We don't know how lucky we are

The other day Cleetus asked me if I had any photos of the local trails that we ride and run on around Welly, for sending to some of his international cohorts. I had to admit that I didn't, so when we went out for a long run on Queens Birthday monday he took his camera and we did some videoing. Apparently having "wilderness" this close to an urban environment, especially with man made trails on, is unheard of overseas. I guess we are spoilt for choice and dont even know it. 

When I was working at Gracefield, heading up the Wainuiomata Hill and along the ridge to Mt Lowry was one of my favourite lunch time runs, ripping along through the Beech Forest. If you hung a left at the top of the Wainui Hill then you could keep climbing (running) for 22 minutes. Thats real value for money training in my book. Of course, since we moved my work campus from Gracefield to Avalon (2kms from my house), they have built the incredible Wainuiomata Trail Park. Bad timing for me.

We headed up into the Hills above Eastborne on an awesomely steep out and back course. 677 metres in 10 kms. I love that stuff, well the climbs I love, the descents suck for me as my knees don't like descending at pace. See below some youtubings.

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Durace 10 speed Karate Monkey

Fellow Voodoo Lounger Neil gifted me his crashed Durace 10 speed shifters the other day. They have adjustable reach and the cables go in tight against the bars unlike previous versions which stick out in the air. They look great and feel good. The seem to have a deeper hood area than the older 9 speeds they replaced. Thanks Neil!

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Fast Derek and the toothbrush

Did I ever tell you the one about Fast Derek and the tooth brush?

I was out on an Akatarawas ride with Fast Derek some time about 1993. Well compared to Slow Derek he was fast, and in fact one year Fast Derek even won the Wellington road champs, and while the road scene in Wellington back in the early 90's was practically flat-lining, it was still a well deserved win for Derek as he attacked on the final approach to the finish while the usual suspects tried not to lead each other out in the sprint. Pretty good for a triathlete.

Fast Derek was like the rest of us, a typical Hutt Bogan and did unspeakable things like riding really old bikes with mis-matched group-sets, and shock horror, he had even been observed wearing home-made arm-warmers. Not the kind of thing likely to get him invited on invitation only group rides with strict dress codes.

The Bogan of the week trophy (awarded annually).

Slow Derek on the other hand was famous for getting beaten one year in the 100km Rainbow Rage by one guy with no legs, and two guys with one leg each. Realising his strengths lay elsewhere Slow Derek moved into the administrative side of cycling. But I have digressed. So Fast Derek and I were doing an Akas ride on the weekend, possibly as training for the Nelson to Christchurch time trial, I cant recall. The night before I can remember swapping my tire, I think it was a 25mm one, onto my trusty Avanti Super Sprint.

The ride started well enough although there was a slight hop in the wheel. I must have changed it in too much of a hurry the previous night and not seated it well enough. Part way up the hill I noticed the tire was getting a bit squirmy, maybe I hadn't tightened up the valve properly so I added a bit more air.  By the top of the Hill it was getting flat again. Damn it. Time to put in a new tube.

I ripped off the tyre and was surprised to see a toothbrush come flying out of the tyre when I pulled out my tube!

I was in the habit of cleaning my bike with a tooth brush, and there was one on the shelf above where my tire was hanging. It must have dropped down into the cavernous expanse of my 25mm tire as I pulled it off the wall. That was the first and last time I, or I am guessing anyone else rode 50kms with a toothbrush in their rear wheel.

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