Slacky races, half forked

Mmmmmmmmmmmmm new bike bling. So my Cannondale 29er 1 finally turned up last tuesday. Only been hanging out for it, like forEVA!!!
Big wheels, Half a fork, XTR goodies, just in general, super hot.
So after a few shake down rides and fettling the bike in, it was time to race the sucka!. Unfortunatly Angry clive wasn't racing, so had to make do with smashing Davo, and Tony Teo to bits.
So after a sifty warm up, and showing off my fancy rig, the big show happened.


The race took off with Davo trying to be a hard bastard and sticking with the elite boys, this didn't work for him and he sat down for a cuppa or something. I think Tony Teo joined him. Carl got his aggro on and took off with the fast elite boys, and I followed Yoga into Rimu Trail. The pace thru here was meh, but I figure that's cos of the roadies up ahead.
dropped onto the 4wd track and I grovvled up the loose 4wd climb. CAn't remember who I was behind, but we meandered down swigg and starfish. Snuck a sneaky inside pass at the bottom of Koru Dryfeet and followed the great jordanini up Koru, he snuck onto Connor who after a great start was having a muzza of a time with a bent rotor, he pulled of in disgust at the skills area, and jordanini followed. So I bolted like a rabbit and took off up the sally's alley. After a quick post coitus ciggie, nipped into missing link. Sneaked a sight of young tom tom miles ahead and set about gunning him down. Still getting used to the new bike and the big wheels so took till the bottom to get close. For some reason he fell over after going round the 1st switchback on the climb. I think my manliness just outright overwhelmed him. Rode hard up Aratehi and pulled in some dude who I don't know but looked like they were suffering. Kept looking back for signs of Davo and Tony Teo, but no sign, so figured they were OTA holding hands and making out. Tom tom wasn't too far back, but was kept at bay by my manliness. Faffed a few corners on the way down the 4wd track. I now know that 29" wheels catch the wind more than 26" ones do.
Headed into leaping lizard half expecting Tom tom to catch me down there as the lil buggar ain't half quick. But aside from a few small mistakes, was getting more and more used to the big wheels. Flowing singletrack makes that bike sing like a fat man at the opera.
Into the fast part of leaping lizard and took it some what cautious over the jumps and hammered elsewhere. The lower sections were entertaining on a HT after a long time riding and racing fully's, but caught up to Mr Ed near the bottom. The filthy roadie got away on me for a bit across the grass, but caught him again at the bottom of possum. Got a glimpse of Super Carl as well. Got up possum clean, but Mr Ed eked a bit of a gap out while I sneaked a squeezy. Was feeling super good.
Eased into Nikau and closed right up on Ed and then Ppppppppppppssssssssssssssssssssssssss. Buggar. Ran 50 meteres or so to a corner where there was room to fix a puncture. Checked the sidewall, and sure enuff, wee gash. Whipped the wheel out, tire off, valve out, tube from back pocket, blew it up with mouth to give shape. Put tire back on rim after quickly running hand around to double check nothing in tire (doesn't hurt ya know) Start puting tube in, Ross Greyhaire flys past....buggar...... start beading rest of tire back on, Davo slowly rides past (he's on a fully you'd think he'd go faster) , hit on him but he leaves, too soon after tony I think.........buggar........ Grab pump and start pumping like I'm 13 and I've just discovered what it's for...........richard flys past......hmm wonder where tony teo is.......finish. Wheel back in bike, should I put my gloves back on...nah stuff it, pin it.
Hammered up the bottom of nikau, up missing link, charged up Aratehi, occaisionly seeing Davo in the far distance., past SC making like a singlespeeder, into Ridgeline and I open up the taps on the big wheels. Fly down, in to Extension, spotting SC again, poor lass is stalking me, big wheels are eating this stuff up like Big Gav in a bakery. Drop into swigg starfish, getting my groove on, exiting onto the road and Lisa's yelling "pull a wheelie au!". Stuff that, and drop one of my patented Slacky Sprint bombs and take off like a kid after an icecream truck. See DAvo up the road but the loolie has popped and the end is too far to make that gap. He attempts to mock me, but I see thru this, as I know he just wants to meet me in the loo's after.

so end up 4th, after sitting well and truely in 2nd, gutting, but still good, cos I know that the new bike has helped me climb much faster and I've had fun. Which is what really matters.

Highlight of the day for me was playing in the play ground after the race. Low points were the puncture and bloody Lisa tellin lil sarah that I don't like Weta's...........gee thanks......


Look for some bike review pos to come in the next few days... Satan Cruz Blur LT, Turner 5 spot (DWlink) and Cannondale 29er.