Starting in the South

Dunedin is pretty great really ... Old houses, beautiful countryside, amazing beaches, fantastic artsy cafes with excellent food and coffee. Awesome.

Air pacific left my bike in the US , thanks R and R sports of Dunedin for lending me a ride. 3 1/2 days later my bike did arrive safe and sound.

What a house, the garden was awesome too, old and established.

Bobs multi talents extend beyond the bike and such. Tristan got a rather stylie Mullet.

And then there's the weather, the down side to Dunedin. Arather rude awakening to my welcome home. 2 hours 20 of mud, clay, mechanicals, I finished the XC race with no left grip, A lap of granny granny and big ring to big cog. But a dunk and wash of the bike in the river midway through gave me 2 gears in the back and the middle and big up front. Fun? kind of but not something you should put your valued respected bike through.

I finished 4th for some valuable UCI points, congrats to the girls who put together good races.

Now for some sunny (hopefully) Nelson. Its really fun to be here and did I mention how good the food is?

Meanwhile in the snow Brian has been tearing it up on the winter tri scene winning the first event.... www.insidetriathlon.com

As I was racing yesterday I thought about Brian and how If I was going to call him I better bloody well suck up the race and finish it.

cheers

Jen

Hurrah to Winter

My leaving date on Sunday is fast approaching so in addition to getting ready I have been doing my best to make the most of the snow. Ohio pass in the winter gets groomed by the snow mobile association at least once a week, making it a skate skiers dream paradise. In 4 visits I have seen 3 snowmobilers and a dog sled crew. (perfect!)

Today I took my strength endurance intervals onto Ohio Pass, which is entertaining really as the difference in effort between the intervals and recovery rather minimal... you still have to get up the hill. It makes the time pass nicely though and is 1000 times more enjoyable than riding the trainer.

Last Sunday Gale, Brian and I skied at Mill creek, which was fantastic, heaps of snow and great single track touring. Get it while you can!

the flip side of gear

Is maintaining it.

It is -16 degrees here this morning. Brian has gone up to Crested Butte to race in the downhill Derby skate ski event. I've said - yeah no thanks and shall stay right here untill the temp rises to somewhere above zero.

Brian has been prepping his bike for some upcoming winter triathlons www.5430sports.com He has fat, meaty tires on them a 2.6 on the front and a 2.5 on the rear. I used them last week and rode them in the snow. Not wanting to flat I rode them with 23 psi and they where Rad! Floaty and grippy and FUN!

I am also playing with the set up of my hardtail... as I'm taking it to NZ . We've put a Reba fork on the front with 100mm of travel instead of the 80mm Sid fork I'd been using. Its raised my position though and meant having to drop the handlebar position down.

This side of riding a bike is something I'm not so into... at all....yet it makes Brian annoyed if its loaded onto him. So, I spent yesterday morning b4 work undoing all the stuff on the handlebar and transferring it over to a new flat bar and lower stem. The new bar is a Bontrager Big sweep bar that is flat but has 12 degrees of sweep, so it feels much like the riser bar I've been using.

Fueled by coffee I'd drunk while 'working' I had to get out and try it. Brian was jonsing too so he came with. It was snowing and blowing and only 20 degrees, but theres something appealing about riding when it seems silly and the tires rocked. I could plow plough through stuff you'd never think you'd make and get through. I did have my first crash of the year, in town on ice... bike went one way and me the other and my neck is stiff today... but It was so great to be out there.

Enjoy

Jenny and Brian.