Hey everyone, been a while since I've updated so here goes! Since I got back from Europe I've been straight back into working and training. New Zealand National cups and Champs are coming up in January-February so I am training hard and getting on my downhill bike every opportunity I get. A few weekends ago I went down to Taupo for an NZDH Race, went down on Friday so I could walk the track, haven't ridden that track before so I was real excited to ride a new track. It was super hot and sunny. :) The track was pretty straightforward, had quite a few jumps, some open sections and some really tight corners through the forest (my fave!). I just got myself a pair of clip in pedals a week or so before the race so I was pretty excited to give them a go, I've always run clips on my cross country bike but have been reluctant clip in on my downhill bike. I've realised now though that clipping in will be not only faster but also more efficient. Despite beautiful weather on Friday afternoon, Saturday dawned cloudy and damp, it was just a drizzle at first but as the day went on it poured down and the track went from nice and grippy to a mud bath! Come race runs in the afternoon it was cold and wet, despite the conditions I had heaps of fun and put together two clean race runs, which put in first place in my category. :) I was a bit nervous about riding clipped in for the first time in wet muddy conditions but it was all good and I hardly even noticed that I was clipped in! On the pedally bits though they definitely made a huge difference because I was able sprint much more efficiently and my speed up way faster. It was a good day despite the cold and wet, thanks to the Taupo MTB club and all the organisers for putting on a great event!
