Final Race in the 2013 Benchmark series, Hell of the South.

Friday we left for the drive down to Christchurch with most of our team mates finding there own way down I got a ride with our manager for this event John Reid and his 2nd in command Matt Black in the good ole Holden Commodore work car of Brendon Matthews with its permenant check engine light and other warning beeps from the car. Nice stress free drive. I was staying at a long time cyclist friend of mine Scott McDonnell and his family on his sofa. Arrived at 6pm and settled in for the evening. The day of the race started with a lift with Team Thule to the start of the race at the Farringdon Estate in Rollston, 20 minute drive away on a brand new motorway. The final days racing was a split day with a short 7km Team time trial that only counted for the teams points and then the main event at noon which had us doing 3 circuits with a section of gravel of 1.3 km long each lap then another section on the final run home of 1.7km, total race distance of 127km. We needed to do well in the TTT as we were holding 2nd overall in team catagory but only a few points in front of 3rd and 4th. The time was for the 4th rider across the line which was fine as we had 5 in our team, well we did for at least a kilometer. Meant our overall contender in the points Brendon and I had to do most of the work, I did not feel that we where going that hard but these events quickly compound those feelings as I started to tire quite badly which meant I had to dig deep to keep up the pace. We managed to just get in 3rd place with a 11.18, 2secs in front of next team. So that was job done. I just needed to have a sleep after which I did on the grass verge by our team car. Felt quite sleepy most of the day as had not had the best sleep the night before, sofa was good, just hard that first night in a new place. Anyway I needed to recharge, drank energy drink and at a couple of pieces of food before the main event. We rolled out with me right at the back during neutralized section of about 5km, Once the race was under way I went up to the front of the race, there where a few moves that came back, I just followed the wheels knowing it was going to be a long day and most riders where going to wait until the gravel. 2 riders managed to slip away and started opening a gap quicly, a rider managed to sprint across so that was 3 up the road, no drama I thought as it was a long way to go, 3 more riders went in pursuit, bunch was content to just keep cruising so both groups of 3 got out of sight quite quickly. I felt it was hard to let the bunch just roll along but without doing alot of work this early I would be no good later so just held back. the first section of pave came at 42km so set about making sure Brendon was up near the front which was easy, ended up riding next to Team thule as they where protecting there rider as he was the overall leader of the series. I followed into the gravel in 3rd wheel but straight away felt unsettled, I was trying to ramp up the pace but found the gravel was like marbles with deep patches, hard to see a line to ride so ended up off line not able to corner so got out of postion, I was shaken quite alot as I love this stuff normally, managed to stay in the top ten as alot of riders where far worse off than I, we came out onto the road with a split in the bunch, pace hovered at 50 plus but with no real structure or desire by our bunch to keep driving it the rest of the field caught back on. I took shelter and to check on team mates, Brendon was in front half, Chris, bruce and Andy managed to get back in after a short chase. At this point we got a time check to the front group of 3 where out at 4.50mins with the second group of 3 2mins behind, so I decided to see if doing a few hard long pulls on the front might make a difference and also spur some action into the bunch. managed to get 4 other riders to help, able to sit on 40 km/h into the wind, next time check at the end of that lap and we had taken 2 minutes out of the leaders and could see the 2nd group in front of us. The 2nd lap through on the gravel I lead in so I could chose my line and set the pace which I did well, also felt alot more at ease this time, came out onto the road with the bunch intact but we had a few more teams interested in chasing, although also had some teams doing a good job of blocking as well, this time into the wind I bought the pace up to 45km/h and simply rode of the front with one other rider on my wheel so kept going, we opened up a good gap and closed out the 2nd bunch which had imploded by then but then we also started to see the folly of this move as it was bloody hard out there, managed to get the gravel in front of the bunch so knew we could get through at our own pace which was not that slow, I came out in front of the bunch, all the camera men and crowd had gone, makeing there way back to the finish. we know had 25km to go, I felt I may have burnt to many matches but sat in near the front. Time check to the front was 2mins at this point, at this point I had a chat to Brendon about our finish plans, he wanted a lead out train for the sprint, still had two team mates with us at this point. I said I am going to work on the front to see if we can bring the break back as I felt I could do both this and still help lead out if it came to that. We started to get more regular time checks, we where taking time back in chunks but not quick enough, I managed to ride of the front again and lead into the fiial section of pave at 1.7km long, got caught on the 90 degree left turn that was all dirt, this section was narrow with some grass showing down the middle so that is where I rode, had a team thunder pass but managed to match them on the right, very fast for a gravel section, we came out with a bunch of 8 and a good gap but no one wanted to drive it which was interesting as how hard these guys did the gravel. Buch was getting tired but not letting anything go either, well that was until one rider launched from the back and rocketed past, i took up the chase, had another rider right on my wheel, bunch only a coulpe of bike lengths but then no one could close the gap so the 3 of us held in front then slowly started pulling away, By know we could just see the lead car, 1.20 up the road with 10 km to go. The 3 of us kept rolling at 38-40 km/h, I was waiting for the right time to punch it up to 42-44 but as it turned out i had nothing left to do this but we where still pulling tme, down to 50secs and 38 secs in front of bunch, knew it needed one of us to drive it but we where all at the exact same point, seemed stuck on 38km/h, I started to inform them how far to go, 2km and it was 30 secs to the 2, or thats right one rider had blown to bits, lasted 100k though. We had a two more right turns to go, I lead the first and started ling up the 2nd with a nice wide arch and then one of the guys cut in at an angle that took me right into the gutter so I thought stuff you and sprinted for the line which gave me a 3 bike length gap but then I had no more and was willing my body to keep going, legs had run out of everything, lucky for me the other two had the same thing happen so was able to roll over the line completly exhausted, whole body had pins and needles, not sure if heart was beating or just vibrating, managed to make it back to team car then just sat on the ground for 10 minutes. So that is my account of the race. Brendon finished 10th with Bruce Heron and Chris Heywood in the bunch as well. Well done to the whole team, John Reid, Matt Black, Brendon Matthews, Bruce Heron, Chris Heywood, Andy McDonald, Brian Grant, Jim Black, Glenn Bussell, Mike Anderson and all the help that has made it what it is. Next Target is the Masters games next weekend. phew, wonder if I can recover in time.

Pics from the road, NZ

Tuesday blast

Last night was the 2nd of the Tuesday night blasts held from Richmond. We meet at 6pm and start racing at 6.30pm on a route that takes an hour or less of very fast and hard racing. We had about 20 riders in A/B grade last night, good to see early on everyone doing through and off, that stopped on the first hill though as the attacking started, I did a big pull, all that did is separate me from the front before we turned into Maisey Road, eased back into the bunch, wanted to see if anyone was going to attack the climb as it is short and steep. We all went over in a bunch so had to start stretching it out again down Redwood straight, we could not get a gap, but was making it hard for the rest. I am just staying on the gas all the time. Had another go along Wamai West, as did a few others. Did get away with a young lad for about 5 minutes, he is one rider not afraid of giving it some. He was also in the break on Saturday with me.
We got caught just after Burkes Bank, Robin Reid rolling a big gear, but looking smooth as he went away from the bunch, I gave myself about a seconds rest then held his pace until someone could come round me, all came together with a 100 meters to Ranzua corner, came in third wheel, aiming to whind it up for the bunch, started then felt the wind was to much so sat up thinking I had the whole bunch on my wheel, when in fact only had 4 riders then a gap back to the bunch. I had done enough blasting so let everyone else charge to the line. I came in at the back, happy that I started the days racing hard and stayed riding hard till the finish.
Overall there was about 80 riders there last night, good turn out. What with the New Zealand Club Nationals to be held here in Nelson next week, it is bringing on the form so early in the race calender.
I feel good and strong, had my back sorted by Osteopath Richard Carruthers in 3 sessions, forgot that I had crashed and hit my head earlier in the year. Moving here took up alot of my time, makes a massive difference as before I could only manage 3 hours at the most as the discomfort was not nice, since I have done some of my longest rides this year. 6 1/2 hours last Thursday, mixed in with 2 over 4 and a 5 1/2 hours last Sunday, all last week, very big week but feel fine, well a little tired.
I am doing the 178km senior road race on the 24th of Oct, hence all the miles. The course is a honest one and is going to hurt going up Old Coach road on the 11th lap, 16km laps.
Will try to get some pics up soon.
later Warrick

Living in New Zealand

Well on the 12th of August my wife and I arrived back in my home town of Nelson, New Zealand to be greated by my Mum and daughter, had a nice moment at the airport. My daughter and I caught the airport shuttle with my bikebox and two suitcases, while my wife went with my mum. Meet at my mums apartment and hand a simple lunch of sandwiches. Warmer than I thought it would be considering it is winter here. Had a busy afternoon, took my daughter for a bike ride through town which was a first for her. Got caught in a little bit of drizzle, very light rain, made it back without getting wet.
After a good long nights sleep, first in 3 days, as the flight from London to Nelson is over 24 hours of flying time, phew.
Yesterday I took my wife into town and had a nice lunch at a cafe called Lambrettas, steak sandwich for me and rice risotto for my wife and sweet hot chocalates for both of us. Food is fantastic although at a cost, but $40 is still cheap.
After opened a new bank account and got an Eftpos card, so can get some cash, allways handy.
Had put my bike together in the morning so went out for 2 hour ride in the afternoon, roads where wet and covered in mud, so bike is filthy, nice and mild for riding.
This morning I spent an hour washing bike and know have it sitting in the living room ready for me to go out riding, although the sun is shining so more likely to borrow mums car and go to the beach with my wife.
Must go as lunch is all ready and we have guests.
The riding scene here is very strong so will report on that once I get involved, racing every weekend at the moment.

Sunday summer racing

Raced the London Dynamo summer road race, starting at Handcross, entered on the line at £18, not cheap for 76 miles over 6 laps. Field of about 65 riders, half way through the first lap I was in a move with 3 others, worked steady in regards the pace, for me my body was already on the limit, soon settled down though, we hovered at 30 to 40 seconds in front a chase group and already 1.10 on the field, after 2 laps we got caught by about 20 riders and had 1.40 on the field, was harder now as the pace varied so much, certain riders like braking when they get near the front, what is wrong with momentum, the wind will slow you down anyway.
The circuit was Staplefields which has to steady drags either side of the circuit, undulating along the back with dead flattish section, got in another couple of moves, did not attack the race, just rode harder on the hard parts, eventually I started to tire, well get twinges of cramp so had to roll as best as I could which meant watching the winning break go up the road.
Anyway I came in at the back of what was left of the group for 19th place. Rob Hurd won again, he bridged across with 1 and a half laps to go to the 4 up front. Wiley old racer he is.
Strangely feel good about the race as I was making the moves and I have really not done many races longer than 1 hour. Tan lines coming on strong as it was about 25 degrees, a lot cooler than last week but still plenty warm enough as it was humid as well.
Thinking of racing Crystal Palace on Tuesday night, need to see how I feel tomorrow as the Guildford town centre race is Wednesday night. look forward to it.

getting set to leave.

Sorry to anyone who has been following my racing and such on here, as I have been rather lax in updating my blog.
This is just a brief update as on the 1st of august i will be at Richmond Park for a farewell ride at 9am, meeting at the cafe. As of the 10th of August I fly back to New Zealand to live and hopefully keep racing, so will have more time as well. Lifestyle and to be closer to members of my family, ie daughter.
At the moment I am recovering from the 2nd crash of my racing year, this time taken out in a sprint after 130km's of racing, landed on my knee hard, also abrasions on hip, shoulders and elbows. Been over a week and the flesh wounds are healing up well, just my right leg after a longish ride starts to be affected with the pressure applied on it. Which then makes walking hard. will get it looked at by a pysio on wednesday.
Wont stop me racing at Crystal Palace tomorrow night, try to get back to winning ways, won 3 already this year.
Thats me done, see how soon I am back reporting, later.

My ride from hell(Denghie Marshes Tour-Hell of the East)

17th place. rode at or near the front for most of the race, legs were getting tired but was measuring out my effort well, last lap the mud had started to get tacky going across farm yard,as opposed to the first few laps when it was well muddy, so we all had more mud on our tires, 3 corners after the farm muddy section everyone had a scare, I had to adjust my line as it looked as Sam was going to come off in front of me, he had his feet out of pedals when, my front wheel went from under me, slid on my face and ripped up my hip, arm and fingers as well, stunned and in real pain. Remounted after some time sitting on my arse figuring out if I had broken anything or even had a face. Straightened stem and bars and tried to catch but had no legs, managed to latch onto two riders that caught me and hung on in till the finish.
Was physically and emotionally wrecked, hard not to cry as arm and wrist hurt.
Seem Ok at the moment but have yet to have a shower as I know this will hurt with my hip.
Bike frame and fork as far as I can see is undamaged, only damage has occurred to the left and right Sram shifters, scuffed badly. wheels straight and true, although there is dirt rattling round inside them know, may prove interesting when I come to clean. Bike is back at the shop.
Shorts and gloves have been binned, have scratched my race glasses and put a small hole in Gillet (max temp was 8 degrees) and two holes in left arm warmer.
Other than that I went out and bought a top up for my first aid box which got some interesting looks at Tescos, people double taking to get a look at my face, at least the security guy asked what happened, made a new friend, yeah!
1st race of the year, bike is fantastic, had no issues at all, so comfortable while being stiff, got plenty of approving looks. 50/50 with the bar tape though, will be changed once the weather improves and staying to mud free roads.