Jamis Bikes, a force to be reckoned with.

I have the privilege of being supported by a number of awesome companies, for which i am truly thankful. One of these sponsors, Jamis Bicycles are responsible for supplying me with the fantastic bikes that help me set those fast bike splits on race day.

Anyway the last 6 months I have coped a bit of flack about the Jamis. Just because it is not one the so called "brands to have" which populate transitions around NZ like sheep do our countryside. Sure Jamis might not be a huge brand in triathlon yet but it should be a force to be reckoned with. I have a number of interesting facts that will have certain people (shall i name and shame?) think twice before dropping in those cheeky Jamis comments on the next training ride.

Over the last twelve months Jamis Bicycles have achieved....

- 1st Place - 2010 Men's NZ elite road Cycle Championship's

- 1st Place Stage 2 Tour of Southland 2009, in Yellow Jersey for 3days and finished 2nd Overall

- Ridden to the fastest ever ironman distance time by a New Zealander

- Won Xterra New Zealand 2009

- Ridden to 2nd Fastest Overall Bike Time at Ironman NZ 2009

- Ridden to Fastest Age Group and 10th Overall Bike Spilt at Ironman NZ

Not bad for a fairly new brand into the triathlon and road market. I mean face it a lot of people buy bikes based on how fast they go at big races or what they have won. Considering it is not in peloton at the big tours yet it is pretty good.

Watch for more top results during 2010

Whitianga Training Weekend

The past weekend myself and a few of the boys made our way up to the Coromandel town of Whitianga for a tough training weekend. Whitianga is a really cool place, one that i could of got used to hanging around in. Good weather, good food, good suroundings and great training.

But the real reason for the trip was to knock out a big ride on a famed 190km ride right round the Coromandel called K2. The crew was made up of a group of guys putting the final touches on their Ironman NZ preperation. I was more focused on Half Ironman races coming up and was dragged into the the journe. Ok so i wasn't really dragged, I voluteered and saw it as a good way to get in a tough long ride.

It was a rather eventful weekend with the highlight being a new wheel for Duane being choppered in (Yess by a Helicopter)by his mate Shacks to Thames airport half way through the K2 ride. It was all rather entertaining really and pretty cool, I bet Lance probably does not even get that privleage. Duane thanks for breaking a spoke and Shacks thanks for getting up from your possy by the side of the pool to fly it in. (He turned around early siting a lack of form).

An afternoon by the pool and relaxing in our lush accomodation on the Whitianga waterfront followed.

The next morning we jumped on the Ferry that travels between Whitianga and Cooks Beach and proceeded to try and loose our selves on tough 2 hour run. It is always exiciting to go running up in the Coromandel as it is usually a little different. Last time there was swimming across estuarys and bashing thru heavy bush to find a track. This time wasn't much different really however the oppurtunity to swim across the estuary was declined. However we did go for a wee mud run and get lost on some farmers driveway which resulted in laps around his avocado orchard.

A good hard weekend then to set myself up for my final preperations toward Auckland Half Ironman in March. It was also good to see the ironman boys going well, and i am looking forward to watching them down in Taupo come March 6th. To the guys Duane, CK, Craig, Scotty and Shacks thanks for a solid weekend.