Kashi's MTB Journal
23 December 2008
Merry Xmas from sunny Dunedin !
A few weeks ago the guy that was managing my NZ sponsors for me just decided to stop doing his job, so I'v been left to pick up the pieces and be a business guy again. Not what I was hoping, but its all back on track now. I'm super stoked to have three sponsors who will help us (Marcus Roy and I) around some very cool races.
I will kick of the new year with my first race, the tour de vineyards, which is a 4 day road tour in the beautiful Nelson region, northern south island. I'm expecting it to hurt a lot as I really haven't been doing many intervals for ages... oh well, got to start somehow I guess!
For now though, its kiwi xmas time... my first time at home with my folks for xmas since 1996 !
Have a good one...
15 December 2008
I'm having trouble with my photo gallery... so until thats sorted I'm just going to update photos using iweb...
please click the link below...
http://web.mac.com/kashileuchs/iWeb/Site%202/Hey%20there.html
please click the link below...
http://web.mac.com/kashileuchs/iWeb/Site%202/Hey%20there.html
Well its been a pretty hectic week tripping around the county meeting some talented juniors, making an amazing high country mtb tour, then visiting friends and sponsors in Christchurch and Wellington!
The junior camp was for the top South Island riders and we had around 15 hot shots between 12-17 years old turn up for some fun in the Hanmer sun. This place is renowned for its flowing single tracks, so we all had a blast riding around the trails.. it was just a little hard to keep up as these juniors just attacked us oldies from the start!
I then joined Laurence, Guy (the Ground Effect crew) and Dave (legendary sadistic mtb adventurer) for some high country riding in the St James Station. Dave had planned us a suitably gnarly route... 2 days, around 160km through desolate high country, lots of rough walking tracks, and a fair amount of hike a bike peaks to ensure a fair mix of pleasure and pain. We slept in a DOC hut, so had to carry sleeping bags and food.. no wussy 4* hotels like on my previous euro trips!
The scenery was great as expected, but I was really amazed by how sick most of the walking tracks were! Most of it, right on the edge of unridable, were the most fun I've riding in ages. I was under pressure too, not wanting to accept that Dave, just shy of 50 and riding his quirky Salsa 29er, could out ride me. In the end though I had no chance, not on the downhills, nor on the climbs!
Laurence also got the better of me, but I can justify that because he was on a big bike (Santa Cruz Heckler). His fun was put to an abrupt stop though due to a naughty twig that somehow pushed his rear derailleur into his rear wheel. After a quick mod to single speed mode he made it through day 1, just to have his freewheel crap out due to the extra pressure. Finally faced with the only remaining option of riding the final day as a fixie, he settled for a 50km road ride home.
The second day involved a bit more pushing and Matagouri bashing, but the reward was an amazing single tack descent from Fowlers pass that just naturally flowed down the valley back to the main gravel road where the van was parked. We ended up with around 17hrs riding time through some true 100% pure NZ.
The junior camp was for the top South Island riders and we had around 15 hot shots between 12-17 years old turn up for some fun in the Hanmer sun. This place is renowned for its flowing single tracks, so we all had a blast riding around the trails.. it was just a little hard to keep up as these juniors just attacked us oldies from the start!
I then joined Laurence, Guy (the Ground Effect crew) and Dave (legendary sadistic mtb adventurer) for some high country riding in the St James Station. Dave had planned us a suitably gnarly route... 2 days, around 160km through desolate high country, lots of rough walking tracks, and a fair amount of hike a bike peaks to ensure a fair mix of pleasure and pain. We slept in a DOC hut, so had to carry sleeping bags and food.. no wussy 4* hotels like on my previous euro trips!
The scenery was great as expected, but I was really amazed by how sick most of the walking tracks were! Most of it, right on the edge of unridable, were the most fun I've riding in ages. I was under pressure too, not wanting to accept that Dave, just shy of 50 and riding his quirky Salsa 29er, could out ride me. In the end though I had no chance, not on the downhills, nor on the climbs!
Laurence also got the better of me, but I can justify that because he was on a big bike (Santa Cruz Heckler). His fun was put to an abrupt stop though due to a naughty twig that somehow pushed his rear derailleur into his rear wheel. After a quick mod to single speed mode he made it through day 1, just to have his freewheel crap out due to the extra pressure. Finally faced with the only remaining option of riding the final day as a fixie, he settled for a 50km road ride home.
The second day involved a bit more pushing and Matagouri bashing, but the reward was an amazing single tack descent from Fowlers pass that just naturally flowed down the valley back to the main gravel road where the van was parked. We ended up with around 17hrs riding time through some true 100% pure NZ.
04 December 2008
Life in Dunedin is humming along nicely. I'm as busy as always, but spending heaps of times at the laid back cafe's and restaurants as well. This is one thing I love about this place... perhaps because of all the students, there are just so many cool places to go, not to mention my all time favorite hangout, annoying the nice folks at R&R :)
I'v also been meeting lots of great people involved with the academy of sport which has its head quarters here. Its an awesome setup, with all sorts of top experts and help for us athletes. I can go and get massages or any kind of medical help, talk with sports scientists about the latest studies and research or go into the private gym.
They have got me on a new tough weights program and Chris Donaldson (NZ 100m champion) will be my personal trainer !! I was a little embarrassed in my first session, as the Highlanders (Otago Rugby team) were all there pushing such huge weights, I felt like a little horse jockey in comparison!
I'v also been meeting lots of great people involved with the academy of sport which has its head quarters here. Its an awesome setup, with all sorts of top experts and help for us athletes. I can go and get massages or any kind of medical help, talk with sports scientists about the latest studies and research or go into the private gym.
They have got me on a new tough weights program and Chris Donaldson (NZ 100m champion) will be my personal trainer !! I was a little embarrassed in my first session, as the Highlanders (Otago Rugby team) were all there pushing such huge weights, I felt like a little horse jockey in comparison!
