KARAPOTI

Karapoti, Not a race iv ever contemplated doing in ten years of Mountain Biking. Im not really sure why, Its a race and I love racing, I think the prospect of it being not to disimilar in filthyness to a wet Paris Roubeix or a deep winter Belgian Cyclocross race dosn't really apeall to me.

As the day drew near I was feeling pretty nervous not really knowing what to expect other than the worse. The night before the stress was chucked on hard when a chain ring rubbed my tyre side wall causing it to leak. I didnt want to run tubes as Id heard horror storys of 10 punctures. And I realy wanted to use the Slant 6s because of their tough heavyer carcus seemed perfect for the rocky terrain Id heard about. Quick thinking I patched the inside and Hiskey took the wheel home to add more Stans sealant and pump it up before the big day. Extra stress was added by having the number 13 plate. I was never superstitous till one day I got number 13 and 10k in to the race smashed my self to pieces and had an early flight home.

Race day dawned and it was happening. Tyre was holding air sweet and come 5 to 10 we were standing in the river awaiting the gun. I hada shocking start coming out of the river last but wasnt phazed as I knew it was going to be a tough day and my goal was to finish, hopefuly under the magical 3hour mark and learn what this race was about. Hopefuly never to come back again.
Once the first off road section was hit I quickly descovered why this race was so filthy and lethal. Rocks and a fine gravely silt paste that gets everywhere. I slowly set about passing riders one by one. Come warm up climb I had caught up to team mate Sotty and we spent a fair bit of time cruzing together really. On these big super steep climbs I was glad to have my nice light efficent Avanti Competitor Hardtail and the Kenda Slant 6 tyres kept things turning smoothly. The rock garden was a new experiance with rocks the size of heads and houses just waiting to rip your tyres apart or limbs from your body if you came down. Come the top of the devils staircase it was time to get some chain lube on as my poor chain had taken a beating from the lovley riding conditions. A fist full of jellybeans at the feed zone and I was on my way, a quick stop to hook someone up with a tube. With a quick prayer and hoping id get some good Karma from my good deed and not have any flats myself and I was off to start the dopers climb, another quick dash of lube on the way up and I found my self on the finial decent to the gorge. I was pretty tired by now and just willing myself to that final road section and it came none to soon. When I finaly made the finish in a time of 3h 1m 46s, I was a bit dissapointed not to crack 3 hours but more pleased to finish. Initially I wasnt keen to even think about a 2nd Karapoti. But on quiet contemplation, and the fact that it was apparantly the "Worst" conditions ever for the race I decided that It was way easyer than Hail and Snow of Tour of Southland or Wind and Rain at 3500m above sea level of Qinghai Lake tour, any Karapoti after that must be easy.

Pretty thankfull for the great choice of the Kenda Slant 6 tyres as they kept my wheels down and air in side so no need to stop for a repair.