Message from above?
Seems I really wasn't meant to race this weekend. On the schedule was a race I was really looking forward to. The Crater Rim Classic in Christchurch. After last year, when my front brake failed and I had to race about 48km with very little in the way of brakes (for 5th) I was a little dissapointed. It was to be a great chance to showcase the 29'ers abilities as well. So it was all on. Or was it?
Seemingly a months worth of rain fell on Christchurch in 24hrs and it was announced Friday that the race would be significantly modified and shortened. However it would still be on. So after a mad cap rush to change tyres, pack bike, drive to Wellington (2hrs) after work, and get on a plane to Christchurch. After not much sleep we awoke to more torrenial rain. Not ideal, but what the hell. It would be slippery.
Turned up at venue. No one there except a bunch of dissapointed people milling round. No race aparently. It'd been cancelled. No officials there to tell us that. Apparently an e-mail announcement had been made. Who checks their e-mail at 6:30am before heading to a race.
I was more than a little pissed off. Surely they must have known Friday there was a high chance they'd have to cancel if the rain kept up. If they told me that I may have reconsidered travelling.
Plan B. There was a round of the round of the NZ Ocean Swim series was on at Lytleton at 10am. So I borrowed a wetsuit. Wasn't ideal fit but what the hell. May as well do something. 2.8km ocean swim? Why not?! Arrived in Lytleton to high winds, BIG swells, and turbulant water. Well this was gonna be, um, fun? No dice. You guessed it. Cancelled. At least I got a race pack as consolation (I hadn't even entered). So I got the T-Shirt. One plus I suppose.
Killed some time in a cafe having coffee and brunch. Drooled over Leyton's car collection, while he and friends drooled over the Fisher 29'er. Packed up bike, and headed home again! Interesting weekend? Yes. Productive? Hmmm, maybe.
As much as I wanted to I guess I just really wasn't meant to race this weekend. I suppose someone is trying to tell me something?
Seemingly a months worth of rain fell on Christchurch in 24hrs and it was announced Friday that the race would be significantly modified and shortened. However it would still be on. So after a mad cap rush to change tyres, pack bike, drive to Wellington (2hrs) after work, and get on a plane to Christchurch. After not much sleep we awoke to more torrenial rain. Not ideal, but what the hell. It would be slippery.
Turned up at venue. No one there except a bunch of dissapointed people milling round. No race aparently. It'd been cancelled. No officials there to tell us that. Apparently an e-mail announcement had been made. Who checks their e-mail at 6:30am before heading to a race.
I was more than a little pissed off. Surely they must have known Friday there was a high chance they'd have to cancel if the rain kept up. If they told me that I may have reconsidered travelling.
Plan B. There was a round of the round of the NZ Ocean Swim series was on at Lytleton at 10am. So I borrowed a wetsuit. Wasn't ideal fit but what the hell. May as well do something. 2.8km ocean swim? Why not?! Arrived in Lytleton to high winds, BIG swells, and turbulant water. Well this was gonna be, um, fun? No dice. You guessed it. Cancelled. At least I got a race pack as consolation (I hadn't even entered). So I got the T-Shirt. One plus I suppose.
Killed some time in a cafe having coffee and brunch. Drooled over Leyton's car collection, while he and friends drooled over the Fisher 29'er. Packed up bike, and headed home again! Interesting weekend? Yes. Productive? Hmmm, maybe.
As much as I wanted to I guess I just really wasn't meant to race this weekend. I suppose someone is trying to tell me something?
