South Island ChampsBy Reuben; Saturday 9th and Sunday 10th of July I raced in Christchurch at the South Island secondary schools championships. I was racing an individual time trial and a road race. The time trial was 3.4 km on a dead flat course at Ruapuna motorsport park. I went better than I expected for an off season race coming away with bronze. Sunday was the road race. All started well with two other boys and I breaking away around 7 km into the 20 km race. We got our gap out to 24 seconds on the main bunch then...... "with 5 km to go I noticed I had a flat tyre".I worked on the front as hard as I could trying to stay ahead of the main and to stay on when the other boys attacked. When the other two sprinted for the line there was no way I could match their pace but made it home for a second bronze of the weekend. I made it to the finish with the bunch only 25-50 metres back. My wheel has some minor scrapes but otherwise it was well worth pushing on with the flat tyre although a bit gutted to have had a flat in the first place, especially when that is the first ever one I've had other than slow leaks on a road bike. We have since been staying at the Spencerville holiday park where I have been playing on the Bottle Lake Forest MTB trails and exploring the roads surrounding Christchurch up the Port Hills. Really stoked to podium at this event as this was my first ever bike race this time last year. Wouldn't believe I have come this far in only twelve months of riding. |
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