Here's a quick and dirty video edit of some of the action from yesterday's New Zealand Singlespeed Champs. Over 200 riders turned up to wear disturbing clothing, drink beer, and ride singlespeeds - some of them even raced.

The event village was just past 8 Mile Gate in Whakarewarewa Forest, Rotorua. The course mainly consisted of one lap which went Yellow Brick Road -> Gravel Road -> Pondy DH -> Pondy New -> Gravel Road -> New Chevy (if that makes any sense.) Most of the climbing was on gravel road giving people lots of opportunity for passing and pain.

There was a Le Mans style start (riders running to their bikes) but as soon as the racers were out of sight spectators were asked to move the bikes. Moving rapidly turned into "hiding" and some of the bikes ended up in pretty weird places. However no one can really complain about this causing unfair advantages as Tim Wilding who won the race was one of the last people to find his bike.

As is traditional with singlespeed races riders could swap shortcuts for beer, and Weetbix - which was a tactical decision between making up time and getting squiffy on their bikes. This also caused a lot of belching as beer sculling followed by pedalling a singlespeed isn't that kind on your gut.

I foolishly set out to video the entire lap, which turned into a very long walk/ run/ jog - here's a quick and dirty video mix from some of the footage. Thank you to YHA Treks Rotorua and the Internet Access Company for organising accommodation and broadband so I could get this up to you all. Music is "Ode to Charles" by Professor Kliq - you can legally download his album here: http://www.jamendo.com/en/album/26139

The rain came and went a few times with drizzle getting punctuated with downpours, including one big dump of water at the start and one real soaker as people rode back from the forest. As with last year the majority of riders rode out to the event village from town - making the whole day an estimated 60km of singlespeeding.


RESULTS
Female
1st Annika Smail
2nd Nic Leary
3rd Anja McDonald
4th Brenda Clapp
5th Fiona McGaffin


Male
1st Tim Wilding
2nd Eric Dower
3rd Mathew Gorter
4th Brendan Sharratt
5th Garth Weinburg

Complete results attached:

Video up now

I'm going to get some breakfast

Great footage Tama, and nice tunes to go with it

Awesome!

I see you, Musket - shakin' that ass, shakin' that ass!

Edit:

Apologies for my previous post, I was confused. Its actually a cool video!

Mel wrote:Cool.

Wow, look at that close race for DFL! It so easily could have been me!

What a fantastic event. Loved it (even the yucky uphill bits), and will be back next year.

47 minutes... I so almost had you!!!

Fnar - huge battle between Slacky and Whacko Jacko!!!

Nice work on the video etc. Those tracks were fast, furious and fantastic. Lots of air too. I'll be back next year for another attempt at the title (of best dressed).
Once the nausea had passed, about an hour after the event finished, (too much lactic acid buildup is what I am telling people) I was ready for a pint and prizegiving. Can't believe Evel Knievel didn't win best dressed...
Signed...Evel Knievel.

For those of you who liked the music it's "Ode to Charles" by Professor Kliq - you can legally download his album for FREE right here: http://www.jamendo.com/en/album/26139

If there was rum at the finish line I would have ridden to it no matter what, and seeing as there was, I finished.

To beat the 'fro you gotta have come prepared. The 'fro was unbeatable! Next year the ante` will be upped good & proper. Bring your best 'cos I am already working on defending my title of THE REST OF THE WORLDS BEST DRESSED SINGLESPEEDER. It has started...