Interregnum Ho!

Hey, whut? Two blogs in three days? Something must be badly out of whack! Well, it's because I'm grumpily sitting here in limbo unable to work, pack or move as builders and plumbers come and go replacing our cracked bath. The plumbing requires access to my new space so I can't move my gear in, and I've actually had to move the stuff I had already moved back out while the builders do their thing! In these somewhat unexpected circumstances, and because I'm trapped at home "supervising" the work, I thought I'd make use of the thumb-twiddling time between brewing the lads cups of tea to finally get back up to date with a bunch of photos of a couple of rides I've done, along with showing off some other little bits and pieces...

I'll begin with a Friday morning ride in a southerly buster. As all you Flamands will know, there's no such thing as bad weather, only bad choices of clothing. I layered up and headed out into the teeth of the gale, warmed by my Defeet base layer and the smug sense of self-satisfaction riding in such conditions engenders. Naturally, ten minutes after I set out the sun started to force it's way out from behind the scudding clouds.

 But regardless I was dressed for bear.

And the Hillbrick is happy rain or shine. In this case, shine.

The following Sunday Wellington awoke to clear blue skies, and with the previous week's stiff southerly dying out as the day progressed. After celebrating Step-Mothers Day in the morning with Jacq and her Three Sons, I received their blessings to slip out for a nice leisurely ride. I set out a bit aimlessly once again, but definitely yearning for the hills. I raced traffic through town, then headed up Glenmore Street thinking I'd perhaps do a few loops of K-Town and Northland...

I took a quick detour after the Karori Tunnel to have yet another look at a house my late Dad designed for some friends back in the '70s. I've seen it come onto the market a few times and seriously wished I had the resources to buy it - it would be pretty cool to live in one of the homes he architected, although the close proximity of the pylon is perhaps a bit of a worry...

The old Pump House on the Karori Dam at Zealandia.

I headed up Birdwood Street...

...and Messines Road...

...before rolling down into K-Town and up Makara Hill Road, with the intent of turning around at the top to head back the same way. Fat chance. Once I'd made it up as far as the summit the descent into Makara Village proved too much of a temptation - I'd worry about the climb out later!

I don't mean to sound big-headed - as if! - but a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away there was a time when among my circle of hard-riding compadres I totally owned this downhill, and it was nice to get a wee taste of those halcyon days again. I was about 40 seconds slower than my quickest time, but that's still plenty quick enough I reckon, and I was bloody carving.

Now I was down in the valley it seemed a shame not to head down towards Makara Beach...

It's been a long time since I've felt up to riding this great loop, which seems a bit ridiculous when it's really only a couple of hours riding, albeit fairly hilly ones. Shows how ill I must have been and how low my confidence had got.

Random self-pic #658, somehow managing to completely miss my facial region.

Hit the Beach.

One of my expertly stitched panoramas. The sea was calm and the sun shone, but the air was cold in the Bay.

Not wanting to get a chill, I turned straight around and headed back up the road.

Ah, bucolia always opens one up to reflection.

Still not really sure of my direction, I instinctively veered left at the intersection with the main road and headed north(ish) up towards the Takarau Gorge. Most of the hills you can see here used to be dense with pines until recent logging, making the feel of the Gorge totally different from in my youth when we used to race Paris-Roubaix over the damp and shaded unsealed roads.

The Gorge climbs gently towards Ohariu Valley along a meandering stream that has, on occasion, turned into a raging torrent that has washed away big chunks of the road...

The tight twists of this Secteur can be dicey if a car full of hoons comes barreling towards you, but today there was nary a car on the road to rouse me from my reveries.

Once clear of the Gorge itself the vistas open out. Across the rolling paddocks that is Mt Kaukau in the distance with the radio mast on the summit.

We're so lucky to have such peaceful country roads only minutes away from the CBD - they truly are sheer bliss to ride.

One of the many old primes we regularly used to fight tooth and nail for back in the day...

...which is followed immediately by a quick little descent that was often the catalyst for a break to slip off the front.

Just before you drop into the Takarau Gorge/Rifle Range Road intersection and Ohariu Valley proper.

And heading out of Ohariu Valley...

Climbing felt great all day today...

...which makes for an even more enjoyable experience, I think you'll agree.

The shadows grow so long so fast, these days.

Before heading back into town I stopped for the quick gel that it turned out I didn't actually have with me.

I recall when there wasn't a suburb here at all. The inexorable march of progress, I guess.

After wondering whether or not to head along through Khandallah and down Ngaio Gorge, in the end I opted to zip down Ngauranga instead...

...and relish the speed rush that fast and wide descent entails. Obviously taking photos slowed me at the start, but an aero-ish tuck and 100-odd kilograms made for a swift drop down to sea level once I'd stuffed my camera back in my jersey pocket - I didn't have a speedo, but I was passing some cars and holding the pace of the rest so I estimate I was hitting at least 90kph without any problem, and without feeling any of the fear I wondered if  I might experience these days.

After such an adrenalin shot it was nice to hop up on the footpath and chill out along SH2 back into town.

I ambled along the Waterfront to feel the ambience on this gorgeous autumn eve, before heading home to complete what had been one of the best soul rides I've had in years.

The following day was Monday (funny that!), and I had an appointment in Petone to meet up with a fellow Velominati for a coffee. Along with some other likely lads, Bianchi Denti had recently been over to Belgium with Velominati founders Frank, Marko and Brett on an organised "Keepers Tour" to ride the courses of Paris-Roubaix and Ronde van Vlaanderen, among many other cool activities I and many others jealously observed from afar. Little did I know as I read their great reports of the trip that these thoughtful gents would have graciously taken the trouble to grab a very cool souvenir for a curmudgeonly old Welli bike mechanic. I'm super grateful they did, as I've been a big fan of 1996 World Champion Johan Museuuw for a long time.

Here then is the prized souvenir, the signature of the Lion of Flanders on a Lion of Flanders flag, as well as a couple of cool Malteni beer coasters...Cheers, Richard and Keepers!

It was actually a hell of a week for souvenirs. Just a couple of days later I received a manila envelope in the mail that contained the one signature I don't have and that I've most coveted ever since the rider involved grabbed my attention in the dry pages of Velo-News as a brash amateur winning the Settimana Bergamasca back in 1991. This young tyro would go on to become a Tour de France stage winner on debut in 1993, World Champion in Oslo later that same year, and eventually a record-smashing seven-time Tour de France winner. I'm talking about the great Lance Armstrong, of course. These days he is a controversial figure, but as an unashamed fan my admiration for his feats hasn't dimmed and getting his autograph is a huge deal to me. I was awestruck, amazed and astounded to be given this rare memento, and I'm very grateful to my new friend Mike for sending it to me. Also, I'd like send much respect and aroha to my mate Graeme who facilitated the initial contact. Cheers to both of you!

The photo is from the finish of Stage 17 of the 2004 Tour, as Lance wins from Andreas Kloden into Le Grand Bernand. The video of this thrilling stage finish is well worth watching - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Yf1nJYkCHQ

While I'm on hiatus, I still had to deal with a couple of tasks I'd committed to prior to needing to shift. Luckily, building wheels is a job I can do at home in front of the telly in a pinch.

First off was this sturdy cyclo-cross wheel for Jonty - a Velocity A23 rim laced to a Shimano 105 freehub is the go as he gives the growing season of CX races a nudge. My friends Owen and Andy have set up a new HotCX series (in association with iRIDE) to augment and lead into Mike Anderson's excellent and ground-breaking Bike Hutt series that has run for the last few years. If you're not planning to race any of them, I heartily recommend making the effort to spectate one or more of these races, as they are super crowd friendly and a total hoot to watch!

Secondly, I built my main man John a wicked pair of Hope/Arch EX wheels for his new Yeti Big Top, of which much more will come at a later date. Choice.

I'd like to offer my hearty congratulations to Roadworks rider Joel Healy, who earned himself a fine bronze medal in the M1 Time Trial for PNP at the Club National Championships last weekend. Great stuff, bro!

(Photo brazenly stolen from Brian Bushe: L-R Karl Murray 2nd, Mike Henton 1st and Joel Healy 3rd)

Lastly, please don't forget to hit John up (siftyjohn[a]gmail.com) for some sharp looking Roadworks kit, as modelled here by the estimable WO Larkin, Esquire. Email now, we have operators standing by!

Until next time, thanks for reading. Cheers, Oli

Remake/Remodel

The jungle drums are beating and the rumours are rife, so I figure I'd better come clean. As those who have followed me through any or all of the 12 years of Roadworks' existence will know, my life doesn't seem to have a moment without some sort of ridiculous drama going down. In that vein, and as some of you will already know, my latest saga is that I have been put into a position where I have felt forced to abruptly give up my workshop space of the last few years. It's never been the most convenient venue for my customers, but it was the perfect solution for my personal needs. Now thanks to some rather major problems with the new upstairs tenants it's become impossibly inconvenient even for me, which of course makes working there untenable.

This means I am now in the process of moving the workshop back into my own home to regroup for what seems like the hundredth time, before getting back under way in yet another incarnation of this crazy "business" I've created. For logistical reasons I'm not ready to recommence operations yet, but I thought I should post a quick teaser of the slowly evolving Roadworks Mk V to allay your fears and let you know I'm close to kicking it live once more. And for those of you who may recall with horror my brief 2006 tenure in the old dirt-floored basement, please be assured it's no longer exactly the same rudimentary dirt-floored cave it used to be!

Despite this not being at all my choice of timing, and despite the huge hassle of rearranging the house to make room for me, not to mention packing up and moving my insane amount of paraphernalia from old shop to new, there are many reasons why this move will make my life easier, hence easier for my clients too. For the last few years the succession of tenants upstairs from the shop have made life progressively harder and harder, so I'm looking forward greatly to being able to set the terms of access entirely with the needs of me and my family in mind, and without having to worry about treading on anyone's toes when I'm just going about earning a crust. Privacy is my one major concern about running the show from home, but the appointment-only way I work will hopefully prevent punters from turning up unbidden during family and/or downtime...I'm looking forward to finding out anyway!

I still have some clutter to clean up from the old shop...

...but in the meantime I'll clear up some of the blogging clutter I have been clearing up in recent times.

Graham's new Cove Hummer needed a Chris King headset installed.

My Auckland buddy Daniel made me up these cool Roadworks decals, so when I'm back up and running please swing by the workshop and grab a couple. Dan did a fantastic job and I'd recommend Producer for any of your graphic or printing needs without hesitation.

As my recent ride posts might show I'm riding plenty at the moment and getting fitter (and keener!) all the time, so I decided to ditch the compact cranks and fit my manly 53/39 cranks. Not content with just the stock chainrings I adapted some Record 'rings to fit, as can be seen in the last ever shot of my Bianchi outside the old workshop.

The best thing to do when you've been fettling one's steed is to take it out for a strop. Taking advantage once again of the glorious autumnal conditions, I headed out for a Bays loop with a hill chucked in.

This is looking roughly south-east over Seatoun towards The Heads and Pencarrow.

My bike propped on one of the entrances to the fabulous Miramar Trail Network. A bit much for the road bike, perhaps, but well worth a trip with one's mountanbike fo' sho'. Lyall Bay and Te Raekaihau Point in the distance.

I kept climbing...

..past spectacular views of Makaro/Ward Island and the Eastern Bays...

...and Matiu/Somes Island and the Hutt Valley towards the Tararua Ranges.

I spent most of my youth trying to avoid this place, yet here I am now in my dotage happily riding around it.

The descent begins, interrupted only by sleeping policemen and rabbits.

Another view of The Heads taken on the fly.

Looking NW over towards Wellington City itself.

An arty shot taken from the lovely walkway that traverses the western slopes of Maupuia.

Oriental Bay on a pleasant evening is a very nice place to be.

While I'm still on the riding tip, on a subsequent ride on a very windy day I battered my way once more around the Bays then along to Ngaio Gorge and Crofton Downs, before heading up into Mairangi and Northland...

 ...after the inevitable coffee break with my man Jonty, I blasted down Glenmore street and back around to Evans Bay and over Constable Street to home.  

One of the last jobs I did in the old shop was build a sweet pair of training wheels for Barry. Mavic Open Pro rims on a Campagnolo Record rear hub and Chris King front will let him thrash his bike with impunity through all conditions, while giving him some nice touches of bling to go along with the delightful ride quality such a wheelset engenders.

I decided in lieu of spending up large on some new Veloflex tubs that I'd just glue the cool old Vittorias I had fitted to my new Shamals for display purposes. Here's my Bianchi ready to ride, and just waiting for the right occasion to head out. More about that very soon.

A cold and bleak Sunday afternoon definitely wasn't the right occasion, but it was the first chance I'd had in a few days to prise myself off the windtrainer and head out on the road so I pumped up the tyres on the Hillbrick and set off. Once I was actually riding I realised I didn't have a clue where I wanted to go, so I just followed my front wheel down through Island Bay and around the South Coast.

After a cruise up Happy Valley and an awesome fang down Brooklyn Hill I wandered aimlessly through town, heading roughly for my usual Parliament-Glenmore Street route up towards Karori with a tentative view towards maybe heading around the Makara loop. As I neared Parliament I was delighted to see the friendly smile of my dear friend (and Clothing Facilitator - see sidebar!) John "Sifter" Randal. He was on the side of the road waiting for young Alex Revell to arrive before they headed out to do some hills around Korokoro. I had a wee chat with John before setting off on my way, but when I was nearly at the top of Bowen Street I figured I don't have many opportunities to ride with John and Alex, so I turned around and raced back down just in time to catch them as they set off...

It was cool to be riding with some good friends - all too often my road rides are hastily snatched opportunities than prevent me planning to hook up, so I invariably don't. I enjoy riding solo, but it's always good to feel the Fellowship of the Road.

The tempo was very tame at first, perhaps to warm up, but I suspect mainly on my behalf as the boys did their best to baby the old man along. I was glad for their mercy, as I'm sure if it had ratcheted up I would have struggled eventually. I told Alex I would be okay for a bit more pace on the back though, and the speed did become more respectable as we moved along...

...I am better at sitting in the wheels than it looks, but the gaps are only opening as I took the photos.

Knowing they'd both be thoughtful and take it easy on the climbs for me and not wanting to slow them down or disrupt their training plans, I turned off at Petone and made my way back to town alone. The training must have worked well for Alex as he took a well deserved Duathlon win the following weekend in the first running of the new iteration of the historic Crazyman multi-sport race. Great stuff, Alex!

Here I am in an unusual right-handed self-pic, heading back into town along the suprisingly clean old cycle path between SH2 and the railway line.

No ride report would be complete without a shot of my bike in repose - seeking out the locations for these photos is an important part of every ride.

As by this time I was in the throes of shifting (still am!) I don't have so much work to relate but, at only a week out of date, this is as good a time as any to halt this post before we all run out of bandwidth. I'll be back before you know it...

Thanks for reading, Oli

P.S. Please get in quick if you are keen on wearing some Roadworks kit. John has organised jerseys, bibshorts, gilet/vests, armwarmers and caps to enable you to replicate my suave style. Email John at siftyjohn[a]gmail.com and he will hook you up. Cheers, Oli