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nzmatto
Worn
Joined: Jul 27, 2008
Posts: 605
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 Posted: Thu 20/Nov/08 1:07pm Post subject: So My Boss Reckons I Should Do The Yarrows Taranaki Ride.... |
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OK, all you wonderful vorbers and vorbettes out there. You've seen my regular posts and know that thus far I have ridden a max of 85km in a single ride. I am not particularly fast, but am loving what I am doing.
My boss reckons that the Taranaki ride is "undulating" although having looked at the profile he thinks his memory may be fading. The question is....Do you think I can do it?
I am seriously considering this and am thinking of entering a time of about 6.30 to 7.00 hours, I have no intention of pushing myself to any speed as my real goal is Taupo next year, which is actually ore about the weight loss & fitness than the ride. The ride is just a target point.
So what's your thoughts?
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Scaredy_Cat
Barking
Joined: Sep 21, 2006
Posts: 1,907
Location: Daydreaming...
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| Posted: Thu 20/Nov/08 1:15pm Post subject: |
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IMO - Tarakanki is a bucket-load easier than Taupo. I would agree on the undulating - lots of rollers, rather than hills.
I would be very surprised if it took you as long as 7 hours!! 
It might be a good idea to get some group riding practice in before the event - just so you know what to expect and can make the most of any help you can get 
I've done this ride a few times and it's generally been fun - just be aware that if you're not at the pointy end of the ride (which I was definitely not) you can run into some interesting riding techniques 
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scatter
More beige than usual
Joined: Jan 19, 2003
Posts: 9,678
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| Posted: Thu 20/Nov/08 1:16pm Post subject: |
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Go for it!
I really like the Taranaki ride. First 50kms is undulating, second 50kms is slightly uphill, last 50kms tends downwards 
If I recall correctly, the longest ride I did prior to Taranaki was 100kms. And I am, by no means, a roadie.
I came in under 6 hours. With the riding that you are doing, you should make that easily. There's nothing nasty (unlike Taupo  )
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chchbob
Scuffed
Joined: Jan 09, 2008
Posts: 358
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| Posted: Thu 20/Nov/08 1:17pm Post subject: |
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Go for it, you will never know if you don't try. I only started cycling the tail end of last summer, did very little during the winter and competed in the WildCoaster beginning of October and the Source to Sea beginning of this month and loved them both although the weather was a challange for the WildCoaster.
Like you I only got into cycling to lose a bit of weight and gain a little fitness. You have plenty of time to train, and will probably supprise yourself as to how well you will do.
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jafabite
Dusty
Joined: Oct 23, 2007
Posts: 45
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| Posted: Thu 20/Nov/08 4:17pm Post subject: |
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this is a good ride without nall the stess associated with Taupo.
usually you'll either have a roaring tailwind or headwind for the last 50km home....pray for the tailwind
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Mr_Jolly
Joined: Sep 23, 2006
Posts: 10
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| Posted: Thu 20/Nov/08 8:35pm Post subject: |
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So...what is the difference (other than entry fee) between this and the 'round the mountain' (www.roundthemountain.co.nz). I am considering both and looking for some wise counsel.
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nzmatto
Worn
Joined: Jul 27, 2008
Posts: 605
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| Posted: Thu 20/Nov/08 8:40pm Post subject: |
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Well, I am two steps closer. I have just been out and bought my first set of road shoes and pedal clip things. I am a little nervous about these!
The local shop was having a 25% discount on them, and I got sucked in by the email. I had been thinking about them for a while, and just about bought some online the other week, but I am glad I didn't then, as I had no idea what I needed, and would have ended up with the wrong things.
I have got a set of Serfas P-11 pedals, clipless (really, I thought we called them clippies), and a matching set of Serfas PO-45 podium road shoes (does this mean every time I wear them i'll get onto the podium?)
The other step closer is I have got permission from my awesome wife to spend yet another weekend away from home. I am just organizing somewhere to stay, and have already now got a speaking engagement at a local New Plymouth church the following day!!! So I guess this is a green light!
It seems a little weird that within what will by then be 8 months of me getting a bike I will be participating in a 150km ride! This is really quite awesome to me.
Thanks for the comments about the ride and hills / undulating. I will put down 6 hours as the time, that makes it 25kph average. That sounds about right for me. I'm looking forward to it already, and I have just been given (forced) extra time off over Christmas, so I should have lots of time to train.
Cheers Matt
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nzmatto
Worn
Joined: Jul 27, 2008
Posts: 605
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| Posted: Thu 20/Nov/08 8:43pm Post subject: |
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| Mr_Jolly wrote: | | So...what is the difference (other than entry fee) between this and the 'round the mountain' (www.roundthemountain.co.nz). I am considering both and looking for some wise counsel. |
For me it is 3 weeks later, which means a bit more training time. The roundthemountain one is 180km, with a 150 option. The Yarrows one has been around for a few years.
I am picking not a lot of difference, but the roundthemountain seems more aimed at teams with the bone collector and stuff, the yarrows one seems more aimed at individuals.
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Gordio
People's Champion
Joined: Feb 11, 2008
Posts: 277
Location: Auckland
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| Posted: Thu 20/Nov/08 8:44pm Post subject: |
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The yarrow ride has waaay more riders, so a better chance to find a decent size group of your ability to ride with.
Last edited by Gordio on Thu 20/Nov/08 8:48pm; edited 1 time in total |
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MattV
Chill'n down with the fire gang
Joined: May 29, 2005
Posts: 9,841
Location: New Plymouth
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| Posted: Thu 20/Nov/08 8:47pm Post subject: |
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Once you get past Eltham it's reasonably (with a few exceptions) flat back into New Plymouth.
I can still remember riding behined this Maori guy dressed in bright yellow lycra doing what resembled yoga between Stratford and Inglewood. 
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Tojja
Scuffed
Joined: Mar 04, 2005
Posts: 346
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| Posted: Fri 21/Nov/08 8:41am Post subject: |
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A shote story:
I crashed in this event 2-3 years ago (MASSIVE pileup 10km into the race in the front of the pack - people broke bones and other such nastiness around me but I got away with a few scratches and a mildly bung wrist).
Crash was 60km/h --> 0 in 2 seconds (so my Polar says) which was...exciting? Popped both tires with the heat from braking, lost 2 water bottles when I went over handlebars also. Was a scorcher of a day (30C+), so the one remaining bottle I had wasn't quite enough for the next 140km...
Needless to say it was a long lonely ride, with those fale-flat climbs going on for an eternity by myself (had a few people to work with occasionally as I jumped forwards from group to group). Did finish it, but was totally munted. In a group it'd be an awesome fast ride, but by myself it was the most unpleasant race I have ever done!! Definitely need to get back there to redeem myself!
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scatter
More beige than usual
Joined: Jan 19, 2003
Posts: 9,678
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| Posted: Fri 21/Nov/08 9:03am Post subject: |
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| Tojja wrote: | | Was a scorcher of a day (30C+), so the one remaining bottle I had wasn't quite enough for the next 140km... |
I was in one of the first groups that was diverted at Kaponga (there was a fatality between there and Eltham  ) that year. It just got hotter and hotter the closer to the mountain we got 
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nzmatto
Worn
Joined: Jul 27, 2008
Posts: 605
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| Posted: Fri 21/Nov/08 9:08am Post subject: |
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Hey, you guys are scaring me now. Just when I was about to register. :-) I still will be doing it, I dont think I will have any issues with the temp, or crashes, the pointy end of the bunch will have all been back, showered, and probably downed there first couple of beers by the time I come across the finish line.
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Tojja
Scuffed
Joined: Mar 04, 2005
Posts: 346
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| Posted: Fri 21/Nov/08 9:08am Post subject: |
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| scatter wrote: | | Tojja wrote: | | Was a scorcher of a day (30C+), so the one remaining bottle I had wasn't quite enough for the next 140km... |
I was in one of the first groups that was diverted at Kaponga (there was a fatality between there and Eltham ) that year. It just got hotter and hotter the closer to the mountain we got |
Yeah, I rode past the poor guy shortly after it happened, before the diversion was put in place - a harrowing sight indeed seeing someone lying on the side of the road with people trying to help. Definitely etched in my mind, not nice at all.
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scatter
More beige than usual
Joined: Jan 19, 2003
Posts: 9,678
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| Posted: Fri 21/Nov/08 9:11am Post subject: |
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| nzmatto wrote: | | Hey, you guys are scaring me now. Just when I was about to register. :-) I still will be doing it, I dont think I will have any issues with the temp, or crashes, the pointy end of the bunch will have all been back, showered, and probably downed there first couple of beers by the time I come across the finish line. |
tihs will always happen, my friend
Go for it! Look forward to hearing your take on the ride
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