L'Etape Epique ride number 1 ( 28/11/2009)

To view photos from this ride click here.

Ride 2 will be on March the 6th 2010 and finishes in Kaikoura.

Kiwi Style Bike Tours and Blox Apparel present:

l’Etape Épique

Ride number 1 review.

Lincoln to Greymouth- 151 miles.

The ride started at 0630hrs from Coffee Culture Lincoln. 9 deg and raining meant a cold and wet start to the day.

Team Warmup made the most of this special occasion sporting retro moustache’s to put the finishing touches too their “retro” look. John Mckenzie was taking things a step further in is Top Gun flight suit!

All the teams looked great wearing their Blox Apparel retro cycling tops.

The drama started early with the Warmup lads having a puncture just out of Darfield allowing the fast moving team from Dole to come past them.

Porters Pass was the first big challenge of the day and this certainly separated the teams who had merged into 2 groups approaching the climb.

Team Dole worked hard on the other side to open up a sizable lead after starting last 20 min behind the first team to leave.

2 punctures in quick succession soon extinguished the lead with Ill Poggio and Warmup moving past them.

A member from Team Dole then rode to the Klondyke checkpoint to retrieve a spare tyre to replace Shane Aiken’s tyre that had blown apart then bike back to help replace the blown out tyre.

Team Warmup and Ill Poggio were the first teams into then away from the Klondyke corner checkpoint.

Team Indy cars were watching the rear of the field having a great time and making the most of the checkpoints and keeping things social.

The climb out of Arthur’s pass included a 600m section of thick gravel on a 14 percent section of the climb, and with the rain and cool conditions it was certainly becoming an Epic day!

The section over Arthur’s really tied up some legs and some teams were really feeling the pinch now.

The last checkpoint was at Jackson’s and by this stage 190 very hard kilometres were in the legs.

Team Dole rolled in first for a quick stop followed by Team Ill Poggio. Team Ill Poggio were in and out very quick obviously keen to be the first to roll into Greymouth.

It was hard to believe after 6 hours of riding 2 teams were just seconds apart.

The small climb from Donegal’s put paid to Ill Poggio’s chances with Team Dole overtaking them and working with Swiss like efficiency all the way to Greymouth.

Beers and chips were on hand at the Speight’s Ale house in Greymouth for each of the teams, kindly provided by the staff at the Ale House.

Team Ill Poggio arrived a short time after Dole, followed by Team Warmup who put in a stirling effort over the last 2 hours by keeping the team intact with 2 riders really feeling the pinch.

Team Indy cars were the gustiest team of the day winning the “Pain is temporary, Quitting is forever” award. The team consisted of 3 guys, 2 girls and a very fit and determined 65 year old Peter Yarroll who proved any one is capable of achieving challenges such as this and at any age!

A few of the younger guys who had entered the ride and “pulled out” need to take note of people like Peter and give it ago because anyone can do it!

It rained pretty much the entire way, the riders encountered 5 lots of grave road works and all teams rode well as a team and enjoyed the challenge that it clearly was.

Team Indy cars also provided the day’s final pieces of drama as 2 riders had a minor spill on the road rail bridge with 16km to go followed by a puncture with 4km to go.

The Speight’s Ale house was surely a welcome sight for them after leaving Lincoln 11 hours and 37 minutes earlier. (Cumulative time that included a fantastic cup of tea and afternoon tea earlier in the day!)

For the record the teams finished in the following order:

Team Dole- First team into Greymouth and the fastest time of the day.
Team Ill Poggio- most deserving team award.
Team Warmup.
Team Indy Cars- winner of the Pain is temporary quitting is forever trophy.

A special mention has to be made to Team Warm up for raising just over $500 for the NZ Spinal trust.

Another special mention has to go to Team Warm up and Team Ill Poggio (John Bull cycles) for really getting into the spirit of things by organising regular “epic” bunch rides over the past few weeks.

It is this sort of thing we were hoping to produce and it’s great to see bunch rides being organised, friendships being made and huge challenges being ticked off!

Steve and Janine from Jdesign www.jdesign.co.nz spent the day taking over 1000 photos and also deserve special mention for the work they have done and the photos they have supplied are amazing!

Ride 2 is set down for Saturday the 13 March 2010. The finish will be in Kaikoura. The start point will be made available 2 days before the ride.

The distance will be between 140-180 miles.

This ride will be limited to only 8 teams and judging by the feedback on Saturday only 4 spots will be available as Team Dole, Warmup. Ill Poggio and Indy cars are all ready to ride again!

No entries will be held and no entry confirmed until the $130 per person has been paid.

When you enter you receive a very stylish cotton fed bag and a Blox Apparel cycling top “retro” style with your team name and colours.

Richard