to the wind it became quickly obvious that this was going to be a very hard race.  'A' grade had 80km of this undulating 20km out and back circuit.

As we got to the top of the ridge on the first lap (probably 1km into the race) there was a sudden gust that blew us from one side of the road to the other.  It was very scary and I almost decided to call it quits then and there.  Trying to find shelter in this cross wind was tricky and it would have to be one of my weak points.  At about the 7km mark the race turned into the wind and we were down to our small chaing ring and 19kph.  Grant was on the front and I moved up and did a long pull at the end of which the course turned back into a cross wind.  We were spread out right across the road and having just taken a turn I was struggling to get a sheltered position.  I was also concerned that another gust would just collapse the group and we would all hit the deck so I was probably a little more hesitant than normal.  At about the 8km mark I was dropped.  After the turn around I managed to get myself back to the group but still struggled to find shelter and really had no additional power to force myself into a better position.  I dangled in and out of the group about 3 times before we got to the downhill section to the start/finish turnaround.  This was a really blustery section and my cautiousness caused me to lose contact with the group.  At the turn around I thought about catching up again going up the hill but realised that each time we came back down I would be doing the same thing.  In the end I decided to keep safe and ride my own pace.  I held the distance to the group for the first 3 or 4 laps but eventually finished about 5 minutes behind which wasn't too bad for 80km.  I would have finished in the top 10 as well (there were not many people in the race!).

SG Opening Race 27 Sept

Well the first race for the summer series and my first race since donating blood - so I was a bit unsure what was going to happen.  Conditions were good.  The race was out to Mapua and then back to the A&P Showgrounds.  The group pretty much stayed together until the climb before Seaton valley.  Wanting to get in a better position I rode from the back of the group to the front where Chris N was setting the pace.  At the top of the climb Chris and I took a couple of turns.  I didn't realise that we had actually broken free.  Dean attacked and was followed by George but I thought that the rest of the group was with us and so when Chris bridged I was suprised to discover that I was by myself with the rest of the group some way back.  By then it was too late and given that Chris, George and Dean were not that far ahead and the group behind was quite large I sat up.  

This proved to be a mistake (and in fact it almost always seems to be a mistake) as the group was either unable or unwilling to chase them down.  In the end I opted for a last minute attack along the finishing straight and had I attempted it 50m later or had taken someone with me I might have finished it off but sadly it didn't work.  Still I was happy with the outcome as I had felt good and had managed to keep up on the climb so things were looking promising.

Takaka Lunch Run 20th September

Well it was a brilliant day for the Takaka Lunch Run with fine weather and only a gentle breeze to contend with.  Numbers were down this year with only Paul D, Chris C and myself starting at Richmond.  We picked up Rob S at Mapua and the 4 of us made good time to Motueka.  The climb up the Takaka hill split us up slightly with Rob riding ahead.  We all grouped back up at the top and then raced down the other side - Paul demonstrated his superior  downhill skills.  Back on the flat we timetrialed to Takaka - the pace was pretty fast and we got there at 11am - way ahead of our scheduled time.  

Thankfully Pete was already there.  He had driven to Riwaka and had biked from there and had made good time.  We all bustled into the Wholemeal Cafe for lunch.  The Wholemeal cafe would have to be one of my favourites in the region.  It has a good range of food at good prices and the staff have always been very helpful.  Hopefully refuled enough for our journey back we left the cafe and started back to Richmond.  Hamish appeared on his motorbike.  He had expected us to be much longer and was somewhat suprised to see us heading back as he arrived.  Pete rode with us a little way before heading off to see a friend.  The return climb up the Takaka hill was hard work.  Hamish had met us at the bottom of the hill and we had offloaded any surplus gear with was welcome.   Rob again took the KOM points with Chris covering any rearguard attacks.  We sped back down the hill to Motueka with Paul demonstrating yet again his downhill prowess (with Rob also demonstrating that his strengths lie in an uphill direction).  Back in Mot we stopped for water.  Chris was feeling the pressure now and was starting to struggle.  There is always a crosswind riding towards Tasman and it was hard for Chris and Paul to get shelter.  Rob parted us at Seaton Valley and rode home.  The three of us continued onto Richmond relieved to have finally finished.  

It had been a brilliant day with great weather and good company.  Our final average speed was 30kph which is certainly the fastest we have done.  Chris and I cycled back to my place which bought the total distance up to 208km.