The Flahute welcomes der Womble. Equipment, fitness, condition and likelihood of divorce makes not a Flahute, but the determination to give ones' best and share stories over a beer at the end of a hard ride.

does Van Den Broek qualify as a Flahute?

"Jurgen Van Den Broeck will stay in intensive care for two or three days as he recovers from his injuries after crashing out on a descent during Sunday’s ninth stage to Saint Flour.

The Omega Pharma-Lotto team leader fractured three ribs, his shoulder blade and also suffered from a collapsed lung. He initially tried to continue in the race but the pain was too great and doctors feared he had suffered a ruptured spleen or liver damage."

Yes he does.

The Flahute has changed the start time to 10:30am to allow for soft Christchurch folk to sleep in and avoid the worst of the frost for the next stage.

Don't forget to register your interest on theflahute@gmail.com.
Next stage will be amazing with superb views, hopefully with better weather.

As above

The weekend is the last warm up ride before the next stage of the Flahute.

It would be good to take photos of other people and not have one person guzzle all the beer.

Register for next weekend now!

The Flahute has ridden the course for Stage Two and can say without evocation that it will one of the most scenic, beautiful and difficult rides you will ever do.

You will remember this ride.

Two Category 1 climbs and a pot pourri of 2, 3 and 4 as well.

If you aren't confident descending on gravel, The Flahute would recommend using a hardtail or cyclocross bicycle.

The Flahute will be sending out maps tomorrow night, so if you are keen register on theflahute@gmail.com now.

Last chance for stage two, the Queen stage. Weather forecast is looking great.

Weather has come again and become shockingly bad with blue skies and mild temperatures. The ride will have plenty of views and pain though.

The Flahute wrote: The ride will have plenty of views and pain though.

The ride definitely had pain, but the best views were cancelled out by the low cloud over the top of the hills. However it was still extrordinarily beautiful on quiet roads with the birds for company (including some tui).

Sadly, the snow that had been predicted hasn't eventuated yet.

Stay tuned for the official report and photos.

Ride Report and Photos --> http://bit.ly/p03jep

Flat Stage 6th August 10:30 start.

Register on theflahute@gmail.com

Anyone Flahuting this winter?

Don't suppose it will be running given no one turned up last year..?

btw: This is not an expression of interest, I'm only interested in reading about other peoples pain and suffering

mfw wrote:Don't suppose it will be running given no one turned up last year..?

since when am I 'no-one'? though I only did the first one (others weren't so singlespeed friendly) - and lake ellesmere cost me a bottombracket

I'm keen (assuming work and family dont get in the way again)

Where is the flahute this year?

Can I drive the Suzuki?

Creeeeeaaaaaaaak, the crypt door opens and the Flahute stretches and yawns....The Flahute says Winter is Coming.

The Flahute has had a fine season in Europe, Greenland and Alaska and would be interested in seeing the mettle of Antipodean riders, however after poor sunny weather and weak, tanned and sun-bleached riders from last year, the Flahute has some questions.

Why didn't you do it last year?
1. Too weak
2. Took I could only ride a road bike seriously. You can ride anything, you just don't get Flahute points for anything other than a road bike.
3. Need more information.
4. Scared.
5. Don't have a GPS, The Flahute's domestiques can provide route notes
6. Fair weather rider
7. Too many kms
8. Not enough kms
9. Too early
10. Too late

The Flahute has seven stages mapped and he could be tempted to do this again...