Scratchings at the Surface

A fair bit of time has passed with numerous activities taking place in the interim since I last posted here - including a trip to China, a second bout in Belgium, and representation at my second cyclocross world championships.

Due to circumstances much of my experiences during this time have remained unreported, but last week I had a bit of time to myself fairly isolated from everything, something which I feel like writing about now.

I had the opportunity to do some work on a new project to link, via shared use singletrack, the townships of Linkwater and Havelock, in the Marlborough Sounds. It is planned that one day it will stretch all the way across to reach Picton too.

Not a bad view for the commute.

My friend and fellow builder Thomas was also involved, and I met him in Havelock after the ever-reliable scenic beauty of riding along Queen Charlotte Drive from the Picton ferry.

A quiet week ensued, free from the chains of most of modern life's accoutrements. No internet or television, poor cell phone reception, but plenty of books and music to enjoy. That is, when I had the energy to do so after scratching around through a mixture of exotic weeds and native bush all day. We were following a very old track from two centuries ago, with the aim of that making it an easier job - following a pre-made, evenly graduated bench would surely mean less work than going completely from scratch. It would have been, had it not been significantly eroded in the centuries since its inception and had large trees not been growing up through it. It was mainly working from scratch in the end - our time being spent predominantly clearing blackberry and matagouri and gorse, up and over slips with loppers and a Silky (a small but very sharp and effective Japanese hand saw).

Korimako, Tui and Piwakawaka were flitting all about us as we stirred up insects from beneath the dry leaves and pebbles covering the ground, singing amazing songs and taunting us unashamedly with their feats of agility right in our faces. Not to mention the Weka sneaking around through the undergrowth, sniffing out our lunch and threatening to coordinate a team assault on us.

I found my Mavic Crossmax shoes are not only an ideal shoe to have for trail riding, but equally too for trail building. The grippy sole and neoprene section around the top of the ankle were particularly useful for staying put on slippery slopes and not having rubble and thorns slip inside. Perhaps they will make a steel-capped version for ultimate protection.

The link track project is still a fair way off completion, probably another year or more in fact. But considering it's been about 8 years already just getting to this point, I guess it's actually nearing completion.

I can recommend finding an alternative to riding back to Picton into a headwind with a pick on your backpack, although it does make for a greater sense of relief when you finally make it to your destination.

Thank Youse and Yonder Horizon

It's a week out from our national championships in Wanaka, which also signifies one of the last races of the season. I wanted to acknowledge the support I've had of late from people and places most generous.

I have been riding and racing on my Yeti ARC-X for the last few years, a great bike that is now also a great piece of memorabilia - for me personally as it took me on many great rides over and through the cobbles and muddles of Belgium, but also because it is no longer being manufactured.

 

There have been many good times on Yeti bikes

Photo: Gregg Germer www.thechainstay.com

Photo: Caleb Smith

 

 

 

Although it's had a fairly hard life with lots of riding and cleaning, the Yeti is still providing most excellent service. It will be joined in service, however, by the recently acquired Singular Kite.

I'm currently building it up with parts from a conflagration of sources, united in their jaunty and unerring generosity. Especial thanks to Jonty at the hallowed bicycle retail establishment of Revolution Bicycles, in Northland, Wellington. When not being raced on the Kite should make for a lovely gravel road navigator, and explorer of the world of somewhat-un-chartered terrain.

Also helping me, but more with regard to either when the conditions deem it less than desirable to go forth and explore or if the ride will involve a certain dedication of purpose as to render other essential faculties less than adequate, are the folks behind LeMond Revolution turbo trainers. It takes the place of your rear wheel so one machine can fit any bike - road, cyclocross, MTB - and doesn't involve melting your tyres down to a flattened rubbery mass, so is ideal for cyclocross preparations. They have a showroom where you can try one out at Armstrong Sport on Barker Street in Wellington.

From the same people I have also been given a helping hand into my shoes, courtesy of their Mavic agency. Even when it's muddy you still can't miss them.

Photo: Lisa Morgan/Cowbell Coaching www.cowbellcoaching.com

Riding through mud is quite hard work, especially when it's really thick. Fortunately there are FMB tyres to ride, which make it easy. Well, if not easy they at least make it possible. Paul Larkin is the Australasian distributor and a lovely guy to boot, who has helped me ride much closer to where I intended than I would have otherwise, and is a wealth of information and practical advice for fitting and riding tubular tyres for cyclocross, road and track. They are handmade in France and awesome.

FMB Super Mud

While the cyclocross season will be winding down after nationals in New Zealand next week, overseas it is just about to begin. About a month ago invitations were sent out for riders interested in competing at the first ever Chinese cyclocross race, in Yanqing, Beijing on September 21st. Myself and Jenna Makgill, supported by Paul Larkin, are heading over to participate in what promises to be a historic and awesome occasion, and marks a milestone for the growth of the sport outwards from Europe and America. It promises to be a remarkable experience and I'm sure I'll have plenty to write about from it so I can't wait.