Like many sports, such as baseball (Opening Day is just days away!), cycling is about numbers. Winning can be measured in hours, minutes, seconds and even milliseconds; the weight of bikes is on an ever-going downward curve; and we're always racing against the clock. This past Saturday I had the chance to compete in a once-a-year opportunity, to ride bikes on Motutapu and Rangitoto Islands. They are protected islands where bikes are banned, for biohazard reasons. This ban is lifted for The Dual, an event that happens every March and offers 30km and 50km MTB races, as well as a half and full trail marathon. I competed in the 50km MTB race. Here are the numbers, in no particular order aside from how my brain came up with them...
Distance: 50km
Volcanoes climbed: 2
Islands Ridden: 2
Energy Gels consumed: 1
Cattle Fence Dismount and Carries: 1
Bike Only Ferries to the Islands: 3
Tranportation to and From Event: 1 car, 3 ferry boats, 1 bike
Number of Participants: 200
Placing: 18th
Time: 2:47:45.66
Winning Time: Ridiculous (2:08:42.24)
Falls: 0
Times Taken Out By Low Pine Branch: 1
Beaches Ridden (walked) On: 1
Canadians I Met: 5 (I think my Team Canada Beijing Olympic cycling jersey helped), 3 of which sailed their boat from BC to NZ, and another who competes for Team Canada in the windsurfing event of the summer olympics.
Post Race Beer: 3
Here are some pics of the day.
5am wake-up = darkness. You can see SkyTower in the background.
Me, my too-small-for-my-size bike and my undeserved jersey.
Finally, the sun's about to warm us up.
Sunrise. Not a bad way to start a race.
The final switchbacky descent to the finish.
Pretty good views at the finish.
The sailboat the Canadians I mentioned earlier travelled on from B.C.
Another view of the finish.
Bike and people queue...who would win?
People won. I waited over 2 hours for my bike to arrive. Yeah, I lost.
Final ferry trip of the day, from Auckland City to home, Takapuna.
