The Dual

Well that certainly was a different kind of challenge to what I had anticipated despite all my preparation and training for the 50km MTB at the dual, it didn't go quite as I had planned... Thursday afternoon I dropped my bike down at rego, there were soo many bikes lined up, it was going to be a big event. I was really excited seeing all these bikes waiting to go over on the ferry to Motutapu! My borrowed Scott Scale bike, thanks to Avanti Plus Waitakere, was cleaned, chain was oiled, thanks to Morgan Blue for the wicked lube! It was in tip top condition soon to be transported over to Motutapu Island. I had everything planned out, I always like to be well organised before races so I had my pack sorted with spare tub, chain links etc, had my nutrition sorted knew exactly what I was going to eat and when, had been drinking heaps of water so I was well hydrated and overall I was feeling well prepared to give the 50km race a good solid effort.

Saturday morning I was up at the break of dawn ready to race, after a good nights sleep I was really excited but also nervous about the race ahead. We had a smooth ferry ride over but arrived a bit later than I expected so I wanted to find my bike straight away and start warming up. I picked my bike up, only to find the derailleur hanger had broken!! The bike had left Auckland in mint condition, as I had given it a good clean and checked it over, I can only assume it took quite a knock on the trip over to Motutapu. Lucky for me there was a bike mechanic on hand at the event, so he did what he could, he didn't have any spare derailleur hangers, but he could single speed it for me. I was grateful to the speedy mechanic for getting it up and running so fast so I could race.

Home Bay, Motutapu where all the race's began...

I made it to the start line just before the horn went! I was off, my legs spinning around frantically trying to match the pace of the other riders and I managed quite well up the first hill because I had the perfect gear for the uphills. I pushed my legs hard all the way to the top knowing once I got the flat sections it would be hard to keep up a good pace with the single speed. To my amazement I actually found myself looking forward to the uphills!! Once I got to the climb that led to the top of Rangitoto, I pushed my legs hard to get up the hill as fast as I could. I had to go really fast up the hills to make up for being slower on the flat areas. The decent from Rangitoto was by far the best bit of the track, it was super fast downhill with loose rocks and gravel. It was pretty sketchy but so fun! The 29er loved it! It handles so nicely over rough bumpy sections, way better than my 26er. I pinned it down round all the gravelly corners, my trusty Rocket Rons hooking all the corners. Once I got to the bottom I had a long windy flat stretch ahead of me. I started to figure out a strategy so I could keep my speed up, it was impossible to keep my legs continuously spinning at such a high cadence so I decided I to do intervals. Before I even got to start with this, I heard an ominous sound from my chain, it slipped up the cassette and the tension was too much for it so it snapped!! I used my chain link in an attempt to fix it, but I’m no mechanic, I managed to get it working again but the tension just wasn't right so it kept trying to jump rings and threaten to snap again. I really didn't want to give up but it wasn't looking so great, I pushed on anyway and ran/walked my bike to all the downhills, the Rocket Rons proved they certainly are fast rolling, when I had to pump down the hills! I didn't get to finish the race which I was pretty gutted about but these things happen and at least I got to do the best part, the decent from Rangitoto!

Despite not being able to complete the 50km, it was a cool event to be a part of, there was a huge crowd with a great atmosphere. It was cool to see some Jafakid riders out there competing also and doing so well! It was also cool to support an event which brings in money to plant native trees on the Island and keep it a pest free sanctuary for New Zealand’s native animals, predominantly the Takahe which is one of NZ's most endangered species. I'm defiantly going to have to give it a go again next year!

The Dual Motutapu - Rangitoto Traverse

As I said in my previous post I have decided to give some different MTB events a go this year. First up for me is the Dual, since it's so close to home and I've never been to Motutapu or Rangitoto Island I thought I might as well give it a go! I had the option of a 30km or 50km MTB, since I'm always up for a good challenge I decided I had to do the 50km. So a bit of a background on this event, it's been running for a couple of years now and there are a number of different event options to choose from. There's a marathon, half marathon, off road triathlon, 10km or 6km run/walk and the 30km or 50km MTB, so it's quite a big event!

The 50km MTB starts on Motutapu Island and  then winds it's way over to Rangitoto, up to the very top then back down, around Rangitoto and back to Motutapu island to the finish. Here's the link to a map of the circuit I'll be racing: Map of 50km MTB. The track is a mix of gravel roads, grassy trails and single track through forest and over volcanic terrain. Sound like it's going to be quite a scenic ride! At this point I'm feeling quite good for the race this Saturday, have been training hard, hydrating and eating the right foods, I'm feeling well prepared. I'm really excited and looking forward to the challenge of 50kms, it's quite a change from the Downhill!

Another thing I am super, super excited about is the bike I'll be riding! A Scott Scale 29er!! Which Avanti Plus Waitakere have kindly lent me while my new bike is being built up, so excited it's going to be the coolest bike out there!! (besides my Scott Gambler downhill bike that is!). Have taken the Scale out for a couple of rides already and it is AMAZING! So fast I can actually beat my brothers on it for once! :) Looking forward to racing it this weekend, especially coz my bike's got Schwalbe's Rocket Ron tires on it! My fave tires to run on my xc bike, fast rolling and lightweight the best tire's to run for speed and efficiency, which is exactly what I'll be needing this weekend.

Better get my beauty sleep, I'm going to need all the energy I can get come Saturday, watch out out for an update from me soon on how Saturday went.  

                 

Plans for 2013

Right so it's about time I wrote a post on my plans for this year, well I've decided to stay in NZ this year and race MTB at a National level. While I was off my bike with a broken collarbone, I took the opportunity to look at where I want to go in the future and what I want to achieve.  I came to the conclusion that I really want to do some study. I want to learn more about the science behind physical training for sports (particularly MTB!), nutrition, psychology, and everything that is involved with being an athlete. I want to study all the aspects that allow an athlete to perform to the highest level possible. I want to be able to take what I learn and apply it to myself so I can become the best rider I can be and then I also want help other aspiring athletes through coaching or something similar. I want to be able to prescribe myself training programs that I know are going to effective and make me perform better, I want to know what foods will enhance my training and I'm keen to explore the psychological aspect of sports, with this in mind I am planning to study in 2014.

So 2013, what are my plans?
To train hard, ride my bikes heaps, compete in local MTB events, work and save for study in 2014. There are a lot of cool MTB events round NZ that I haven't given a go, so this year, now that the 2013 NZ Downhill season is finished, I'm going to give some of these events a go. First up is The Dual: Motutapu - Rangitoto Traverse this coming weekend, there are a number of different options to choose from at this event from marathons to off road triathlons to a 50km mountain bike. I've taken up the challenge of the 50km MTB and I'm really looking forward to next weekend. :) Bring on the challenge!

NZ Downhill MTB Nationals

Two weekends ago I headed down Rotorua for the National Champs, for a dusty weekend of riding. On Friday evening as part of the Rotorua Bike Festival a race was held up Mount Ngongataha, The Skyline Sprint Warrior, a super d style event. I hadn't been planning on doing this event but with a little persuasion from my brother and a look at the sick berms at the bottom I decided why not give it a go?! With a gondola to get to the top, and a fun looking track with heaps of nice berms and jumps, I just had to do it! There was a limit of 200 entries, I was lucky enough to just make it in as a couple of people didn't turn up. Stoked! :) The track was so much fun, so loose and dusty after 200 riders passing over it but it still had a nice flow to it and the jumps were real fun to hit too! It was cool to see such a big crowd at the event, we don't usually get that many people turning up for the DH races, so it was mint to have such an atmosphere. There was talk that because the event was such a success maybe in the future they might open up the gondolas to let MTBer's build tracks and create a bike park. Wouldn't that be cool!! Stoked to come 4th place in the open women, was so cool to see so many females racing there were seventeen of us, Emmeline Ragot pro elite DH racer took the win.

Saturday dawned sunny, perfect conditions for National Champs Downhill practice. I didn't get a chance to walk the downhill track Friday night because I ended up doing the Skyline Sprint warrior, so I spent the first few runs sussing out the track and looking at different lines. The track was pretty rough and got blown out real fast because it was so dry and dusty. I struggled a bit to get my flow through the rough sections, I hadn't ridden such a rough track in while after the smooth track at Hunua it was a bit of a shock to the system. I focused on the other bits though that I was riding well and eventually I got smoother through the rough bits. The track had a bit of everything, some big jumps, fast rough sections, steep chutes, a rock garden and a couple of pedally bits, overall it was a pretty awesome Nationals track! Different to the usual tracks we race at Rotorua so that was cool. By the end of practice I had all the jumps sussed, and was feeling better through the rough sections despite tired arms and shoulders!

Sunday morning I got a couple of runs in before seeding, I rode all my lines keeping it smooth and looking out for all the places I could pedal hard to make up a few seconds come seeding an race. I had an alright seeding run and got 7th, not as fast I would have liked, I thought I could probably make up a few seconds in my race run. I did manage to knock 6 seconds off my previous time :) and ended up in 5th place out of all the kiwi women, Amy Laird took 1st, with Alanna Columb 2nd and Sophie Tyas 3rd. Here's a couple of photo's from the weekend, thanks to all the photographers out there for the awesome pic's!

Flying over the last jump before the finish