Long Time Passing/Sheep Are Counting Me

I never would have thought in my wildest dreams that the process of moving to a place where I can ride bikes all the time would entail so very little riding of bikes.

I’ve been tearing up lino, sanding, painting sorting, boxing things up, wrangling children, helping of the wife, getting of the new job and generally wound all the way up to 11. Yes, you heard it here first… I go all the way up to 11.

In addition to all of this, the onslaught of work continues, it’s strange, I’ve never left a team whereby I’ve been happier, enjoyed the job more, gotten on with my colleagues better and generally had more fun. However, when I consider the lower mortgages, bigger land, amazing lifestyle and employment opportunities the Bay of Plenty seems the place to be...

Here, to be specific.

Yes. Rotorua, ROTORUA. Two lakes. Vegas.

Last race I had down there was fantastic, I managed to beat my time of the first race by 15minutes. I am particularly pleased by this as the course was 5km longer this time… it was a brilliant time, with Obi Wan, Girl Lightning and Red Shorts in attendance, a great day was had by all.

The only thing I could think (well, apart from Gosh, these hills are big) was that the trails that I was apoplectic with joy to ride would soon be my home trails… double YUSS! I found that not blowing my load immediately and riding as hard as I could out the gate was an ideal strategy..

In addition to this, I got a pre ride in the day before (I’m dead pro, me) and rode with some of the nicest people I’ve ever had the pleasure to meet. Rob, Kevin, James, Trent, Kylie, Lisa and Richard: Thanks!


We go in just over five weeks, which means the training for the highlander and Whaka fly somewhat out the window, but needs must. The final instalment of the Winter Series is on 13th July. Should be a blast, training is “minimal” due to the extreme no time that I now have. I’ve gotten a few rides in though, including one yesterday in a thunderstorm. Awesome!

The weather has been royally fucked here recently. I got up to ride at 0530 this morning, heard the smashing of rain on the roof and the howling of the gale force winds and noted the pitch black. I then looked at my tiny commuter light and one word flashed into my head SUICIDE. I went back to bed. It was nice.

Also, I’ve test ridden my new bike… oh yes…soon. Mm… yes.