"Well, I didn't see that coming"says VORB owner, Murray Jones. Murray lined up with a couple of hundred die-hard bikers at the opening of the N-Duro MTB series held in Rotorua's Whakarewarewa Forest today. Murray was entered in the, er, Classics category and found himself towards the back of the field fairly early on in the race. Being a South-Islander he wasn't prepared for the blistering sun & heat (and the occasional missing signpost). Heck - he was out there long enough to appreciate all of the above. His brother-in-law, taking advantage of local knowlege, entered in the 25k race and made it home in time to enjoy a coffee before the midday sun. Murray's Mrs enjoyed watching a few competitors hit the water crossing. Local knowledge again an advantage. One of the disappointments for Murray was that the prizegiving began before he finished the race. "That was a first", he remarked. Another one was riding alone for the whole race!
So? It is recommended? Absolutely. Check out http://www.n-duro.co.nz

I was sad to hear of Murray's rather unfortunate race. Perhaps I could offer some words of advice:
- Wear more lycra
- Get Mrs Vorb involved - sounds a bit lazy to me
- Pre-race curry and pint
- Clip-in jandals
- Fewer stops to laugh at other's mishaps
- More strawberry bon-bons
- Stick to being a tar-baby

Maybe Murray was just suffering from the local gases...

I suggest maybe generate a new class to make it easier for him, something higher
Than classic, or should they just start including reading glasses as a feature of
Helmets.

I'd forgotten how hard racing without beer shortcuts is. Marcus? Dean?

Wot a machine Annika is!

Jerry from Dole Foods wins the best header at the water crossing competition by a very slim margin.

Loved the water crossing and watching the handstands into the drink.

This reminds me of the saying 'the last shall be first'. I too Murray have experienced that I am often 'first' according to the saying! Well done anyway, Jan Oerlemans