Amateurs exceed expectations
I feel like I’ve won something.
I wouldn’t put this in my CV, but I am one of the most disorganised people on this planet. So it is nothing short of miracle I made it from one side of the country to the other on a bike with absolutely no major blunders.
The Coast to Coast race is now over and I feel amazing for completing it and more than a little bit proud of myself and team mates.
Team Stuffed (myself, Deanna McKay and Suzanne Black) blitzed our own expectations in coming second in the open women’s team event and 30th overall in the team section. Not bad for a bunch of amateurs who were called in at the eleventh hour.
It was amateur hour indeed, mainly from yours truly.
It was two days before the event that I actually read the 47 page print out and realised I needed to get a bit of extra gear if I was to pass the check list in order to race. So I hurriedly messaged McKay to request working bike lights, a tool kit and reflective ankle bands. Tick.
In a mad rush the night before we left for the West Coast I packed my gear and having one of the thickest moments of my week (I have them regularly) I threw in my giant half a metre foot pump. Seriously, where did I think I was going to put that on my bike?
Showing up and meeting the support crew my brother Kieran, who takes life a little more seriously than I, was less than impressed at the laughter behind the bike pump saga and suggested this was selfish behaviour for a team event. Perhaps he was correct, but it turns out there were no punctures and McKay had a hand held pump in the car. Crisis averted.
Another amateur moment was lining up at the starting line at 7am outside of Greymouth and seeing everyone in their lycra (helmets included) ready to race 2.2km to the bike. The helmets were a a bit over prepared - but I did waste nine minutes completely changing my outfit at the bike stands. Lesson learned.
Upon arriving in Klondyke I accomplished another life first - I put up my first tent. Hard to believe, but Miss independent had always allowed others to do this job. Not without another amateur moment, I had no pillow or mat to sleep on so the hard ground was not the best for recovery.
I pulled up well enough to cycle the 15 kilometres to McKay for the kayak in the morning. I snuck in a lunch at Springfield before McKay arrived sooner than expected so down goes the egg sandwich and a quick change into lycra in the front seat of the car.
We got there, but my relaxed ways meant I was just coming out of a portaloo when our runner, Black, was waiting to throw the bib over my head and get cycling. Time to bring it home with the last 70 kilometre graft to New Brighton Beach in Christchurch.
I have never cycled so hard in my life, and it was an absolute thrill to do so. I caught two gents who I rode with for the majority of the long straight home. Three more joined us so it was me and the boys rotating to save energy in that slight head wind.
I have to thank Eddie the Aussie, his encouragement of ‘‘great cycling’’ and ‘‘you just blew the group apart’’ at the end was just what I needed to make me feel less of an amateur and more like Alberto Contador.
I rode that 70km in just over two hours and we completed the coast to coast in 15 hours, 15 minutes and 23 seconds. To me we are winners just for doing it.
The Coast to Coast is something I would highly recommend to anyone who has a little bit of pro in them mixed with a whole lot of amateur.