- Details
- Written by Muzza
Nine riders from the Wednesday morning ride, which leaves from the bus shelter opposite the BP in Fitzherbert Avenue, entered the 2011 Taupo Cycle Challenge. These are some of their stories gleaned from conversation during last Wednesday’s 87km recovery ride. I have used aliases to protect their identities and some poetic license to add entertainment value to their tales.
All agreed that the 85km/hr winds recorded at Taupo airport on race day by the Metservice were gale force! I know that I struggled to ride above 17km/hr going along the lakefront to the start line and the white caps on Lake Taupo were monstrous!
- Details
- Written by Oiroa Kaihau
The strong westerly wind made the Lake Taupo Challenge very tough for many riders this year. Times were certainly down on previous years and many were disappointed about their individual times. Apparently, the wind on Tihoi & Western Bay Road was a direct head wind which reduced some riders to a 20km/hr crawl. Glenys Taylor, who had set a personal goal to go under 6hrs simply was unable to hang on to any bunch and almost rode the 160km journey on her own. “I was at least 45mins slower as a result of the wind”, she said.
Read more: The weather conditions made the Lake Taupo Challenge tough
- Details
- Written by Steve Stannard.
The last time I did a race around Lake Taupo was in 1993 in a stage of the Wellington to Auckland ‘Post’ Race as a member of the Fosters Australian Team. I remember it as a relatively easy day with few hills and great weather. Cut to 2011 and I’m sure the hills were steeper and the lake larger. I do know that eighteen years later it was windier!
Staying around the other side of the lake with a mad drive to the start line at 5:30 am was not the best preparation. With no warm up my legs went solid when the race went into the gutter in the nasty cross wind 2 km out from the start line. The whole race went to the far right of the road head to head with surprised vehicles and, thinking that I’m too old to go through a windscreen, I pulled over to the left until the last rider went past. I thought I’d better jump on the back at that point to avoid embarrassment.
- Details
- Written by Oiroa Kaihau
Most of national and local coverage from 2012 Oceania Track Champs has focussed on the likes of the NZ riders and the falling record but for others like Matiu Kaihau, participating at Oceania’s was a tough assignment and at times very daunting having to step up to the elite men level.
Riding against seven world class athletes in the omnium, on an indoor velodrome, is significantly harder than the competition he normally faces at Fielding on a Tuesday night. “I never had aspirations that I was going to win the omnium event but I was really seeking to benchmark myself against other riders and gauge where I’m at”, he said.