N-Duro Summer Series - Race 2

Since my last update the 2nd race in the N-Duro Summer Series was postponed due to the storms we have had of late and was run today in place of Race 3 which will be in March. Ive been back at pre season soccer training and doing some more riding. I also managed to graduate from Waiariki Institute of Technology with a Diploma in Business Studies. Theres a lot of competition for places in the 1^st team soccer squad this year so a few more evening runs are on the cards to pick up the fitness again.

While i was out riding with Scott Green and Patrick Avery last weekend my bike gave way on me. I managed to break the frame in two places and also snap the rear shock. The result of too many Pies and icecream. Bergamont have been really good about it and a replacement frame is being quickly air freighted from Germany. Thats pretty good service!! My riding training is down now that Im back training for soccer Tuesday and Thursday evenings. I have managed to borrow my dads bike to ride until my new frame arrives. I dont really fancy it that much but its that or nothing for now.

During Thursday nights training session I did something to my back and have been struggling since and at times riding had been unbearable. Both my back injury and riding on a borrowed bike put doubt into whether I would line up at the startline at the N-Duro Summer series race 2. I decided to leave the decision to the last minute to give my back a bit more time to come right. I didnt really want to part with my money either.

Race day i woke up still with noticble pain in my back. I was encouraged to line up and ride anyway by my fellow flatmate Katie O’neill and she also offered an entry voucher to help cover the cost of entering. Thanks Katie! After a quick discussion with my mountain bike mentor Carl Jones, we decided I didnt really have any thing to lose.

I lined up in the 25km race with some good competition compared to the previous race. I made a slow start and slowly made my way up the field. I was out the back up the first climb as expected and was playing catch up for the rest of the race.

As I reached the special timed track (Be Rude Not Too) I held back to conserve a little energy and went for it once I entered the timed section. I was more or less flying like superman. I dont even think you would have been able to see me go past cause I was going so fast.  That rhymes by the way, just a little tho. thanks. I got held up a little by a couple of riders but that would have been the same for everyone. I ended up with a pretty good time for the section – 9^th Overall (5^th Open Men).

By the end of the track I had caught up to a few riders ahead of me but soon lost a couple more places heading up ‘Lion Trail’, a hill with a small gradual climb. Probably a result of a few to many pies and cup cakes in my ‘see food’ diet. However this soon worked in my favour on the next downhill section as I used my weight advantage fly down the hills and quickly catch up to the riders who had passed me up the hill.

I was soon struggling with my back causing me a lot of discomfort. I did my best to put it out of my mind and held off to the end of the race and didnt manage to fly over the handle bars at the stream crossing like several other riders including Wilson Jones.

Anyway I had better keep this short and wrap it. Turning into a bit of a novel really.

All in all it wasnt the best race Ive had. Was good to push myself again. Pretty much got ripped up by all the young guys and even got beaten by a girl. Finished well down the field in 30^th (6^th Open Men) but it should leave me in an okay position in the 25km series heading into race 3 later in March. Pretty keen on getting back onto my own bike again in coming days. Next race is probly Colville in March followed a day later by the N-Duro race 3.