Day Night Thriller 2012

Pizza for dinner the night before a race always seems like a good idea at the time.  I'm sure I wasn't the only one delivering a pizza baby the next morning though. With that out of the way I could get organised for a morning of supporting my friends racing, before I lined up at the start of the 3 hour race.

I'd driven down to Taupo from Hamilton the night before, bedding down in a pretty luxurious motel suite at De Brett's with the rad and amazing Cathy and her equally rad just-home-from-travelling sister Roslyn.  I woke early after a very comfortable night's sleep in a warm cosy bed and ate some breakfast before packing up. Cathy and Roslyn were still asleep, with no sign of them emerging any time soon.  I stuck to my plan, assuming they had their own plan sorted for the morning.

Karangahake Gorge-ous

Gold

If you've never been to Karangahake Gorge, you have to get there.  It's really as simple as that.  Paeroa is famous for the golden liquid in L&P, but there's also gold in them there hills - trail gold and good times, too.

During the school holidays, Oliver and I decided to go for a ride together through the long tunnel and along the rail trail.  He has a keen interest in "the olden days" and I thought he'd like the mixture of machinery, history, and a bike ride.

NZCX Series 2012, Round 4: Fog City

The name Fog City leads you to believe that there'd be fog at a 'cross race in the middle of winter in Hamilton.  There was none.  There wasn't any inclement weather to speak of.  Where was the rain, drizzle, mist?  The sun was out too.  This was all kinds of wrong.

Kids Bike Jam 2012

Oliver was a keen starter for the 2012 Kids Bike Jam.  He'd had a great experience in 2011, despite the persistent rain and chilly temperatures. Going home with a souvenir t-shirt, stickers, slap bands, free snacks AND a medal made it a day to remember.

Rotorua stoke

Taking a break at the "road tunnels"

It's pretty easy to get kids stoked on riding their bikes.  They don't have to go far, or fast.  They don't require a whole lot of equipment, special clothes, or the latest in nutrition supplements.