Auckland Grammar Series Round 3: Whitford Forest

Waking up every half an hour throughout the night probably isn't the best way to start a race day, but that is exactly what happened to me. The problem arose from my alarm clock; It sits smugly on my desk on the other side of my room, the snooze button safety out of reach, and I swear it is loud enough to wake the dead. Good thing there are no cemeteries nearby. So, in a sleep deprived stupor when the alarm finally sounds, I am ever so amused to discover it's raining outside. Great. Racing in the rain, with little sleep. Looks like I'll have to rely on my old friend caffeine to help me out today.

Whitford forest has everything needed to make for a tough race; slippery hills that go up, faster (not to mention bumpier) hills that go down, and steep fire roads to burn the lungs of the uninitiated. Pre-riding the course for the first time, half an hour before race briefing, this was evident. Clay hills make for slippery riding on the now wet surface, and getting off and running some sections wasn't frowned upon.

Getting ready to start, surrounded by more riders than I was lead to believe, I wasn't sure what to expect from this race. Having competed in the first race and coming a reasonable 5th, I was on the fringes of a podium assault but would have to bust a gut to get there. On the other hand, I could use this race to find out other riders styles and weaknesses, but all thoughts went out the window as the starting whistle blew and I sprinted straight up the road, in the lead of the entire group.

There is nothing quite like starting a race just right; that feeling when you know you were in the right position, you were alert, you had the right breakfast, and were well warmed up. It all just clicks together and for a few seconds, you experience what it feels to race at your peak. This feeling is quickly lost up the first hill as euphoria is turned to a burn deep in your lungs as the pack starts gaining and the first few riders start edging ahead. Hitting the single track in 4th put me in a good position to control my race, with overtaking thick and fast as we hit the downhill. 

Duelling it out with me was fellow rider Aaron and we would be pushing each other throughout the entire race. Not too far behind us were fellow JAFAKIDS Kim and Isaac, keeping us honest and cranking hard. The first lap went as followed; I would pull away from Aaron, then he would close the gap and make me work to stay ahead and avoid getting passed. Towards the end of the first lap I had pretty much pulled away from Aaron and built a 'safe' lead, or so I thought.

Hitting lap 2 I felt good, but my bike wasn't so sure. The riders behind me had chewed up the trail ahead as I entered the second lap, and my fast rolling Racing Ralph tyres, so good on the fire roads but barely holding it together in the mud, were now slipping and sliding all over the course like an epileptic eel. Climbing the steep clay hills became that little bit harder, and walking just that little bit more frequent. Looking back, about 2/3rds of the way through my second and final lap, Aaron had started making a comeback and was slowly but steadily pulling in closer as each climb passed. I still had the lead on him though, in a comfortable 3rd place, and coming through the last singletrack section I still had about a 5s lead. Then, just as I hit the exit of the singletrack and got ready to sprint up the final climb, my chain drops, going uphill. No choice but to get off and put the chain on manually. As Aaron cranks past, he offers a sympathetic "I am so, so sorry for you..."

No time to wallow in my misery though, Kim and Isaac are close behind and I cross the line seconds before Kim in 4th place, 15 seconds behind Aaron. The other podium takers in my category were Cosmo and Tom, in 1st and 2nd respectively. Those 2 were in a race of their own, having a years age advantage of the rest of us, which showed in their 6 minute lead. Special mention goes out to Isaac for finishing 6th, not far at all behind us despite being off the Mountain Bike since April after a broken wrist. Apparently road fitness is quite effective...

So what have I learned from this race?
1) My new Tifosi riding glasses (review earlier on this blog) were very effective at keeping the mud out my eyes.
2) I need some grippier tyres for wet days. The Racing Ralphs are great in Rotorua and in the dry, but not so much in very muddy conditions.
3) My fitness is back. Having been in a slight training 'slump,' I am now officially back and firing on all cylinders.
4) I now know where all my opponents weak points are, and I don't intend to tell them, but do intend to exploit them... watch out everyone!

Thanks Auckland Grammar school MTB club for organising this race, and I look forward to race 4 (the Final!) I have a feeling there will be some heated racing between us all.

                                            All photos courtesy of the Manchester family.

Review: Tifosi Logic XL Interchangable lens Glasses

Already disadvantaged as an MTB'r with the curse of short sight, my eyes are one of those things I would quite like to take care of. Contact lenses are an effective solution for seeing whilst riding, but they have one weakness; mud and grit in the eye can pop them out, so as a short sighted person I'm still close to blind even after I've clear the debris from my eyes. A quality pair of riding glasses has been on the wishlist for a while now, and the Tifosi Logic XL ticks all the boxes. 

So, first of all, a brand new pair of Logic XL's will seat you back $119 and with that you get 3 sets of lenses for all conditions, the frames (mine are in a carbon fibre finish and look pretty cool), a little microfibre bag which doubles as a cleaning cloth and a solid case that stores it all. 3 lenses= 3x the lifetime of the glasses as with all sport glasses the lenses are going to get scratched at some point. This means you don't need to shell out for a new set of glasses when a pair gets scratched; just use one of the other lenses while you order a replacement. 

Being the XL model, the Logic XL is designed for larger heads but I chose them for their larger lenses than the standard Logic's. If you are between sizes I would recommend the XL model as they are pretty customisable fit wise. the nose piece can fit as tightly or loosely as you desire, and same with the ear pads. They can be straight, tight or curved to fit around your helmet as comfortably as possible. I have not had any issues with these glasses slipping once they are fitted right; the rubber nose pieces and ear pads hold their shape well and are super sticky when wet. The large lenses don't obscure vision with their half rim design, and never fog up as long as you keep moving; they vent quite well even at slow speeds. Riding on wet and muddy days, these are a godsend for half blind people like me and your every day trail basher. You can simply go faster when you can see.

The lenses themselves have good vision quality, with no noticeable distortion of vision. My glasses came with a night time clear lens, a daytime yellow lens suitable for MTB, and a pair of dark lenses for really bright days, road riding and being a fashionista. Their sporty style is suitable for everyday use with the dark lens inserted. You can also order photochromatic lenses for these glasses should you wish, in a variety of different colours.  Changing lenses on the Logic's isn't the most elegant affair, but it does work. Pushing a new lens into the frame can be a bit fiddly, but the fit is secure and not going to fail on the trail. And, at this price, I would happily use them over a more expensive option such as the Oakley Jawbone system.

So, if you are looking for a solid pair of riding or running glasses that have interchangeable lenses, good vision quality, a sporty fashion sense that won't get you laughed at or break the bank, these or any other Tifosi glasses are worth a look (no pun intended). 

  

Review: Giant XTC Composite 29'r 0 2012

It's not always easy leaving your old partner, but sometimes you just have to move on. Something newer, sleeker and sexier comes along, and I dreaded the day I had to introduce my new dancing partner the Giant XTC Composite 29'r to the old flame Merida 1-20 1500D.

So, what's she got? A Composite grade Carbon frame weighing in at approximately 1500g isn't the lightest on the market but in my opinion is super stiff and accelerates like a rocket. Just look at that down tube! It's all up to date with the latest frame technologies like tapered steerer and press fit bottom bracket, making for a solid investment for future upgrades. Cable guides are moulded into the carbon, although no internalised routing can be seen, nor full length cable housing. A metal chain suck guard protects the Carbon Fibre frame from the rare event of a dropped chain, although the blue plastic finish on it scratches off quite quickly. The chain stay protector can only be described in expletives as it is just a thin sheet of clear plastic that does absolutely nothing. Buy a neoprene one before the THWACK THWACK THWACK drives you crazy!

SRAM X-9 is on display throughout, with cranks, shifters and front dérailleur making the best of the 2x10 magic. The rear dérailleur is upgraded to X-0 in blue to match the rest of the bike, and shifting in general is pretty smooth and sharp. The brakes are Elixir 7; some love them and some hate them, but I haven't had the trapped air problems the higher spec models seem to be plagued with, so they get the thumbs up from me.

The fork is a Fox F-29 with FIT dampers, and is my favourite fork to date. Smooth, sexy suspension that works great and has plenty of features to fiddle with and keep the inner bike nerd happy, although it misses out on the gold Kashima coat. Some day Robin, some day... A 15QR keeps things stiff and gives point and shoot precision, as well as making front wheel removal faster and easier than a traditional quick release. Wheels are Giant branded PX-C2 rims on Giant tracker hubs; they weigh in at around 1800-1900g so aren't the lightest, but don't flex and make a solid base wheelset. They are shod with fast rolling Schwalbe Racing Ralph tyres in the top line PaceStar Triple Compound, which are tubeless ready.

The bars, seat post and stem are all the Giant branded Contact range, and are in general quite good. I have inverted the stem to get the front end as low as I would like, with all the spacers removed to drop it down further. The bars are worth noting; they are a love 'em or hate 'em affair. At 690mm wide they offer plenty of leverage and are flat to get you over that front end for optimum grip. However are quite straight; they lack sweep. Personally, I don't find them a problem and they serve their purpose adequately, however others hate them to the degree that they believe their only use is to keep in your car to bludgeon a would be thief.

The saddle is a Fizik tundra 2 which is also a love/hate affair. I believe it is one of the more comfortable saddles I have ridden, preferring it infinitely over a long ride than the old prologo on my Merida, but each to his own I guess...

The closer you look at the Giant the more you notice. The QR, the centre of the disc rotors, the wheel nipples, Headset, seat post and bolts for a bottle cage all are anodised to match the graphics package on the Giant. This attention to detail is often absent on bikes and makes this bike feel that much more special...

THE RIDE!!!
The XTC is fast. Period. Whoever said 29'rs can't accelerate can eat their hat because this bike flies. The short chainstays help keep the rear wheel nice and compact aiding the quick acceleration and making the bike feel a bit less long like other 29'rs. Fire roads disappear beneath the big wheels as foliage blurs by and your competitors eat your dust. The 2x10 drivetrain is a great match for this bike, with the small gear just small enough to get you up those steep climbs, and the big gear on the money to stay in and shift through your cassette in most situations. For my local trails (Woodhill, Riverhead, Rotorua) it is perfect. The Fox fork soaks up the bumps with ease, and with proper maintenance shouldn't meet the same fate as the set on the Merida.

Cornering is a pleasurable experience with grip aplenty even when using my fast rolling Racing Ralph tyres. The XTC doesn't feel like a bus when whipping through tight switchbacks, although could be considered slightly slower than a 26'r in the tightest turns. But hit the berms and it comes alive. Corners trail in Whakarewarewa forest in Rotorua is a personal favourite on this bike, flying passed older, more experienced riders on a combination of full suspension bikes, 29'rs and full suspension 29'rs. This bike seems to trump them all. However, do take note that the steering is quite sharp. Treat it right and you will fly through the corners with a grin on your face. Treat it wrong and that grin will become a dentists' retirement plan. This is definitely a race bike and is to be treated as such.

Photo courtesy of the Manchester family

Photo Courtesy of Helen Brumby

Downhill is a similarly pleasant affair. The big wheels are quite capable of taking the chatter out of a bumpy trail, and instil confidence as it gets steeper, faster and rougher. I have ridden trails that would make me nervous on my full sus using this bike with no trouble, although that said treat it wrong and it will give you a jack hammer shot up the arse to remind you you are on a hard tail. People complain that riding a 29'r is like sensory deprivation; you cant feel the trail beneath you. On the Giant you can feel what's going on but it isn't uncomfortable, that's the difference.

Conclusion
So, the Giant XTC Composite 29'r 0 is a race bike, make no allusions. The quick acceleration, sharp handling and choice of components confirm this. However I believe Giant have done a very good job with this bike. Spec wise it is comparable to many bikes costing over $1000 more; with a wheel upgrade it would be as good if not better, and you would have a spare wheelset to thrash around on for the same total cost, with the race wheelset possibly better than many wheel sets found on bikes around the $5500 mark. Top notch suspension rounds off this versatile package; the Giant is great value for money. So, good potential for upgrades but brilliant as it is, great componentry for the price range, and very, very fast. What's not to love?

Review: Bontrager RL bottle cage

Having purchased a new bike I needed to kit it out with some essentials to make it ready to race. One of these additions was the Bontrager RL bottle cage. situated just below their carbon fibre RXL on the product hierarchy, the RL isn't your run of the mill bottle cage.

Looking slightly like a plastic rib cage, the Bontrager RL doesn't follow traditional bottle cage design, and I believe this is for the better. the open top design makes removing a bottle in a hurry an easily performed task, with the plastic construction being nice and flexible; bending but never breaking. This flexibility also makes sliding a bottle back into the cage very easy, so you aren't left riding one handed for longer than necessary. Weighing in at 38 grams it will keep the weight weenies happy, and comes in most colours to suit your ride.

At RRP $34.95, some might consider this a bit pricy. However, due to it's outstanding performance compared to a standard aluminium bottle cage, I would recommend it to anyone looking at a new, premium way to hold a bottle to their bike.    
              
http://www.rrsport.co.nz/product/BONTRAGER-RACE-LITE-BOTTLE-CAGE?p=78927&s=1

Review: Camelbak Podium Drink Bottle

In all honesty, how many things can you write about a water bottle? Well, with the Camelbak Podium, quite a lot actually. For aspiring Cross Country and Trail riders alike, a water bottle is a crucial but often overlooked piece of equipment with which we often just "make do" with any old bottle. I know from experience this can be a regrettable decision. Free bottles given out at events have a tenacity for spilling sweet, sticky electrolyte over bikes, clothes and car seats, where as bottles that come with many popular supermarket electrolyte brands absolutely love to abandon ship at the first technical downhill; they are complete sissies.

I can honestly tell you that the Camelbak Podium fixes all of the aforementioned problems. The actual construction of the bottle itself is well thought out and serve its purpose with dignity in the field. The flexible plastic construction makes it easy for a bottle cage to grip tightly ensuring one does not go without hydration during their ride. There also cleverly place grooves near the lid for bottle cages to hook over, further ensuring a tight hold.

The lid is the business end of the Podium and shows Camelbak's design team have a very good idea of what's going on. A traditional bottle utilises a push/pull cap that can be a nightmare to close in the heat of a race leaving you know option but to stab a nearby object to close the lid. Camelbak have solved this problem by using their new "jet valve" technology that only releases water when sucked on or when the bottle is squeezed. all other occasions it is locked up like Fort Knox. Not one drop shall escape the Camelbak Podium unless the rider decrees it. The Jet Valve can also be completely locked out by twisting the valve to prevent a surprise redecorating of the interior of your car.

So, it doesn't leak, doesn't abandon ship, and looks pretty cool to boot. It's even available in an insulated model to keep the cold stuff cool. Don't put up with those leaky, scaredy cat free bottles; go for the real deal. Camelbak Podium, worthy of pretty much the highest praise I can give a water bottle...  

RRP $19.95 http://www.rrsport.co.nz/product/CAMELBAK-PODIUM-BOTTLE-610ml?p=30607&s=1

       

Galaxy Travel NDuro race 1

To be an endurance mountain biker, you have to be at least one of the following:

1) Insanely fit.

2) Insanely well prepared.

3) Insanely ignorant of what you've entered in to.

4) Insane.

At this years NDuro, I as a rider witnessed every possible combination of the above. Lining up in Whakarewarewa forest at 10am for the start of the 42km event, with the absolutely lovely 2 degree weather, I wasn't sure which category to pigeon hole myself into. Prepared? Definitely. Like everyone else, I was wrapped up like a mummy in warm clothes breathing out clouds of vapour waiting to start (thanks R&R for helping me prevent death by cold induced cramp! Arm and leg warmers are a must in these conditions...) Along with my fellow riders, I was soon to find out which category I fitted into...

                                                     Courtesy of Megan Page

The race didn't start too badly; A lap of Genesis and then some open fire road to pile on the speed. But then it began to climb. And climb. And climb. This was broken by a narrow, brake burner of a descent that took out fellow JAFAKID Tom Coombes leaving him with a mechanical and a lot of ground to make up. NDuro owner "Ra" was ever so kind to place in some cyclocross at the end of this descent with riders shouldering their bikes and marching across terrain that was every bit as technical on foot as the rest of the course was on a bike, a nod to our fellow adventurers at the cyclocross nationals.

Courtesy of the Manchester family

At this point, riders were sent up the ever delightful Direct Road to further gain elevation. The 42km riders were directed down Sidewinder trail for a fast, fun descent to the bottom of Lentil Link, so they could have the chance to ride Hill Road before joining everyone else up Frontal Lobotomy. By now the field had separated like a cheap milkshake left out overnight, with distinct categories of riders emerging; the aforementioned Insanely fit, Insanely ignorant and the just plain Insane! Many a rider breathed a sigh of relief as they hammered down Billy T trail and G-rock; a welcome break in the continuous climbing of "NDuro: the hills edition." But it was not to last forever as us 42km riders were then sent up Chestnut Link 1, then Moerangi Road, topped off with Loop Road... About now Tom made his comeback cranking past me towards Split Enz trail in a herculean effort to make up for lost time.

                                                 Courtesy of Helen Brumby

The following section was my favourite part of the race. Railing through Split Enz, flying down Pondy Downhill then cranking through Pondy New, all grudges towards the races layout were temporarily forgotten in the singletrack. But in typical NDuro fashion we were quickly flung into Chinese menu, and not the one you can eat, unless you like dirt with your Chop Suey. 

Not content with 4 large sets of climbs, there was clearly room for 1 or 2 more as we ground our way up towards the start of corners, a hill usually reserved for a shuttle... then my rear cassette decided to try and eat my chain, somehow still hungry after the Chinese takeaways leaving me on the side of a gravel road desperately trying to unjam a chain from the gap between cassette and wheel. This was fixed with some help from JAFA dad Bruce Weir, to whom I owe a big thank you for ensuring I was actually able to finish the race. In hindsight I feel bad about quickly pulling away from him up the hill after the repair, but I will make it up some day Bruce! 

Corners was my chance to redeem myself. Hitting berms at full speed had me dropping and overtaking riders left, right and centre, as I bore down on all the riders who had overtaken me during my mechanical, with legs that had a chance to rest for 4 minutes during repairs. Dragons tail soon followed keeping the pace going before we hit Frontal Lobotomy's kid brother Lion trail. 39/40km into the race riders were beginning feel the burn. My legs cramped up entirely forcing a stop for a minute or so to rub them down, where I also witnessed another rider almost passed out sitting on the side of the trail having "bonked" from lack of carbohydrate. However we all eventually found it in us to push on towards the finish with only grinder and exit trail standing between us and solid food.

Some formidable results were posted by JAFAKIDS in the 42km event, with Tom taking out 2nd in the Sprockets category, with me following up in 4th. Kalen Weir put in a solid 6th holding off endurance queen Megan Dimozantos all the way to the finish. 

Although I believe the 42km riders had it hardest out there battles of similarly epic proportions were being held throughout the 15km and 30km courses too. JAFAKID Kim Wright had a case of his water bottle abandoning ship early on after realising it had a long race ahead, and Kim had to look at the possibility of riding down 30km with no water. Seeing his plight, competitor Cosmo Bloor actually stopped next to Kim and lent him his bottle, despite knowing it could effect his result later on. This is just on example of true sportsmanship out on the course, with the two going on to have a great race finishing second in their respective categories, with Kim an incredible 5th and Cosmo 7th overall.

                                              Courtesy of the Manchester family
Great sportsmanship was also presented by ex JAFAKID Elliot Pearce cheering on younger JAFAKIDS out on the course despite being in the middle of a race himself. In the Girls category Jemma Manchester Won the sprockets category and came in second female storming the 30km course with a time putting many adults to shame. JAFA dads Bruce Weir and Gerard Krishnan battled out to the very end with Bruce winning by less than a second. In the 15 km category the younger riders waged war on the Adults with Jessica Manchester emulating her sister and going on to win Sprockets(bearing in mind sprockets is under 17's...) with a 5th overall. First time racers Jeevan Gossage Krishnan and William Page both squeezed into top 10 in 9th and 10th respectively. Paige Weir and her mother Cindy Weir both finished second in their respective categories, with Paige finishing 18 seconds ahead of her Mom.

Courtesy of the Manchester family

Courtesy of Megan Page

What I got out of this race was the following: We mountain bikers are a strange lot. We put ourselves to hell and back, whether it be for podiums, glory or just a sense of self achievement, but when a comrade falls we are always there to pick them back up again. The older riders cheer on the younglings  as they pass by, and in general everyone is there for each other. That's what makes events like this special to me. Not the epic length. Not the pain we go through just to finish. It's about getting out there with people as crazy as you are and being there for each other no matter what the result.

Thanks to everyone who helped put on this event; NDuro events, all the volunteers who came and marshalled, manned the timing booth or served out hot soup at the finish. Thanks to personal sponsor R&R for helping me out with warm clothing for this race, and for food to stop me passing out. A big thanks also to all the JAFAKIDS who came out and raced: you made for an awesome event. BTW if anyone would like to know who to "thank" for the extra hills, look for one Carl Jones... Bring on round 2!