Ice, Ice, Baby!

Before you get any bad ideas I’m not gong to remind you of Davo’s favourite song, rather that title would sum up the general weather across the country over the weekend and, what Rotorua treated a few sifters (300+ riders) to in the 2nd Winter N Duro race.
I’m not going to complain though; after a distinct lack of vitamin D on offer in Wellington for the past couple months, it was so good to see the sun again in Vegas.

The weekend started off good and bad. Good in that my amazing smokescreen and I had a good run of traffic Saturday morning heading up the country; bad with the Desert Road deciding to shut shop and add an extra hour to our traveling time: fail!
After a brownie points ride with my smokescreen in the Whaka forest (even paid for her shuttle ride to the summit, bonus points!), it was time to settle in for another night at Nic & Cabins place. After pathetic negotiation on my part, payment for our accommodation was offered in the form of ‘Bushlover for a day’, with Cabin rocking the team edition roadie fail cap for the race.

After a clear still night which gave most of NZ its coldest overnight temps, race day was here. Even though the sun was shinning, it still hovered in the low single digits through much of the morning; starting a race with numb feet and hands is never nice but I had no say in that matter.
Race started as always; skid around the field and into the single track in a nicely timed 5th position. Didn’t take long for things to break up; me pulling at Mike Northcott’s pockets, with Stu Houltham and Cabin chasing a couple seconds back (after about 5km).

After sandbagging along A-Trail giving 10s to Mikey in the twisty single track, decided a bit of rampage was needed at the end of the track on the jumps to pull him back in. With a few wild flying sessions (which came very close to ending in tears), I managed to grab back onto Mike’s tail, and notice we had pulled a bit more time on the other two. Through Tickler, then onto Direct Road where I would find that all the chocolate consumed at work is not always in your favour. Up Frontal Lobotomy to the top of Billy T, Mikey pulled out to 15-20s lead on me; luckily I still had no view of the vultures behind me.

After a smooth decent (thank you Mr SantaCruz), the gap had only grown slightly to Mikey. But with just twisty fast Vegas single track ahead it was always going to be a big ask to pull him in. Split Endz went by accident free but not the same down Pondy DH. In exactly the same place as the previous week I had a small flip over the bars; nothing too major and back on my bike within seconds but with the other guys breathing down my back. The rest of Pondy treated me better as well as Rollercoaster and, now my mojo was returning.

Chinese menu put a halt to that. Halfway through, a fern smacked me in my eye making vision really difficult. I had to relent to a hard charging Sam Shaw a bit before Dragons Tail as I was starting to ride all over the show; now I just had to hope I could hold 3rd.
All was going well until the very last track, Rosebank. Within 1km of the finish I went slightly off track, confused with direction and, who should pass me but that Bushlove imposter Cabin; damn locals! A few quick drops, a river crossing and it was into the finish; very tired and a bit battered but not nearly in the same state as the last race.

So 4th overall it was (3rd open, Sam’s a speeding junior); on paper crappier then the first race but in my head a lot better then the previous N Duro race.
A whole month now until the next one now! The trouble I could get up to… Probably not, just a bit more sifting in the crap Wellington weather and working to pay for the next trip.

I must thank Nic & Cabin for their hospitality, but Cabin did get the honour of Bushlover for a day… And my wonderful smokescreen; puts up with my bone dry humour, ghey Bushlove mates and, still takes me to all these races when there’s a good chance the ambulance will be taking me home.

Catch you in a month Vegas!