tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6588451779915165932024-02-20T21:57:40.553-07:00great divide kiwiNew Zealander Simon Kennett has a crack at the 4000km Great Divide mountain bike race from Canada to Mexico.Simon Kennetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03245536396100026817noreply@blogger.comBlogger124125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-658845177991516593.post-89061572410629121872008-12-23T18:58:00.010-07:002010-06-22T04:02:48.733-06:006 - Enough<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSrOa3uNWaA_1EGi9meqRAAHJKBMNJkEioTJKflGMxFJTNPe51-3WZ47VVXtaMfxUpyPnvUnqBYOYCPG9fAVWjKmbLkimSev95Q9adsfLURsKmzMz-Rth83HJzqLhstbaqLNIpYhDLdMX_/s1600-h/Canon+Plaza.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSrOa3uNWaA_1EGi9meqRAAHJKBMNJkEioTJKflGMxFJTNPe51-3WZ47VVXtaMfxUpyPnvUnqBYOYCPG9fAVWjKmbLkimSev95Q9adsfLURsKmzMz-Rth83HJzqLhstbaqLNIpYhDLdMX_/s400/Canon+Plaza.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283171131218957282" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwFPK3bBBcj0aBxG7oDYe7r3vgpQJZqjoJ_riDZ7TCPAd98qnXiqE0oXj7YqTasK-cXXCUKVtUZ75IkC1iToRPdFRwdexFuVw8lzUvcKUBy5ig2k07vJbGEwNu_XEXzU0cMfkoRBf5S20A/s1600-h/El+Rito.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; 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width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZrky8sE2_JKOJ-C7JOOyHwXMYDEIAiZzVCYkFj05Geo0sWd_CwFvASycbWdRswsOFZ-kBJ40KorqbPRlPA9KX4ZPDPW5ZNMshdcL78pyaCUpYillhk3xT3djhlU9SKjl6OTzloE1mmiDU/s400/AntelopeWells.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283838683783084498" border="0" /></a>Simon Kennetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03245536396100026817noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-658845177991516593.post-57918587682756007032008-12-23T18:49:00.007-07:002010-06-22T04:40:59.284-06:005 - Catching Up<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhThgu8AYbF5UwN4pQkt7BYI48aiBhtE-lBBMOeXw78bbXmTaPTqjVcqVVym4LF9ZiqJlsiZ1y2Fi0MNWJzRziYgYxL7igPLJpdfURZECnf4WkXa_kVUtsOgUrCFmHcZBamITxNeULjTfmo/s1600-h/After+Indiana.jpg">.</a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGLR1ybiA_iNhpUgx0av8Nz9QofVflpwjI6bVbdTCgNtXEUTdK72wiQ203AxApccT8iDbZsMiqMn6a5FUs-VsHqLzYex3F4oT2KLibOEGpY19CfAwciexjJjUn0eygDjq6oJ-seFvsb5kq/s1600-h/After+Marshal.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; 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width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIgCkMqOQ682PMMhuLXoRw4Xv_6w7372IPhdnP3LMZ4fHftNTRnLQ8clBGKgGVLj4Q4BPlvbKa_hRH0ZqHaFbAYQU9nMnALYrXs9Rbj3K0xl4_kDta6tdk7cYUaRIgw_1Ri129zTUTrJ4r/s400/Boreas2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283166279533199586" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB-uIp8ZflC77IASq1P_3WrZlMu5IDYD0NsSOU_oSW7DtbjrMhojPhGBHZM4EcNxke8VF3K1sQ5qmCsJ-mUO-QRHXwFLcRiu-2H0XPe1f_yRy0fGaYatDVUCMVwi6hXLWOFT8GwmjtDqGy/s1600-h/Absolute.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB-uIp8ZflC77IASq1P_3WrZlMu5IDYD0NsSOU_oSW7DtbjrMhojPhGBHZM4EcNxke8VF3K1sQ5qmCsJ-mUO-QRHXwFLcRiu-2H0XPe1f_yRy0fGaYatDVUCMVwi6hXLWOFT8GwmjtDqGy/s400/Absolute.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283167172471235954" border="0" /></a>Simon Kennetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03245536396100026817noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-658845177991516593.post-79591365293111339602008-12-23T18:04:00.013-07:002010-06-22T04:19:14.116-06:003 - The GDR Roller Coaster<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjD5z-ec2IhjAPbrt5Lb-CyEJGKfTiwYsBrzOcKfLJe4V1Gw3opsW03yAtNwuBdd-RLnQ77bhiXYt-WNBVPPdrxyHs6BIUjiVQD73I18xKZ-o09_T-d-Nx0aFvieSi_fuaMA05v-YlDJ6Y/s1600-h/Reservoir.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjD5z-ec2IhjAPbrt5Lb-CyEJGKfTiwYsBrzOcKfLJe4V1Gw3opsW03yAtNwuBdd-RLnQ77bhiXYt-WNBVPPdrxyHs6BIUjiVQD73I18xKZ-o09_T-d-Nx0aFvieSi_fuaMA05v-YlDJ6Y/s400/Reservoir.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283837960058375746" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">An early morning view of the reservoir just out of Lima. Carl had left our room at about 3am. I got another 1.5 hrs of sleep and got started just before dawn.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcBgj7rd-xswcFvJCW_C2r393m3nvyO8x794HM1h4cY-Ih_n1b49MctPytQ919eJGBCQHrs9N_Slm_c8OuankvLNIhCATBo3H30nShQLdkcmbxbRN1w54fyA1JOPlo8rjSu2lq28zGNcEy/s1600-h/Me+After+Lima.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcBgj7rd-xswcFvJCW_C2r393m3nvyO8x794HM1h4cY-Ih_n1b49MctPytQ919eJGBCQHrs9N_Slm_c8OuankvLNIhCATBo3H30nShQLdkcmbxbRN1w54fyA1JOPlo8rjSu2lq28zGNcEy/s400/Me+After+Lima.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283156898666238898" border="0" /></a><br />I didn't feel great as Lima disappeared into the distance, and the dull scenery didn't help. This was the first anniversary of my dad's death. After a while I decided to crack open some music for the first time. This really lifted my spirits and my pace followed suit.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDnRgUsxXEHyWzilrJfcpoTD9_8a3D-9SRn9VLJ_C2a2HvlfaEBdIChD0TV-k3f2q2Rh6JzC9y223V5OtZiS3GvJ7lpBGDOtiDMbJPeyhkpVTPxGLblWXewd7v7gKu66dHAT8O4AshPYr6/s1600-h/After+Union+Pass.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDnRgUsxXEHyWzilrJfcpoTD9_8a3D-9SRn9VLJ_C2a2HvlfaEBdIChD0TV-k3f2q2Rh6JzC9y223V5OtZiS3GvJ7lpBGDOtiDMbJPeyhkpVTPxGLblWXewd7v7gKu66dHAT8O4AshPYr6/s400/After+Union+Pass.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283160783867473234" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEw_cW0TJeMvWHNhbNVXBR-qB08QgDHLY6IfK0594M3CAuENp4GRBKyiL4Eoh-9KEA3CgmVPJjkpdtHzHKRodqjTnbhe-3TeQyEvzG5lNI4DFziAONkyD41vxT3v560HEebAPWvHplJish/s1600-h/After+Lima+Rainer.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; 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width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP-x4ZDviBmD2gzY7GQxMbEHNYasDo1cwKGxaAVxyjpyLKD1IWJNmnNhz-ujp4sL4wbTyWz124nbWb5FGdIuSLwbpAb_R_cRWWzDi1IaN3EsTjdrXPUYdm1adggKvmxPH_qn4UNoWUtsZw/s400/Togwatee1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283159791094593250" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiloDFfs36q7S_VQ8WsjH52ZbiTFuT4H88y2UXeEGMQ6YZ7nAMv5JKlD8IR5giaR4WRaUVm1idqlwl4mHdqsW-XYZaMrlZVnHtIeHKJJzT8YNmKaybnFYgQtgkMZgRJLD-tK6jZ_73L2XPj/s1600-h/Togwa+snow+trail.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiloDFfs36q7S_VQ8WsjH52ZbiTFuT4H88y2UXeEGMQ6YZ7nAMv5JKlD8IR5giaR4WRaUVm1idqlwl4mHdqsW-XYZaMrlZVnHtIeHKJJzT8YNmKaybnFYgQtgkMZgRJLD-tK6jZ_73L2XPj/s400/Togwa+snow+trail.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283159785654804594" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLMuLV7uxGHcEpBr5AOP46jJhQU29ASj7KAWPZePsmNNR-Ld-ewbbv7DyQQIiDwa7sR0KH0XycKbapH86neSLjx27Q-MPMG6JAsRL1iCPn1SusjA8Ydxf6GV6xeYr3t3oZQ4D3PM8TawsC/s1600-h/Togwa+2.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLMuLV7uxGHcEpBr5AOP46jJhQU29ASj7KAWPZePsmNNR-Ld-ewbbv7DyQQIiDwa7sR0KH0XycKbapH86neSLjx27Q-MPMG6JAsRL1iCPn1SusjA8Ydxf6GV6xeYr3t3oZQ4D3PM8TawsC/s400/Togwa+2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283159784428147394" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Day Eight: June 27<br />By now I was averaging 200 km per day without burying myself for more than an hour or so. Jenn was catching up whenever I stopped and we were looking forward to sharing the long lonely ride through the intimidating ‘Great Divide Basin’ desert.<br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4mnSXeucg4g_gaSex4x4Cr2qsIc6A4lh9qdmLRpcLSjDXzXBQBFDeevF91z7_b-xvZwwjJl7kVoJftvpN9iNeP_JigqsUdMykrblqET7wcYVdEM9uIr81NKwwr0UzU-mPuqsKc0eeuTBL/s1600-h/Stephen+G.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4mnSXeucg4g_gaSex4x4Cr2qsIc6A4lh9qdmLRpcLSjDXzXBQBFDeevF91z7_b-xvZwwjJl7kVoJftvpN9iNeP_JigqsUdMykrblqET7wcYVdEM9uIr81NKwwr0UzU-mPuqsKc0eeuTBL/s400/Stephen+G.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283837959968910578" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWqV2FrR_EuOhs8XGfJdHpOXPq4JhAKL1_2KksPA7zM2V8wU4f3cczT23UKxeKCJZHiB3IXBhl7Iw-lbGmJoF-yvK1VXzgcoTskqy-2XPAE1Eg37kbxjB4beXOMUgirbaKqIh7XsjzhiA0/s1600-h/Before+South+City.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWqV2FrR_EuOhs8XGfJdHpOXPq4JhAKL1_2KksPA7zM2V8wU4f3cczT23UKxeKCJZHiB3IXBhl7Iw-lbGmJoF-yvK1VXzgcoTskqy-2XPAE1Eg37kbxjB4beXOMUgirbaKqIh7XsjzhiA0/s400/Before+South+City.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283161479604146674" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYMNsuiqke2ifikEYxtsdJO2U-kzwEyBckHhZPgV2CImj3Yc5eatBrqCBHhZ-zlhSHEYW1A8kFkDd812vC9j2uxTAQ9GnyXsb2viiISTJVQQtZ8riYSEenZdbtCSfQiumJFfVtDNcmCjEb/s1600-h/david+blaine+06+-+simon+riding+into+Atlantic+City+at+dawn.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYMNsuiqke2ifikEYxtsdJO2U-kzwEyBckHhZPgV2CImj3Yc5eatBrqCBHhZ-zlhSHEYW1A8kFkDd812vC9j2uxTAQ9GnyXsb2viiISTJVQQtZ8riYSEenZdbtCSfQiumJFfVtDNcmCjEb/s400/david+blaine+06+-+simon+riding+into+Atlantic+City+at+dawn.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283161479463187602" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVBGXzz0T3RPOyg8ipbWTBKmOXxKUld5WLFJjDmoWH5je1tu7wVxBEl0zIu6Z4PjTb53CqK1s7Yszc0AzSsrxOIafVVxyXYwMcci7yEFXeIcy7KYO7DoLnm9QwegAVcsyk8sVTLLyKFL5L/s1600-h/Atlantic+City.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVBGXzz0T3RPOyg8ipbWTBKmOXxKUld5WLFJjDmoWH5je1tu7wVxBEl0zIu6Z4PjTb53CqK1s7Yszc0AzSsrxOIafVVxyXYwMcci7yEFXeIcy7KYO7DoLnm9QwegAVcsyk8sVTLLyKFL5L/s400/Atlantic+City.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283161777996096546" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsBubwqWuhBaq4gLChutgJygDdKY-lYxD1HwdvY2QJZFl1I_qEoS06a7H3gT3tZRuM_89QsWL3zfwLbY7kazOeNNhKn8MI2Zi4H6lMxb2tgQfARiAt95TTewOzHWz6vTzD55597vshQQZ5/s1600-h/Atlantic+Cabin.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsBubwqWuhBaq4gLChutgJygDdKY-lYxD1HwdvY2QJZFl1I_qEoS06a7H3gT3tZRuM_89QsWL3zfwLbY7kazOeNNhKn8MI2Zi4H6lMxb2tgQfARiAt95TTewOzHWz6vTzD55597vshQQZ5/s400/Atlantic+Cabin.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283161783732982338" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Day Nine: June 28<br />I got up at 4 am to avoid the impending heat. There was a big day ahead but my stomach was in knots. I couldn’t eat. After a couple of hours’ riding we stopped for breakfast with David Blaine. He and Jenn had envious appetites. Without being able to take on fuel, I had to wave them farewell and settle in for 10 hours’ sick leave. Coming face-to-face with the possibility of failure was certainly the low point of the race. I wondered if this whole venture was a huge mistake.<br /><br />Fortunately my digestive system gradually began functioning again and by early evening the wheels were turning, slowly, towards the desert. At 11 pm I crawled into my sleeping bag on the side of the road, coyotes howling in the distance, with a sense that all was well with the world.Simon Kennetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03245536396100026817noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-658845177991516593.post-30190765259310789772008-12-23T17:26:00.016-07:002010-06-22T04:13:10.027-06:002 - Chasing LimaDay Two: June 21<br />A camera flash just after 5 am confirmed that somebody was up and it was time to move. The stopwatch was still ticking. Most of us were on the road just before 6 am and feasting at a remote café by 7:30 am. The early start aside, the race felt like a holiday cycle tour. All the riders were enjoying each other’s company, the fine weather and excellent scenery.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXLQkMUquBNtJqHlugysS5Ti0upQnlW4t7n73lBCP3Uogh_jZclZ2qCca4eFpaT1B90E3NAKN7G0sOQrd3LTXAlAYK4lU0fshKJd8H2fN5yozIyDBzWMJ-OFYXc1Zlud7WDurho71uzNqb/s1600-h/To+Holland+lake.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXLQkMUquBNtJqHlugysS5Ti0upQnlW4t7n73lBCP3Uogh_jZclZ2qCca4eFpaT1B90E3NAKN7G0sOQrd3LTXAlAYK4lU0fshKJd8H2fN5yozIyDBzWMJ-OFYXc1Zlud7WDurho71uzNqb/s400/To+Holland+lake.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283148399324200370" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Just the beginning of about a hundred tree falls - luckily most were hoppable.</span><br /><br />Everyone carried a camera and looked forward to the possibility of a bear or moose sighting (as long as it wasn’t too close). We were heading for Mt Richmond, an area where delinquent bears causing trouble in towns are taken and released. I saw a small Grizzly in the morning when riding alone, after which I made more of an effort to stick with another rider. This turned out to be a Brit, Carl Hutching, an Iditasport champion. He’s about twice as muscular as I am; a good man to be standing next to should a hungry Grizzly attack.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzmK4zCZ82F8J8GJD_QQML3CCPpuJMBZmmbVEP7gbaLkRNhL0t0Y4Rh0ZMg_L1i5IKLCJzI7OYAd9sSV14P3JJjBFT7dNlu4rYtcmedCZTkyOgQ6Ep4vC4PxsAeS36rCRELaZwLyFWzmFY/s1600-h/Carl+Richmond.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzmK4zCZ82F8J8GJD_QQML3CCPpuJMBZmmbVEP7gbaLkRNhL0t0Y4Rh0ZMg_L1i5IKLCJzI7OYAd9sSV14P3JJjBFT7dNlu4rYtcmedCZTkyOgQ6Ep4vC4PxsAeS36rCRELaZwLyFWzmFY/s400/Carl+Richmond.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283147249248198978" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">I caught up to Carl on the climb after stopping at Lake Holland Lodge, where I was lucky enough to score a packed lunch just before they closed for a wedding. It was so hot I walked back and forth under the lodge's sprinklers. </span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjrLG2dGy1mPLBvxWTsGhEfv1JB4GMR3HGg5MV-Qny20PjA9WNVzaKQEi70LcyunqwReAxI6s2i2GoUSNDkpRsyw-dUoY70m-fCgXomV5acEjXaOGGjOV6nDrF-UTgNdsTDeayUDLrdVBi/s1600-h/Carl+Stream.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjrLG2dGy1mPLBvxWTsGhEfv1JB4GMR3HGg5MV-Qny20PjA9WNVzaKQEi70LcyunqwReAxI6s2i2GoUSNDkpRsyw-dUoY70m-fCgXomV5acEjXaOGGjOV6nDrF-UTgNdsTDeayUDLrdVBi/s400/Carl+Stream.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283147251825557058" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Carl stops for a bottle recharge. Some environmental surveyors shared some water with us a bit further on. It was always a pleasure to stop and chat with somebody in the middle of nowhere.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglMixb6I7wl6QCMehl3PHNu7lKW4wqFYZ26E0Nac9A5S6_gRbsF0RrBO8H0RPul9i7NPgnj7lUTrWIivgQKzBliVuQaO7sNwihAA-vY_GSDiICXPc7wpHQOVjd7exc4DVmfIx1uQ6nDe6B/s1600-h/david+blaine+02+-+simon+heading+up+gravel+road.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglMixb6I7wl6QCMehl3PHNu7lKW4wqFYZ26E0Nac9A5S6_gRbsF0RrBO8H0RPul9i7NPgnj7lUTrWIivgQKzBliVuQaO7sNwihAA-vY_GSDiICXPc7wpHQOVjd7exc4DVmfIx1uQ6nDe6B/s400/david+blaine+02+-+simon+heading+up+gravel+road.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283147044349292194" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">What's my pack doing unzipped?! Most of the riding was smooth gravel roads - perfect for a rigid MTB.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL1pseo0ggOvyx75wdXUB1E1b1OLqeockN9CEJwU1kk5P97HIle86V5tSsSSDbI4qUnugEnJdYGntt53HA44mXUdS1_UJIc7CCgyiwelDbUvh5FgEX9dHQ1D4Ga-pIYBVQmmzLtXcyseXt/s1600-h/Towards+Richmond.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL1pseo0ggOvyx75wdXUB1E1b1OLqeockN9CEJwU1kk5P97HIle86V5tSsSSDbI4qUnugEnJdYGntt53HA44mXUdS1_UJIc7CCgyiwelDbUvh5FgEX9dHQ1D4Ga-pIYBVQmmzLtXcyseXt/s400/Towards+Richmond.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283148402259357778" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Typical scenery in the Richmond Peak area.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguMLqwnA_IuwPSqZzfxq6hxb3NifMb3MHTdLzyWNkMLm4g57a2XZgfI_os0mNyr0RRnqYdxXPnbNLol4KCzxLJdK2RrhsgNtMS99dgnMDhfM0DS0Kzf57TP9gITAu5j-Q7r2EedMe6YK5r/s1600-h/Carl's+pic+of+me+copy.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguMLqwnA_IuwPSqZzfxq6hxb3NifMb3MHTdLzyWNkMLm4g57a2XZgfI_os0mNyr0RRnqYdxXPnbNLol4KCzxLJdK2RrhsgNtMS99dgnMDhfM0DS0Kzf57TP9gITAu5j-Q7r2EedMe6YK5r/s400/Carl's+pic+of+me+copy.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283151781828965106" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Well into the climb - almost at the snowline.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyEXo7aQtjlEWvjVzlOcQwH059hIe3gmJMBVvTFEi_-defDJayJxVNOPhHLY__jcTjOqYacuGiCGc6effS4nFczTZDrzKGwzsvhIbn50QITvBXAo5TaCaMMv-IfIYakQcvnaA0Q3LHsO7f/s1600-h/Carl+in+Snow.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyEXo7aQtjlEWvjVzlOcQwH059hIe3gmJMBVvTFEi_-defDJayJxVNOPhHLY__jcTjOqYacuGiCGc6effS4nFczTZDrzKGwzsvhIbn50QITvBXAo5TaCaMMv-IfIYakQcvnaA0Q3LHsO7f/s400/Carl+in+Snow.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283147239318194834" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Now we're talking. Gerald films Carl as we start a long trudge.<br /></span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqFh1Y9o1r6BPFA2eQmKpXABdwly2M0Abq4PI4KxyPNXoXdFPYzM6Ag8HHxfwpHMD0sMVSQatnmMvJQuliaULBcyKlB63bd9C5_DNP58dYwCvRuyRqdu3ZfMDvebNgzFZYHUwySbWUUonS/s1600-h/GDR3_Carl.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqFh1Y9o1r6BPFA2eQmKpXABdwly2M0Abq4PI4KxyPNXoXdFPYzM6Ag8HHxfwpHMD0sMVSQatnmMvJQuliaULBcyKlB63bd9C5_DNP58dYwCvRuyRqdu3ZfMDvebNgzFZYHUwySbWUUonS/s400/GDR3_Carl.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283147405363725138" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2zCVbEoKccAXyQoOvMnBQ8f0YhIEFrxCjCmTsB6hl7fIFOueHcJBTmxzSu9UreC4D7mJhbL0b0sLmsR24uWOLsn3L8pB02uKsRMKddAQgV3OiJn7SBssSejmrKbj-j1fxBgx4nlYtEAD2/s1600-h/Richmond+Pass+3.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2zCVbEoKccAXyQoOvMnBQ8f0YhIEFrxCjCmTsB6hl7fIFOueHcJBTmxzSu9UreC4D7mJhbL0b0sLmsR24uWOLsn3L8pB02uKsRMKddAQgV3OiJn7SBssSejmrKbj-j1fxBgx4nlYtEAD2/s400/Richmond+Pass+3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283151979828592050" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">As we got higher the snow was banked up on a steep angle and eventually hid the track completely.</span><br /><br />Despite surprising heat, countless tree-falls and difficulty following a track buried by snow, we made good progress. Nobody got eaten. By 11:30 pm I’d covered 241 km, but ended up in a one-horse town that was all closed up for the night. Half a Powerbar and a cookie sufficed for dinner. Geoff Roes and I tried to sleep on the local museum lawn, only to be woken by the sprinkler system and, later, a heavy downpour.<br /><br />Day Three: June 22<br />The racing field was starting to pan out. John Nobile was off the front, riding through much of each night. Geoff chased until he could chase no more and then pulled out, exhausted. Another six of us battled on at a similar pace, sharing each other’s company, on and off, for the next few days.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBDeSz0aW3nZD1GXBv9jLNXAwZ3sD_Jxep7-9zofyAUOQKU9yyIBNBWNg83ldH-PdY-LCpurj8utYY1SxvQhvou4qThHQBKEOzxb9imVGhkmfM6-7wh_wM8E2yBmC45L-92qv_FGpaaUjk/s1600-h/LeavingOvando.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBDeSz0aW3nZD1GXBv9jLNXAwZ3sD_Jxep7-9zofyAUOQKU9yyIBNBWNg83ldH-PdY-LCpurj8utYY1SxvQhvou4qThHQBKEOzxb9imVGhkmfM6-7wh_wM8E2yBmC45L-92qv_FGpaaUjk/s400/LeavingOvando.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283151983391937874" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Fred, Geoff and I head off for Lincoln, very happy that heavy rain had cleared while we ate a hearty cooked breakfast.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioQMcLj9IlqIKJHBCXj8FW4iwmeolGo4-jmpt5EXFwrFfz6eUNCVC-rvQae15-PJljY75MpcuDOe7420P5Jh8ELm4YqT-ivGmG1HadiqLwGPij5xUqJHUszUT-ffRuUc4IPIeGtiyW5qlj/s1600-h/After+Ovando.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioQMcLj9IlqIKJHBCXj8FW4iwmeolGo4-jmpt5EXFwrFfz6eUNCVC-rvQae15-PJljY75MpcuDOe7420P5Jh8ELm4YqT-ivGmG1HadiqLwGPij5xUqJHUszUT-ffRuUc4IPIeGtiyW5qlj/s400/After+Ovando.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283151980744867282" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvuQk5I08R89lv7h9lC-j1VVXLjEwmTxCLdx9N-k953GqTVcyec2s1nq_8w126STwOOkj2G5dhtM34OQVhGqFI87OEMCFQym1vbNdkTxnjbY-67B8NE8cH7hK0XHU4Ix5gx_-pOy8TJljO/s1600-h/After+Lincoln.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvuQk5I08R89lv7h9lC-j1VVXLjEwmTxCLdx9N-k953GqTVcyec2s1nq_8w126STwOOkj2G5dhtM34OQVhGqFI87OEMCFQym1vbNdkTxnjbY-67B8NE8cH7hK0XHU4Ix5gx_-pOy8TJljO/s400/After+Lincoln.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283152451272396754" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Some very nice fireroad after Lincoln - it wasn't all like that!</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8ssW-5hUZiCjg_HWX7JhRKc8hAUZL-WotD6A4olvmavVF3_3kaXHXa6NzeGXNslfVCXiSr13foafUMloaxO5eirlnaJfZF2oKFF13yOaWAZ4r4NDCHd57Y9a4EC8f2c0dWtKhKpf9epTv/s1600-h/Divide+1.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8ssW-5hUZiCjg_HWX7JhRKc8hAUZL-WotD6A4olvmavVF3_3kaXHXa6NzeGXNslfVCXiSr13foafUMloaxO5eirlnaJfZF2oKFF13yOaWAZ4r4NDCHd57Y9a4EC8f2c0dWtKhKpf9epTv/s400/Divide+1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283152450589140466" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Feeling pretty chuffed to be clearing the Continental Divide for the first time.<br /></span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxqapVNf2_xRZda-itzT7Siq6gLO-7H8MrlhzwwOfb8QpU0yLldI66qrx-YysQ6NCUf182OzGVGPuwinC5jSSM3IfpqK-GCcT8v5PumPjZGQkuCM1EbsQahEqdw9HQmUpIaeAYyVgw-Oe1/s1600-h/Divide+flowers.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxqapVNf2_xRZda-itzT7Siq6gLO-7H8MrlhzwwOfb8QpU0yLldI66qrx-YysQ6NCUf182OzGVGPuwinC5jSSM3IfpqK-GCcT8v5PumPjZGQkuCM1EbsQahEqdw9HQmUpIaeAYyVgw-Oe1/s400/Divide+flowers.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283152456295157682" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">The meadows above the tree-line contained acres of wild flowers</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtV1Um4hyphenhypheneurEnKQUFTKZe6nWc57ZW-g8DZ8N_c3WQlWh0iDVLQBIWw6jPcXKKaIF6vyvQQYP3mvXO8AUkUIJ97RhAm1hh9rpNVnY-hZaoTU2GCzZt3OpC8ZRUV50tsPNwH_slX4f_JgCQ/s1600-h/Mine+Ruins.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtV1Um4hyphenhypheneurEnKQUFTKZe6nWc57ZW-g8DZ8N_c3WQlWh0iDVLQBIWw6jPcXKKaIF6vyvQQYP3mvXO8AUkUIJ97RhAm1hh9rpNVnY-hZaoTU2GCzZt3OpC8ZRUV50tsPNwH_slX4f_JgCQ/s400/Mine+Ruins.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283152458149824466" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">These mine relics featured in Kent Petersen's GDR blog. As I'm a similar age, I was keeping an eye on his early splits to check I was on target to make the race cut-offs. </span><br /><br />By noon of the third day I was starting to feel the effects of the day before. My quads were spent and saddle sores had begun to develop. To compound things, I was riding totally solo and the navigation was taxing the old grey matter. The air was thin in the mountains and hot in the valleys. By 7:30 pm my day was done, with only 162 km covered. If things continued to get worse, the chances of making the cut-offs would be slim.<br /><br />Fortunately, Carl caught up with me, looking as bad as I felt. We split the cost of a hotel room and shared a decent meal; recharged our batteries. By checking the race blog in the morning we could see that only three riders were ahead of us. They’d pushed on into the dark and explored various wrong-turns during a midnight thunderstorm. This race was like a roller coaster, with highs and lows aplenty, all transitory in nature.<br /><br />Day Four: June 23<br />We entered some extremely technical terrain on the fourth day, which for me pushed all the right buttons. The organiser commented that I looked as if I was in a cross-country race, which was precisely where my mind was at. After a break, during the most intense afternoon heat, all the physical difficulties of the race were pushed to the back of my mind, hidden behind one single goal – reach Wise River Lodge before the restaurant closes at 9 pm. Thank God I made it. Nobody wants to see a grown man cry.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJt8DwWLUyYLHUSZUnTVQ6YDHgVslJ1rnaOr2QRGmEzkj7KDdniXGqsFjJ5MQD5lP9Yb4JvY5dQ6JeMYW6dRdtxNvHZeNwMdrXporHvLmpd_i8xmOlmtuCCBkpzPBjy72bXq9co0AusbsM/s1600-h/Lava.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJt8DwWLUyYLHUSZUnTVQ6YDHgVslJ1rnaOr2QRGmEzkj7KDdniXGqsFjJ5MQD5lP9Yb4JvY5dQ6JeMYW6dRdtxNvHZeNwMdrXporHvLmpd_i8xmOlmtuCCBkpzPBjy72bXq9co0AusbsM/s400/Lava.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283153602572809554" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">The Lava trail was the first serious test of technical riding skills.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoYvjmg97FetYqqOXZDShhCNoYqCY02G978GPd8whVgpxTJPmuTR_jDAKAINXdQvjYNwijcp3WO1gODRjiC7lO32tN-PNOHt4-v4I4dc1FgjsVHj42cXxqRIhB6RkT6DgPuCrSYq06Suia/s1600-h/Past+Lava.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoYvjmg97FetYqqOXZDShhCNoYqCY02G978GPd8whVgpxTJPmuTR_jDAKAINXdQvjYNwijcp3WO1gODRjiC7lO32tN-PNOHt4-v4I4dc1FgjsVHj42cXxqRIhB6RkT6DgPuCrSYq06Suia/s400/Past+Lava.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283153607220349314" border="0" /></a><br />On muddy section you could see who was in front of you, and the tree falls ensured a vehicle-free trail.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOQ18vIapNIqQ4KvbVEwPUAM_u_RbLdevCLtKIsdzfqCtfZ7ZW14qYkD8ij9l1jLG1EPv6m7EI9nGqFwheMZoBFuSBk0wQljfMhvEHi6asLu-ZjbvkEBAaXLcSnXW8jyS2LEEVg4jZabLy/s1600-h/Tunnel1.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOQ18vIapNIqQ4KvbVEwPUAM_u_RbLdevCLtKIsdzfqCtfZ7ZW14qYkD8ij9l1jLG1EPv6m7EI9nGqFwheMZoBFuSBk0wQljfMhvEHi6asLu-ZjbvkEBAaXLcSnXW8jyS2LEEVg4jZabLy/s400/Tunnel1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283154566309638674" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">The rail trail between Basin and Butte. I caught up to Jenn and Carl in Butte and was starting to feel stronger.<br /></span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhean9tIdmdg48ig97xbzMJ3T6abzk6hxa2xZ9XwDc1j61WUNV52Uic0A68nPPjZG9t7-JnLZjRw7AMi44to5CLYebzuB3AT6bVW_4KsRGPW0gVomWWIZnvUOIlv2XA-yB0r2qOPdR74vrt/s1600-h/Interstate.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhean9tIdmdg48ig97xbzMJ3T6abzk6hxa2xZ9XwDc1j61WUNV52Uic0A68nPPjZG9t7-JnLZjRw7AMi44to5CLYebzuB3AT6bVW_4KsRGPW0gVomWWIZnvUOIlv2XA-yB0r2qOPdR74vrt/s400/Interstate.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283153610494083090" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">The interstate into Butte had a generous shoulder - the aero bars were very handy here.<br /></span><br />Day Five: June 24<br />We left the forest and began some incredibly tedious riding through arid ranch land. Luckily Carl caught up with me again and for much of the afternoon he shared tales of racing in Alaska. There were no shops until the end of the day’s 220 km, but I’d posted some treasures to a remote post office: a Powerbar, some chocolate peanuts and a can of peaches. We got water from small creeks – which had been contaminated by cattle – and treated it with iodine tablets. By evening we were wasted, again, but had now covered the 600 miles to Lima within the six-day cut-off. Incredible single-speeder, Jenn Hopkins, caught up a couple of hours later. We discussed saddle sore remedies and race goals over dinner. Carl apologised that he was going to have to race harder from now on. He was gone by 3 am the next morning and we never saw him again.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgypXh44P6qwLpQiWjMVQgPnxrZN3NCjfoJdV03ho-8xyF-6yg8K1HWu9BG_jWx7ga5z8sREPfH2g2CTrTOsNP0q5jVps_zojntsCyCqb4PdRUp01j4uQrZAHN5SKSIYr623rP4jiPk5xUe/s1600-h/Jenn+after+Wise+River.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgypXh44P6qwLpQiWjMVQgPnxrZN3NCjfoJdV03ho-8xyF-6yg8K1HWu9BG_jWx7ga5z8sREPfH2g2CTrTOsNP0q5jVps_zojntsCyCqb4PdRUp01j4uQrZAHN5SKSIYr623rP4jiPk5xUe/s400/Jenn+after+Wise+River.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283154563877805282" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Catching up to Jenn after a sleep-in in Wise River. Right about now she put the hammer down and I struggled to stay with her.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy18p9xQna2OtdWvahhWi-LredfzXbKRm0YENN5XOhoSW_5iEmOFdH0MBTNkZbZBhnZ7aG7heptXgcf5fpI0BO2yIM6vNvJaCLVI_G-RHdiiq7sUVrfYP-OctFety-_6Kv2leYN0CrX4PL/s1600-h/First+road+STOP.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy18p9xQna2OtdWvahhWi-LredfzXbKRm0YENN5XOhoSW_5iEmOFdH0MBTNkZbZBhnZ7aG7heptXgcf5fpI0BO2yIM6vNvJaCLVI_G-RHdiiq7sUVrfYP-OctFety-_6Kv2leYN0CrX4PL/s400/First+road+STOP.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283154572447097442" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">If you insist.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9b5BlJpVP96VbQft7bPruw7jF-Wqf6MZWJidcDBmXxLoWD8mcJcQ_rduB6HCX0aEp8On3ySBF8exE1IEDVPsxuq8bX2H-NoEVBNjmiINgyEzhQcxbCR67xa7TRGFSuIC3BCspy-GzP_EG/s1600-h/What+is+this.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9b5BlJpVP96VbQft7bPruw7jF-Wqf6MZWJidcDBmXxLoWD8mcJcQ_rduB6HCX0aEp8On3ySBF8exE1IEDVPsxuq8bX2H-NoEVBNjmiINgyEzhQcxbCR67xa7TRGFSuIC3BCspy-GzP_EG/s400/What+is+this.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283154840931005634" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">What is this thing?</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi58Jb_bMTZVZ3fPiEyvMY6YwPfaua91qyXdZ8UBx_9bkxuVHVcxmxciC87vWJojRjvQ4Smga2SvUo1ycwU6iyNYAwoVU4tCKIaipOMBTTE6rpHGadfjYpreZTp5CrY9EApIxxFWMw1NZDs/s1600-h/BannockbyCarl.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi58Jb_bMTZVZ3fPiEyvMY6YwPfaua91qyXdZ8UBx_9bkxuVHVcxmxciC87vWJojRjvQ4Smga2SvUo1ycwU6iyNYAwoVU4tCKIaipOMBTTE6rpHGadfjYpreZTp5CrY9EApIxxFWMw1NZDs/s400/BannockbyCarl.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283154843480097650" border="0" /></a><br />This sign was the only shade all afternoon. The red packet contains chocolate peanuts I'd posted to Polaris - a tiny town with a post office, but no shops. In fact, I saw no shops from Butte to Lima - almost 300 km.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglMixb6I7wl6QCMehl3PHNu7lKW4wqFYZ26E0Nac9A5S6_gRbsF0RrBO8H0RPul9i7NPgnj7lUTrWIivgQKzBliVuQaO7sNwihAA-vY_GSDiICXPc7wpHQOVjd7exc4DVmfIx1uQ6nDe6B/s1600-h/david+blaine+02+-+simon+heading+up+gravel+road.jpg"><br /></a>Simon Kennetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03245536396100026817noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-658845177991516593.post-47026751218712996422008-12-23T16:45:00.010-07:002010-06-22T04:07:41.452-06:001 - Go[This is the start of my diary of the Great Divide Race. I'll download the images now (with broadband at work) and do the words during the holidays (next week). This will be as full account as I can manage. It will be boring in places - that's the nature of the GDR. Most of the pics were taken on the fly - sometimes it shows. There are a handfull taken by other people (thanks to David Blaine, Carl Hutchings, Mary Collier, Pete Basinger, Bill Drake, and Carl Patton). Some of my best shots are shown in earlier posts, but I will not repeat them here.]<br /><br />20 April: I've been slack (and busy) so obviously haven't made any progress. Here's my 'Spoke' article to get things moving along:<br /><br />MISSION: ACCOMPLISHED<br />SIMON KENNETT GETS THE GREAT DIVIDE RACE OUT OF HIS SYSTEM<br /><br />High Noon, June 20: Roosville, Canada/USA Border<br />There was an enormous sense of excitement as 18 Great Divide Race hopefuls lined up on the lawn at the border station. Months (or even years) of preparation lay behind us; 4,000 kilometres along the American Continental Divide lay ahead. Snow-covered passes, sleep deprivation, deserts and dodgy food were just a few of the known challenges. The cut-offs that required riders to maintain a 24-day finishing pace was another. But the unknown challenges – there lay the real adventure.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGqLsifOqmSHZ92eeCu0ZCbIhmWFzrDSQgqjG7tCDTYeKwqvP7tmlcjwBI5n0SaWa5F8Jo3Kuk3A2ToClYWAuJzjR3nNFCde32ijRPn1L-HFLlz1MtdCPqPi-3SB87WNxOdjIqUSszik7A/s1600-h/Briefing.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGqLsifOqmSHZ92eeCu0ZCbIhmWFzrDSQgqjG7tCDTYeKwqvP7tmlcjwBI5n0SaWa5F8Jo3Kuk3A2ToClYWAuJzjR3nNFCde32ijRPn1L-HFLlz1MtdCPqPi-3SB87WNxOdjIqUSszik7A/s400/Briefing.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283137344954937698" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinW2_vJ-tcANoY-fL46i6FMyIkJ82KOZMtYCaGUCT3PHvHj3ivgt7M_v6BjZ__Yu2MgiYeIqasEzcOnP_1TId479uerDIiomX3uFUNqTSBSvWD2_mZZWi6u0hxR55-PepfW98cMxJDz9iN/s1600-h/Brief2.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinW2_vJ-tcANoY-fL46i6FMyIkJ82KOZMtYCaGUCT3PHvHj3ivgt7M_v6BjZ__Yu2MgiYeIqasEzcOnP_1TId479uerDIiomX3uFUNqTSBSvWD2_mZZWi6u0hxR55-PepfW98cMxJDz9iN/s400/Brief2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283137347279559666" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Two shots from the pre-race briefing at a Eureka cafe. I arrived a little late after posting all my excess gear home. Between huge mouthfuls of pancakes and scrambled eggs, everyone is paying careful attention to the details of race rules and call-in requirements.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1uDwWDvzh3K32kpf17pOHgNg9YN4iRkN_DMba_ZJ9NFJ0h8B0TH00NR2wfFofpraLZa39FORcPrbfl1eDBffulpz-zKorpkrpC3qYtrooxje1RcoLW5lobKxaxAgRe0QFMHk_A9cRqEJz/s1600-h/DB1.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1uDwWDvzh3K32kpf17pOHgNg9YN4iRkN_DMba_ZJ9NFJ0h8B0TH00NR2wfFofpraLZa39FORcPrbfl1eDBffulpz-zKorpkrpC3qYtrooxje1RcoLW5lobKxaxAgRe0QFMHk_A9cRqEJz/s400/DB1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283137356122629074" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">David sets out from his hotel with his single speed steed. Thanks to his blog (The Great Divide Project) and having met him in Spokane a week earlier, he seemed like an old friend already.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcepUNt6NMRwtsbk5bh_dlrhhFQAMz0y1EXh1R6L5DzSC004s8D-htYKr-D0ZaA_XlFHT_z929s01NOWg17DN_YnBjw3d_wamw6WqOkyUWLlQ96iZzDoewYr5mGZI2tsrE3yk9fb0ILZLQ/s1600-h/Todd.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcepUNt6NMRwtsbk5bh_dlrhhFQAMz0y1EXh1R6L5DzSC004s8D-htYKr-D0ZaA_XlFHT_z929s01NOWg17DN_YnBjw3d_wamw6WqOkyUWLlQ96iZzDoewYr5mGZI2tsrE3yk9fb0ILZLQ/s400/Todd.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283139751630704610" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Todd getting set to do the business on his singlespeed cyclo-cross rig. His bags are home-made from sail material. He has an aerodynamic time-trial helmet.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCY1M5uzRFWU5MseSO5gar_q6wLcdI5LEsUb5zSqKat_ppjBtOY3hHmyMBb620-46roJOQzBHHw55OaoQVDZtBfen66OixBg10A-8d-ePQRTivBNP8KTu7V1oTFaIaKdwsCvPcE0haBu1j/s1600-h/Keiths+Bike.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCY1M5uzRFWU5MseSO5gar_q6wLcdI5LEsUb5zSqKat_ppjBtOY3hHmyMBb620-46roJOQzBHHw55OaoQVDZtBfen66OixBg10A-8d-ePQRTivBNP8KTu7V1oTFaIaKdwsCvPcE0haBu1j/s400/Keiths+Bike.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283138159134568626" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">This is Keith's touring bike set-up. The load on the rear rack flipped upside down during a rough descent (and his rear tyre ripped thru the sleeping pad and his jacket before he could stop).<br /></span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgadFZr-h9j2SwCiSDKWsuKDG07PphyN6zKR7LpyRK1abjoL4n8iiHZpBGp22Wglym7TjeM_3Eu7D-RHW0T7MI3qyet63noZTXQgr3VkGcGph1KZgFjtjO6hx4EWXxclln2kEDDYhmT5bsS/s1600-h/Rainer1.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgadFZr-h9j2SwCiSDKWsuKDG07PphyN6zKR7LpyRK1abjoL4n8iiHZpBGp22Wglym7TjeM_3Eu7D-RHW0T7MI3qyet63noZTXQgr3VkGcGph1KZgFjtjO6hx4EWXxclln2kEDDYhmT5bsS/s400/Rainer1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283138159409337410" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Reiner, the German flying ace, once help the world record for the amount of climbing done in 24 hrs. He said he was there to check out the course before coming back next year to set a new record!</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCkTnH4H36SqdA1z4hx2es9LLl3mMtUMDEtTfvTkj5r8f_eMCvzAv0I1ubktQ2bxZXhDmNov2Jhue9n6BLm1GQzWQBqiZyHyWLUAckTf5Fhxz_lO_DpeJYfLYsG3dRwNUPUPao9wKV4sMr/s1600-h/John.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCkTnH4H36SqdA1z4hx2es9LLl3mMtUMDEtTfvTkj5r8f_eMCvzAv0I1ubktQ2bxZXhDmNov2Jhue9n6BLm1GQzWQBqiZyHyWLUAckTf5Fhxz_lO_DpeJYfLYsG3dRwNUPUPao9wKV4sMr/s400/John.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283138172404419074" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">John, who had pulled out during his previous two attempts, found that his third time was indeed lucky. </span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIO8Djq1ySe93srzyWHoxXfEQBiS05M_Jsy5pkp0YFpYcEw8nBIZzVOIPjgKQzBY5qyE78Sa1K3y2QDlURmDKhwKyLok0uDjPdWKZl1IsZJHh7IWggUB33Ig6U0IV7SurjewZ5z5iVTrSp/s1600-h/Fred1.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIO8Djq1ySe93srzyWHoxXfEQBiS05M_Jsy5pkp0YFpYcEw8nBIZzVOIPjgKQzBY5qyE78Sa1K3y2QDlURmDKhwKyLok0uDjPdWKZl1IsZJHh7IWggUB33Ig6U0IV7SurjewZ5z5iVTrSp/s400/Fred1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283138152924396690" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Fred was one of the most experienced endurance racers in the field.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ1ZRR22laaYZdNtiQkdYM4S5Znl2qqEvgfUhW1qcCmjW2bEWQ2xVDAx1E1MvlHyWKuy449ileRfY9BQtqzlTvSwbFpkfJckMHLCz0pRsTFngRNIotWTLGKgU_93vOh5Q8dIKYhOExPjSV/s1600-h/Carl1.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ1ZRR22laaYZdNtiQkdYM4S5Znl2qqEvgfUhW1qcCmjW2bEWQ2xVDAx1E1MvlHyWKuy449ileRfY9BQtqzlTvSwbFpkfJckMHLCz0pRsTFngRNIotWTLGKgU_93vOh5Q8dIKYhOExPjSV/s400/Carl1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283137361246027170" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Carl was picked at the guy most likely to finish if things turned nasty.<br /></span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikGSe3PTcsFXQnfIwf4mgUSb6huctDU_b6ksQf0yYqmNytsXWJ9P3_f0gm_3g0T02VufUV5dDd98IwtefOfvzeF8mGtiEgLHdq5IngVIjliAW8N9pLWywDe_bfh0NOGtYYpNzpESKa2Usw/s1600-h/Jenn1.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikGSe3PTcsFXQnfIwf4mgUSb6huctDU_b6ksQf0yYqmNytsXWJ9P3_f0gm_3g0T02VufUV5dDd98IwtefOfvzeF8mGtiEgLHdq5IngVIjliAW8N9pLWywDe_bfh0NOGtYYpNzpESKa2Usw/s400/Jenn1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283138155400031170" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Jenn was also riding a 69'er with a rigid carbon fork. 'What were the chances of that?' I thought. She also chose to ride sans derailleurs. </span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc1VcXTlqqW3dcBBJnyzYB1O6r6kqGC5pLZ12AsgAiFgtjD-ZWXd4G3J0Iak3rkSfoI-41MGw3DCpXoPgUhRIdI5xiA1lJCm3rvxDnN_HHqHTT7qzCdOmxjFsPwlzc1PSc3KBt1UHizp0g/s1600-h/david+blaine+01+-+simon+on+the+start+line.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc1VcXTlqqW3dcBBJnyzYB1O6r6kqGC5pLZ12AsgAiFgtjD-ZWXd4G3J0Iak3rkSfoI-41MGw3DCpXoPgUhRIdI5xiA1lJCm3rvxDnN_HHqHTT7qzCdOmxjFsPwlzc1PSc3KBt1UHizp0g/s400/david+blaine+01+-+simon+on+the+start+line.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283139763357185026" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Me - so happy to be on the start line.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPd2di8UAsq4aro2v_M7PsVydOfhojnT6HyS3wOV3RwpY5tRC6Vtv8wnatiZC90arBFbGYMMeVgpfUcdaucLsPwRMrsGgnC9dKuTM2AOjPpHQg9FLYcHqXLYl3Jtydnw3aDeH0ofn52Dzm/s1600-h/Start.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPd2di8UAsq4aro2v_M7PsVydOfhojnT6HyS3wOV3RwpY5tRC6Vtv8wnatiZC90arBFbGYMMeVgpfUcdaucLsPwRMrsGgnC9dKuTM2AOjPpHQg9FLYcHqXLYl3Jtydnw3aDeH0ofn52Dzm/s400/Start.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283139753544912898" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">The startline - with Canada in the background.<br /></span><br />Rushed introductions and photographs filled the last moments where nervousness might otherwise have felt overwhelming. Then there was a quiet ‘go’ from the organiser and a few cheers from the half-dozen spectators.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBEjKVanpELe_K9ShEZW-FAM8paC_NiEm4jhNia9Q6MgtvitQObtRmkgv6lLxjKZaa0q9JxojtQOo6dWDNEpWo9B30mPhg7NI4x5Sujibd9MAUs6V2_cBMwfr2H1qUBo60PeUWDiL9mqnk/s1600-h/Fred+and+Noah.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBEjKVanpELe_K9ShEZW-FAM8paC_NiEm4jhNia9Q6MgtvitQObtRmkgv6lLxjKZaa0q9JxojtQOo6dWDNEpWo9B30mPhg7NI4x5Sujibd9MAUs6V2_cBMwfr2H1qUBo60PeUWDiL9mqnk/s400/Fred+and+Noah.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283139756179212194" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Fred and Noah spring to the front. Noah's grandparents were 10 miles down the road waiting to wave him through town, so he made sure he was in the lead with a big smile.<br /></span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVKNNwr-HoJ_p5hP6sxrgpztYi-vnm5pROd3lLetwNTRshz52_zn2Y4sujn5VKxkVu7kLfqjs7VMUlTWyEyn1ee8PWTLGnmPha2G1hFdjenboRKa-OROsYT4c9unn8pwEDCDbARqS2untc/s1600-h/Eureka.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVKNNwr-HoJ_p5hP6sxrgpztYi-vnm5pROd3lLetwNTRshz52_zn2Y4sujn5VKxkVu7kLfqjs7VMUlTWyEyn1ee8PWTLGnmPha2G1hFdjenboRKa-OROsYT4c9unn8pwEDCDbARqS2untc/s400/Eureka.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283139757086348994" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Carved bears with fishing rods - I was a long way from home.<br /></span><br />We were off. Recent illness dictated a sensible game plan, but within 30 seconds I was in the lead with experienced Canadian Fred Wilkinson and youngster Noah Dimmit (on his second attempt). I just couldn’t help myself. After three hours they’d dropped off the pace and were out of sight, and I was left wondering if lead position was really the best place for an adventure-race novice in bear country.<br /><br />Fortunately, 15 minutes later three riders came past as we approached the business end of the first mountain pass. There was a single-speed, a geared 29’er and a touring bike, and we all stopped at the top of the climb to consume precious calories and congratulate ourselves. The sky was blue and the road clear of snow. We’d covered the distance of a normal cross-country race, with loaded bikes, and we felt great. How long could that last?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil29w843vvUwEvOhEkM8A59ctbjjPcaMIAW2os-JlisaLf_978xtlSX-EhSZ_D54BeCJRD814C6jeUkq9wEHHNCT90sIis2Of9chXt-ui9w1WphrGS7JFgOXXt5Ln_x4oLBXn-dOeQfiXz/s1600-h/Andrew+and+Geoff.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil29w843vvUwEvOhEkM8A59ctbjjPcaMIAW2os-JlisaLf_978xtlSX-EhSZ_D54BeCJRD814C6jeUkq9wEHHNCT90sIis2Of9chXt-ui9w1WphrGS7JFgOXXt5Ln_x4oLBXn-dOeQfiXz/s400/Andrew+and+Geoff.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283140067797372914" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Andrew and Geoff cruise up to the first big pass.</span><br /><br />During the descent from the pass Geoff Roes and I broke away. He looked extremely comfortable, having ridden to the start-line from Utah. After 20 minutes at his pace I began to hit the wall. It was rather depressing; we were just four hours into a 20-day race. I stopped to refuel and collect stream water, and several riders passed. Some appeared to be time-trialing while others looked like they were on a Sunday group ride. I latched onto a bunch and chatted while my batteries recharged. The conversations are almost forgotten already, but the sense that they were really good people remains – the sort of people you’d be happy to get lost with.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxAvlibHi27ptTc1qmG22wwDzsSJSv7DBukwpN6tX477puoCsD7-QY4eJuvzOUVLs6Z17I4dRkFL__qcWoxjNnk2txKa5PJkJA5Qqtrr8tyLpxLXcXsg-k2L8exdG6-l_GUqaAwp9BSpGG/s1600-h/Red+Meadow+2.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxAvlibHi27ptTc1qmG22wwDzsSJSv7DBukwpN6tX477puoCsD7-QY4eJuvzOUVLs6Z17I4dRkFL__qcWoxjNnk2txKa5PJkJA5Qqtrr8tyLpxLXcXsg-k2L8exdG6-l_GUqaAwp9BSpGG/s400/Red+Meadow+2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283140068546065282" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Red Meadow Lake, near the top of the second big climb.</span><br /><br />Near the top of the second big pass of the day, single-speeder David Blaine came into view. We marched through the snow along the top together for 45 minutes and then began the big run into Whitefish at the 100-mile mark. Whitefish was a rare opportunity to re-stock with quality food. I filled a shopping basket with mashed potato and peas, fried chicken, chocolate milk, fruit and sports drink, and then sat outside on the pavement with fellow racer Keith Flury to dine. We were covered in mud and looked like bums.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdnOzCGpzU1nRz5QH8z9WgssearII2XxAqquRH4wU6uliur8Of2JcV315PVh1BG5BV4rXUGZRYrpINC0emuT3izWMif_Ouk7kw6GCSsP11zUO8x-xT5ZVwruGQXLHycqrWBt0efYIU-RtR/s1600-h/Whitefish+Sunset.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdnOzCGpzU1nRz5QH8z9WgssearII2XxAqquRH4wU6uliur8Of2JcV315PVh1BG5BV4rXUGZRYrpINC0emuT3izWMif_Ouk7kw6GCSsP11zUO8x-xT5ZVwruGQXLHycqrWBt0efYIU-RtR/s400/Whitefish+Sunset.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283140070972691826" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Keith follows me out of Whitefish in perfect riding conditions.</span><br /><br />We set off half an hour later, overfull but happy, and rode until 11 pm when we reached Tom’s house in the country. Tom is a cyclist who welcomes all Great Divide riders to camp on his lawn, and his homemade rhubarb slice helped create a party atmosphere that night. We’d covered 196 km since noon, and by midnight there were eleven racers camped in one spot. Only the eventual winner, John Nobile, went any further. Four of the other five starters camped much further back and were moving too slowly to make the race cut-offs.<br /><br /><br />Day Eight: June 27<br />By now I was averaging 200 km per day without burying myself for more than an hour or so. Jenn was catching up whenever I stopped and we were looking forward to sharing the long lonely ride through the intimidating ‘Great Divide Basin’ desert.<br /><br />Day Nine: June 28<br />I got up at 4 am to avoid the impending heat. There was a big day ahead but my stomach was in knots. I couldn’t eat. After a couple of hours’ riding we stopped for breakfast with David Blaine. He and Jenn had envious appetites. Without being able to take on fuel, I had to wave them farewell and settle in for 10 hours’ sick leave. Coming face-to-face with the possibility of failure was certainly the low point of the race. I wondered if this whole venture was a huge mistake.<br /><br />Fortunately my digestive system gradually began functioning again and by early evening the wheels were turning, slowly, towards the desert. At 11 pm I crawled into my sleeping bag on the side of the road, coyotes howling in the distance, with a sense that all was well with the world.<br /><br />For the next five days I rode solo 99% of the time, with an MP3 player blasting out Ravel or Nina Simone or Flight of the Concords. Solitude made focusing on the race easier, but my goal was to catch up with David or Jenn, more to share the experience than to pick up a placing. After Wyoming’s sparse landscape, the Colorado mountains and wildlife seemed even more impressive than Montana’s.<br /><br />By the third of July I was starting to struggle; the heat and long days were catching up. That afternoon, while enjoying the descent off Carnero Pass at around 50 km/hr, a large mountain lion appeared around a corner. I skidded to a halt about 20 metres away from it and considered my chances of surviving an attack. They seemed slim. The mountain lion looked back at me and decided to yield the road. I was amped with enough adrenalin to last another thousand miles.<br /><br />Near the end of the day Jenn appeared in the distance. I was so happy to have some company. Unfortunately she was starting to suffer from Giardia and was falling off the pace. The next day we rode together a little and shared a Fourth of July barbeque in a remote settlement. This was also the day I crossed into New Mexico, the last State of the race and the State where my wife and baby were holidaying. This was the point at which I’d decided to give it everything until the finish.<br /><br />Day 17: July 6<br />The days were getting noticeably shorter further south. I woke at 5 am, having camped near the top of the longest climb of the race, and expected to be out of the mountains by mid-morning. My legs had different ideas. It took about three hours to warm-up, but I didn’t dare rest anywhere for long. Just a few days earlier a man had been eaten by a cougar nearby, and there were fresh tracks on the sandy road.<br /><br />By midday I’d reached the safety of Cuba (the town) and was faced with the prospect of a hundred asphalt miles through desert. This was reservation land where services were few and far between. It was tempting to stay for a siesta, but instead I filled my back pockets, sleeves and shorts with ice and went for it. Head down, on the aerobars, the miles flew by. Just after dark a storm lashed down and it was out with the jacket, over-trousers and bike-lights. As the lights of the next town came into view, as if cued by my subconscious, I was overcome with weakness.<br /><br />The first budget motel appeared just in the nick of time. It lay on the neglected Route 66, tucked in between a busy rail yard and modern freeway. Tea consisted of some biscuits and soda from the office shop, but I was too tired to really care. With another 280 km knocked off, the finish seemed almost within site.<br /><br />Day 18: July 7<br />This day was almost a reflection of the one before: a long stretch of isolated tarseal followed by even more remote gravel road. The map showed just one shop, 165 km away from the town I left in the morning. As it turned out, that shop had closed months ago. I was in huge, open, sparsely populated country. A desperate inspection of the map indicated that the next shop down the line was another 160 km further south.<br /><br />Over the next 20 hours I saw just four vehicles and flagged two of them down. Both drivers were happy to hand out emergency food supplies from their glove box and to listen to a short story of a bizarre bike race across America. The early afternoon brought a wonderful sight – the Gila Ranger Station had a drinks machine. Chink, chink, chink… click, whir, ka-thud! What a beautiful sound.<br /><br />Six cans of soda and half an hour later there was a very different, somewhat sinister sound. A lightening storm rolled in just as I was about to climb up onto the Continental Divide. Torrential rain was accompanied by booming thunder, and massive cracks of electricity filled the sky. I hid under a bridge for a while as the creek rose, deciding which was the better risk – death by drowning, lightening strike or starvation. The possibility of electrocution won out (nice and instant) and I set out riding like a madman.<br /><br />Along the top of the Divide, as the vegetation became more and more stunted, I hunched over lower and lower, pretending to be four foot tall. The lightening closed in until it could be seen striking the ground a couple of hundred metres away.<br /><br />After a full-on time-trial out of the mountains, I arrived at the tiny town of Mimbres – 325 km from the last store – to find the only shop had closed 45 minutes beforehand! I scored a Clif Bar from a local woman and blitzed the next 30 km into Silver City. As the city limits came into view the incessant rain finally caused my lights and bike computer to fail. I staggered into the first fast-food joint in town looking like I’d escaped from an insane asylum via the sewer system. Bent, but not broken.<br /><br />Day 20: July 9<br />The last, horrible day of the race dawned fine and calm. It promised to be a furnace in the desert until a thin layer of cloud slid mercifully overhead mid-morning. There were no large climbs, no rough tracks, no storms. Just 201 km of rolling dirt and straight sealed roads, so long and flat that they disappeared beyond the horizon.<br /><br />I’d had enough. All I wanted was to reach the Mexican border and go home to my family. Fortunately, my American in-laws were waiting to pick me up at the finish, Antelope Wells, a border station with no well and no antelope. The last 70 km of road had way-markers every mile. I put my head down and watched the white line fly by, desperately hoping each time I looked up that two mile-markers would have passed rather than one.<br /><br />The final stretch took an hour longer than expected, but eventually a building appeared in the distance between the Joshua trees and cacti. It slowly took a clearer form. Then, quite suddenly, Bill and Janet appeared just 20 metres away. I was done. My smile stretched from ear to ear and I was filled with relief and gratitude. There was no finish banner, nor any other humans.<br /><br />The satisfaction of having completed the Great Divide Race took weeks to fully sink in. Of the eighteen starters, just two Americans, two Brits, and one Kiwi finished the entire course. John Noble set a course record of 15 days and 2 hours. Even Giardia couldn’t stop Jenn – she finished in 22 and a half days. I spent 19 days and 5 hours on the Divide. Much of that time is a blur, but there are many vivid memories of camaraderie and natural beauty that I’ll treasure for the rest of my life.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGqLsifOqmSHZ92eeCu0ZCbIhmWFzrDSQgqjG7tCDTYeKwqvP7tmlcjwBI5n0SaWa5F8Jo3Kuk3A2ToClYWAuJzjR3nNFCde32ijRPn1L-HFLlz1MtdCPqPi-3SB87WNxOdjIqUSszik7A/s1600-h/Briefing.jpg"><br /></a>Simon Kennetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03245536396100026817noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-658845177991516593.post-79267806036472705492008-12-17T18:37:00.002-07:002008-12-17T18:55:21.928-07:00MSF Fundraiser Wrapped UpJust deposited NZ$11,030 into MSF Australia's account. This was the money raised through donations (mostly at slideshows), pledges for each GDR-km ridden, and the sale of sponsored gear.<br /><br />A huge thanks to everyone who contributed - genorosity like that is heart-warming, and it made the motivational side of the GDR a piece of cake.<br /><br />Here's a message from MSF explaining where the money goes now:<br /><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;color:#000080;">"Médecins Sans Frontières teams are currently in over 60 countries, working with more than 22,000 locally recruited national staff in conditions that are always challenging, sometimes dangerous. Wherever our teams are working their goal is the same: to provide essential medical humanitarian aid to those who need it most, regardless of race, religion, gender or political affiliation. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;color:#000080;">As an independent organisation that relies solely on our donors for funding, your support is absolutely crucial to Médecins Sans Frontières’ ability to provide medical assistance to millions of people throughout the world. Whether it’s assisting casualties of war, those in danger from deadly epidemics or in great need after a flood or earthquake, victims of sexual violence or someone excluded from health care; the funding we receive from our donors helps us stay flexible, responsive and ready to act swiftly in times of crisis. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;color:#000080;">In 2007, Médecins Sans Frontières carried out 8,447,106 outpatient consultations and dealt with 340,689 inpatient admissions in 62 countries worldwide. Our interventions spanned four continents with the majority of projects taking place in Africa, and smaller numbers in Asia, the Americas, Europe and the Middle East. Armed conflict was the most common cause of humanitarian and medical crises followed by epidemic or endemic disease outbreaks.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;color:#000080;">Some of our work right now includes:</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;color:#000080;">Providing emergency medical assistance to people caught up in the conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;color:#000080;">Providing obstetric care for women in Haiti</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;color:#000080;">Treating cholera in Zimbabwe</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;color:#000080;">Providing medical and non medical assistance to refugees in Darfur, Sudan</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;color:#000080;">Treating malnutrition in Uganda</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;color:#000080;">For all the latest news on our work, please visit <a href="http://www.msf.org.au/" target="_blank">www.msf.org.au</a>.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:sans-serif;font-size:85%;">Kind regards,</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:sans-serif;font-size:85%;">Gina Birkett<br />Médecins sans Frontières Australia</span>"Paul Kennetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00484977047111216351noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-658845177991516593.post-3240527198285286272008-12-07T22:21:00.008-07:002008-12-07T22:53:52.754-07:00Almost back in top gear<meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 9"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 9"><link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/PRIVAT%7E1/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/msoclip1/01/clip_filelist.xml"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:donotoptimizeforbrowser/> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:Tahoma; panose-1:2 11 6 4 3 5 4 4 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:swiss; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:1627421319 -2147483648 8 0 66047 0;} @font-face {font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"; panose-1:2 11 6 2 3 5 4 2 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:swiss; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:-2147476737 14699 0 0 63 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0cm; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:none; mso-hyphenate:none; font-size:12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"; mso-bidi-font-family:Tahoma; mso-ansi-language:EN-US;} p.MsoCaption, li.MsoCaption, div.MsoCaption {margin-top:6.0pt; margin-right:0cm; margin-bottom:6.0pt; margin-left:0cm; mso-pagination:no-line-numbers; mso-hyphenate:none; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"; mso-bidi-font-family:Tahoma; mso-ansi-language:EN-US; font-style:italic;} p.MsoList, li.MsoList, div.MsoList {mso-style-parent:"Body Text"; margin-top:0cm; margin-right:0cm; margin-bottom:6.0pt; margin-left:0cm; mso-pagination:none; mso-hyphenate:none; font-size:12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"; mso-bidi-font-family:Tahoma; mso-ansi-language:EN-US;} p.MsoBodyText, li.MsoBodyText, div.MsoBodyText {margin-top:0cm; margin-right:0cm; margin-bottom:6.0pt; margin-left:0cm; mso-pagination:none; mso-hyphenate:none; font-size:12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"; mso-bidi-font-family:Tahoma; mso-ansi-language:EN-US;} span.Absatz-Standardschriftart {mso-style-name:Absatz-Standardschriftart; mso-style-parent:"";} p.Index, li.Index, div.Index {mso-style-name:Index; margin:0cm; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:no-line-numbers; mso-hyphenate:none; font-size:12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"; mso-bidi-font-family:Tahoma; mso-ansi-language:EN-US;} @page Section1 {size:612.0pt 792.0pt; margin:72.0pt 90.0pt 72.0pt 90.0pt; mso-header-margin:36.0pt; mso-footer-margin:36.0pt; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} </style><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size:100%;">Work has been as frustrating as all hell lately (with the 7<sup>th</sup> edition of Classic NZ MTB Rides taking a month longer that expected to arrive from overseas) but we've had some good times on various bikes to distract us from all that.</span>
<br />
<br /></span> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:100%;">First up, in mid-October was the MTB orienteering event at Maungakotukutuku. Memories of last years win were well smashed as several riders trounced me both physically and mentally, but I still had some fun. There's some sweet singletrack through some excellent forest out there. My buddy John won – his first solo win in an area he wasn't familiar with – he’s the man. This was Sarah's first event since becoming pregnant two years ago. Very nice to see.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">
<br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">The following weekend we went up to Rangataua for some R and R. We all rode up the mountain road (a 1000m climb) in atrocious weather – by the time we got back down they had closed the top part of the road. Near the top it is very steep and I'm pretty sure a snail zipped past me – I felt so unfit. A couple of days later John and I rode down to Pipiriki and back – 80 km return. The weather was a bit better, but there was still some hail mixed in with the rain. Nice quiet roads; some gravel (always exciting on a road bike); and more sweet forest.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">
<br /></span></p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyUxs1ZOwP4hH73p__t1PX8rJ_EhepF5pxEpcQ8ui2NK_NC7U4lt2281doTptcKAYzZuEZfKOoStn_RAHvLRoZ6z77C62Hz0JUKFlKkIFwv4Ci8qLXhkjkE_iZzj8-sD9lwCnOHHUmdNcI/s1600-h/Nov08+018.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyUxs1ZOwP4hH73p__t1PX8rJ_EhepF5pxEpcQ8ui2NK_NC7U4lt2281doTptcKAYzZuEZfKOoStn_RAHvLRoZ6z77C62Hz0JUKFlKkIFwv4Ci8qLXhkjkE_iZzj8-sD9lwCnOHHUmdNcI/s320/Nov08+018.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277286475052666818" border="0" /></a><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">The dodgy weather theme continued the following weekend as we rode up to the top of Makara Peak to celebrate the MTB park’s 10<sup>th</sup> anniversary. This was one of those days where the wind was toppling trees and blowing cars over on the Wainui Hill Road. Needless to say we were blown off the track at the top of the Peak and it was all a bit of a hoot.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal">
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<br /></span></p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy4ZnB4sr2-w576734WpMslREdZZQyEjfyI4Xx-NFCQxMnoAi_s6AzZXaLtelVKNy3AJFrymaW46Ak-bQxmDaqYJvcx7-U37iX2rH-SFBaiucHInJ9InfPz9lVNcjo_pVe2o87nVyVt1kf/s1600-h/IMG_9721.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy4ZnB4sr2-w576734WpMslREdZZQyEjfyI4Xx-NFCQxMnoAi_s6AzZXaLtelVKNy3AJFrymaW46Ak-bQxmDaqYJvcx7-U37iX2rH-SFBaiucHInJ9InfPz9lVNcjo_pVe2o87nVyVt1kf/s320/IMG_9721.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277287621718023794" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyUxs1ZOwP4hH73p__t1PX8rJ_EhepF5pxEpcQ8ui2NK_NC7U4lt2281doTptcKAYzZuEZfKOoStn_RAHvLRoZ6z77C62Hz0JUKFlKkIFwv4Ci8qLXhkjkE_iZzj8-sD9lwCnOHHUmdNcI/s1600-h/Nov08+018.jpg"></a><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">The weekend after that we had a team entered in the Wild Wellington 12 hr Relay. This time the weather was perfect! Jonty did some fast laps for us on his cyclocross bike, Kaitlyn gave John a boost on the tag-along bike, Sarah did a few brisk laps, and Jonathan and I took the tandem for a spin. It was very social; Miro loved all the action; the crepes were delicious, and we ended up third mixed team.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">
<br /></span></p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGoVTm1N88Ul2nDV3e7nYQzAkkqtVmW_dPtirOzCDLFW_CbRkd3Yl2QPNJhT_rV32vAIXXhgMfZhjVNYuJA5HQmluzchtOmFjyE5tXt1EYx2xgf4HZdYHPC7YMGHESPeTibdKCxZnDnh0q/s1600-h/IMG_9727.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGoVTm1N88Ul2nDV3e7nYQzAkkqtVmW_dPtirOzCDLFW_CbRkd3Yl2QPNJhT_rV32vAIXXhgMfZhjVNYuJA5HQmluzchtOmFjyE5tXt1EYx2xgf4HZdYHPC7YMGHESPeTibdKCxZnDnh0q/s320/IMG_9727.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277287912566914498" border="0" /></a><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Mid-November I snuck out the back door for a 2-hour grind on some tight local singletrack, some of which I'd never done uphill, and one new track I'd never done at all. I LOVE riding new singletrack.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">
<br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">The weekend before last was the end of the MTB-O season with a fixed-order event on Mt Vic (and more singletrack I'd never done before. Choice!). My second place was a pleasant surprise (even if it was partly thanks to a poor turn-out). John came in third and wrapped up the series.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">
<br /></span></p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPl9V_mxNs7VsSp7A9FnMQ31ueka3swU1GL6DRk3q6IXO4C9MsN709gAoyNKrQjxnsSiDFn1coi5zKaXdxxDWWxYqmqubSmVV2EzJoeQxj2PfuKCMy0g86vwZKgXPqpqHUU4s3GXN83Pc6/s1600-h/IMG_9752.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPl9V_mxNs7VsSp7A9FnMQ31ueka3swU1GL6DRk3q6IXO4C9MsN709gAoyNKrQjxnsSiDFn1coi5zKaXdxxDWWxYqmqubSmVV2EzJoeQxj2PfuKCMy0g86vwZKgXPqpqHUU4s3GXN83Pc6/s320/IMG_9752.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277288904778593538" border="0" /></a><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">The last weekend in November Jonathan, Alex and I took the triple for a spin round Taupo – a hilly 160 km – in 4:31. The guys did a good job of pushing me through the first hour; at 40 km I stopped for a leak and then finally got into a decent rhythm. We actually hammered the main climbs pretty well (given the bike would make a fine ships anchor). It was fun hearing all the kids yell out “Hey! What's that?!” “Go the threesome!”, etc, etc. Only a couple of blokes called out “The guy on the back isn't pedalling (ha ha)” or “You look so gay!”. Morons are pretty easy to ignore when the weather is stunning and you have clear views of the mountain or the lake to enjoy.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">
<br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">By the time I got back from Taupo, Miro was walking heaps more (from one room to the next). And there was me thinking she’d go straight from crawling to bike riding.
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<br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Yesterday was ‘Tour de Peak’ day. The aim of this event is to ride all 16 tracks in Makara Peak as fast as you can, in the order of your choice. A good old brain-teaser, as well as an honest grunt. This year I teamed up with Sarah in the Duo category and we split the tracks 50/50 (with me veering towards the most technical stuff, which I seem to have lost my mojo on – apart from being rusty, a big drop causes me to think of Miro; I hesitate and decide to walk. A tad frustrating at the time, but not so much as a broken collar bone). Anyway, the sun shone, long ribbons of single track were ridden (without injury), Miro loved the friendly atmosphere, and everybody went home with a prize.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">
<br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Today, at long last, we shuffled the 7<sup>th</sup> edition of ‘Classic New Zealand MTB Rides’ into our office (8,000 copies = 4 tonnes = some serious cross-training). The string of printing, freighting, and customs clearance delays has been agonising, but the book does look damn fine. Hopefully the punters agree.</span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsrK9ZInrjOJzb82C5SBrpfMIJJQTk3lWAQVb-YjfZCXNT_jczbFW3iRAwbmnZ9A_dTLhhEIfRT_-oDE3Fta22uVVhuPTvyBGCIc8H0vrdcPK82K52k6_F64SuRUqAiyfh5x0XEgAv0wZD/s1600-h/mtnbike2008-403x650.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 198px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsrK9ZInrjOJzb82C5SBrpfMIJJQTk3lWAQVb-YjfZCXNT_jczbFW3iRAwbmnZ9A_dTLhhEIfRT_-oDE3Fta22uVVhuPTvyBGCIc8H0vrdcPK82K52k6_F64SuRUqAiyfh5x0XEgAv0wZD/s320/mtnbike2008-403x650.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277289110734267330" border="0" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">
<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">BTW, the last post suggests that my fingers had returned to normal 2 months after the GDR finished. As it turns out, not quite. A band of thin, fragile finger nail is still growing out. This band now extends back to a small ridge a third of the way from the tip of each nail (beyond which normal nail growth is occurring). Not sure what caused that – poor circulation, lack of nutrients, or reduced growth hormone during the race? Kinda suggests that 100% recovery from the GDR is more like six months than three.</span></p> Simon Kennetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03245536396100026817noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-658845177991516593.post-27190419465130558172008-10-09T01:54:00.003-06:002008-10-09T02:45:17.651-06:00Time Marches OnWell...it's three months since the Great Divide Race finished and I still haven't done a proper trip write-up. Sorry about that - it's still on the list of things to do. Spoke magazine asked me to do a 1200 word article about the race. I worked hard to keep the word count down and still ended up with 2400. That'll be in their next issue. Anyway, it occurred to me while writing it that it would be pretty easy to ramble on for 5000 words - just need to find the time. Realistically it won't happen until the Christmas holidays.<br /><br />The last post mentioned an auction and slide show. They went really well. All the GDR sponsored gear is now sold and 99% of the pledges are in. At the moment the funds raised for Doctors Without Borders is just over NZ$10,000. I need to get this wrapped up and sent off asap, before our currancy plunges any further. Why is it that a US-initiated financial crisis has caused the greenback to strengthen?<br /><br />If you missed the last slide show, there are a few more coming up. One for the Hutt Valley MTB Club in mid-November, one at the Cyclemania festival in Taupo at the end of November, and another for Cycle Aware Wellington on the 2nd December.<br /><br />It's been impressive to see many of the GDR racers compete in other events recently. I've had no interest. It took just over two months for my fingers to return to normal (difficulty tying shoe-laces being the main problem). And, a combination of exhaustion, jet-lag, minor illness, wintery weather, baby-induced sleep deprivation and over-working conspired with a bit of melancholy. It is a bummer not having anything as big as the GDR on the horizon. Might just have to run something similar here in NZ.<br /><br />Fortunately my heavy commuter bike kept the legs from wasting away completely and last weekend my brain finally said "It's time". I joined John for my first recreational ride since getting back to New Zealand in July. We found some nice steep singletrack and enjoyed a good hit of endorphins. Aaaahhh....<br /><br />And now that spring has arrived, there are a couple of races in the off'ing too. As part of our 7th edition promotional tour the Kennett Bros will have a family team at the Wild Wellington 12 hour teams race and we'll drag the Triple out for the Taupo Cycle Challenge century. Bound to do something sifty at the Makara Peak Rally, too. Maybe we'll see you there.<br /><br />Cheers<br />SimonSimon Kennetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03245536396100026817noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-658845177991516593.post-10109764269136370222008-08-09T03:56:00.008-06:002015-04-22T16:14:18.777-06:00Slide show, auction and gear reviewGreat Divide Race Slide Show - 2pm, Sunday the 17th August, Rongotai College, Wellington (<a href="http://www.smaps.co.nz/nz/wellington/rongotai/">Map</a>). Free entry. All welcome.<br />
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The slide show will be immediately followed by an auction of my sponsored gear from the race (with proceeds going to Doctors Without Borders). The gear to be auctioned includes:<br />
<ul>
<li>Giant XTC Carbon 69'er, with Stans wheelset and Sram groupset. Weighs about 10kg. Very good condition - only used in one race.</li>
<li>Cane Creek suspension seatpost. Near new condition.</li>
<li>XTR shifter (near new)</li>
<li>XTR crankset (brand new)</li>
<li>XTR derailleurs (near new)</li>
<li>Easton Aerobars (very good condition)</li>
<li>Misc Ground effect clothing (jacket, Montezumas long shorts, Median strip top, Half Pipes leggings)</li>
<li>NoTubes sealant (unused!)</li>
<li>Stans Crow 29" tyre (good condition)</li>
</ul>
If you'd like to place a bid from out of town, email me at simon [at] kennett [dot] co [dot] nz to arrange contact details during the auction.<br />
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<span style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: bold;">How did my gear work over the big race? </span><br />
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Here's the loaded bike:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyi4GGTccRRSto3pvjzA6AhsNd-e_wNol75D6u9wpCVS9tgKAy2WdDmLxNpEV_dYgidV7rpvPXn4F1SQrbXOfzuHGp-cx_kv7_FZtntfxBnPIBy95rVWT0-8BP36Na4n6PzcCXlth_5w1U/s1600/simonk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyi4GGTccRRSto3pvjzA6AhsNd-e_wNol75D6u9wpCVS9tgKAy2WdDmLxNpEV_dYgidV7rpvPXn4F1SQrbXOfzuHGp-cx_kv7_FZtntfxBnPIBy95rVWT0-8BP36Na4n6PzcCXlth_5w1U/s1600/simonk.jpg" height="476" width="640" /></a></div>
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and the gear (unpacked) before the race:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCFm8Ke9tw9pNQHOEVCRR3HtERdkK9Uta13Q0rHk5LRm_lRSZAfQkXeeDE2Y-kiM4XglokVdUwen0AYG0oaGMqGXvmW8MB1X_mg886c12Z09Sa1OoQtvD1lbNFsDM2LPhQij4qnFzIuX-2/s1600/simonskit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCFm8Ke9tw9pNQHOEVCRR3HtERdkK9Uta13Q0rHk5LRm_lRSZAfQkXeeDE2Y-kiM4XglokVdUwen0AYG0oaGMqGXvmW8MB1X_mg886c12Z09Sa1OoQtvD1lbNFsDM2LPhQij4qnFzIuX-2/s1600/simonskit.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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My sponsors are shown in the links to the right - check those out for more info on the bike and clothes. Just remember that this is what worked for me in the 2008 GDR. You are different from me, and 2009 will be different from 2008.<br />
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Here's a list with some comments:<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span lang="en-US"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Bike:</span> Giant XTC Carbon frame; Stans wheelset (ZTR355 rims, 29” front, with American Classic hub, 26” rear with Hope Pro2 hub, Crow tyres and NoTubes sealant), Sram gears; Truvativ Noir crankset; Ritchey WCS MTB forks, seat, seatpost & handlebar stem; Easton carbon handlebars & aerobars; Ergon grips & barends; Avid ultimate disc brakes; Shimano XTR pedals; Rear rack (an old mongreled front rack); beefy bottle cage; Cateye computer</span></div>
<ul>
<li>The bike worked great. It was designed to mitigate my weakness (road riding) and take advantage of my experience riding fully rigid bikes. I longed for suspension (usually rear) on about 6 occasions. It was very aerodynamic, very light, and rolled very well. The aerobars gave an extra couple of comfortable hand positions.</li>
<li>The only mid-race maintanence was the replacement of the rear tyre at 960 miles and 1550 miles, chain oiling most days, and a good clean at 1550 miles (Absolute Bikes).</li>
<li>The only problems were the loss of some small chainring bolts at about 1800 miles and the malfunction of the bike compter after the big storm a day from the finish. No punctures. No shifting problems. No component breakages. Rear tyre wear-and-tear was expected and planned for by posting replacements to Pinedale and Salida. I sent replacement chainrings and brake pads to Salida, but did not need them.</li>
</ul>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span lang="en-US"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Bags:</span> Frame bag sewn up from cordura off-cuts by Shona; Pacific 5ltr dry bags; Cactus prototype small backpack (15 years old)</span></div>
<ul>
<li>These all worked fine. Wore a small hole in one of the dry bags by the finish. A little extra capacity would have been handy and more compartments in the backpack.</li>
</ul>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span lang="en-US"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Clothes:</span> Ground Effect Shorts, legwarmers, tops, proto-type jacket, long-fingered gloves, short-fingered gel gloves, nylon overmitts, generic poloprop balaclava, couple of old thermal tops, light woolen top, polyprop longjohns, running shorts, LG shoe covers, socks, arm-warmers, </span> </div>
<ul>
<li>I've been testing most of this stuff for years, so no real surprises - it worked very well. The Half Pipe leg warmers were surprisingly useful (wore them every day). The Ground Effect prototype jacket was perfect - it was designed to fit my stick-like figure with minimal flapping in windy conditions. The long sleeved Rock Lobster top kept the intense sun at bay. Woolen socks prevented foot fungii problems.</li>
<li>The overmitts never got used. The shoe covers were only used once, so got posted home from Salida and were needed the very next day.</li>
<li>One of the advantages of being old and crusty is that I had a drawer full off old, worn-out shorts, socks and gloves. I started with some of this old gear and threw it out over the first few days. This saved me the effort of doing washing until day five.</li>
</ul>
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<span lang="en-US"><span style="font-weight: bold;">ACA Maps</span>, cue-cards, facility summary </span> </div>
<ul>
<li>The maps had me scratching my head once or twice, but I only got lost very briefly three times (in towns each time). Thanks to cousin Duncan for scanning & printing the cues.</li>
</ul>
<div lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Camera:</span> Olympus 850 SW</div>
<ul>
<li>The 'S' stands for shock-proof. The 'W' for waterproof. Shona sewed a camera breast pocket into my tops, and bingo! - a sweet camera at the ready regardless of the conditions. Most of my pcs were taken without stopping. Thanks John.</li>
</ul>
<div lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-weight: bold;">MP3 player:</span> $29 Dick Smith Electronics</div>
<ul>
<li>Cheap-as, and runs on a AAA battery. It had just over 3 hours of music on it, which all got listened to at least once a day from day five on. It also had a voice recorder which was handy to store some of my thoughts along the way.</li>
</ul>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span lang="en-US"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shoes: </span>Louis Gaureau</span></div>
<ul>
<li>A nice pair of LG shoes, but not the top of the line model (didn't want the risk of a ratchet breaking). Reasonably comfy and very solid and dependable (and a good price too).</li>
</ul>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span lang="en-US"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Helmet:</span> Giro Pneumo</span></div>
<ul>
<li>An old favourite, this time with the visor. Worked fine.</li>
</ul>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span lang="en-US"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Lights:</span> Dinotte x2, Cateye rear, ankle reflector</span></div>
<ul>
<li>Great lights (thanks Gav) except during the big storm when water got into the battery pack (I'd been warned of this, but obviously didn't seal the pack well enough). Otherwise, they were very, very good.</li>
</ul>
<div lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Sleeping bag:</span> MacPac Epic (down, 540gm)</div>
<div lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Bivvy bag:</span> Old Fairydown (very light, semi-breathable)</div>
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<span lang="en-US"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Pad:</span> Closed cell foam cut to ¾ length & width (10mm thick)</span></div>
<div lang="en-US" style="font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Insect net</div>
<ul>
<li>This was a very light-weight, minimalist camping set-up. Not comfortable, but good enough to get a few hours sleep in. I was lucky it didn't rain much and the temp never reached freezing. I camped 10 nights out of 19.</li>
</ul>
<div lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Sunglasses</span></div>
<ul>
<li>Stood on my nice Adidas shades at the end of day one. Replaced them with a $15 pair in Lincoln. Lost my spectacles on about day three (I can live without them).</li>
</ul>
<div lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</div>
<div lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Liquid carriers:</span> 3ltr bladder, 2ltr bladder, 800ml water bottle, misc sports drinks bottles</div>
<div lang="en-US" style="font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Iodine tabs</div>
<ul>
<li>This carrying capacity was fine (when it was used). Not sure if excess iodine contributed to digestive distress or not. We were all lucky that there was more surface water around than normal, and it was not super hot in New Mexico.</li>
</ul>
<div lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-weight: bold;">First-aid kit:</span> All the normal stuff, plus some anti-biotics and stomach bug stuff (Thanks Dr Ruthie). Bought some ant-acid tabs along the way.</div>
<div lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Hygiene kit:</span> Sun-block, anti-bacterial wipes, toothbrush, chammy cream (Thanks Marilyn) or talc powder, etc</div>
<ul>
<li>A lot of the first aid stuff remained unused, but it's lght and compact and had the potential to save my bacon, so I didn't regret carrying it.</li>
</ul>
<div lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Tool kit:</span> Allen keys, chain tool, tyre lever, tubes x2, pump, patch kit, oil</div>
<ul>
<li>Similar comment as above</li>
</ul>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span lang="en-US"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Misc:</span> Compass/thermometer, sun umbrella, cash, calling card, credit card, ID, ear plugs, shower caps, pen, travel lock, spoon, etc</span></div>
<ul>
<li>The compass came in handy during a pre-dawn start in the Great Divide Basin. The sun umbrella was a waste of space (but it might have been handy, really). I used one shower cap during a short downpour. Everything else was useful for obvious reasons.</li>
</ul>
<div lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Thoughts on bikes and fairings:</div>
<ul>
<li>You can spend a LOT of time deciding what type of bike to use. Eventually this becomes wasted time. If all you want to do is finish with a respectable time, any decent mountain bike will do the job. That said, it needs to be reliable and comfortable. If you can make it light as well, that's a bonus.</li>
<li>WRT full-suspension vs hardtails vs fully rigid vs 29er vs single-speed - it comes down to using whatever tickles your fancy. The main thing is to have FAT tyres that you can run at cushy pressures. The next most important thing is a saddle that doesn't make you bleed by day five.</li>
<li>In this type of race 29'er wheels are a slight advantage, unless you are running some really good suspension, in which case it's too close to call (imho).</li>
<li>Having raced with a Zipper fairing a few times (and a rear fairing twice) I thought long and hard about using a front fairing. The time to make and test a MTB fairing was not available to me, so it came down to buying a Zipper again, or a motorcycle fairing. I decided the weight penalty and increased risk of over-heating counted too heavily against the small gains of improved aerodynamics (when racing at very low average speeds). I guess John Nobile proved me wrong (although I suspect he could have cleaned up even without his fairings). This race is loaded with 'individuals' - many of whom have bicycles that are extensions of their personalities. Proving the capability of the bike (as well as the body) to finish the GDR is part of the challenge that motivates many riders .</li>
</ul>
Questions? Fire away (but expect a slow response - work is crazy at the mo')Simon Kennetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03245536396100026817noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-658845177991516593.post-75325385099928359382008-08-02T20:21:00.002-06:002008-08-02T20:46:16.408-06:00Simon interviewed on Nights with Bryan CrumpSimon was interviewed on <a href="http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/nights">Nights with Bryan Crump, Radio New Zealand National</a>, 1 Aug 2008:<br /><ul><br /><li><a href="http://www.kennett.co.nz/people/simon/greatdividerace2008/nights-on-radionz-national-20080801a.mp3">Simon interviewed by Bryan Crump</a>, MP3, 22 min, 10 MB<br /></ul>Paul Kennetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00484977047111216351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-658845177991516593.post-64214462179292749312008-07-30T02:57:00.003-06:002008-08-09T19:06:22.907-06:00Five FAQs (and some answers)1 - Did you enjoy it?<br /><br />At times, very much. Overall, yes. But...the further into the race I got, the greater it seemed to be an emotional roller coaster. After about halfway it seemed to take 2-3 hours to warm up in the mornings. This could be very discouraging. Eventually, most days, the sun would come out, a fun descent would present itself, and maybe I'd have an enjoyable encounter with a rider or local person or some wildlife. Often the scenery was uplifting, as was my MP3 player and phone calls to Sarah. On the first day the ratio of fun to grind was about 10:1. By the last day it was 1:10. There is a correlation between those ratios and the amount of time I spent with fellow racers.<br /><br /><br />2 - Would you do it again?<br /><br />If I had my time over - absolutely!<br /><br />Will I do it again? No - once was enough. But I wouldn't rule out a similar challenge elsewhere.<br /><br /><br />3 - What happened to Rainer?<br /><br />Rainer took a short-cut off Togwatee Pass (taking a fast stretch of highway rather than a 1hr+ hike in the snow). Just hours earlier, he indicated his intention to take that shortcut to a fellow racer (due to the pain he would experience pushing his bike, having broken his collar-bone 5 weeks earlier). At the end of the day he claimed to have been prevented from following the official route by a State Trooper. No other racers saw a State Trooper at this point.<br /><br />The previous day he was seen missing a turn (and not returning there for at least 10 minutes). He then appeared to arrive at the next town before riders who had been in front of him on the official route.<br /><br />It seems that Rainer may have been unaware of the importance of sticking to the official route. If he goes back next year, I expect he'll win.<br /><br /><br />4 - How did you and your bike handle the abuse?<br /><br />I got very tired and experienced numbness in all points of contact with the bike. My lower back became numb where the backpack sat. My disgestive system became very cantankerous and I lost 11 hours to a stomach bug in Wyoming. My throat & tongue was often dry and sore. Various leg muscles seized up temporarily and my quads became very fatigued. My lips cracked. My brain became very tired. My weight went from 69kg to 67kg.<br /><br />Now, 3 weeks later, my legs and fingers are still a bit weak, and my physical energy levels below average. My weight is 70kg.<br />[Too give this some perspective, Carl Hutchings ran a half marathon last week and Jenn Hopkins is currently cycle touring from Portland to San Francisco]<br /><br />My bike was fine. Three bolts fell out of the granny chainring - that's all. Not a single puncture! I'll do a gear review shortly.<br /><br /><br />5 - Are you writing an article or book about it?<br /><br />I'll do an article for SPOKE magazine, and a diary-style account here. There will also be the odd slideshow, including a big one at Rongatai College (where my gear will be auctioned off). This Friday I'll be interviewed at 8:10pm on Radio New Zealand National. There will be the odd extra article here and there, but no book - you'd all be bored to tears!<br />If you're in Wellington and want to hear more, sooner rather than later, come along to the tree planting at Makara Peak MTB Park this Sunday at 10am.<br /><br /><br />Bonus question: Where those Diamond Back shorts really 17 years old?<br /><br />No, of course not. They were only 11 years old. I wore them over my Ground Effect shorts for a little extra padding in the mornings for a few days. [The Sams Bike Shop shorts I wore on day one were 17 years old]Simon Kennetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03245536396100026817noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-658845177991516593.post-26894790213139009202008-07-23T17:23:00.003-06:002008-07-23T19:38:06.471-06:00Home Sweet Home, and Sweepstake WinnersAhhhh...it's nice to be home in Wellington after 24 hours in planes and airports - instead of dodgy air-conditioning we have a freezing southerly gale to keep everybody moving briskly as they shuffle about between showers. The forecast is for a maximum of 9 degrees C - but with the windchill of a 110 kph southerly thrown into the mix, 9 degrees is just wishful thinking.<br /><br />It is good to be home with friends and family, back at work doing something useful. If the weather clears I'll be testing my wasted upper body with some track building on Mt Vic, if not, I'll be helping the bros finish the first draft of the 7th edition of <a href="http://www.kennett.co.nz/index.php/Books/ClassicNewZealandMountainBikeRides">Classic New Zealand Mountain Bike Rides</a>.<br /><br />Well! The fundraising sweepstake was almost too close to call. Just over 60 people pledged support for MSF and 50 of those entered the sweepstake at the same time. There were a few outliers - one guy thought I'd take 66 days! But the bulk of the predictions weren't too far off the mark:<br /><ul><li>16 days: 2</li><li>17 days: 3</li><li>18 days: 7</li><li>19 days: 7</li><li>20 days: 5</li><li>21 days: 12</li><li>22 days: 6</li><li>23 days: 4</li></ul>But here's the rub - <span style="font-weight: bold;">two</span> people guessed 19 days and 1 hour, which was the closest estimate to my finish time, so they both get first prizes. They are Illona Keenan (from Cycling Adcovates' Network, a friend who gave me a first-aid kit for the race) and Andy Jones (who is riding the Great Divide Route at a civilised pace this very year). Congratulations!<br /><br />Christian Hoerning was runner-up with an estimate of 19 days 10 hours.<br /><br />I'll send out a gentle reminder of what people pledged in the next few days.<br /><br />Cheerio,<br />SimonSimon Kennetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03245536396100026817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-658845177991516593.post-60004276452293374242008-07-20T16:48:00.002-06:002008-07-30T00:30:01.599-06:00Final results for GDR 2008 (revised)From the GDR blog :<br /><br />1. John Nobile - 15:01:26, overall course record<br />2. Carl Hutchings - 17:10:41<br />3. Simon Kennett - 19:05:02<br />4. Fred Wilkinson - 21:01:45<br />5. Noah Dimit - 22:12:11<br />6. Jenn Hopkins - 22:18:40, women's singlespeed record<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_bcz1AVGM_I8/SJAKNa-VdJI/AAAAAAAAAK4/REK9gLfiq40/s1600-h/leaderboard-final.gif"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_bcz1AVGM_I8/SJAKNa-VdJI/AAAAAAAAAK4/REK9gLfiq40/s400/leaderboard-final.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228690393072497810" /></a><span style="font-style:italic;">Click on image for full size version</span><br /><br />Did not finish:<br /><br />Geoff Roes, Steamboat Springs, Colo.<br />David Blaine, Steamboat Springs, Colo.<br />Keith Flury, Rawlins, Wyo.<br />Cullen Barker, Rawlins, Wyo.<br />Ryan McHale, Lima, Mont.<br />Dave Croll, Lima, Mont.<br />Brad Perry, Butte, Mont.<br />Nathan Bay, Butte, Mont.<br />Todd Temres, Helena, Mont.<br />Andrew Genco, Whitefish, Mont.<br />Gary Anderton, Whitefish, Mont.<br />Rainer KlausPaul Kennetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00484977047111216351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-658845177991516593.post-85126276717033569982008-07-17T10:23:00.028-06:002008-07-17T23:36:47.377-06:0020 PicsOK. When it comes to blogging, I'm a punter, so these pics are all over the place, but here they are - 20 of 241. [I went in and reorganised them. Paul]<br /><br />But, first...a week has passed since I finished and a few questions are starting to recur.<br /><br />The sweepstake will be sorted as soon as I get home. I've a feeling somebody got within a few minutes of my finishing time.<br />And, yes - after a few days of exhaustion, I'm starting to recover quite nicely. Fingers are still a bit arthritic, but saddle sores have gone, stomach is back to normal and my energy levels are returning. After a few days of complete dissinterest, I thought about going for a ride this morning. Didn't actually do it, but suspect I will in the next couple of days.<br /><br /><br /><br />Now for the photos (not necessarily in this order!):<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-xV-z3Iigz6ZXzE3pysMx46KYFuIgG9a8ODm2og5Ooe0uAVUDj2u2LVMB-NPf9_3-c9t-BWD2ioetTW6UH_aBMFIW4AnZaKu3Va65I0136tRtMlmVds-Cqh3svcptbUFKE_S345wYz1_A/s1600-h/20080717_25_1.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5224021250244922482" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-xV-z3Iigz6ZXzE3pysMx46KYFuIgG9a8ODm2og5Ooe0uAVUDj2u2LVMB-NPf9_3-c9t-BWD2ioetTW6UH_aBMFIW4AnZaKu3Va65I0136tRtMlmVds-Cqh3svcptbUFKE_S345wYz1_A/s320/20080717_25_1.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />This noon startline shot (above) has record-holder John Nobile closest to the camera.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibLEnp5gbpBUgh6LeLCrt62cEZbuXfA5l077VQ7r-bMxeAHRGdE5FYkxeYdizAjSQ2KuGTBmx1rFKhq23BKnCEsuECZOhtXnykgZaeoLPwveT5xDLnPI8K_9xbmhSp4YdW015OVFLlQpp4/s1600-h/20080717_32.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5224021257114457618" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibLEnp5gbpBUgh6LeLCrt62cEZbuXfA5l077VQ7r-bMxeAHRGdE5FYkxeYdizAjSQ2KuGTBmx1rFKhq23BKnCEsuECZOhtXnykgZaeoLPwveT5xDLnPI8K_9xbmhSp4YdW015OVFLlQpp4/s320/20080717_32.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />David Blaine marching thru the snow with his usual cheery outlook.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIxuz69G3KHEShyphenhyphenzE4XdZwiXdDBYUeSeP9gYv7iFHaZX_NpcPNI9JSQMxy1d41aaM6Wpb12PfVBf9RZLE3x8jzgBM5fnlDhyX_KZgxUqM7JwbVJnSVpm2HEUgPLzUNGmdlBfl1B6nYcibL/s1600-h/20080717_29.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5224021246996286674" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIxuz69G3KHEShyphenhyphenzE4XdZwiXdDBYUeSeP9gYv7iFHaZX_NpcPNI9JSQMxy1d41aaM6Wpb12PfVBf9RZLE3x8jzgBM5fnlDhyX_KZgxUqM7JwbVJnSVpm2HEUgPLzUNGmdlBfl1B6nYcibL/s320/20080717_29.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Andrew (single-speed), Geoff (29" MTB) and Keith (touring bike) are leading the race up the first major climb (Whitefish Divide). Sadly, all three DNF'ed.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxdUSgi2kRDVh4HqTAurbmID4ijyRb1hjMzOdRzBhOpBgqZbyQ2kTd-EyQ1XvRqgGBqDmZRFEqURn_O1L51tFQQmZjKCF8pE1ApsCf4siVGFdNZPl2buCeneXgebTVZoh-vN7of71hkhqz/s1600-h/20080717_138.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5224022525945665298" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxdUSgi2kRDVh4HqTAurbmID4ijyRb1hjMzOdRzBhOpBgqZbyQ2kTd-EyQ1XvRqgGBqDmZRFEqURn_O1L51tFQQmZjKCF8pE1ApsCf4siVGFdNZPl2buCeneXgebTVZoh-vN7of71hkhqz/s320/20080717_138.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Some aspens. Pretty.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaWgAM6jMpmUMLwFmMIiM9W59nGZKX5fGIPYJlC_PP3OXNMHP89rJhEY9h7Pn5mNBp-BgMXwZqEqMMhlSqXBkki3O4C8l_2MO3mJcHqFWEWKLdTsUKTvJjmtKlPmta3qXHqfB0p7IgAdo5/s1600-h/20080717_37.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5224021256854656610" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaWgAM6jMpmUMLwFmMIiM9W59nGZKX5fGIPYJlC_PP3OXNMHP89rJhEY9h7Pn5mNBp-BgMXwZqEqMMhlSqXBkki3O4C8l_2MO3mJcHqFWEWKLdTsUKTvJjmtKlPmta3qXHqfB0p7IgAdo5/s320/20080717_37.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Twelve of us camped at Toms at the end of the first day (at the 120 mile mark).<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOb2UiYYZJD6xF-UuPc8WhIDQzlEWFpW4g3K0_HTGQdFWJqniSxtFgj6D2Jaf9pVX6uJR_PX4I-QAALnxFRyzK4kqfMHks5nNvo9_vnbJ943TIoFxD6ZfTjY_4CSrDzyJgqwtBDn-nhidA/s1600-h/20080717_42.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5224022072231680802" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOb2UiYYZJD6xF-UuPc8WhIDQzlEWFpW4g3K0_HTGQdFWJqniSxtFgj6D2Jaf9pVX6uJR_PX4I-QAALnxFRyzK4kqfMHks5nNvo9_vnbJ943TIoFxD6ZfTjY_4CSrDzyJgqwtBDn-nhidA/s320/20080717_42.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Carl clambers over one of a hundred downed trees on day 2.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUeVomFYgoG9_6qozkmbhvWX6kvxx0RBqNXkawGJJEWmhfQne2EPUwh7Qkj5mIgVDVaDrW0eZianL6NAX1drqFa5TCsap3R1WZxq7K6aWjbRVom5VuP6Fr7uSSRf_OgDHGmU_uRInnwlZ0/s1600-h/20080717_67.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5224022075037014274" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUeVomFYgoG9_6qozkmbhvWX6kvxx0RBqNXkawGJJEWmhfQne2EPUwh7Qkj5mIgVDVaDrW0eZianL6NAX1drqFa5TCsap3R1WZxq7K6aWjbRVom5VuP6Fr7uSSRf_OgDHGmU_uRInnwlZ0/s320/20080717_67.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Carl tackling yet another roller on the tedious day into Lima.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglolLCLv0dyILestsZhT4Fa2MtmQTit-USWu2I4y7nuQMh3OFReGbBY3QGRc8voNlBbBmYL9GmE1GOjNzSGJnBSK4ujchfzgsuom8PSCuj7ATEefMOv38WlUrK4Nv60ESic6haUBwCd7K6/s1600-h/20080717_80.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5224022085243990578" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglolLCLv0dyILestsZhT4Fa2MtmQTit-USWu2I4y7nuQMh3OFReGbBY3QGRc8voNlBbBmYL9GmE1GOjNzSGJnBSK4ujchfzgsuom8PSCuj7ATEefMOv38WlUrK4Nv60ESic6haUBwCd7K6/s320/20080717_80.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Flowers and snowy peaks on the road to Island Pass.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEpkN16sbvhJK3AdktQoqv0N0L7k9z9fDah0EK88RJTMNH_JzmxcsZBOoOVztKm3fkmDwKLqy_PK14RMvlTs0MYPg4_lFMGBcDVjcOOM35ZMk4QmWm3azZqJchSdgHKTAeun2YX3I0eG6b/s1600-h/20080717_93.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5224022093524396258" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEpkN16sbvhJK3AdktQoqv0N0L7k9z9fDah0EK88RJTMNH_JzmxcsZBOoOVztKm3fkmDwKLqy_PK14RMvlTs0MYPg4_lFMGBcDVjcOOM35ZMk4QmWm3azZqJchSdgHKTAeun2YX3I0eG6b/s320/20080717_93.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Jenn and more flowers on the way into Wyoming.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB2dYLeEuqUyotjQeqy5G7_7RCpKyvEY-vjDjqpAV3RdLAT5jtuwlE1i1LDV5gToU3EjVEF4kmdUSOj7XPssBxyHcQu_1n9u6tgewzKB3PvxJt0q7NBvsE40oCpW_LLcffpz4Jn4Nb6OcB/s1600-h/20080717_130.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5224022526901472226" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB2dYLeEuqUyotjQeqy5G7_7RCpKyvEY-vjDjqpAV3RdLAT5jtuwlE1i1LDV5gToU3EjVEF4kmdUSOj7XPssBxyHcQu_1n9u6tgewzKB3PvxJt0q7NBvsE40oCpW_LLcffpz4Jn4Nb6OcB/s320/20080717_130.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Me leaving the Great Divide Basin with mylar neck shade and ear plugs to silence the wind.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaxQJeevVZCrzpddUg1t_PKD0ctzCo56Ocb2EyNNybIJ4U0V6f4Defw-ENGM2Q9dUJkwqZV7pVnul4ZANCQDbpi3XyPxIBj3EJLItt85UrtRdY-RXLEL5lVmnhU6zfcMwhVn6w0p69uCf-/s1600-h/20080717_38.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5224021263369370034" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaxQJeevVZCrzpddUg1t_PKD0ctzCo56Ocb2EyNNybIJ4U0V6f4Defw-ENGM2Q9dUJkwqZV7pVnul4ZANCQDbpi3XyPxIBj3EJLItt85UrtRdY-RXLEL5lVmnhU6zfcMwhVn6w0p69uCf-/s320/20080717_38.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />A rare sighting of the mountain turtle.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtM3oKRW9SH-Jn-ymZL-W1kT97Yn6GQvjlr_Gau6QAUJF8gclI3gn90h-Z0A_1ZHZD0TdE6wq7_LX1l8EkVt_wOLpkdDdLqjKUOvdxf9XS16h9Gtz-vr1yF2JCGluo5237qPNOGM-zfc2x/s1600-h/20080717_108.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5224022521720901586" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtM3oKRW9SH-Jn-ymZL-W1kT97Yn6GQvjlr_Gau6QAUJF8gclI3gn90h-Z0A_1ZHZD0TdE6wq7_LX1l8EkVt_wOLpkdDdLqjKUOvdxf9XS16h9Gtz-vr1yF2JCGluo5237qPNOGM-zfc2x/s320/20080717_108.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Sweet view at the top of Togwatee pass.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOORxYMAibOij47Un8wKpoT_6L7KB3GbgyMuS7Xzf0bvVdmcrr-BrFUCAP7EGB4eP7BvAc8TU9-rzsGKKgvlyF3kQkOz0UwLrz6IDhu51KCRqNK9jtTKvMI5xn9L3ZCtNpKsP9z-4ivWp6/s1600-h/20080717_159.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5224022539979145234" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOORxYMAibOij47Un8wKpoT_6L7KB3GbgyMuS7Xzf0bvVdmcrr-BrFUCAP7EGB4eP7BvAc8TU9-rzsGKKgvlyF3kQkOz0UwLrz6IDhu51KCRqNK9jtTKvMI5xn9L3ZCtNpKsP9z-4ivWp6/s320/20080717_159.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Me hating the heat at 10,000', but soon to be revived by a mountain lion sighting.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGGyy8y2MZs6ccpIWr1rs5H3qt-oElIR9LJyGfsArcIBdb3YPl70rUR-kxARlcU6rU8xk54EbR55WAMyY88tHPsv4bhDck9r7E1HIMH8nCeHdVwFRQAikJSNd83ZrQfvAAl0Ov4TBoykdX/s1600-h/20080717_157.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5224022529932365730" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGGyy8y2MZs6ccpIWr1rs5H3qt-oElIR9LJyGfsArcIBdb3YPl70rUR-kxARlcU6rU8xk54EbR55WAMyY88tHPsv4bhDck9r7E1HIMH8nCeHdVwFRQAikJSNd83ZrQfvAAl0Ov4TBoykdX/s320/20080717_157.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Scot giving my bike it's first TLC since the start. Absolute Bikes at 1550 miles was almost a compulsory pit-stop. <a href="http://homepages.paradise.net.nz/roadwork/about.html">Oli</a> had built it up so well that it needed very little attention.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKfJmHDzKbXkGjugeyuog0kZyiuzvbcPPg0K07Hx_mSFTc_WAILuqC7YGD6eBWmC_8NkSWDklFW29bDu9c1hfY-w0qm_sfiqz5e_uQINxcHyZ8b9r1YyEYD8Xla-9zO77uVKH98j_3tSwP/s1600-h/20080717_166.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5224032209042108642" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKfJmHDzKbXkGjugeyuog0kZyiuzvbcPPg0K07Hx_mSFTc_WAILuqC7YGD6eBWmC_8NkSWDklFW29bDu9c1hfY-w0qm_sfiqz5e_uQINxcHyZ8b9r1YyEYD8Xla-9zO77uVKH98j_3tSwP/s320/20080717_166.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Receiving some awesome hospitality in Del Norte.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK2k3cy2QQ8mOvU4l-MnsC0cmKtFlBFYKeS7mEXT9qezcikv3j2MaSJ2ISEL6PjnzXXxkAytfQ5rA2XJSmiEC5YhwA94rIMDnMkrAD6IoNQO24NIU0LbBSkvI7LZ-qTEFQqnPzs63RJwy1/s1600-h/20080717_180.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5224022839573321410" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK2k3cy2QQ8mOvU4l-MnsC0cmKtFlBFYKeS7mEXT9qezcikv3j2MaSJ2ISEL6PjnzXXxkAytfQ5rA2XJSmiEC5YhwA94rIMDnMkrAD6IoNQO24NIU0LbBSkvI7LZ-qTEFQqnPzs63RJwy1/s320/20080717_180.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Sunset on the Polvadera Mesa, New Mexico - the biggest climb of the race at just over 4000' (and covered in sand and bedrock for the last quarter).<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidDfz4NyCp1jliI4VZZjCbjKsMvjQm1KmtKuB6S4gCkw6KtbSlxl5TL4lXn0qDIeVYHGnLgySam9Z8qW8bHPEgiMq8omgOPYyw4XWO4Q6FGyNBiLz-09YJE6mHcilFXnEeNv-ey7344Bfn/s1600-h/20080717_210.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5224022845553442130" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidDfz4NyCp1jliI4VZZjCbjKsMvjQm1KmtKuB6S4gCkw6KtbSlxl5TL4lXn0qDIeVYHGnLgySam9Z8qW8bHPEgiMq8omgOPYyw4XWO4Q6FGyNBiLz-09YJE6mHcilFXnEeNv-ey7344Bfn/s320/20080717_210.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Happy to be crossing the Continental Divide for the 2nd-to-last time on the last day.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj97ULz3_mjS3FBKCTEVy7c_1cObVQYBFhmAPhLtHe9cngIFw-Xy_87hZ5b6pCuC48Wko7_mEpQypZkY0uTHocGLHrIR8KqNgMq-Unr_hk6suZU0fg1P_CuldJJoe6GJ3AQ-GEDhg-Bkdw3/s1600-h/20080717_223.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5224022850826266802" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj97ULz3_mjS3FBKCTEVy7c_1cObVQYBFhmAPhLtHe9cngIFw-Xy_87hZ5b6pCuC48Wko7_mEpQypZkY0uTHocGLHrIR8KqNgMq-Unr_hk6suZU0fg1P_CuldJJoe6GJ3AQ-GEDhg-Bkdw3/s320/20080717_223.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />The finish<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVV342Fj_CKym4doTRXFQUvynNCBYzbFzveBBFKjoWL3hnn2VLY83kLsqedq972MePtJAT1UccHbMggpQK0M4Kk57Ql7DlBznaQ0-lTbtBjHbamflxCz_Uu_B_jyNEXsFyFOP4Sqvvh1Xh/s1600-h/IMG_9686.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5224032223789310754" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVV342Fj_CKym4doTRXFQUvynNCBYzbFzveBBFKjoWL3hnn2VLY83kLsqedq972MePtJAT1UccHbMggpQK0M4Kk57Ql7DlBznaQ0-lTbtBjHbamflxCz_Uu_B_jyNEXsFyFOP4Sqvvh1Xh/s320/IMG_9686.JPG" border="0" /></a></div> Back with Sarah & Miro : )<br /><br /><div><div><div>I'll post a few more pics when I do a full write-up and there will probably be a slideshow back in Wellington.</div><div><br />Pedal on!</div><div>Simon<br /></div></div></div>Simon Kennetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03245536396100026817noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-658845177991516593.post-38615401777252771532008-07-13T18:02:00.004-06:002008-07-14T14:49:57.107-06:00Jenn Hopkins: 22 days, 18 hrs, 40 minsFrom the GRD blog:<blockquote>Jenn Hopkins called from Antelope Wells at 10 a.m. Sunday to say she arrived at 6:40 a.m., for a seventh-place and first-female finishing time of 22 days, 18 hours and 40 minutes. Jenn also is the first woman to complete the Great Divide Race on a singlespeed, which would make her time the new female singlespeed record. Her call from Antelope Wells was a bit warbly and hard to understand, but it sounds like she had an amazing last few days.<br /><br /><a href="http://greatdividerace.blogspot.com/">More...</a></blockquote><br />The official leader board hasn't been updated since last Wednesday - here's my rough version. Noah and Jenn's last five plot points are my guesses:<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_bcz1AVGM_I8/SHu6k65dWHI/AAAAAAAAAKw/jwu1j32ch6k/s1600-h/leaderboard-day22.gif"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_bcz1AVGM_I8/SHu6k65dWHI/AAAAAAAAAKw/jwu1j32ch6k/s400/leaderboard-day22.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5222973336314534002" /></a>Click image to enlarge.Paul Kennetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00484977047111216351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-658845177991516593.post-56908312660422846962008-07-13T18:00:00.002-06:002008-07-13T18:09:19.410-06:00Noah Dimit: 22 days, 12 hrs, 11 minsFrom the <a href="http://greatdividerace.blogspot.com/">GRD blog</a>:<blockquote>Noah Dimit called from Antelope Wells about 11 minutes after midnight Sunday, for a sixth-place finishing time of 22 days, 12 hours and 11 minutes. He sounded pretty tired and didn't have too much to say at the finishing line. "Anyways, it's a pretty crazy race," he said.</blockquote>Paul Kennetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00484977047111216351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-658845177991516593.post-23856682452609129762008-07-12T23:12:00.004-06:002008-07-12T23:23:31.132-06:00Fred Wilkinson finishes: 21day 1hr 45min<a href="http://greatdividerace.blogspot.com/2008/07/freds-final-thoughts-fred-wilkinson.html">Fred has finished</a>. Noah is real close and Jenn is on the home stretch.<br /><br />The official leader board hasn't been updated in several days, here's my rough version:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_bcz1AVGM_I8/SHmROjEMxdI/AAAAAAAAAKo/wNKr735hAMk/s1600-h/leaderboard-day21.gif"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_bcz1AVGM_I8/SHmROjEMxdI/AAAAAAAAAKo/wNKr735hAMk/s400/leaderboard-day21.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5222364922029852114" /></a>Click to enlarge.Paul Kennetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00484977047111216351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-658845177991516593.post-19597096807431767552008-07-11T09:41:00.002-06:002008-07-11T10:00:02.756-06:00Hello from Santa FeHowdy folks<br /><br />Just a short note to say 'Hi' and thanks for your interest/support. Sarah let me know that there were people cheering me on and that sure helped during the low times.<br /><br />I'm still pretty wasted right now. Although I only lost a couple of kilos and suffered no significant injuries, my fingers (and other bits) are a bit numb, and my brain is exhausted, too. The main feeling at the finish was relief, with a fair degree of satisfaction at cracking 20 days. Hopefully there is more satisfaction yet to come once it all sets in. I'm a little dazed. The last four days were very tough. It was a LOT more fun when there were other riders to share the experience with. Everyone I rode with was great company - Fred, David, Geoff, Keith, Carl and Jenn (and Tour Divide riders Stephen, Mary and Felix). And there were several ordinary folk along the way who were a pleasure to meet. That said, most of the best wildlife encounters and fastest days came while riding solo.<br /><br />It is fantastic to be back with family.<br /><br />I'll post some photos soon.<br /><br />Best of luck to the riders still out there.<br /><br />Kia ora!<br /><br />SimonSimon Kennetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03245536396100026817noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-658845177991516593.post-28542603097173205062008-07-10T03:41:00.002-06:002008-07-10T03:46:18.509-06:00Simon's last callsSimon's last calls:<ul><li><a href="http://www.kennett.co.nz/people/simon/greatdividerace2008/day18silvercity.mp3">Tuesday from Silver City, after a tough day</a> 2,848 KB, MP3</li><li><a href="http://www.kennett.co.nz/people/simon/greatdividerace2008/day19deming.mp3">Wednesday from Deming, after finishing</a> 1,695 KB, MP3</li></ul>Paul Kennetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00484977047111216351noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-658845177991516593.post-10447371557628088852008-07-09T21:24:00.004-06:002008-07-09T21:38:17.247-06:00Post race thoughts from David B and Geoff RDavid Blaine has some thoughts on his <a href="http://thegreatdivideproject.blogspot.com/2008/07/end.html">Great Divide Project</a>:<blockquote>A full write-up on my experiences will be coming, but for now I would like to give some details about my departure.<br /><br />Despite having some knee problems in Wyoming I had high hopes and lots of energy heading into Colorado. Once in Colorado, I realized I wasn't digesting my food right and my energy disappeared. By the time I crawled into Steamboat I knew I had more than a sour stomach. I got a motel room and hoped to take a day to recover.<br /><br />By morning, I was in a terrible state. I was no longer thinking about the race I was just hoping to get myself to a hospital. I was extremely fortunate that I was in a town with medical service when this happened. Isabella from the Nordic Motel took me to the Emergency Room and within a minute I was getting hooked up to an I.V.</blockquote><a href="http://thegreatdivideproject.blogspot.com/2008/07/end.html">More...</a><br /><br />Geoff Roes is <a href="http://akrunning.blogspot.com/2008/07/jumbled-gdr-race-thoughts.html">Fumbling Towards Endurance</a>:<blockquote>This is as close as I'm going to come to a race report - a random collection of thoughts and photos:<br /><br />Lack of sleep seemed to be my ultimate undoing. In the first 3 days I slept a total of 8.5 hours and in the first week a total of 33 hours. In the future I need to find something to help me sleep when I do multi-day races. I would lay down at night and just couldn't get my mind to stop carrying on.</blockquote><a href="http://akrunning.blogspot.com/2008/07/jumbled-gdr-race-thoughts.html">More...</a><br /><br />And Jenns <a href="http://minxcompendium.blogspot.com/">Cycling Compendium</a> friends are still blogging for her.<br /><br />Simon will be back at his in-laws, in Santa Fe, sometime tomorrow. Then he'll be able to blog some post-race thoughts.Paul Kennetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00484977047111216351noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-658845177991516593.post-41136405188190199882008-07-09T18:37:00.007-06:002008-07-09T20:09:58.344-06:00Antelope Wells 19 Days 5 Hours & 2 Minutes!Simon just called- he's done!<br /><br />He called at 6.30, the border station closes at 4, which is where the pay phone is (and no cell phone coverage)- so he was calling from down the road.<br /><br />Bill & Janet were there to meet him, having got there a bit early and spent some time fending off dogs!<br /><br />He said they were driving back the way he had just come, down a road they could barely see the end off, slightly downhill. It was a pretty tedious day, around 11 hours including breaks, lots of long straight roads. He had mostly cross & slight head winds. But the weather was very good & the temperature perfect.<br /><br />He's exhausted and aches all over, a bit worse for wear after yesterdays effort.<br /><br />They are heading for <a href="http://www.cityofdeming.org/">Deming</a> tonight, he said something about guacamole. He should be back here in Santa Fe early afternoon tomorrow.<br /><br />He sounded relieved and happy.<br /><br />I am so proud of him.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_bcz1AVGM_I8/SHVfhKLBMhI/AAAAAAAAAKA/T9_T8xVRAUU/s1600-h/leaderboard-day19b.gif"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_bcz1AVGM_I8/SHVfhKLBMhI/AAAAAAAAAKA/T9_T8xVRAUU/s400/leaderboard-day19b.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5221184366276850194" /></a>Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09005693888871912642noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-658845177991516593.post-5319466474828394422008-07-09T18:33:00.005-06:002008-07-09T18:46:22.375-06:00He's finished!He finished just after 5pm.<br /><br />Not only is there no payphone at Antelope Wells, but there's no cellphone coverage either. So Simon's in-laws had to drive him way back up the road till they could get cellphone coverage.<br /><br />Sarah will post details soon!Paul Kennetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00484977047111216351noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-658845177991516593.post-13018217472012356612008-07-09T16:34:00.003-06:002008-07-09T17:00:29.596-06:00No news yetStill no news.<br /><br />When Simon reaches the finish he'll call Sarah. Sarah will call her mum, Shona. Shona will call me. And I'll blog it as she speaks.<br /><br />By the way - there's no podcast from yesterday because he didn't call in to the GDR answerphone.Paul Kennetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00484977047111216351noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-658845177991516593.post-29085880241097395072008-07-09T15:01:00.007-06:002008-07-09T15:51:10.083-06:00On the home stretchBy about now (3pm New Mexico, 9am New Zealand) he will have plugged his way across this stuff:<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_bcz1AVGM_I8/SHUntXoMjQI/AAAAAAAAAJg/l0FUkYIXSak/s1600-h/IMG_0147Hope+I+Don%27t+Run+Out+of+Gas+Out+Here.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_bcz1AVGM_I8/SHUntXoMjQI/AAAAAAAAAJg/l0FUkYIXSak/s400/IMG_0147Hope+I+Don%27t+Run+Out+of+Gas+Out+Here.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5221123003396164866" /></a><br /><br />And popped out onto Highway 81:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_bcz1AVGM_I8/SHUntX7sbwI/AAAAAAAAAJo/cDZaY8aTApw/s1600-h/IMG_0153+Highway+81+South+To+Antelope+Wells.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_bcz1AVGM_I8/SHUntX7sbwI/AAAAAAAAAJo/cDZaY8aTApw/s400/IMG_0153+Highway+81+South+To+Antelope+Wells.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5221123003477946114" /></a><br /><br />The <a href="http://weather.noaa.gov/weather/current/KSVC.html">National Weather Service</a> is reporting better conditions today: currently 25 degrees Centigrade, East-South-East wind at 19 kph.<br /><br />The nearest webcams I could find are:<ul><li><a href="http://www.ci.tucson.az.us/camera-ie.html">Tucson, Arizona</a> - 239 km to the west</il><li><a href="http://www.instacam.com/showcam.asp?id=LPSOC&size=L">El Paso,Texas</a> - 206 km to the east</li></ul>Updated leader board:<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_bcz1AVGM_I8/SHUpIJoeEnI/AAAAAAAAAJw/1pDR6KwAAeA/s1600-h/leaderboard-day19.gif"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_bcz1AVGM_I8/SHUpIJoeEnI/AAAAAAAAAJw/1pDR6KwAAeA/s400/leaderboard-day19.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5221124563007312498" /></a>Paul Kennetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00484977047111216351noreply@blogger.com0