11 April 2016
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Most of the time my tires are of the knobbly variety, but occasionally I saddle up on a road bike…all in the name of adventure. The 101km Forrest Estate Graperide has been running since 2005. And this was my year to give it a taste.
The late night Bluebridge ferry crossing makes traveling down from Wellington super easy…I walked on with my bike at 11.30pm and was asleep in one of the private cabins by 11.45pm. Waking up fresh as a daisy and ready to ride to the race.
There is a great little bakery in Picton open at 6am…as if they knew I needed to stock up on goodies. It turns out 35km isn’t that long on a road bike and doesn’t require an apple turnover, raspberry bun and a pizza bread. But, I’m on holiday…and I like to be prepared.
Along the last stretch from Spring Creek to Renwick I was in the zone…thinking I had a good pace along this straight flat winery dotted road. Out of the corner of my eye a roadie zoomed past with a friendly hello. We were obviously in different zones and it was a taste of what was to come at the race the following day.
The event village is one of my favourite places…it’s a hive of activity. Arriving early on the Friday meant I could see all the action. I love seeing the site getting set up- the food stalls, the registration desk, the sponsor’s tents. It’s like being backstage at a concert. When the time comes and participants start arriving, it’s as if the event village has always been there. The Graperide has totally nailed this space…it’s well organised, great variety of stalls to visit and it probably helps that the Graperide takes place on the Forrest Estate- an amazing vineyard tucked away in Renwick.
Event day started with a bit of a drizzle…there was a mixture of nervousness, excitement, and clothing decisions going on. Doing the Graperide with friends is what makes this event even more fun, so be your own bunch. I teamed up with my good buddies from Escape Adventures with baggie shorts and all. We took our time, laughed a lot, and stopped probably too often. The Graperide is a wonderful mix of serious racers, recreational riders and newbies. We learned a lot along the way including things mountain bikers should not say to road cyclists:
-‘Where are your shorts?’
-‘Why are your tires so skinny?’
Why the Graperide rocks (even for a mountain biker)
* The Grape crushing! 100 Graperide virgins are choosen to help crush the grapes for a special bottle of wine. Return to the event the following year and claim your bottle of wine!
* The ‘Doctors Rest Clinic’. Halfway through the race, participants can pull over to have a coffee and muffin in Momorangi Bay. They even stop your time…bonus.
* The views! Queen Charlotte Drive is one of the most spectacular roads in the country.
* Road racing is quite exhilarating…kind of like going downhill on a mountain bike.
Thanks Forrest Family for putting on an amazing event. My calendar is marked for 2017…I gotta get back to get my bottle of wine!
