Stuff by Jono

Time Trials in Hamilton  The time trial . What is it? What's the point? I don't know, but I did one to learn a bit more. Here's what I learned. In cycling, it is a racing event. Generally a shorter distance, however it challenging in its simplicity. No drafting. No bunches. Generally, I think, not alot of hills. Just pedalling. Oh there is wind. I wish there wasn't, but there is. This time trial event was part of the Hamilton City Cycling Club (HCCC) series. It was 25km long, or thereabouts, leaving from Horsham Downs area, down Bankier road and all of those. Nervousness could be described as the dominant feeling approaching the start line. A vertical line, tyre to tyre. None of this side by side stuff. 30 seconds to go. 30 seconds was the time between each cyclist heading off to begin their effort. I was somewhere near the back of the line as, as usual, I had mis-judged the travelling time and greatly under-estimated the wind heading out to the event. Wind, which I mi...

Te Awamutu Winter series Race two was held on the 29/05/2022 It began with a congregation of cyclists convening outside Goodwood School, Fencourt Road, Cambridge. 10.20am was the registration cut off and by that time over 100 riders had signed in or signed up and selected their grade choice from A- E with another category for junior riders. Outside Goodwood school, cyclists could be heard mingling and discussing their weekday lives and deliberating about grade choice and how so-and-so should be in a different grade and how I belong in this grade. The conversation was pleasant and showed no pre-race tension which was awesome and showcased the friendly nature of the event quite well. The course was three laps of the roads Fencourt, Aspin and Te miro totaling roughly 43 kilometers. The winds were steady, though I would say strong, averaging at around 22km an hour, however the temps were cool and the sun was covered by a dense cloud that really didn't show too much sign of lettin...

 Grassroots cycling, what is it exactly? Who knows, but I entered the midi Fondo in Cambridge New Zealand. The race took part of the twelfth of February, which also happens to be my mothers birthday.  The lead up had been slightly harrowing. The previous week on the saturday, I managed to pull a muscle in my back. It hurt, cycling was pushed far from the picture as a focus on having a healthy back trumped all other matters in that current predicament. Nevertheless, I was still committed to participating because, hey, it was my first cycling event.  The weather forecast was not pleasant, though better than Sunday. I arrived in Cambridge early where nerves forced me to use a public restroom, that was fine, though I never really like using restrooms in bib shorts. I found Rob and immediately abandoned my assigned bubble and joined his. We joked and bantered, and most of all looked around at all the fancy bikes that seemed to be on parade. Partial to Cannondale myself, there ...