El Gringo

Today I went out for my usual lunch time ride. Lately I have decided to do more hill climbing rides rather than the far-too-often flat bays ride that I usually do as although they are nice and scenic, they are not really doing anything towards progressing my hill climbing fitness. So I headed for the Mt Vic route that I sometimes do - this involves riding over to Kilbernie and up Alexander Road to the top. Then I hook up with a quick descent and then take a very steep climbing section that is part of the National XC course. The route up Alexander Road follows along the road but riding on the gravel/grass verge. Lately I have been experimenting with locking out the front suspension (oh, on my new bike- a Giant Trance X1!) and this lock out makes such a difference on the climbs. The front feels really solid and mich lighter without the “bobbing” of the forks. I have found I can usually ride a whole gear higher in most sections. Anyhow, I nervously aproached the “steepie” today, unsure of how I’d go as I have eased off slightly from my summer training. I did feel puffed but very good going up the earlier hills. The steepie is broken into 2 sections - the first is about 30 metres long and steepens up as you near the top, it’s ok but you certainly feel it. Then the killer - you hook sharp right, still climbing, and there is a 10 metre section that is steeper still. By the time you get to this, you are puffing hard and the legs are burning so it finishes you off and you end up walking this section…..except today I rode it for the first time!!! I felt good at the start of it and decided to knuckle down and just go for it. I think it’s a combination of all the steep hill climbing I have been doing over summer plus the front fork lockout. It’s still a long steep climb after this but by then I’d overcome my nemesis and the hill was mine. Anyhow, that’s it - I finally climbed the Mt Vic killer :-).

Well, Jess and I are off to the World Mountainbike Champs (http://www.2006rotoruamtb.com/) in Rotorua this weekend and I’m very excited about it. I’ve been riding/racing for 13 years now and to see the riders that I have been reading about all this time actually racing is such a great opportunity. These are the best in the world and it is not until you see them in action that you can really appreciate just how skilled and fast they really are. As my mate Alex says, “Get vertical !!”.

Well, I completed the Karapoti on Saturday - my fifth time doing the race. The weather came through and the track was dry and fast. A great crowd turned out - both competitors and spectators. My goal this year was to relax and enjoy the ride with an achievable target of sub 4 hours. I almost blew things though with the tactical blunder of fitting new rear brakes pads the night before.  This caused some rubbing on the disc for the first hour, making the bike (and me !) feel a bit lethargic. Luckily it was just a matter of time before they bedded in though and I settle into a nice steady rhythm. I got cramp at about the halfway mark while walking up the Devil’s Staircase but stuck to my plan of keeping forward momentum - any moment resting will always punish your finishing time.  The last big hill (Dopers) was tough and I started to hit the wall although I did manage to ride all the sections that I trained for.  Although getting to the summit of this last hill signifies the turning point for home, the last big downhill and sprint down the gorge are hard on the body and mind - it’s easy to lose focus and crash bigtime or get a puncture on the sharp rocks, making the whole effort very disheartening. My legs and back were killing me by now but I knew if I just kept going at this steady pace I would sneak in under 4 hrs.  Getting to the last river crossing (2 rivers actually) is one of the greatest feelings, knowing you are only a few hundred metres from the line, and to have Jess and the crowd there cheering gave me that extra burst of energy when I most needed it. Once I got over the line I felt buggered but very satisfied at the same time.  I knew I’d gone sub 4 by about 10 minutes and that was all I needed to know. A final plunge into the river to cool down was so great - as was the beer ! After that it was time to chill and hang out, bike demos, prize giving (I think I was the only “steve” in the comp not to get a spot prize !) and home time. Phew, another Karapoti done and dusted.  The results came out yesterday and confirmed my suspicions abut my time.  They also have all the other years up there so I’ve dug out all my times which you can see below. Thanks to Jess for all the support during my training and for being there on the day - it makes such a difference to have someone there cheering you on !
1996
Stephen Grenside 05:27:32 
2003
Stephen  Grenside 4:11:21 
2004
Stephen Grenside  4:02:21
2005
Steve GRENSIDE  3:33:12 
2006
Steve Grenside  03:52:28 

Well, I’ve just picked up my Race Entry Pack for the Karapoti Classic.  This is the most famous mountain bike race in NZ and this year will be the 21st year it has been held. It’s a gruelling 50km race with 3 huge hills, waste deep bogs and knarly rocks that will cut you up big time if you get loose and crash.  I’ve been training all through summer and tomorrow will be the moment of truth. With 1000 entrants it gets pretty hectic at the start and the pack doesn’t thin out until about halfway around (at the top of Devil’s Staircase !).  I hope to complete the course in under 4 hours.  se you on the other side !