Category: Getting ready

So today I’m heading off to Rotorua for the Megagrind, an 800km gravel/road/MTB circle out to the west that kicks off tomorrow morning. This week I’ve been feeling pretty nervous about the event, probably because my goal of five days is a big step up for me.

Since TA ended, I’ve done the Tasman Midwinter Brevet, Sounds Fishy, the original Gravel Grind and a few big days at Labour weekend. I’ve been working on stopping less and going for longer! Mostly successfully. Be interesting to see how that plays out over 800km.

I’ve also spent a lot more time working on my bike myself rather than outsourcing it to a mechanic. A lot of worn things have been replaced since TA and it now sports T3+ aerobars, which I really like.

Problems with my left foot have nagged on, and I’ve tried new shoes (2FOs), new pedals (single-sided), new cleat position(s) and new insoles. For this event, I’m back to  old insoles, in  new shoes, with the new pedals. Hopefully this combo keeps away the annoying toe numbness that the new shoe plus insole introduced. And the annoying squeak that has resisted diagnosis.

Event tracking

 

Time is fast sliding away and my intentions to write more blog content have gone by the wayside. In the past week I’ve done a number of highly unrecommended things, including changing my cleat position and seat height. I’ve spent some hours trying to get rid of the noise in my rear cassette and probably made it worse. I’ve woken up in the middle of the night with the whiring sound of a bike chain in my ears.

On the good news front, my foot, which has been giving my grief since a tough training trip at Anniversary Weekend, has perked up. The combination of moving the cleat and stretching my plantar fascia seems to be keeping the burning pain under the ball at bay.

I’ve packed up my Surly and now I just need to get through the to-do list and make it to the start line! It’s a weird thing after a year of organising, tweaking and training to be so close to the start line.

To me, the most worthwhile challenges are the ones where you’re not sure you’ll succeed. That’s TA.

Tour Aotearoa is a 3000km cycle journey from Cape Reinga to Bluff, connecting up cycle trails, tracks, paths, gravel and sealed roads to avoid as much traffic as possible. Conceived by the Kennett Brothers, the first brevet was run in 2016: people had to cycle along the route, self supported, in between 10 and 30 days, with a minimum stand down of 6 hours a day.

A couple of my friends did TA16, and I happened to be driving up the West Coast at the same time as lots of riders were coming through. I followed the Facebook group and was inspired by their stories. After running a trail marathon and developing a niggling injury, I was looking for a new, non-running challenge. So at the end of 2016 I emailed in an expression of interest in the 2018 event.

Although I’ve done a lot of cycletouring, bikepacking is a different beast. I’ve enjoyed learning and researching and feeling like a newbie. It’s been an awesome focus during a period when Richard and I aren’t able to have adventures together.

I’m riding a Surly Ogre with a few tweaks: Rockshox Reba front suspension fork, hydraulic disc brakes, Stans Arch wheels, Maxxis Ikons set up tubeless, an SP dynamo and Specialized Myth saddle.

Custom frame bag by Stealth, all other bags Revelate. Full camping gear and cooker. Total gear weight = 9kg.