Portalegre, Portugal

Hi all and welcome to my blog, Seems I really should have started this a while ago but oh well tough luck. The aim of this is to let all you guys in on the many adventures I'm getting up to these days. There has been a lot of changes in my life over the last few years all arising from the rekindling of my love affair with two wheels, it's funny that something that was such a big part of my youth just managed to slip by the wayside for so long but i guess once the bug bites it may lay dormant for a while but eventually you just get sucked back in. Funnily enough like most of life's major changes this one came about on a night on the town. Having tired with the usual smack talk etc I adjourned to the pokies slipped in a gold coin and boom jackpot, mint I thought drinks all round, then while waiting for the bartender to sort the payout I moved to another machine where the process was duly repeated, two jackpots in a row. Bloody ridiculous but I thought I better not waste it so the next morning was spent on trademe where I managed to find a mint 05 Sinky DeeLux, let the DH addiction begin. So two years two years and 5 bikes later I now have a mint 2010 Yeti 303Rdh as well as countless new friends, a new career, and new goals.

It was one evening ride a year and a half ago however that proved to be quite a catalyst to the events that have unfolded since, during a ride over an unnamed track in the hills overlooking Dunedin I suffered a nicely snapped rear shock. After trying the usual bike shops and receiving less than satisfactory service and even worse advice I happened upon the then recently opened Bike Otago. Not only did the get the shock fixed they also lent my a replacement while mine was away, While there talking with one of the owners Greg, I had my eyes opened to a whole other side of the biking life and one that hit home with my naturally competitive side, after a few months of weekly shuttles with crew from Bike O and the rest of the tight nit local dh riders I was starting to think about the first race coming up in Clyde. I wasn't happy with my bike so out it went and along came an early glory, It lasted me 2 races much to my partners dismay( and probably many others :P ). After those two races with reasonable top 10 finishes and some more discussion with Greg and Justin I found myself on Yeti, the difference was immediate and come NZ National Series time I had progressed enough to secure a top 25 finish in the South Island Cup, pretty pleasing results for a first year on a bike after over 10 years off and no previous racing at all. Around the end of the South Island rounds I heard through some friends about a job too good to be true, could I really go round the world, build tracks, ride my bike, meet some awesome people and experience things I'd never even dared to dream. One email was all it took to find out yes I could. 9 months later and I've been riding in Jamaica, Portugal and all over New Zealand and have enjoyed every minute of it.

Over the next couple of months here in europe I aim to get in lots of training for National Champs being held in my home town this year and with several Portuguese Nationals track in close range I should be fighting fit come the end of February.