Pump track under construction...

On Friday the 23 of October I took a days leave from work to start building the pump track that I've been so eager to get done for the last 2 months now. Grant Dinkel from Adrenalin cycles has secured us a piece of land next door to the fairways on Main shopping centre in Howick for the next 2 years. We plan on developing the land into a skills track for other bicycle enthusiasts, and kids to have fun on while mom goes grocerie shopping. Our goal is to provide this facility to the public for free, we don't intend on charging any one to ride it, all I want is to see it being put to good use by any one on two wheels. After watching the pump track world champs held in Australia earlier this year I'm super keen to get the same thing started here, I want to hold events and have regular meetings at the track so we can set lap times and break records around this thing! We are very grateful to everyone at Midlands plant hire as they sponsored us the bob cat to make our goals a reality. I met with Greg and Wellington at 8AM on Friday morning and then the digging began! I was well impressed with the skills Wellington had in the bob cat, he knew exactly what I was wanting done and understood where to place the sand and was just super friendly, everything was done with a smile. We worked from 8AM until about 1PM with the bobcat, the layout of the track was completed and I had one heck of a sunburn (still hurting today). There were mounds of sand everywhere, then came the hard work of compacting and shaping rollers and berms. Again Midlands plant hire came to the rescue and dropped off a 650mm wide compacting roller which has helped a huge amount! we still busy shaping and compacting, about 50% of the track needs some serious attention, which I'm hoping to finish off this weekend.

Here's Wellington dropping some sand on the left hand berm. I'm going to make this a wall ride as well to give you some extra momentum for following straight as it's on a bit of an uphill.

Here's the land we have to work with, this was taken early on in the day.

Wellington and his bob cat dumping sand for a step up.

Here's our stock pile of sand, and the 180 degree berm...hope it works out!!

I'll post more pics as soon as soon as we have made some more progress!

Huge thanks to Greg from Midlands plant hire, Wellington "mad skills", Grant from adrenalin for securing the land and Liam for the help on Friday.

Keep it safe,TB

Maverick cycles/Monster energy Gravity dice

Hey dudes, been a while since I updated this thing, mainly coz there hasn't been much going on my side, the racing scene has been quite lately with a few cross country rides happening here and there. I been spending alot of time on my Shova riding the trails in Howick which are really awesome, loads of single track and good downhills...with one or two hill climbs to warm you up.

On Sunday Maverick cycles and Monster energy held a Gravity dice at Cascades starting near Fern cliff nature reserve. The track was really fun, the first downhill was out the start and pinned on a road next to the world cup DH course, hitting speeds of around 60-70kms an hour over drain bumps was quite intimidating at times. It then went onto a flat road and joined the DH course and went off onto some new tight single track. There were a few pedalling roads in between, more single track and then a sprint finish to the end which was near the car park.

The race format was heats of 3, you got points for the position you finished that added up to place you in the final. The first heat I finished second, I was leading the race until the end where I took a wrong turn and stalled letting Matt come flying past me. The second heat I finished first, Matt Kelvin and I had the most insane race, I was leading from the beginning with Matt and Kelvin right on my back wheel, I pedalled hard where I could and pulled a gap from them. They caught up on the end single track but I manged to keep the lead to the finish. You know your body has reached max power out put when you cross the line and see spots and feel like throwing up! was super fun though. The third heat I only needed to finish top 3 to get through to the final so I just took it easy and finished third behind kelvin and Alan. In the final I didn't get such a good start, I was second behind Matt who pinned the top bit and pulled a gap by the time we hit the road. I pedalled hard into the forest section and stayed behind him in the single track. I made my attack on the flat road section and passed him, managing to keep the lead to the finish. I was really happy how the day went, had loads of fun and enjoyed the fierce competition!

Overall results were:
1) Travis Browning
2) Matt Smith
3) Alan Hatherly
4) K-dub Purchase
5)Fab Lemasson
6)louis Smith

Thanks to Maverick cycles/Monster energy for organising the event and to Ian for preparing the course. And my lovely girfriend Danni for the support and nice lunch :)

Ride safe.