Wheelworks.co.nz, Handbuilt wheels by Tristan Thomas

Another Pro2 wheelbuild – it’s funny how a random series of wheels gets built using similar parts.

This rear wheel is to be a durable, long-lasting tubeless-ready training wheel for Mike’s 29er. The Flow rim is very stiff and has a proven track record.

All the spokes are double-butted DT Swiss Competitions with black brass nipples.

Lachlan wanted a pair of light and durable cross country wheels which would be tubeless-ready. The Stan’s Crest rims fit the bill perfectly.

I suggested Hope Pro2 hubs as Lachlan’s current bike / fork use quick-release axles, however if he upgrades in the future these hubs have the ability to be converted to whatever axle standards are current at the time.

Red Pro2 hubs are matched to alternating black and red spoke nipples – a personal favorite of mine.

Spokes are a combination of DT Swiss double butted Revolutions and Competition to ensure the right balance of stiffness and light weight for Lachlan.

As with all the Stan’s wheels I build these are fitted with tubeless tape and valves and will arrive in Auckland ready for use with either standard tubes or tubeless.

Young Anton Cooper gets a lot of attention for punching above his weight, but it might be time to start paying attention to Eden Cruise.  I first met Eden 3 years ago at a 12 hour race on Mt Victoria – he did a ‘guest’ lap for our team on his heavy 24″ wheeled kids bike with BMX tyres which wasn’t much slower than what myself and Chris Kendall were doing on our ‘proper’ bikes.

He’s been riding (and growing) since then and hearing the news that he won the Cross-country Under 15 National Champs in Nelson over the weekend was great, but Eden also went on to finish second on the Sunday downhill after a only doing one and half practice runs, on a borrowed bike.  Outstanding!

Well done Eden!

At the MTBNZ National Champs in Nelson last weekend Ian Paintin had a stunning ride to win the Masters 40-49 title – awesome work Ian!

The pit board at the end of each lap was telling Ian he was in second place which provided a huge amount of motivation for Ian to put the pace on and catch the leader.  As it turned out a timing error was incorrectly recording Garth Weinberg as the leader of the 40-49 race, so while chasing Garth’s goast Ian pulled out a stunning 4 minute lead on the rest of the field.

Thanks to Shuttersport for the photo.

I’ve spent the last 5 days racing the NZ Cycle Classic in Palmerston North. Previously held in the sunny Wairapa the race moved to Palmy this year for the first time and the combination of strong crosswinds, flat courses, and a strong field of riders meant that many of the 521kms were spent single-file in the gutter holding on for dear life.

On the bike the entire Wheelworks Racing team displayed an inspiring amount of class and determination.  Off the bike they were, as always, heaps of fun to hang out with and talk shit.

It really was a team effort to help Mike Naylor maintain the position he gained after a ballsy move on Day 2 landed him in the winning break, and he has an incredible 20th on GC to show for it after 5 days of racing.

I’m now back in the workshop and fizzing with the excitement of finishing my first UCI tour (and all the coffee I’ve had to try and kickstart my body after a hard week.)  If you’d like to discuss a new set of wheels I can be reached on 04 387 3592 or tristan@wheelworks.co.nz

I’m leaving today for Palmerston North for the Tour of the Manawatu, previously known as the Tour of Wellington.  I’ve been to this race before (8 times for the mens race and 4 times for the womans) as a mechanic or DS but this will be my first time riding it.  I ‘m super excited (and a little nervous) to be riding a race of this scale.

This race is one of the largest in NZ and always attracts a large, talented field. In the photo below of last years race (taken by Joe Kelly) Mike is shadowing Lachlan Norris who rode the Tour Down Under this year up the Rimutaka climb.

This year we’re very lucky to have Paul O’Connell and James Mahuta-Coyle managing and helping.

As always you can follow the team’s progress at facebook.com/WheelworksRacing.

This 14 speed Rohloff hub is off to New Zealand importer PureSports for one of their lucky customers.

The new Stan’s Arch EX rim takes the outer dimensions of the excellent Crest rim and adds an internal brace to stiffen the rim. This version is lighter than the old Arch, and a slightly wider.

DT Swiss Competition spokes and brass nipples build a durable, long-lasting wheel.

Peter is doing a lot of riding and improving rapidly and wanted a pair of quicker wheels for events and fast group rides.

With stiffness and durability being key I suggested the excellent Kinlin XR-270 rims and laced with with a light weight DT Swiss 240s rear hub and Alchmey ELF front.

DT Swiss bladed Aerolite spokes will keep the weight down and are bladed for aerodynamics. A combination of brass and aluminium spoke nipples provides strength where needed and light weight where it’s not.

1414 gram actual weight.

I love the moment on the start line before any big race where you are completely alone in your thoughts. You ask yourself if you are ready. You have goose bumps on your arms. You have no place to run, no place to hide, its business time. On the start line of the 2012 Elite Road Nationals, this moment is shattered for me when Mike slaps me on the back and reminds me I told him 6 months ago I was going to medal in this race! Stretch goals or the dreamer’s disease, I’ll let you decide…

Races tend to follow patterns, but with the established hierarchy of NZ cycling missing (Roulston, Hendy and Julz), it was a nightmare trying to anticipate who was going to control the race and how it was going to play out. I guess most riders felt the same way because when the gun sounded the speed immediately ramped up to 55km per hour as everyone wanted to be in the early break. The unknown question was “if the break established who was going to chase it?”. At this point I realised the race was going to be loose without rules.

The first time up the much vaunted Dyers Pass climb, Paddy Bevin was pushing 600watts (as reported on his SRM live feed) to try to establish the break. Only Lap 2 and the bunch was tapped! The early pressures up the climb contributed to a group of 10 guys slipping off the front of the field around the back of the circuit as everyone grabbed a quick breather. I was right there when the move went, I watched as prerace favourites Paddy Bevin, Josh Atkins, Paul Odlin and Robin Reid moved away. I had to decide if I wanted to go or if I wanted to stay with the bunch. I decided to wait, I thought it was too soon for me. I’m not sure I chose wisely.

The next 6 laps followed a pattern. The break would ride consistently and extend their lead on the flat section of the course each lap to approximately 1min 30secs. Whereas the bunch knew if a small group of strong riders could bridge to the front, it would be game, set and match. The result was the bunch would attack itself on the flats and go like crazy up the hill. The sight of Vink dancing on the pedals up the climb to the tune of 600watts became common place (worse still, post-race photographic evidence showed he was smiling!)… Each lap, the pressure on the climb caused the bunch to fragment into 3-4 groups of 8-10 riders. Every lap a few more riders would slip off too far and not make it back. At the halfway mark the break was down to 8 guys with a bunch of 25-30 guys trailing by a minute. WWR were well represented with Mike, Andy, Tristan and Greg.

Lap 7, the race turned on its head. 3km before the climb, a small group attacked off the front of the bunch. At first 5 guys slipped off, then a further 10 powered off the front including Bauer and Vink. This is the biggest problem with NZ racing, guys hesitate and look to other riders to take responsibility. In the space of 1min, my race was almost derailed as I sat boxed in and watched helplessly as 15 guys started to disappear. Reading the danger, I went past Mike, shook my head and said “this is bad, this is really bad, we need to go across on the climb, we need to get across fast”. The pace up the climb on lap 7 was electric! The bunch blew to pieces. By the top, a group of 8 guys including race favourites Vink, Bauer and Yates had established a small lead. Mike and I hung tough and were able to latch onto the chase group of 7. The race was over for everyone else.

The next lap saw a furious pursuit with 3 groups of 8 riders were spaced out over 40secs. I was in the 3rd group on the road with Mike, Scott Lyttle, Joe Cooper, Shem Rodger, Jesse Sergeant and Chris Macic (good company). We were riding strongly and clawing our way back into the race, km by agonising km! As we crossed the start / finish line, the front 2 groups merged with our group trailing by a further 15secs. We were still 10secs adrift at the bottom of the climb. Riding up the hill the crowd was going mental! Dudes were blasting you with water pistols, BBQ smells carried the air, music was blasting, people were going crazy and while I might have been delirious I’m sure I could hear a GFT chant ringing out over it all! I gave everything, cresting the hill with Shem, Joe, Mike and Scott. We set about chasing again. This time we caught the bunch around the back of the circuit. When the dust settled, the race was back together and the bunch was down to 18 guys. Mike and I were clinging on by our finger nails. Unfortunately for me, I burned all my matches during this 2 lap frenzy and the next lap up the climb the elastic broke, my day was over. Mike lasted 1 more lap and was pulled from the race with an agonising 2 laps remaining. For the third year running, a WWR member was the last rider on the course not to finish.

The final 3 laps witnessed Mike Vink do something special. He went on the attack and challenged the field to catch him. They couldn’t, he won! The strength and determination of this young man was phenomenal. He demonstrated iron will and a total refusal to lose. Following Atkins’ win in Southland and the final results at Elites, the young guns have arrived. Not only have they knocked on the door, they have smashed it down. They are fearless and race with reckless abandonment. Guys like Vink, Atkins, Bevin, Avery, Bennett and Williamson look ready to carry the expectations of NZ cycling for years to come. Throw into the mix the exceptionally talented junior graduating class of James Oram, Fraser Gough, Dylan Kennett, Hamish Schreurs and Dion Smith, and it’s reasonable to proclaim NZ road cycling might be about to enter into a golden age.

Overall, WWR had a mixed day at the office. Andy (sick) and Chris did not perform to their expectations. I strongly believe if Andy was healthy, he would have medalled in the Elite race. He’s a tough bugger and this was a strong man’s race. Tristan racing in his first Elite Nationals put in a really creditable performance. Judging by the look in his eyes after the race, he’ll be back next year to settle unfinished business. Mike and I had very similar races. In fact it was unusual if we were more than 3 wheels apart all day. Overall, we were both satisfied with our performance, we climbed with the best and we fought all the way. In the end we were just outridden by some pretty good bike riders. That’s racing.