I made the most of it last weekend, with a lovely ride around the Bays and a few hills, culminating with a sift around the Waterfront. The Greenpeace boat Rainbow Warrior 2 was in port, and I got accosted by one of the Warriors to join an online photo petition.
![](http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Q9OHLA5zjkU/SAk1i60UAoI/AAAAAAAAAcQ/_O_CeCaXoB0/s320/gp1-672.jpg)
I'm really enjoying riding right now- I am feeling more and more glimpses of what it's like to be fit again! I am even slowly chipping away at the blubber...Fitting riding in regularly means being a bit selfish with my time, but I figure I'm much more motivated to work on bikes when I feel like riding them too. I'm really going to keep riding as an important priority over winter.
![](http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Q9OHLA5zjkU/SAlES60UAsI/AAAAAAAAAcw/LYEXBKBTw1Q/s320/ScorchingBay.jpg)
Then on the Sunday I had a very cool day. I went up to Karori Park to watch the inaugural Wellington Short Track Series. Much hilarity in these lactic spew-fest races, none of which lasted much longer that 10 minutes. There was also a granny-gear lap and a big-gear lap to keep things honest. The big-gear lap was the scene of the funniest incident of the day, when a certain rider tried a tricky cyclo-cross dismount and remount, only to miss his handlebars and uncomfortably land on his back wheel - somehow, he managed to avoid crashing and actually went on to win! I'm quite sure the swelling will have died down by now.
Burkes rider Ricky Pincott won the main race(c)RowanG
![](http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Q9OHLA5zjkU/SAk9O60UAqI/AAAAAAAAAcg/M3gzXj9g9Xs/s320/Slackboy.jpg)
This event was the first in a series designed to help raise funds to get local pro-elite rider Lisa Morgan overseas to race her MTB. Check out her blog for more info...
After this I went home for lunch with the family, then we all set off into town and went for a ride on the Crocodile bikes around Oriental Bay. This was great fun, but I think the people taking advantage of the gorgeous day on the promenade could probably have done without having an out-of-control Crocodile wildly swerving around with five maniacs cackling like loons on board! Trying to keep control with two burly teenagers mutinying constantly made this ride as difficult as any I have done recently - I got off sweating profusely and with aching knees! We then wandered around and went on a fascinating (if slightly too preachy!) tour of the Rainbow Warrior, then home for pizza and a movie.
Rainbow Warrior 2
![](http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Q9OHLA5zjkU/SAmC9a0UAvI/AAAAAAAAAdI/7Ofk4SEL2AE/s320/rainbow_warrior.jpg)
In other more important news, my good friend Tim Wilding (Santa Cruz-Pearl Izumi-Roadworks-Maxxis) defended his New Zealand XTerra title with a fine 4th place behind winner Terrenzo Bozzone. Tim's old Aunt Betty's teammate and MTB legend Mark "Cabin" Leishman took a fantastic second place, just in front of Scott Thorne. Tim had a less than ideal build-up with a niggling IT band injury that basically prevented him from doing any run training in the lead-up, but he had a great race, coming out of the swim just behind the leaders and smoking on the bike run on the Santa Cruz Blur I built up for him to lead heading into the run. It took the leaders a full lap of the run to reel Timmy in, but he hung tough and finished only four minutes down on Bozzone. I know Tim will be a bit disappointed he couldn't retain his title, but I also know that he is (or should be!) proud to have shown that he can still mix it up with the elite of the sport even after a bad preparation phase - he'll take this title again, no doubt! I'm very proud to be associated with this fine athlete.
Tim charging! (c)Kim Harwood
![](http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Q9OHLA5zjkU/SAk5H60UApI/AAAAAAAAAcY/9r6njXeqf9U/s320/XterraNZ08+Bike+(c)+Kim+Harwood2.jpg)
Not much else to report, sorry. The shop has definitely slowed down a bit so I'm not feeling swamped by work any more. I've been building heaps of wheels lately though, which suits me fine. I find wheelbuilding and new bike building to be my two favourite tasks, and there's nothing more relaxing to me than lacing up a new wheel.
![](http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Q9OHLA5zjkU/SAlCEK0UArI/AAAAAAAAAco/AWocr8fQclg/s320/Wheelbuild.jpg)
Although I sometimes wish I was building wheels and bikes in this workshop...thanks to belgiumkneewarmers.com for the wicked pic.
Vecchio's - Boulder, Colorado
![](http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Q9OHLA5zjkU/SAmCU60UAuI/AAAAAAAAAdA/_0Q0wB2EPbY/s320/jp%2Bben.jpg)
This will most likely be my last post before I head to China to the tour of Chongming Island, so I will take my camera and do my best to capture some of the images and atmosphere of this adventure I'm going on.
Shanghai
![](http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Q9OHLA5zjkU/SAlFIq0UAtI/AAAAAAAAAc4/Pw3mqnWTPsg/s320/china-shanghai-1.jpg)
Here is some brief info on the trip courtesy of the Jazz Apples website.
The Tour Of Chongming Island: Shanghai China
Jazz Apple will have four athletes for the Tour of Chongming Island. The team quartet is a synergy of youth and experience, led and mentored by Susy. Jazz Apple’s composition also includes new recruit, Australian Ruth Corset and young neo-pros, Lauren Ellis and Malindi Maclean.
The squad is expecting the tour to be a baptism of fire to kick-off of their International 2008 season but are keenly looking forward to the challenge of racing in China.
The five-day event incorporates a 2-for-1 UCI race amalgamation, with an individual time trial followed by a four- day tour.
ATHLETES
Ruth Corset - Townsville Australia
Lauren Ellis - Ashburton NZ
Malindi Maclean - Auckland NZ
Susy Pryde - Auckland NZ
TOUR DETAILS
Time Trial
April
25 - 20km Individual TT
Stage Race
April
26 - Stage 1: 65km City Criterium 4.1
27 - Stage 2: 71km Road Race
28 - Stage 3: 100km
29 - Stage 4: 73km
I'll see you when I get back! CU, Oli