Nats the Mud bath version

Woot my first MTB Nats and it was a mud fest!!!

So after a whole lot of packing (Myself, Bike, Wife and Child) into a package small enough to squash us all onto a plane the size sewing machine, we arrived to a sunny day in Nelson, soon to change into a slush fest of fun and games. Went out the watch the Gavatron smash it in the hill climb only to be beaten by George Bennett, Nelson (No relative to our Angry Bennett). Have to put this part in even though she might kill me... funniest part of the hill climb was when Ashley Burgess (Name and shame) ran off for a Bush-Slash, came running out from behind the trees screaming "Oh no I pissed on my trousers... and it was evident by the large patch down her leg that she had... Now, any normal person would walk out casually and say "Bugger, I stepped in a puddle" not Ashley, loud and proud... was value for money for the next hour, LOL

Race day was here and the nerves started, ahhh bugger the nerves, I was out to have a ball... The guys at Rocket had just installed a Stan's Tubeless kit on my rims which I am please to say held up a treat through this and Karapoti. Race start kicked off and dispite my worries the Larsen TT tyres held through the mud like a Davo to his childhood Teddy Bear (Mr Slobbers). Lap one started and I struggeled up the first hill turning to the first down hill in about 4th place Woot! After settling into a good pace I worked on catch the time I had lost on the first hill and caught SlackBoy midway through the first lap. This was unfortunately short lived as coming down the final hill of lap one I blew the front brakes on the Merida. Slackboy ripped past before the begining of lap 2. From here on my race turned into a marshmellow in a fat kids pocket. By the end of lap 2 I had blown my rear brake pads as well and was running the downhills... Tried on one of the open downhill parts of the track to ride it but to my surprise incrased speed even with brakes full on!! ended up with the choice of hitting a marshal or inocent by stander or bailing over a 2 mtr cliff, nice guy that I am I bailed!!!! Shit I wish I could have had that on camera, would have split my sides laughing...

The rest of the race was comical. Stoked with still finishing 10th in Masters 1 and a goal for a podium next year... (Cocky I know, but WTF ya only live once).

Racing in the mud at Nat's fun, running out of brake pads both front and rear... Priceless

From here on it was relaxation time, cruised to Mapua for breakfast with the fam and to see the "Touch the sea aquarium" (No boys no Mermaids to touch here, stick to courtnary place). Lesson learned, maintenance, maintenance, maintenance!!!!

Lets go Poti!!!!