Karapoti Classic

So the Karapoti is right around the corner, and you're thinking "Am I ready?, is my bike ready?"
If you haven't gotten your bike in to be serviced, don't wait till the last minute. Bring that bike into a shop anywhere on the friday before and there's a very good chance you'll get laughed at and told bad luck. Personally I'm the king of doing things at the last minute, but I know not to do that. And remember, theres a sale on at the moment at Muds, you could always rock the race on a new bike. Merida Big Nine XT-D at only $1749 for a full XT drivetrain

Heres some tips to make Karapoti work better for you

* Have your bike serviced. Is your drivetrain worn (karapoti is renowned for chainsuck), I highly recommend new brake pads, or at the very least making sure they have lots of meat left on them.
Get in early, as in now, don't leave it til the last minute, or else I may apply a bourbon penalty for last minute on the Friday Karapoti jobs.

*Tires. Karapoti eats tires, DO NOT assume you will be sweet on your super light weight race tires. Whilst you MAY get away with it it, is it worth the risk? Run a few more psi than normal.
Get some fresh rubber. Mud Cycles carrys a massive range of tires, and standard folding 29er Maxxis Crossmarks, Aspens, and Ardents are HALF price at the moment.

*If you don't like to carry a camelbak, then it is fully acceptable and advised to have a seat bag on your bike. And carry these things

     - Spare Tube, at least one ( and I recommend a glueless patch as well)
     - Pump, or CO2 canisters. (if you have 29er tires then use a 25g canister)
     - Multi tool (Huge range in store including ones with chainbreakers)
     - Quicklink for your chain (make sure you have the right one too be it 9spd or 10spd)
     - Tire Levers. Unless your tires are super easy to remove by hand, take some.
       When you're tired and there's all sorts of crap on your wheel, it will make things easier
     - Lube, you don't normally carry lube in a race, but this is one that you should.
       Years of racing and riding Karapoti has taught many people that this is super important.
       20secs at the top of the Devils Staircase and bottom of the last climb will save you far
       far more in a wet or damp year

*Food and drink. Use what you are used to, and not something new cos someone said it was awesome. Race day is not a time to try something new out. And don't rely on just one bottle. And if you can only fit one on your bike and you don't camelbak up, then bottle in the back pocket is the go. It's what I'll be doing

*And a riding tip also. People seem to struggle with the gravel at Karapoti. Mainly cos thesedays we get to hoon on some fantastic singletrack trails all over the country. But the amount of people I see everyyear tense and worried on the descents is crazy. The long descents are your recovery time, you need to be relaxed as much as possible. Heres my last minute riding tip. Go find a big gravel carpark and practice cornering fast. Wear somejeans so if you do slid out, you won't get rashed up. LEarn to become comfortable turning on gravel, have your tires move under neath you. And relax, or fat old riders like me will beat you up climbs (most likely only the first part of any said climb)