In Salute Of.....Stones Horsley

Stones Horsley came to town again today. And I (yet again) missed him. It was a combination of a massive ride yesterday, coupled with the first of four days off family jobs, errands and child minding/bonding/catching up with duties. Stones Horsley you say? yes. Stones motherfucking Horsley!!.

I first met Stones Horsley at what I now know to be the last junction on Roller Coaster, before it heads down to the Chinese Menu. I heard him before I ever saw him.It was race one of this year's Winter Series and I was sucking down some space goo and wondering when the white spots would fade from my vision, when this blond chap squeaks up on this great mid 90's full sus GT, and enquired if I had any panadol. "no, no I don't" I reasonably replied, Stones let me know that he had buggered his back, I do believe we rode together for a while, then having blown my load within the first 10km Stones dropped me.

Second race of the Series, Stones again. I was a lot more prepared and trained, Stones' back was still sore, We rode together for a considerably longer distance, and then I dropped him.

Third race of the series, Not prepared at all. Rode together for most of race, then three quarters through I yet again blew up and you guessed it, he dropped me. I finished just behind him, and through my haze of pain, took his number, because "This guy is alright".

He is more than alright. The man is a true hessian, and has STONES.

We caught up a few times before I moved and trained together.Stones punishes bikes (cracks frames, breaks shocks) and punishes himself, Stones did the Highlander, (which was the weekend that my family moved to vegas) with less training than I personally would be comfortable, and on an unfamiliar hard tail. He came to my house afterward with his lovely lady, a fixed beatific smile and drank cola and cramped uncontrollably in my living room.

Was this enough for Stones? no.

Stones did the Whaka. Myself at this point having decided that my training was way off and that I would go all out in the half century, I kept getting messages from Stones, saying 'oh, should be training more, commuting 12km to work..um". I was dying for him. Less patronism,more truly concerned friend. The weekend before the Whaka, when I was enjoying a leisurely tool around the hills with Von Krosch Stones was down here as well (didn't catch up with him then either) punishing himself doing Direct Road repeats. Stones.

This is the bit that kills me. I shake my head in disbelief at the man's fortitude.
Stones did the Whaka, and got cut off at, I believe, the 90km mark. He was routed through the finish and then, in high dudgeon (because quite rightfully Stones was over the 10km hr average) rode another 10km BACK OUT to where he got cut off and rode the ADDITIONAL 10KM THAT HE HAD BEEN PREVENTED FROM DOING BACK TO THE FINISH. Fuck me.

That night, 110km done, same house, same smile, less cramp, more dinners.

So, before he flys out to the Northern Hemisphere to Ski over Christmas, raise your glasses everyone to Stones. He has a quieter, newer and less cracked bike now, and just txt me a list of the trails he rode today (read, Half the forest). A more cheerful, resolute and inspiring riding buddy you'd never hope to meet.