Wow. Hope Andys ankle comes right by morning.

If the trackers are correct some people are either doing a Wharfedale night ride or are camping in there!!

Latest call-in from Andy Reid:

http://www.cycletech.co.nz/kiwibrevet/default_icm000115.wav

22:06 Tuesday in Hanmer: "Things are going pretty good. Olly thinks I've got a really sore ankle, but - hah - put one over him. So, ya know, maybe tomorrow I'll get up just an hour earlier or something like that while he's still asleep. Just... just launch into it. OK - um - cheers, bye."

http://kiwibrevet.blogspot.com/2010/02/tuesday-afternoonevening-call-ins.html

Cheers, Paul

Smashfest tomorrow

Some pics and stuff from my sorty into the north side of wharfedale today.

Ollie showed up first - smiling & goofy as always, set to munching on a Brick of One Square Meal (OSM - from factory shop outlet), which has been his mainstay fuel apart from big feeds at every town he gets to. He had ditched his camping / sleeping gear at Reefton and is travelling very light - just a seat stay mounted carrier with essentials. As he mentioned in phone in was suffering chain stretch (see photo), but otherwise going great guns. Said the best bits were the descent into Lake Rotoroa - "massive views", and Big River - Waiuta singletrack. When asked about the worst bits ? - "none - I'm riding my bike all day, what's not to like"



Regarding his friend Slim he only had "KeeCow, KeeCow" to say as he pedalled on his merry way.

Andy arrived and promptly dismantled his Santa Cruz crosser - new brake pads were needed after steaming down the Wharfedale in Ollie's wake. He also had dispensed with camping & sleeping gear, was just using a light backpack, no racks, very skinny tyres, 2 big chain rings. Brake pads changed, some Peak Fuel product for his belly, some chain lube for the bike, and he left stuffing OSM into his mouth.


Up at the saddle I waited a while before Mark Rayward came through - Jamis Dakar (IIRC), a biggish load on a seatpost rack and handlebar bag. He gobbled one of those soft & moist apricot Cookie Time cookies, raved about the good bits of singletrack he had just enjoyed & headed off aiming to get to Acheron.


Only 5 mins behind Mark came Lisa Savage & Tony Bateup - chuggin along just fine they were keen to get on - Lisa on full carbon Giant XC bike with seatpost rack (camping gear) and bar bag, Tony a Specialized Crosser (rigid) with small rack & load on back. Caught up with them down near the hut - Lisa munching on a sandwich whilst Tony filled water bottles from crystal stream. Later Tony had 2 punctures on the way out to Lees Valley, but were hopeful of being at Acheron tonight (I haven't checked where they ended up)


Lastly some pics to give a flavour of todays terrain ;

I don't think so, when I last spoke to him they had decided to make it as far as Culverden then pull the pin for the night - almost there.

znomit wrote:Smashfest tomorrow

On latest check it wouldn't seem that Mark, Lisa & Tony will not get to Acheron - they are still south of Hanmer. With Andy (the sly dog) and Ollie having had lots of time to eat & rest at Hanmer, plus travelling so light, they would have to be the bet for tomorrow. As to who smashes who ? I think I know which bike I'd rather be on for 80 odd km of gravel, but anything can happen - will be interesting to see who's on the go first. According to Ollie they were slow away today "because of Andy's senior moments" - is he lulling the pup into complacency ??

sounds as if there are a few mind games going on between the riders,

I'm smashed

...

I'm going to get up an hour before him and get a head start

Could get interesting

Sifter and Simon safely to Culverden after what sounded like a particularly long hard day.

Any bike shops worth their salt in Hanmer Springs?

Hey all,

I was able to fix the multiple SPOT issue for Jakub and Marquita. Their pages (and most recent points) look much better now.

Thanks for the patience and for all the positive comments on the tracking so far. This is fun stuff.

Scott

Laurence Mote also.

I put together a replay video of the Kiwi up to early this morning. Check it out here:

http://vimeo.com/9327048

I tried embedding it here on the forums but it didn't work.

The videos are always a fun way to see who likes sleep deprivation and who doesn't.

ScottMorris wrote:I put together a replay video of the Kiwi up to early this morning. Check it out here:

http://vimeo.com/9327048

That's cool!