tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-294322457127946148Wed, 21 Oct 2009 02:31:01 +0000Tall tales from a not-so-tall endurance rider.http://www.scaredycatmtb.com/noreply@blogger.com (Scaredy Cat)Blogger30125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-294322457127946148.post-3451354970784658463Thu, 24 Sep 2009 03:42:00 +00002009-09-25T14:18:12.496-07:00Two weeks out from the DNT I was fairly happy with my build up to the event. Plenty of riding, making good use of my lights and warm winter clothes! I’d survived the first race of the PNP series – even scoring a third placing, thanks to the long climbs and to Catherine and Charlotte not racing. The masters women’s courses for this year are longer and more technical, so just completing the event http://www.scaredycatmtb.com/2009/09/day-night-thriller-2009.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Scaredy Cat)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-294322457127946148.post-8739690386389359259Fri, 24 Jul 2009 03:16:00 +00002009-07-23T20:22:58.398-07:00We headed out on a road trip to the 1st N-Duro in May – along with several other Wellington mountain bikers. I was a little apprehensive, but hoping things would turn out OK. I tagged along a on ride that included some of NZ’s fastest XC riders in the pouring rain and slushy mud on Friday (big mistake). I was slow (and felt even slower), struggling with the wet and slippery trails and just http://www.scaredycatmtb.com/2009/07/last-2-months-condensed-version.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Scaredy Cat)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-294322457127946148.post-1092736163304350997Tue, 26 May 2009 00:29:00 +00002009-05-25T17:31:22.704-07:00As the Moonride loomed closer, I was keen to enter as a 12hr solo – mostly to prove to myself that I’d learned the important lessons from the 24hr in March. Coach Robyn quickly squashed that idea and, despite much whining and stamping of feet on my part, the answer was still “no, you need a break!” Knowing that she was right didn’t make it any easier for me to accept! I’d gotten so used to http://www.scaredycatmtb.com/2009/05/moonride-but-not-as-i-know-it.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Scaredy Cat)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-294322457127946148.post-2292609357152349273Sun, 05 Apr 2009 22:35:00 +00002009-04-05T18:01:23.404-07:00Right-o – time to get a pot of tea and a packet of Tim-Tams. Really. This is going to take a while…During the last weekend in March I reached another milestone on my cycling journey. A couple of years ago when I crewed for the N-Duro 24hr I couldn’t imagine being able to take part. A year later I acted as ring-in when Shane’s team needed a female rider – and now here I was planning to ride the http://www.scaredycatmtb.com/2009/04/24-hr-n-duro.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Scaredy Cat)4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-294322457127946148.post-8906508600122802471Sat, 28 Mar 2009 21:29:00 +00002009-03-28T14:37:24.245-07:003nzJude is out on her 16th lap.....providing she finishes this lap and bar a major I cant see why notJude will achive her two main goals for this weekend plus a few minor ones alsoBig thanks to Lisa and Gav without you guys it for me would have been so much harderDunno if it could get much harder for Jude ???I for one to say I am stoked with the result would an understatementdid I mention 3nz http://www.scaredycatmtb.com/2009/03/3nz-jude-is-out-on-her-16th-lap.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Shane)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-294322457127946148.post-143492780153733775Sat, 28 Mar 2009 18:26:00 +00002009-03-28T11:30:12.541-07:00here in the pits it got down to 4 degress at about 6am, its currently 7:30am and 4.5 degrees although daylight is here so is the fog so it's another lap with lights, Jude is still in third looking as good as one can expect...so with 4.5 hrs to go we will see what happenshttp://www.scaredycatmtb.com/2009/03/here-in-pits-it-got-down-to-4-degress.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Shane)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-294322457127946148.post-8210156510954300372Sat, 28 Mar 2009 13:38:00 +00002009-03-28T06:50:01.942-07:00its 2:38 am, the 12hr have long finished, the music has been turned down, the fog has rolled in in the pit areaAfter Jude running out of battery on her bar light, for some reason we choose not change her helmet light battery knowing that it had more than 1hr less use but I desided to not risk it for last few down hill trails. I mission up to the end off Lyon with spare battery (chased a wallabe http://www.scaredycatmtb.com/2009/03/its-238-am-12hr-have-long-finished.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Shane)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-294322457127946148.post-6439850702189114728Sat, 28 Mar 2009 11:22:00 +00002009-03-28T04:26:36.894-07:00Gone past midnight...12hrs donehad the bar light battery run out on that lapbut other than that position have not changedStill comfortably 3rdhttp://www.scaredycatmtb.com/2009/03/gone-past-midnight.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Shane)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-294322457127946148.post-1362146040072658575Sat, 28 Mar 2009 08:16:00 +00002009-03-28T01:18:39.527-07:009hrs temp is down to 10 degress.......the running order is status quo...sorry no pics the connection is not strong enoughthere is 9 female solo 24hr chickshttp://www.scaredycatmtb.com/2009/03/9hrs-temp-is-down-to-10-degress.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Shane)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-294322457127946148.post-2227793335996646329Sat, 28 Mar 2009 05:26:00 +00002009-03-29T12:20:47.614-07:00almost 6.5 hrs and Jude is still in third behind Megan D (don't ask me to spell her surname, might google it latter if I get board and can keep the conection long enough.the gap betwwen the first for place's is about equall between themMegan is still riding strongWe sent Jude out on her spare bike as she was have a little trouble with gear shift and wasn't happy with tyres she had on as it as http://www.scaredycatmtb.com/2009/03/almost-6.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Shane)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-294322457127946148.post-7173751757665932878Sat, 28 Mar 2009 02:03:00 +00002009-03-27T19:11:12.720-07:00Ok! just over 3hr in and Jude (to best of our knowledge)is sitting in 3rdher second lap was quicker than her first so all goodWaiting for offical results to come outThe weather is overcast but still very warm 21c Erin Green ex-commonweath games racer is leading...she riding very strongBut we still have a long way to goGav just gone out on his SS to view the track first handhttp://www.scaredycatmtb.com/2009/03/ok-just-over-3hr-in-and-jude-to-best-of.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Shane)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-294322457127946148.post-3874128650056623382Fri, 27 Mar 2009 23:33:00 +00002009-03-27T16:41:01.282-07:00Ok! the race got under way prett much on time...So now I can start relaxing......even with the top notch crew Lisa & Gav here this weekend I have been stressing to max......no sleep last night for mehttp://www.scaredycatmtb.com/2009/03/ok-race-got-under-way-prett-much-on.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Shane)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-294322457127946148.post-440146454960905794Fri, 27 Mar 2009 19:26:00 +00002009-03-27T12:30:59.066-07:00Gav and I headed out at dawn to set up the tent site......its dawn a typical grey rotorua morningNow back at the motel for breakie etc and final sort out of plans, clothes, etchttp://www.scaredycatmtb.com/2009/03/3-12-hours-to-go.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Shane)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-294322457127946148.post-2019119254363850789Fri, 27 Mar 2009 09:51:00 +00002009-03-27T03:11:57.548-07:00T-13Jude has the most of the course sorted...but I just went out for ride under lights and found some changes to what was marked out earlier today and some changes from the map......not major changes and nothing technical has been added, so all ok, as doing reccy tomorrow morning for Jude is not really in the planJudes new bike (09 model of what she is riding Jamis Dakar XCR Expert) arrived in http://www.scaredycatmtb.com/2009/03/t-13.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Shane)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-294322457127946148.post-3942345658677453980Sun, 08 Mar 2009 23:44:00 +00002009-03-08T16:50:05.924-07:00I hate mud. Just in case you didn’t know, I really hate mud. However, I’m told that it’s fantastic for the skin, so I decided to head on out to the Karapoti Day Spa for a full body mud-wrap. We got to the venue early – Shane set up the tent while I sat around and yakked, watching the rain slowly ease off. This was good – rain might have washed off the mud before it had a chance to work its magic!http://www.scaredycatmtb.com/2009/03/karapoti-day-at-spa.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Scaredy Cat)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-294322457127946148.post-3514218531416966053Wed, 25 Feb 2009 23:05:00 +00002009-02-27T12:37:40.428-08:00My lovely coach had set me a 10hr training ride for the weekend – followed by 3-5 hours the next day! On Saturday I awoke to a cool, moderately cloudy day. This was to be my longest training ride… also my longest ever solo ride. Shane had planned my route and printed out directions for my big adventure – I had no real idea where I was going! I loaded up with 2 bottles of Perpetuem, stuffed a http://www.scaredycatmtb.com/2009/02/longest-day.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Scaredy Cat)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-294322457127946148.post-8966181735927303949Fri, 20 Feb 2009 19:41:00 +00002009-02-24T15:59:55.831-08:00This post is by Shane MissionDate: 21/02/2009Location: WaikatoType: RoadStart point: TaupoFinish point: RotoruaDistance : 250Km approxDuration 10hrs approxStart time 08:30hrsWeather 1st 45 mins : SunnyWeather for most of ride: Showers, some heavy in between being damp, little sunWeather for last 50 mins: SunnyHead wind for 1st 100kssome big hillsa gravel road Doh!http://www.scaredycatmtb.com/2009/02/1-long-training-ride.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Scaredy Cat)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-294322457127946148.post-8614845389947889336Sun, 15 Feb 2009 23:38:00 +00002009-02-15T15:40:50.743-08:00And no matter how hard I try, I can’t ignore it! Preparations began with my first meeting with the lovely Tip Track in quite some time. Gee, I’d missed it. Anyways, I climbed on at the 2nd gate and proceeded to cough, splutter, gasp and curse my way up. I’d never managed to ride cleanly up to the stockyards before, let alone the whole way, so I was stoked to see the top gate not a dab taken. Ha –http://www.scaredycatmtb.com/2009/02/karapoti-is-calling.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Scaredy Cat)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-294322457127946148.post-8488377678108885744Sun, 15 Feb 2009 23:35:00 +00002009-02-15T15:38:07.452-08:00After my last update it seemed I’d left whatever mojo I had back in Vegas… So – what else could I do but go back and look for it! I’d booked a skills session with mtbskillsclinics.com to coincide with Shane racing the 2nd round of the N-duro Summer Cup. 3 long days in the forest (including a race)– surely that would be long enough to hunt down and recapture the mojo? Well, as so often happens, http://www.scaredycatmtb.com/2009/02/in-search-of-mojo.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Scaredy Cat)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-294322457127946148.post-2109211546194375909Mon, 26 Jan 2009 02:17:00 +00002009-01-25T18:19:44.465-08:00Saturday: Well, it had to come around again sooner or later… that time when I end up spending silly amounts of time on the road to toughen up my legs (and other places) to prepare for 24hr events. A later-than-planned Friday night put paid to any plans I had to ride early, so by the time I had finished work, prepared my bike, fuel and sorted myself out it was nearly mid-day. Thankfully the http://www.scaredycatmtb.com/2009/01/big-weekend.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Scaredy Cat)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-294322457127946148.post-3611298811883626428Thu, 15 Jan 2009 01:41:00 +00002009-01-14T17:51:01.801-08:00Friday – woke up sore, tired and generally grumpy. Crawled out of bed late and, after a quick check-in with Coach, decided to take the day off. So – while Shane made like a grom and hit the shuttle trails I dealt with the growing pile of smelly and muddy bike clothes (ewwww!!) then spent a couple of hours restoring my bike to its gleaming glory… poor thing deserved some love after a pretty http://www.scaredycatmtb.com/2009/01/summer-holiday-chapter-2-and-back-to.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Scaredy Cat)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-294322457127946148.post-5883254445450580734Wed, 14 Jan 2009 23:32:00 +00002009-01-14T15:45:52.998-08:00You remember when your teacher used to make you write about what you did in your summer holidays?? I feel like that now… a week away and so much to write - not to mention dealing with an accursed laptop keyboard!!Thursday - loaded up the bus, met Celia at Paremata and set off for Rotovegas. Yee har, road trip! We went exploring with Celia and played ‘guess where the course goes’ - got most of it http://www.scaredycatmtb.com/2009/01/summer-holiday-chapter-one.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Scaredy Cat)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-294322457127946148.post-7142576456813880637Sun, 14 Dec 2008 22:27:00 +00002008-12-14T14:30:35.829-08:00Friday arrived and it was time to load up the van, say goodbye to the cat and head on up to the Eastern Express (via the best part of a day’s work). Picked KC and Big Gav up along the way, then over the hills we went. Saturday dawned with no sign of the threatened rain… and brought a cool diversion by the campsite’s pet rabbit, who lollopped over to say hello and pose for KC to take a couple ofhttp://www.scaredycatmtb.com/2008/12/reality-check.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Scaredy Cat)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-294322457127946148.post-5845865275572860364Sun, 30 Nov 2008 23:34:00 +00002008-11-30T15:35:02.901-08:00Taupo Enduro – Lap TwoOr the descent into madness!!! After what turned out to be a 17 minute stop at the Caltex, a fresh bottle (I still had one 2/3 full bottle which, in hindsight, I should have swapped for a full one), sunscreen, change from merino to summer jersey, remove legwarmers (thanks Trudi!!), change gloves knock back some coffee – and we were under way. I’d hoped that this lap would http://www.scaredycatmtb.com/2008/11/taupo-enduro-lap-two.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Scaredy Cat)4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-294322457127946148.post-2310194190350981280Sun, 30 Nov 2008 21:48:00 +00002008-11-30T15:16:13.920-08:00How hard could it be?? Damn hard… harder than a hard, hard thing, that’s how hard! I made a couple of fundamental mistakes in preparation and learned some hard lessons along the way. Not getting a proper sleep during the day was my first mistake… the second was Burger Fuel for dinner!! Normally I get along well with BF – but, to be safe, I had their mini-burger (vegetarian) which is about the http://www.scaredycatmtb.com/2008/11/taupo-enduro-lap-one.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Scaredy Cat)2