Sunday 12 November - Where Did You Ride Today and What Did You Practise?

**nadroj** · 12th November 2006, 20:52

I got asked a few weeks ago if I could supply 6 bikes and riders to take cameramen and officials around the cycling / running sections of the World Triathalon championchip round in New Plymouth. We managed to arrange 2 ST1300's, 1 ST1100, 1 Triumph sprint, 1 VFR800 and my Busa.
Saturday was spent with 5 marshalls + 1 photographer on an out and back 40km course enforcing the 'no drafting' rule on the NZ triathalon series round 1. All I can say is good mirrors are essential as pushbikes are quick downhill around corners. Also a few trips ferrying officials around.
Had to laugh when my official asked for a pee stop after wearing a shower of rain & getting that trickling down the crotch feeling.
Today was the international races (mens & womens) around a local closed road circuit where 3 bikes were TV camera ships, 1 ITU official photoghapher and 1 race official (me).
First were the women where I was continually told by my pillon marshall not to follow so close ( especially on the fast downhill sections where they lift their arses off the seat to get a better streamlined profile).
Hardest job was riding the Busa at 15-20kph on the uphills with a mashall that stood up unexpectantly on the footpegs to shout instuctions to competitors. My role was to follow the last competitor & warn them when they were about to be lapped as they then had to pull out, but the plus of this was to then catch up to the next slowest competitor asap. I never realised how bumpy city streets were at speed.
The mens race was very similar but a little quicker ,which was easier on the bike and arms. Nowhere near the punishment those atheletes put themselves thru tho - great respect to them after seeing how quick Docherty and Gemmel are just to make the top 10.
At least I didn't have the same problem following the men too close.

**jumma** · 13th November 2006, 08:04

After an early morning wake up to watch the AB's and a decent breakfast I headed over to Makara via Karori, turned around and blasted back up the hill. Realised I wasn't purposely counter-steering a lot of the time, so practised that and also braking a bit later than the last time I went up. Also practised avoiding three abreast push bikers before blind corners

**TLDV8** · 13th November 2006, 08:35

Had Relli's coming up from Hamilton/Te Awamutu so only 120kms or so in the morning.
South a bit then cut across to the Firth of Thames,coffee at Kaiaua then on to Clevedon,Maraetai,Howick and back on the motorway at Mt Wellington and home.
Good news was my Corbin seat arrived from the US Sat morning,not so good news is the oil in the forks is to lower viscosity (rebound adjusters all the way in and still pattering)...... Otherwise going well,ride is today.
Return trip to Taupo leaving around 1:00 pm or so.

**klingon** · 14th November 2006, 16:28

Originally Posted by nadroj

I got asked a few weeks ago if I could supply 6 bikes and riders to take cameramen and officials around the cycling / running sections of the World Triathalon championchip round in New Plymouth. ...

Well I think that wins the prize for the most interesting practise of the day! What a cool story, nadroj.