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Mediocrity Is Enough (n-duro Race 5)

Posted by: Geoff Acethorp
Tuesday 9th October 07
1,989 reads

Wow, what a ~~race~~ ride !

I started this ‘kiwi Race Blog’ to encourage others into the dark world of participating at organised events. As a recreational rider who doesn’t have a dietary plan, training schedule, or delusions of ability – I thought I would give another side of the ‘races’ that the lurkers read about. So far the N-Duro has been a mixed bag, but always fun.

After a crash and hospital treatment after race 3, I would have to be happy with the short course. But let’s put this in perspective, “short course” was 38km and 50km respectively, and on Rotorua’s trails that is still some distance to cover. Add to this I was doing it on a Single Speed hard tail, and it all adds up to fun {Smile}

Doing the prep of the bike the night before (changing tyres to Lesrann TT Xception {Love}

) I discovered a half snapped link. Pleased to have found it this early, I changed chains, and threw a few spare links into the race kit as well. Loaded the bag with food, and the bottles with raro (add a pinch of salt and you have a fancy sports drink for 30c a litre). And off to bed.

Got up in time to wave the 100 km riders goodbye (they would be overtaking me later!), those mad basdrats deserve respect! Then went back to eating creamed rice and downing water. Bt 10am I was set, and half an hour later (and yes wgntgrl – I did warm up this time {Blush}

) I was off. I had a goal to come across the line in 3:30, and started off right on pace. Not so much climbing at the beginning of this one, and then straight into single track. I think I was last across the line thanks to warming up, but managed to be mid pack by the single track. By now I was usually being slowed up, but this time the field was spread out and I could get some flow going – nice.

Then the climbing began, and it was not nice. Fully exposed to the sun it was sapping energy faster than turning the pedals. I was glad I hadn’t skimped on the fluids, and was drinking them down at an alarming rate. Also remembering to fuel the body every 30 mins helped, so far the plan was working.

Tracks were in awesome condition, the best I had ridden them in for a long time. The tyres gripped, the trails flowed, and the company was friendly. No agro at all, and plenty of scenery – of the moving kind {Wink}

I was managing to ride all I wanted to, but smart enough to know when it would be quicker to push. Sometimes walking is as quick as riding, and gives those pedalling muscles a break. Fav trails were gunga “something?” into chestnut link into roller coaster, HxB, and Billy T; with honerable mention to BRNT and Exit.

A day in the sun, great trails, feeling good, but my goal of 3:30 eluded me. Chatting afterwards with friends I commented that I was happy with mediocrity, I had completed the distance without breaking myself, ridden some new trails, and was feeling pretty good about the whole deal. The single loop race format is N-Duros best feature, being held in the Redwoods only makes it better. The winter series is over now, but the summer series is just around the corner. I’m thinking all three on Single speed again.

See you there?

And if you interested, I missed my target by 8 mins finishing in 3:38. Finished in the top 50% of single speeders {Big Grin}

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