Thank you J’Ville Cycles!
samara August 4th, 2008
After a long time with J”Ville Cycles I am moving on. J’Ville cycles have been there since the start of my mountain biking, I have found them to be a fantastic bike shop and always been really supportive. I have had their mechanic Daniel working all hours to fix last minute, urgent bike troubles. Never making smart comments about the different ways it is possible to break things, when just riding along… Or how that derailleur got twisted 180 degrees?? Well at least not to my face. They’re a great bunch of guys Francis, David and Daniel, for that and all their awesome support I owe these guys abit more than a thank you… some chocolate cake perhaps? Continue Reading »
What’s happening now?
apelosi July 15th, 2008
Ok, so I have had a bit of time off the bike now to do all of the things a ‘normal’ person my age would do. I thought I would see what it was like being a working citizen, so I found a job where I had to work for 4 hours on one day… that was enough to find out that money may be sweet but sitting on the couch with some popcorn and a good DVD is soooo much more fun! Continue Reading »
photos from samara’s race
apelosi June 22nd, 2008
Check out more images over at cyclingnews and Canadian Cyclist of the junior womens race. Canadian Cyclist has a great collection of full results and photos of all the race from the worlds as well, check it out here
Junior boys XC race
samara June 20th, 2008
The junior boys raced today and hoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooolllyyyyyyy it was fast!!! The track had dried up considerably showing nice compact lines, not so much slipping and sliding like yesterday. The five laps took the winner (Peter Sagan from Slovakia) only 1h35min!!! He was a tank! Charging up and down the hills like they were nothing… It was very impressive to watch. The NZ team also showed some fantastic skill and determination, doing us proud. Dirk rode strongly the whole way to be the first kiwi boy home in 25th place! This is the highest placing a Jr NZ boy has ever had. George who after a great start had a nice tumble down the hill setting him back to last place however, he fought back making a great comeback into 42nd place. Continue Reading »
My race! 08 MTB World Championships - Val di Sole
samara June 19th, 2008
The race was wicked!!!! So much fun! It was one hearty race and yup finished with another bleeding knee… that’s a signs of a good one. I finished up in 20th place in 1h29m - 13min down on the winner Laura Abri from Columbia. The field was definitely stronger the last year because I was going much better than last year! I am pretty happy with how it all went, that feeling when you are pushing so hard and it’s hurting for sure but you are just so zoned out that you can’t register all the pain so you just keep on going.
Tuesday 17th
samara June 17th, 2008
Ok so I have been having a bit of bike trouble the last couple of days but now after a few rather stressfull moments I have been lent a bike from the Italian bike team. Today we are in the process of changing all my componentry from my frame onto this new one, hopefully by this evening it will be sorted so I can take it for a test spin before my race tomorrow! It is a hardtail, Colongo three peaks frame so may feel a little different to my Jamis racing fully but at least it’s going to get me around the track! Continue Reading »
Sunday 15th - In Italy
samara June 16th, 2008
Kaytee and I went riding around the course today and it had dried up heaps, the muddy sections are getting compacted and it’s all rideable. It’s a pretty non event full course now, plain up hills, a lot of riding around on grass and a couple of sections in the trees that seam to be better groomed then before. Saying that though it will properly be really hard to race.
Saturday 14th – Race in Vermiglio
samara June 15th, 2008
I started the Adamello XC Bike race was on today until I crashed and pulled the pin half way through the first lap. It was cold as, there was fresh snow on the hills and it was poring down with rain, I went to hop up to the footpath sideways to pass someone but my wheels slid or something didn’t go right and I ended hitting the concrete knee first…like always. I was pretty over it after that so just headed to the medical tent to get cleaned up, no one spoke English there but they were pretty helpful. I’m guttered as though, I should have raced smarter than that. Continue Reading »
Friday the 13th in Italy
samara June 13th, 2008
It has been raining the last couple of day now which is really changing the track, yesterday we biked it and it was sooooooooooooooooooooooooo muddy. It is getting tricky going down some/all of the down hill sections it is just slippery as, the damp roots and mossy rocks don’t help either. I had a few nice little slip and slides off my bike yesterday but figured out some new survival lines to get me down in one piece. Hopefully they will still be there or I’ll be doing a superman slide to get me down. It is going to be good for the spectators this year. Total Carnage!
