Kashi's MTB Journal
24 February 2006
The DVD we've been working on is finally ready and available! Big thanks to Gareth for working his ass off the last few weeks getting it all ready so fast.We hope to have it in a lot of bikeshops by this week coming, but you can also buy it direct... just emaill bourkee@hotmail.com.
Click below for more info or download a sample.
http://www.kashileuchs.com/summer06dvd/
The price will be $25.95 (Paypal or cheque)
Off to Napier today..
18 February 2006
Hey,
We've had a super nice race today here in Christchurch. Its the first time they have run the Ground Effect Crater Rim race and I'm sure its going to become a classic very quickly. After climbing for 30min, we spent probably eighty percent of the time on purpose built mtb single tracks, full of technical elements and rocks.
I raced my hardtail again, mainly because of the q-factor difference. The cranks on the scalpel are 3cms wider then the hard tail, so I've decided to stick to one bike until the Commonwealth games and then make the switch back to the fully. I started to regret the decision after a very short time, as I realised this course was probably most suited to a 4" Rush! Oh well, maybe I will be more prepared next year :)
In the end it was actually a good exercise of handling skills, as I was forced to keep the bike super smooth and flow over the bumps instead of into them. Apart from a flying start from Brendon Sharret, who promptly punctured on the first descent, I held the lead to the finish. My old travelling buddy, Laurence Mote, came in second place. The atmosphere was very relaxed, as is expected in New Zealand. Everyone seemed to have an awesome time, relishing in the amazing weather and mind-blowing singletrack. The race finished at a small beach just outside Christchurch called Taylor's mistake... so while we waited for the prize giving we enjoyed some refreshing body surfing :)
Allan and I are actually staying with Laurence's parents, John and Jenny, up in the lovely area of Sumner beach. It's been fun to catch up with the family. Lorry and his wife Viv have two lovely kids (in photo). It was just a few years ago that we were hitching our way around Europe to the World Cups. While I continued my quest for world glory, Laurence returned home and got domesticated... he's even has a vege patch! Must say, it makes me a little jealous in some ways.
We've had a super nice race today here in Christchurch. Its the first time they have run the Ground Effect Crater Rim race and I'm sure its going to become a classic very quickly. After climbing for 30min, we spent probably eighty percent of the time on purpose built mtb single tracks, full of technical elements and rocks.
I raced my hardtail again, mainly because of the q-factor difference. The cranks on the scalpel are 3cms wider then the hard tail, so I've decided to stick to one bike until the Commonwealth games and then make the switch back to the fully. I started to regret the decision after a very short time, as I realised this course was probably most suited to a 4" Rush! Oh well, maybe I will be more prepared next year :)In the end it was actually a good exercise of handling skills, as I was forced to keep the bike super smooth and flow over the bumps instead of into them. Apart from a flying start from Brendon Sharret, who promptly punctured on the first descent, I held the lead to the finish. My old travelling buddy, Laurence Mote, came in second place. The atmosphere was very relaxed, as is expected in New Zealand. Everyone seemed to have an awesome time, relishing in the amazing weather and mind-blowing singletrack. The race finished at a small beach just outside Christchurch called Taylor's mistake... so while we waited for the prize giving we enjoyed some refreshing body surfing :)
Allan and I are actually staying with Laurence's parents, John and Jenny, up in the lovely area of Sumner beach. It's been fun to catch up with the family. Lorry and his wife Viv have two lovely kids (in photo). It was just a few years ago that we were hitching our way around Europe to the World Cups. While I continued my quest for world glory, Laurence returned home and got domesticated... he's even has a vege patch! Must say, it makes me a little jealous in some ways.
15 February 2006
We've been Rippin it up in Dunedin these past 2 weeks... its been fun and busy to be home again. Seeing the folks and my bro has been great. Allan and I have been killing it, hitting all the good laps around town. Inbetween the rain its been beautiful weather! Rocking the trails in the all time fav mtb spot in Naseby was wicked. Keila's insitute of sport (see pic) is all style and Ice, his dog, gave me the craziest singletrack pass i've ever seen. 
Hanging at R&R, Long Black's at the Perc, Emerson Pilsner, Filming for TV3, Sam's classic, Soy Chai's at the Fix, Sushi.. Lots of it, Octagon Criterium, Tom and SRM headache, Eatin Good...
All GOOD!!!
Now looking forward to caaalming down again. Need to get fresh for more hard racing coming up.. Rotorua's just a few weeks away.
Hanging at R&R, Long Black's at the Perc, Emerson Pilsner, Filming for TV3, Sam's classic, Soy Chai's at the Fix, Sushi.. Lots of it, Octagon Criterium, Tom and SRM headache, Eatin Good...
All GOOD!!!
Now looking forward to caaalming down again. Need to get fresh for more hard racing coming up.. Rotorua's just a few weeks away.
06 February 2006
Instead of racing this weekend, I took a nice ride with Marcus Roy in Alexandra. This is turning into the south island meca for mtbing... you could ride for days through the barren hills, climbing countless grunty 4wd climbs, linked with super flowing singletracks. We climbed up Obelisk mountain to the tv tower. It didn't look so far from the bottom, but the long valleys are a little misleading.. it ended up taking almost 3hrs to get to the top, which was followed by a hang on to the bars, brake testing, thank god for full suspension, full speed 20min descent. Yehaa. After this we meet up with local junior fast guy, James Williamson, for a lap around the infamous clock tower tracks.. sweeeet !
