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27/11/10 My last race of the year.

The Grate lake cycle challenge is New Zealands biggest cycling event by far, with around 10 thousand riders and events ranging from 40km rely to 1000km enduro, with the main event being the 160km road ride around lake Taupo.

This year was the third year of the MTB event, getting longer each year its now 82km mostly single track and on some of NZs best (under rated) single track. The day was hot with no clouds to block the sun and next to no wind, just a perfect day really. We started the race at 7:00am and the pace was like the day, HOT! From the gun it was hammer down, I hit the single track in 1^st and tried to open the gap/force a small group at the front and keep the pace hot. Tim (t-rex) Wilding and Dirk Peters both came with me and we opened up a gap early on, t-rex had the same idea as I did so we kept swapping the lead and pushing the pace. I got a small gap on one of the steeper climbs about 1hr10 into the race and then t-rex had a small crash on the decent letting the gap open some more, Dirk was the first to catch back up to me then t-rex awhile after. So it was back to the three of us and the way the other two are riding I’m thinking I cant waste energy and I’m better to sit in second and follow the pace in the single track. Not far before we hit some gravel road Dirk had a problem with his gears leaving t-rex and me to it, we started lapping on the gravel and at one point could see Dirk trying to get back to us, but that was the last time we saw him as he started to blow soon after. T-rex and I kept the pace on, swapping the lead and both doing work to keep the lead. We had to jump off and run for a short part while we shared the walking track from Spa park to Huka falls, Once that was over I could feel a twinge of cramp in my legs, so a quick swig of coke and that helped until the next climb. I sat behind t-rex for a while taking a swig of coke at the bottom and top of all the climbs on the way back to spa park, taking the lead just before spa park and setting the pace up the last couple climbs to make sure no attacks would happen. As we rode past the boat harbour we were side by side and gave each other a pat on the back, deciding the only thing to do at the finish was, DRAG RACE! We both rode down the finish straight watching each other and as t-rex jumped to open the sprint I reacted jumping to sprint as well. T-rex managed two pedal strokes and I got four out before our legs locked with cramp, the four I was able to get out gave me the momentum and the win. 82km of mostly single track in 3hr 43min 45sec.

SINGLE SPEED WORLD CHAMPS

On Saturday 23rd I raced in my first Single Speed World Champs.
Since returning from the MTB World Champs in Canada early September, I have been busy training and getting used to riding with one gear. I raced a 50km race the week before the Worlds as a prep race and to see just how hard itwould be, Winning the race by 5min over Garth Weinberg (NZs MR Single Speed).
With a rather eye catching kit thanks to BELLAMY GELLARY and riding my Carbon JAMIS XC bike converted to a SS, a couple PEAK FUEL tubes taped to the frame it was time to race.
The big key to this race was going to be luck! with just over 900 riders all starting at the same time, Every one riding around a big circle and the starter with a blind fold on it all came down to luck on where you were when the gun went. Turnsout it wasnt my lucky day!! I was close to the 800s when the gun went off, A few of the top guys were in the first 30-40 so I knew it was going to be a hard day to catch them. After having to run up the first steep part of the climb, I finally found how far is to far to lean my GEAX SAGURO TNT tyres and hit the deck on one of the fastest parts of the track. Latter in the lap my chain came off, TWICE!! (in a couple hundred meters) and then again on the second lap just before the mid lap BEER short cut, After chugging a beer and using a tool to tighten my chain I was off again and still chasing down the guys in front making my way up to finish the race in 6th place.
It was an awesome day and an Awesome race to be a part of and already has me thinking about doing the National Champs.

Getting ready for the Waka 50 and my first proper race on a Single Speed, I Spent a good chunk of the day before playing with chain lenghts and changing crank sets around to get my carbon race bike set up as a single speed. The race was my first race since the World Champs in Canada and went well with my legs hanging in and not feeling tooooo bad after the 50km race in 2hr 18min and most of the biggest climbs we normally ride up in the forest being used in the race. My main reason for doing this race was to get a feel for racing the Single Speed as Im racing the Single Speed World Champs this weekend in Rotorua!

Yep with just over 900 riders entered and a couple beer short cuts and a tattoo for the winner, this will be a full on race and (prize giving) after party to say the least!!!

Oh yea I won the Waka 50 by 5 min so like I said it was a good day out.

What was I thinking?

For more info on this Photo check out www.adamcraig.net and click on the Windham update.

Since the Worlds I flew back to NZ arriving on Thursday morning, spent the day in Auckland then drove home in the evening. Friday was spent unpacking and doing a few things around the house. Saturday I was in Taupo for the JAMIS Day/Night 12hr teams race, I arrived at the race with enough time to get changed put the bike together and ride to the start line where Daza was all lined up and looking nervous I wouldnt make it in time. As we were changing the transponder the 5min call was made. The start was jumped (like it is every year) and it took me till the first small climb to hit the lead, Once I had it the gap opened up and I thought every one turned around as there was no one in sight at the end of the second straight in the tents. About half way around the lap my legs reminded me that they had done a plane ride half way around the world and hadnt done a warm up so I made a deal with them, I would back off a bit and they would do more laps as the day went on. I finished the first lap and start loop in 22min 30sec about 1min up on second, I was able to do 19min laps most of the day with my last being a 22 in the wet/muddy/dark at just after 930pm.

Monday was my first day back at work, we are based at a large pulp and paper mill. It was the start of a 10day shut down where half the mill shuts down for maintaince so yep 12hr days for the first 4days then we cut back to 8hr days but had to work the weekend making 12days straight.

Today was my first day off and we decided to go for a hike/run in the bush not far from where I grew up. this was fine until we decided to go down another track for a bit turning our 1hr 30 trip into 3hr30 (WHAT WAS I THINKING?) getting back about half an hour before it started to get dark! Tomorrow I think will have to be a couple/few hours on the single speed as the Single Speed World Champs are getting close and I still havent done much riding on it yet

World Champs Cross Country race

I finished 65th in a super fast and crazy hard race in one of the best places to race MTB in the World. It was a stacked field with Sven Nys only two spots ahead of me and a few of the top Canadians a little bit further up the road at the finish of my race.

Full race report soon

World Champs teams race

Was having an ok lap and was feeling pretty good until my chain twisted at the top of the last decent and I had to free wheel/scoot to the end of the lap.

Full report to come