ZUBZUB-Round taupo...

[crazycanuck]

Hey zubzub, I know at the moment you're on yer bike doing the round taupo. However when you finish your 160k's just want to let you know i was thinking about you. I hope it all went well & it wasn't too cold..

You're not one of the endurance nuts that did 500k's were you??

What was the Hatepe hill like?

Ian & I are dying to do it again..(esp as next year's the 30th anniversary of the challenge...)

See ya

c

[RoadRaven]

Well, its all over - I didn't do it this year but had plenty of people I knew who were in it.
The Classic was won in 3 hours 46mins... not shabby at all.

Everyone I knew made it round safely... and thats always an issue with so many starters.

Hatepe is an all right hill, its the fact that it comes after a couple of extremely challenging hills and 140kms into the race that makes everyone groan.

Zubzub, how'd you go? And CC, are you planning to do it next year then?

I'll prolly go in a relay next year, I have no desire to do the whole thing unless I can come under 6 hours, and since endurance rides do not appeal to me, I will prolly never do the whole thing.

[Zub_Zub]

Hey zubzub, I know at the moment you're on yer bike doing the round taupo. However when you finish your 160k's just want to let you know i was thinking about you. I hope it all went well & it wasn't too cold..
You're not one of the endurance nuts that did 500k's were you??
What was the Hatepe hill like?

Hey, It was the coldest race in the history of the race.

I did the race in 7.30 which was better than last year by 15 mins.

What I learned this year.
1. You HAVE to train. Or you die after the first 40 k.
2. Wear glasses. Or you end up with really badly bloodshot eyes and bugs seem to be attracted my eyes.
3. While at school nationals dont leave your legs warmers lying in your bag while you go to hospital with half of your team. Or your legs freeze.
4. Do not share a room with a teenage boy. They fart and cough all night long.

[crazycanuck]

Zubzub...good to hear you finished. I read in the NZ herald that there were quite a few injuries because of the crappy weather.

Not sure what to say about the things you learnt...i agree that boys fart too much & they smell funny..

c

[Trekhawk]

Hey, It was the coldest race in the history of the race.

I did the race in 7.30 which was better than last year by 15 mins.

What I learned this year.
1. You HAVE to train. Or you die after the first 40 k.
2. Wear glasses. Or you end up with really badly bloodshot eyes and bugs seem to be attracted my eyes.
3. While at school nationals dont leave your legs warmers lying in your bag while you go to hospital with half of your team. Or your legs freeze.
4. Do not share a room with a teenage boy. They fart and cough all night long.

Hey Zub Zub - well done.
LOL about the list. See cycling is not just about keeping fit you learn some other interesting stuff too.

Trekhawk only girl in her house nodding her head at number 4.

[RoadRaven]

Yes... you are right about the cold... I rode on Saturday afternoon here... just a half hour spinning session on the flats... I thought about everyone in Taupo... this cold snap has hit the country it seems.
When I came inside I had to sit with a blanket while my legs warmed up - i didn't want to brave the hot water of the shower straight away.
And that was only half an hour in the elements.
Congrats again ZubZub... a damn cold day to be hours in the rain and wind
Well impressed with you for finishing!

[Zub_Zub]

There where alot of crashes. I saw about four people being taken off in amblulances. One dudes front whell was caved in.
After the race my mum shouted me a ten minute massage and then we sat in the car for two hours trying to warm up.

Marie

[SnappyPix]

I can definitely confirm it was a little chilly on the Taupo ride, as my teeth were chattering at the start of the race! The poor woman next to me only had a sleeveless singlet on and looked positively blue! She had goosebumps on her goosebumps!

It was my first ever Taupo challenge and I was SO excited before the race that I didn't sleep the night before (not good!).

It was the biggest kick being in one place surrounded by so many thousands of other cyclists and openly exhibiting bike lust without shame!

I was hoping to come in under 6 hours, but suffered a flat, which (stupidly) I tried to pump up twice before finally giving in and changing the tube. I was gutted as I'd managed to hang onto the back of a chain gang and was flying at 40kph into a headwind before I felt the tyre go. I came over the line in 6.07.

I was shocked to hear that some people had suffered from hypothermia, but not surprised as the temperature wasn't even in double figures at the start of the race.

I'm absolutely loving being in NZ at the minute and feel really inspired to do some more competitive events (have now done 3 races so far). I'm even contemplating triathlons, even though my swimming is rubbish!

[DirtDiva]

If you don't know about it already, there's a whole series of have-a-go women's only tris in NZ. Check it out! I've never done one (morbid fear of running further than about 400m), but I marshalled on one and I know quite a few people who have entered and they have universally enjoyed the experience. And head down to your local pool: they'll have adult technique and training classes, probably for a reasonable price too.

[crazycanuck]

Hey I did the Special K women's tri last year in Auckland & taupo and loved them. I'd never run before nor done anything other than boogie board in the ocean...I believe the auckland event broke a world record for participation! The one in taupo was cool as the water was clear & could see all the little fish-much better than the auckland one...blech..!

I think Olympic pool in Newmarket might have some kind of classes for prep...I never did check it out...

I enrolled in a tri course here but am unable to complete it due to my knee atm..Will be joining them again in Jan.

About the round taupo-when we did it last year i remember one woman broker her hip about 2k's into the event...bugger!!!

c

[SnappyPix]

Thanks for the tips!
The Special K tri has now become a duathlon, which I'm definitely going for - and I'm going to bite the bullet and enter the She triathlon in April (which I think has taken over from the Special K event).

I went on my training ride early this morning and actually found myself in the middle of a triathlon along Tamaki Drive in Auckland! That was so cool, the road was closed to cars, but not bikes, so I suddenly found myself in the middle of all the excitement! I was quite disappointed I didn't know about it beforehand, as I might have trained for it (although in reality, I know I need to really work on my swimming first).

Thanks for the tip about the pool at Newmarket - it's literally a 2 minute walk from my house, and I've been building up my swimming there as the 50 metre lengths are quite a challenge; the lane-only swimming at specific speeds is fantastic - no little old ladies bobbing in front of you in twos, like little old ducks!

[Zub_Zub]

Hey everyone. Seems like we have quite a group of ladies from little New Zealand. Im looking to do my first tri in april next year. It should be very intersting. Ive bugged a mate into doing it. Its funny because she is the girl who talked me in to doing cycling!
http://www.activewoman.co.nz
At least the weather has cleared up, just as I start working again. Im beginning to hate roses. It might be because I start my day at 7 and pick roses till about 8 or 9 then bunch them for the rest of the day!! So my cycling training has gone out the window.

Good luck in all of your races coming up and all that!
Marie