Fog City Cyclocross Series 2014

It's not that hard, right? You just ring a few people, fill in a form, pay a little deposit and it all comes together on the day with everyone pitching in to help. Well, yeah... but when you are starting from almost scratch to build a community around an obscure race format it does get a little harder.

Thankfully, the key interested parties and the OG Il Treno Dolore crew got us kick-started and fired up enough people to re-launch the Fog City Cyclocross Series. This was grassroots racing, scraping up resources and pulling together a skeleton labour force to get the job done.

Karioi Classic XL 2014

This was one of those "I'll do it this year" kind of events and in its 5th year I finally made it happen. 

The Karioi Classic XL was the big version, adding in an extra 14 kilometres over the standard Classic course to make it 57km of predominantly gravel road riding around Mt Karioi, just out of Raglan.

Photo: Russell Jones

We had a pretty good day, weather wise. A bit of rain left the ground a little damp and the temperature was a little cool as expected for July in New Zealand. Though this didn't dampen our spirits as we set about getting our kits together and handling the all-important task of adjusting tyre pressure and trimming our numberplates.

Rapha Women's 100

The Rapha Womens 100 is an annual global event aimed at connecting women who ride with other keen riders in their area. Being fortunate enough to have been born into the Southern Hemisphere, we get the privilege of riding the event in the midst of our winter. This presents the usual challenges of battling the elements, but also brings us closer together as we share the experience.

Riding with a crew of women who are out for a good time, to enjoy their surroundings and each other's company, who are eager to learn, and willing to share knowledge, guarantees you'll have a fun and memorable ride. 

Super V 2014: Never go full retard.

Enduro. Open-face helmet, goggles, kneepads, backpack, bright clothes, hashtag. Never go full retard. Never go full #enduro.

It was the best of times. It was the worst of times. Actually it was just the best of times. I booked flights to Wellington to race Super V just for the hell of it. The best part was that Megan decided to come along, Michelle was flying up from Christchurch, Zoe was there already and Charlotte was my hostess.  Like a mini vorbette mobbing.

Pureora Timber Trail: Gun to a Knife Fight

I was not disappointed that I had chosen my full suspension mountain bike for a ride on a Grade 2 gravel trail. Sometimes taking a gun to a knife fight just has you smiling smugly all day.

Our crew of four consisted of three trail bikes and one hardtail in full brevet kit as Dean went through a final shakedown prior to his big event.

Out on the trail was a myriad of bicycles - commuter bikes with carrier racks and semi-slick tyres, cyclocross bikes, hardtail and full suspension mountain bikes, and even one street fixie shod with 'cross tyres. Anything goes, just ride.

Heading out on the trail at the north end was a complete contrast to my previous ride starting at Piropiro Flat and heading south.  There were more corners, more bush, more flow, more gradient and much more technical aspects than at the southern end (if a Grade 2 trail can be described as technical).

Out to lunch: Paeroa to Waihi on the Hauraki Rail Trail

Sometimes you just have to scratch that itch. I'd ridden from Karangahake to Waikino with Oliver on the half-bike, but with the new section open all the way through to Waihi, I needed to check it out.

No TV and No Beer...

... make Homer something, something.  No riding and no racing make Mel something, something, too.

I took a slightly enforced break from riding over winter.  Slightly enforced because no one has said "no riding", but they did suggest there are certain things I should be avoiding (things that hurt).

For the past 18+ months I have had pain from two mildly herniated discs in my back and something strange going on giving me gip in my hip. I'm seeking treatment, but it is a slow road unlocking things have have been locked up for so long, unnoticed and untreated.