One of these days I will actually have some kind of “normal” buildup prior to a race – something where I spend the week prior to the event actually preparing in the right way …

After many days of solid rain, the heavens cleared and we had a blissed out, clear and warm day for the 2010 Coppermine Epic and Enduro.  My far better half and I were in the Enduro and Epic respectively.

To be really picky, it would have been better had it been drier but we weren’t to know that until later

We arrived at the race start venue with everything ready to roll.  The atmosphere was very relaxed and very … local … with a lot of Nelson based riders having entered the event.  As both of us found out, the locals are great, always happy to chat even when there’s not much left in the lungs!

After a quick dousing of tyres with some anti didymo treatment, the bikes were ready, we were ready and soon enough the race rules were read and we were all lined up to go.  The Epic riders went 5 minutes ahead of the Enduro.  I lined up roughly in the last quarter of the field, and it might have been a better idea to put myself a bit further out front…

The race started and we quickly were off the sodden momentum killing grass and onto hard packed single track goodness!  That ended quickly as we rolled out onto wide double track and climbed over undulations.  My road bike riding was paying off as I climbed quicker and faster than most.  The tables would be turned later though!  The trail went up a long stretch of fire road – and topped out on a saddle where we went downhill for a short while, after which the rail trail section began …

So far the terrain was nothing new as such – singletrack, double track and fire road.  However, the rail trail was something else.  As the name suggests, it was a consistent gradient the whole way with a few ups and downs to make sure you were still concentrating! Otherwise, you found a gear that worked and you stuck to it … I was in the middle chainring and holding up a decent cadence as I settled in for the gradual climb up the Dun Mountain Trail.  Annoyingly, I felt like puking for the first 30 minutes or so … I “rode through it” …

We settled into groups that were moving at a similar pace, and I somehow turned into the pace setter for some.  With a few folks riding behind me, I asked if any wanted to pass, and they all spoke/gasped/spat/grunted to acknowledge that they were happy on my wheel.  Well OK … I just rode at my pace.  I called out aloud, “so when does the feeling of puking go away?!” and everyone responded with more words/gasps/spit/grunts/(puke?) … after a while it was just me and one fella of similar build and speed from Nelson.  The two of us pulled in and dropped quite a few riders on the hill climb.

The rail trail was excellent.  Cool, dark and densely forested – it was a fantastic ride – and totally different to the barren and exposed slopes of the Port Hills of Christchurch.  The trail is very accessible for riders of all skills and is an excellent way to gain some height and take in the astounding views of Nelson.  The lovely and very friendly rail trail soon ended for the Epic riders as we were herded up a rather steep turn and up to the Black Diamond Ridge.  Then, we were on foot.  Pushing our bikes up sections so steep and wet that no amount of Jedi like traction control was going to let you spin your way up.  I managed to ride some sections that others were walking and the very friendly riders would give way and yell out some encouragement, “come on FELLA!”.  Nice … (puke?)

After what felt like about a 30 to 40 minute session of hill ride/walk/push/curse/grunt up a humid and densely forested hillside we topped out to see a man in a Safari Suit and lady in a Sequin dress offering you a beer or a ginger beer!  They were real – they were not imagined – not the effects of altitude, exertion and nausea.  I grabbed a ginger beer – chugged it down – said thanks and took off as the Safari Suit man told me that this is where the fun begins.

I had heard a little bit about the next “fun” stage.  Gnarly ups and downs on a trail that most will only consider a walking track.  The wet tree roots made for a lot of un-nerving fish tailing as you slithered your way down and then semi hucked and popped your way up until the lack of traction and control forced you to walk.  Then came the bits that  were just outrageously messed up.  Trees fallen over, moist mulched up ground, tree roots – all at a steep angle of decent that people would walk with caution.  I was about to carefully negotiate this on foot when a “FELLA” (!) came hurtling past displaying a modicum of control and a hell of a lot of nerve to actually ride the section! I had to yelp, “Come on FELLA!”.

So this went on for an annoying amount of time.  I rode and walked with lots of different riders – some I was passing and others passed me.  A couple of local boys told me that the wet conditions even had them on edge … and they then proceeded to drop a rather awesome set of steep steps/roots/etc … COME  … ON … FELLAS!

So I adopted a technique on this section that saw me running with hands on the handlebars – trying to roll the bike over the sections I clearly could not ride.  Soon enough the “detour” we took was over and I was back on the Dun Mountain (Rail) Trail.  The Enduro riders got to climb the whole way up this rail trail, and they didn’t head up the (Epic) hill that the Epic riders went up.  I was catching a dropping a number of riders being back in terrain that I could ride, and at a decent pace.  The superbly skilled guys who were riding the harder sections earlier were now fading on the climb and I cruised past them … and I saw my partner on the way up too as she did her thing at her pace.  Still smiling, still happy, enjoying the ride – she’s the epitome of someone who lives in the moment and rides for the fun of it … more power to you!

After the climb, was of course the rewarding descent and oh my … it was such a descent.  The switch backs, the huge water bars and trenches were steep and deep enough that, to borrow some words from a friend, “there were soldiers dug into the trenches shooting each other”.  That ended quickly and then we hit the “baby heads” section.  Rocks…roughly the size of…well…babies heads.  Lots of them.  Never ending.  Steep (ish).  Keep rolling – dont stop – if you slow down the baby heads will get you.  I managed to ride much of this, and walked some sections and I definitely walked the three massive drops that in my mind cannot be ridden – which is why I can’t ride them.

What followed were more switchbacks – good tight and nicely challenging ones – and we dropped down to the river below.  We were asked to walk across with bikes on shoulders, and so after this was a really (really) fast section of double track and firetrail. W00t! Superb riding…

This then quickly ended and we were on a wide gravel road that led us down to the same sections we had ridden on our way up – just doubling back for the last few kms.  Annoyingly this is where my cramps set in and I was again trying to just “ride through them”.  The last sections of singletrack laid waste to a handful of riders that just had none left to give.  As they nursed cramp, and lack of stamina, I rode past them, and received a few “come on FELLA!” as I attempted all the sections of singletrack remaining.  I rode all but a very steep pinch where I committed till I almost backflipped the bike.  After having walked so much of the Black Diamond Ridge I really felt like getting my money’s worth on the rest of the trail!  Soon enough it was all over, and I was greeted at the finishing line by one of the organisers with a beer in hand and a handshake for a job well done…nice…you dont get that in any other race.  You get nothing like that in any other race…to be fair not in any event I have raced.

In a nutshell – it was a bona fide mountain bike race.  If you can climb like a whippet, descend like a demon, trial like Hans Rey then you would win the Coppermine Epic.  The truth is that very few of us are blessed with holistic abilities such as this, and we all have a forte and focus.  Mine is to climb hills.  I love a technical climb, and a moderately technical descent and a fast swooping singletrack.  I love it all actually – I just ride some bits faster than other bits.  You rode to your strengths on the very diverse terrain on this trail.  My hats off to the race organisers – the trail was fast enough, technical and demanding on all levels.  The ambience was chilled out.  People there were super friendly and the spot prizes were plenty with one lucky guy walking away with a brand new Santa Cruz Heckler…very lucky guy…let me tell you!

People – if you’re keen to test yourself – to push a little – try the Epic.  If you’re keen to avoid the grunt and overtly difficult – try the Enduro.  You won’t lose either way…

Every week, I tend to get out at least 2 times to do a solid ride on the mountain bike…and I have been doing so since we moved to Christchurch NZ.

Riding in the Port Hills requires a level of commitment at times that can be a little more than the usual mountain bike trail.  The steep sided hills and cliffs sometimes present a “don’t fall off the hill” situation.  So, the approach is simple – get off and walk the bits which you don’t want to ride OR if you do attempt to ride over, then make sure you fall into the hill – not off the hill.  I can imagine what some of you are thinking right now…

For the first few rides up there, you’re forever stopping and walking sections.  Gradually, you gain the confidence to ride sections that seem daunting.  Your local track knowledge expands, and you begin to prepare mentally and physically for the trail that lies ahead.  Soon enough, your consistent rides start to pay dividends.  You’re riding the tougher sections, with style and confidence.  The stuff that was hard before is now fun and well within reach, and the stuff that was laughable (read: diabolical) now seems within the realm of possibility.

So, at some point in time…as my mountain biking brethren know…the Gods of the hill decide to extract a payment for all the rides you’ve had with no incident.

I never ride with the assumption that I won’t fall, I just try not to dwell on this.  There are times when I visualise myself riding hard sections of trail and get anxious before the ride, but usually when I am out there the last thing I think about is the fall.

If you’ve been riding for a while, and have good control and skill – the fall happens when you least expect it.  It unfolds in split second timing, and usually you’re spared the fall through your instinctive corrective reaction that has developed by spending a long time as a mountain bike apprentice.  However, sometimes you’re riding along, and the next thing you know you’re in freeze frame vision…a phrase I just made up to describe an awareness of a moment of time that lasts a little longer than a moment.  It’s an out of body experience – as if you’ve stopped, stepped outside of yourself and are looking at yourself on that steep rocky technical descent you’ve nailed so many times and yet this time you’re airborne, almost upside-down (vertical and head down), one hand on handlebar, one foot still clipped in to a bike that’s not horizontal, not vertical and just too hard to conceive/describe in terms of pitch and yaw…

Then you’re within yourself once more and writhing in pain on the rocky trail, and perhaps you’re still falling down the trail.  I recently came off this way, and had to pick myself up after a 5 minute lie down and ride some more to get home.  I actually rode more than I needed to just to get “back on the horse” (or steed of choice!).

I ride conservatively.  I ride to enjoy the experience.  I love to push myself a little bit at a time and I have gradually come to a point where I can tackle things that are deemed to be pretty difficult.  I believe in a steady and long apprenticeship in anything I undertake…

The fall can come at any time.  Your focus determines your reality and if you focus on the fall – then its a done deal – you’re comin’ off!!

On yer bike!

It’s the modern version of RTFM.

This friend and I associate with a number of people who ask first, Google later.  This leaves us in a difficult position – wanting to help but knowing that it is just better form and more polite if said individuals just put some time into researching and learning more about their problem first?

I started thinking about how much we all rely on Google.  Even that is a stupid thing to say.  We all rely on the ability to search the internet … and without this resource a lot of us would be in the dark.  So much knowledge available on your computer screen and with minimal effort on your part.

Well…what happens on the day that you don’t have an internet connection, and you need to solve a problem or quickly learn about something?  Race off to the library?  Read a book?!  What?!  No keyword search feature in a book?!  Indexes are soooo old school!

Last week, I worked my way through a series of technical problems – Googling the whole way – and came out the other side with a shiny solution…

Ask me now what I did to solve these problems, and I could give you a reasonable description but the details are lost.  Did I learn something from the experience?  Did I retain anything?  Well, to be fair, I retained enough to know what to Google the next time I come up against the same problem.

I wonder how many of you out there have had similar experiences?  You work against the clock, and have to deliver on time so you go about doing a quality job using the resources available – but what do you retain and what could you impart after the experience?

How about taking out some time after you’ve Googled a problem, to absorb and consider it in retrospect?  You’ll remember the subtle nuances and you may even be able to apply what you learned to other problems presenting the same symptoms?  Then, you could even “think about it first” rather than “Google it first”?

Oh…and someone come up with a better term indicating the use of search engine…so the general population can all stop saying Google.

I’m going to think hard today and invent a random word to replace “Googling” in my personal vernacular.

Happy sunday

Suddenly, everybody is becoming more cycle friendly because petrol costs more – and though I am not complaining about the new respect and attention being given – its a shame that the turning point is being reached due to financial constraints as opposed to a genuine desire to decrease polluting emissions, or to get healthier.

Putting the ethical and/or financial motivations aside, consider this: 97% of the energy spent by a car from a standing start is to propel its own weight – the remaining 3% is for the driver.  Would the father of production line car manufacture be proud of this?  Henry Ford seemed to be a guy who aimed for the highest efficiency, and I bet that he would be dismayed to see the state of the automotive industry today.

Now, it seems that car manufacturers are turning to composite materials to build a lighter car, so less fuel is used to build momentum.  Furthermore, alternative fuel sources are being sought to improve the running cost of the modern lightweight car.

My contention is simple.  Ride a bike instead.  Get healthier, do better for the world around you and separate yourself from fuel driven economics.

Why spend so much on R&D for a cheaper running car, when one could build really decent bike lanes, and a safer infrastructure for people to use pedal power for their commute to work or to any destination of their choice?

When you need to go a long distance, you could ride to public transport, take your bike on board and then use it on the other side.  As many of you would already know, in parts of Europe, one can pick up and leave a bike at designated spots – and it costs 1 Euro to grab that bike for as long as you please.

Fuel driven automobiles have their place too.  Sometimes it is not practical for people to go without an automotive vehicle – perhaps because they live in a remote region or their work demands the use of such technology.

I propose however, that it is everyone’s responsibility to minimise their own personal fuel consumption.

One of the best ways to do this is to ride a bike instead.  Its the most efficient form of transport we have at our disposal.  In comparison to walking, you cover more distance for the same energy usage, given the mechanical advantage of the bicycle (based on a flat terrain comparison).  If cycling is not for you or not possible where you live, then you could walk instead and start rallying to get better infrastructure and/or better public transport to allow you to lower your fuel usage.

The simple truth is that I have a lot to say.  I just sometimes feel uncomfortable about broadcasting this…it seems a little…self absorbed…to think that others may be interested.  But I guess sharing a point of view and interacting with others is just dialogue – and given how far away so many of my people are … this is the best way for me to share what’s going on … in my sometimes frantic mind.

I’ve led a charmed life.  I lead a charmed life.  I have everything.  I have my health, a loving girl that I share every day with, a family that represents my foundation and friends who I would move mountains for (um…if I could…actually move mountains).

Yet there are moments when I feel like I dont have enough?  What measure could I possibly be using to come to this ridiculously self centred and pathetic conclusion?  I guess I am only human and am prone to thrashing around in samsara.  Holding on to the wrong things too tightly and making stories in your head about what could happen.  It leads to … the dark side …

There is a huge step between wishful thinking and actually translating your wishes into action and fact.  I believe that the path we walk can be shaped by our actions and our intent.  I also know that almost nothing is within our control.  I struggle to find the balance between the two…

My amazing brother told me recently that he is proud of me and of my trajectory.  I … almost fell over … we rarely talk like this with each other and it was one of those moments in life that you won’t ever forget.

Trajectory.  What a great word.  Trust my mathematician brother to use it so aptly.

As usual, he got me thinking.  I owe my trajectory to everyone around me.

This blog is about my trajectory and about the people and events that shape it.  Read on if you will…