Ramblings of a racing addict

So, nothing exciting to report on really. Spent a weekend at home for once AND didn't race anywhere. Was awesome!
 Got a couple of decent length rides in which hasn't happened in a bloody long time actually. That's the danger racing too often. So yeah, just training, and trying to sharpen things up again prior to the upcoming USA trip. Has included my favourite Paul Macdermid patented MTB 'embankment' sessions. Pain is good?!

I'm a bit poor to afford flash power meters and the like, so my training is going something like this....

Story from Saturday's Crazyman that needs to be re-told.

A certain young man, argueably one of the area's most talented MTB'ers, is down to ride the MTB leg for his team. Head's out determindly, focussed on a fast time. High up on the Hutt Valley firebreaks, mashing away at the gears he breaks his chain. Bugger... pull out the chain break. Oops, look like he doesn't carry tools. This is going to a long and cold walk back. Not to worry. Out comes his cellphone, and he text's his mates to pick him up.

What?! Doesn't carry basic tools in an MTB race.... yet carries his cellphone? Oh dear. A rather concerning sign of the youth of today's priorities, no?!

This is going to be quite literally the ramblings of a racing addict. Am sitting at home, enjoying a sunday of general laziness and relaxing. Quite simply, I'm smashed. The few weeks of big races finally caught up with me this week, and especially yesterday when I raced the Crazyman Mtn duathlon in Wellington.

I finished 'Cabin' (that's the new name for 2nd) to Dave Rowlands. I had entered thinking I could break his course record. But in reality thats no reason to race. Its a bit arrogant really. And I paid for it yesterday. If you wanted to break a record and trained hard for that event then thats a different story.

It was cold and wet, and I struggled to get excited. It was a mental battle all day to keep going hard, my motivation was lacking and unlike last week there were to be no beer shortcut's to look forward to. Giving up 6mins or so in the 18km mtn run left me a lot of work to do. Then missing the turn in to the MTB (thanks to the marshalls?!) and losing another 4-5 didn't help. So starting the chase over 10mins down, with 35km to get it back? equals pretty flat feeling.

It was good for a hile when I caught Multisport legend Richard Ussher, as together we pushed the pace along. But I inched away from him then he punctured. On my own it was a struggle. I felt like rubbish. Legs were heavy. And it was a constant mental battle to stay positive and focus on what I was doing. I just wanted a hot shower. I eventually took back 7mins on Dave, and coasted in for 2nd 3-4mins down.

There is all the "what coulda been's". But in reality I didn't deserve it. I certainly hadn't bought my A game. My head wasn't in it. And I'd put diesel in the gas tank instead of race fuel. Mr Rowlands on the other hand had prepared well, raced positively and determindly, and deserved his victory. He even broke his own course record on a very difficult day. So congrat's Dave.

I'll just have to go back and try to break the magic 3hr barrier next year?! for now I have a whole lot of doing nothing to catch up on. The couch is looking very inviting....

Have a read of the following update from my mate Scott Lyttle. A bloody good chap from the Wairarapa, who is making his way as a roadie in France.Maybe being a fulltime athlete isn't the best thing afterall? Maybe having a fulltime job to "distract" me from trying to be an athlete is a good thing. Funny though, the weather has turned to custard here in the last few days, and I too had a hankering to bake muffins. Weird....

"So, what’s been happening here? Well, not much really. The last month has been rather uneventful. Sure, there has been plenty of riding going on but other than that, there isn’t too much to tell.

The weather has been the main feature. Id love to tell you that the South of France has been bathed in beautiful warm sunshine but it has in fact been dull and dismal! In the last seven weeks I have only had one dry weekend of racing, the rest has been in la flot, rain. This is my fourth season in France and this year has been the worst weather by miles. Being wet and cold, having numb fingers and blue lips and making regular trips to the bike shop to get new gear cables and brake pads have become common occurrences here in Castel. It hasn’t been the most pleasant patch of weather. Trying to train hard and race well without getting ill hasn’t been easy either.

All this bad weather has resulted in plenty of house time, which is not a good thing. My team mate James has become really good at juggling. He can even juggle while standing on a swiss ball, which is very impressive! He could make the circus. Marky and I aren’t quite so talented or coordinated so we have been engaging in Freecell battles on the computer. Nerds I know but we put it down to cabin fever. We have started baking muffins as well which is a sign we have too much spare time. Normal boys wouldn’t do that I’m sure. With the exception of one batch that I made that turned out to be bricks, they have been absolutely sensational. We’ve nailed muffin making so we are moving on to bigger and better things now, cakes."

Mmmmm..... Cake...

Funny how much attention you get when you do something a little bit "out there." I expected my efforts in Beige at SS Champs to generate some interest in the Cycling community. But references to the day keep popping up all over the place. The local paper is more interested in this than my XTERRA efforts.

And.... I even made it onto the official beige brigade (NZ cricket supporters)website. www.beigebrigade.co.nz/blog
For you North Americans reading that would kinda be like being featured on some MajorLeague baseball fan site.

Brilliant. I really have made it now

I wrote up a better (i.e. much longer) and more entertaining report on the singlespeed champs..... but sticking it up here would take up too much room. So if you want to read it, click here

The innagural NZ Singlespeed championships on Saturday quite simply went off. Huge field. Classy field of legendary NZ riders (and a bloody fast Aussie ring in). Wicked atmosphere. Best event of the year, period. What happened? As per usual I'll write a proper story later, but the short version as follows.....

Turn up in Rotorua and pre-ride on 32-16 gear (on 29" wheels). Realise this is too big but can't be bothered changing it. Decide to employ Tuckie logic..... If I could push that, I'd win....

Raceday, get kitted up in my "special" costume. Proceed to scare young children with hideous outfit.

Race starts, course is rather demanding. Pick my way through field and soon get to Mr Weinberg's wheel.

Play Cat n Mouse for first 2/3 of race.

Make judicious use of the beer shortcut and establish a 'race-winning' 45sec gap. Get distracted deciding where the tattoo should go. Weinberg gets back on my wheel. enter last lap (of 6) wheel to wheel.

Epic battle continues. My legs are blown to pieces, struggling to turn the gear. Start to make mistakes. Fatigue or beer? Weinberg pounces. I dig deep and time gap sewsaws.... but I just can't get back at him. Weinberg wins, I get yet another National Championship 2nd. My legs swear to never co-operate again. Dissapointingly there is no best dressed prize as surely that was mine?! Children.... avert your eyes....

So I was trying to assemble some new funding proposals, and working on a media profile. You know.... demographics, reach of coverage, etc.... So I googled myself. Turned up all sorts of 'interesting' info!

But most humbling, was to find a few posts on various blog's I wasn't aware of. Best/Funniest one I found was this one I've cut and pasted below from www.triupdate.co.nz   Kit hasn't come off yet though, although the special skinsuit will be busted out this Saturday at SS Nat's. Should be good.

Get yer kit off, Cabin

Pop quiz.... name this fruit

If you said Orange. Well done. If you didn't, then maybe you should apply for a job at my local supermarket.

Now, I'm quite used to checkout operators being not too sure of the produce I put in front of them to ring up. Afterall, there was a long time where it was all buckwheat, millet, and the like. Not too common. But when the 15yr old checkout operator hesitated while scanning my items last night and asked with a confused look on her face:  "Are these oranges" I was stunned.

I mean...come on.... I know fresh fruit and veg is sadly lacking in many youth diets. But an orange? Are you serious?

Swim over. Contemplating only 3 min to chase down. Wahoo?!



3km left. Wide eyed: Somewhat stunned I can actually still see Terrenzo