Mud Warrior

This really was too much fun.  My first opportunity to try a cyclocross race - something I imagined doing many years ago.  Though I have not yet a cyclocross machine in my stable, the race was open to all bikes and right here at home in the Redwoods, not about to miss that!

I now realise I never got around to reporting on last week's second round of the N-duro series.  After a bit of a surprise win in the first race I was keen to see if I could post another good result and felt like I was having a blinder.  Hmmm, maybe I was slightly blind as for the first time ever I missed an arrow.  Whilst I never went off course all day, it became apparent later in the race when Mikey came up behind me on the moto that clearly I had missed a section....I spent what was left of the race waving to Sam, Carl, Cabin, Garth...etc as the sharp end of the men's race rolled by and racking my brain trying to figure out what I had done.  Turned out I didn't see a hard left at the bottom of Rock Drop and therefore didn't ride Dipper and the first bit of Tahi before entering Rosebank.  I had burned right and straight into Rosebank.  So, about ten minutes of race missing.  I had to DQ myself and with that any chance of an overall series  placing went bye bye too.  

Anyway, back to the mud and the barriers and the stairs and the mud and the slippery steep clay and the leaping and biking and leaping and running and carrying....and puffing!  There have been some great videos and photos shared on the Cyclezone Mud Warrior facebook page if you want to  get a feel for what this cyclocross business is all about.  

I have some really epic bruises from I am not even entirely sure what, though some are definitely pedal -related, scratches and some interesting sore muscles and some extremely fond memories of a super fun event.  Jenna and I had a pretty good duel at the front of the girl's race but she was clearly stronger than me in a number of sections and after a while, the lead stopped swapping and she slowly disappeared into the distance.  Jenna was my Livigno MTB Worlds 2005 room mate and we had the raddest time.  How's that, she was DH, me XC and years later we blast around in the mud together.  Heaps cool I reckon.  Thanks to everyone who contributed to making it happen and Helen Brumby for the photos =).    

Karioi Classic MTB

It has been a number of years since I have 'destination raced' (travelling to a location specifically to race) yet it was something that used to be the norm.  Hmm yes, week in week out and sometimes twice in one weekend!  So, fair to say it was pretty exciting to be loading up the car last Saturday night, ready for the children and I to leap in Sunday morning.  Amelia was quite excited about the 'fireworks' her light up shoes were making in the darkness as we drove to town to drop them off  for the day.  In total, I spent 5 1/2 hours in the car on Sunday and 1hr 40 racing but it was an awesome day out.  This was just the second time I have ever visited the beautiful little spot that Raglan is and I was met with lovely people organising the event, and competing, and a fast, throat burner of a race with some beautiful views.  It was also the first time in over 5 years that my legs have earned me money!  Thank you Raglan Land Company for the cheques donated to male and female race winners.  

The race itself?  Around Mt Karioi (hang on a minute, not quite 'around', 1200m of vertical climbing on the way!) on gravel roads chasing boys and escaping girls, with some company here and there but largely a solo pursuit mission.  One kind chap on a cyclocross machine sought to advise me to 'tempo the climbs'.  I explained to him that was just not an option =) We were able to work together for a bit until sadly he fell victim to a puncture.  

Coming across the airfield to the finish with another Rotorua racer Paul McDowell.  

Mt Karioi is in the background.

After an orange at the finish line and a chat with the NZXC Racing Team I pretty much had to hop in the car and head for the hills to collect my wee tikes.  Home James and we won't spare the horses!

Something of a return

Well, it sure seems like a long time since I blogged.  My old blog had even expired.  However, the address was still available so xterrachick is back.  To a certain extent the old me is here, but I am not the same person, I'm kind of akin to the phoenix rising from the ashes.

So, lately I have been able to start racing again, a passion I had never lost, only did not have the ability to participate for quite some time.  And as I have found myself experiencing things and thinking about certain topics, I felt like sharing some parts of my journey again.  I don't know who this blog is for or exactly what will be here - definitely race antics, more than likely also the children's bike antics and possibly anything else I feel like posting about.  =)