Day 1

ITT Day 1As a Massey staff member, and perhaps more importantly a cyclist, I was very pleased to learn that Jorge Sandoval’s NZ Cycle Classic would be coming to Massey Palmerston North. It’s not often that a UCI 2.2 level tour comes to your home town, so rather than watch, I organized Massey sponsored team and put myself down on the starting list. I’ve not done a big race like this since 2008, when the NZ Cycle Classic was run out of Wellington. Jorge organizes a quality race and, from what I’ve seen so far, this year in the Manawatu will be no different.

Hub 2012Once again the Hawkes Bay Ramblers Cycling Club held another very successful HUB tour in Hastings on 13-15 January 2012. 

The Hawkes Bay weather turned on a beautiful hot weekend but the winds were a test of courage and commitment to most as the prologue started on Friday night with very strong north westerly gusts. 

There were many riders winning top ten positions in the 6km prologue (or time trial), but with the win of over 40 seconds to Kate Stewart in the U17 girls race was the most impressive win of the night. Coming in close behind was Ruby Perry finishing 3rd in the U17 girls prologue. George Roberts also finished exceptionally well in the prologue coming 7th in the U17 boys grade, with Matiu Kaihau finished 13th in his first A-Grade prologue. Kelsi Eccles was in great form over the weekend winning two stages of the B-Grade Women's races earning the huge privilege of wearing the yellow jersey.

It is Sunday 18 December and a depleted field of 29 riders is setting off one at a time to tackle the formidable Waihi Midsummer Madness Time Trial. This is the toughest road time trial event in New Zealand. I make it 127km with about 1300 vertical metres of climbing. There is some great scenery…but I have to admit it is hard to fully appreciate that during the ride.

There were 47 names on the start sheet, but only 29 started. The sensible ones figured the riders would face not midsummer conditions, but something more akin to midwinter conditions and decided not to start. They were right. Last year the little black box on my handlebars recorded an average temperature of 26.8C. This year it was 9.5C.

Nine riders from the Wednesday morning ride, which leaves from the bus shelter opposite the BP in Fitzherbert Avenue, entered the 2011 Taupo Cycle Challenge. These are some of their stories gleaned from conversation during last Wednesday’s 87km recovery ride. I have used aliases to protect their identities and some poetic license to add entertainment value to their tales.

All agreed that the 85km/hr winds recorded at Taupo airport on race day by the Metservice were gale force! I know that I struggled to ride above 17km/hr going along the lakefront to the start line and the white caps on Lake Taupo were monstrous!