Simonk wrote:That's some scary carbon carnage right there!

Waiuta in the dark, with fully laden, fully rigid bikes - hardcore!!!
That track is certainly less rideable now than when I rode it five years ago doing book research, and I see the description I wrote for the 6th edition edition was edited slightly for the 7th edition (with the knarlyness lost in translation). Sorry for the shock it caused some riders.

In my own perverse way, I kinda enjoyed Waiuta (and loved the Big River climb). Not sure if it will stay in the course or not. Without it, it's a helluva long road ride from the Porika to the Wharfedale (albeit a very beautiful road ride with a fair chunk of gravel).

Its not actually the carbon part that was broken but the titanium insert that holds the legs to the crown. Very scary as I heard strange creaking noises on a down hill then noticed the front wheel was wobbling a bit before I stopped and discovered the damage. I think it was the wheel that was holding it all together.

Personally I think the course should stay exactly as is including Wiauta - it is sections like that that add interest and challenge to the Brevet. I wouldnt change a thing - it was just right I reckon.

Leave it in Simon. It impelled us into character building experiences and made us better people! How often are we tested like that?

Ok, Ed the Aussie posting up now (feels strange to refer to myself as that):

Sly - we're in the first three photos (I'm on the drop bars). Sorry we didn't stop to say hi, we were gunning it to try and get through Molesworth before 7pm. We got to the end at 6.56pm!! I might use those photos on the blog if that's ok? They're great shots.

I was probably a little harsh on Waiuta in the write-up - Phil was certainly loving every minute of it with a rather perverse grin on his face. It was quite an adventure really - and I do agree about Big River being awesome. If only that 4WD track went all the way down! I think that, on the balance of things, I would rather have done it with Big River and Waiuta than without. It certainly was character building too!

I'll continue getting up the blog posts slowly and progressively. There are some interesting photos too to come. In comparison to most people, we went way heavier in terms of gear, but also did things relatively comfortably - lots of sleep, no deadlines. I guess we toured it really. Lots of fun. I got to the finish and wanted to start again the next day! It'd be interesting to try doing it fast, although I'd have to cut the weight down substantially.

It was definitely an eye-opener for me, and I'm wondering whether events like these and the Tour Divide, Trans Iowa etc represent a more classical and slightly more adventurous frontier for endurance MTB stuff. I've got plans for a small "superseries" based around Canberra - a 200, 300 and 400 mostly on dirt, with some singletrack.... at least, that's the plan. The inspiration is definitely there though, even though the scenery is comparatively dull. Thanks Simon!

Thanks for the post Ed! You've got some great photos on your blog. Looking forward to some more. There are a lot of people inspired around here for sure.

Great hearing the stories of people overcoming problems with there bikes. During my ride I suffered major problems with my pannier rack so had to rig it with bungies to hold it on. I also had lot's of problems with tubes not staying inflated. In the lees valley i got a puncture in my back tyre so I walked the remaining 5 km to my campsite at the okuku river. changed tubes and tyre over dinner. Pretty pleased with myself I then went to bed happy. Woke up in the morning to find my tyre flat. Managed to get a tube in that would hold some pressure for a couple of hours of riding. In one of breaks I fixed the holed tube and found that it actually had two which were opposite each other. Fixed them both. Later that day I slipped the repaired tube in to see if it would hold some pressure. Looking at my tyre every 5 minutes I was amazed to seeing holding up to it. The true litmus test was at cullverden where i went to the petrol station and pumped up. It held and got me the remain 250 odd kms home. In hamner I bought to new tubes and threw every other tube In the bin.
This piece of writing is to pay homage to the two patches and tube that got me home. I think I'll frame them.
would definitely look at going tubeless next time
happy trails gilby

Kiwi Brevet, the gift that keeps on giving...

Nice story!

In possibly the slackest race report ever, I've finally completed the novella that is my Kiwi Brevet report!

Day 1 http://mountainpedalernz.blogspot.com/2010/03/kiwi-brevet-day-1-blenheim-to-hope.html

Day 2 http://mountainpedalernz.blogspot.com/2010/03/kiwi-brevet-day-2-hope-to-reefton.html

Day 3http://mountainpedalernz.blogspot.com/2010/03/kiwi-brevet-day-3-reefton-to.html

Day 4http://mountainpedalernz.blogspot.com/2010/03/kiwi-brevet-day-4-springfield-to-hanmer.html

Day 5http://mountainpedalernz.blogspot.com/2010/05/kiwi-brevet-day-5-hanmer-to-blenehim.html

Hope you all enjoy reading it.

Ollie

Just in today, the latest xxcmag has my Brevet story in, with pictures from myself and some beauties from Jonty.
http://www.xxcmag.com/site/eMag.html

Cheers
jeff

PS, I see Freeload are advertising with them too!

There's an article in the current issue of NZ Endurance magazine on the Kiwi Brevet, by John Randal. Nice one Sifter!

Eljefe wrote:Just in today, the latest xxcmag has my Brevet story in, with pictures from myself and some beauties from Jonty.
http://www.xxcmag.com/site/eMag.html

Cheers
jeff

PS, I see Freeload are advertising with them too!

Cripes, you can even "preview" view it online... if you have good eyes...

OliverBendix wrote:There's an article in the current issue of NZ Endurance magazine on the Kiwi Brevet, by John Randall. Nice one Sifter!

John is a very empowering writer....
He empowered my daughter out of a career in statistics and into Design this year!

She was throwing out her old text books this week, and I saw this guys name on the cover...
Blow me down... I know that guy.

A First Course in Applied Statistics
By Megan J Clark, John A Randal

On trademe soon : )
Looking forward to the Endurance mag read.

Yes, great story in Endurance John! Nice to see it actually in print.

Fun reading Ollie and Jeff - thanks.

I hope the Aussie Brovet write-up gets completed some time.

Now, must track down a copy of Endurance.

Simonk wrote:Fun reading Ollie and Jeff - thanks.

I hope the Aussie Brovet write-up gets completed some time.

Now, must track down a copy of Endurance.

Yeah, I really enjoy the Aussie one too, a completely different angle, awesome writing too. Really nice guys with it.

Oh dear. All those memories... Theres a few ex Brevet guys doing this Adventure race event in Oz, (and a few more Welly MTBers) apparently its got spot trackers on it too... http://geocentric.geo-loco.com/geocentric/xpd/

An article in the latest Spoke too

Thanks Sifter