Wednesday, January 23, 2008
summer fun
This is just an email to let everone know that I haven’t dissappeared of the face of this planet, and to let everyone know whats been happening with me.
Well over summer I never really got up to much, was just enjoying the holiday. I did do alot of part time work trying to get money together so I can get back overseas but other then that and training, I was just enjoying the great NZ summer. I spent alot of time at the beach diving for crayfish and what ever else we could find. I also spent alot of time at the lake water skiing and camping. As you can see I made the most of my summer.
I have done 3 races since the beginning of December and done well in all of them. The first was a mountain bike race called the blue mountains blast. It was just a big lap coarse of about 50km starting a little way up motu road (Opotiki) using alot of the same coarse for the first round of the north island mountain bike series. I started the race just cruising riding with Mikey Northcott until he made a mistake and crashed. I made the most of that and rode home solo to win the race. I won the race by a solid 9mins.
The second race was the boxing day crit at Mt Maunganui, with guest rides Julien Dean (Slipstream pro team) and Matt White (Discovery Channel). It went good, except they had to call the race short due fading light as the race started at 8.15pm. It came down to a sprint finish with Julien Dean winning, Josh England second, Paul Bishop third and myself forth. i wasnt complaining as you probably couldnt have fit a hair strand between 2nd, 3rd and 4th. Julien won quite convincingly.
The third race was the national Road cycling champs in Hawkes Bay a week or so ago. The time trial went good as I managed to take the title to be national TT champion, but the road race didnt quite go to plan. My fault. I should have listened to my coach, but it was a call I made out on the road and it didnt work in my favour unfortunatly. It was a 187km in swealtering conditions. Hot enough that in a single 27km lap, 2 drink bottles were not enough. What happened? My coach told me to just sit in the bunch for 4 laps before I can do anything. A break went up the road on the 1st lap and it had some big name riders in it so I decided to go across to it before they got a too bigger lead. I got there and thought is this worth it or should I go back to the bunch. We got a time check at 6min50 on the 2nd lap so I decided I will stay there. They might let us go too far and be able to bring us back. Well, with it being so hot I cooked myself and only lasted 5 of the 7 laps. I came off the course seeing stars and with a huge head ache, so I was picking I was dehydrated. Anyway I learnt that leason and hopefully wont be making that mistake again.
Just to finish off the email Im just going to let everyone know that the mountain biking is going to be mostly off the cards for me this season, as I am wanted in a UCI road team in Switzerland for the first part of the year. They want me there by the 11th Feb as they are going to south africa for a training camp and some racing. I will let you know whats happening when i get back to europe.
well thats all from me
Clinton Avery
