Posts Tagged ‘specialized’
Gearing up for XTERRA New Zealand
Newsflash: New Zealand is stunningly beautiful! After a few long flights from CPT, JHB, Sydney to Auckland, we stayed right on the water (above) for a few days with Princess Hotstuff’s friends. During high tide I swam in the estuary and channel amoungst the boats. Water was surprisingly warm.
Unpacking some cool new toys. The Specialized Compak AirTool travel pump for tyre and suspension is not only long overdue for traveling, but also beautifully engineered from all aluminium. LOOK S-track pedals & since we’re in the “worlds best fly fishing country” travel fly rod.
Brand new bike: I chose the Specialized Sworks “Epic” over the “Epic World Cup” model. This bike has a bit more suspension, the handling a bit more stable, and if I need to, I can put a double chainring on there.
First things first, I pre rode this legendary course a number of times. The Billy T single track is incredibly fun, and I wish the whole 25km bike course could be this much fun…
Grippy soil, flowing, well built trails,
Some interesting sections- VERY different from South Africa’s jerky, rocky trails.
Dont trip over the scenery. Green Lake.
Images straight out of childrens books…
Race venue.
Not called “Blue Lake” for no reason. The run is 2 laps around the lakes under a canopy of huge fern trees.
Cool new goodies- Hoka One One shoes, Thule bacpack and iPad cover & Columbia rain jacket– for the infamous NZ weather.
Leana (Vlooi) de Bruin, Princess Hotstuff (Liezel Wium in her Netball days) and Irene van Dyk.
After a few days training on the course in Rotorua, we went to Hamilton. The highlight was watching Princess Hotstuffs’ old teams (Magic vs Pulse) and her “old” teammates playing a super exciting Netball game- live on TV in front of a packed stadium. The game is huge in NZ!
The lowlight is a costly trip to the eye doctor. I had the pterygium sliced off my eye excatly 6 weeks ago and since then my eyes has been super sensitive to light. Like REALLY sensitive- not being able to drive or be in the sunshine for even short periods. Fortunately its been rainy and cloudy and this course is 99% shaded by tall fern trees.
Race day tomorrow.
“Caveman in the flesh” at Echelon Cyclery, Auckland NZ April 14
Meet Caveman for Q&A, “drinks and nibbles” at Specialized dealer, Echelon Cyclery Auckland NZ on Monday April 14.
Argus MTB Challenge
Caveman getting rid of frustration. Pic by Cape Town Cycle Tour Trust
A week after a disastrous day long cramping episode* at XTERRA Grabouw, I had much pent up frustration to get rid of.
*Cramps caused by Magnesium shortage. Will be taking Mg supplements for the rest of my life. (Normally I dont take any supplements at all)
And of course, “I LOVE RACING!”
Having finished 2nd (to Mannie Heymans) and 1st (on a prototype Specialized 29er) in 2010 at this event before, I was eager to hook it and see what comes out. The race was loaded with serious types getting ready for Cape Epic.
The 1st 15km was flattish (Caveman terrain) so I started like it was a 55km TT. The field strung out nicely and what I lacked on the climbs, Christophe Sauser made up.
It was all fun and games till I started losing air pressure in the rear tyre from a small sidewall cut.
Rear tyre getting dangerously flat. Johnn Rabie, Erik Kleinhans and Kevin Evans following. Pic by Greg Beadle
Pic by Greg Beadle
I could see the 1st aid station, and was hoping there would be a spare wheel at the Tech Zone. When I realized the Tech Zone is not till the 2nd aid station 10km further, I stopped and “bombed” the tyre- tilting it on is side (with the sidewall cut at the bottom) so the sealant would fill the cut. In hindsight I should have plugged the hole http://cialisviagras.net/. Its the 2nd time in 3 races that I has to reach for the tools in the SWAT* box this year. I like the SWAT box a lot, but I hate having to use it! *SWAT = Storage Water Air Tools- located between waterbottle cages on Epic bikes.
Aired up and at it. Its amazing how the lactic acid pools in your legs while fixing a flat. The next few km feels like an eternity. I stopped and aired a few more times, and rolled into the Tech Zone on the rim. Fortunately Specialized had some wheels and Dylan quickly had me on my way again. Pic by Greg Beadle
Pic by Greg Beadle
Stunning vinyard racing and good cornering technique: Drop the saddle, (Command Post) lean the bike, keep body weight over the pedals, look at the exit, finish braking before the corner.
Pic by Princess Hotstuff
Strava file:
Somewhere along the way the leaders were taken off course, of those behind them some waited – and gave them a head start- some didnt, so the results is not what is would have been. Just like last year.
I’m amazed how the biggest MTB race in the country can have something like this happen 2 years in a row…
I think the podium would have been something like Rabie, Evans, Sauser.
Ah well, it could have been worse…
Pic by Greg Beadle
Caveman MTB Skills clinic – March 14&15, Jonkershoek, Stellenbosch
Caveman MTB Skills Clinic hosted by Conrad Stoltz in conjunction with Specialized Test the Best in Jonkershoek, Stellenbosch – Friday 14 & Saturday 15 March 2014
Fri: 14 March – KIDS Clinic – 15h00-18h00
Sat: 15 March – ADVANCED – 08h00-11h00
– BEGINNERS – 14h00-17h00
For more information, please email liezelstoltz@me.com
It really has something of everything. Scenic single track with loose rocks, pine forest, a deep river crossing, a big climb and a huge climb, and some beach sections where you get to pick your own line.
