My Rides

These are the bikes I currently ride, all are custom built aside from the Cannondale

Santa Cruz Blur LT

This is my "Do it all" bike, I have ridden and raced XC to Downhill on this bike. The Blur LT is my favourite of my bikes, I purchased the frame when they 1st became available in 2008. The bike has gone through a few different setups and has recently had a new paint job replacing the old white.


Santa Cruz Blur XC (race bike)

Because I love my Blur LT so much I wanted something similar as a lightweight XC race bike, this is the reason I got the Blur XC. This bike I use for XC training (pictured with training wheelset) and XC racing.

Santa Cruz Driver 8

I picked this frame up in Canada last year, I was after a Nomad but the shop had one of these, was much of an impulse buy more than anything else. This ride rides DH sweet, it is super plush and handles easily (for a DH bike). Also pedals up hills not so bad too.

DMR Trailstar (gen1)

Built and custom painted forks and frame a couple of years ago. I have raced this at the SS Champs each year as well as this being my commuter bike. Ratio is 34:17

Cannondale Caad9

This is the only stock spec ed bike I own, its a 2010 model. I purchased this for training though already thinking of maybe doing some roadie races on it. Rides really nice for an Alloy bike, nicer than a lot od carbon bikes out there.

2010 Makara Grand Loop Challenge

Last year I ran this event with the help of friends, Bushlove ran the event this year. For "shits and giggles" I thought I would race this XC race on my Driver 8. The Driver 8 is hardly a XC bike and more of a Freeride/Downhill bike, I had ridden the bike to the top of Makara Peak before so I thought it could be interesting to race it for this event.
I was seeded near the rear of the entrants, how quick could I be on this bike? I rode the bike to the top in 39 minutes 12 seconds, this I felt was a pretty respectable time. I put a lot of energy in riding this bike up the hill as it was a lot of work, I even passed a couple of people on the way up!
I was a bit worn out for the downhill but being a 8" travel bike I could make a lot of mistakes on the way down and it was just a matter of holding on.
I completed the course in 51:37 and came 21 out of 39 and was the only racer on a DH bike.

2010 Karapoti

The biggest group Masters 1 we waited at the start line for the gun to fire and then the rain came down and did it rain! The gun fired and we scrambled across the river in the pouring rain. I felt pretty good for the 1st half of the race, I usually find with the Karapoti I feel crap for the 1st half and then start feeling good later on. I felt I raced well all the way up to the Rock Garden, I dropped my seat and flew down the decent. The Rock Garden is one of my favourite sections on the course to ride. I then walked/ ran a steady pace up Devils Staircase.
At the top of Devil's I had planned I would briefly stop and eat a power cookie - this is what I do each year I race and this seems to work well for me. This year, though I had planned to stop, I didn't and I continued on. Dopers uphill followed after a speedy decent down Big Ring boulevard and instantly I fell hungry, I felt very hungry. I struggled around in my camelbak and found my power cookie and dropped half of it on the ground, before I could pick it up someone had ridden over it, I ate the remaining piece.
I started feeling not so good for the climb up dopers and my riding slowed considerably, there were sections I couldnt even ride, I felt worn out. It seemed to take ages to get up Dopers and then for the downhill I was worn out. I seemed to struggle with the rest of the race and finally crossed the finish line with a time of 3:26:03 This was my fastest time for Karapoti but I was dissapointed with my performance and felt I could have done a lot better.
Reviewing the day I can see that my fueling should have been a lot better. I had a poor breakfast which consisted of a bowl of cereal and then come race I hadn't followed plan and stopped for a quick eat.
Rain had been falling on and off during the race, but this couldn't have been helped, this was the wettest Karapoti I have done of the 8.
There is always next year...

New paint for the Blur LT2

Recently the Blur LT2 received a new paint job, the bike also got new bearings, shock bushes and a shock service. Unfortunately the old white paint pretty much fell off the bike, the new black is a lot stronger and looks great.