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Delusions Of Mediocrity ( N-duro Race 1)

Posted by: Geoff Acethorp
Tuesday 29th May 07
2,477 reads

Delusions of Mediocrity (N-Duro Race 1)

Rotorua is cold this time of year, well compared to Northland it is. Arriving in the Redwoods early on Friday morning I prepared to do a little scouting of the course. The SS was in need of some attention – so I took the Trailstar instead. An 8 speed steel HT with 130mm up front and 2.6 DH tyres – ideal for a scouting mission. There was just one hitch, I had left the course map at work, so I would be doing this from memory, and I hadn’t done some of the trails before.

Up the road to the top of Gunna Gotta – but where was the ‘top’? Surely there would be a sign at the turn off ? Wouldn’t there? Apparently not – as I found out when I reached the water tank out at the far end of the redwoods. So I headed back down another trail I found out there that appeared to be heading in the right direction. Eventually I found myself a familiar track (BRNT) – and headed for home. It had been a 2 hour jaunt of getting lost and finding new trails. I had had loads of fun and ridden my bike, so all was good with the world. I spent the afternoon getting bikes cleaned and prepped, as well as a bit of shopping and sifting.

Saturday looked good for attempt 2 at getting out and about – so this time armed with a park trail map I set off (on the freshly cleaned and lubed SS this time). I found the turn off this time, and headed off down Gunna Gotta. A nice we section of track that was in the process of getting some trail work done. I must admit that I was not looking forward to sharing it with a whole heap of other riders though – congestion on tricky sections can be, um, tricky. Pop out at the bottom and straight into A-Trail/Tickler combo. I must say that every time I ride these sections I love them more. These are what single tracks are about to me, its where the SS really makes sense, they have the right ‘feel’ to leave me smiling every time.

Then things go a bit pear shaped, I forgot that HxB is part of the circuit and head straight to Roller Coaster. From here on home it’s over familiar territory, and I roll over the trails just spinning the legs and enjoying the day. Oblivious to the fact I had shortened the circuit; I arrive back feeling pretty good about the impending doom of race day. I sit back, have a beer, pick up my race pack, and then settle back for the night.

The N-Duro is a very social event – even the jostling for position on the start line is done in a friendly manner. Bikes and riders of all types and sizes surround me as we all wait for the start. Then we hear that we head up Red Tank Road – which means a course change, if they have added that in, what have they taken out? I guess we find out soon enough. Before long we push off – and my bottom bracket starts creaking. . . .

The climb is a mix of spin and grind on a SS (for those amongst you want to know – the ratio chosen was 34:19). Then, upon reaching the top, discovered that GG had been removed and a rapid fire road decent was the replacement. Tucking in to let gravity do its best I found myself forever hitting the breaks to avoid errant cyclists unable to maintain a constant pace or direction. And every time I touched the brakes it took an age to regain the speed – so people could pedal past me (damned cheats using gears!). I think I would have at least maintained my place on GG, but now I was probably a good 20 places down on where I started the descent. But that’s racing, and now we were into the climb up to Hot x Buns. This section just repeats itself from now on, as in, I grind up the hills, making all the places I can, join a procession down the ‘tracks’ and then repeat. So relaying each section is pointless, so I won't.

I was not really prepared for this race. Apart from the previous 2 days I hadn’t ridden since the 24 hour race two weeks prior. I was still recovering from a nasty head cold and could empty half a cup of snot from each nostril every 100m of track. I managed to have 2 unplanned dismounts, one causing a nice top tube sized bruise on my inner thigh (no pics will be posted – so don’t ask). Even my finishing place was not as I would have hoped, 2:16 is a fair whack slower than I should have been able to ride that circuit. Yet I still enjoyed myself, so I have to ask why.

I always knew I was in this game for the grin, and that’s what I ended up doing. It was a shared experience with a lot of like minded people, and watching some really cool bikes and riders as well. My lasting memory was of the tandem riders (who cleaned HxB!) who I passed (and they me) several times. They were cheerful and chatty, and always up for a laugh. When they stalled on an ascending hairpin in front of me, I was forced to go around or fall off, as I went around my rear wheel slipped on a tree root (the same root that stalled their front wheel). I was mid track stand, teetering on falling over, when I felt his hand press into my lower back and give me the push I needed to get over the root. “There you go” he said, “cheers!” I said, and that’s the last I saw of them till the finish.

That experience sort of summed up the race for me. It was like a timed social event, the competition was either at the front of the field, or internal. There was a distinct lack of agro, and a lot of just being nice. I thoroughly recommend the N-Duro races as a first race for any recreational rider – its just so non-threatening.

So I failed, but I’m ok with that. I completed the race and had too much fun to really complain about it. I have a few weeks to prepare for race 2, and the head cold seems to be on its last few days. With a little bit of training and some good luck I hope to improve my position – but refuse to take it so seriously I lose the fun factor.

In it for the grin and beers, not the win and cheers. {Double Thumbs Up}

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