Gravity Canterbury DH Summer Series 2023 , Race 1

 Downhill Season is back . The Gravity Canterbury Summer Series kicked off with a bang on Sunday 29th October . Using a fast and steep combination of trails, Pedal Fine , Access Road, Sneaky Ridge and Bridges .

My Specialized Demo was primed and ready for action. New Specialized Cannibal Grid Gravity T9 tyres from Chain Reaction Christchurch wrapped around my new
DT Swiss EX471/Hope Pro2 wheel set built by Racebikes NZ . Squirt Cycling Products NZ had it looking clean and Chain lubed .
Lap 1 was a real eye opener. I want able to get any practice on the Saturday, so it was a steep ( literally 😆 ) learning curve . The course was well taped with some cool new sections just for the race . Thankfully I had crystal clear vision through my new Julbo Session Goggles.
After 2 practice laps it was Seeding time . I put down a safe , clean run and made it down ok . I knew I had more in the tank for Race Runs .
This year all the Masters age groups are combined for a Mega Masters category.... and with about 10 other riders I knew my shot at a podium was practically nil ...... but I race for fun , not results , so it's not an issue . As long as I have a good day riding with good people , and I drive home at the end of the day , I'm satisfied .
In My race run I felt the most confident I had all day . I reckon another 5 practice laps and I would have been sweet . I nade it down the hill no drama. Urged on by the crowds trackside . Thanks to everyone who yelled encouragement.
My overall position of 2nd last in Masters Men was OK for me 

Muddygumboots 6 Hour Blast 2023

The Muddygumboots 6 Hour Blast 2023 .

What an awesome day . Picking up where Rod and Jane from Bluedog left off . Will , Taylor and Max along with all their amazing team put on a fantastic event.

I was privileged to be part of a SCCX team courtesy of Hynds . Ryan , Will and Fiona were top team mates .

I took the opening lap and rode my Rockhopper xc bike just to be safe in the fast and frantic start lap . After that I swapped onto my Crux which was definitely faster and more efficient on its Specialized Tracer and Pathfinder Gravel tyres .

I also ended up with the last lap after sending Will out for lap 13 so we had time for 1 last lap before the 3.30pm cut off

We knocked out 14 laps which put us a very credible:

16th out of 135 mixed corporate teams , 18th out if 144 mixed teams and

32nd out of 172 teams outright ......

Can't argue with that .

Squirt Cycling Products NZ Barrier Balm did its job perfectly and I didn't have to worry about chafing

And my vision was crystal clear all day thanks to my Julbo Rush glasses with their Reactiv lenses

We had an epic battle all race long with Jason , Frankie and their 2 team mates from Lighthouse Brewery .... with the Lighhouse team passing us on the last lap to win the inter SouthernCross battle.

It was a great day spent with good people.

The whole event was well run and ee n the weather behaved itself .... it was a little windy , which made the new open section hard work , but the forecast rain held off all day ( yay ) .

Shout out to Dom @blissfieldphoto and Harry @visualsofharry for their amazing pictures.

Big thank you to Terry from Hynds for the First Class pit setup and Jason from Lighthouse for the liquid refreshments .

I'm Definitely looking forward to next year's event .... if you have never done it previously you will want to put it on your calendar for next year .

2023 New Zealand National Downhill Series Round 2

 Hey Team , Rob Here 

At the start of my journey into Downhill Racing I was nervous . Could I hack it ?. Was I good enough ?.

3 Races in and I knew that I could and,  while I wasn't the fastest ,   I was good enough to get down the hill with out endangering myself or anyone around me .

And With my confidence elevated I entered what would be the biggest race of my life 

Now I have raced all sorts of things in my life so far . Cars ( on and off road ) Motocross , Triathlon , Cross Country MTB , Enduro MTB . And some of those races have been South Island Champs or Part of a National Series , or even an EWS Qualifier ( 3 Peaks Enduro in Dunedin ) . I was always just out the back minding my own business and generally trying to stay out of the way and just do my thing .

But when I entered  the Second Round of the New Zealand National Downhill Series for 2023  I knew that this was going to be a whole different challenge . 

By January 2023 I had been posting videos on my YouTube Channel for just over 2 years . and with steady growth there as well as on my Instagram I was becoming somewhat  well known ( at least in local cycling circles )  so when I arrive to events now some people know who I am , and I feel my riding doesn't really live up to the hype .

I was worried I was actually going to in way over my head and make myself look silly.

But I entered the race and got in as much practice as I could . the fact the race was taking place at the Christchurch Adventure Park ( literally 5k's from my house ) gave me some confidence of having a home court advantage . 

To add to my stress I made sure I let everyone know my intentions . so then I was entered and it was too late to back out . 

Friday Morning before the race my very good friend Dan text me and suggested I should be riding a better bike than the Bulgarian Drag Kink that I had been campaigning my other races on . So a quick after work visit to Dan's House of  Bikes , saw me with a Carbon Fibre , size Large  , Giant Glory kitted out with TRP Quadium brakes , Sram XO1 drive train , Goodyear Newton Tyres  and DVO Suspension . Definitely one of the nicest bikes I have ever ridden .  

Massive,  Massive Thank You Dan for all your help getting me racing 👏👏👏

January 21 : Track Walk and Free Practice 

My First Ever Track Walk .  being a local Park Rat meant that I was familiar with the basic layout of the track . but the organizers had a few tricks up their sleeves  and some very interesting taping added some heat to the already spicy track .

I vlogged my way down the hill chatting to other riders and getting a feel for the weekend . everyone was super positive and made me feel good about things .

After Track Walk was free practice for the rest of the day . I suited up and attempted a basic initial setup of the Glory . almost everything on it was foreign to me . I normally ride  Sram CodeR brakes , Shimano  drivetrain , Maxxis and Specialized tyres and Rockshox Suspension , So the Glory was all new and very different .  Luckily I was pretty comfortable on the bike straight away and with a few tweaks of the shock settings I was ready to go .

Lap 1 was taken at a sedate pace . stopping to check out the new sections and watch other riders negotiate any section we were a little unsure about . 

5 practice laps with some of my local Masters DH racers got me feeling like I was ready and capable of what lay before me on Sunday . And I drove home quietly confident . 

check out my track walk and practive vlog 

Track Walk

Saturday Practice

January 22nd : Race Day 

Race Day dawned calm and sunny . I had a big breakfast and headed back to the CAP . 

Ready for action I put on fresh kit from Chain Reaction Christchurch and headed up the hill for some compulsory practice laps ( rules for the event were minimum of 2 practice laps in the morning before seeding ) . I was very shocked to see how the course had changed in the few hours since i had stopped riding . It was SO much more blown out and dusty . In some sections it was almost like riding a different course . there were a few corners that were 4 inches deep dust ruts , a roll that was down to rock and the Community Transmission Rock Garden seemed to be different ... like rocks had moved and shifted from all the abuse . 

there were a few track hold for a few unfortunate riders who had crashed and needed help to get  off the hill . but we were all in good spirits 

3 Practice Laps in the books for the morning and whilst I had become more comfortable again the thought of trying to go Fast ( especially in front of a growing Rock Garden crowd ) was making me nervous .

Seeding Run 

I was seeded last in the Masters 2 age group ( fair enough ) which meant I dropped in first for our group . Jeremy and Nick are both top blokes and very good riders . So while we were waiting at the top I said if they need past just yell and I'll move over . 

Sitting on the Start Ramp I was taking deep breaths and telling myself "it's ok , you can do this"

As the Commissaire counted down I rolled in . the first section of the track was a couple of rock steps , a dusty left hander , and then 2 larger roll/drops ( depending on skill and speed ) .  after that it was time to try go fast . check out the full track on my YouTube   . As I approached the C.T Rock Garden the crowd started to roar . it is always tricky riding past a crowd that's hoping to see something happen , a crash or big send , and when they know who you are it is even worse . I dropped into the Rocks and slowly picked my way down the semi safe line I had decided to ride . Just as I exited the Rocks Garden a extremely speedy Nick Sutcliffe blew past me . 

 I couldn't believe he'd mad up 30 seconds already , but was relived he'd gone past with out being impeded . I carried on . I made it clean through the G.C Rock Garden and carried on down to the tight dusty open corners before the G.C whoops . as I entered the turns a got a yell from Jeremy Burke to let me know he was behind , so I pulled to the side and let him past . The rest of my seeding run was fairly uneventful . I knew all I needed to do was get to the bottom and record a time. 

Jeremy and Nick were both about 90 seconds faster than me . That is such a huge margin . I have never claimed to be a fast racer . I just like competing . I like the atmosphere of races and the friendly rivalry , especially if you can find someone of similar speed to compare yourself to .

My person of the similar speed is Andrew Bull . Andrew and I  were very even during the Gravity Canterbury Summer Series in 2022 . He beat me in the 2 races we lined up in by only a few seconds each time . But at this event he had Aged Up to the Master 3 . So whilst we weren't in direct competition in our respective age groups , we still kept an eye on each others times. My seeding time of 5.04 was only a couple of seconds slower than him so I was very keen to  , A ; get under a 5.00 minute race time  and B ; go faster than him .

Race Run 

Because DH is a Race Against The Clock  like Enduro, as apposed to Cross Country , you drop in to your run at set time intervals . to keep things as fair as possible for me as well as Nick and Jeremy the Commissaires allowed a 90 second gap between me and Nick . This was done so hopefully we would both get full runs without having to slow down or pull over .  So with that in mind I was ready to try and beat my seeding time and not get caught by the finish line . 

you can check out my full race run . Link My Race Run   . that will tell a better story than a long wordy description . but to cut a long story short  I made it to the bottom without crashing , with only a few mistakes and without getting passed .

At the finish Kriss took my timing chip and inserted it into the Chip Reader to get my time . 

a 4.54 !! . Yes , I had gone sub 5.00 .... but had I beaten Andrew . we would need to wait for the masters 3 to finish .   Much to everyone's surprise Nick wasn't the next person to finish like he should have been . It was Jeremy .  while his time was getting recorded I asked where Nick was . Jeremy replied with  he's got a puncture and is still coming" . for a second I thought I might be on for a cheeky second place . But as Nick made it under the Finish Arch and handed in his chip that hope was dashed . even with a flat rear tyre for over half the track Nick had still beaten me by 20 seconds . 

Next across the line was Andrew . He explained that his run was very messy and had unfortunately gone slightly slower than his seeding time . So Part B of my race day goal was ticked off as successful.

 I had achieved all of my Goals . No Crashes . Sub 5 minute race time . Gone Faster than Andrew . 

AND I had come 3rd in a National Level Downhill Race in my Master 2 Age Group !!!! Unreal .

 big thanks to Dom Blissett ( 1 and 2 )  and Adrienne Chin ( 3 and 4 ) for the Photos 

Post Race and Prize Giving 

After the racing was done . it was time for a drink and to get changed and then get a Medal .

It is still wild to think that 6 months before this I had never raced a proper DH race . and now ( through some luck , and having the nerves to enter ) I was about to receive a Bronze Medal for my efforts . 

It was an Unreal feeling having my name read aloud and getting up on a Podium . 

I have raced at a lot of events . And generally either get thanked for helping , or a spot prize ,

so to stand on a podium , get awarded a Medal and say a few words into the mic was very cool .

Full Race Day Vlog : Race Day Vlog

I need to say a Massive Thank You to so many people . 

My Lovely wife for letting me out to race for the weekend , and put up with my non stop bike chat .

Dan ... for lending me the Glory for the weekend . and the Drag Kink that got me started in the first place

Gravity Canterbury , MTB NZ and The CAP . for organising and hosting such an awesome race 

All The Volunteers on the Hill and in the background . Without Legends like you there wouldn;t be races to race .

and lastly thank you to anyone still reading this . 

see you all in the next one . 

so until then ...... Ride ON !!! 

the Mudbuster Enduro at Middle Hill MTB

Commencal Mudbuster Enduro at Middlehill Mtb!!! 

 

What an Event .  What a Place . 

Hands down one of the best MTB events I have been to .

A little background .

Middle Hill MTB Park came to life in the aftermath of the Kaikoura Earthquake in 2016 

The deer farm was banged about and Morgan and Genevieve,  already keen MTB'ers set about creating an oasis of trails in what is essentially the middle of nowhere .

And since 2020 Morgz ,G , Wilk Keay and a dedicated group of legendary humans have run the  "Mudbuster" . 

Run at Queens ( now Kings ) Birthday Weekend in June .... it is off season for mist mountain biking events . And while it should be horrendously wet and cold . From what I've seen it doesn't ever seem to be anything other than perfect weather. 

I have had my eye on the Middle Hill and the Mudbuster since its inception and always wanted to go .

People talk about how amazing it is and how I need to go .

And this year , 2023 , was the year I was able to make it happen. 

May 4th ,6.00pm , and I was waiting patiently in front of my computer for entries to open .

Boom ! . I got one . My spot was reserved and I was going  .

 

The Mudbuster is a multi day event  from Friday to Monday .

I was only going to be there for 2 days , 1 night , but I was ready for the full experience. 

Camping on-site is welcome and encouraged as it is a fair drive even just to Kaikoura .

So I set about making my van ready for a night of camping 

I built a bed frame,  and equiped with a foam mattress , sleeping bag and wool blanket   I was ready 

Leading up to Race Week , I hadn't had much time on my Enduro .

Late Autum means the start of the wet season . And we had been getting rain  . Combined with working and Cyclocross Season getting underway my time on the trails riding my Enduro was limited to not much and hardly any . I crammed in a last minute ride and settled on it is what it is and I'll just do the best I could . 

I started packing Thursday night and finished Friday . 

I packed everything I thought I could possibly need . Spare parts , 3 new tyres , 3 tubes , chain lube , tubeless sealant . Brake pads , a disc rotor , tools,  my new track pump with tubeless inflation capabilities. 

So many clothes ..... 2 helmets ( half and full face ) knee and elbow pads . 4 riding jerseys ( 2 short and 2 long sleeved ) 2 pairs of pants and a pair of shorts. 

So much food  and drinks . I wanted to be over prepared and bring stuff home unused and not needed rather than wishing I had more spares or food .

I set my alarm for 6.00am Saturday so I could hit the road early , not need to rush , and get to Middle Hill for practice at 10.0am

I left Christchurch dark and early at 7.00am and cruised North .

As the sun rose over the coast a outrageously sunny and warm day presented itself . 

I onto the road to Middle Hill justbefore 10am and was not expecting to find such a beautiful place.  The hills are covered in thick green trees and the Gravel is an interesting white colour .

A few K's up the road and I turned into the grounds for the event . The main camping area was already filling up fast.  I spotted Bobby K and his Jeep and parked up beside him . 

The Rego tent was manned by the legend , Will Keay . So I wandered over to sign in , get my number board and wrist band . 

My setup meant there was not setup 

 So all I needed to do was  pull the bike out of the van , get changed into riding gear and I was ready . 

Number board on bike  I set off up the hill 

On the advice of people who know better than I do , I headed up to Stage 1 .

Little didn't know  ...... that Stage 1 was at the absolute highest point of the Bike Park and is usually only accessed via the uplift. 

A very long and hit push up the Gravel road had me regretting dome of my choices in life . Like not being fit enough ,  not having an E-bike and maybe even entering this race at all 😅.

After what seemed like an eternity,  but actually 70 minutes , I had made it to the top of the hill

So Saturday was a real eye opener .

Having never ridden Middle Hill before I didn't really know what to expect. 

I dropped into Stage 1 , a Single Black Diamond trail called "Fat Sac" 

The trails there are amazing.  Narrow , tight and twisty was the theme for the race .

And barely an ounce of mud in sight .

A crash on Stage 2 didn't effect me much on Saturday.... but I think it played on my mind heading into race day .

After Saturday practice concluded there was a Jump Jam on the Dirt Jumps by the office followed by a Movie night .

I went to sleep earlier than I usually would and woke up was to early Sunday morning. 

When it was finally time to get up I was already slightly worried about the first 2 stages .... and I think this really set me back .

After Briefing and a 50 minute slog to the top of Stage 1 it was time to race .

I made it down 1 ok .... ish 😬 . And then going into 2 I knew as long as I survived  the rest of the day would go well ...... 

I was riding Supreme tight and slid off track into a tree . I lost plenty of time and slowly rolled down the hill to finish well-off the pace .

Stages 3 through 5 just got better and better. 

I was lucky to spend the day with the best guys . Paul , Bram , Joel .  And Steve,  Simon , Klaas and Chris .  You guys were awesome 

And along with them the support from the sidelines was amazing.  It's still an unreal feeling to have so many people yelling my name  as I ride past . Massive Thank You to everyone there. 

After the race it was food and prize giving .  

I was lucky enough to get a spot prize .

Can't ask for much more 

It was great to meet the master mind of Middle Hill , Morgan Rigby  . What a fantastic spot you and the crew have built . 

I definitely need to get back next season to ride the rest of the trails .

Thanks to all  the awesome people taking photographs on course .

Dom , Anton , Chris and Ronan .

for the Full Race Vlog : Race Vlog

Thanks to my supporters 

Chain Reaction Christchurch 

And 

Squirt Cycling Products NZ  

and thank you to my lovely Wife for letting me go  .

A Downhill Journey Part 3 : Dave's Race

Hey Team, Rob Here. 

Race 3 for the 2022 Gravity Canterbury

Summer Series was the traditional "Dave's Race" down Tilted Sally aka Flowrider. 

This is a race held in the memory of Dave Balderstone , a G.C memeber who was heavily involved in the Tilted Sally trail and a total shredder in his own right .

If you haven't riden Tilted Sally it is a steep techy dh trail with Victoria Parks most infamous road gap .  Heading into the weekend I was a bit  nervous about what the trial was actually going to be like because I had never riden it before ( like normal ).  I knew the road gap had a easier ride around,  so that was comforting,  and I tried to watch as many people's videos from previous years races to get an idea of what was in store for me . But I was still a little worried. 

Conditions leading up to the weekend were OK  , but rain on Thursday meant maybe it might be a little slick but maybe the dust wouldn't be too bad ..... ?

Race Day Saturday rolled around and off the the top of Bowenvale Ave I went . With registration carried out a short practice briefing completed  we loaded onto the uplift and headed up the hill. 

Once on track there was zero evidence of the fact we had had any rain . It was completely dry and very dusty . Following a rider was difficult in the dust but helped me take practice Lap 1 a bit slower and allowed me to stop and watch other riders hit all the features.  I stopped at the Road Gap thinking there was a small possibility I might try jump it . This thought was quickly extinguished as I stood on the lip of the take off . It is quite big in real life and while  watching other riders jump it made it look pretty chill and basicallyeffortless..... the fear of crashing is strong and I have no shame in riding around something I'm not 100 percent confident I  riding . I carried on down the rest of practice Lap 1 and found that there wasn't anything too difficult in the course . Except 1 root in the last selection of trees before the finish . 1 brimming root sat about a 30 degree angle.  It was terrible.  Not on 1 single Lap that day did I ever feel confident riding that root . I tried going high , going low , tried to hop it . Nothing  felt good so i just slowed down and carefully made it over.  Not elegant,  or graceful,  or fast . But I got over it .

A smaller number if riders for the event meant we were smashing our practice laps . In the last 2 races I only managed 3 laps . This event most of us got in 5 laps . 

Even with all that practice,  my new Specialized tyres , and plenty of Bike Park Laps , something just felt off . The creek gap jump  the I had managed to jump at race 1 before my rear tyre let me down just want feeling achievable.... I rolled I to it a couple of times and kept telling self "next Lap I'll get it" just never happened . I just want feeling it . And that's ok . You never have to feel pressure to ride something.  Some days the feeling isn't there and some days it is. 

With 5 practice laps in the books I knew I was able tonride the course with no issues.  It was just a matter of how fast . 

After the last 2 races where the timing system failed to give me a seeding time I didn't wear my GPS watch at all .... and whether it is coincidence or what , I got a seeding  time  . Slowest in Masters 2 ( no surprised)  and with my main rival and new racing buddy Andrew sitting the race out ahead of Christmas and a week long riding holiday ( so as not to tempt fate and get injured ) I was a fair way off Mark and Steve on the time sheet . But never mind  . As I always say "I race for the fun of it and the personal challenge , if I get a result that's a bonus" .

 So seeding was  done it was race time .

Race Run.  For this weekend the G.C team shuffled the running order of the age groups . Previously it had been all the Womans categories,  then Mens starting with under 13 and working the way up the Masters 2 then Open . This event saw it the Men's  reversed with Master 2 first up . As the Woman headed down the hill I was going to be  first Man up to attack the course . An unfortunate crash for  Winni Goldsbury meant a course hold while she was attended to and safely helped off the hill  . So after a short break it was my turn .... My race run was steady and all together uneventful.  The crowd of manic hecklers had gathered just past the Road Gap on the next steep section and were in fine form as usual and their cheering mad it hard not to get stoked .   I crossed the finish line without getting passed by the rider behind me ( which is always a nice feeling ) and inwardly celebrated a successful end  to the 2022 Summer Series of Downhill. 

Since we were first down the hill , we had plenty of time to fill in before prize giving. 

So thenwhile Masters 2 men's field gathered at the back of Hamishs van and enjoyed a few chilled , post ride beverages. 

After prize giving and the awarding of the  Dave's Race trophy it was time to go home .

I drove home feeling pretty satisfied.  Thanks to the generosity of my very good friend , Dan C , for the use the Fluro Drag Kink I had ticked off a long standing goal of racing D.H .  For years I have talked about it , but never managed to put things together.  But 2022 was the year . 

 With lots of new friends made and new goals for 2023 I think that is what you can call a successful campain .

Sure , I never made the podium..... but with a field of seasoned veterans racing in Masters 2 a podium was only ever going to be through luck . But if thats all you base success by there will be alot of disappointed people in the world. Success for me is riding a new feature , making new friends , completing a race weekend  , driving home in one piece with stories and not injuries. 

I finished 2022 with ambition for the next season and a goal to be closer to the guys in front of me . How will I do that?  , I don't know . I guess just lots of practice .

If you watch my Youtube  you will already know what was next for the DH plans .... I  entered  Race 2  of the 2023 MTB NZ National DH Series,  you can watch the videos from the weekend over on My Channel,And check back here for the full weekend write up coming  soon .

So that's all for now . Until next time team 

Ride ON !!!

 

A Down Hill Journey Part 2 ; The Mud-en-ing

 Hey Team , Rob Here .

 Race 2 of my inaugural Season of Down Hill Racing was at the C.A.P ( Christchurch Adventure Park )  which was exciting because as a Park Rat I was familiar with all the trails so my confidence heading into the weekend was high . Mother Nature tends to have a way of ruining a good plan , and this weekend was to prove no different . The weather forecast leading up to Race Day was not the best , and by the time Friday rolled around it was worse . Rain on and on all day had me predicting a postponement and I was correct . The Teams at Gravity Canterbury and the C.A.P made the wise decision to push the event back 1 day to Sunday and everyone kept their fingers crossed that the weather would blow over . Saturday dawned very wet and it never stopped. all day the rain came down . Sitting inside  I was wondering how the trails would hold up and what we would be presented with if the race went ahead . 

  After my Tyre Drama at Race 1 I was in search of a replacement rear tyre . I posted a Story on Instagram looking for a worn Maxxis in DH or DD casing , any tread pattern welcome . I had a few replies pretty quickly , but then something I didn't expect was the offer a a pair of new tyre from Chain Reaction Cycles   https://www.chainreaction.co.nz/   here in Christchurch . I was blown away .  I can't thank the Team there enough . A Pair of new Specialized tyres , 1 super new Cannibal T9 Grid Gravity and 1 Butcher T9 Grid Gravity , had me back on the trails and riding with more confidence than I have ever experienced in a tyre . With the New Cannibal and Butcher  fitted on the Drag Kink , Tyres were not even a tiny worry .  

 Waking up Sunday I was very pleased to see the Sun and nothing but clear skies . I was still nervous about what the Track was going to be like after all the rain . Conditions were going to be the same for everyone so it was going to be a case of staying upright and just making it to the bottom .

I rolled into the CAP carpark and found a spot with all the other Masters 2 riders . With Sign on completed and my number firmly fixed to the bike I got into my riding gear and waited for practice to start .  The Practice session was delayed to try and let the trails dry out as much as possible before we were let loose to ride them . Briefing was called and we all gathered round to find out what the plans for the day were to be . Due to all the rain the initial track had been changed from Captain Cook-Karma Sutra-Shredzilla-Karma Sutra to  Captain Cook-Karma Sutra-Loamer-Shredzilla-Loamer-Karma Sutra-Shredzilla . This was to mitigate the risks for riders and marshals as much as possible and you can't blame them for that . After Briefing we loaded up onto the Chairlift and headed up the hill . Road Works on Dyers Pass Road meant the we had been instructed to ride to the start using the Choir Boy trail and the we were not allowed to ride on the road like you would normally do if you were riding there on your own . This was a slight annoyance because if you know the Choir Boy trail , you will know that it is uphill for the second half and that riding a Down Hill bike along it is a definite slog . But those were the Rules for the Event so we rode full Choir Boy laps every time  .

Practice Lap 1 . 

We had all speculated what the conditions would be like . I thought the Loamer sections might be ok and the Hard Pack of the regular trails would be pretty slick . Boy I was wrong . The proper trails were slicker than normal , but the Loamer sections were like an ice rink . The mud quickly clogged the tyres and I couldn't go fast enough to get them to clear . Then when you got back on the regular trails the clogged up tyres offered no grip till you spun the mud out . I very cautiously made my way down the track . The Middle Crux Rock section on Shredzilla was not as bad as I feared it could have been . The Rocks were dryish and there wasn't too much mud being dragged onto them . Once at the bottom we all shared our stories of near crashes and how horrific the Loamer sections were .

Practice Lap 2 .

Back up the Chairlift and after another slog around Choir Boy I was back to the start of Captain Cook . as I set off for my run I was feeling not too bad . If you know Shredzilla from when it was first open you will know the straight cut line just  after the road crossing ,  that misses a pair of switchback turns ,  and how they closed it a few years ago . For this race it was open again and available to ride . This line saves you quite a few seconds so I was keen to use it . I had seen a few people ride it on my first lap so I knew it was good to go . I rolled up to the edge and dropped in . I negotiated the steep roll but as I turned to rejoin the main trail I washed my front wheel and took a heavy tumble onto the ground . In anticipation of falling off the bike I had decided to wear my hard plastic knee/shin pads that I used to wear for racing Moto Cross and the new elbow pads I had won as a spot prize at the previous race . this decision proved to be a good one as my right knee and left elbow hit the ground heavily . Luckily I was able to get up quickly , and apart from a slightly sore ankle , and was pretty much unhurt . I took a few minutes to gather my thoughts and then was back on the bike to slowly complete lap 2  . 

Practice 3 .

After my crash on my last lap I wasn't going to try that line again , instead opting to play it safe and not tempt fate . The track was improving every lap so even though I was a little tentative , I was feeling better and felt like my speed was improving . I made it down lap 3 and was feeling ready for seeding after lunch . 

Seeding Run .

With the track rapidly drying the confidence was increasing   . I set off down the hill keen to set a good benchmark time . As I approached the cut line short cut I decided to avoid it . I was nervous that if I crashed on it again I might not get off so lightly.  And really it was only seeding so no need for unnecessary risks .  I got safely to the finish and rolled back to the Rego tent to get my time . I realize I forgot to include in the last Blog that in Seeding at race 1 I didn't register a time . For what ever reason the timing chip played up , it worked for the race run and that's the important thing . At race 1 it was just put sown to a random glitch , but it happened again at race 2 . The timing chip didn't ping the first gate and therefore didnt give me a time  .  There was some debate between my fellow masters 2 riders and the timing volunteer that maybe my GPS watch was messing with the timing chip.  I wear my watch on my right wrist and the timing stations and chips have been on the right . It was a logical conclusion so I swapped my watch to my left wrist and headed back up the chairlift for Race Runs. 

Race Run .

After the final pedal all the way around Choir Boy it was time for the serious run .

With out a seeding time I was first of the M2 men down the hill .  There were a few extra guys in the class this race and  I was certain I wasn't getting anywhere near the podium times and thought  that getting to the bottom in 1 piece was a better idea than risking a crash in the hope I might get a good result ( I race primarily for fun and I can tell you getting hurt ain't fun ) . The starting Marshall counted me in and I was off  . Conditions had improved exponentially and I was feeling really good for the first time all day .  All the loam sections were holding together and weren't filling up the tyres like earlier in the day and the normal tracks were hero . There weren't massive crowds in the side of the track but there was groups here and there and the support was most welcome . Once again at the cut line I decided to go around it to be safe . It probably cost me 5 or so seconds , maybe more , but it's not the end of the world .  Safely at the bottom inwaited as the other guys came down and we talked about our runs.   I Nervously rode to the timing tent hoping I had a time recorded ..... and I did , big relief.  

Back at the van it was time to get changed out of very muddy riding gear and have a couple of cold bevies with the M2 men . While we waited for prize giving the normal banter took place. 

At prize giving I was not surprised that the podium places didn't have have my name on them but that's ok . A spot prize for  a Moon Under Water voucher  finished the day off nicely .

2 Race done and in very different conditions.  The First was steep and dusty, The  Second was less steep , But  outrageously muddy to start  then dried out nicely. 

The whole Gravity Canterbury family and everyone in it has been awesome and I left looking forward to Race 3 of the Sumer Series and my first experience of Dave's Race down Tilted Sally .

Hopefully I've remembered everything.  You can check out my Race Day Vlog over on my YouTube channel,  Rob Moore MTB  , and follow my Instagram for non video activities. 

That's it for this one , so until next time Team 

Ride ON !!!

A Down Hill Journey ; Race 1

 Hey Team  , Rob here .

Welcome to the Blog .

For years I have wanted to give DH racing a go , but never  had a DH  bike or the confidence to try it.

In 2022 I was very fortunate to have been given a bike from a very good friend . A 2017 Drag Kink ( all the way from Bulgaria ) . And then  with lots of practice I felt like  I was ready to go. 

My local DH bike club , Gravity Canterbury,  run a 3 race series every summer in November and December.  So with some nervousness I entered my first race. 

The day leading up to the race they announced the course to be used and I wasn't too shocked that I didn't know the trail and had never ridden it .  I was reasonably happy that I would be able to ride it even if it was slow. 

Race day rolled around and I got to the venue nice and early to secure a park right by the gate so I could easily return to my van for drinks and food and anything else that I would need during the day .  I signed on , got my timing chip and race number , and went about getting changed into my riding gear and getting the bike ready.

After filming the intro for my Vlog ( check out all my races on my YouTube channel ) I was rolling back to the van and ran into Matthew Fairbrother.  Matt had just recently got back hole after racing the EWS in Europe and North America.  His story is quite incredible as he rode his Enduro bike between almost all of the rounds , you should look him up if you don't know about him . Matt said he was more than happy to do a few laps with me and show me the course and help me get down in one piece.

After a briefing from G.C president Agata we were loaded up in the vans to go up the hill for practice. 

Matt and I wandered Deon the first 100m of course and he showed me the good lines.  Back at the top of the course we hopped on the bikes and started lap 1 . Using all the lines Matt has showed me definitely helped my confidence as I slowly worked my way down the hill . There were a few sections that looked slightly daunting as I rolled up to them , but I was able to roll them without any issues.

a successful lap 1 had me feeling pretty good . I knew I was going to be able to ride everything .  There were a couple of large jumps that I was not even going to attempt but a small gap jump over a drain just as the track entered the open section got me thinking I'd like to try and clear it . Talking to Matt about it he gave me some really helpful advice about how to go about attacking it . 

Lap 2 of practice felt way better and I felt way better on the bike . I still rode around all the jumps but was confident I could hit it on the next lap .

Lap 3 and I was starting to feel "fast" . I was hitting all my lines and was ready to commit to the drain gap . as I rolled into the open I let the brakes go and was ready . Matts advice was Trail Speed  , No Pop . I think Matts Trail Speed is faster than mine and I cased the landing with the back wheel . But I was over . I had done it . I had jumped a gap that I had ridden past a hundred times . 

I was Stoked .

Then end of Lap 3 signaled lunch time . I reviewed my Gopro footage , Ate , Drank and relaxed .

Next was Race Briefing . 

Master 2 Men , which is my age group , were second last down the hill . So as we all sat and waited for the vans to return I got to know the guys in my age group . Everyone is a Top Bloke .

We loaded up the van and headed up the hill , unloaded and rolled down the the start area . Now this is where my day got really interesting . A few weeks prior the back tyre on the Kink failed and fell off the rim . It turns out the Bead in the tyre broke or stretched and meant it was too large to stay seated on the rim . So it got thrown away and a new Maxxis Assegai was fitted to the front with the old front tyre going to the back . While sitting in the sun at the top of the hill the rear tyre ( old front tyre ) blew off the rim . With a frantic effort from the other Masters 2 guys and myself  we managed to get the tyre back on the rim with enough pressure to be able to ride , but not so much that it wanted to pop off .  Mark said he had a spare tyre in his car that I could put on when we got to the bottom .

So I lined up at the start , waited for the Countdown , and was away for my first ever Seeding Run .  Now this was a very tentative lap due to the lower than desired pressure in the tyre . I was very cautious over any rocks and didn't hit the drain gap for fear of popping or rolling the tyre off the rim . Somehow I made it to the bottom without any issues and without getting caught by the rider behind me . After the rest of the Masters 2 made it down we rolled back to the van to swap the tyre .  This is where things got really interesting . For what ever reason the Hex in the rear axle decided now was a good time to round off . No matter what I tried I couldn't get the axle out . I was flustered and didn't know what to do . I contemplated pulling out . Andrew Bull suggested since it stayed up for Seeding what if we just put a little more air in it and see how it goes . I thought  "Yup why not" and we added a little air , then a little more , then a little more . all the time paying close attention to the tyre to make sure it didn't come off the rim .  All the while the van was waiting to go . So we grabbed my bike , loaded it up , locked my van and up the hill we went .

This time at the top I left the bike sitting in the shade so hopefully the tyre would behave . As we watched the other riders head off one by one my nerves started to come to the surface . Was I going to make it to the bottom. Was I going to be too slow . What was I doing here .

Master 2 got called up and I was first to go . 30 seconds got called . Then 15 . 5 , 4 , 3 and I was away .     I wanted to go as fast as I could but had the worry of my back tyre in the front of my mind . I rode the first section , then the second . The tyre was still inflated . Rolling down a large drop I though I heard something and then felt like the tyre was flat . I carried on and decided it wasn't . Heading out into the open I knew that I would loose heaps of time by riding around the drain gap but I was was way to worried about the tyre so chose to avoid it and just make it to the bottom .  In the last section of trees before the finish a rowdy group of spectators had gathered and the cheering was awesome . I felt good and pushed on to the finish . 

I had done it . I had completed my first Down Hill Race . It hadn't gone all to plan but I had a crash free day . I had conquered a feature that I had previously thought I would never ever jump , and I had met some amazing people .

Massive Thanks to the Gravity Canterbury team and all the Volunteers who make events like this possible . Thanks to Matt Fairbrother for all his advice and line choice . Thanks to all the Masters 2 guys , Mark , Steve , Jeremey and Andrew ,  for helping me get my bike sorted and encouraging me to keep going when I was about to pull the pin . 

I had a Fantastic day and was left fizzing for Round 2 coming up in a few weeks at the C.A.P 

Finally a Massive , Massive  Thankyou to Dan for the bike . I couldn't have done this without your support and generosity . 

there are probably heaps of details I have forgotten to include .  hopefully you have enjoyed this tale of my first Down Hill race .  Full reports from races 2 and 3 to come . 

Until Next Time Team , Ride ON !!!