Odlo UK at the Karapoti MTB National Championships, New Zealand
12.03.2010
With over a 1000 entrants, the start times were staggered with the elite categories setting off first, followed by the age group categories.
The race began Le Mans style and as I splashed my way through the thigh deep river carrying my bike on my shoulder it brought back memories of the C2C. Feeling very at home with the first 3km road section I was soon bouncing along a 4 wheel drive track which was badly potted. Weaving my way around the pot holes and desperately trying not to crash into the other 100 or so people doing the same was actually really fun. The varying speeds of everyone meant that we were soon beginning to space out.
I was doing rather well but was stuck behind 2 guys cycling at a speed that was just a little too slow. The time came when I decided that I would try and pass them on an uphill section as I knew they would slow. As we began the climb, one cycled on the left and the other on the right and a gap opened up between them. I took the opportunity to cycle through but just at that minute the track narrowed and before I knew it we were all lying in a heap on the ground.
It was totally my fault! The guys were fine and cycled off almost immediately but I on the other hand took a nasty gash to my arm and leg and there was blood everywhere. I pushed my bike to the top off the hill, assessed the damage and then got on with it. My pace dropped for a while as my confidence built again. I was now cycling with a tennis ball sized elbow.
There were 3 big climbs on the race, one being a bike carrying section up Devil’s stair case. I did much better on the ups that the down as my physical fitness much out weighed my technical ability.
Towards the top of the first climb and after having cycled through a lot of bogs of mud and clay, my chain was sucking badly and I heard the all familiar ping as my chain snapped. I quickly turned my bike upside down and began to reattach it. It took me about 10 minutes to fix and my chain was now becoming borderline too short. For the last 2 months I had been taking out links and not replacing them!
The downhills were fast and furious and I hung on for dear life. There were more technical sections to negotiate than I wanted, after all I was now a seasoned road cyclist!
The course was fabulous, winding in and out of the forestry, mainly on a 4 wheel drive track, which no 4 wheel drive would be able to drive along as it was far too rutted.
After having left my saddle bag open and having lost my combi tool and spare tube, it was lucky that I suffered no more mechanical issues. By this time I’d had 3 chain breaks but no punctures. The loop had now rejoined the same track that we road in on and I was flying. Back onto the 3km road section and I was loving it. I had the negotiate the river crossing again but this time misplaced my foot and completely submerged myself and my bike. We both needed a damn good clean anyway!
I crossed the finish line in 4hrs 12 mins and came 10th female.
See www.karapoti.co.nz for race details.
SleepMonsters
