I can’t believe two years has passed since my last Brevet
style ride. So this year I had no excuses
to undertake Tim Muller’s 2012 Le Petit Brevet, other than the general lack of
training, but that is no legitimate excuse.
Causally arriving at Hanson’s park 5 minutes before start I felt calm,
relaxed and ready to ride. After a quick chat with Tim he asked what the time
was. ‘1 minute to go I replied’ Then Tim relayed it to the other 40 or so eager
riders.
We lined up and “Let’s go” was called out by Tim. The
Chamios-cream socked mood of Le Pitet Brevet riders commenced on the adventure.
Going up Rapaki my friend Dan and I worked out that at the
top of Rapaki we will have done around 3.5% of the hill climbs, yikes!
Along the summit Rd, down the snaky bastard and around the
bays to Diamond harbour the fresh morning air keep me cool at comfortable
riding temperature. Then came the first
of the bigger climbs up the Moment track and along to the Double Fence Line
trail. It didn’t take too long to work out I should have put a smaller chain
ring on to reduce the gear ratio of my Rohloff. Oh well too late now - so I got
off the bike pushed. This strategy of pushing my bike rather than riding
whenever the gradient got too steep has proved to be very effective for me in
the past and once again prove its effectiveness during this Brevet.
Riding under hill 761m, I had my first and only tumble of
the race where my single track riding eagerness got the better of me and
allowed me to attempt to ride down over a few rocks. I got to the bottom of it and
got hang up where I lost my balance and butter side down scenario I fell hill
side down the steep bank. Luckily as I
was tumbling over I was able to free myself from the cleats and stop the bike
from coming down on top of me.... Lucky escape.
 |
| Dan riding down the Moment track. |
 |
| Myself, pointing out into in the general direction where we should be going |
On to Double Fence Line and the weather remained for perfect
riding conditions. Soon Neil and I
reached Little River where it was time to fill our water bottles and re-apply
the all important chamios cream. The
climb out from Little River in the heat of down was for me one of the harder
climbs. But once reaching the summit very satisfying as the relation that some
of the bigger climbs had now been dealt to.
 |
| Neil pulling a skid over looking Akoroa |
Out of the Akoroa bay and into Little Akaoa, up and down,
and up and down again and then came Okains.
I had been dead set of having fish n chips all week at Okains bay after
hearing that riders from two years ago rave the mouth watering Fish n chips at
Okains. I had to take a short detour from
the route and left my riding buddy Neil to go for Akoroa on his own. As I neared the chippy I could see the open
sign on a stand and got very excited, I could taste the blue cod battered fish
and thirst quenching coke in my mouth. But, oh no, clearly displayed on the
shop window was the one word I didn’t want to see ‘CLOSED’.
After the climbing the appropriately named Big Hill Road and
watching the sunset over the Akoroa bay as I descend the steep trail into
Akoroa I was rewarded for my efforts by the kind hospitality of the Akoroa
Hotel who prepared one last meal from me.
This meal of a fisherman’s basket went down a treat and satisfied my
fish n chip craving and with only the additions of a few lollies saw me through
to the end of the race.
The night climb out of Akoroa was my most enjoyable climb. I
felt good breathing the cool peaceful evening air, and satisfied with my
progresses as I watched a thin procession of riders traversing along the Summit
Rd before descending into Akoroa. Once at the top the realization that only
three more climbs loomed before me keep me focused and powered me through night.
Cresting the Western Valley Rd climb, the second last climb,
at 3:45am was very rewarding and pumped a surge of life into me. Down into Little River, a short brake to fill
my drink bottle and I was off on the home straight. Never has the thought of
riding the rail trail been so appealing to me.
I was able to ride the trail tucked on my aero bars so the final kilometres
faded away with the darkness of the night.
After finally reaching the Kennedy’s bush trail after battling
a head wind for the previous hour I climb the final climb with my proven mix of
pushing and peddling. Reaching the Summit
Rd just after 7:30am I sent myself the goal of completing this epic ride in less
than 24 hours. I fought to get the last
bits of energy out me, my legs and shoulders were awaking, as the finishing
line drew near, the final stretch over the heavy morning grass of Hanson Park
my longs began to cough. I stopped and rolled to the ground at the cricket pavilion
and looked at my watch to see 23hours, 59minutes, and 30 seconds.
I was relieved that it was all over and delighted with my efforts,
as this ride was the longest duration, the largest distance(297km) and the most elevation (~8000m) I have ever ridden my bike at once.
 |
| Self portrait at 4am in Little River toilets |
