tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2730053910292249777Wed, 28 Oct 2009 10:38:29 +0000http://psychavoc.blogspot.com/psychavoc@gmail.com (Celia)Blogger58125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2730053910292249777.post-8512711400554247105Sun, 28 Jun 2009 23:46:00 +00002009-06-29T11:50:17.516+12:00I've changed everything over from Blogger to WordPress so now the www.celiaridesbikes.com URL will point to WordPress. http://psychavoc.blogspot.com will point to here, but I won't be updating this blog anymore.[CLICK HERE TO GO TO THE NEW BLOG]http://psychavoc.blogspot.com/2009/06/new-website.htmlpsychavoc@gmail.com (Celia)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2730053910292249777.post-4288439930953716863Sun, 21 Jun 2009 23:14:00 +00002009-06-23T10:46:01.776+12:00That was our team-name for the Southland MTB Club's BNZ 8 hour Mad Winter Enduro race held on Saturday in Invercargill. (From the Simpsons for those who are a tad confused). After the race a couple of weekends ago, I was happy to enter as a team and not solo – there was hardly anywhere you could recover on course, which would have made a solo effort extremely difficult, gears or no gears!Scotty http://psychavoc.blogspot.com/2009/06/super-jet-dinosaur-fun-monkeys.htmlpsychavoc@gmail.com (Celia)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2730053910292249777.post-4375017847255463515Tue, 09 Jun 2009 05:17:00 +00002009-06-09T20:02:38.896+12:00I headed out to meet the usual crew for the weekly womens ride. This week, we went to ride Pineapple track (a walking track at all times except when booked officially through the Dunedin City Council). Some lessons learnt about winter night-riding:1. Check the weather forecast, track conditions, and pack a windproof jacket. Especially when heading up to where there's frost/ice on the tracks at http://psychavoc.blogspot.com/2009/06/lessons-learnt.htmlpsychavoc@gmail.com (Celia)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2730053910292249777.post-598657325174253168Mon, 08 Jun 2009 00:25:00 +00002009-06-08T12:29:24.192+12:00As part of my cunning ploy to keep riding over winter, we decided to head two and a half hours down south to check out the riding in Invercargill and enter Round 2 of the Southland MTB Club’s Winter XC Series out at Sandy Point. I’m not quite what I was expecting but the weekend didn’t really live up to my expectations. We arrived in Invercargill, hungry, at almost 2pm on Saturday afternoon and http://psychavoc.blogspot.com/2009/06/road-trip-to-invercargill.htmlpsychavoc@gmail.com (Celia)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2730053910292249777.post-3551694796043737155Thu, 28 May 2009 05:17:00 +00002009-05-28T17:23:09.652+12:00A photo I hastily took before heading out on my first ride yesterday:The frame is a bit bigger than the pink one I had, which is good because the pink one was a tad on the small side. I now feel like I'm riding a Celia-sized bike and not a slightly oversized clown bike! The eccentric bottom bracket is AWESOME because it means I don't have to run a chain tensioner. No more dropped chains! Sweet!http://psychavoc.blogspot.com/2009/05/chameleon-lives.htmlpsychavoc@gmail.com (Celia)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2730053910292249777.post-4747031364579873358Thu, 21 May 2009 06:48:00 +00002009-05-21T18:52:31.551+12:00And I am happy!!http://psychavoc.blogspot.com/2009/05/i-have-new-frame.htmlpsychavoc@gmail.com (Celia)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2730053910292249777.post-984188478521249467Mon, 18 May 2009 09:14:00 +00002009-05-19T08:08:26.910+12:00milton jailbreakmtbracesThroughout the past week, I was umming and ahhing about doing the Milton Jailbreak (35km or 50km options), or Round 2 of the Dunedin winter multisport series (2.5km run, 15km mtb, 5km run). Up until Saturday afternoon, I still hadn't decided on what event I was going to do. By Saturday evening (as we ate far too much food at a potluck dinner), I had finally made up my mind - the 35km "Rec" optionhttp://psychavoc.blogspot.com/2009/05/2009-milton-jailbreak.htmlpsychavoc@gmail.com (Celia)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2730053910292249777.post-2549346892813484795Sun, 10 May 2009 01:38:00 +00002009-05-10T13:54:13.293+12:00The weather gods were being a bit indecisive yesterday with alternating patches of sun and rain, in amongst a general cold overcast day. By early afternoon, I was sick of sitting around inside and waiting for the weather to play ball, so I said to Scotty "let's go exploring!" and we rugged up warm and headed out for a ride.We had popped into R&R Sport the night before to buy some warm winter http://psychavoc.blogspot.com/2009/05/lets-go-exploring.htmlpsychavoc@gmail.com (Celia)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2730053910292249777.post-8948379510424026626Thu, 07 May 2009 23:01:00 +00002009-05-08T16:34:39.248+12:00milton jailbreaksouthland mtb clubmtbracesAs we get into the colder, darker days and nights in the depths of winter, I begin to ponder how much riding I will actually do. So, nothing like a few events to keep the motivation up!Here's a few that I'm eyeing up over the next few months: http://www.miltonjailbreak.co.nz/I hear it's long, and it's muddy. The former probably suiting me more than the latter, but I suppose there's only one way http://psychavoc.blogspot.com/2009/05/upcoming-winter-events.htmlpsychavoc@gmail.com (Celia)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2730053910292249777.post-8743914617654652605Tue, 05 May 2009 09:42:00 +00002009-05-06T18:53:51.526+12:00They say good things come in threes. Actually, I'm not too sure who said it and whether it is often true, but in this case I can think of three good new things:1. New blog layout. I like change every now and again. This is the third layout I've used since www.celiaridesbikes.com started on 18th September 2008. (The reason I remember the date is because it's the day before my birthday).2. New http://psychavoc.blogspot.com/2009/05/new-new-new.htmlpsychavoc@gmail.com (Celia)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2730053910292249777.post-1817493986733547053Mon, 04 May 2009 08:17:00 +00002009-05-05T10:42:59.532+12:00Yesterday, Sara Macdonald organised an awesome day-adventure for the Dunedin weekly womens MTB riding group. Normally, we meet every Monday evening and head out for a ride (usually led by Sara), but a couple of times a year, Sara organises a longer day-trip that takes place in the weekend. The last one I went to was to Pulpit Rock and back before I left Dunedin, so I was looking forward to some http://psychavoc.blogspot.com/2009/05/girls-day-out-mtb-ride.htmlpsychavoc@gmail.com (Celia)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2730053910292249777.post-7919698183557571229Mon, 27 Apr 2009 01:24:00 +00002009-04-27T13:27:47.772+12:00http://www.mountainbikingotago.co.nz/2009%20Results/2009-naseby-12hr-results.txtLooks like I was one of three solo singlespeeders that finished on 12 laps, and I would've come 3rd in Solo Women if I was put in that category - sweet! :)http://psychavoc.blogspot.com/2009/04/naseby-results-are-up.htmlpsychavoc@gmail.com (Celia)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2730053910292249777.post-1196836842423080110Sun, 26 Apr 2009 03:45:00 +00002009-04-27T22:35:46.271+12:00nasebysinglespeedmtb12 hourAhh the Naseby 12 hour race. I've been looking forward to riding this again since I rode a couple of laps back in 2005 at the first Naseby 12 hour event. As I ummed and ahhed about whether I should join a team or go solo, the word got out that all the team entries were full. Bugger! However, I emailed the organisers and was lucky to get a spot in the 12 hour solo singlespeed category. This was a http://psychavoc.blogspot.com/2009/04/2009-naseby-12-hour-challenge.htmlpsychavoc@gmail.com (Celia)4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2730053910292249777.post-1521053787074412486Fri, 17 Apr 2009 20:36:00 +00002009-04-18T08:53:10.968+12:00Scotty decided that my singlespeed needed some loving (and some parts borrowed from my other bikes..) so here's some pretty pictures:Before:The lowdown: An old Giant ATX890 frame which had been powdercoated a few years back (but with a pretty crappy powdercoat job), and a mixture of old parts we had lying around..After:The lowdown: A repainted frame with hand-drawn bunny stickers, the Fox http://psychavoc.blogspot.com/2009/04/pimp-my-singlespeed.htmlpsychavoc@gmail.com (Celia)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2730053910292249777.post-8302978165220840269Fri, 10 Apr 2009 09:29:00 +00002009-04-10T21:38:25.236+12:00Just a quick update. My "training" since deciding a couple of weeks ago to ride 12 hours solo on a singlespeed in the Naseby 12 Hour MTB Challenge has involved a couple of singlespeed rides, and one run. Eeep! We're heading out to Naseby tomorrow for a day trip to check out the course. Let's hope the 32-20 I'm running will get me around Naseby in one piece. My main concern is my lower back, whichhttp://psychavoc.blogspot.com/2009/04/training-for-naseby-12-hour.htmlpsychavoc@gmail.com (Celia)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2730053910292249777.post-6546680223372686942Wed, 25 Mar 2009 03:39:00 +00002009-03-25T16:41:35.529+13:00I've just signed up to do the Naseby 12 Hour MTB Challenge ... Solo ... On a singlespeed.Eeep.http://psychavoc.blogspot.com/2009/03/wish-me-luck.htmlpsychavoc@gmail.com (Celia)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2730053910292249777.post-4249785440512628757Tue, 10 Mar 2009 21:07:00 +00002009-03-12T16:08:11.945+13:00It's been a while since my last blog post so I thought I'd better make one!The past few weeks I've spent exploring Dunedin by bike. It's been great riding old tracks that I hadn't seen in a couple of years and looking to see how things have changed over the past couple of years. Whare Flat for example - the trees were barely knee-height when we left. Now they're taller than me! The XC trails at http://psychavoc.blogspot.com/2009/03/exploring-dunedin-bloke-free-duathlon.htmlpsychavoc@gmail.com (Celia)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2730053910292249777.post-4411628473931467583Sun, 15 Feb 2009 08:50:00 +00002009-02-15T22:28:28.756+13:00The final race of my 08/09 season took me back to where it all began. My very first "Nationals" XC race was two years ago at Coronet Peak, where I'd tagged along with R&R Sport riders Sara Macdonald and Erin Greene on their road trip to Queenstown for the first round of the 2007 Natioal MTB Series. I headed out on practise day to scope out the course and decided I'd give the Sport race a go the http://psychavoc.blogspot.com/2009/02/2009-south-island-xc-cup-round-3.htmlpsychavoc@gmail.com (Celia)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2730053910292249777.post-6119740883440355995Sun, 08 Feb 2009 23:00:00 +00002009-02-16T15:48:21.236+13:00Take the hottest day of the NZ summer and most people would choose to spend it hiding from the heat indoors in a nice air-conditioned building, or on the beach working on their tan and splashing around in the waves..For those of us who were doing the second round of the South Island XC Cup race in Timaru on Sunday, there was no choice. It was out and about in the heat and humidity, for two (or http://psychavoc.blogspot.com/2009/02/2009-south-island-xc-cup-round-2.htmlpsychavoc@gmail.com (Celia)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2730053910292249777.post-7754060117000754056Mon, 02 Feb 2009 09:07:00 +00002009-02-16T15:51:37.190+13:00The first round of the South Island XC Cup series was held in Dunedin yesterday, and acted as a kind of homecoming of sorts. It was held in conjunction with the Otago Peninsula Challenge, a 43km point to point race on the Otago Peninsula in it's third year running. In it's first year, the race was run in the opposite direction (from north to south), and Scotty and I tail-end charlied for the http://psychavoc.blogspot.com/2009/02/2009-south-island-xc-cup-round-1.htmlpsychavoc@gmail.com (Celia)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2730053910292249777.post-2927566741346305483Sun, 18 Jan 2009 22:25:00 +00002009-01-19T12:31:09.010+13:00Well, I guess it was just one of those days..I woke up at 4am on Sunday morning to hear the sound of rain beating down on the tin shed roof outside. Great, just great. The track had been dry the past couple of weeks so I had only had the chance to practice it in the dry. I knew a few sections which I could ride in the wet, but the rest I was going to have to see about when I got there.The usual http://psychavoc.blogspot.com/2009/01/2009-north-island-xc-cup-round-3.htmlpsychavoc@gmail.com (Celia)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2730053910292249777.post-105048367982522447Mon, 05 Jan 2009 02:45:00 +00002009-01-06T16:58:00.779+13:00The New Year began with a road trip to Rotorua to compete in the first round of the 2009 North Island XC Cup Series. I had decided a couple of weeks ago to tag along to this race in order to redeem myself somewhat after last year's effort at the North Island XC Cup round in Rotorua, and with the impending move back down south to Dunedin for Scotty and I, it was going to be my last time in Rotoruahttp://psychavoc.blogspot.com/2009/01/2009-north-island-xc-cup-series-round-1.htmlpsychavoc@gmail.com (Celia)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2730053910292249777.post-1029632249128881400Mon, 29 Dec 2008 01:54:00 +00002008-12-29T15:12:37.853+13:00Wow, time flies when you're on holiday!Have just spent the past week down in Dunedin (and surrounds). Flew in Sunday 21st, back Sunday 28th.On Monday morning, I had a job interview at the University of Otago for a Teaching Fellow job in the Psychology Department (where I did my PhD). Monday afternoon I got a phone call offering me the job. Sweet! Looks like we'll be back down in Dunedin next yearhttp://psychavoc.blogspot.com/2008/12/christmas-update.htmlpsychavoc@gmail.com (Celia)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2730053910292249777.post-2850531472848495160Sat, 20 Dec 2008 22:20:00 +00002008-12-21T11:47:52.172+13:00So, nothing too exciting the last couple of weeks (hence the lack of blog updates.. sorry!). No races for another couple of weeks yet so I've just been out on the bikes training away. Last week, I had four road sessions, and two MTB sessions. I spent last Saturday marshalling the Rice Mountain Classic, a road race run by PNP out in the Wairarapa. After setting up my intersection with an hour and http://psychavoc.blogspot.com/2008/12/update-on-last-couple-of-weeks.htmlpsychavoc@gmail.com (Celia)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2730053910292249777.post-6579510503125476531Sun, 07 Dec 2008 08:22:00 +00002008-12-07T22:27:25.722+13:00Another local race done and dusted! :)Like last year's Rally, Welly put on an awesome day today. But with a predicted high of 22 degrees, I was looking forward to it being slightly cooler than the 27 degrees it was last year! I spent the morning hanging around the event tents/start-finish line watching the Relay riders battle it out in the Creek to Peak Relay....then headed back home for some http://psychavoc.blogspot.com/2008/12/makara-peak-rally-2008.htmlpsychavoc@gmail.com (Celia)1