The Bike Hutt

Which one are you?

2012-01-21T23:55:00.000-08:00

Pardon the profanity. I do not condone this style of speaking, and would never, ever use such language. My grandmother would be shocked.

Me? I'd like to think that I'm somewhere in between.
Perhaps I should consult my therapist.
I'm going to Makara Peak tomorrow. It's been a loooong time since I've indulged in putting my bike into a car and driving 30km for the purpose of taking it out and riding around in the mud. Inevitably, I will have to resist the urge to pedal until I puke.
Speaking of puking, have you heard that Ken Feist rode his cross bike up Mt. Climie? Get that boy to the local sanitorium.

Better is better

2011-12-24T01:39:00.000-08:00

It's hard to believe that we moved to New Zealand five years ago. Tempus fugit. It's still, I firmly believe, one of the smartest decisions I've made. That is a bloody good song, too.
That song is about looking back to see where you've been, at heart. This is the time of the year when most of us are doing the same thing. Reflection. Self-analysis. Planning.

And three years ago we opened this shop with great expectations and a lot of heart and soul. During this period we've built up a solid customer base and established ourselves as a unique atmosphere for the lovers of bicycles to get what they want and need. I'm proud of this. Trust me. It ain't easy (to borrow another line from D. Bowie).

Of course, like anything in life there are lessons to learn. The tangled web of the global economy has taught many of us a lesson or two. Or three.

It's kept us on our toes---as it should. If you're not learning, you're stagnating.

Here's a little reflection of my own that goes back a bit further than five years...

When I was in my senior year of high school, before Nirvana hit the scenes, and when Greg Lemond won his comeback victory at the Tour de France, I worked at a cinema in Dallas for a few months. It was an interesting place, and one of the few jobs I've held outside of the bike industry. The people I worked with were fairly representative of American society; there were two single black women trying to make ends meet, a washed out forty-something musician still waiting for his Big Break, an Eritrean immigrant who was seriously into Scottish prog rock, the Turkish manager whose suit swallowed him up and made him look like David Byrne in Stop Making Sense, and who spent most of his time hiding in his office occupied by activities that would have landed him a role in Midnight Express,
and lastly, The Projectionist.

I remember all of their names, except for the latter, who only entered the theatre at the last minute in order to whisk himself away upstairs to do the seemingly high tech and somewhat mysterious job that projectionists do. He was a union member, who exercised all the rights afforded to him, which I assume, included a sort of commando approach to the job.While we wore cheap navy blue suits, he wore a t-shirt and jeans like a burned-out hippie. My interactions with him were short, but friendly. Still, he left a lasting impression;

I think it was the t-shirt, on which was written in indelible ink, "Better is better."

Excuse the tautology, but it worked in a place where the average man (woman or child) on the street is inundated by claims that Bigger/Faster/Sweeter/Stronger/Richer/More Powerful/New and Improved!/ is better.

I stopped him once on his way out the door one late night after the last run of the film that was playing on the screen (They Live, to the best of my recollection) and asked him about the statement on his shirt. His was a quick, yet precise answer, and one that my tenth grade English teacher Mrs Dawson would have applauded for concise diction. It worked.

The gist of it is:

whatever works, whatever improves the situation, whatever moves the ball closer to the goal.

In three years, we've figured out what works in our local market, we've laboured intensively at getting things right and doing our best at what matters to you and us.

But as my esteemed colleague and bike shop owner Charlie Flatten so wisely put it, "This is not a communist bike shop."
You see, we really, really need to make a profit. And while I'd love to give everything away for my deep love of the bicycle and all that it represents to me, the nature of the world economy prevents me from doing so.

Which brings me back to the Tautology of the Projectionist.

Bigger is not better.

More stuff is not better. (Hats off to George Carlin!)

Existence is better.

So, we're packing our collection of tools, shiny bike bits, lycra clothing, smelly rubber and moving the whole affair 500m up the road to a smaller, but more efficient, more focused (on what works!) and more profitable space.
It will help insure the longevity of this enterprise and provide a more intimate environment for all of you.
And I won't feel like the guy wearing the suit that is too big.

The Revolution will not be motorized from now on at 887-889 Fergusson Drive. I look forward to seeing you there from the 7th of January 2012.
Time flies.

Thanks for reading and riding.

Ciao Paolo!

2011-11-29T00:31:00.000-08:00

This is a story about bicycles, friendship, life and death.

I met Paolo Minissi in 2000 when I worked as the head mechanic/service manager of the Bicycle Sport Shop in Austin, Texas. It was a fast-paced shop of large proportion, extremely successful, and widely-known throughout the good ol' US of A. We sold and serviced an astounding number of high-end, boutique bands like Serotta, etc. to mostly middle-aged dot-commers, doctors, dentists, and lawyers who were enjoying the benefits of an upbeat economy and a recent surge in the popularity of cycling (often attributed to another denizen of that once great city who went on to win a race in France a few times with the help of his doctor and me.) My days consisted of assembling the beautiful machines and counselling the owners on a variety of subjects while attempting to maintain order among the thirteen or so mechanics who ran amok, more often than not, within the confines of that great building. Rarely was any of it easy. When combined with ego, high temperatures and that stereotypical brashness of Texans, I was often at wit's end.

Paolo was one of those customers. Born in Italy, and raised between there and Belgium, he was a cosmopolitan guy. He spoke French, Italian, English, and Spanish. The more I think of him, he was perhaps the best example of the 21st Century Man. He was very intelligent and studied Thermodynamics and Electrical Engineering at the University of Texas, and made his fortune by developing some sort of highly efficient lighting system used in factories and warehouses around the globe. Yet he was also a practitioner of yoga and evidently possessed a spiritual side--something which he managed to seamlessly combine with his scientific background. He obviously had strong business sense. He'd made is fortune, yet needed to drive his passion which was to promote fitness and well-being using the holistic approach. This he did by carving out a very special place among the many gyms in the city, somewhere you would encounter the finest former governor of Texas (no not the half-wit) as well as hippie drop-outs, famous musicians, former professional athletes and normal people.

Like most Italians, Paolo loved bicycles, which is how I met him, of course. He bought all sorts of very nice gear. He demanded quality. He was always pushing for better, faster, sexier. Frankly, we didn't always agree. It was often tough for me to agree to do things his way. My pragmatism often clashed with his futurism. His titanium tandem was one of the most expensive experiments in bicycle technology ever. He drove many of us crazy with his strong nationalistic fervor which manifested itself in strange and labor intensive ways, often centered around Campagnolo. For months we struggled with a Formula hydraulic slave unit that he insisted would be The Way to run disc brakes on his tandem. (Remember this was ten years ago when stuff like this was rather rare and more like F1 technology.) Our exchanges were often strained, but he was the customer with an idea in his head and technical (if not practical) knowledge, and I was there to serve him. Sometimes I was right, of course. The Formula brake unit failed while he and one of his fabulous stokers were descending in the Dolomites one summer. He gave it to me upon returning having fortunately survived the mishap, and I still have it. I learned from him that little advancement comes without pushing the limits now and then. It could also cost you some skin.

Ever the trend-setter, he liked to wear very short shorts in a place where such things are worn only by waitresses at Hooters or by men of highly questionable orientation, which earned him the name The Italian Stallion. Often the boys in the workshop seemed to dissappear when Paolo came through the door with his bike. His fashion sense was odd by local standards but easily understood when the stoker of his tandem appeared. Though everchanging, she was always beautiful and fit.

A few years later after an enormous change in my life occurred, having been chewed up and spit out by professional cycling, shunned by many people who I had considered friends, and feeling, well, rather down-trodden, Paolo asked me to help him set up a bike shop within his gym. This couldn't have gone well with many of his clients at the gym who were vociferous supporters of the hometown hero, but Paolo didn't give a shit. He respected my forthright view and experience. So, I accepted. I needed the money. I needed to regain some self-respect. I think Paolo knew that I would have otherwise stayed holed-up at home.

It was a great job. I had carte-blanche to do whatever it took to set things up. His only wish was that it be done right. It's still running today thanks to my colleague and eminently capable friend Gordon. What Paolo initiated became a revolutionary model for a bike shop. It's small, focused, highly-specialized, and without compromise. He surrounded himself with smart, fit, motivated and friendly people.This is the model that I have tried very hard to emulate here at The Bike Hutt.

Working for Paolo was one of the best jobs I had. He was tough, but fair; yet often very lenient toward me and seemingly sympathetic to my emotional state at the time. He undervalued no one, paid well, and set high standards.

He was also a hard man. World class. Really. He drove people hard and harder. He drove himself hard. He rode a bicycle hard. For his fiftieth birthday he hopped on the Serotta fixed gear bike that I built for him and rode from Austin to Lake Tahoe, California averaging over a hundred miles a day. In the summer. In the desert. By himself. He was the inspiration for my trip from Picton to Takaka on a fixed gear bike a few years back, which I completed in one long painful day. I took a photo of myself atop the Takaka Hill to send to Paolo in order to coax him down to NZ for an epic journey together.

He did stuff like that because he needed to. I share a similar need. I ride for the experience, for the inner challenge, for the serenity that the rhythm of turning the pedals round provides. He did too.
But something was too big for him. I'll likely never know what. Some insurmountable obstacle defeated my friend Paolo on Thanksgiving. He took his own life.

I often thought of him when digging deep. I certainly did when climbing the Takaka Hill in a 44:16 after 200kms behind me. I thought of him nearly every time I hopped on my fixed gear bike. And I thought of him on Saturday when I was struggling to find the will to continue around Lake Taupo on a horrendously windy day.Strangely enough, I thought I saw him walking toward me in Taupo after I finished, which reminded me to extend the invitation again for a trip round the South Island on our fixed-geared bikes.

But, I'll have to do it alone.

Paolo Minissi was a man who showed me great compassion. He was my friend and a fine human being.
Ciao Paolo.

Harder

2011-10-31T19:18:00.000-07:00

Once again I have a go at those who prance around in white kit, ride only on fine days, and refuse to venture beyond the comfort zone. To this I will add: any professional who complains about transfers, rough roads, or unstarred hotels should get a new job...
at The Gap or Kircaldie and Stains or a hair salon.

Because Latin American amateurs, especially Colombians, are harder than you.

Photo thoughtfully stolen from www.cyclinginquisition.com

Redeem your pathetically weak constitution and vapid existence by attending the next gravel grinder.

Rigorous Scientific Testing

2011-10-29T00:39:00.000-07:00

For those of you who don't speak German, Frau Morgan can translate this for you. Ich auch.
Language barrier aside, the humour is universal.
The long standing debate over which is the best material for bicycle frames-carbon, aluminium or steel- has finally been settled. Accompanying this is proof that at least one German exists with a good sense of humour. OK, actually there are two; the other, known as the Un-German for his hearty laughs and general wackyness, is a psychotherapist I know. (And no, he's not mine).

Weekend Report

2011-10-24T15:50:00.000-07:00

It certainly was a great weekend for nearly every one of us in New Zealand.

Naturally, the long awaited victory in the RWC for the All Blacks would have been the highlight for the majority. As an attempt at assimilation, the boy and I went to the most logical place to watch the match--the pub which was filled with boisterous locals. It was a truly memorable experience for us, and one that seems typically Kiwi. While secretly supporting the All Blacks, I outwardly made a case for the French (who lately can't even win their own bicycle race in July), just to get a rise out of the kids who are now well entrenched in the fervor of the game. While the better half and I will always feel culturally caught between the US and NZ, the kids will grow up without a great deal of influence from our former home.
Rugby seems to me to be the tie that binds the country together-- a lot like doughnuts do in the good ol' USA.
Or is it cheeseburgers?

Anyway, more important events occurred over the last two weeks, which was the school holiday for most and an exercise in patience for many parents, who suddenly are reminded how tough it must be to be a teacher.

I took the kids to the Dowse Museum in Lower Hutt to see the 100 Bikes Project. If you want to give the kids a chance to ride bikes around indoors, check it out. As the name states there are a hundred little two and three wheelers from the past and present refurbished and handsomely decorated for ankle biters under 9yrs to wobble around on in an otherwise empty gallery. It's cool. I particularly enjoyed the disposable hair netting provided by the museum for the purpose of preventing little creatures who sometimes dwell in our hair from expanding their territory. For a moment I saw a gallery full of kids on bikes and trikes who were destined for jobs in the food service industry.

Note the hair net

Later in the week I convinced the smallest of the clan to board the Trail-a-Bike for an adventure through the cyclocross course at Trentham Memorial Park. Previous attempts ended in tears for both of us, so I was pleasantly surprised by her suggestion to give it another crack. She seemed to enjoy it thoroughly given the tone of her mischievous laughter, especially the part up and over the stop bank. The Trail-a-Bike is a great way to get the less experienced, slower kids out with the parents, and is available for hire.

The Yorkshire Panzer goes by at speed after narrowly missing loose livestock

Prior to the big match on Sunday a few of us boarded the official Bike Hutt Tour Bus and drove over the hill to Martinborough for a reconnaissance mission of a section of the re-scheduled Three Hundy. The route for the day was a 90km or so loop starting from Martinborough and heading up the road toward Gladstone,where we turned and went up Admiral Hill. It's a beast of a hill, climbing from 80m to over 450m, but enjoyable as there are virtually no cars and the view from the top on a clear day is a good one. The choicest part of the loop begins after the top where the rode descends and then turns to gravel. For 25km it rolls up and down the ridges above a river through the back of beyond, which can only be described as utterly bucolic. It's just you and the sights and scents of rural New Zealand. Herr Veganburger dragged me through here a couple of year ago in the opposite direction, and for that, I thank him; it has become my favourite road ride bar none. We were all aboard cx bikes with various tire widths, with mine being the narrowest, though completely effective 27mm Vittoria Pave tubulars. The road was definitely in better condition than the last time I went through, but I couldn't recommend anyone use a smaller tire than those beneath me. Some knobs would be good in the loose gravel if you are disinclined to having your bike skate across the road at 40kmh. Given the distance, an mtb would be a drag.

Amy chasing the Panzer

After the gravel ends, the smooth seal of Hinakura Rd begins with some more climbing before the descent back to Martinborough. If you've done a bit of work before the start of Hinakura Rd, you'll really start to feel the climbs, as Tom proved to Ryan and I. He attacked mid way up which caused a flock of magpies to take flight upon hearing us both blow up. Impressive work for a guy who spent the night out and turned up a bit bleary-eyed.
There are lots of routes in the Wairarapa like this one. It's the sort of place I really like to explore by bicycle.
This little journey took us 4hrs and has 1400m of climbing. You'll need to pack all of your food and water. There is virtually nothing along the way to sustain you unless you're willing to take water from a trough and slay turkeys for lunch.

Gravel Grinder Three Hundy- CANCELLED

2011-10-03T21:00:00.000-07:00

We have cancelled this event until further notice due to a lack of available accommodation. After having called nearly every hotel, motel, holiday park, as well as the local gaol, we came up with no suitable place to rest our weary bones on the first night. My apologies. Those of you who contacted me directly expressing interest would have received this notice of cancellation already. We'll likely do this in January instead.
Where: Sunny Upper Hutt and o'er the hills to the Wairarapa and back in two days.

When: Saturday October 22 2011
8am sharp

What: 300 hundred kms of gravel, tarseal and dirt. 150kms each day. Camaraderie included.

Who: You. Intrepid souls who do not require being tucked in by their mom and who have endurance, a sense of humour and time to kill.

Cost: Blood, sweat and tears. Oh, and whatever it costs you along the way in food, nappies and psychoanalysis. We'll carry your gear in the van. You propel your chiselled, sculpted physiques atop your bicycle.

A cyclocross bike is the best choice. An mtb second. Road bikes would be a foolish choice, and unicycles are for show-offs.

We will ride together like the Mongol Hordes across the steppes of Central Asia.
Monday will be Labour Day, so you can rest those weary bones and nurse your saddle sores.

Limited space, so shoot me an e-mail if you're coming.

Tallyho!

Geriatric Gentlemen's Cycling Club

2011-10-03T20:38:00.000-07:00

It's official.
I have joined the ranks of the old geezers on two-wheelers Wellington Vets. Trust me, this is a positive development in my cycling, and it would be to any of you over 35 years young and counting.

Here's why:
These guys are organised.
The races are small.
The fees are low.
The quality is high. No senseless attacks followed by senseless counter-attacks by 18 year olds, which makes for a much better effort for us all. The riders are mostly highly skilled, and if they aren't, show sound judgment, which ensures that we'll likely make it home in one piece.

To celebrate the arrival of Spring and my new membership, my compadre The Oregonian and I headed over to meet the Vets at the annual ride around Lake Wairarapa. However, being adventurous and somewhat dim-witted, I suggested we down 500mg of ManUp pills each and ride over from the shop. We got an early start in order to catch the group leaving from Featherston at 930. Unfortunately, we missed them by five minutes or so in my estimation (I told you that they're organised!), and chased for the first 15-20 kms down the west side of the lake. It felt great. It was downhill. We had a tailwind. Nice spring weather. But we just couldn't catch them even though they were some times enticingly visible waaayy up the road. When we turned into the wind at the south end of the lake, I knew we were in for a hard slog back to Featherston; I rode the same stretch last week in a two man time trial with Cpt Humpadumpulous (or rather, I desperately attempted to stay on his wheel). This time it was my turn to be the motor due to The Oregonian's softened legs from Saturday's express criterium (20 minutes?! Crits for those with ADD?).
Be that as it may, five and a half hours on a bike accompanied by a guy who knows how to spell l-a-b-o-r and c-e-n-t-e-r is time well spent. And proves to me that we all have good days.

Or in the words of the renowned existentialist philosopher from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Mr Wayne Coyne of the Flaming Lips, all your bad days will end...

And here are the stats for those who find these things intriguing.

NI CX Champs / CX8 @ Hardcore Park results

2011-09-18T01:06:00.000-07:00

We all had a great time scheming up this year's 'cross races, with the varying parks and courses, dates and all the other details that go into planning a cycling series. Our biggest thanks go out to our volunteers - we couldn't make this happen without you there to set up, tear down, manage the little details (and the bigger ones) and do the on-the-day admin that makes things run smoothly. We hope everyone had as good a time as we did - and look forward to seeing you on the CX circuit some time soon. Cheers from the crew @ Bike Hutt.

Kids' Race

Competitor	Laps (Beers)	Place
Wills	6	1
Russell Hirst	6	2
Olivia Hawley	6	3
Nathan Cartmel	5	4
Christie Grocott	5	5
Unknown Competitor	5	6
Emma Webb-Smith	5	7
Koan Yule	5	8
Olivia Yule	5	9
Ryan Irving	5	10
Sophie Collingridge	4	11
Soren Anderson	4	12
Hannah Cartmel	4	13
Ruby Anderson	3	14
Matt Madsen	3	15

Glad to see none of the kids took the 'beer shortcut' option.

C Grade

Competitor	Laps	Place
Marshall Hanlon	9	1
Sijbren Mijdam	9	2
Reece O'Gorman	9	3
Barnaby Tagg	9	4
Charlotte Ireland	8	5
Dee Milnes	8	6
Paul Dickie	7	7
Rebecca Williams	7	8
Lisa Morgan	7	9
Alastair Woodfield	7	10
Russell Hirst	7	11
Phil Taylor	7	12
Ashleigh Williams	7	13
Malcolm Scott	6	15
Jayne Irving	6	16
Marg Madsen	4	17
Mike Milner	2	18

B Grade

Competitor	Laps	Place
Colin Sullivan	12	1
Trevor Woodward	12	2
Ryan Champion	12	3
Derek Harrison	12	4
Ed Banks	12	5
Richard Hope	12	6
Bolke Water	11	7
Hayley Davis	11	8
Mike Milner	11	9
Clark Townsley	11	10
Herman Hudepohl	11	11
Alan Paterson	11	12
Richard Harbord	11	13
Tom Hirst	11	14
Henry Collingridge	11	15
Kalum Sullivan	10	16
Amy Champion	10	17
Richard Hoskin	10	18
S.P. Gilbert	10	19
Stephen McNeill	10	20
Craig Butler	9	21
Laura Harris	9	22
Lester Ronald	9	23
Craig Madsen	9	24

A Grade (CX bikes only)

Alex Revell	18 (2)	1
Gary Hall	17	2
Dan Warren	17	3
Ken Feist	17	4
Jonty	16	5
Andrew Barlow	16	6
Mike Thompson	15 (2)	7
Andy Gilbert	15 (2)	8
Kim Hamer-Hurst	15	9
Gianluca Valsenti	15	10
Stuart Stent	14	11
Jeff Lyall	14	12
Darren Smith	14 (4)	13
Richard Woodward	14	14
Mike Anderson	13	15
Tony Hooper	13	16
Dean Johansson	13 (2)	17
Ryan Champion	13 (2)	18
Amy Champion	10 (1)	19
Mark Humphreys	10	20

Looks like we're missing the Yorkshire Panzer from the A-results. Perhaps taking 4 beer shortcuts isn't recommended... actually Darren seemed to manage so...

Pics on the Facebook page: like us on:http://www.facebook.com/pages/Bike-Hutt/228176800556342

Questions / complaints about this round to be directed to the Pope, if you please. Or the Bike Hutt. Thanks to everyone!

North Island Cyclocross Champs

2011-09-12T22:31:00.000-07:00

On Sunday at Harcourt Park we'll be hosting the final round of our cyclocross series. This has been a great season with a consistent turnout and new faces at every event. What started two years ago has grown exponentially from two races to this year's eight. Every race gets better, I humbly submit. Of course, it is the sum of everyone's efforts. So give the volunteers a handshake or pat on the back when you see them on Sunday, especially Sue Morgan who manages the entries and money. Give 'er a kiss!

The format for Sunday is essentially the same except that the A Grade race will be for cross bikes only. This means that those who normally race in A Grade on mountain bikes will need to come in and buy a cross bike.
Really. I mean it.
Or you'll be chastised for being a burglar in the B Grade race which is open to anyone except for Ben Stephens who has been relegated to C Grade for riding around the course like a rabbit on a trampoline. This is cyclocross, not NitroCircus.

The winner of the A Grade/CX Bikes only race will be crowned North Island CX Champ and given a token of my personal cycling history which consists of:

a tatty old Vittoria MasterCross tubular complete with peeling base tape

a well worn FIR box section rim circa 1985

a few new Wheelsmith spokes cut into precise lengths and rolled with new threads courtesy of my Morizumi spoke machine

a fancy sign commemorating the victory

I have painstakingly assembled the above items to resemble a wheel. These bits look so old you can tell your friends that you got it from Roger deVlaeminck. It looks cool to me and would look great on the wall next to the photo of your Grandma or David Hasselhoff.

Roger being chased by Cyril Guimard who later became LeMond's coach

Upon presentation of the trophy the winner shall be doused in beer and hurled into the mud. Don't be offended. This is a tradition in the sport. You'll be suitably soiled anyway, and Katie will happily do your laundry. Just stop by the shop with your kit in a bag and she'll look after it.

Please feel free to apply lots of peer pressure to your roadie friends to come out. There once was a day when roadies were on the whole more well-rounded and not afraid to get their kit dirty.

And why not fly your freak flag and wear a costume? It will provide yet another excuse for letting victory slip from my hands.

Results CX7 Moonshine Park

2011-09-09T18:46:00.000-07:00

A Grade

Competitor	Laps	Place
Alex Revell	13	1
Bryce Lorcet	13	2
Jonty	13	3
Geoffery Notman	13	4
Colin Sullivan	12	5
Ben Knight	12	6
Vaughan Harrison	12	7
Mike Anderson	12	8
Kim Hamer-Hurst	12	9
Andrew Leck	11	10
Ryan Champion	11	11
Mark Humphreys	11	12
Ken Feist	11	13

B Grade

Competitor	Laps	Place
Gary Moller	10	1
Mike Milner	10	2
Geoff Ludemann	10	3
G Valsenti	10	4
Ben Stephens	10	5
Ryan Champion	10	6
Derek Harrison	10	7
Nigel Page	9	8
Richard Hope	9	9
Richard Hoskin	9	10
Dean Johansson	9	11
Mark Humphreys	9	12
S.P. Gilbert	9	13
Andy Gilbert	9	14
Herman Hudepohl	9	15
Wayne Cross	9	16
Oliver Thompson	9	17
Henry Collingridge	9	18
Tom Hirst	9	19
Ross Leslie	9	20
Jach Fraser	9	21
Darren Smith	8	22
Stuart Stent	8	23
Jason Shill	8	24
Alofa Kosena	7	26
Amy Champion	DNF
Clark Townsley	DNF
Dave Wills	DNF

C Grade

Competitor	Place	Laps Completed
Sijbren Vijdam	1	7
Charlotte Ireland	2	7
Reece O'Corman	3	7
Marshall Hanlon	3	6
Dee Milnes	5	6
Phil Taylor	6	6
Alastair Woodside	7	6
Rebecca Williams	8	6
Wendy Grocott	9	6
Malcolm Scott	10	6
Russell Hirst	11	5
Jayne Irving	12	5
Allison Anderson	13	4

Thanks to everyone for taking part - get set for the North Island CX Champs at Harcourt Park on Sunday 18th! A brand new park and course, and the prizegiving (including loads of spot prizes-got to be there to claim one). See you there!

P.s. Timekeeping queries can be directed to the Governor-General.

Skills to Pay the Bills

2011-08-29T19:13:00.000-07:00

For those of you who still haven't figured out the art of a smooth dismount and remount (on the non-drive side, folks!):

The Beastie Boys provide the soundtrack.
See you Sunday at Moonshine Park for round 7 (lucky number seven!) of our cyclocross series--the biggest in NZ.
Brought to you by the B Boys and B Girls of Bike Hutt.

Neil Pryde

2011-08-29T18:27:00.000-07:00

I'm very pleased to announce that we now have Neil Pryde to add to our range of road bikes, and are currently the only stockist in NZ.

In my endless pursuit to find the best products to offer you (I am a constant and voracious reader of cycling trade mags), I came across this new brand of bikes just last year, and have watched it grow, gaining momentum in the cycling world by means of its many favourable product reviews:
http://www.bikerumor.com
http://road.cc
http://pezcyclingnews.com

However, a few words on the company are in order:

Neil Pryde is a Kiwi who helped revolutionize the windsurfing industry. Ask any windsurfer. They'll know who you're talking about. The company has grown tremendously over the decades it's been around, and now employs somewhere near 2500 people.

But how did the bike come to be? Well, reportedly his son Michael was once a handy professional on the mountainbike, later turning to the road and thought that the company could utilize its long-standing relationship with the carbon fibre manufacturers to develop a bicycle. So, they hired BMW Designworks to help out. This is a big deal, folks. It's like having McLaren on board.

The result is a staggeringly beautiful product which is the sum of Neil Pryde's experience in materials, Michael Pryde's keen awareness of bicycles, wind tunnel testing, and one of the world's most renown industrial design firms. This is no cookie cutter carbon frame with a name plastered on the down tube. The finish quality is top notch and among the best I've seen from any manufacturer. You have full custom paint options as well!

What really stands out for me, is the level of professionalism from the company. After receiving the first shipment a few weeks ago, and noticing how well packed the bikes were as well as the close attention to detail, I sent Mike Rice who is the sales manager an email with my comments. Fifteen minutes later I got a reply from him as well as from the chairman, Michael Pryde. Unbelievable! Their head office is in Hong Kong; I often don't receive replies from agents in NZ until days after. I've been in the bike business now for nearly 25 years and have had only one other experience where I received direct communication from the head of a company. Michael Pryde now joins the Kozo Shimano club, who I fondly remember every time I look at my Dura Ace watch he gave me some ten years ago.

After my first few rides on the Alize, I can honestly say that it is one of the nicest bikes I've ridden. Stiffer than the Ridley Damocles that I rode previously, but without being at all harsh on the heavily corrugated, third world roads around here. It is also noticeably more stable, especially when cornering and descending. I'll post some more of my thoughts on the bike in the coming weeks. Look, it's probably not going to make me any faster, but it certainly makes me feel faster.

Now I have an excuse for not riding a fixed gear around Lake Taupo in November.

We have both models in stock, and a very nifty display, so come in and have a look and take one for a ride. Or have a look at the page on our website.

CX Results Round 6 Cali Park

2011-08-24T14:35:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone - here are the long awaited results from this Sunday's cross race... any questions can be directed to the UCI.

C-grade

Competitor	Place	Laps Completed
Marshall Hanlon	1	7
Kalum Sullivan	2	7
Keith Pittams	3	7
Paul Dickie	4	7
Lisa Morgan	5	7
Dee Milnes	6	6
Phil Taylor	7	6
Craig Madsen	8	6
Malcolm Scott	9	6
Michel Webb-Smith	10	6
Wendy Grocott	11	6
Jayne Irving	12	5
Ellen Webb-Smith	13	5
Russell Hirst	14	5

B-grade

Competitor	Laps	Place
Sifter	10	1
Mike Anderson	10	2
Nigel Page	10	3
Gary Moller	10	4
Derek Harrison	10	5
S.P. Gilbert	10	6
Mike Milner	10	7
Scott Gulliver	9	8
Herman Hudepohl	9	9
Tom Hirst	9	10
Alan Paterson	9	11
Schepers	9	12
Dean Johansson	9	13
Amy Champion	9	14
Andy Gilbert	8	15
Gypsy	8	16
Darren Smith	8	17
Craig Butler	8	18
Lester Ronald	8	19
Rebecca O'Donnell	7	20

A-grade

Competitor	Place	Laps
Miles Davies	1	13
Ken Feist	2	13
Wayne Hiscock	3	13
Ben Knight	4	13
Jonny Waghorn	5	12
Gav	6	12
Brett Irving	7	12
Mike Thompson	8	12
Tom Lynskey	9	12
Michael Molony	10	12
Ben Murphy	11	12
Vaughan Harrison	12	12
Colin Sullivan	13	11
Ryan Champion	14	11
G Valsenti	15	11
Oliver Thompson	16	11
Mark Humphreys	17	11
Mike Milner	18	10

You can check out a couple of albums from this race and the other races from this season on our Facebook Page (http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Bike-Hutt/228176800556342).

See you all on the 4th at Moonshine Park!

The Secret is Almost Out

2011-08-17T21:45:00.000-07:00

The Bike Hutt is now the exclusive NZ dealer of...

an ultra high-performance product,

the result of decades of work in carbon fibre,

with Kiwi roots,

and international recognition.

I'll give you a hint:

Choo Choo

2011-08-17T21:36:00.000-07:00

The Executive Producer of YanquiGoHome Productions recently accompanied me on a short trip up the Rimutaka Rail Trail days after the first snow of the winter. The only remnants were several soiled, melting snowmen and clumps of ice. For some unknown reason the Executive Producer found the need to hurl every icy clump he could get his hands on directly at the south end of your north-bound blogger. Mmm, wet shorts.

In my view, this is an under-appreciated ride. It offers good views, a bit of history and fun for all levels of cyclists, though clearly those who like to bounce around on a bike like Tigger on espresso need not bother. The rail trail is mostly mellow, involving an almost imperceptible climb to the summit. The tunnels along the way offer a bit of excitement with a test of one's equilibrium in the absence of light. You should, of course carry one, especially if you decide to forge onward beyond the summit where a 500m long tunnel lies.

I often swing a leg over the single speed cx bike and ride over to the Maymorn entrance to Tunnel Gully which links to the rail trail just past the rifle range, and ride to the other end of the rail trail and back. The distance combined with the roller coaster ride through Tunnel Gully makes for a good workout and some high speed thrills.

Past the Summit Tunnel is a great (and fast) descent to Cross Creek near Featherston, which will keep the daredevils pleased with themselves.

Take the kids! It's a local treasure. Contact us at the shop for a shuttle to and from the car park on our side of the hill.

CX Results Round 5 Cali Park

2011-08-10T14:24:00.000-07:00

C-Grade

Competitor	Laps Completed	Place
Zeb Lennon-voice	8	1
Justin Lane	8	2
Johan Batelaan	8	3
Kalum Sullivan	8	4

Keith Pittams	8	5
Darren Smith	7	6
Paul Dickie	7	7
Rebecca Williams	7	8
Phil Taylor	7	9
Domingo Di Giamo	6	10
Malcolm Scott	6	11
Alastair Woodside	6	12
Wendy Grocott	6	13
Katie Morgan	6	14
Russell Hirst	6	15
Jayne Irving	6	16

B-Grade

Competitor	Laps Completed	Place
Colin Sullivan	11	1
Mike Milner	11	2
Stuart Stent	11	3
Oliver Thompson	11	4
Nigel Page	11	5
Bolke Water	10	7
Matt Gerssenberger	10	8
Tom Hirst	10	9
Clark Townsley	10	10
S.P. Gilbert	10	11
Dean Johansson	10	12
Tor Madsen	10	13
Amy Champion	9	14
Andy Gilbert	9	15
Jason Shill	9	16
Dave Wills	8	17

A-Grade

Competitor	Laps Completed	Place
Ben Murphy	14	1
Wayne Hiscock	14	2
Ben Knight	14	3
Ken Feist	14	4
Miles Davies	14	5
Jonny Waghorn	14	6
Trevor Woodward	14	7
Dave Aldred	13	8
Ollie Jones	13	9
Jeff Lyall	13	10
Geoffery Notman	13	11
Kim Hamer-Hurst	13	12
Bryce Lorcet	13	13
Tom Lynskey	12	14
Michael Molony	12	15
Mark Humphreys	12	16
Andrew Leck	12	17
Mike Thompson	11	18
Jill Westenra	11	19
Matt Clash	11	20
Ryan Champion	11	21

Kids

Competitor	Laps Completed	Place
Thomas Burt	2	1
Bradley Blackmore	2	2
Unknown Competitor	2	3
Oliver Hawley	2	4
Nathan Cartmell	2	5
Christie Grocott	2	6
Maaia Luke	2	7
MacKenzie Madsen	2	8
Hannah Cartmell	2	9
Katie Hawley	2	10

A big thanks again to everyone who came along to participate, help out or support family and friends. See you back at Cali in another two weeks!

Ride a bike

2011-08-02T22:28:00.000-07:00

Well, hello there big fella. May I interest you in a low-cal diet and some exercise?

CX Results Round 4 Moonshine Park

2011-07-26T19:58:00.000-07:00

A great turn-out considering the freezing weather. Good things we missed the snow! Here are the results from this week's round:

A Grade
Competitor Laps Placing

Miles Davies	17	1
Ben Knight	17	2
Jonny Waghorn	17	3
Ben Murphy	16	4
Bryce Lorcet	16	5
Kim Hamer-Hurst	16	6
Gav	15	7
Ryan Champion	14	8
Vaughan Harrison	14	9
Owen Hughes	14	10
Ken Feist	14	11
H-Bomb	14	12
Ollie Jones	13	13
Mike Our-Fearless-Leader Anderson	10	DNF
Don Johnson	3	DNF

B Grade

Andrew Leck	13	1
Mick Brown	13	2
Derek Harrison	13	3
Herman Hudepohl	13	4
Ben Powell	12	5
Colin Sullivan	12	6
Oliver Thompson	12	7
Alan Paterson	12	8
Nigel Page	12	9
Bolke Water	12	10
Tom Hirst	12	11
S.P. Gilbert	12	12
Clark Townsley	11	13
Unknown Competitor	11	14
Tor Madsen	11	15
Dave Wills	11	16
Jason Shill	10	17
Andy Gilbert		18
Mike Milner	10	19
Ray Woodhouse	9	20

C Grade

Craig Butler	9	1
Rebecca Houston	9	2
Tony Glover	9	3
Craig Butler	8	1
Chris Money	8	4
Lisa Morgan	8	5

Malcolm Scott	7	6
Alastair Woodfield	7	7
Wendy Grocott	7	8
Steve Newson	6	6
Russell Hirst	6	10
Paul Dickie	4	11
Katie The-Piker Morgan	3	DNF

Children's Race

Oliver Hawley	2	1
Thomas Burt	2	2
Kristie Grocott	2	3
Soren Anderson	2	4
Katie Hawley	2	5

Point/Counterpoint

2011-07-11T23:48:00.000-07:00

And now for an obviously unintentional yet, eloquent view from the other side of the argument vis a vis the current state of affairs (Kolobnev anyone?); one seemingly tailor-made to counter my jaded view of le peloton...

Redemption? Courtesy of www.cyclismas.com

Give it a read. Peruse the site. Bookmark it. It's brilliant, and we share a similar and hopeful fascination with France's own Thomas Voeckler.

Photo courtesy of www.bettiniphoto.net

CX Results Round 3

2011-07-11T18:52:00.000-07:00

Impressive display of power in the A grade race by some unknown guy named Tim Wilding, who, by the way, has a great sense of humour. When he lapped me the second time, I admonished him for having the gumption to make your Race Director look bad to which he replied, "Ride faster then."

Well played. He's a big powerful unit and good natured it seems. Great combination.
Perhaps I'll design the next course (at TMP) to have him on his feet more, so that we can all see how he runs...

Hey! Over 70 riders this time! Reckon we've got a blooming cyclocross scene here in Wellington. Happy days.

I would like to congratulate Clark Townsley and Alan Paterson for their athleticism, and for earning themselves entry to B grade. Don't even try to fool the registration team next time, gents; it's B grade for you! And recently back from a vacation in the US, where he was fuelled solely on McDonald's, Bigger Gavin McCarthy (fat or not) will be in the A grade.

Without further ado,

A Grade

Place Rider No. laps

1 T. Wilding 17

2 A. Revell 16

3 M. Davies 15

4 C. Bennett 15

5 J. Waghorn 15

6 B Knight 14

7 J Lyall 14

8 T Bradshaw 14

9 B Lorcet 14

10 G Notman 14

11 G Valsenti 14

12 M Thompson 14

13 O Jones 14

14 G McCarthy 14

15 S Bale 14

16 G Moller 14

17 M Anderson 14

18 A Bradshaw 13

19 A King 13

20 E Banks 13

21 R Champion 13

22 M Humphreys 12

23 B Murphy 11

B Grade

Place Rider No. Laps

1 G McCarthy 11 A Grade only!

2 No. 98 11

3 M Milner 11

4 S.P. Gilbert 11

5 D Harrison 11

6 M Craine 11

7 E Banks 11

8 A Leck 11

9 Pencil 10

10 S Stent 10

11 N Page 10

12 O Thompson 10

13 B Water 10

14 H Hudepohl 10

15 D Wallace 10

16 Mainlander 10 DQed for riding wheelies and blatant boganism

17 T Hirst 10

18 R Hope 10

19 M Webb-Smith 10

20 R Leslie 10

21 A Champion 9

22 S Newson 9

23 D Smith 9

24 D Wills 8

25 L Ronald 8

C Grade

Place Rider No. Laps

1 C Townsley 8

2 A Paterson 8

3 J Lane 7

4 C Buller 7

5 Pencil Jr 7

6 C Money 7

7 R Woodhouse 7

8 D Milnes 7

9 G Cowles 7

10 D Jordan 6

11 P Dickie 6

12 A Arnold 6

13 K Townsley 6

14 M Scott 6

15 A Bushlove 6

16 R Hirst 5

17 W Grocott 5

The Road to Taupo

2011-07-04T22:28:00.000-07:00

jaded-[jey-did]-made dull, apathetic, or cynical by experience or by surfeit

     July is a strange month.

     You see, I've spent all of my life--except for the last four--north of the equator. The seventh month is when the sun does its best to fry the skin and brains of people in my former home where temperatures are more often than not in the upper 30's and 40's. It is the time of summer vacations, afternoons in the pool or swimming hole, and mid-day siestas brought upon by heat-induced torpor. In that latitude, the climate calls for a shift in the daily routines of millions of people. Most vigorous activity is undertaken in the early or late hours when the sun's grip isn't so great and oppressive. Up there, I avoided riding my bike after noon or before the sun set when I could...except for three weeks in July.

     July is the month of Le Tour de France. It is a monumental rolling circus, a pageantry of the wheels, testing the will and strength of a couple of hundred of cycling's best riders. It is an inspiring mid summer spectacle for millions of people who enjoy riding bicycles, many of who live vicariously through the feats of the peloton. I caught the bug in 1988 when I first started racing as a junior on a beautiful, but heavy by today's standard, Basso Gap. This is also when I began my illustrious career in the bike biz working as an apprentice mechanic in a bike shop. At the time European road cycling was gaining more coverage in the US--mainly due to the victories by Greg LeMond--and bicycle sales were booming. His story and personality, when combined with the requisite nationalism found in sport, made him a hero to the multitudes, myself included. So, after spending the mornings watching the coverage of the race and inspired enough to ignore common sense and Nature's warning calls, we'd venture forth under the blazing inferno of the Texas sun, and pretend to be LeMond or Claudio Chiapucci, or Laurent Fignon. I knew a guy who let his hair grow out so he could wear it in a pony tail like Fignon!

     However, for me it will always represent the best and worst of the sport. For decades, men have battled the weather, the terrain, themselves, their machines and man-made hazards on the great circuit round France. How anyone could not be moved by some of the things that have been overcome by the riders over the last century is beyond me. The photos taken after the Second World War of riders struggling over the unsealed roads of the Alps and the Pyrenees, spare tires strapped to their backs, faces grimacing, showed a level of suffering unlike any other. But, it is not, much to my chagrin, the purest of efforts and never has been; for like anything which involves humanity there will always be saints and sinners, and cycling as had many of the latter in the last decade. In the early years of my participation, there was little coverage of anything cycling related, and therefore little of the sport's darker side. Although cheating by pharmaceutical means has been around for decades, it was not widely reported. I certainly don't recall any mention of it until the dreadful Festina Affair of 1998. And even then, I thought that it was an isolated problem, and didn't give it a second thought. The next year, a guy from my old neighborhood, won the race. That edition was presented as a sort of redemption for the sport led by a guy who was powered only by will and determination. Though there were detractors and skeptics from the beginning (e.g. David Walsh); I was not one of them. In 2000, the course was set for me and that guy from my old neighborhood to meet and form a relationship based on cycling and mutual respect. Two years later, after helping him keep his bikes running in the off season and training together on mountain bikes, I went to work as his assistant in various capacities. This was the beginning of my inside view of professional cycling and the Hollywood-like celebrity of its stars. Almost immediately I realized that I was out of my element.

    Without going into all the sordid details of the years 2002-2006, which were a regrettable detour that spoiled my love of the sport for a number of years, I'd rather tell you about what brought me back to the core of what I love about the sport and the bicycle.

     Riding is a zen-like, soulful experience...still. The bicycle was my salvation in a way. It carried me away from the stresses of my childhood and gave me a sport in which I could do reasonably well. Now, I do my best thinking while pedalling and appreciate the therapeutic effects even today.

     The machine itself is perhaps one of mankind's greatest inventions. It transforms nearly every ounce of our energy into locomotion. Quietly. Free of emissions--unless the guy who you've been following had beans for breakfast.

     Racing on rare occassion, I succumb to the Male Ego and Tyranny of Testosterone. Seldom am I triumphant, and with increasing frequency and age, Humility makes its home in my being.

     Essentially, that is why I ride. Yes, I have very mixed and conflicting emotions about competitive cycling, and with every new positive drug test, I have a sense of frustration. Yes, my view of it has been romantic and not entirely rational. I'm forever trying to reconcile my own experience with the more naively idealistic view I formerly had. When the wise-crack from the dog squad comes in to celebrate (and gloat over) the triumph of a guy on Campag at some pro race in Europe, I give in to the moment and forget what may have helped put the rider on the podium. The cynic in me says the kit made no difference; the biggest technological advance has been pharmaceutical, not in the number of gears crammed into the rear stays. Contrast that with the feeling I get when a guy like Thomas Voeckler, who many believe might be the fresh, new and clean breed, tries yet again for another victory--or at home, when we meet for the bunch ride on Wednesdays during the summer, 30 clean riders having an honest go at one another.

     Which brings me around to Taupo. This event is monumental in its own right, and deservedly so. Like Le Tour de France, it requires enormous planning behind the scenes--blood, sweat and tears to get us all around safely. It is cycling in its purest, and an event that has re-kindled my passion for road cycling as much as our Wednesday World's bunch ride in the summer. Despite, all of its problems, cycling is still the most beautiful modern sport, but it is afterall a local experience. Le Tour happens in a far off land, and has always been the stuff of legend (which is to imply, not entirely genuine). L'Alpe d'Huez is there. Lake Taupo is here. It is you and me and ten thousand kindred souls.

     So, get on your bike and ride. The road ahead is made of coarse chip, and full of potholes. But, it is a glorious journey. Do it for the love of human endeavor.

CX Results Round 2

2011-06-27T16:39:00.000-07:00

C Grade

Number	Competitor	Laps Completed	Place
75	Callum Sullivan	7	1
74	Allison Anderson	7	2
70	Craig Butler	6	3
71	Darren Smith	6	4
77	Dave Jordan	6	5
72	Paul Dickie	6	6
1	Malcolm Scott	5	7
78	Wendy Grocott	5	8
33	Russell Hirst	5	9
60	Ed Banks	7	DNF

CX Results Round 2

2011-06-27T16:37:00.000-07:00

B Grade

Number	Competitor	Laps Completed	Place
24	Ollie Jones	11	1
19	Bryce Lorcet	11	2
60	Ed Banks	10	3
53	Mark Humphreys	10	4
29	Herman Hudepohl	10	5
13	S.P. Gilbert	10	6
2	Colin Sullivan	10	7
16	Richard Hope	10	8
47	Tom Hirst	10	9
23	Alan Paterson	10	10
82	Bolke Water	10	11
30	Dean Johanson	9	12
80	Ross Leslie	9	13
21	Henry Collingridge	9	14
38	Amy Champion	9	15
12	Steve Newson	9	16
57	John Williamson	8	17
14	Unknown Competitor	8	18
35	Lester Ronald	8	19
76	John Gibson	8	20
9	Dave Wills	8	21
81	Alofa Kosena	7	22

CX Results Round 2

2011-06-27T16:35:00.000-07:00

A Grade

Number	Competitor	Laps Completed	Place
27	Alex Revell	14	1
85	Tom Bradshaw	14	2
25	Miles Davies	14	3
28	Jonty	14	4
49	Jeff Lyall	13	5
20	Ben Murphy	13	6
41	Michael Molony	13	7
58	Kim Hamer-Hurst	13	8
18	Vaughan Harrison	12	9
32	Gary Moller	12	10
83	Nigel Page	12	11
73	Ryan Champion	12	12
84	Mike Craine	12	13
666	Mike Anderson	8	DNF

Round Two

2011-06-26T15:30:00.000-07:00

Once again, Alex Revell smashes the field, and in the process makes it look easy. I bet he'll do very well next week in Queenstown. Will someone please buy that guy a plane ticket to the US for some big cx races?
The second time he lapped me, he gave me a gentle, yet completely demoralizing push from behind. Thanks man.

2011 Bike Hutt Cyclocross Series - Race 2 California Park from BCNU on Vimeo.

Big thanks to Don Johnson for his handy camera and editing work...

And to all of those who help make theses races possible. Really, I'm just an ideas man.
Without the following, it would be just me standing in the middle of a muddy field scratching my noggin:

Rob Te Moana
Tom Hirst
Simon Gilbert
Diamond Dave Wills
Sue Morgan
Hamish Norton
Helen Majorhazi
Herman Hudepohl
Jules Meisterbrau Grace
My wonderful wife
Captain Humpadumpolous
Amy and Ryan Champion

See you in two weeks. Somehow between now and then I must find my legs, which were completely misfiring yesterday.

Cheerio,
Mike

Pick-a-part

2011-06-18T13:36:00.000-07:00

Does anyone need to go find a cheap replacement for the wing mirror on your Skyline?

Bilenky Junkyard Cross (Trailer) from In The Crosshairs on Vimeo.

You Buy 'em, We Roast 'em

2011-06-16T19:29:00.000-07:00

Bont shoes, that is.

The Bike Hutt is now the exclusive NZ stockist of the world's best cycling shoe, Bont (the best thing our friends across the Tasman have ever produced, except for Olivia Newton John).
Fully mouldable carbon sole for the ultimate fit, with unsurpassed stiffness and extremely low weight.

You will feel the difference.

More here: Bont

Good enough for Thor Hushovd, current World Road Cycling Champion and Johann van Summeren winner of the 2011 Paris-Roubaix. And me (current 20th placeholder in the Bike Hutt CX Series). And you!
Come in and get yours baked today. We promise not to stuff you in the oven, too.

CX Learning Experience

2011-06-13T18:11:00.000-07:00

Great first event! As usual, the weather turned fine on the day, yet we still had challenging and typical cross conditions. Mud, beautiful mud!

Hats off to the winners: Ollie Jones and Alex Revell (which proves that nice guys finish first).

I really think that the course was dialed in this time. Thanks to a lot of help from volunteers, we had it all done just in time. Well, almost...

Due to overwhelming numbers, some sandbagging, and other valuable lessons, I have decided on the following changes for the CX Series:

1. There will be 3 races (excluding the kids fun event).

C Grade 30min plus one lap
B Grade 40min plus one lap
A Grade 50min plus one lap

2. The starts will be later to allow ample time for set up of the course, as well as to allow stragglers to finish and the following riders to warm up on the course for a few laps.
It is important that the riders have a proper warm up, both for familiarity of the course and to lessen the shock to the body caused by the typical start to a cross race.

C Grade will start at 930
B Grade will start at 1045
A Grade will start at 1145

The kids race will be held at all venues, start at 1015, and run between the C grade and B grade races.

3. Those who finished more than one lap down from the leaders in last week's race will be moved to the B Grade.

4. Those who finished in the top ten of the 30min race will be moved to the B Grade race.

Comments/appeals should be made to me. My goal is to provide you fun, fitness and fairness. And don't worry, despite my heritage, I'm no cowboy and I'm certainly not this guy:

Determination

2011-06-13T17:31:00.000-07:00

See that look?
That's the look of D-e-t-e-r-m-i-n-a-t-i-o-n.
There's a man who, when taunted endlessly by the guy in front of him for 7 laps of last week's CX race, puts on his game face and goes.
Hard.
Using sheer will.

But bad fashion sense.

CX 12 June Provisional Results 45mins plus one lap

2011-06-12T16:31:00.000-07:00

Rider Number	Rider	Lap Completed	Place
27	Alex Revell	8	1
43	Dan Warren	8	2
28	Jonty Ritchie	8	3
68	Callum Chamberlain	8	4
36	Mike Thompson	8	5
45	Unknown?	8	6
44	Carl Paton	8	7
79	Ken Feist	8	8
51	G Valsenti	8	9
58	Kim Hamer-Hurst	8	10
67	Andy King	8	11
18	Vaughan Harrison	8	12
49	Jeff Lyall	8	13
20	Steve Bale	8	14
62	Unknown?	7	15
60	Ed Banks	7	16
50	Schepers	7	17
34	Herr Veganberger	7	18
32	Gray Moller	7	19
666	Mike Anderson	7	20
41	Michael Molony	7	21
53	Mark Humphreys	7	22
56	Geoffery Notmon	7	23
64	Scott Gulliver	7	24
63	Ant Bradshaw	7	25
29	Herman Hudepohl	7	26
42	Martin McCaudden	7	27
65	Eden Crusie	7	28
55	Andrew Leck	7	29
61	Jack Compton	7	30
59	Derek Harrison	7	31
47	Tom Hirst	7	32
30	Dean Johanson	7	33
38	Amy Champion	6	35
69	Jason Shill	6	36
26	Tor Madsen	6	37
22	Sam Dungely	6	38
35	Lester Ronald	6	39
66	Greg Thurlow	6	40
21	Henry Collingridge	6	41
54	Stuart Stent	6	DNF
73	Ryan Champion	4	DNF
4	Andy Gilbert	4	DNF
31	Simon Kennett		DNF

Unknown riders: please reveal your true identity. We'll have this fixed next time around.

There is still some confusion regarding the bell lap.

It works like this:

When the leader of the race went through the start/finish after the clock rolled over 45 minutes, the official began ringing the bell. This was the start of the final lap for the leaders and everyone else, including the folks who had just crossed over the start/finish seconds before the leader, and who, in this case were about to be lapped again. Normally, the riders at the back of the field would be pulled from the race to allow the top contenders to battle it out unhindered. In races were slower/lapped riders are not pulled (ie. ours), they finish on the same lap as the leader.

CX 12 June Provisional Results 30min plus one lap

2011-06-12T15:35:00.000-07:00

Rider Number	Rider	Lap Completed	Place
24	Ollie Jones	5	1
19	Bryce Lorcet	5	2
13	S.P. Gilbert	5	3
6	Matthew Webb-Smith	5	4
16	Richard Hope	5	5
23	Alan Paterson	5	6
17	Clark Townsley	5	7
2	Colin Sullivan	5	8
45	Steven Mitchell	5	9
9	Dave Willis	5	10
5	Max Olsen	5	11
14	Don Johnson	5	12
12	Steve Newson	5	13
3	Stephen Coombes	5	14
4	Nick Olsen	4	15
11	Russell Pilcher	4	16
46	Dee Milnes	4	17
39	Kent Mackey	4	18
37	Rebecca Williams	4	19
52	Lisa Morgan	4	20
10	Denise Pilcher	4	21
1	Malcolm Scott	4	22
8	Josh Clark-Newson	3	23
15	Hannah Pilcher	3	24

Fly like Boom

2011-06-03T15:39:00.000-07:00

Last chance to hone your skills before the start of the series next Sunday.
This time we meet at California Park at 10am on Sunday the 5th of June.
Learn to run the barriers like Lars.

Cross Practice

2011-05-27T12:30:00.000-07:00

Practice tripping and falling flat on your face while holding your bicycle!

10am on Sunday at the Harriers Club in Trentham Memorial Park.
Practice will help you on race day.

Endura Overshoes

2011-05-25T20:55:00.000-07:00

After a well placed jab at my manhood by the Oarsman, I mustered up the fortitude to venture out today in the rain.
The result:

Wet hair.
Wet scalp.
Wet behind the ears.
Wet face.
Wet back.
Wet front.
Wet arms.
Wet chamois (eww!)
Wet legs.
Wet knees...

Dry feet!

I hate wet feet.
Endura Road Overshoes are the business.
Recommended by yours truly.

Wainui 6 Hr MTB Race

2011-05-24T01:44:00.000-07:00

My entry to my first 6hr relay type race was the result of peer pressure applied by Mr H.
It was, nevertheless, rather entertaining.
Of course, I chose a rather inappropriate tool for the job in the minds of most people.
No matter.
Geez, I love that bike. It never ceases to amaze me what can be ridden aboard the bike built especially for me by The coolest guy in Flagstaff Arizona.

Preparation

2011-05-13T15:26:00.000-07:00

We've gone big budget this year. No more paper plates with a hand-written number. Real plastic!
For the record, the number 1 on my trusty ss will not be mine; it was the first one on the stack.
I swear.
I had a special number made up. All will be revealed in time--though it's an inside joke which most of you won't get.

We're about a month away from the first race, and have been fielding lots of questions about this beloved sport. Some want to know about specific training for cyclocross which can be found here: cycle-smart. The link takes you to Adam Myerson's web site, who is one of the greats in the US, and who we can all learn from. Have a look around and you'll find very useful information on set up and training--both on road and off.

For a more humorous though hardly inaccurate description of what the cx experience entails, read below (courtesy of UnholyRouleur):

Helping My Readers With Cyclocross Practice Tips

Regular reader and teammate Dave writes:

Jim,

You fat bastard. When should cross practice start? What should we do? Should I try to hook up with a team and a coach? You have a wealth of experience here - a handful of races! That's tons of experience compared to me, and unlike most people, you're willing to share your ignorance. So help a brother out here!

Dave, you don't need to wait for formal instruction to become a thoroughly mediocre cyclocross racer. Here's my practice routine:

First, find a bike that is manifestly unsuitable for riding in the dirt - something with skinny tires and drop bars. Try in vain to compensate for this design flaw by buying ungodly expensive glue-on tires with knobs the size of infant chipmunk nipples, plus some $375 Assos knickers. If you must crash, you should look good doing so.

Then find a hilly off camber field near some woods. Wait until it has rained for a few days. Ride back and forth across the field, paying careful attention to turn tightly and head back the other way across the field, but only turn in spots where there is copious mud, roots, gravel, or off-camber wet grass. Don't worry it won't hurt - the ground. You, it will hurt plenty.

Occasionally, foray into the woods. When you get to a downed tree, hop off, drag the bike over the dead tree any way you know how. Try to bang your shin on the tree, or trip over it - it helps if the tree lacks bark and is somewhat slimy. Don't worry about form, if you are riding with appropriate intensity, you won't be capable of good form. Not until you've mastered bad form anyhow.

Find a short, sharp, steep and preferably slippery hill to practice your run-ups. Ideally, a cross racer should come into the base of the hill at full steam, smoothly dismount as the bike slows, shoulder the bike, and sprint to the top, maintaining momentum the whole way. As a novice, you should ride too far up the hill so that you come to a complete stop, and then stumble off the bike as it starts to roll backwards and tip over. You can even practice getting your feet stuck in the pedals and falling over while still clipped in, if you want. Practice like you will race, right? Once you're off the bike, slowly push it to the top of the runup, falling down once or twice if the ground is slippery. Remount after once again coming to a complete stop.

Every so often you should tip over for no apparent reason. This will balance out the tipovers that have an actual cause, like mud, skinny tires, roadbike geometry, wet grass and off camber turns. Once in a while, shoot out into the road on your mud-covered tires. Try not to low side. When you ride back into the field, skip the culvert, ride through the ditch. Try not to endo. Repeat.

Do this for roughly 50 minutes.

Once you get deep enough into oxygen debt, you'll notice some imaginary Belgian friends standing out on some hellish little corner of your practice area with cowbells, urging you on. If you need to cross train and the hallucenogenic cowbells are bugging you, just get off the bike and bludgeon the fans with your seat post. Consider the bludgeoning to be an upper body workout. Make sure that in your delirium, you aren't mistaking Peter and Ken for your imaginary friends - both have been known to shout tips and encouragement from the sidelines. (Note: the blood pouring out of your ears may make it difficult to hear the cowbells. Don't worry about it if you can't hear cowbells...imaginary cowbells are overrated.)

When you near your imaginary finishing line, let an imaginary team with a ridiculous name - say, the Delaware Cyclocross Coalition of Delaware - blow by you on their cross bikes, just to provide a realistic training experience. It's okay, you can have a good cry now.

After you're done, sit on the side and drink some Le Chouffe with Peter and Ken, or your imaginary friends, and ask yourself what it is you did, to make you want to punish yourself like that. Then go home, and sign up for Granogue, Worcester, and five other 'cross races you've never heard of before. Tell yourself it's okay... you can quit any time you like. Really.

Enjoy the fun of preparation.

CX Series info

2011-05-08T20:40:00.000-07:00

North Island Cyclocross Championships 18/9/2011

Event is at Harcourt Park, Upper Hutt. Entrance to the car park is on Akatarawa Rd.

Map

Four races to choose from:

C Grade 30min plus one lap will start at 930

Kids race starts at 1015

B Grade 40min plus one lap will start at 1045

A Grade-Cyclocross bikes only 50min plus one lap will start at 1145

Registration 830. Entry fee is 10 NZD/25USD/50 CAD. Belgians ride for free.

Please arrive in enough time to pre-ride the course. There will be no riders allowed to practice on the course while others are racing.

Cheers,

Mike

You really must watch this

2011-04-12T02:06:00.000-07:00

This is why I will always think that Paris-Roubaix epitomises cycling. The race is, in essence, about what the bicycle offers mankind: the marriage of speed, efficiency and industry without a loss of the human element.
One of the things that I find most appealing is the simplicity. In these days of full-suspension this-and-that, here is what a well-skilled and fit cyclist can tackle.
Purity. Momentum. Determination. Luck.Love.
Congratulations to Johan van Summeren who came out of nowhere and won it.
My hat is off to the guy who shot this footage.

La carte

2011-04-12T01:43:00.000-07:00

<a href="http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/31555530">L'enfer du Hutt</a><br/> <a href="http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/?location=Wellington, New Zealand">Find more Cycling Routes / Bike Rides in Wellington, New Zealand</a>

There you go hardmen of the Hutt.
The shape of the route looks like Thor's Hammer.
Please send questions about map to the Royal New Zealand Cartographic Institute.

L'enfer du nord, l'enfer du Hutt

2011-04-09T12:47:00.000-07:00

Today is the day. The hardman's race where the selection suits those with good legs and handling skills. But,here even the strongest may fall prey to Old Lady Luck. It's easy to pick who will make the final selection, but impossible to know who will have luck on their side.
Paris-Roubaix. 256km of hell.
Imagine riding to Napier in one day (roughly), take out the Rimutaka Hill but add lots of cobblestone sections where staying upright is challenge enough, but at race speed is even worse. Wet conditions amplify the difficulty. And for all of that pain and suffering, the winner gets this:

Paris-Roubaix. Breaking wills and bikes since 1893.

Thanks to my esteemed colleague code-named Race Radio for drawing my attention to the fact that the best cycling movie ever made, A Sunday in Hell, is on YouTube. Sit back with a Stella and enjoy the ride.

In honor of the Queen of the Classics, the Hell of the Hutt will commence at 9am next Sunday. The Grand Depart at the shop. Comprising the best and the worst of what the Hutt Valley has to offer up in pain, L'enfer du Hutt will one day become a classic like the Queen of the Classics, Paris- Roubaix. With challenges like the Muur de Viewmont, les secteurs pave en rive Hutt, the Kelsonberg, le col du blanc homme, all will be broken.
No team cars, no broom wagon, no support, no handkerchiefs to wipe your snotty nose or streaming tears. Only 80km of excitement and challenge. And camaraderie
Perhaps the strongest will receive a block of tarseal taken from the crumbling verge of La route du Hutt de L'est as a trophy.

P.S. My pick for P-R is Juan Antonio Flecha.

Who will win the Tour of Flanders?

2011-03-31T11:45:00.000-07:00

I'm no betting man, but my pick is Ned.
Ned van Vlaanderen. Behind that quiet persona hides an absolute monster.
When you're that good, there's no need for bravado.
Ned van Vlaanderen.
Remember the name. He'll be on the podium this weekend.
Next to the other mythical being of cycling cosmology--Thor Hushovd.

Speed

2011-03-29T00:33:00.000-07:00

I am the son of an aerospace engineer/experimental test pilot, and have an innate lust for speed. Or perhaps it is merely a trait found in all male members of the population-- an idea which is surely supported by the number of tickets given by police everywhere on the planet and the near ubiquity of the archetype Boy Racer.
Call it recklessness.
Call it stupid.
Most girls know better.
From racing a Murray Quick Silver (ca. 1978) down the grassy hills of wherever I lived and skidding sideways to a stop or being towed on a skateboard by my brother on a motorcycle at 40mph, as a kid I couldn't get enough. Sure it lead to alot of tears and lost skin. I still have scars from some of the ridiculous stuff we did as teenage boys.
Yet, as a pursuit, it hasn't waned that much with the onset of age and wisdom.
In Germany in 1995, I was stopped by a driver at the bottom of a hill outside Heidelberg, who was astonished at the speed I was travelling when I passed him in his BMW (pronounced, BayEmmVay).
On a hairpin turn.
At 80kmh. Or, achtzig kilometer pro Stunde, said he.
I want to go faster than you.
There is an incredibly steep and straight road (RR 2222 in Austin, TX for you Google Earth fans) where I was once passed (Shock!) by a man known locally as Big Worm, whose mass simply outmatched mine. I was ticking over 60mph (100kph). And yes, folks, you have to pedal to reach that speed.
It wasn't long after that when I learned the value of motorpacing. This involves a near disregard for one's own personal safety while travelling on public roads, and is most certainly extrajudicial (which is a nice way of saying, "Boy, yer goin' to jail.") Simply put, you on the bike follow safe driver on motor scooter.
The point of motorpacing is to condition the legs to work at the high output and high speed required in the finishing kms or miles of a road race, or time trialling. As a driver more often than not, I have had the harrowing responsibilty of motorpacing a guy who may or may not have won the Tour de France seven times cleanly, as well as George "Always a Bride's Maid Never a Bride" Hincapie, (that scooter was later impounded by the Santa Barbara Police Department for expired registration which they discovered as I was leaving a concert by Jane's Addiction, but I digress) and lately, my favourite Polish Policeman, Dangerous Dan Waluszewski, who did phenomenally well shortly thereafter in Tahiti.
It works. I've been preaching. I've been subtly begging anyone with a scooter to motorpace me- mainly, because it's fun and I still have the lust.
So, with the upcoming cx season, I should have not been surprised to see Ken Feist looking a bit too comfortable behind a scooter in the valley on Sunday morning.
It's my turn Ken. I know what you're doing you sneaky little !@?%.
And with that, ladies and gentlemen, I present this:

But (in the words of the Godfather of Soul):
Please, please, please don't try this at home. And don't tell anyone that I suggested that motorpacing is an acceptable form of entertainment.

The Road to Tora

2011-03-19T21:38:00.000-07:00

Today was one of those magical days we often have around here. The weather was spectacular and warm with no wind. It was perfect for riding, flying, running, sunning or whatever tickles your fancy. A stroke of genius by my wife had us over the hill for half the day sans enfants. She participated in the Martinborough wine tasting which was masquerading as a 5km fun run. Since I find that sort of thing wholly uncivilized, I saw an opportunity to take part in a far more advanced method of locomotion. After a quick review of the area using Google Earth last night, and knowing that I had no more than two hours to spare, I decided on a quick reconaissance mission of the road out to Tora via Tuturumuri. For a while, and usually during the dead of winter, I scan the satellite images of the seldom-travelled east coast, in search of a mission like the one undertaken by Herr Veganburger and myself last year. Tarseal and gravel in nearly equal measure really gets me excited. After this short trip this morning I see a very special mission taking shape.

This is where the pavement stops and the fun begins. According to the map, one should be able to follow this gravel road to a place enticingly called Patuna Chasm. In the background is the wind farm which is located 20km or so from Martinborough and marks the high point of the route. The next 20km are downhill and very fast.

This is my trusty Ridley Damocles equipped with the best innovation in road cycling gear for the last twenty years: road tubeless tires. The Shimano Dura Ace wheels are light, stiff, and strong, and combined with tubeless tires make an amazing ride. Fewer punctures--I've had one after going through three sets of tires in the last two years. Lower pressure means comfort and traction, as well as lower rolling resistance. I've been running between 85 and 95 psi, which really smooths out the coarse chip roads.


The road to the coast from the Martinborough square rolls through beautiful farmland out to the coast at Tora. At this time of the year the landscape reminds me of the Texas Hill Country, though I saw no trucks with gun racks and the dead possums here are more like fattened chinchillas than what the opossum looks like in North America.

I'm inspired (again) to put something together out there--perhaps make a weekend of it. A cx bike and some company would make it work nicely. Any takers?

Erin go Bragh

2011-03-16T23:12:00.000-07:00

Up the Irish! Or something like that.

Sean Kelly--the greatest Irish cyclist of all time.

Being part Irish I cannot resist posting photos of a few figures in cycling who come from the Emerald Isle.

Paul Kimmage, rider and journalist, author of Rough Ride, and advocate for fair-play and all things anti-doping.

David Walsh, award-winning journalist, author of LA Confidentiel and relentless pursuer of the Truth. And someone who I will be forever grateful to.

2011-03-08T13:12:00.000-08:00

Just landed the first cyclocross rigs for the upcoming winter series. We now have the beautiful bike you see here--the Masi CX SS--as well as the Masi CX Uno, the Bergamont Dolce CX, and one Trek XO1. There is no reason why more people can't participate in the most exciting and exhausting discipline in cycling. We have bikes from a tad over $1200 and an eight round race series in July and August. I look forward to it!

.

Completely unrelated

2011-02-20T14:40:00.000-08:00

I apologize for this post, which is completely unrelated to bicycles.

People often ask me where I'm from--which is fair enough a question as I clearly don't sound like I just moved here from Invercargill. Most guess that I'm Californian, which I find very amusing mostly because it is perhaps my least favorite state and one that would be better off as its own republic. California is a sociopolitical monstrosity. The most common other assumption is that I'm from Canada, which for someone like me is the highest compliment.
The truth is that I'm from everywhere and nowhere. I was born in Georgia (not ex-Soviet, but the Peach State) where I lived maybe the first six months of my life. As a military kid I moved from place to place on a semi-regular basis, eventually spending time in Washington, California, Oklahoma, Alabama (thrice!), Maryland, and...
Texas.
I have spent most of my life there if you add it all up. My parents were born there. My sisters were born there. My dearest friends live there still.
But, by golly I refuse to answer the question with, "I'm from Texas". It's too loaded a term and one with truly embarrassing associations. Frankly, a pool filled with hungry sharks is a more comfortable place to be.
Here's the latest:

http://www.stuff.co.nz/world/americas/4682130/Texas-poised-to-pass-bill-allowing-guns-on-campus

I went to the University of Texas in Austin, which is the liberal bastion located right smack dab in the middle of a sea of backwardness. It was once a great place to live--a little hot most of the year--but, lots of sunshine, a thriving music and arts scene, and lots of hippies (God bless 'em). However, being there was like being under siege by the racist, nationalist, redneck warmongers that most of the world associates with T-e-x-a-s. Ask your average Texan about Austin, and they'd likely describe it as weird.
The moron above with the six shooter in his hand is their latest half-wit governor (the former being GW Bush) who thinks it's a good idea to allow students and professors at my alma mater to carry handguns.

Need I say more?
Ok, how about this:
Charles Whitman.

Man, I love New Zealand.
And don't you worry Texas, I won't be moving back to take yer guns away. Umkay?

Tis a good thing that I just rode my bike. I feel better for having done so.

Mmmm, beeer.

2011-02-16T17:05:00.000-08:00

Ze echelon iz tres important

2011-02-10T22:13:00.000-08:00

This clip (thanks Innering) is a stark reminder of the importance of position, particularly in a cross wind such as one finds nearly every day in the valley. It is something I have failed to pay attention to in key moments, only to be spit out the back when attempting to re-attach my over-exerted self to the group.
Just a few weeks back (or was it months?) after a good star at the Vets race over in Gladstone, on the third lap I failed to keep that good position in a cross wind and was forced to do far more work to hang on than I could manage.
Then, poof!
Out the back I went.
I dug deep, but to know avail. There was a length of 500m or so at the finish that separated me from the main bunch. It was a a stupid mistake.
This clip is a beauty. Pure poetry in motion--if you put on some music and mute the commentator. Put this lesson in your noggin.

Fast Eddy's Flandria Cafe: What's an honest man worth?

2011-02-07T18:03:00.000-08:00

Fast Eddy's Flandria Cafe: What's an honest man worth?: "'Of more worth is one honest man to society and in the sight of God, than all the crowned ruffians that ever lived.' &n..."

Wheely Wheely Fast

2011-02-02T00:23:00.000-08:00

This post comes with a healthy dose of i-told-you-so and damn-was-i wrong, so any gloating will be cancelled out by a slice of the humble.

The CX Worlds.
Yep. I got it wrong. Zdenek Stybar, the great rider from the Czech Republic, rode away with the honours. Well done. Naturally, this came with a bit of grumbling from the fans and competitors. Some complained that the course was too easy. Others said that his absence the week before left him fresher on race day in St Wendel. The reality is that he has suffered from a knee injury all season, and from what he's said, focused on winning this event, rather than chasing every podium spot of the season. This strategy gripes a few, myself included.
Whatever.
He won. With an explosive display that only THE MAN Sven Nys could follow...until he flatted.
Let's not forget the first time he took a world title a few years back in the under 23 category, after which he grabbed one title after another.
http://www.zdenekstybar.com/en/victories.php
The man is good. Let's see what he does on the road.

And Katie Compton rode the race of her life! It was a hard earned second.
No sleeping hubby in the pits. Still, the best result of an American ever, I think.
She was simply outmatched by Marianne Vos, the Dutchwoman who was really the one to beat, and who rode away on the last lap with what appeared to be little effort.

Now for the i-told-you-so.
It has been reported that some major geeks (and I mean that in the most respectful way) in the land they call Suomi aka Land of the Finns have determined , through rigorous scientific testing, what many of us already knew, and have been saying for several years:

1. Wider tires are faster on the road. Pick the 25's over the 23's.

2. 29ers are faster. There's a big duh!

While I am personally a dreadful climber, and can go no faster uphill even if my shorts were on fire, I will beat you down hill nine times out of ten on my singlespeed 29er if you're on a set of the wee wheels. Try me some time. (To be clear: we're not talking about a DH course and you are not John Tomac)

There were a few surprises in the study, which you can read here:
http://www.cyclingnews.com/features/tech-feature-the-work-of-wheel-

And click here to see fantastic photos and why cyclocross is the best form of cycling:
http://cyclephotos.co.uk/cx/

Cyclocross Worlds-Sankt Wendel

2011-01-28T20:06:00.000-08:00

     This is what you're missing if you're not in the sunny and warm town of Sankt Wendel, Germany this weekend. Clearly no one has told the Spaniards that the point of cyclocross is to get dirty. They'll soon find out unless they remain where they are. Lots of rain and mud means a good day out for the Belgians. Sven Nys seems unstoppable in conditions like these, but Nils Albert could also take the honours.
Stybar? I'm not putting any money on him; I'm not the betting type.
In reality, it's any man's race--unless your a Spaniard, whose idea of cyclocross must include temps and conditions like Mallorca---complete with lots of techno.
Girls? I really can't see anyone else but the girl from my former homeland, the Excited States of Dysfunctia (aka USA), Katie Compton. It would be impolite to not support her. She's married to a Kiwi. Bar a catastrophe (e.g. her hubbie daydreaming in the pit area when she comes through for the inevitable bike change), she's got it, which is pretty special. Let's face it, the Yanks are not that good at it despite our numbers. Hell, no one is outside of the folks from the Low Countries. I reckon she'll be our first World Champion in the hardest discipline in cycling.
Follow it live on:
http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/uci-cyclo-cross-world-championships-cm-1

Photo credit © www.ispaphoto.com

Aesthete

2011-01-16T19:45:00.000-08:00

Have a browse at this wonderful collection of words and images. This is truly noteworthy in my humble opinion.
http://esthetecyclist.blogspot.com/

One Down; Five to Go

2011-01-16T13:04:00.000-08:00

Despite the overwhelming sense of dread which greeted me as I awoke on Sunday morning--or rather, got out of bed, because little sleep was likely had by anyone whose house faces north in NZ in the last few days--I mustered the strength to fill my belly with coffee and oats and headed to the rendezvous point to meet the Gents. It had been a fitful night's rest due to the creaking and shuttering our house offered in protest to the winds conjured up by some cyclone in the sea 1000kms away.
To my shock (not really), Mr Leslie and Pencil were waiting with an eager look on their faces. I had half-expected to see no one waiting given the weather. It was not a good day for flying.
In a very short while a half dozen more showed up. Impressive. No grumbling. No whimpering. And only one thumbs down sign from Mr Leslie, which I interpreted as meaning, "Perfect conditions, sir. Full speed ahead!"
And away we went--ten or so, which included young Master Luke who is in training to be a Jedi and Hamish the Trackstar (first timers for the Karapoti death march. I have to add that the latter was on a singlespeed which he would be familiar with on the track, except the track has no hills, and certainly not 1500metres of them).
After the body gave in to the brain's insistence that it keep walking up, up, up, the inner light began to shine. You see, this body is trained to rotate the crank on a bicycle. Not push one. Still, after the pain and maximum heart rate induced by the grovel up the Warm Up climb and Deadwood, it was actually good.
There is reward for all of the climbing. There is descending. There is the magic of flying through the bush with nothing but the sound of the wind, the tires, and the buzz of a Chris King hub. Like being chased by a swarm of killer bees at 50km/h.
The last climb greeted us with the usual welcome in the form of an unrideable rubble slope, which we negotiated en masse. Then the attacks ensued. First, by MM, who I struggled to follow, but managed nevertheless by the clever use of conversation. Pencil came next, who despite having a bit of fall (ok, quite a few actually; I've never seen someone crash repeatedly going uphill!) went past us on his big bike with little wheels and gears. When the track rose sharply, Pencil increased the gap. When it let up a bit, we reeled him in. It was a war of attrition.
By the top, I was crosseyed. The perfect place for an attack. So, I wound up the one gear I had and pointed the bike down the hill. I knew that I could put a big gap on those two down the hill, and was assured of this by the fading sound of their brakes behind me and up the hill. By the time I reached the river at the bottom there was no sign of them.
Heading down the gorge we all eased up and made our way to the end of the track where we waited for the rest to appear. Eventually, all did---a bit weary and a bit less chatty than when we departed hours before.
But, it was good. There is nothing like a bit of company when one takes on something like Karapoti. If for no other reason than the peer pressure that keeps a grown man from crying for mommy.
Next week I predict Pencil will put the sword to us all on his new bike. The big bike with big wheels. And gears. And suspension.
See you then.

Singular Suffering. You are Sylvester. Karapoti is a Wee Yellow Birdy.

2011-01-12T17:33:00.000-08:00

Since I'm in my final thirtysomething year, and see my prime somewhat dragging at the moment, I gather that this may be the last chance for a sub 3 hour Karapoti which will occur in the first week of March (www.karapoti.co.nz). I am not, afterall, Garth Weinberg, and evidently my talents, when doled out by whomever is entrusted with this task, did not include better than average athletic ability.
This is, in essence, a plea for company and camaraderie while I prepare my presently enfeebled body for the pain of race day.

My training plan--a term which I use with a mix of jocularity and apprehension--is as follows:

1. lots of road riding and a few road races thrown in for good measure which will help keep the motor tuned. I'm afraid I can no longer manage to ride a mountainbike everyday of the week as I have determined that it is likely the source of the aforementioned enfeeblement.

2. a lap round the 50km circuit this Sunday 16 January 2011 at 7:30 followed by another next week on Sunday at the same time.

3. weekly laps of the same miserable, muddy, grueling, and seldom rewarding circuit in February. These will help develop the conditioning required of the body for the flogging of race day.

4. the consumption of red wine as prescribed by my physician.

Really, I like the whole idea. I mean, it's actually tons of fun on the day of the race when you get to see lots of other folks losing their composure (and breakfast!) mid way or earlier round the course. The Karapoti is a monument of New Zealand cycling. A truly epic endeavour.
So please accept this heartfelt invitation to ride with yours truly who will be aboard a singlespeed.

Tallyho!

P.S. I will now issue a personal invitation to three individuals who I find somewhat inspiring for their athletic prowess and/or superhuman mental hardness, who all happen to be older than I, and some of whom substantially so:
Ross "Train in the Rain" Leslie
Jeff Lyell
Matt "Herr Veganburger/Powered by the Fumes of Fermenting Soybeans" Gerstenberger

That's you in the pain cage.

Good Advice

2010-11-21T17:17:00.000-08:00

This site is truly superb and the post is a must-read by all who ride in a bunch. (Yes, I mean YOU!)
http://www.cyclingtipsblog.com/2010/11/rolling-through/#more-15662

Thanks for reading, riding, and doing your part---safely.

CX Backflip

2010-10-25T23:34:00.000-07:00

Ben will be attempting this in the parking lot of the shop on Saturday.

Poms Revisited

2010-10-24T21:48:00.000-07:00

I think it's about time we take a full dosage of harden up pills and revive the sort of cyclocross racing of yesteryear.

This one gives me an idea.

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We've all gone soft.

2010-10-19T11:18:00.000-07:00

A friend asked me if I knew anyone who has a cyclocross bike to trade for his Masi Speciale 105 roadie (58cm) which he argues would be more suitable for his upcoming summer in the Sounds. My advice was to fit some bigger tires on the Masi (it will take at least a 28mm), and man up.
You see folks, back in the day, one bike was all that was required.
Thanks to this guy for the scans from the 1930's:
http://www.blackbirdsf.org/cx/
and for proving that the French, when they're not surrendering to the Germans or baking baguettes are seriously tough people.
Oh, and we've got something related to the above photos in the works for just after the new year arrives. Stay tuned.

Wellington Single Speed Race

2010-10-16T17:40:00.000-07:00

What was meant to be a primer for next week's SSWC in Rotorua turned out to be a very wet and rather low key one. Still loads of fun, despite gale force winds accompanying the rain. Hats off to those who volunteered to marshall the race; they were certainly wetter and colder than the riders.

After I got home, I retired to the garage to lube the chain on my weapon of choice. Shortly, thereafter my lovely better half came in and with a look of astonishment said, "You rode that?!".
Yes, darling-- I really wanted the prize for the most inappropriate bicycle for a mountain bike race.
The only rule of the day was one gear, so I chose the best of the lot, my Coconino cyclocross bike, which proved not to be such a bad choice after all. Almost all of the tracks at Makara Peak MTB Park are achievable on it. I only fell off once (on the North Face which has very soft edges and has caused me to crash at least once before). I will cherish forever the statement made by the guy behind me on an mtb on Livewires who said something along the lines of, "You've got some skill, bro".

Yes, whippersnapper, I do.
Too bad I have no legs.

Perhaps I'll use the bike next week in Rotorua, but I'll take the mtb just to be sure.

If I'd won the lotto last night, I certainly would not have raced this morning. Rather, I would have been on the phone to Ray Dobbins buying ALL of his fantastic vintage bicycles like this beautiful vintage Masi.
For those of you who are so inclined: http://www.raydobbins.com

Poms

2010-10-13T22:58:00.000-07:00

People have been fleeing Brittania for centuries and for good reason.
Tyranny.
Taxation without representation. Ask any red-blooded Yank.
Bad food. Why do you think India was colonized?
Over-population. Anyone spent time in Heathrow waiting for a transfer?
Bad weather.
Whinging poms, inventors of the word poncy.
However, they've got their finer points.
That stiff upper lip.
Unflappability.
Pink Floyd.
Good manners, which I admire more than anything; it is what holds society together.
There are some truly tough ones over there.
Like the guys in the photo who are enjoying a wee ride in the country. Now that, friends and neighbors, is a run-up!
British cyclocross racing at its finest. The Three Peaks Cyclocross race held in Yorkshire-home of the toughest poms whose veins are pumping a powerful mixture of Viking and Celtic blood.

This gives me a wicked idea. Stay tuned.

Performance Enhancing Cheese

2010-10-13T19:56:00.000-07:00

The world's best food for cycling. Not sure that this food product has been approved for human consumption or importation into NZ. Nevertheless, the boys on The Bike Hutt US Pro Cycling Team are fueled by Easy Cheese.
Easy Cheese. Better than EPO.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/45893293@N00/4851753543/

My Canada trip (Ben), Part 1

2010-09-03T03:41:00.000-07:00

So I thought it would be a good idea to escape the Winter here in NZ and head for the sunny hills of British Colombia, Canada.

Leaving on May 23rd, I flew straight into Vancouver to spend a couple of days exploring the city, which I found it very easy to get lost in!

3 days later I caught the Greyhound bus straight to Whistler Village! Woohoo! I had previously managed to sort out a flat with a couple of mates.

Spent that first night putting my bike together and getting pretty excited to finally ride here.

The first ten days were fairly wet. Weather would change constantly so half a run could be dry and the other wet.

Here are a couple of pics from the first week.

Results from CX 4

2010-08-17T22:14:00.000-07:00

A HUGE shout out to everyone who took part in our 2010 Cyclocross series. To all the competitors, supporters, sponsors and on-the-day helpers; we couldn't have done it without you!! Below are the results for the final event - we hope to see you all at next year's events!

Fast Race (60 mins plus one lap)

1. 55 Ken Feist
2. 37 Jonty Ritchie
3. 64 Tom Bradshaw
4. 35 Gary Moller
5. 46 Carl Paton
6. 34 Gav
7. 24 Bryce Lorcet
8. 49 Ant Bradshaw
9. 54 Brett Irving
10. 75 Asher Regan
11. 12 Ben Murphy
12. 20 Oliver Thompson
13. 43 Vaughan Harrison
14. 39 Tom Hirst
15. 31 Derek Harrison
16. M The Jedi Knight
17. 44 Simon Gilbert
18. 16 Ian McGill / Stephen Grenside (my notes have two number sixteens...)
19. 50 Andrew Leck
20. 5 Dean Johanssen

In the infirmary:
7 Mike Thompson
11 Mike Milner

Fun Race (30 mins plus)

1. 54 Brett Irving
2. 31 Danyon Graham - must be those aero wheels...
3. 34 Bolke Water
4. 16 Stephen Grenside
5. 45 Ryan de Lange
6. 11 Jayant Singh
7. 5 Humpy
8. 19 Justin Lane
9. 42 Clark Townsley
10. 66 Alan Paterson
11. 26 Nick Phillips
12. 47 Iain McDonald
13. 32 Aidan Loveday
14. 8 Ross Leslie
15. 41 Richard Harbord
16. 10 Keith Pittams
17. 33 Andrea Taare
18. 7 Russell Pilcher
19. 12 Nora Gale
20. 48 Wayne McCarthy
21. 38 Kent Mackey
22. 18 Dee
23. 43 Jen Dewald-Harrison
24. 25 Chris Costley
25. 1 The Bayou Princess
26. 29 Heather LeGrice
27. 23 Malcolm Scott
28. 20 Shauna Herminghouse
29. 13 Hayden Grocott
30. 51 Anthony Holmes
31. 22 Gail Cowles
32. 30 Jules Grace
33. 4 Wendy Grocott
34. 40 Russell Hirst
35. 300 Wee Te Moana
36. 39 Tom Hirst
37. 50 Hugo Kinnaird
38. 37 Stella Mackey
39. 6 Mac Madsen
40. 75 William Harbord
41. 9 Nathan Cartmell

Thanks again, and a major "well done" to all the under-16s that took part this week. Cheers!

VeloLibrary

2010-08-11T15:44:00.000-07:00

Check out this very clever usage of a library:

Circulus from machine project on Vimeo.

Video footage of CX 3

2010-08-03T19:17:00.001-07:00

Video footage thanks to Don Johnson!

2010 Bike Hutt Cyclocross Series - Race 3 California Park from BCNU on Vimeo.

Enjoy!

Results from Event 3 in the CX series 01 August

2010-07-31T19:24:00.000-07:00

Results for the fast race (1 hour):

(21 Laps)
1. Stu Houltham
(20 Laps)
2. Tony Keith
3. Edwin Crossling
4. Alex Revell
5. Davo Bushlove
(18 Laps)
6. Waghorn
7. Clive Bennett
8. Mike Thompson
(17 Laps)
9. Gary Moller
10.Ben Murphy
(16 Laps)
11.Catherine Dunn
12.Tom Hirst
(15 Laps)
13.Mikhail
14.Mike Milner
15.Herr Veganburger

Results for the "fun" race (30 mins):

1. Bryce Lorcet
2. Mikhail
3. Phil Pharand
4. Steve Hutchison
5. Leif Christensen
6. Bolke Water
7. Humpy
8. Al Paterson
9. Ryan de Lange
10.Jayant Singh
11.Nick Schleckmeister Phillips
12.Ross Leslie
13.Matt W-S
14.Ollie Jones
15.Danyon
16.Don Johnson
17.Iain McDonald
18.Liz Robertson
19.Mike Beale
20.Dean Johansson
21.Darren Smith
22.Jude Young
23.Nora Gale
24.Alofa Kosena
25.Stuart
26.Scotty
27.Alex Bushlove Bennett (age 8)
28.Nathan Cartmell (age 7)

Congrats to everybody for taking part - great event!! Our next event is Sunday, 15 August at Trentham Memorial Park. Fun race at 10am, Fast race at 11am. Hope to see you all there!!! BikeHutt

Results from Round 2 of the CX Series - California

2010-07-20T15:27:00.000-07:00

Fast Race- 60 mins plus one lap

1. Edwin Crossling (19 laps)
2. Alex Revell
3. Waghorn
4. Davo Bushlove
5. Gary Moller
6. Wayne Hiscock
7. Alistair Crossling
8. Hayden Richards
9. Mike Thompson
10. El Jefe
11. Ben Murphy
12. Team Vegan
13. Thirsty Hirsty
14. Mike Milner
15. Cameron Wood
16. Andrew Leck
17. Nick the Schleckmeister Phillips
18. Chris Contador Costley
Honorary DNQ Gavin McCarthy

Fun Race- 30 mins plus one lap

1. Bryce Lorcet (9 laps)
2. Craig Wadsworth
3. Oliver Thompson
4. Ryan de Lange
5. Clark Townsley
6. Bolke Water
7. Humpy
8. El Rosso
9. Malcolm Bull
10. Matthew Webb Smith
11. Keith Pittams
12. Ben Powell
13. Andrea Taare
14. Alofa Kosena
15. Liz Robertson
16. Richard Clarkson
17. Malcolm Scott

A big congrats to everyone who took part, and thanks for all the helpers! The next event is California Park again, Sunday 1st August. Cheers!

1st of 4 Races in the CX Series - 4th July 2010

2010-07-06T16:46:00.000-07:00

This great helmet-cam footage courtesy of Don Johnson.

Our first race of the season at Trentham Memorial Park - what a stunning day!! Many thanks to everyone who came and helped set-up, marshaled, raced and cheered. The next race day is Sunday 18th July at California Park in Totara Park, Upper Hutt - rego from 9am, races from 10am. This time, you may pre-register at the shop - 808 Fergusson Dr, Upper Hutt.

Enjoy!

2010 Bike Hutt Cyclocross Series - Race 1 Trentham from BCNU on Vimeo.

Results from Round 1 of the CX Series -Trentham

2010-07-04T18:31:00.000-07:00

Fast race 60min plus one
1. Stuart Houltham
2. Alex Revell
3. Dave Aldred
4. Jonny Waghorn
5. Vimpy
6. Jonty
7. Ken Feist
8. Marco Renall
9. Andrew Barlow
10. Geoff Notman
11. Nick Treadgold
12. Nic Blair
13. Jeff Lyall
14. Gary Moller
15. Mike Thompson
16. Cameron Wood
17. Andrew Leck
18. Herr Veganburger
19. Tom Hirst
20. Mike Milner
21. Al Crosley
22. Kerry Jones
DQ Gavin The Course Cutter McCarthy will start at the back of the field with lead-filled tyres at the next race.

Fun race 30min plus one lap
1. Danyon Graham
2. Andrew King
3. Ed Banks
4. Owen Hughes
5. LTC Blythen
6. Clark Townsley
7. Bolke Water
8. Justin Lane
9. Ryan DeLange
10. Ashley Burgess
11. Ross Leslie
12. Don Johnson
13. Mike Beale
14. Chris Fitzwater
15. Max Olson
16. Humpy
17. Richard Clark
18.Nick Olson
19. Jude Young
20. Oregon's Finest
21. Utah's Finest
22. My Lovely Bayou Princess
23. Stuart Gunn
24. Malcolm Scott

Casco Warp II

2010-06-24T16:53:00.001-07:00

As worn by Chris Hoy and other Monsters of the Velodrome. Available now for $425. Feel free to wear it while riding your Vespa.

Relapse

2010-06-16T16:46:00.000-07:00

I can't shake the addiction.
I have a hairy, rabid, fiendish primate on my back.
Want.
Stop it Gary Fisher. You are an evil man.
2011 Gary Fisher Bikes here:
http://www.trekbikes.com/us/en/bikes/gary_fisher_collection/

And a perfect bit of Curtis Mayfield to set the tone.

CX Practice

2010-06-14T18:48:00.000-07:00

After trying to make Friday nights work for holding some practice sessions, I've unilaterally decided to do this on Saturday afternoons at 4pm at Trentham Memorial Park--the site of two of the four races on the calendar. And I'm unanimous in that!
See you at 4 on Saturday. Look for the BikeHuttMobile. Mrs.Slocombe will not be there.

CX Practice/Wednesday Night Rumble/Erg Session

2010-05-30T00:02:00.000-07:00

After two weeks of torrential rain the trails are sufficiently...well, stuffed. And since I'm a guy who doesn't like wrecking his own equipment by riding through the mud for hours on end, as well as thinking that to recommend it to anyone else would be like a doctor offering you a cigarette...
If this weather continues then I suggest that those interested in getting a workout on Wednesday nights meet me at the shop for an erg session. What's an erg? Think: medieval torture device adapted for cycling.
It's, er, fun.
Well, sort of.
Really, it's the world's windiest wind trainer. The pedaling flail. The only trainer I've ever used that brought my legs to complete failure and made me weak in the knees upon dismounting. Rumor has it that Dan "Polska Power" Walsuszewski has passed out after going at it.
In a few words, it will kill you before it makes you stronger. But it will make you stronger.
It is the sort of activity where peer pressure/moral support is of benefit. Or you could bring your own trainer.
Or we could go soft and ride the Whitemans Valley loop on the road. One hour. Flat out. Either way it beats hunkering down like Chicken Little.
Last Wednesday I could stand it no longer and went for a run in Trentham Park in the howling wind and rain, which was fun, if a little dark. (Note to self; buy a head torch.)
By Friday, I desperately needed to pedal so I donned my new LG Gemini jacket for a lap of the valley. Yes, it was raining. Yes, a howling southerly battered me from the front the entire way.
But, I was warm and dry due to the finely crafted jacket. You should get one. Really. No, realllllly. What are you gonna do--get fat and slow over the winter just because you're afraid of a little rain?
Friday nights from 4 June until the first CX race on Sunday 4 July, I'll be setting up the barriers that Ken Feist built us for this year's series and running some practice sessions for an hour or so. It will give the novice a chance to get the technique right---and trust me, technique is very important. Give me a shout here if you're keen. Start at 6pm.
I just need to find a park that has lights...
Guess, I've got to make a few phone calls tomorrow.

Cyclocross Racing Series

2010-05-19T20:50:00.000-07:00

All of you who like the mud, sweat and pain of cyclocross--or simply want to give it a go--mark this down on your race calendars:

Sunday 4 July 2010 Trentham Memorial Park Upper Hutt 10am
Sunday 18 July 2010 California Park Upper Hutt 10am
Sunday 1 August 2010 California Park Upper Hutt 10am
Sunday 15 August 2010Trentham Memorial Park Upper Hutt 10am

This year we've managed to get two venues sorted allowing a better mix of terrain.
California Park remains and will consist of the same course as last year--classic cross racing with great views for spectators and constant speed changes required by the riders. Riders will bust a gut on the first lap and have to hold on for another 10 plus laps before the clock is finished.
New this year is Trentham Memorial Park which will definitely have higher speeds better suited to cx bikes with a long flat gravel section and smooth grassy runways. The more open lay out of the park will allow spectators to see the entire race from virtually any spot.

There will be two races at each event depending on the number of entries:
1 hour plus one lap for the Fast Race. The fast race will have riders on cx bikes seeded first. MTBer who get lapped will be pulled!
30 minutes plus one lap for the Fun Race. Open to all riders.

Entry fee is $10 NZ/ $50 Canadian / $.50 USD / 20 Pounds Sterling. Euros and Rubles will not be accepted.

There is a no bar end rule for all races and a maximum tyre width of 45mm for the Fast Race

Wednesday Night Rumble in the Jungle

2010-05-04T14:59:00.000-07:00

Every Wednesday we do something different-- exploring the tracks in the mighty Hutt Valley.This week we'll give the Dry Creek Loop at Belmont Regional Park a go. Should be fun. Despite its name, it is seldom dry. In fact, the one bit of singletrack in the middle of this mostly 4wd track loop is a slippery sluice of clay. Fun, fun, fun. The loop takes under an hour and is a good mix of up and down. Half up! Half down! The latter half is a high speed downhill with just enough elevation loss to make the rotors smoke. Beware:There is a closed gate at the bottom.
Time permitting some may opt to go up to the Substation and cruise through St Pats Forest.
We'll meet at the carpark at the bottom near the base of the Haywards Hill road at 6pm. Bring your lights! I hope to have some more of the Nite Lights today for those of you who are after a little bit of sun to put on your handlebar or helmet. I've been using the 900 lumen single lamp on my head for the last few weeks;it is more than sufficient in my view. For the money, a great product. Good sellers too! I sold through the first batch of 15 in only a month.Nevertheless, if your eyesight in the dark is less than stellar, eat more carrots. Or check out the 1400 lumen unit, which should come with the others.
http://nitelights.co.nz/

P.S. If you're in a pinch for something bicycle related, let me know and I'll bring what you need with me!

Rough Riders

2010-04-29T12:26:00.000-07:00

This would have to be the website for my friend Herr Veganburger, as well as the brave souls who attempted the inaugural Kiwi Brevet earlier this year. In honour of the SUV of bicycles ( 0r perhaps the rally car), http://www.xo-1.org/ follows the ethos that less is better and that one machine built with the best of both worlds in mind can in fact offer the singular experience that some of us want--with compromise, of course. Really, a skilled rider can tackle most mountainbike trails on a cyclocross bike! The mountain bike with it's typically flat handlebar is outmoded by a bicycle with a drop bar on long stretches of road. As the sport of mountain biking has evolved, it's gone from backcountry adventures to an offroad amusement park with countless purpose-built trail centers where the thrills are plentiful. Along with that came the suspension fork, the fully sprung frame, disc brakes, etc. I'm never surprised to hear someone in the shop comment on how similar some of the bikes are to motorcycles; these comments come frequently.
I am still pining away for one of the greatest bikes ever built, and the namesake of the aforementioned website. Designed by Grant Petersen of Bridgestone USA and sold for only a few years in the early 1990's, it quickly became a cult classic. You would be surprised to see how much one of those sells for on Ebay these days. At the time I was working here: http://wheelsinmotiontexas.com/ as a young lad in the workshop. I could've bought an XO-1 for a pittance, but didn't. Let it slip through the cracks. Years later I had Steve Garro of Coconino Cycles build a CX bike using the XO-1 as inspiration.
I am no Luddite. Really I'm a self-confessed adrenaline junky. Still, I have always sought a way to blend my love of exploring the forest, desert, mountains, jungle or bush and the stretches of paved road between. A full susser is my last choice for that kind of riding.

Bicycle design

2010-04-21T22:20:00.001-07:00

Is this the future of the bicycle? Or is it something dreamed up by a fan of Blade Runner the Ridley Scott adaptation of Philip K Dick's Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?
Read more here, but beware: if you're a bike nut you'll be sucked into the vortex.
http://bicycledesign.net/

2nd Annual Independence Day Cyclocross Series

2010-04-18T00:38:00.001-07:00

Starting at 9am on Sunday 4 July, I'll be hosting yet another hour of power and pain for those who need a high intensity workout. Truly, there cannot be a better way to race your bike or to watch one being raced. To be repeated fortnightly at either California Park or Trentham Memorial Park in glorious Upper Hutt. The gracious people at the Parks Department have given the go ahead, and in the next few weeks I'll be selecting the venues for each race. Double the fun from last year when there were but two dates and one venue. I'm stoked about being allowed the use of Trentham Memorial as it has a better mix of terrain---some asphalt, some gravel, some grass and mud to be sure---as well as better access for spectators. Hell, I've even got some new barriers built by Ken Feist who is as mad about CX as I am. You should see his rego!
Four events. Two per venue. Fortnightly starting at 9am on Sunday the 4th of July (in honour of our escaping).
Entry Fee: 10NZD/35AUD/1CAD/10quid
More soon. Leave your white shorts at home.

Summer's End

2010-04-05T14:51:00.000-07:00

It came and went rather quickly, n'est-ce pas?

No sooner had we Wellingtonians celebrated the late arrival of Summer, she fled.
Just like that. Remaining is the cold wet weather that the city is famous for. Great. At least it's Classics week for European road racing, and the weather matches. Call it the equilibrium of seasons (i.e.same in the north as in the south).Tour of Flanders was hard fought in similar conditions to ours over the weekend. Paris-Roubaix, which is more often than not contested in the rainy, cold, and windy conditions typical of Northern Europe in spring takes place on Sunday. Anyone who thinks that men in lycra are less than tough should watch that one.
From that I'll take inspiration, and steel myself against the weather and ride. And ride.

Daylight Savings ended over the weekend, and was duly marked by my son who arose at 5:30 to catch the cartoon shows on the TV. More importantly, and less enervating, the weekly bunch ride dubbed the Wednesday Worlds (that's Wotan's Day to you Scandinavians) has gone into hibernation, and shall be replaced by a mountain bike ride. Same time (6pm Wednesdays). Same place (808 Fergusson Dr).
You'll need lights!
Check these out: http://nitelights.co.nz/
I've broken my own rule and ordered a dozen sets which will sell for the paltry sum of 250 kiwi dollars. Why have I gone back on earlier statements made about stocking high-end lights? Because these are killers. And because a number of people have asked me about them. Great price. Great quality. Just a few years ago something like this would cost twice as much.
Grab a set and join us for some adventures in the local bush. Or ride safely at night wherever you may be going.

I called it

2010-04-05T14:47:00.002-07:00

Cancellara.

Ronde van Vlaanderen.

He road away from Tom Boonen so easily, and motored on to the finish. Amazing how they make it look so easy after 250kms.

I think it's over for the Belgians this year.

Bikewise Challenge

2010-02-01T15:10:00.000-08:00

Ride your bike! Ride to work! Ride to school! Ride to the dairy, supermarket, library, pub, bottle shop. Just ride!
And log your miles (or kms, whatever system you like).

http://www.bikewisechallenge.co.nz

“Every time I see an adult on a bicycle, I no longer despair for the future of the human race.”

Thanks to HG Wells. I couldn't have said it better.

Equipment failure

2010-01-27T21:23:00.000-08:00

After having spent farrrrrrrr too much time over-analyzing my choice of equipment for next week's brevet, and finally reaching a decision that didn't cause any undue sleepless nights (leave that to the boyracer/wannabe East LA neighbours), a failure occurred to a vital piece of equipment while negotiating the 20cms that is the lip leading into my driveway. Accompanied by the dull snap of total plastic destruction, the Klickfix http://www.klickfix.de/indexe.html met it's fate. I had not exceeded the payload. Not even half the payload.
And I stood defeated.
So much for lightweight. As Keith Bontrager says, "Light, cheap, durable. Pick two."
So much for German engineering. Vorsprung durch Technik. Ha!
I thought it best to disregard the experience of Monsieur Super Motard, who smashed his Klickfix while descending a nice singletrack descent. He surmised that the rear wheel of his fully suspended Santa Cruz slammed into the rack held fast by the aforementioned bit of German origin. I think he was actually sitting on the rack that is held to the seatpost by the device, all the while enjoying a Gauloises. A fluke I thought. Not so! Two in a row.
Since I have no desire to carry all of my gear on my back...
Plan B was my trusty old BOB Trailer that I bought shortly before venturing off to Europe in 1995 for a bit of bohemian bike touring. That thing has been great, though seldom used lately. So, I mounted it to the bike this morning and headed up Boulder Hill and into Belmont Regional Park for a re-acquaintance. Certainly It doesn't get much rougher or steeper than that and would be a good proving ground. The test failed. It's great on the road, and was more than sufficient in my younger, harder, more foolhardy days building clandestine mtb trails in the rocky hills and ravines of central Texas. But no thanks. It's an extra 6.5kgs. It is not fun lifting over fences. Worse even, it puts a shimmy in the back end of my bike while descending loose gravel roads that reminds me of an evening in a steamy nightclub in Lagos with Fela Kuti and the Egypt 80. Something in my tiny little noggin says that it could be the end of me in the most unfortunate way in a far out place on the South Island. At high speed.
Gonna have to bolt on a good old fashioned rack. Fate has led me to have one of these in the shop: http://surlybikes.com/parts/surly_rack/

I will still, however wonder about the elusive ultimate set up. I suppose, it's the one that doesn't break.

P.S. Fela Kuti is the greatest. Google. Download. Buy CD. Better yet. Buy vinyl! His 15 minute long masterpieces of Afro funk will accompany me for 1200kms along with 3000 other songs loaded on the MP3 player. I'll keep the shimmy to a minimum.

See Spot Run

2010-01-21T19:54:00.000-08:00

Ay Chihuahua. Check this thing out. It's got lots of things going for it. It's steel. It's raw steel. It's a cyclocross frame. It's a single speed. It's a belt drive!
Handmade by Spot Brand Bikes in the great state of Colorado. Brought to NZ by the world class boys at Cycletech NZ.
It's one of the most intelligent choices ever in a bicycle. Simplicity, durability, and practicality combined.
Come check it out while it's in the shop. Truly an exclusive.

Business, brevet and the absent summer

2010-01-15T23:26:00.000-08:00

The holiday passed with its usual fanfare. A mad dash to the very end for many shoppers meant delayed, but welcome, and much needed income for yours truly. It was a pleasure to move a fair amount of stock, some of which had been around all year! Naturally, it is always satisfactory to put the right item in the right hands, which is always what I strive for. This does not always make for a quick turnover of inventory, but it does good things for the soul. I'd rather use my expertise to give the customer precisely what is needed rather than capitalize on desperation or ignorance.
This year I opted to shut the store for the period between Christmas and New Years Day. With all of the statutory holidays in NZ (I love this country!) there were only two or three days between, which made it nearly pointless to open. It was a good opportunity to relax and unwind. So, I packed the rugrats and my lovely better half and headed for the hills. Or they packed the car and I headed off on my bike to meet them. They took the short route to the famously steep Admiral's Hill near Gladstone, while my bean and tofu powered compadre from the American Mid West and I pedalled the looooong way around for the purpose of testing our gear. We left the glory of Upper Hutt and headed through Tunnel Gully and along the Incline to Featherston, which is a highly under-rated ride. Tunnel Gully sidles the hills while still providing a good bit of up and down along forestry roads which are perfect for our brevet machines. In truth, one only needs something other than a full on road bike for this as there is very little rough stuff. The Incline passes through some very nice scenery and a few old rail tunnels. Mr Bean and I made our way blindly through the summit tunnel of 500 meters without incident. It was a rather eerie experience and a bit like the sensory deprivation experiments of post modern psychology. Riding in the pitch black for a few minutes without any spatial awareness was a first for me. Fortunately, I've learned to ride in a straight line over the years AND the tunnels are wide enough for a train to pass. It was hardly like passing a camel through the eye of a needle, but still a formidable challenge. I recommend a light be carried for the rest of you, intrepid or not. It could mean avoiding a giant weta which may find comfort in landing on your face as you trespass on its territory. After the runaway train descent to Cross Creek we ambled to Featherston and then to Martinborough before taking some truly wonderful back roads to the back side of Admiral's Hill. It was the coolest road ride I've done yet in NZ! Some of it was gravel and a lot of it was uphill. We saw only a few cars. Absolute magic and 150kms altogether.
Upon our arrival and reunion with the family we settled in for a rest and massive caloric intake. My son and I intended to spend our first night under the stars in NZ without the shelter of a tent as I wanted to test a bivy bag intended for the kiwi brevet http://kiwibrevet.blogspot.com/ next month. This was a novel experience as it was the first time sleeping outdoors that I had no fear of snakes, scorpions or other creatures becoming my bedfellows in the wee hours. Have I said how much I love New Zealand? Anyhow the bivy from Vaude proved to be perfect for the job at hand keeping me both dry and warm, however because I had only one, and the rain began to fall on my poor son's face shortly after midnight I dragged his peacefully sleeping body and mine into the safety of the tent that I pitched beforehand. Sadly, the tent proved to be highly unreliable and leaked like a sieve, soaking everything inside except for that which was enclosed in the aforementioned bivy. The score: 15yr old REI tent Nil, Vaude Active Bivy 100. The boy was fine; he slept through it all and would have passed the Great Flood and the loading of the Ark without waking. I was dry!
Which brings me to my last point: where is the summer?! If you share my concern, please write to the Met Service and vent your spleen. Attention Ramon.
If the weather on the Mainland in February during the brevet is anything like Wellington this summer, then at least I'll be well prepared. Hopefully my legs and heart will stay with me.
Happy New Year and ride your bike!

Taupo ticked off the list

2009-12-01T11:23:00.001-08:00

After doing lots and lots of big rides like this back in los estados unidos (that's the US to you non-Spanish speakers) I figured I'd had enough of the ride-with-ten-thousand other-people events. Consider this one for instance: www.hh100.org, which has been held every year for what seems like the last thousand in the middle of August in Texas. Now, what possesses anyone to ride their bike in the land of rednecks on rolling terrain in the middle of the summer when you're lucky if the temp ever dips below 30degrees at midnight(!) is beyond me. And, yet, I did. Quite a few times. I suffered through the 40 degree heat compounded by the blast furnace wind of the American Great Plains half a dozen times or more. 100 miles. I dodged many a nasty crash and drank enough water to float the Interislander. And then, one day I swore I'd never do it again.
Then, we moved to New Zealand, where for the last three years I heard about Taupo-this and Taupo-that. So, I changed my mind about the avoiding the big mass of cycling humanity and gave it a go.
On a fixed gear.
With no coasting.
Joined by local Upper Hutt Ironman hard man Vaughn Harrison, and immigrant-like-me Craig The Pom Harding. We set out with 11,000 or so others on Saturday for a leisurely stroll round the lake. Or so, I thought. You see, a minor miscalculation on my part, meant that the selected gear ratio would require me to spin like the wheels of a boy racer's souped up Corolla on a Saturday night, just to maintain a normally pleasant 35 km/h on the flat. Going downhill was worse yet. After the first 80 kms of rolling terrain, my legs simply couldn't keep up with my ego as I desperately tried to keep up with the geared crowd downhill. While many of those sailed past me down to Waihi at 80+km/h (coasting! Oh, the freewheel and all it's glory!), I struggled to go 45km/h downhill as my hamstrings had been forced to work well beyond the call of duty to keep up with the high cadence associated with high speeds on a fixed gear. The fastest I got for the whole 160km was 56km/h, which meant that I was spinning at 170rpm. By Turangi, I'd had enough. But I rallied and pushed on, only to be further insulted by wee Angela Kriel when she called my name just outside of town, and who no doubt reckoned she'd finish way behind me at the start. My legs simply could not answer the call to grab on to the group for a tow to the infamous Hatepe hill. It was a miserably flat run in to the hill. I nearly begged for a little rise so that I could be allowed the opportunity to stand and pedal. Oh, how my backside ached by that point. Still, I climbed Hatepe with no trouble passing many of the same people who had passed me after the descent in to Turangi, and who I had passed on virtually every other climb along the way. Then they passed me again. My ego was tattered, as I am one who embraces gravity and speed, and seldom get passed on descents. If I can coast!
I rolled across the finish with a ride time of 5:31, and an official time of a fair while longer due to the three stops I was forced to make to coax my rebelling hamstrings into providing their much needed assistance. My legs turned the pedals round 30,000 plus revolutions in the 160kms (remember: no freewheel!)
To add insult to injury I was beaten by nearly all of the NZ Army, who I swore I would beat, as well as by a man of miniscule stature, who couldn't possibly be taller than my six year old. Good effort!
On a somber note, I did beat one normally tough man from the Army, Aaron, who was taken out by a couple of muppets on bikes along with a number of others. He got a ride in a chopper and sustained some nasty injuries resulting in some time off the bike and considerable pain.
So, folks, don't ride your bikes like so many of us drive cars. Without the protection of steel around you, hitting the deck is very painful.
Hats off to the town of Taupo and to the organizers who truly put on a great event.
Maybe I'll see you next year.
If my backside heals.
And my ego.

Kiwi Brevet

2009-10-21T18:03:00.001-07:00

A few years back I had the pleasure of helping a very nice lady in Austin Texas named Bonita Thomson who competed in events like Paris-Brest-Paris, RAAM and other ultra long distance bike races. I thought it was all a little nutty to ride for more than 6 or 8 hours at a time, but those folks ride for days at a time. Bonita was training at the time for one event or another--I've forgotten which--and part of her program involved riding around the same 4 mile bike path non stop for 24 hrs. She had a little bell attached to her gear cable as it came out of the shift lever that let out a plaintive and constant little tinkle while she pedalled along...to keep her awake. Her mantra was "17 miles an hour."
She planted a seed that remained dormant in my tiny little brain for about ten years until last year. After riding my singlespeed mtb around the 50 km Karapoti circuit every Sunday from January to March, it began to dawn on me that one gear is all one needs to suffer a great deal, and that it simplifies said suffering. So a few days after the actual race, I took the ferry across to Picton and rode to Golden Bay--some 200 odd kms away. It took me 10 hrs--the last two of which were rather painful with the 800m Takaka Hill at the end of a long day. But, I did it with ONE gear without ever having ridden more than 6hrs on a fixed gear in my life. And truthfully, I could have kept going, but the road runs out not far from Pohara where Allison and the kids were waiting. It inspired me after it nearly broke me. I vowed to do it again. And so I will.
Starting with the Round Lake Taupo on a fixed gear next month. Then a trip round the block (that's Wellingtonian talk for Welly-Wairarapa-Pahiatua-Palmerston North-Welly). 300kms in one go which I've been threatening to do now for a year or so. Thankfully John Randall aka Sifter and a few others are giving it a run first! After the new year, I'll do a few looooonng rides/sleep deprivation exercises.
And then there is this:
www.kiwibrevet.blogspot.com
It's the closest thing to the famed Paris-Brest-Paris for me for a while.
Now, about that singlespeed...

The Fastest bike in the world

2009-10-21T17:35:00.000-07:00

If a time trial were a beauty contest alone, then this girl would win hands down.
However, the clock only cares about speed.
The one who gets there first, wins. TT's are THE event for the obsessive compulsive. Every minute detail gets tested.
Shave your arms.
Eliminate drag.
Close your eyelids.
Eliminate drag.
Don your aero helmet (You know--the one that makes you look like The Alien in Ridley Scott's movie.)
Eliminate drag.
Oodles of money have been poured into making tt bikes more aerodynamic. If you know my background, then you'll also know that I've had my hands on a few weirdly expensive tt bikes that were tested, then NOT ridden in the Tour de France. The Ridley Dean is the result of some particularly rigorous and costly wind tunnel testing and it has been ridden in the Tour de France.
Look at the numbers:
http://www.thefastestbikeintheworld.com/index.php?id=aerodynamics&language=english
And congratulations to you if you can understand them! I do. Just. And only because my father is an aerospace engineer and test pilot who imparted a few morsels of knowledge about these things. In truth, just enough to make me curious, but not enough to make me want to go off and be one too!
So, if you want to ride the fastest bike in the world, come and see me. We've got a Noah here, but the Dean is now proudly owned by the New Zealand Defence Force's fastest tt pilot Aaron. Thanks Aaron!
Oh, and thanks to Kane for telling me the story about the root of the name Ridley. Evidently, you were right as the name is in fact an homage to the famed director! But, I suppose Ridley rolls of the tongue more easily than Jochim.

Wednesday Worlds and Wheels

2009-09-28T21:27:00.001-07:00

The Wednesday Worlds start today at 6pm in front of the shop. This is the weekly battle between the has-beens, the hangers-on, the poseurs, the wannabes, and a few genuinely good riders. For 40km we try to hang on to their wheels. They smash us and we love it. Every Wednesday in front of the shop.
To feel good about ourselves, or to ostensibly make us faster, we could upgrade our kit to include some of these bad boys. Think: faster, lighter, more aero, stiffer. Who knows maybe if I've got a pair of Cosmic Carbones beneath me, I'll have enough to get around the sprinters at the finish.
I can hardly wait.

Cyclocross Update

2009-09-25T16:29:00.000-07:00

Here at last is the video of the second Bike Hutt Crosstafarian's Cyclocross event, held at California Park in Upper Hutt on the 22nd of August 2009, courtesy of Don Johnson.

Cyclocross Race - Upper Hutt from BCNU on Vimeo.

Keep an eye out at www.cyclocross.org.nz and www.cyclocross.net.nz for all your cyclocross needs! Next year holds in store the National Cyclocross Series and a 4-event Wellington Series hosted by yours truly, Bike Hutt. Coming toward the end of this year in store are the Masi CXR and Trek X01 cross bikes. In the meantime you can get your fix by watching the European Cyclocross World Cup on Sky TV or online!

Likewise, you can check out www.mudandcowbells.com/ for other cross-related news.

Tally ho! Mike

Suppose I better introduce myself

2009-09-11T17:20:00.000-07:00

Hey all, I'm Ben, the main mechanic here at Bike Hutt. I'm 23 years old and have worked in the cycle industry for 4 years and have been riding for 7 years. I mainly ride jumps, trails and downhill. Anything that involves air time or speed I'm into.
I do the odd downhill and BMX race but prefer to do my own thing most of the time; looking forward to doing some BMX racing this season at the track on my jump bike.
I'm not quite as much of a bike hoarder as Mike but I do seem to acquire a new one every 6 months or so. Also upgrading current bikes and swapping parts over all the time, so when I recommend the product that usually means I've used and abused it enough to have confidence in it.
I've only lived in Wellington for 18 months, and was previously in Timaru where I worked in my first bike shop on and off for 2 years. In that time I worked at an American kids camp in Pennsylvania twice to teach mountainbiking to 8-16year olds, half of which had never ridden before.
It's great to be part of the Bike Hutt team because I get to share my passion with others, and I look forward to seeing you all here soon!

FASSA Report

2009-09-09T14:07:00.000-07:00

A good weekend of racing for the FASSA bunch on Saturday. Dan was a member of the winning team in the Wgtn Team Time Trial Champs. His team of 4 (2 riders never got to feel the wind in their face, sound familiar Yuley?) started last and overtook every other team bar 1. They won by over 1.5 minutes. Must be demoralising when you are doing 45kph in the Valley and Dan's team overtake you and leave you behind. Great display of power mate.

The first of the graded PNP races are this Saturday at 1.30pm. It goes from Gorrie Rd to Maymorn to Avian Rd and back to Gorrie Rd. Last year Dan won A grade and Hannes won C grade (so no pressure). Hopefully we will be well represented with Dan and maybe Nick in A grade, Forrest and Hannes in B grade and the usual suspects in C grade (that includes you Matt, flat and fast for the BMC mate). No pressure Courtenay but you should clean up the women's race if you display the form you had in Wainui the other week.
Last year in the C grade race the attack that split the bunch happened just after the school on the way back, so don't get caught near the back around there or again on the slight raise after the forest of fortune. You have been warned. There are no awards in this race for who can do the most work on the front (remember that Rob), this is an individual race (if you aren't on this mailing list) otherwise lets work as a team and smash everyone else.

Paul are you racing? I hear you have had problems with your legs again.

There will be a Sunday group ride at 10am leaving from the BIKE HUTT for those that are keen.

For those of you in the NZDF or POLICE and are keen on going to Rotorua to race in the Police Champs, let me know as its cheaper to travel as a group. I have accom booked but have room for 1 more. If you want details drop me a line.

Mike at the BIKE HUTT still has great reductions on some Bikes in stock and is offering 30% off all clothing in stock and 25% off all POLAR HR Monitors (they now start at $150). Make great early Xmas presents or late Fathers Days gift to yourself.

Hope to see at the race

Take care and ride safe
Besty

Satisfaction on two fronts

2009-09-09T00:51:00.001-07:00

I've sold lots of bikes in lots of shops in lots of places. I've worked in big shops, little shops, and in-between shops. I've sold cheap and cheerful bikes, and exorbitantly priced bikes to blokes in the middle of mid-life crises, many of which would amount to a down payment on a house. I've sold and worked on a bike or two that were worth a house or a section- or both, depending on where you're buying. I've sold bikes in the US, in Germany and now in New Zealand. You could say that my experience is vast for the average bike shop owner.
Still, I find lots of satisfaction in what I do. A bike is a sort of salvation. It is freedom. It is poetry in motion. It is practical.
Or as someone wise once said, "When I see an adult on a bicycle, I do not despair for the future of the human race." (H.G. Wells)
Last week, satisfaction came to me from both young and old(er). Little Rosie's parents came to the shop to get what is likely her first two wheeler. The joy on her face when she pedalled the little pink thing around the shop was the sort that still envelopes me frequently when I'm out and about on a bike---pure childlike joy.
And then there was Leon the Professional, owner of several bikes and an obvious enthusiast, a connoisseur even, who bought a Trek District (the vanguard!) for commuting to Wellington, which fills my soul with the same re-assurance that HG Wells eludes to in the quote above.
Thanks Leon and Rosie!
The revolution will not be motorised.

Roots

2009-08-31T21:44:00.000-07:00

So, this guy named Mike who runs the show at Triple Six Imports in Auckland sent me a DVD from The Shadow Conspiracy about a bunch of BMXers doing what they do now. Cool, I thought. I'll take it home and give it a look with the kiddos. Fortunately, it was tame with the language and content! It opens up with several minutes of my old turf in Austin, Texas which has a huge BMX scene and was home to Terrible One and lots of pro riders. It was cool to see a few shots of familiar terrain. Anyhoo, after three minutes, my son was transfixed. I was transfixed, and as is my habit, I began to fantasize about the days gone by when I was a BMXing kid too. Flashback to 1983 or so, when Bob Haro and Eddie Fiola were kings. I had my first job in the bike biz at the long gone Fitzgerald Bikes and Equipment (Read:lawnmowers), and that summer did my first competition as a flatland freestyler. It was thrilling. And now 26 years later I'm ready to pass the torch, or would i like to give it a go again? Would that be strange?
Read the headline: 6ft 2 in 38 year old father of two files an ACC claim for injuries sustained while showing the wee lads at the local skate park how it's done.
Some of you may have already worked out that I have an obsession with bicycles. Perhaps I'll exercise some restraint this time and leave it alone. Live vicariously through the younger generation, who have clearly helped the sport evolve immensely, and in ways that we in 1983 would never have imagined.
If you want to see what I mean, come by the shop and I'll let you borrow the DVD.
And check out the new Kink BMX range--which are so sweet, and light. A real departure from the built-like-a Sherman-tank bikes from the recent years. Keeping them company are the true old schoolers, SE Racing and Diamondback, and the venerable Mirraco.
I've still got a passion for them as they are the root of it all for me, though I've grown too tall and older. That same year (1983) while working at assembling bikes and mowers I took a ride on a mountainbike for the first time and another epoch began.

Addiction

2009-08-13T16:13:00.000-07:00

My name is Mike and I'm an addict. I've had 70+ bicycles in my 38 years and cannot help myself. I want more. This Trek District is my latest addition. She's an unusual sort. Call her a fashion bike if you must; I think she is the modern version of the Raleigh Sports of yesteryear. In fact, of all the bikes that have come and gone over the years, the Raleigh Sports is one I truly regret selling. So, the District is here to fill an emotional void, if you will. Bright orange and battleship grey with a belt drive. Yes, a belt drive. Unbelievably smooth and quiet pedalling and completely oil free. I added the Brooks B17 Aged to accommodate my sensitive nether region. Fantastic.

Bunch Ride

2009-08-13T15:44:00.000-07:00

Another great turnout for the PNP race last Saturday in Whitemans Valley. There was over 20 of you racing which is great to see. Joe Cooper showed his true class and destroyed the field. Hope he carries that form to the Tour of Southland. Gav rode an impressive race to win break 2. I am unsure of how the rest of you got on, but I know Jeremy and Ang both rode strongly in break 4 and were surprised at their finishing times. Good to have Steve Bothamley up from the home of rugby (that's Christchurch to those that didn't know) and racing. Campag riders are always welcome. Effort of the day must go to Rob who started his sprint from the bottom of Wallaceville Hill (on the first lap) and didn't quiet hold it to the finish. (It was 2 laps bro).

This week the race is in Wainui (don't leave anything of value in your car) and goes down Coast Road and back. I have heard it is a false flat and the return leg is the uphill one. Might be time to get the FASSA train working. I have heard (BIKEHUTT) Mike is coming out to race so from 5km out its leadout time for some lucky FASSA rider.

Instead of everyone making their own way there we should meet at the BIKEHUTT at 11.15 on Saturday, have a coffee then car pool it to the race. I am sure there will be a spare seat or 2 available.

Mike has got great Hutchinson Nitro training tyres in at the moment for a special price of $50 (a pair). This is only for FASSA riders. Good value for a hard wearing , high mileage training tyre.
He is also waiting for the first of the shop kit to arrive in store. It is $120 for the top and $130 for the bibs shorts.

Bruce has opened his new SUBWAY store in Silverstream so if you are passing call in and say hi and get yourself a sub for lunch or tea. He also makes great coffee.

The Sunday ride is at 10am at the BIKEHUTT. I hear there has been good turnouts on the Sunday rides and hope to make it this week.

Ride safe and take care
Besty
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