Spooner's blog

The Rev cycling festival certainly lured an eclectic mix of riders to the University of Waikato. As mobs of dirty lycra clad roadies inhabit the fields, a small cluster of us turn up will full faces and armour ready to wreak some havoc.

The inaugural single speed nats were approached by all with an air of anticipation.  All that we could be certain about was the presence of beer and madness.  According to all the bollocks single speeders are the ‘wacky’ and ‘crazy’ clique of mountain bikers, with a passion for pain.  We were looking forward to meeting a few new faces, and finding out exactly what this is all about.   This was the first big organised mass of single speeders in New Zealand, so whatever happened it was going to be an interesting weekend.

Perhaps is a sign of true addiction, but time not spent in the saddle seems to be dedicated to one of two things.  There’s the dreaming of riding; mentally barrelling through my favourite piece of single-track, teetering on the edge of control as I try not to look at that rock my back wheel will clip if I step it out any further. The thoughts of pushing myself up a climb, huffing and puffing until my legs are on fire.  Then there are the thoughts of the bike.