WARNING – This report may contain traces of product review
It all starts with a Road trip – well for me it does. Arriving the day before events, settling in and getting ready by pre-riding the course. Nothing changed with this event, a sifty ride in Vegas in the morning, followed by a gentle spin of the legs on the SS around the Taupo circuit before lunch. I planned on just cruising around testing the brakes I had just shortened the hoses on, but the course was fast, and the single track was fun. By the end of the first uphill I had a grin on my face, by the time I hit the final downhill I was actually laughing. This course was fun, it was dry, it was grippy, it was wide enough for overtaking almost everywhere – it was perfect for this style of event. Things were looking good.
The rest of the team arrived the next morning – and a right bunch of misfits we were. A spanner monkey and recent fixie convert from Palmy, a half broken but enthusiastic fixie devotee’ from Welly, a Nui grom hucker with ghetto from hell SS, and a truck dwelling SS deviant from Whanga’s. Winning was never on the cards, in fact we weren’t even playing that game. We were here, and on fixies for one reason only, because someone suggested it. At the time it sounded rather good (I may have been under the influence at that time), in another 11 hours it wouldn’t sound quite so good.
Rider one out of the gate had problems – dropped chain (how do you drop a chain on a fixie you ask – you need to see this fixie. . . . ). Never mind. Next I had a spin around the track. Traffic was the biggest problem, we cant slow down like a normal bike, and we cant speed up like a normal bike. Momentum is king on the fixie, and traffic not travelling at your place sucks your energy like a Dyson on steroids. Still, the track was wide and overtaking came easily. First two laps down in under an hour, and no problems with the bike. The track was already beginning to cut up, and tree root that were previously hidden beneath dirt were now showing through – things could only get worse from here.
I had a couple of hours to kill, so wandered the sites. The Pink Ladies were wearing altogether too much Pink. And not a subtle pastel pink either – but PINK! With the cutest little bikes  they were not to be underestimated – these ladies can ride. With grins on their faces they were already telling tales of being beaten on the downhills (just) only to rip the legs off the opposition on the next uphill. And sometimes ripping legs off on the downs AND the up, having fun and riding was what they were about, they just also happened to be fast.
Time for another sifty – and to chaperone a rider on a lap. Getting out and doing it is what these events are about, whether doing 15 min laps or hour laps. If your doing it, its better than not. So just for a change and for this lap – I borrowed a Coiler and put on knee/shins and FF helmet (with pink balloon on top). Cruising around on the Coiler was, um, different. The bike was HEAVY (compared to any of the bikes I own), but would smash the trail to smooth with sheer weight and suspension travel. I found myself looking for tree roots to run over just so I wouldn’t feel myself run over them  (thanks for loan Duey)
Time for another double lap and I was off again. Track was cutting up and the jarring from running 700C wheels and ridged forks was beginning to effect the handling abilities. The traffic had thinned out a bit more, and people who were overtaking me were polite and friendly. Generally a nice atmosphere prevailed on the track, where whippits and mongs shared the trail without resorting to abuse. The single track remained fairly stable, with a race line beginning to appear, and if I manage to hold it, I could get through fairly painlessly. Though as soon as I hit the grassed areas, the bike grew wings. Those poor sods on MTB tyres, I almost felt sorry for them.
[caution – product review ahead]
This sifty involved another ‘test ride’ – of a beast of another nature. I borrowed Lisa’s Blur (thanks Lisa), and went out to see what all this VPP talk was about. After raising the seat height (I managed about 500 meters before having to ask the Jamis guys to borrow 5mm – cheers for pit stop service) I resumed my lap. Overtaking 4 riders on the run in to the start/finish ramp I found out how well this bike could sprint. Clearing the flat section and landing half way down the lander, just before the transition to flat ground I found out how well this bike takes landings. It sprints almost like a HT, and takes hits like a free ride – so far I was impressed. Halmost at the top of the first climb I sent myself a mental note “sit down and change gears you mong – you have 27 of them to play with so why are you grinding the hills?”. Having been used to SS riding I had forgotten about those little thumb activates things on the handle bar – though this bike did climb well out of the saddle.
Single track, down hill, then onto the grass – this bike performed exceptionally well. My only issues were with set up (set up for an aggressive XC racer rather than a recreational wannabe) – not the bike. A tweek in suspension, adjustment of the brakes and a change in seat would have this bike humming a different tune. All in all a bike I would own, it climbed like the devil was chasing it, took hits like a free ride, carved single track like a XC, smoothed bumps like a 5 inch trail bike, and weighed half as much as a bike like this should. Add to this that I was 5% quicker on this bike without really trying, if I’d have pushed I think I could have been 10% quicker on this bike – it’s that good (disclaimer – percentage based on the bikes I rode that weekend). I’m convinced – the Blur is on my wish list.
[end product review]
Back on the fixie and now its night. Soon to get much darker as my light fails. Spent the rest of the lap following other riders and poaching their light. Not a good lap, but my light was an easy fix (just needed to be wrapped in more tape) so all was not lost. I had made a decision though, the track had cut up to the point where the fixie was no longer fun. The rooted sections had me bouncing around in a state where ‘control’ was not a word that could be used, and I was becoming a danger to myself and other riders such was my lack of skill. So from here on out I would ride the Jeffson SS.
My last stint, and the Jeffson came out of the truck. Single Speed Steel, track eating at its finest. I had a great pair of laps, being able to really let lose on the downhills, and throwing the bike around on the single track brought back why it was I was here – the grin.
[warning- product review ahead]
The Jeffson is on new brakes – Magura Marta SL’s to be precise. They work, they work well, in fact, I have not ridden a pair of XC brakes I prefer more. More power than I could ever need, and a really nice initial bite that allows you feather the rear brake in dusty conditions when you don’t want the rear wheel to step out – but don’t want to scrub off speed either. The feel was as good as the Brembo’s on the race Ducati I used to punt around – a feeling motorcycle riders will know well. I don’t want to name all the brakes I think these are better than, as the feel and action of brakes can be a very personal thing, so I wont bother. But if you in the market for a very light set of XC brakes and don’t want to compromise power or performance, put a set of Marta’s on your list. The support and advice I have had from the supplier is also top notch – I have no issues with either the brakes or the back service I have received. OK, I have one issue, they draw a crowd – being anodised red they tend to scream “bling” on an SS where there is nothing much else to look at. But hey, every one likes a bit of attention every now and then 
[end product review]
Laps over – time to hit the thermal river with a beer or 2. Sitting relaxing in the hot pools with a beer, soaking away any remaining stress/dirt/sweat. What better way to end an event. Back to the truck and its 10 mins to prize giving – suddenly those beers in my stomach with the chocolate milk don’t feel so good. Sit down, three breaths, then power chunder! Yep, the entire 1.5 litres of my stomach came out in one hurl, it was fantastic. As soon as it was over I felt 100% again, and was off to the prize giving. Getting tired now, the efforts of the day are beginning to catch up with me, 7 laps with the transponder, and another 2 just for fun, 9 laps in total – an effort totally put into perspective by Tryfan doing the 12 hour solo on a SS ridged and completing 28 laps!
Nights end. Time for sleep. Just a quick moment of reflection as I close my eyes. Did we win? No – not even close, I don’t even know our result. But I bet the grin on my face was as big as the winners – the fun quotient doesn’t change. We came to have fun and we did.
For some people it’s the win, for us it was the grin.
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| | July 2008 | * Simon Kennett - Sat, 05th
* Simon Kennett - Sat, 05th
* Simon Kennett - Fri, 04th
* Simon Kennett - Fri, 04th
* Simon Kennett - Fri, 04th
* Simon Kennett - Fri, 04th
* Simon Kennett - Thu, 03rd
* Simon Kennett - Thu, 03rd
* Simon Kennett - Thu, 03rd
* Simon Kennett - Thu, 03rd
* Simon Kennett - Wed, 02nd
* Simon Kennett - Wed, 02nd
* Simon Kennett - Wed, 02nd
* Simon Kennett - Tue, 01st
* Simon Kennett - Tue, 01st
* Simon Kennett - Tue, 01st
| | June 2008 | * Lisa Morgan - Mon, 30th
* Simon Kennett - Mon, 30th
* Kieran Bennett - Mon, 30th
* Simon Kennett - Mon, 30th
* Simon Kennett - Mon, 30th
* Lisa Morgan - Sun, 29th
* Simon Kennett - Sun, 29th
* Simon Kennett - Sun, 29th
* Simon Kennett - Sat, 28th
* Simon Kennett - Sat, 28th
* Lisa Morgan - Fri, 27th
* Mark "Cabin" Leishman - Fri, 27th
* Simon Kennett - Fri, 27th
* Simon Kennett - Fri, 27th
* Simon Kennett - Thu, 26th
* Simon Kennett - Wed, 25th
* Simon Kennett - Wed, 25th
* Simon Kennett - Wed, 25th
* Simon Kennett - Tue, 24th
* Simon Kennett - Tue, 24th
* Lisa Morgan - Tue, 24th
* Mark "Cabin" Leishman - Mon, 23rd
* Simon Kennett - Mon, 23rd
* Mark "Cabin" Leishman - Mon, 23rd
* Simon Kennett - Mon, 23rd
* Mark "Cabin" Leishman - Mon, 23rd
* Lisa Morgan - Mon, 23rd
* Lisa Morgan - Mon, 23rd
* Lisa Morgan - Mon, 23rd
* Simon Kennett - Mon, 23rd
* Samara Sheppard - Sun, 22nd
* Simon Kennett - Sun, 22nd
* Samara Sheppard - Sun, 22nd
* Simon Kennett - Sun, 22nd
* Kieran Bennett - Sun, 22nd
* Kieran Bennett - Sat, 21st
* Samara Sheppard - Sat, 21st
* Simon Kennett - Sat, 21st
* Kieran Bennett - Sat, 21st
* Samara Sheppard - Sat, 21st
* Simon Kennett - Sat, 21st
* Kieran Bennett - Sat, 21st
* Samara Sheppard - Sat, 21st
* Simon Kennett - Sat, 21st
* Kieran Bennett - Sat, 21st
* Samara Sheppard - Sat, 21st
* Simon Kennett - Sat, 21st
* Kieran Bennett - Sat, 21st
* Samara Sheppard - Sat, 21st
* Simon Kennett - Sat, 21st
* Kieran Bennett - Sat, 21st
* Samara Sheppard - Sat, 21st
* Simon Kennett - Sat, 21st
* Kieran Bennett - Sat, 21st
* Samara Sheppard - Sat, 21st
* Simon Kennett - Sat, 21st
* Kieran Bennett - Sat, 21st
* Samara Sheppard - Sat, 21st
* Simon Kennett - Sat, 21st
* Kieran Bennett - Sat, 21st
* Samara Sheppard - Sat, 21st
* Simon Kennett - Sat, 21st
* Simon Kennett - Sat, 21st
* Kieran Bennett - Sat, 21st
* Simon Kennett - Sat, 21st
* Kieran Bennett - Tue, 17th
* Kieran Bennett - Sun, 15th
| | May 2008 | * Kieran Bennett - Wed, 28th
* Kieran Bennett - Mon, 26th
* J Dog - Mon, 19th
* J Dog - Mon, 12th
| | April 2008 | * Mark "Cabin" Leishman - Thu, 10th
| | March 2008 | * Samara Sheppard - Fri, 07th
| | December 2007 | * Lisa Morgan - Wed, 26th
| | November 2007 | * Daniel Carruthers - Thu, 08th
| | October 2007 | * Geoff Acethorp - Tue, 09th
| | September 2007 | * Kieran Bennett - Wed, 19th
* Geoff Acethorp - Mon, 17th
* Holly Kernonhan-Smith - Thu, 13th
* Kieran Bennett - Wed, 12th
* Olivia Johnston - Mon, 10th
* Mark "Cabin" Leishman - Mon, 10th
* J Dog - Sun, 09th
* Olivia Johnston - Sun, 09th
* Mark "Punter" Johnston - Sat, 08th
* J Dog - Sat, 08th
* J Dog - Sat, 08th
* J Dog - Fri, 07th
* Holly Kernonhan-Smith - Fri, 07th
* J Dog - Fri, 07th
* J Dog - Fri, 07th
* J Dog - Fri, 07th
* J Dog - Fri, 07th
* J Dog - Fri, 07th
* Holly Kernonhan-Smith - Thu, 06th
* J Dog - Thu, 06th
* J Dog - Thu, 06th
* J Dog - Wed, 05th
* Holly Kernonhan-Smith - Tue, 04th
* Mark "Cabin" Leishman - Mon, 03rd
| | August 2007 | * Mark "Cabin" Leishman - Mon, 27th
* Geoff Acethorp - Tue, 21st
* Kieran Bennett - Wed, 15th
* Olivia Johnston - Tue, 14th
* Olivia Johnston - Fri, 10th
* J Dog - Mon, 06th
| | July 2007 | * Kieran Bennett - Tue, 31st
* J Dog - Mon, 30th
* J Dog - Mon, 30th
* J Dog - Mon, 23rd
* Daniel Carruthers - Sun, 22nd
* Daniel Carruthers - Wed, 18th
* Geoff Acethorp - Tue, 17th
* Olivia Johnston - Thu, 12th
* Cameron Cole - Wed, 11th
* Daniel Carruthers - Tue, 10th
* Jazz Apple Cycling Team - Tue, 10th
* J Dog - Mon, 09th
* J Dog - Sun, 08th
* J Dog - Sun, 08th
* J Dog - Sun, 08th
* J Dog - Sun, 08th
* J Dog - Sat, 07th
* Jazz Apple Cycling Team - Fri, 06th
* Mickey Fan - Wed, 04th
* Jazz Apple Cycling Team - Wed, 04th
* J Dog - Wed, 04th
* Olivia Johnston - Tue, 03rd
| | June 2007 | * Grant Herbert - Thu, 28th
* Kieran Bennett - Thu, 28th
* Olivia Johnston - Tue, 26th
* J Dog - Mon, 25th
* Harriet Harper - Thu, 21st
* Mark "Cabin" Leishman - Tue, 19th
* Geoff Acethorp - Tue, 19th
* Jazz Apple Cycling Team - Tue, 12th
* Mark "Cabin" Leishman - Tue, 12th
* Olivia Johnston - Tue, 12th
* J Dog - Mon, 11th
* J Dog - Mon, 11th
* J Dog - Mon, 11th
* J Dog - Mon, 11th
* J Dog - Mon, 11th
* J Dog - Mon, 11th
* J Dog - Mon, 11th
* J Dog - Mon, 11th
* J Dog - Mon, 11th
* J Dog - Mon, 11th
* J Dog - Mon, 11th
* Olivia Johnston - Sun, 10th
* J Dog - Sat, 09th
* Jazz Apple Cycling Team - Sat, 09th
* J Dog - Sat, 09th
* J Dog - Sat, 09th
* Olivia Johnston - Fri, 08th
* J Dog - Fri, 08th
* J Dog - Fri, 08th
* J Dog - Thu, 07th
* Cameron Cole - Tue, 05th
* News - Mon, 04th
* J Dog - Mon, 04th
* News - Sun, 03rd
| | May 2007 | * Mark "Punter" Johnston - Thu, 31st
* Kieran Bennett - Wed, 30th
* Geoff Acethorp - Tue, 29th
* J Dog - Mon, 21st
* Geoff Acethorp - Mon, 21st
* J Dog - Mon, 14th
* J Dog - Sun, 13th
* J Dog - Sat, 12th
* Grant Herbert - Fri, 11th
* Geoff Acethorp - Fri, 11th
* J Dog - Thu, 10th
* Kieran Bennett - Tue, 08th
| | April 2007 | * Mark "Punter" Johnston - Fri, 27th
* Tim Wilding - Tue, 17th
* Tim Wilding - Fri, 06th
| | March 2007 | * J Dog - Tue, 20th
* Cameron Cole - Mon, 05th
| | February 2007 | * Cameron Cole - Tue, 06th
| | January 2007 | * Cameron Cole - Thu, 18th
| | August 2006 | * Robyn Wong - Fri, 25th
* Robyn Wong - Thu, 24th
* Robyn Wong - Wed, 23rd
* Robyn Wong - Wed, 23rd
* JohnnyC's OE Race Reports - Thu, 17th
* JohnnyC's OE Race Reports - Tue, 08th
* Tom Holland + Craig Pattle - Tue, 08th
* Lahar Racing - Thu, 03rd
* Cameron Cole - Thu, 03rd
| | July 2006 | * Tom Holland + Craig Pattle - Mon, 31st
* JohnnyC's OE Race Reports - Fri, 21st
* News - Tue, 18th
* Kieran Bennett - Tue, 18th
* JohnnyC's OE Race Reports - Tue, 11th
* Cameron Cole - Wed, 05th
* Kieran Bennett - Tue, 04th
* JohnnyC's OE Race Reports - Mon, 03rd
* Junior DH Development Squad - Sun, 02nd
| | June 2006 | * Kieran Bennett - Thu, 29th
* Junior DH Development Squad - Mon, 26th
* Bob + Chris - Sat, 24th
* JohnnyC's OE Race Reports - Thu, 22nd
* Cameron Cole - Thu, 15th
* Bob + Chris - Thu, 15th
* JohnnyC's OE Race Reports - Tue, 13th
* Kieran Bennett - Tue, 13th
* News - Tue, 13th
* Bob + Chris - Fri, 09th
* Tom Holland + Craig Pattle - Thu, 08th
* Lahar Racing - Tue, 06th
* Bob + Chris - Fri, 02nd
| | May 2006 | * J Dog - Wed, 24th
* Tom Holland + Craig Pattle - Mon, 22nd
| | March 2006 | * Robyn Wong - Wed, 22nd
* Robyn Wong - Sun, 19th
* Robyn Wong - Fri, 17th
* Robyn Wong - Thu, 16th
* Robyn Wong - Tue, 14th
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