Race 5 and a Fluke for The Tiger

So the nerves of race day had started and I had only just dragged my head off the pillow. For some silly reason I agree with the Father Outlaw the night before to get up and watch the All Blacks at 6am… With lack of sleep on my side I trudged over to the smell of cooking Bacon, Eggs & Black Pudding. I’m a sucker for the smell of bacon, porker I know. Finished fuelling with a bowel of porridge and loads of water.Race report time, this won’t take long folks ;o)

So lining up for the start with the Pro/Elite rider Davo and talked about different ways of taking Carl Paton out of the race, dropping slick, pump in the wheel or just blatant pushing him off Ridgeline.Disappointed to see Davo was not wearing his famous Denim Lycra, just a boring blue bum to follow toady (No ladies no sausages involved here, Davo saves them for the women). The horn went and everyone shot off like a Winston Peters with a fist full of donations. Up the hill making me feel like I was going to be dropped like a 90 year old's breast, which for a while I was. Struggling on the first hill I finally warmed up by time we hit Aratihi and I could see those blue butt cheeks sagging with the pain of the climb. Pushing to catch Davo I closed the gap 2/3rd’s of the way up Aratihi. To my surprise Davo pulled over for me to pass. Taking this perfect opportunity to pounce (Do ya like that baby, Pounce like a Tiger) I did so powering to the top of Aratihi taking a good 50mtrs out of him and finding my stride. Leaping Lizard was going sweet until disaster hit!!! My front tyre rolled off the rim. Having tubeless left me flaccid and dejected (No this is not bedroom talk ladies). As Davo barreled down with his new comfort machine (I’d call it the ‘LazyBoy’) I yelled out to see if he had a pump, the gentlemen that he is stopped and gave me the last of his gas canister, before disappearing into the distance like a knight on his gallant steed. Watched most of the field zip past me with the odd “Oh!!! Bad luck Tiger” from fellow BushLover’s and a slap on the arse from Pete, thanks honey ;o).

Things just got worse… I don’t know if you all know or not, but once a tubeless tyre pops off the rim you’re basically stuffed from there on. I pumped it up 4 more times before finally biting the bullet and asking a passer by if he had a spare tube. Thanks to that man, saved the rest of my race. Down now by about 30min I gassed it up the last part of Possum Bait to trudge on home way too far off the pace for any podium finish.Stoked to see BushLove all over the podium again (Mono, Davo, Slacky Wacko, sorry if I missed anyone), Great to have you back out there Slacky, those calves still haunt me. Oh yeah the Fluke part of my ride, somehow I managed to pot the Merida/Rocket Bikes Sponsorship. I have to say besides Pete slapping me on the arse was a highlight of my day.Big thanks to Merida, Rocket Bikes Shane. Despite the mechanical issues this was a great course, I would say even one of the best in the series, I’ll be back next year for revenge on the podium.
Chur
Teh Tiger