Night riding

The tracks on the Port Hills were open last night, so we took the opportunity to do some night riding. We rode up Rapaki in the gloom, and enjoyed the cool but perfect riding temperature. As we hit the top, the lights went on as we rode the single track to Victoria Park. As it was little bit soft in places, I was glad I had fitted my winter tyres on the weekend. We then dropped down through the tracks in Victoria park down to Bowenvale Avenue. Soft and a little muddy in places again, it was only as we hit the four wheel drive track at the bottom that it became very messy. Twenty or thirty cattle were grazing down there and had destroyed the track. The bikes were covered in mud and manure as were we! Home shortly after to a hot shower.

New tyres

I ordered some new tyres as mine were not cutting the mustard when it comes to winter riding in the mud. having said that the tracks have been closed on the Port Hills pretty consistently for the last few weeks. I fitted them today and now have some grippy Kenda Nevegals. I put on a Kenda Small Block Eight on CGM's bike and that should stop it having constant punctures.

I have had a look at a few races for the rest of the year and the initial plan is to ride:

Sun 19 September 2010 - Cheviot Hills Challenge - Cheviot
Sat 16 October 2010 - 6 and 12 hour Day/Nighter - McLeans Island
Sat 6 November 2010 - Molesworth Muster - Molesworth

So I had better start training for these!

The replacement mountain bike

With the death of the frame of my old mountain bike, I bought a new Giant XTC-2 last September and it has been great. It has had a lot of riding since then and I have gone through a new chain and rear cassette and several tyres.

Kaiwara Classic

We stared this race in early 2010 in fog as we rode over the hills from Culverden to Cheviot. Turned out to be a nice day and some great riding over gravel roads and farm tracks. Two biggish climbs and one smaller one. Great fun and I think that I will probably do it again.

My DBR Vertex

I've had this mountain bike since I was at university and it has experienced a lot of riding. It had a lovely light cro-moly frame, but coming down Kennedy's Bush last September saw the end and I have had to retire it. I still keep it in the garage for sentimental value though.

Rainbow Rage 2010

Here I am at the start of the Rainbow Rage wondering if I am a little crazy to be started on a 106km mountain bike race. We had set off from Blenheim at 6am to make the start of the race near the Nelson Lakes. It was a bit windy and cool and I was a little worried about riding into a head wind for the entire race. Fortunately, it was a tail wind for the vast majority of the race.
Finishing the race 5 hours and 10 minutes later in Hanmer Springs, I was a little tired and sore but happy to have finished!