Auckland Secondary Schools Round 3: Sanders Reserve

I knew to dress warmly for this one when, having packed the car, it took 10 minutes to defrost the windscreen. Resisting the urge to throw boiling water over the car to get it over and done with, I began having flashbacks to a race in Christchurch where I had forgotten my gloves, thermals, and pretty much everything else used to keep warm during a ride. I was not going to repeat that mistake with today's lovely 2 degree weather.

Arriving at Sanders, the temperature had risen to a lovely 4 DEGREES! Sanders and I haven't always seen eye to eye, with my last experience being a very muddy one on my full sus, now retired from active duty. Today would be my short course début with my new dancing partner, a Giant XTC composite 29'r, thanks to R&R for helping me out with that one. Time to cover over previous experiences and replace them with happier ones.

Warming up around the course was revealed the chances for over taking lay with steep switchback climbs to test the fitness of all who dared to enter. This was made more difficult with fingers that refused to move despite the full length gloves they were encased in, and unfortunately I do not have much experience with single speeding, or not using brakes... Cue begging for sunlight.

Luckily for us competitors the sun smiled on us before race start raising the temperature to 14 degrees, meaning only 1 layer was necessary for most. The start was fast and furious without the drifting, as we sprinted for the single track. Getting in first was crucial today with overtaking on 2 small road sections and the switchbacks the only option.

What followed varied from rider to rider. For some it was the despair at broken chains, burst tubes and broken helmets, and for others relief that it hadn't been them and a quiet smile at the consequent moving up a position by default. Riders with good cornering skill and legs toned for snap climbing prevailed today, with 26'rs gaining advantage over their big wheeled cousins in the tighter turns.

So, I think Sanders and I can see eye to eye again with a 4th place finish in a tightly contested Under 17s category, missing the podium by a matter of seconds, having been taken on the last hill. I think this particular course shows potential for Sanders reserve; I cant wait until they start planting some trees and bush blocks to break up the terrain. Congratulations to today's winners, and those who gained enough points to take a series podium position, as this is the last of 3 races in the series. Thanks to all the volunteers who showed up to help, whether you be an organizer, marshal, parent or one of the JAFAKIDS manning the sausage sizzle and coffee machine; we couldn't do it without you. Bring on the next wave of winter racing!

R&R sport sponsored rider Kalen weir dominating the podium.

The Author showing off bike skills.

Review: Limar 910 Helmet

Limar Helmets manufacture products for many facets of the sport that is cycling, and the 910 is one of their many offerings for the MTB end of the market. The 910 has plenty of large, angular looking vents to keep air moving through during a ride, with an aerodynamically shaped visor to help channel the air through. Although it is not removable, but it is unobtrusive so I do not believe this is a problem.

The 910 features a secure feeling chin strap with some padding to soak up sweat and make the strap a bit more comfortable as the days' ride goes on. This helmet also features a large adjustable dial on the rear to allow quick and easy adjustment of the helmet during a ride , which is surprisingly useful on hot days where a little extra space between your head and helmet is desired to keep cool. The padding  within the helmet isn't especially thick but is comfortable and easily removable to wash out sweaty smells.

I have used this helmet for I don't know how long, after I brought on a sale for $99 NZ, although it's RRP is $200. It has had it's fair share of crashes, some head over heels face first, and has shrugged them all off with good grace. To put this helmets strength into perspective, I have witnessed one being hit multiple times by cars, and retrieved, obviously shattered beyond use but still in one piece. Would I recommend this helmet? I have little experience with other brands helmets, but judging by my adventures that I've had with this helmet, yes. Yes I would.     

3D Trail fest Rotorua

This Queen’s Birthday weekend was the date of the 3D Rotorua multisport festival. In its second year, the 3D Multisport festival this year doubled its numbers from last year. This means more competitors than ever before, all the more difficult for a 15 year old JAFAKID when the youngest category was Under 20’s…

A decision had to be made by some JAFAKIDS, as this coincided with the date of the Auckland Grammar School race in Hunua, leaving me to face some of the New Zealand’s best  with a loyal support crew of JAFAKIDS down in Rotovegas for the weekend (thanks guys!)

When lining up, ready to hit the 30km course, I was as I mentioned earlier among esteemed company. Shoulder to shoulder with national champions, New Zealand representatives and even a world champion, with a selection of tough competition on their heels, this was going to be a hard fought race.

Unusual for a MTB race, the competitors were started en masse behind a car for a rolling start. Pure, dirty speed was in order as riders spun and scrambled along the grass verge heading for the aptly named Windy road and Hill road. Many a competitor began to feel the burn as they ground their way up the gravel, knowing that just ahead lay the fast, flowy and fun corners track. Thanks to coaching from JAFAKIDS I found myself gaining on riders through corners (remember to brake before, not during the corner!) coming out the bottom with the 3^rd place rider in Under 20’s in sight. What ensued was a game of chicken; who could bust their gut the longest through the demanding ‘Old Chevy’ track, with yours truly emerging in front after a good line choice (thanks for the epic battle Ryan Hunt!). A wrong turn at a marshal point nearly cost me my, at this point, 20 second lead on 4^th place but a snappy recovery through Chinese menu held me my place. Heading down Dragons Tail is always a welcome sight in a race, with fast single track always in sight. Approaching the end through Exit Trail was accompanied by loud cheering to my JAFAKIDS support crew, although as soon as I was out of their sight around the next corner, I endoed and crashed. Oops. Sprinting down the road to the finish confirmed a proud 3^rd place in Under 20s, and an incredible 6^th overall!

Thanks to all the volunteers who assisted in the running of this event; we couldn’t do it without you. Thank you also to everyone who turned up to race, Mom and Dad for funding these adventures, and to my personal sponsor R&R sport for help with the awesome new bike. It certainly helped. I look forward to next year, and hope to see more JAFAKIDS supporting this event.