Winter is definitely here (although the skiers wouldn’t agree) – pretty wet, foggy and cold training and racing this w/e been.  I’m not complaining though – especially when only the last hour (of 5) on Saturday is in the rain.  And when you’ve got a superb rain cape (one of the best Champion System items I own) to keep you warm, there’s no dramas!

Saturday started with a lot of wind so the 8:30 group ride of John M, Murray  and Bronwyn was around the circuits out of Halswell.  Matt and Carey started at 10:30 and we got blown to Motutukara for the inevitable <20kph slog up Gebbies Valley.  Only by the time we were returning from Diamond Harbour did it really start to rain.

Sunday dawned fine and cold.  Not long into the ride we hit fog (in town), which we couldn’t allude until West Melton, only to go back into it again.  Starting the race in Prebbleton, I shed no layers as I was still cold.  Fog turned to drizzle? I guess –  just a lot of precipitation. Nice race as Ian and I from Subway played our cards well to go 1st 2nd.  Good learning curve for Ben Longworth and Mike Crawford of Homestyle Homes who came 3rd and 4th.  I’m now coaching Mike so I can tell him how to beat us!  He’s so strong…

Awesome effort also to Craig G who spent the early 2:50min before the race with me on the plains.  In his 2nd race this year he got 4th (B grade).  Hard luck to Matt on his 2nd crash in 2weeks!