The Taupo Cycle Challenge

Big race weekend, 160k (actually only 152k) round Lake Taupo with 8,000 + other cycle enthusiasts !!

Pre race hydration drinks, Fri Night

We (Camp Mother, Copper and myself) travelled down to Taupo Friday afternoon.  Crusied into town around 4ish, collected our registration packs and checked out the expo for super specials. Then we headed to the closest bar on a corner to watch the Criterium racing.

Then to the hotel for check in (after almost taking out the bikes secured to the roof on the hotels entrance way pelmet) and a pre race bike check, under the guidance of camp mother (CM).  As always fully prepared with the tool box, bike stands and various cleaners and lubricants.  Seems my chain cleaning skills need a little bit of work :(.  We all hit the sack earlish around 9pm like a bunch of nana's.

Pre race bike checks

Early morning rise (actually at 7am it was a bit of a sleep in, everyone was wide awake anyway!).  Shower, dress, eat food, drink coffee, strip to go to the loo, redress, another loo, redress again, yes at least one more loo stop and another redress. Arm warmers ? Leg warmers? Food? Goodness such descisions !  Finally talked into NO jacket, arm warmers or leg warmers.  I hope it's gonna be warm out there! And agreed on jam sammies, ginger nuts, and a couple of power bars, gels only as a back up!

Jumped on the bikes and rode to the startline ....

Made it to the startline

Geared up and ready to go!

Still more decisions to make, which group to start with.  All a bit of a strategy, since we know we will get dropped going up hill hence we need to make sure there are still fast bunches behind us which we can latch onto for the downhills and flats.  We did start out as a bunch of four, but soon dropped one, then dropped another as they went back to find the other person.  CM and I continued riding ....

Lake view

70k rest area, toilets and water

Previous hill rides had me well prepared, but I was conscious that I tend to go out to hard at the start ... so decided to follow the experienced one and stuck near by CM. We stopped at the 70k rest spot for water top ups, the loo and waited for the rest of our crew .. but soon gave up waiting after 13-15mins had passed. Later on we found that one had DNF due to puncture and broken valve stem and the other had dropped back further than we had thought.

Stopped again to catch a photo of the lake, the picture dosent really give the view justice! 

Camp Mother (right) and myself

We hooked into a small group (of our pace) and managed to stick with them for the 2nd half.  Then around 10k from the finish CM pointed out that we could actually do a reasonable time, so I yelled "lets gun it" and off we sprinted.  With still 5k to go I was feeling a little spent but wanted to lead CM to a good time so turned and yelled something inspirational (Im sure) and kept up the pace, as we turned the corner for the final 300m to the line CM came racing up next to me .... Then "my white line fever kicked in", it was head down and spin those legs !!!! I passed her, then she passed me, I could hear the ground cheering us on :) With a mere half bike length I managed to creep in front and hold it over the line to victory...... words cannot explain ....

At the Finish Line

Our ride time (excluding the wait midway) was 5 hours 57 mins. So we have agreed, this counts for a sub 6 hour time, regardless of what the official time states.

Average speed 25.5k, max speed 77.7k (fastest to date). Total elevation 1690m, max elevation 602m. Tempature ranged from 14 to 29 degrees.  Glad I didn't take those arm and leg warmers, I would have had to carry the dam things.

Finished the day with a few beers and BBQ with mates and of course a few stories of near misses, and triumph :)  Legs and body feel good, had trouble with the feet major pins and needles, then numb then shooting pain when trying to apply pressure.  Need to get this sorted!! Next morning a swim in the lake with Mrs J and a nice drive home in the new car ...

The Evidence