Kath Bicknell

Singlespeed World Champs – “race” day

After a week of lead-up shenanigans, it was time for the big one: two 20km laps of rolling Redwoods trails, over 1000 colourful competitors from 30 countries, and a perfect clear, blue sky. There were two beer shortcuts per lap which is where I thought all the action would be, but the action in fact was out on the course – a course lined by so many spectators full of cheers and encouragement for everyone who was pedaling past them. This is a community that really loves riding, and lucky for me, the riding was brilliant!Continue reading “Singlespeed World Champs – “race” day”

The Merida 96 Undergoes SSurgery

Feeling a bit ‘singlespeeded out’ by all the boutique bikes in town, and constant talk of gear ratios, fork rigidity and wheel size, the Merida 96 has been modified ghetto style.* Massive thanks to the guys at Bicycle Garage in Lilyfield, Sydney for providing me with an $8 solution to the gear problem I was facing when heading to Rotorua for the WorldSS, and to the also awesome crew at Bike Culture in Rotovegas for helping me make the switch (and keeping it real).**Continue reading “The Merida 96 Undergoes SSurgery”

Singlespeed World Champs – Pre-Week Festivities

With the Merida Whaka 50/100 race on one weekend, and the Singlespeed World Champs on the following weekend, it was only logical to fill in the gaps with pre-race shinanegans and festivities. See below for the highlights in picture form.Continue reading “Singlespeed World Champs – Pre-Week Festivities”

The Merida Whaka 50

The Merida Whaka 50 takes in some of the best singletracks of Rotorua’s infamous Whakawerawera Forest. With over 1100m of climbing and some seriously adrenalin-rushing, arm-pumping singletracks it may well be one of the toughest 50kers in the Southern Hemisphere. It is also one of the most fun. And if Rotorua (on New Zealand’s North Island) isn’t your hometown, it’s a great way to check out some of the best trails in the area without having to break up the ride in order to consult the map!Continue reading “The Merida Whaka 50”

Scott 24 Hr Champs

The festival of riding that was the combined Scott 24 Hr Teams Champs and the 24 Hrs of Adrenalin World Solo Champs was basically that: a great big festival. After hanging out on the Stromlo hillside for three days I felt like I had been to a great big yard party, the kind where you bump into friends, have a catch up, grab some food, talk about bikes, then jump on your favourite one (bike, not friend that is) and go for a pedal on some world class trails! I came home happy and exhausted, buzzing with all the news and stories I’d heard from other riders over the weekend, inspired by the efforts of solo and teams riders alike and looking forward to whichever riding experiences would come my way next.Continue reading “Scott 24 Hr Champs”