Big Bike Rides and Pretty Bays

The last Monday morning in March, my coworker Duncan walks into my office and says, "Lindsay, what are you doing this Saturday?" 
I flipped over the calendar to April, and noticed I had nothing planned.
**Insert Duncan's persuasive pestering/encouragement all morning long***.... then...
The next thing I knew, I was registering online for a 101km (62 mile) road bike race happening 5 days from then.

The Graperide is an annual Marlborough event, sponsored by the Forrest Winery.  It's a big loop from Renwick (the capital of the NZ wine industry) to Blenheim (my hood!) to Picton (where the ferry comes in) to Havelock (where the Mussel Festival was) back to Renwick.  

Oh, did I mention I've never been on a road bike before?  And that the longest I've ever cycled in my life was maybe 35km on a mountain bike?  Yeah, really didn't think that through when I was filling out the online registration. :)

My boss loaned me his roadbike and fitted it properly for me Monday after work.   I went for a 25 km testride on Monday night, 42 km testride Tuesday night,  did a crosstraining run with Duncan on Wednesday, and took Thursday and Friday to rest (and mentally prepare for the self-inflicted torture ahead!)

What I was most scared of were the hills.  (See elevation profile below)

As you can see, there were some doozies between Picton and Havelock.  It's a windy road called "Queen Charlotte Drive" that is treacherous to drive but absolutely GORGEOUS views down into the Queen Charlotte Sounds.  Tempting to stop and look, but the cutoff time for the course was 5 hours and my goal was to finish before then!

So Saturday morning came, and I pedalled.

And pedalled...

(note grapevines in background, how tempting)!

And pedalled...

And pedalled some more...

And, 4hrs and 19 minutes later... happily pedaled through the grapevines of the winery to the finish line!  YAHOO!

Surprisingly, it wasn't that bad.  My butt was a bit sore after and the next day crouching up/down to use the toilet I felt like a 90 year old man, but otherwise, I was happy and so proud of my spur of the moment decision to enter!

Here's Duncan and I after finishing.  He beat me obviously, but he had a bit more than 5 days to train. :)

Since my body was in need of a rest, I spent the next day relaxing at White's Bay, a beach about 30 mins drive from Blenheim.

A view before descending down the windy road to the bay, tucked in along the left....

Viewing from this angle, the beach looks pretty blah.

But I plopped myself in a chair with a book on that beach, and had GORGEOUS views out to the water!

On the drive back to Blenheim, I stopped back at the top of the hill to take in the marvelous views of the Marlborough coast.  Unbeatable, even on a cloudy day!

Before I end this blog, I must introduce you to my new baby!   I traded in that POS bike I bought in Hawera and used the earnings toward a purchase of a sweet real mountainbike that fits my tall legs!

I think I'm gonna name her Meri.  (the brand is "Merida")

Her christening was at the Wither Hills Farm Park earlier today.  She made it well on the "easy" track.  Little does she know she has a BIG RIDE coming up Easter Weekend!

That's all for now from your favorite novice cyclist!