J-Squad Assemble! Lake Taupo Huka Cruiser 2013

One thing I have not seen much of in Auckland since I started Mountain Biking is a Junior Race Squad. Not just any squad though, but one that takes developing riders and turns them into national level athletes. Road? Bajillions of the things. Same goes for track. If skinny tyres and handle bars with curves big enough to make a super model envious are your thing, then chances are if you have the legs there is a squad for you. Whether that be through school, BikeNZ or a private team is up to you, but the point is that they are there. But when it comes to Mountain Biking, we are surprisingly lacking in teams focused on high end performance.

So, as you can imagine, I was delighted to discover that a squad was being formed here in Auckland with the intention of doing exactly that; taking a small group of riders and making them into nationally competitive athletes. I thought that it was a brilliant idea and that whoever was chosen for the squad would have access to some great coaching, training, riding, racing and an even greater time doing it all. Having been on break for a few months travelling, it was much to my surprise that I was chosen to join what would become known as "The J-Squad".

Having had the chance to spend a few weeks to train together, we had targeted the "Cruiser" event of the Lake Taupo Huka event as our debut race as a team. 33 km of fast, open tracks and roads, with tight, windy single track and pinch climbs near the end just when you thought you were home safe. It was here we would push to the limit and find the chinks in our metaphorical Suits of Armour to begin our training for Nationals in just under 2 months time.

Friday was a preparation day. Running through stretching exercises with our coach Jesse Voza exposed all our week spots when it came to flexibility, with more than a few grimaced faces witnessed during the session. I am sure many of us were quite pleased when it was all over. An earlier night than usual was in order for all of us as we had a big day the next day, as we set out to try and take the course record.

The Race.

Saturday morning and it was all systems go. An early breakfast before rolling in convoy into Taupo. For those of you that haven't raced at any of the Lake Taupo Cycle Challenge events, getting into town early on race day is a must. With over 8000 people showing up for the different events in a town that usually only holds 34,000, parking and traffic are a nightmare. Unfortunately, due to the huge numbers of riders, no-one was entirely sure when and where our event, the Huka Cruiser, was supposed to start so warm ups were a tentative affair that involved not straying far from the start line lest we miss a call up for our event. With everyone we asked giving us a different answer, this was not a risk we wanted to take.

Eventually, we made our way to the front row and prepared for an hour and a half of pushing as hard as possible. When the start horn went, the entire squad shot to the front of the pack for the hole shot. By the time we were off the road and onto the grass, 3 out of the 5 front riders were J-Squad representatives including the lead rider, Isaac Schuurman. Within the first 3km the field had separated out and the real racing began. Isaac, Josh Riley and Coach Jesse held the fort out front in a pack of 4 riders, while I pushed the lead of the next couple of riders shortly behind, with J-squad rider Peter Bethell hot on my heels. Then came J-squad "Associates" Alex Beavan, and Hayden Schuurman pushing a blistering pace ahead of the rest of the pack, with the J-Squads female contingent, Harriet "Hatty" Beavan and Coach Sophiemarie Bethell rounding out the top 10 or so riders.

As the race began to stretch on the Squad held its own throughout the field. Isaac still lead the race, pushing through the head winds to hold first, with Josh and Coach Jessie right behind. Peter and Alex slid in behind me and together we began to punch out the miles, holding our own ahead of the rest of the pack. Slightly further back, Hatty and Sophie were having a race of their own, putting many of the male riders to shame. At around the 12km mark, I had a bit of a moment of energy loss due to my lack of recent racing experience, where Alex, Hayden and Peter got passed and shunted up the hill to pull away from me. It was here that the race could be made or broken, which Hayden and Alex showed by pulling away from Peter and racing together for the rest of the event. Once we hit the flats I managed to reel Peter back to within a drafting distance and together we rode the rest of the race; alternating leads and working together to keep the pace up.

And so it continued until the last few Kilometers.

Alex and Hayden had put a decent lead on Peter and I, to the point they finally slipped out of sight. Peter and I rode hard through the final sections of tight twisty singletrack before emerging out onto the side of the road to head back into Taupo. Around about then Isaac and Jesse were sprinting for the finish, with Isaac just edging ahead of Jesse to take 2nd place over all. Josh followed through almost exactly a minute later in fourth place. Well done guys! Peter managed to get ahead on the last real downhill section, but I caught him on the next climb as we started on the road towards the finishing straight.

The facts were as follows; we were both cramping, tired and hungry. Peter had the advantage of being in front and a triple crank set to gear him up for the finish, but I could draft and "slingshot" my way past if timed correctly. Rounding the final corner, we went to sprint, but as I shifted up...

...Nothing.

My chain had over shifted onto the crank. Turns out a worn big ring is not a good thing to have for a race. Peter began to pull away as I downshifted and tried again, with my chain shifting up into the big ring and...

...overshooting again.

Peter was getting further away, about a quarter of the way down the 400m finishing straight as I tried to shift one last time. Chain up, onto the big ring, and...

...it stayed.

And so began my hardest sprint this year. Bike swaying beneath me like a flax bush in a hurricane, I surged forward with everything I had. Cramped calves, heaving oxygen deprived lungs and exhausted mentality were all forgotten in those few moments of blind ambition and desire to win the sprint. My senses returned as I crossed the line, greeting me with clapping and cheering from the crowd and sweat rolling down my riding glasses. It was not in vain; somehow I had pulled 5 seconds on peter in the space of a little over 300 meters to finish in 7th place. Moments later, Peter crossed the line in eighth. The race was over.


The Results


Second Place overall was taken by J-Squad rider Isaac Schuurman. After leading from the front for most of the race he was overtaken by Endura rider Nathan Johnston near the final section of the course. Nathan went on to win the race by a little over 3 minutes thanks to some clever drafting earlier in the race keeping his legs fresh.

Coach Jesse took first in his category and third over all, a mere 3 seconds behind Isaac at the finish.

J-Squad "Associates" Josh Riley, Alex Beavan and Hayden Schuurman took 4th, 5th and 6th overall respectively, with Hayden winning the 15 and Under category. A strong performance by three riders that was reflected in the results.

Peter and I were to follow shortly after with yours truly in 7th and Peter in 8th.

Harriet Beavan rounded out the field with 10th over all and as first woman home, taking the category win, as well as smashing the course record by 10 minutes! Coach Sophiemarie Bethell took first in her category as well, only a few seconds behind Hatty.

7 out of the top 10 riders were representing J-Squad, 2 out of three overall podium positions were held by J-Squad members and four category wins were recorded, with a new course record to boot.

It is hard to imagine a more successful outcome than that.

On its very first outing, the J-Squad has shown itself to be a formidable team capable of delivering results. I look forward to seeing how we develop and improve as we build towards the Nationals season. The future looks bright for Youth Mountain Biking here in Auckland.

Long May it Last.

The J-Squad.

  

Review: Giant Trance SX 27.5

RRP NZD$4799

A few weeks ago I entered the Giant 2W Enduro down in Rotorua, and after asking around at my sponsor's store R&R Sport Auckland I was lucky enough to get hold of a bike for the weekend, as I didn't fancy riding hard down hills for hours on my super stiff hard tail. Enter the Trance SX; a 160/140 mm traveled downhill destroyer that was my steed for the weekend.

Image courtesy of Giant Bicycles

The Spec
Dressed out in a faintly sparkling golden paint job that has to be seen to fully appreciate, the Trance SX is decked out to the nines with everything you could want out of the box; there is nothing you would immediately think was substandard or worth replacing. A largely Deore spec drivetrain gets an SLX Shadow Plus derailleur and Zee crank as noteworthy upgrades, and comes set up as 1x10 with an MRP Chain guide holding the chain on through the rough stuff. I did have a little bit of trouble setting the correct number of spacers to get the chain guide perfect, but once set up it performed perfectly for the duration of the test.

The in house Giant branded components punched far above their surprisingly reasonable weight, with the P-TRX1 wheels the highlight of the package. Light feeling, stiff, and capable of being set up tubeless should you so desire. The DT Swiss based hubs were responsive and offered a nice smooth feel, but missed out on the jackhammer sound that other options possess, something some riders may or may not miss. Combine this with the Shadow plus derraileur though, and you have one stealthy ride. It was also nice to see Giant supplying a 60 mm stem with 730 mm wide bars, plenty wide enough for this tester and offering plenty of control. The new generation Contact Switch dropper post now has internal routing and performed on par with the rest of the components, with its internal cable routing going a long way to preserve the clean look of the bike.

The real highlights, though, were the tyre and suspension choices. Schwalbe's Hans Dampf and Rock Razor tyres made a perfect match for all round trail bliss, in a healthy 2.35 width for better traction. They were both in the "Evo" compound too, which means they can be set up tubeless with minimal preparation; a nice match for the wheels.

The Fox suspension came loaded with goodies; TALAS, CTD, 15QR and other acronyms graced the lowers of the 160mm fork that had 34 stanchions for extra stiffness. It did miss out on the top end FIT damper and Kashima coat though, making do with the open bath Evolution damper that was still smooth and controlled throughout the test period. The TALAS did come in handy during some of the steeper transition stages, although for the most part I just left the fork in its longest setting.

The Ride
From the get go, I was impressed with the Giant. It passed the car park wheelie test with aplomb, feeling very neutral and balanced beneath me. Getting up to speed was easier than expected given the weight (it is a solid bike designed to be ridden hard), with the middle sized wheels rolling quickly and efficiently. I was surprised to find myself passing riders of similar ability and fitness on some of the climbs; many of them on shorter travel rigs of varying wheel sizes. I attribute this partially to the great tyre selection, with the Rock Razor on the rear looking stupidly fast rolling whilst still having meaty side nobs for getting rowdy in the corners. This has piqued my curiosity regarding the 'tweener size and I will be following its development closely.

Once the trail started pointing downhill, the Trance SX really came into its own. It remained composed through the bumpiest trails I could offer it and took it all in its stride. Yes, it may lack a little bit of the zing that its predecessor the Reign had, but in return it sticks like plasters to leg hair in the corners and really encourages the rider to dip the bars a little lower in each turn; really pushing the limits of traction.

Smooth would be the best way to describe the Trance SX in the rough stuff. Although there is only 140mm travel in the rear, it doesn't feel unbalanced with the front and soaked up whatever I could throw at it. Giant's maestro system really is a great design, remaining neutral when pedaling but opening up when things get fast. It was nice to see the inclusion of a 142mm rear axle to stiffen things up even more as well. For all but the steepest climbs I left the CTD shock in the descend setting and just let it rip. After all, it is rare to see a VPP System on anything other than a boutique brand such as Santa Cruz or Ibis, so for Giant to include it across their entire range is a real treat.

I will admit though, that I did miss the liveliness of the Reign a little bit. Sure, the Trance SX feels like it can take just about everything and never knocks a hair out of place, but it does so at the price that you never feel truly unsafe. Much like a roller coaster, it is thrilling and exhilarating, but no matter how fast it goes you feel as if you are never truly in danger, lest someone in the engineering department go and do something stupid. If your aim is to go faster than should be humanly possible, then this is not a problem, but if you like having your heart in your mouth and leaving your clothes a kilo heavier after each ride with fear induced sweat, then the shorter traveled Trance might be more up your alley (more on that another time).

The Bottom Line
The Trance SX is a remarkably capable bike. It takes everything in its stride and keeps looking up at you as if to say "you happy yet? I can go faster if you want." For the price, it is a bargain on two wheels and I can understand Giant's commitment to the 650b/27.5 wheel size. The 26er may not be dead, but as far as I can tell the 27.5 is certainly going to rule the roost when it comes to mid travel bikes for the majority of people.

A wonderful bike that will make a lot of riders very happy indeed.

Baptism by Fire: The Whaka 50

Ladies and Gentlemen, I present to you something you haven't had from me in about 5 months... A race report! *whistles* *claps* *cheers*.

Having been off racing for 5 months to eat paella, speak in Spanish, ride camels, climb halfway up Mt Fuji, meet some amazing new people and learn some elementary Japanese, I am officially back.

I have always had a love/hate affair with long distance races. The cramps, the climbs, the long week of recovery after the race... They all take a special kind of person to come back for more. BUT, the sense of achievement, the awesome crew behind these events (cheers NDuro family!) and getting to ride my bike for  hours on end are all big pluses. So, with some hesitation from my coach, I entered the 50km Whaka 50 as my debut race back to recover from overeating on wonderful foreign food.

There is one other aspect about distance races I failed to mentioned. Most of the "local" races are in Rotorua, which means up at 5 am for a 3 hour drive down. When we arrived in Rotorua this meant my parents were in desperate need for Coffee to last the rest of the day without nodding off and went off into Zippy's for said beverage; after all, we had over an hour before race start and I wouldn't need all of that time to warm up... Well, Murphy's law took effect and after a 25 minute long 10 minute wait they came gaping back out the cafe, coffee's in hand, with 40 minutes to spare before race start... We were going to be cutting it close.

It felt almost surreal lining up at the start, Camelbak on, glasses set to rose tint (everything looks better through rose tinted glasses), and the first hit of caffeine from my stash of gels flowing through my system. I had no idea how I would do, no idea whether I would even finish and no idea of what exactly lay ahead despite being about as much of a veteran of marathon distance as a 16 year old can be. (Earlier this year, back when I was actually fit, I was crowned the National U17 MTB Marathon champ...) So when the starter horn went, I stuck with the pack and got into it. Race on.

20 minutes into the race and it became apparent that it was not going to be my day to win. The front U19 riders set a blistering pace off into the trails that I didn't try to match; my aim was to finish, not to bonk with 15 km to go and wind up unable to walk for a week. I got my first reminder that this was an NDuro when we hit Bush road climb and the legs began to burn. Unfortunately, we just don't have hills of the same caliber here in Auckland, and the legs suffered because of it. There was one little bit of a competition between me and another rider that lasted for most of the race that confused me slightly. I was on a Giant carbon hard tail, my trust XTC, and he was on a carbon Anthem 29r, a full sus. However, he was climbing faster than me, and I was creaming him on the descents; a complete role reversal of what you'd expect looking at our choice of equipment.

This continued right up until Hot X Buns, where I finally got the gap and pulled away. I also met up with fellow Auckland rider Jared Scollay at this point. He had somehow ended up behind me despite being in front of me for most of the race. Unfortunately the Whaka and other NDuro races are notorious for falling victim to course tamperers, and one of us must have fallen victim too. We are still not sure which one of us it actually was though. Regardless, we hammered down through Hot X Buns and into Be Rude Not 2, sore backs and tight triceps galore.

It is in every single race, and it always seems worse than it actually is. Lion trail tends to be the trail of choice for any cramp to kick in, and it nearly got me this time round. A healthy splash of electrolytes later and it was held at bay, but it was a close thing. The last 10 kilometers were pretty painful, as my lack of long distance race experience in recent times began to show, but I thundered across the finish line in top gear, not in last place, having finished my first race in months.

However, all was not well. One of my friends, Kim Wright, had not crossed the line yet despite having been ahead of me most of the race. Half an hour passed, and he didn't finish. Dad went and rode the last section of the course backwards to check if Kim had crashed, while Mom and I stayed with his Dad keeping an eye out in case he came in. One hour later, and still no sign. An ambulance had headed out on course, but we doubted it was for him. Even more time passed.

Then, we received a call from the marshals out on course; the Ambulance was for Kim.

As facts slowly emerged, it became apparent that Kim wasn't dead. He had headed out on the 100km course near the end of the race by mistake, without adequate food or water, and had fainted roadside from exhaustion and severe dehydration. They put him on a saline drip and rolled him off to Rotorua hospital where he made a full recovery and was discharged later that afternoon. A dramatic end to a great event.

A big thanks to all the crew at NDuro events for putting the Whaka on, and serious Kudos to all the guys doing the 100 km option. Even more so to the guys on single speeds, rigids, and rigid single speeds. You guys are tough/insane!

It is good to be back. See you all out there!

-robin

Product Review: Stan's Crest 29'r Rim and 3.30 Ti Hub.

Stan’s Crest 29’r Custom Build.

RRP: $1330

Many racers nowadays make the mistake of judging a bike purely by its weight. When it comes to a race I have seen far too many riders at the side of the track cursing their $14000 wonder bikes; you cannot win if you cannot cross the finish line. So when it came time to invest in a set of lightweight wheels for my 29’r, I faced the famous phrase of one Keith Bontrager; “Strong, light, cheap. Pick two.”

After some research I found myself narrowing it down to 2 choices;

1     The newly released Easton EC70 29’r Carbon wheels. Strong, light, but over $2000 and unlikely to be in the country for another 4 months.

     A custom build of Stan’s Crest 29’r rims on Stan’s Ti hubs for $1330; a hell of a lot less than the Eastons and Tubeless ready. Light, cheap, but I had no idea towards their strength.

I, being a racer boy on a budget and with a slight sense of naivety, chose light and cheap. I can hear you crying out now but, for the average “race ready” set of wheels, anything less than $1400 is considered a pretty good. This is especially true when you consider there are wheels floating around the $4000 mark on some bikes. Would I be making the same mistake as every other racer with stars in their eyes? I would soon find out.

When they first arrived I was impressed. At 1500g they were over half a kilo lighter than my previous wheels and tubeless ready. My Schwalbe Racing Ralphs mounted first try with a floor pump and held their air perfectly. They held so well in fact I had trouble getting the bead off the rim again to insert sealant. Stan has done his research into designing these rims.

Their debut (aside from a spin around the block) was at a race. From the get go my Giant instantly felt… energized. The AC/DC song Thunderstruck played on the start line might have been an omen as they rode like greased lightning. The wheels were plenty stiff with no wind up or noticeable lateral flex. The Ti hubs engaged wickedly fast sending me flying through switchbacks with ever increasing vigour. The hubs also had a nice, solid click to them that my previous wheels lacked. The trail Ninjas may frown at this but there is nothing like the buzzing of a loud hub to reassure you of your speed (or lack thereof). I dominated the race in a way I hadn't for a long time. So far so good.

Fast forward 5 months and these wheels were about to face their ultimate test; XC Nationals. They had required no truing, no maintenance, and were still running like new up to this point. It was on this day I would find out what the Crests were really made of, aside from 6061 grade Aluminium. Unfortunately, out on the trail, a high speed crash occurred with another rider and in his haste to get going again, he stood on the spokes of the front wheel. The wheel was more taco’d than a food fight in a Mexican restaurant and it seemed that Keith Bontrager was right. I couldn't have strength as well as affordability and light weight.

But then something happened that gave me new found respect for Stan and his team of engineers; the rims held their air. Despite barely fitting through the forks and wobbling like jelly in an earthquake the wheels were holding their air. Tentative at first, I began to ride. And they held. They didn't collapse, they didn't explode in a burst of sealant. They just kept working.

I picked up more speed and began to race again. I blew through Grinder at full speed and they didn’t break. In the final lap of the race I hammered inelegantly down the spoke smashing stairs and rim denting drops of Rotorua’s exit trail in my fastest time of the day, and they still kept working.

Strong, light, cheap. Do I really have to pick 2?

Fast forward again to April where, having had new spokes and rim laced to the front wheel, I competed in the Mountain Bike leg of the Xterra in Rotorua. I was involved in a sprint finish and as I entered the finishing chute, at 30kmhr, a spectator jumped onto the course and I hit him at full speed. The front wheel suffered no damage whatsoever.

So it seems I have found something special. A wheel set that is pretty damn light, terrifyingly tough, comparatively cheap for a set of race wheels, have fast engaging hubs and a great tubeless system. Strong, light, cheap. It seems Mr Bontrager’s words are more like general guidelines. 

Stan, you the man.     

Reflective Introspective

Having emerged from a season not entirely unscathed, and also having had two months to recover from said season, it's time to fire up the muscles for a new year of racing, rocking and rolling (over bumpy stuff). As another rider showed me, sometimes it is good to take a look at what I have learnt through my time as an athlete to better myself in the future. So that is what I have done. This is my Reflective Introspective.

Back in 2012 I raced the Huka Challenge 85km MTB race in Taupo with a group of friends. I did not have a huge amount of endurance but was fit, and was one of the few members of my group to carry a CamelBak. We sure didn't win, but we had a great time and were exhausted by the end of it. Also, my fitness got a little boost from it.
Lesson; It pays to do something different and have a bit of fun.

Come February this year and Short Course Nationals beckoned. I lined up ready to race in Rotorua and, up until the third lap, was killing it. Then an unfortunate incident occurred with another rider. It cost me the podium by the drop of a chain, started up a whole lot of emotional trauma, a lot of playing the blame game amongst many people and the occasional shadow of "shoulda, coulda, woulda, gonna" that slips over my mind when I'm off guard. That day still haunts me as a tarnished glory that will take time to fade.
Lesson; some people cannot be trusted, and shit happens despite the best preparation possible.

Marathon Nationals rolled around after this and, despite a lack of participation and some administrative errors from a certain governing body, the race stayed on and I rode my second ever 80km race. I took the National Marathon title for U17 and lightened up for the first time since Short Course Nationals. Even though I hadn't truly trained for this event, and I sure felt it, I still posted a formidable time and had a fun race.
Lesson; Redemption comes from the unlikeliest of places.

In April, shortly before my birthday, I rode in the MTB leg of Xterra Rotorua. After an average race, I sprinted for the finish and crashed head first into a nutty spectator who had ignored the over head crossing above the track and decided to go for a walk through the finishing chute. My bike survived, but my confidence didn't and I was convinced that someone, somewhere, had it in for me.
Lesson; Shit happens more than once. Deal with it.

The last noteworthy lesson came around when I chose to compete in the National Multisport Champs as part of the 3D Rotorua. I came fifth in U19 as a 16 year old, in my first Triathlon ever. I smoked almost everyone else on the ride section, but a substandard run pulled me away from the podium. I did, however, absolutely love it and will do a lot more triathlon in the future.
Lesson; What you are doing might not be the only thing you love. The world is full of wonderful things. Cross training is great.

After all this, I took a break, traveled the world, and returned with my confidence, determination and focus renewed.
Lesson; A break every now and then doesn't hurt, it does the opposite.

So ends a Reflective Introspective on a year in the life of Robin Page. In a year with more ups and downs than a session of hill sprints, I have learnt so much. I have learnt that a rest can do wonders for body and mind, that life is tough so you have to be tougher, and to look for fun in all the corners of life.

I know that this blog is slowly turning away from reports and reviews, and that's because there is more to writing than that. This blog, in it's description, is a journey through my life as a Mountain Biker and athlete, so I want it to do that. And part of that is my thoughts.

Thanks for reading, see you out on the trails.

Robin.

The Terminator

To all my readers I appologise for not posting anything for a looooong time. I have been of racing as of recent mainly because I have been overseas travelling the world for the last two months.

Now, during this time abroad I have found one or two things to write about, however  I am still a student so on my return have been faced with the prospect of catching up on two months worth of school work, as well as trying to successfully sit my Mock Exams at school in preparation for my Cambridge AS levels at the end of this year, whilst being two months behind on examinable knowledge...

So as you can understand, I have not had an awful amount of time to write things for you. I am also out of training at the moment so am not exactly in the prime position to be obtaining source material for the race reports that make up the bread and butter of this blog. See where I'm going?

Basically, I am in a journalistic rut. Too busy to write much about the (rather large) pieces I do have available, not in a suitable condition to gain some smaller material to write about even if I did have time, and under pressure to perform on other fronts that may have a direct impact on my future.

However, all is not gone and lost. I have heard that some of you readers have actually trusted my advice and bought products based on my recommendations. Nothing make me happier than knowing that my writing has actually done what it is supposed to do and I hope that you are happy with the recommendations I have made, and enjoy your new bike related things.

I have also been told that in the near future I will have some professionally published pieces being released. As a writer this too is a great feeling and I cant wait to see them grace glossy pages at the local news agents or book store. Look out for them in the near future; I will let you know what is released where as soon as they go to print.

So, like the character in this blogs title, I'll be back. The name is by no means a suggestion that i will delete this blog, or that I have packed up and quit the job of writing here. I am gone for now, but not forgotten. To a future of more riding, running, rowing, racing and writing!

Robin.
(he will be back...)

3D: A race with depth.

I love mountain biking. That won't change. Flying down descents, cranking up hills and railing through berms is worth anything it may take to get on your bike. However, as of late, one aspect of  riding my bike has left me a bit bored; short course XC racing. Don't get me wrong; a big race that I have trained and prepared for months in advance is untouchable. The excitement. The atmosphere. The glory. But, when it becomes yet another race, 17-22km in length with the same people finishing in the same spots, it becomes just another race. The only time in a while where this mould has broken was at a race in Riverhead where I pulled out half way due to a wrong choice in tires which resulted in spontaneous 360's ever couple of meters and an inability to climb or descend through anything without going sideways. I knew that if I tried to finish I would either break my bike or myself, so I pulled out. But that is not what this post is about. This is about when I decided to break the mould and enter the 3D Multisport festival in Rotorua, racing in the 25 km grassroots triathlon. 

Being a mountain biker, it seems that multi-sport events are designed to both appeal to cross country racers and laugh at them from the top of the next climb. Not only do you get to ride your bike as fast as you can, but in this case you also have to do a lap of the Blue Lake in a Kayak and run 5.5km as fast as you can to avoid getting overtaken. It requires a lot more to go fast in multi-sport than huge quads and an encyclopedic knowledge of all the local trails. So, it combines the drenched in sweat-can feel my legs in a bad way-sufferfest appeal of XC with the knowledge that you will not be the very best at every single event. Sounds good to me.

Due to the diversity present in multi-sport, I was going to need more than just my speed on a bike. I run once or twice a week so I knew I could at least finish the run leg, but the Kayak would be a different story. You will not get away with the standard rudderless, very buoyant Kayak like what my family owns; you need something a lot faster. Luckily for me I got in touch with Fenn surf ski's   and they agreed to loan me a boat. Check them out here; they lent me a Blue fin Ski in case you were wondering. Two Sunday afternoon practices later and I was ready to race. 

Being my first ever multisport race, I found myself not entirely sure what to do warming up for the race. I am used to warming up for a bike, not a Surf Ski. I ended up doing a few sprints up and down the shore of the lake while the premier multisporters began their race. Arms and core suitably warm, I lined up between the buoys for my race. The funny thing about the 3D is that just about any 1 person human propelled watercraft is permitted to enter, provided they are in their own category. Outrigger canoes, K1s, Surf Skis and even Stand Up Paddle Boards (SUPs) graced the line in all their mixed up glory. The siren went and immediately a K1 behind me capsized... It was going to be an interesting race.

Before we were even half way to the first buoy it became clear who was a trained kayaker and who wasn't. O group of around 5-6 boys shot off in pursuit of the Premier racers leaving me in the middle of the main pack. 27 minutes later, after a solid but not astounding kayak, I beached the surf ski, threw my paddle to dad/support crew and ran off into the transition. 

Shoes on, helmet done up energy gel eaten I ran out of the transition with the Giant and began the cycle leg. THIS was the leg I had been waiting for. Despite numb feet from the cold water I had passed six people before I even finished the first climb, and within ten minutes had shot passed one of the kayakers who had left the water a good four minutes ahead of me. Grinding up the gravel towards Dragons tail I knew this was my chance to claw back against the faster kayakers and shooting through Dragons tail I kept cranking past riders from all different categories. Flying up Lion's tail (lots of tail in this event) riders were more than happy to let me pass provided I called in advance. That seems to be the difference between multisporters and mountain bikers; when you call to pass multisporters are happy to defer to the faster athlete. 

I bombed through Turkish Delight liked greased lightening and as I neared the end of the trail found myself side by side with one of the faster kayakers from my category, who I later found out was sitting in fourth place at the time. With my last chance to pull some time rapidly declining I flew through exit trail and shot out onto the road. Big ring? Check. Top gear on the rear cassette? Check. Standing up and cranking towards the transition? Check.

After a very fast transition thanks to elastic shoe laces, I was out on the run and holding fourth place. Not podium, but very close. Hoping I had enough of a lead from the cycle leg, I set out into the redwoods for a second time, this time on foot rather than on my bike. I was feeling reasonable to begin with; not the fastest, but survivable.  And then the course started to climb. And climb. And then stairs appeared, which climbed some more. Tight from the kayak and riding sections, my legs didn't have it in them and I slowed down dramatically. It was about then that the fifth placed competitor rocketed past me and into fourth place. As he floated his way up the steps and into the distance all I could do was keep moving and hope for he best.

 

So I pushed on, and my lack of multisport training was slowly showing through. I am not a particularly slow runner, but 20km of other activities had taken enough out of me to slow me down. It was all I could do to push through and keep moving. At around the 3.5km mark I was caught by the 2nd placed racer from the U16 category, who chased me for another half a kilometer or so. But despite my best efforts, he proved to be the better runner and overtook me as well. With a kilometer to go I fought on and kept moving on. 

It started as an echo in the distance, but it quickly became clear that I could here the race announcers in the distance. The number of spectators began to slowly thicken, and all of a sudden I rounded a corner and there it was... The finish line; 150 meters away. I have never sprinted so fast in my life. Spurred on by a final burst of adrenaline and the promise of rest combined with the cheering crowd, I flew through the final section and across the line. It seems I looked a lot stronger than I felt, as the MC gave me a quick shout out as I crossed the line

"And here comes... Robin Page in 5th place. Finishing strong."

So it would seem that I am better at multisport than I am at Mountain Biking. Without training, on the tail end of my race season, I finished in 5th place at NATIONAL CHAMPS, racing U19. Racing U19 in mountain biking the best I could probably hope for is to come top 20, and that's with months of training before hand. Here I was, a podium threat, having never raced multisport before. That, I think, is pretty awesome. So watch out multisport world, you haven't seen the last of me yet. I look forward to giving you a run/bike/swim for your money.

Robin.

 

Traversing a Kiwi classic

Being born and bred in the land of Aotearoa and also being a mountain biker, there are certain tracks that are part of my heritage that as a Kiwi I need to do while I have the chance. Rides such as the Heaphy track and Karapoti. The 42nd Traverse is one such ride, so I set out to leave one less epic ride on the to-do list.

For those who don't know the 42nd Traverse is a 42km (duh!) long ride through the mountains of the central North Island. Although the ride, or in this case race, finishes at a lower altitude than it starts at, competitors should not fall sly of the popular myth that it is all downhill. Described by many as "undulating," there are in reality around 5 notable climbs and descents with little in between. Burn the legs up, burn the breaks down.

Hiding away in our travelers lodge the night before, it was a much debated topic over what the weather would be like the following day. Heavy showers punctuated with bright sunshine had filled out the prior week, and even that evening we were still having on and off showers of rain from the chilly mountain skies. It seemed though, the next day, that these fears were unfounded; clear skies all around, although there was a cold wind blowing through the area.

On the race start line everyone but me was wrapped to the ears in warm clothing bar me. Unless my sweat is literally freezing to my skin when I am racing I usually prefer to ride with as light weight clothing as possible to prevent overheating. Seems I wouldn't get a choice as my mum forced me into my riding jacket to ward off the cold. I would regret letting her do this later but what will be will be.

This race easily had one of the fastest starts I have ever witnessed. "Cruising" at a cool 50km/h in my hardest gear along the gravel road we quickly hit the farm track when super fast guy Carl Jones broke away from the group. Feeling alright but not thinking it through, I decided to break too and stick on is tail. Stupid idea. Carl is the NZ Elite XC men's champion, building to head off to worlds. I am not. I got dropped. It was as simple as that. I was already slightly out of breathe from trying to chase Carl and we weren't even 10 minutes into the race!

I was quickly joined by my friend Kim and together we began to put the pace on and try and chase a few of the guys up the front. I quickly found that although I could old everyone on the hills, I lacked the guts to let go of my brakes and fly down the hills as fast as some of the other riders. That was fine by me though as I know descending is my weakness. We continued on our way and even managed to overtake a few riders, all the while enjoying the amazing environment we had the good fortune to ride in.

The T42 isn't like a typical mountain bike trail, where manicured berms and switchbacks grace the trail with aplomb. Instead, there is a narrowish gravel track with a ruts, deep puddles and steep gradients. And I LOVED IT!!! The speeds were so much higher than those on a typical trail with just enough of a sense of danger to stop you becoming complacent. Whipping through rock gardens and rocketing over rivers made for a race that was different to anything I had ever done before, and it was great.

River crossings, steep pinch climbs, less steep longer climbs and fast descending was all that today was about. Very different to what we Aucklanders are used to. There's not much more to say than that really. Crossing the line as tenth in Open men I can now say that I have started checking off the list of great NZ rides that I must do here in this country. Worth every cent of the rather steep entry fee. Just go do it.

Xterra-fying

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm pretty sure most people don't think to themselves at the start line "Maybe today will be the day I knock someone off their feet using my head." I for one certainly did not think this, but little did I know what was in store for as a rider in the Xterra MTB Race. But more on that later.

As a racer I have been taking time to rest a little and recover from what has been a rather prolonged race season for me. Truth is, when people say that lots of racing wears you down, they are not technically correct. A race can be recovered from in 2 days; it is the huge volume of training that goes with each race that wears you down. So, I decided to have a break. No serious training, the odd race for fun, and just basic maintenance of my fitness. 

Now, the truth is this strategy isn't the best for building into a freakishly fast racer, but I needed the break. So I found myself lining up for my first race in a long time where the finishing position really was not the most important thing on my mind. Sure, if I'm going to race I will race hard, but given the situation I really was not expecting to win.

The race start was a little different to what I'm used to; there simply were masses of people ready to give it a go. Being slightly late back from my warm up I found myself about 3 or 4 riders back from the line. As the starter's horn went I fought my way through the seething mass of cyclists to break out into the front pack up the first hill. I held this position until near the top where we turned off the tarmac and onto the gravel. Here, my "rigorous" training routine began to shine through and the pack quickly pulled away from me. It was clear that I wasn't going to be fighting it out for the podium...

It's a strange feeling taking the approach to a race that I took to Xterra. It is good to race for fun, but it was a new sensation being dropped up the hills by people who I had completely wiped the track with during the Nationals Season. Humbling is probably the best way to put it. 

The majority of the race continued with me trying ever so hard to put some pace down, and my under-trained body was feeling quite indignant at the proposition. Up the hills my usual fire just wasn't there, and on the downhills my forks felt like they were only using around 60% travel; my wrists felt like I had just tried to arm wrestle a heavyweight boxer. So, my climbing was substandard, my descending was substandard, and on the flats I was doing all I could to keep my speed up. 

Luckily enough, the course was only 26km with the last few kilometers being fire and tar sealed roads with a moderate downhill gradient. I worked my way down towards the finishing line, and this is when the interesting stuff happened. 

About 400m out from the finishing chute, I became aware of another rider trying to pass me. This rider looked about my age, and was sprinting his way to the finish, preparing to leave me in the dust. I do not like being out-sprinted, and when someone tries to do as such I forget about any exhaustion or pain I may be feeling and put a huge amount of force through my cranks. And it shows when I do. I shot forward like a cork from a champagne bottle and overtook the other rider, holding a sprightly 30 or so km-hr as I hit the finishing chute.

Due to the size of the event, the organisers had deliberately put special overhead crossings in place so that people could cross the track without getting in a rider's way. However, clearly some people really didn't like the idea of using established infrastructure put in place to make their lives and the lives of those competing easier and safer. As I entered the finishing chute, this man, about 70 years old, walks out onto the track RIGHT NEXT THE THE #$%^&*+ OVERHEAD CROSSING, completely oblivious of the 65kg of teenager bearing down on him at full sprint. Safe to say it was so unexpected that there was nothing I could do but shout "GET OUT OF THE WAY!" before I crashed into him head first. He was flung off his feet, I flipped over my handlebars and lay there, the rider I had just out-sprinted rolling past me to the finish line...

I could have forgiven a person for running out on to the track to cross when they think it's safe. However, for doing it right next to a perfectly safe overhead crossing and with the same sense of urgency as a stoned sloth, really rubs me up the wrong way. It is disappointing to see people actually go out of their way to give a "screw you" to the race organisers, and even more so when their actions could potentially leave them or someone else seriously injured. Luckily it did not come to that but nonetheless it ruined the race for me, and is yet another blemish on my recent racing experience. 

For some reason, it always seems to happen to me. I will race, and then someone will do something completely out of the blue like punch me in the face or leap out in front of me on the track. It seems that no matter what I do, someone, somewhere, is out to make sure the race that I have planned to the nth degree never gets to hit its full potential. These unplanned, completely unforeseeable events are part of the territory that is racing, but nonetheless it is still a disappointment every time such a thing happens. Maybe one day all this bad luck will be balanced out by a stroke of very good luck, but until then I just have to bear the brunt of what is thrown at me. 

Now is time for the real work to begin. Now is the time to start getting my running training in gear for the Duathlon season, and boost my riding fitness to complement this. Next time you see me racing will be the 42nd traverse, and even then I will be having fun with some friends rather than busting my gut entirely. So until then dear readers, go have fun with your riding.

Just Keep Spinning, 

Robin.          

Note: Sorry about the lack of photo's. I didn't get many from this one...

Papers

Had this published about me in the local paper a while back. Thought it might be worth sharing...

Robin's Race Faces

I am notorious for making funny race faces, so I decided to compile some of my best ones yet. Pick your favourite and leave it's corresponding number in the comment box at the bottom of the page. I want to see which one YOU GUYS like the most ;-)  Enjoy!

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Review: Mavic Plasma Helmet

Mavic Plasma

RRP: $400

Distributor: Armstrong Sport NZ.

When riding a bicycle on the road, you are required by New Zealand law to wear a helmet. By no means is this a bad thing; in a high speed impact like those found on a mountain bike that polystyrene shell is all that stands between you and a trip to A&E. Helmets I have owned over the years are a testament to this; the little dings and dents from rocks would otherwise be moulded into the surface of my skull.  Not all helmets are born equal though; a bad helmet can be heavy, sweaty, uncomfortable, unfashionable and potentially dangerous. A good helmet fitted correctly is the exact opposite, maintaining a good fit and level of protection without giving your head a distinctively mushroomish profile. I believe I have found the right helmet for me, the Mavic Plasma. 

Known affectionately in my family as the “mutant space fish” the Plasma from French company Mavic is a distinctive looking XC/Road helmet that isn't all too common in sunny Aotearoa. 20 large vents adorn the outside with internal channeling from the forward vents to the back in order to maximise airflow and stop you from losing your cool in the heat of a race. The hottest days have proven no match for the Plasma with my head staying cool no matter what. The Plasma comes complete with a removable visor, anti-static padding and Mavic’s top “Ergo Hold SL” retention system with 3 different height settings to get the correct fit. The knob that controls the tension on the Plasma’s retention system is very easy to find without being bulky, and adjusts in minute increments to help fine tune fit, a feature I like a lot seeing as my head seems to change size slightly as I ride; such fine adjustment is surprisingly handy.

The entire package weighs in at a claimed 310 grams for a medium size, which although slightly heavier than some high end race orientated helmets is still right in the ball park with most of the top players in the helmet market. Once set up properly I found I didn’t really notice the Plasma when riding which I suppose is the highest praise you can really give a helmet’s fit. The straps are easily adjustable and stay where they are told to, the ratcheting system is padded to make it even more comfortable, and the removable padding does a good job of trapping sweat on hot days. Although I haven’t had the chance to test how it performs in a high speed crash the construction certainly feels solid enough to take whatever is thrown at it thanks to glass fibre reinforcing. Colouring is in my opinion stylish and not outlandish, unless you choose to upgrade to the Plasma SL which is available in bright yellow…

So who exactly is this helmet for? If you want a high end, well vented helmet that none of your riding buddies have, prefer Camembert cheese to cheddar and don’t have an allergy to space fish, then the Mavic Plasma might just be the helmet for you. The Mavic Plasma is très, très bon.

Review: Camelbak Octane LR

Camelbak Octane LR.

RRP: $179

The average human is between 55% and 60% water. When cycling you lose a minimum of 0.8 litres of this EVERY HOUR. That’s a little more than a water bottles worth. With this water loss goes vital electrolytes which, when lost in sufficient amounts, cause dehydration and cramping. A lack of water also prevents you metabolising food properly, so you slow down. Nobody likes slowing down so that’s why many people like to ride with Hydropacks to carry enough water. My favourite for long distance racing is the Camelbak Octane LR.

Camelbak have been at the top of the hydration game for many years and the Octane range are their offerings for racers. The Octane LR is unique because it features what Camelbak call “The Lumbar Reservoir”. Instead of a vertically orientated bladder, the Octane LR’s bladder wraps around your waist inside the hip belt. The advantage of this is that it lowers the packs’ centre of gravity to carry the weight around your hips making it very comfortable on long rides, as well as allowing your back to breathe and evaporate off excess sweat. This orientation also stops the water from sloshing around making it quiet and stable.

The lightweight fabric of the pack means it only weighs in at 400g and breathes well so when shunting it on a race course the sweat isn't trapped into a cold, clammy line down your back. The downside is that the two zippered compartments on the back can be felt if they are stuffed full of tools as there is no backing plate in the interests of keeping the pack lightweight. This is an acceptable compromise though as the pack is otherwise very comfortable and light. For Gels and other food there is a zippered pocket on each side of the waist belt as well as a gel pouch on the left shoulder strap. This has an elasticated top to stop gels from abandoning ship down a technical section or in the event of a crash; a nice touch as no-one likes facing the prospect of 50km of racing without food.

In use Camelbak’s Antidote reservoir performed remarkably providing water quickly when required. One of my complaints of the old reservoirs was that they were an absolute nightmare to open; it took the upper body of a body builder just to top them up. I am pleased to say no such problem exists with the Octane LR as the new reservoir is very easy to open and close. The bladder opening is also very easily accessed from outside the pack so if you need to fill up halfway through a ride this is easy to do. The new locking system for the hose means easy removal for cleaning (a must do if you use electrolyte in one of these) so you can spend less time cleaning and more time riding. The hose routing is intelligent coming from the base of the pack and up the shoulder strap so the mouthpiece points upwards instead of the more traditional “over the shoulder” approach. This has felt surprisingly natural in use and makes accessing the hose quickly just that bit easier.   

Everything about this pack just felt fast. Fast to drink, fast to access food, fast to clean; you name it, it does it well. You can’t ask much more from a pack than that. Light, comfortable, and works how you’d expect. My go-to endurance race pack.

A Long Way to Ride: XC Marathon Nationals 2013.

There is something special about the concept of a marathon, in any kind of guise. It is all very well saying "I ran 30 km" or "I rode 50 km," but people will just nod, smile, tell you that's nice, and go on with their day. However, if you tell someone you did a marathon... suddenly they are all ears and staring at you with a slightly awed look on their face as they bask in your sheer athletic prowess. Although that is a slightly overcooked example, it is true that people do think you are slightly broken in the head when the idea of a marathon enters the conversation. And when you tell them that the marathon in question will be at full race pace with a national title on the line, the jaws drop even lower. This is often accompanied by a slight shaking of the head and the phrase "are you nuts?!?!?!" But alas, that is what I had was intending to do when I entered the Highlander 2013, also known as the New Zealand Mountain Bike Cross Country Marathon Champs (try saying that in one breath.)

The weather in this country is slightly queer. We have been in the middle of the worst summer drought in years, and on the day of the race it decides it's going to rain for the first time in months... A rather damp field with a few tents was what awaited me on arrival to the Whakarewarewa forest, and despite this I was still looking forward to the race. Even in the rain, Rotorua is still an amazing place to ride. At registration I glanced down at the list of entrants and couldn't help but notice that there were only about 50 people on it. Upon closer inspection this was the list for all race categories and age groups... Turns out all the riders for U17 80 km had decided not to enter. I'm not sure if it was the distance or the promise of rain that scared them all away, but I was to be racing alone. I talked to U17 short course XC 2013 winner Nathan about why he didn't enter, and the reply was that it was to long for him to even consider entering... So knowing that there were no other U17's, I adjusted my sights instead to finish in under 4 hours and try and hold the top guys for as long as possible. 

I have a reputation for strange race faces. Here is a focused one.

The start was fast and furious. If there was any planning to pace from the riders, it wasn't evident as we battled it out to make it into the singletrack first.

Surprisingly, I found myself keeping pace with the lead riders through the first section of singletrack. Railing our way through creek track, I was quick to hook up with endurance expert and all round nice guy Ryan Hunt, and together we began to force our way through the field. Ra had been kind enough to to include a few sections early on in the race designed to level out the field; namely a hike a bike section straight up the nearest hill. A short section of queue jumping made it seem more like a shopping mall than a bike race, and before we knew it we were back on the bikes again.

At this stage I was feeling as comfortable as a Labrador on a couch and was easily holding a group of pretty fast riders. We rolled into Genesis and this is where things got interesting. There is this one downhill in Genesis that is notorious for ejecting water bottles, and you'll never guess what happened... I was face with a decision: go back and grab the now ejected bottle and lose the lead group or face down 40km until the next feed zone with 750ml less water than I was expecting... Thinking that the cramp preventing electrolyte is ambrosia for distance racers, I chose the first option.

I had lost sight of the lead group as they burnt up the fire road and so was facing the next 72km or so all by my self, unless someone behind me caught me or I reeled a few riders in. As the race began to drag on I chose to reel riders in. Slowly but surely I worked my way through the pack and eventually found my way to the next notable section of trail; another hike a bike section. I wish I had some photos to show you of it because it was pretty steep and went on for ages. It's times like that I'm glad I own bike shoes that are actually walkable in. Turns out this was to take us to the top of a gravel descent which, seeing as today was the first rain it had seen in at least a month, was pretty slidey and loose under the wheels. At the bottom of this I was greeted by every Endurance Racer's favourite sight; the Feed Zone.

For those of you who know me well enough, you will have undoubtedly heard that I swear by icecream as a pre race food. This is true. Today, however, I was going to experiment in a new usage of icecream, as a food source during a race. Turns out this wasn't such a good idea. First of all, despite being kept in a chilly bin the icecream had completely melted. Secondly, it turns out that to digest the protein in icecream whilst riding is quite hard, and my stomach was not happy. Nausea out on track is not fun, and I was lucky not to send it all straight back out again. I think it can stay as a pre race food from now on...

The last half of the race passed with little to write home about. With on and off rain I spun my way through trail after trail and fire road after fire road, moving ever closer to the finish line with each crank stroke. The rain intensified. Rolling through Chinese menu it was impossible to tell whether it was sweat or rain clinging to my cycling jersey. Nonetheless, I kept pushing forward. As I hit Be Rude Not 2 the rain lifted a little bit with glimpses of sunlight showing through the clouds. This didn't last long and it was raining again before I reached the covered section of the trail again.

At long last I reached the last section of trail; Rosebank. Rosebank is a series of switchbacks, pinch climbs and short, technical downhills that end at a small stream crossing. As the last section of trail, my gps was telling me I had around 6 minutes left before I would cross over the 4 hour mark. If I pushed, I knew I could do it. The funny thing about racing is that no matter how tired you are, at the end of a race somehow you can open up the taps that control your energy output and pump out an extra burst of speed, much like the afterburners on a fighter jet. That is exactly how Rosebank felt to me. As I hit the river crossing at the end at full pace, I was greeted by cheers from my fellow JAFAKIDS Kim and Kalen, who had already competed in the 40km event. I whipped past them and sprinted across the field to the finish line. Sliding across the wet grass to a stop, I knew I had done what was without a doubt the hardest race of my life so far. 80km, 3 hours 58 minutes, and a whole lot of rain later I had completed the Highlander.

Skidding on the wet grass often leads to overshooting.

Truth of the matter is I love distance events, and the Highlander was no exception. If there was a marathon race on every weekend that there was a short course race here in Auckland, there would be one less guy to beat in the U17 Short course races because I would head off to the Marathon instead. It's more of a challenge, and a single stuff up doesn't spell the end of your race. For anyone looking to give their first XC Marathon a go, know that there will be smiles, there will be tears, and there will be moments that you curse the course designer's name to the four winds. but when you finish, you WILL know that you have done something that others consider to be truly extraordinary. So, are you nuts?!?!?! I think not...