If you have any photos of the Kiwi Brevet that you'd like to share, please email them to jonathan [at] kennett [dot] co [dot] nz
We love seeing the big views and the small, the riders and other forms of wildlife.
Weather-wise, it's a forecast of two halves from the Metservice. They predict four days of sunshine followed by four days of showers. Looks like an incentive to ride faster, but who really trusts weather forecasts beyond the next couple of days? We'll know for real soon enough!
31 January 2014
29 January 2014
Rules for 2014
What's shown below is an edited version of the rules blurb from 2012. The main thing is to complete the course under your own steam, without a support crew.
Note the 10th rule;
Text-ins (rather than 'call-ins') are to be made from designated towns along the route until you either finish or abandon the brevet. Tweet your texts to 8987, or text event HQ on 027 284 5599. Tweets are preferred as they'll go up on the event blog directly, but they must be limited to 140 characters. If you want to share something longer, text the cell phone number.
The designated towns are shown on the course Google map.
Regarding the map, note that it shows the most direct way through Nelson via the I-Site. The more detailed cue sheet sent out this week shows 'Google Directions' suggestion, which includes a few backyards along unformed road. Once in Nelson, just follow your nose to the i-Site on Hallifax St, on-road please.
Note also that there will be an open home in Nelson on the Saturday and Sunday nights, with room for several riders. I'll give out the details at the briefing.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
What is the Kiwi Brevet? What defines it? How does it differ from a race? Can it be won?
The Kiwi Brevet is a cycle touring challenge. It is defined by the course and the event rules. You can complete the course without following the rules, but you will have completed something that is, to some degree, different from the 'Kiwi Brevet'.
In 2010, most riders followed the Kiwi Brevet rules perfectly, but many did not. Some missed parts of the course, some entered Molesworth Station early, some picked up gear that was waiting at private addresses, some rode as domestiques for others. This was disappointing and lead to a complete lack of enthusiasm for finalising finishing results.
After completing the Tawhio o Whanganui - a far more relaxed brevet style event - I've concluded that results are not important. In fact they can be counter-productive, as they encourage a level of competitive riding which detracts from a truly fine cycle tour. This year we have two optional sections which I hope will mess with the instinct to complete the course as fast as possible.
A really great dirt brevet has a challenging time component, but that is only one small element of what defines success in this event. If there were 'winners' in the inaugural Kiwi Brevet, I would say they were the riders who exceeded their expectations and shared their adventures with others (through photos, blogs, amusing call-ins and articles, etc). If you can meet some of the locals, enjoy some great food and scenery; and finish uninjured with a little bit left in the tank, then you have done very well indeed! And if you enjoy the company of fellow breveteers - deepening old friendships or developing new - you've really hit the jackpot.
The event culture is largely determined by its participants, but the rules lay the groundwork for how the riders tackle the course. With that in mind, here are the rules for 2012.
1. Do it all yourself, under your own steam.
2. Riders must carry all their own gear (i.e. no domestiques, unless you are part of a team).
3. No outside support (deliveries only to public addresses, no support from friends along the way, no support vehicles of any kind meeting you along the way). Prior to the race you may only post supplies to post offices.
4. Follow 100% of the course.
5. It is recommended that riders carry a personal locator beacon, and agree to cover the cost of rescue in the event they need to be evacuated.
6. Riders must not complete the course in less than 4 days (This event is not about finding the fastest rider).
7. Riders must finish in under 8 days. That is, by noon on Sunday the 9th Feb.
8. Between 9am one day and 9am the next, every rider must spend at least one block of at least six hours not travelling. That is, the maximum time any rider may spend travelling along the course will be 18 hours (between each 9am-to-9am period)."
9. When on public roads, follow the NZ Road Code.
10. Text-ins are to be made from designated towns along the route until you either finish or abandon the brevet. Tweet your texts to 8987, or text event HQ on 027 284 5599.
11. Riders must observe all rules laid down by land mangers along the route (such as the Department of Conservation). Riders must not camp or light fires in the McDonald Downs Station section or the North Bank of the Wairau forest section of the course.
In the event of Rainbow Station being closed, riders are to proceed through the Molesworth Station. Please note that Rainbow Station (about three quarters of the way between Hamner and St Arnaud) is closed during the hours of darkness. The dogs at the homestead will wake the manager if you go past after dark.
In the unlikely event that the private forest on the North bank of the Wairau is closed, riders should proceed directly down the valley on the highway.
Note the 10th rule;
Text-ins (rather than 'call-ins') are to be made from designated towns along the route until you either finish or abandon the brevet. Tweet your texts to 8987, or text event HQ on 027 284 5599. Tweets are preferred as they'll go up on the event blog directly, but they must be limited to 140 characters. If you want to share something longer, text the cell phone number.
The designated towns are shown on the course Google map.
Regarding the map, note that it shows the most direct way through Nelson via the I-Site. The more detailed cue sheet sent out this week shows 'Google Directions' suggestion, which includes a few backyards along unformed road. Once in Nelson, just follow your nose to the i-Site on Hallifax St, on-road please.
Note also that there will be an open home in Nelson on the Saturday and Sunday nights, with room for several riders. I'll give out the details at the briefing.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
What is the Kiwi Brevet? What defines it? How does it differ from a race? Can it be won?
The Kiwi Brevet is a cycle touring challenge. It is defined by the course and the event rules. You can complete the course without following the rules, but you will have completed something that is, to some degree, different from the 'Kiwi Brevet'.
In 2010, most riders followed the Kiwi Brevet rules perfectly, but many did not. Some missed parts of the course, some entered Molesworth Station early, some picked up gear that was waiting at private addresses, some rode as domestiques for others. This was disappointing and lead to a complete lack of enthusiasm for finalising finishing results.
After completing the Tawhio o Whanganui - a far more relaxed brevet style event - I've concluded that results are not important. In fact they can be counter-productive, as they encourage a level of competitive riding which detracts from a truly fine cycle tour. This year we have two optional sections which I hope will mess with the instinct to complete the course as fast as possible.
A really great dirt brevet has a challenging time component, but that is only one small element of what defines success in this event. If there were 'winners' in the inaugural Kiwi Brevet, I would say they were the riders who exceeded their expectations and shared their adventures with others (through photos, blogs, amusing call-ins and articles, etc). If you can meet some of the locals, enjoy some great food and scenery; and finish uninjured with a little bit left in the tank, then you have done very well indeed! And if you enjoy the company of fellow breveteers - deepening old friendships or developing new - you've really hit the jackpot.
The event culture is largely determined by its participants, but the rules lay the groundwork for how the riders tackle the course. With that in mind, here are the rules for 2012.
1. Do it all yourself, under your own steam.
2. Riders must carry all their own gear (i.e. no domestiques, unless you are part of a team).
3. No outside support (deliveries only to public addresses, no support from friends along the way, no support vehicles of any kind meeting you along the way). Prior to the race you may only post supplies to post offices.
4. Follow 100% of the course.
5. It is recommended that riders carry a personal locator beacon, and agree to cover the cost of rescue in the event they need to be evacuated.
6. Riders must not complete the course in less than 4 days (This event is not about finding the fastest rider).
7. Riders must finish in under 8 days. That is, by noon on Sunday the 9th Feb.
8. Between 9am one day and 9am the next, every rider must spend at least one block of at least six hours not travelling. That is, the maximum time any rider may spend travelling along the course will be 18 hours (between each 9am-to-9am period)."
9. When on public roads, follow the NZ Road Code.
10. Text-ins are to be made from designated towns along the route until you either finish or abandon the brevet. Tweet your texts to 8987, or text event HQ on 027 284 5599.
11. Riders must observe all rules laid down by land mangers along the route (such as the Department of Conservation). Riders must not camp or light fires in the McDonald Downs Station section or the North Bank of the Wairau forest section of the course.
In the event of Rainbow Station being closed, riders are to proceed through the Molesworth Station. Please note that Rainbow Station (about three quarters of the way between Hamner and St Arnaud) is closed during the hours of darkness. The dogs at the homestead will wake the manager if you go past after dark.
In the unlikely event that the private forest on the North bank of the Wairau is closed, riders should proceed directly down the valley on the highway.
28 January 2014
Musettes for Singletrack
Hana, Mark, Jo and Scott have come up with these groovy Kiwi Brevet musettes - a lightwieght cotton bag designed to carry cycling fuel. They're making 50 musettes, which we're selling for $16 each. $10 from each bag sale goes to cover the $500 we've given to the Castlehill Village trail crew so they can hire a digger to open up a new section of singletrack for us in the Craigieburn area, just in time for next week.
If you'd like us to put you down for a musette, email simon [at] kennett [dot] co [dot] nz
We'll collect the money at the brevet briefing and hand out as many as Hana, Mark, Jo and Scott get made this week to the people who order first. The rest will be posted out in mid-Feb.
If you'd like us to put you down for a musette, email simon [at] kennett [dot] co [dot] nz
We'll collect the money at the brevet briefing and hand out as many as Hana, Mark, Jo and Scott get made this week to the people who order first. The rest will be posted out in mid-Feb.
27 January 2014
Some last minute notes...
Hello Kiwi Brevet riders
I've tweaked the course a little bit on the way out of Blenheim -
don't worry about the detail as we'll be lead out of town by Rob from
the local council. Also, I've altered a few hundred metres of the google
map through Nelson, so it aligns properly with the cue sheet.
Brian
Alder has developed the cue sheet further with distances for virtually
every turn - handy for those without GPS's. Please see a copy attached.
I've only cast a quick eye over it - it looks good, but you might want
to check it in detail. If you use a cue sheet, don't forget to get your
maps sorted this week.
The Spot trackers have arrived
from the USA (just need to clear customs). If you are hiring one (and I
think there may still be a couple to spare) you'll need to bring some
batteries - three AAA lithiums. Only lithium batteries have the power
needed to last the distance.
We've checked the
donations to the Kiwi Brevet 2014 charities and see that most of you
have been generous - $5,000 has beed raised so far. Awesome! However, a
couple of dozen riders have yet to make a donation. Please do this in
the next day or two and email me with confirmation (as this will save
the hassle of dealing with cash at the briefing). The details are here:
http://www.kiwibrevet.blogspot.co.nz/2013/11/how-to-enter-for-2014.html
The
main briefing will be at 10am on Saturday at Top Town Cinema, Kinross
St, Blenheim. There will be an early briefing for riders in Wellington
at 6pm on Thursday, at Revolution Bicycles, Northland Rd, Wellington.
There
are some health & safety conditions that we are required to meet to
go through the private forest on the North Bank of the Wairau River.
These include lights and some form of high-vis (something that will have
you stand out in the shadows in mature pine forest). Please bear this
in mind when packing your gear.
That's all for now. See you at the end of the week!
21 January 2014
Looking After Yourself
I bumped into a Kiwi Brevet rider who was nearing the end of a very long ride yesterday and was suffering some loss of feeling in his little finger. It's not uncommon for people to suffer nerve damage by the end of the Brevet. Sometimes it takes months to come right. Just a reminder about how to avoid this:
1 - Use lots of different handlebar positions - change frequently.
2 - Use a good pair of gloves (maybe two different pairs, and change every few hours)
3 - Run soft tyre pressures and/or plush suspension
4 - Raise your handlebars so that your have less weight on your hands
The other most common complaint is a raw backside. This generally comes right quicker, but can result in a LOT of discomfort. Solutions include:
1 - Move around on the bike frequently (also, stand-up on the pedals and walk from time to time).
2 - Wear two pairs of shorts with different pad design. Swap them around and wear two pairs at once during the first hour or two of riding each day.
3 - Change your saddle angle or height (or switch to a different saddle)
4 - Use a good chammy cream. My favourite is Sweet Cheeks Butt Butter. I've found it works well to prevent sores and also heals minor problems before they get worse. There will be some small 100 gram pottles available at the briefing for $15. That's what I'll be taking.
5 - If things get icky, try some talc powder at the end of each day.
There's also a tendency to suffer from tendinitis (usually minor). I treat that with a small dose of Voltaren anti-inflammatory pills (one 25mg pill per day, at the end of the day). They are available over the counter at pharmacys. Best check to see if you have a bad reaction to that before you try it in the Brevet. Some people do, but usually with a much larger dose.
Sun screen and oral hygiene are fairly obvious, but do slip when riders are exhausted. Peeling skin and mouth ulcers are not a good look at the finish.
Of course it is possible to finish the Brevet looking sharp, which is exactly what we want, but it'll take a bit more effort that your average tour or long, day-ride. If you have any more hints, please add them to the comments below or the Kiwi Brevet FB page.
1 - Use lots of different handlebar positions - change frequently.
2 - Use a good pair of gloves (maybe two different pairs, and change every few hours)
3 - Run soft tyre pressures and/or plush suspension
4 - Raise your handlebars so that your have less weight on your hands
The other most common complaint is a raw backside. This generally comes right quicker, but can result in a LOT of discomfort. Solutions include:
1 - Move around on the bike frequently (also, stand-up on the pedals and walk from time to time).
2 - Wear two pairs of shorts with different pad design. Swap them around and wear two pairs at once during the first hour or two of riding each day.
3 - Change your saddle angle or height (or switch to a different saddle)
4 - Use a good chammy cream. My favourite is Sweet Cheeks Butt Butter. I've found it works well to prevent sores and also heals minor problems before they get worse. There will be some small 100 gram pottles available at the briefing for $15. That's what I'll be taking.
5 - If things get icky, try some talc powder at the end of each day.
There's also a tendency to suffer from tendinitis (usually minor). I treat that with a small dose of Voltaren anti-inflammatory pills (one 25mg pill per day, at the end of the day). They are available over the counter at pharmacys. Best check to see if you have a bad reaction to that before you try it in the Brevet. Some people do, but usually with a much larger dose.
Sun screen and oral hygiene are fairly obvious, but do slip when riders are exhausted. Peeling skin and mouth ulcers are not a good look at the finish.
Of course it is possible to finish the Brevet looking sharp, which is exactly what we want, but it'll take a bit more effort that your average tour or long, day-ride. If you have any more hints, please add them to the comments below or the Kiwi Brevet FB page.
18 January 2014
Navigation Resources
Here's a list of handy resources for navigating your way round the Kiwi Brevet successfully. I suggest you take a laminated copy of the cue sheets (or photo of them on your phone). If you have a GPS, you might also like to take some photos of the maps and directions for the tricky off-road sections. If you don't have a GPS, a bike speed is very handy.
Personally, I love maps, so I'll be taking most of what's listed below. Whatever your system, it's a smart move to have a back-up.
If you haven't received the cue sheets via email yet, please contact me at simon [at] kennett [dot] co [dot] nz
Oh, and good luck to all the Great Southern Brevet riders out there right now. You can follow their progress at http://greatsouthernbrevet.blogspot.co.nz/
Personally, I love maps, so I'll be taking most of what's listed below. Whatever your system, it's a smart move to have a back-up.
If you haven't received the cue sheets via email yet, please contact me at simon [at] kennett [dot] co [dot] nz
Oh, and good luck to all the Great Southern Brevet riders out there right now. You can follow their progress at http://greatsouthernbrevet.blogspot.co.nz/
1100 km Kiwi Brevet
1 - Cue
sheet to get from Blenheim to Rarangi (or keep an eye on the locals)
2 - Google directions to Pelorous Bridge via Port Underwood or CNZCT’s ‘Picton to Nelson’
2 - Google directions to Pelorous Bridge via Port Underwood or CNZCT’s ‘Picton to Nelson’
3 - CNZMBR Maungatapu ride
4 - Topo250 map 13 (bottom half only)
5 - Street map for Nelson (or Google)
6 – CNZCT for Great Taste Trail to Wakefield, and ‘Golden Downs Trail’
7 - Topo250 map 18
8 – CNZMBR/CNZCT Pioneer Heritage Trail via Porika & Braeburn Tracks
9 - CNZMBR Big River - Waiuta
10 - Topo50 map BT21 Waiuta
11 - Topo250 map 17
12 - Google directions for Waiuta to start of Wharfedale Track
4 - Topo250 map 13 (bottom half only)
5 - Street map for Nelson (or Google)
6 – CNZCT for Great Taste Trail to Wakefield, and ‘Golden Downs Trail’
7 - Topo250 map 18
8 – CNZMBR/CNZCT Pioneer Heritage Trail via Porika & Braeburn Tracks
9 - CNZMBR Big River - Waiuta
10 - Topo50 map BT21 Waiuta
11 - Topo250 map 17
12 - Google directions for Waiuta to start of Wharfedale Track
12b – For
CastleHill Single Track option, refer to http://www.openstreetmap.org/#map=14/-43.1619/171.7016&layers=C
and list of tracks on cue sheet
13 - Topo250 map 23 (top third only)
14 - CNZMBR for Wharfedale Track
15 - Topo50 map BW22 Oxford
16 - Topo50 map BV23 Virginia
17 - Cue sheet through private land after Lees Valley (to be distributed at briefing)
18 - Google directions to Hanmer
19 – CNZMBR/CNZCT for ‘Rainbow Valley’ directions
13 - Topo250 map 23 (top third only)
14 - CNZMBR for Wharfedale Track
15 - Topo50 map BW22 Oxford
16 - Topo50 map BV23 Virginia
17 - Cue sheet through private land after Lees Valley (to be distributed at briefing)
18 - Google directions to Hanmer
19 – CNZMBR/CNZCT for ‘Rainbow Valley’ directions
19b –
CNZCT for St James option
20 - Topo250 map 19
20 - Topo250 map 19
21 – Cue sheet for route through private forest on North
Bank of Wairau (to be distributed at briefing)
22 - Cue sheet for final leg into Blenheim
22 - Cue sheet for final leg into Blenheim
700 km Kiwi Brevette
1 - Cue
sheet to get from Blenheim to Rarangi (or keep an eye on the locals)
2 - Google directions to Pelorous Bridge via Port Underwood or CNZCT’s ‘Picton to Nelson’
3 - CNZMBR Maungatapu ride
4 - Topo250 map 13 (bottom half only)
5 - Street map for Nelson (Google)
6 – CNZCT for Great Taste Trail to Wakefield, and ‘Golden Downs Trail’
7 - Topo250 map 18
8 – CNZMBR/CNZCT ‘Pioneer Heritage Trail’ via Braeburn Track (Porika Track is optional)
9 – From Springs Junction, Google directions to Hanmer
10 – CNZMBR/CNZCT for ‘Rainbow Valley’ directions
2 - Google directions to Pelorous Bridge via Port Underwood or CNZCT’s ‘Picton to Nelson’
3 - CNZMBR Maungatapu ride
4 - Topo250 map 13 (bottom half only)
5 - Street map for Nelson (Google)
6 – CNZCT for Great Taste Trail to Wakefield, and ‘Golden Downs Trail’
7 - Topo250 map 18
8 – CNZMBR/CNZCT ‘Pioneer Heritage Trail’ via Braeburn Track (Porika Track is optional)
9 – From Springs Junction, Google directions to Hanmer
10 – CNZMBR/CNZCT for ‘Rainbow Valley’ directions
10b –
CNZCT for St James option
11 – Cue sheet
for route through private forest on North Bank of Wairau (to be distributed
at briefing)
12 - Cue sheet for final leg into Blenheim
12 - Cue sheet for final leg into Blenheim
CNZMBR = 'Classic NZ MTB Rides' (7th or 8th edition)
CNZCT - 'Classic NZ Cycle Trails (2nd edition)
10 January 2014
The 2014 Kiwi Brevet Course
Everything is shaping up nicely for this year's course.
Many thanks to Mondo for negotiating access through Manuka Forest on the North Bank of the Wairau, and the Patterson family for allowing access through MacDonald Downs Station again. Please note that both these sections of private property are normally closed to the public. They are not open for practice rides - we only have permission to ride through during the Kiwi Brevet, with certain conditions such as no fires, no camping, leave gates as you find them, only riding through during daylight hours, pull over for trucks, etc.
Please note that there is an access fee to be paid as you pass through Rainbow Station - $2 as you pass by Rainbow Cob Homestead.
In the Craigieburn-Castle Hill area there will be the option of getting off Highway 73 for about 10km, onto a mix of skifield road and sweet singletrack for about 24km. The sale of Kiwi Brevet musettes will be helping to fund the construction of the first section of singletrack (Coal Pit Spur track) which will be built next week. However the bridges won't be complete - you'll need to ford Craigieburn stream a couple of times. If you like the sound of this option check out this map http://www.openstreetmap.org/#map=16/-43.1391/171.7429&layers=C for more details.
Here's the Google map for the whole course - note that the detail for the North Bank forestry roads will be put on an A4 map and handed out at the event briefing (at Top Town Cinemas in Blenheim on the morning of the 1st Feb).
https://maps.google.co.nz/maps/ms?msid=213858899904025765407.00047034cc217e43981f8&msa=0&ll=-42.228517,173.468628&spn=2.347008,5.410767&dg=feature
If you're wondering how hilly this is, our original altitude graphs from 2010 give a pretty good idea - http://www.kiwibrevet.blogspot.co.nz/2009/12/altitude-graphs.html . The major difference is having the Molesworth replaced with the Rainbow. There's an altitude graph for the Rainbow Road in the latest edition of Classic NZ MTB Rides.
We'll send out cue sheets, and guidebook and map references in about a week. Details regarding SPOT trackers should be out in the next day or two. In the meantime, good luck with your final preparations!
Many thanks to Mondo for negotiating access through Manuka Forest on the North Bank of the Wairau, and the Patterson family for allowing access through MacDonald Downs Station again. Please note that both these sections of private property are normally closed to the public. They are not open for practice rides - we only have permission to ride through during the Kiwi Brevet, with certain conditions such as no fires, no camping, leave gates as you find them, only riding through during daylight hours, pull over for trucks, etc.
Please note that there is an access fee to be paid as you pass through Rainbow Station - $2 as you pass by Rainbow Cob Homestead.
In the Craigieburn-Castle Hill area there will be the option of getting off Highway 73 for about 10km, onto a mix of skifield road and sweet singletrack for about 24km. The sale of Kiwi Brevet musettes will be helping to fund the construction of the first section of singletrack (Coal Pit Spur track) which will be built next week. However the bridges won't be complete - you'll need to ford Craigieburn stream a couple of times. If you like the sound of this option check out this map http://www.openstreetmap.org/#map=16/-43.1391/171.7429&layers=C for more details.
Here's the Google map for the whole course - note that the detail for the North Bank forestry roads will be put on an A4 map and handed out at the event briefing (at Top Town Cinemas in Blenheim on the morning of the 1st Feb).
https://maps.google.co.nz/maps/ms?msid=213858899904025765407.00047034cc217e43981f8&msa=0&ll=-42.228517,173.468628&spn=2.347008,5.410767&dg=feature
If you're wondering how hilly this is, our original altitude graphs from 2010 give a pretty good idea - http://www.kiwibrevet.blogspot.co.nz/2009/12/altitude-graphs.html . The major difference is having the Molesworth replaced with the Rainbow. There's an altitude graph for the Rainbow Road in the latest edition of Classic NZ MTB Rides.
We'll send out cue sheets, and guidebook and map references in about a week. Details regarding SPOT trackers should be out in the next day or two. In the meantime, good luck with your final preparations!
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