A little over fifteen minutes from the start of this country’s most important event on the
domestic road cycling calendar, Hayden Godfrey informed me team-mate Michael Vink's righthand
gear-lever was not working. How could this occur to a virtually new component on his
2010 bicycle? This was the issue faced on our Subway – Avanti Pro Cycling Team shortly
before the start of the 186 kilometre New Zealand Elite & Under 23 road race championship.

Michael's excellent performance two days earlier indicated he was in great form when securing
the Under 23 time trial title. This therefore was no doubt co-team owner and rider Hayden's
reasoning behind his insistence that I make the call and ask for the bicycle from one of
our team members. The clock was ticking. There had to be a better solution?
I went in search of race mechanic Scotty Brown who fronts the popular Christchurch-based
cycle shop in his name. The minutes ticked by as I scoured the grounds amidst the hoards of
people before laying my eyes on this knight in shining armour. Or had the armour
tarnished? Our fears were realised when the prognoses of the lever was bad. A replacement
brake/gear lever was needed.
Perhaps under duress Gordon McCauley's wife Pammie coughed up her lever from her bicycle
she had brought along to view the race on. As Scotty went about tearing off the damaged
lever, Hayden's brother Nigel and distributor Jonny Price from Degrandi tore at Pammie’s
bicycle.

As Michael quietly sat in the rear of a team vehicle, I instructed the team to start making its
way to the assembly area in preparation for the team call-up. Michael would not join them for
this. Unfortunately the gear cable temporarily removed from Michael’s bicycle became dama
Hayden’s father Barry was en route from the team base in Prebbleton with a spare bicycle that
had been left behind through mis-communication. He was not going to make it in time as the
clock continued to creep closer to the 10am start time and the respective teams were being
called to the line. Another option was needed. Fast.

Whoever raised the next idea saved the day. Pinarello bicycles via Jonny were the official
bicycle sponsor of the championships. A nice blue bicycle in Michael’s size was retrieved from
its nearby display stand and rushed to our service area whilst the pedals from
Michael’s own bicycle were removed to install on the Pinarello. Time was nearly up.
Scotty abandoned us and ran to his seat in the waiting service vehicle as the pre-race rider
briefing being given over the PA was coming to an end. At this point I was thinking we could
afford to give up perhaps a minute with the pending neutralised section that might allow Michael
the chance to catch up to the field before the red flag dropped a kilometre or two down the
road.

Fortunately Michael knew his saddle height that enabled Jonny to accurately measure with
tape in hand when adjusting the seat post. Once done and with pedals in place, Michael who
had been displaying “Iceman” qualities mounted the machine and rode to the start with the
reassurance from me his own bicycle would be ready to swap onto within a lap or two. Wrong.
Whilst Michael joined the race as it moved off the line, we set about sourcing not only a
replacement cable but also similar pedals to Michael’s that could be installed on his
bicycle to later ensure the smooth transition. If a number of you recreational riders were
wondering why I was closely surveying your machines as you were mounting them to no doubt
take up a vantage point on the hill, it was because I was eyeing up any potential pedal. I did
not see what I wanted.

The desired pedal was spotted attached to a bicycle atop the Bici Vida team vehicle. And in
true sportsmanship, Bici Vida team manager Carl Williams allowed us to remove the pedals
from his spare bicycle as I assured him they would be replaced once Michael’s exchange was
completed.

The pedals were installed but a cable was still needed. With now a little more time on our side,
Nigel mounted Michael’s bicycle onto the roof of our team vehicle and went in search of an
open bicycle shop to install the cable. Thank you Nigel. Thank you Bicycle Business. The
bicycle was returned in working order, and following the re-applying of the handlebar tape we
were able to carry out the exchange with Michael on the start to the fourth lap made easier by
his well reported breakaway. And it was this breakaway I was constantly assured by friends
Scotty, Jonny, and Craig Adair could only be made possible by the speed of a Pinarello.
Many thanks to Scotty, Jonny, Nigel, Pammie, and Carl for making it possible for getting
the Vinkinator to the line and subsequently back onto his own bicycle to provide a performance
that will long be remembered.

Greg Hume
Team Manager
Subway – Avanti Pro Cycling Team

Where was this originally published?

Fresh from the Subway – Avanti team manager!

Love to see great sportsmanship and people helping someone in need

Vink was a yr 13 at my school last year and a great role model. only regret is that didn't start high school earlier. i still keep in touch with him, and am trying to squeeze a ride (or 2) in with him in the next month before he heads off to belgum riding for team ISOREX