monica's blog

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New team and new bike

Submitted by monica on Mon, 02/14/2011 - 03:20

South Africa

Chris Birch Comsol Alfie Cox Racing Team South Africa

Meet and greet with the Comsol Alfie Cox racing team today, lovely lunch, fun ride, great new bike!

Hello South Africa

Submitted by monica on Sun, 02/13/2011 - 20:40

Enduro

We've arrived in South Africa safe and sound. We've been sorted with a sweet house, a mint, brand new Mercedes Vito van, and even Lindt chocolates in teh pantry (says Mon). Got my bike, most importantly, KTM300, looks pretty flash - am testing it today, riding it in with the rest of the Comsol Alfie Cox Racing team, probably won't look too flash for too long.

Went to watch some of the SA MX nationals yesterday, stinking hot and dusty, but pretty fast riders.

Goodbye New Zealand

Submitted by monica on Wed, 02/09/2011 - 20:35

New Zealand

After a few short weeks of organising, me and Mon are finally ready to leave NZ and head to South Africa for the year. Bags are packed, bikes are returned, dog is sent to the farm, all we gotta do is jump on the plane - for 30-odd hours. Joy! Looking forward to a great 2011 racing year.

Oparau National Enduro

Submitted by monica on Sun, 01/30/2011 - 20:32

Enduro

I walked the special tests (racing stages) for tomorrow’s National Enduro at Operau. They look really good with a few rivers to blast across. It’s just started pouring with rain too so that should be fun tomorrow. Monica showed up about 9pm after battling the holiday traffic.

After a month of trail riding I struggled to get into racing mode today, I was riding well enough but where is the aggression? It was a sweet ride with some really good trails. I eventually got a rocket up me and finished first in the Open two stroke class.

playing diggers with hirepool

Submitted by monica on Wed, 01/09/2013 - 20:14

Training

I've been wanting to build a circle rut for a while now to help teach people to ride ruts and just because it looks like a lot of fun. With the help of hirepool we got into it over christmas and made it happen. Its a lot of fun and makes you learn a lot very quickly, it also makes you pretty dizzy!

Mud grovelling

Submitted by monica on Sun, 12/23/2012 - 21:03

Whilst its the middle of summer and most of New Zealand is getting dry and dusty, one place always has mud to be found. Unfortunatly my gopro died before we got to the really sloppy stuff. Merry Christmas to everyone, hope you have a good one!

It's been a while!

Submitted by monica on Sat, 12/15/2012 - 08:11

Well, me and Mon are now settled back home in New Zealand. It has been a busy few weeks since the end of the Roof of Africay - didn't go how I wanted to needless to say, but am looking forward to next year, got a few big things in the pipeline so it should be an exciting year.

I'm riding a KTM350 this year - no, nothing is wrong with the 300, will still be riding it at extreme enduros! - just time for trying something different. Have had a few rides on it the last week or so and really enjoy it. Am REALLY enjoying riding in rockless terrain...

Roof of Africa - 2012 Time Trial

Submitted by monica on Fri, 11/16/2012 - 02:56

Went well in time trial today, think 4th (provisional) about 3 minutes behind first, top 10 or so all pretty close, will be interesting to see what the next two days of 432kms of riding the Lesotho mountains will bring!

Pretty hot here in Lesotho, but am coping, bike is handling well, have a great pit crew (Uncle Rod, Wacker, Mon plus everyone else!) so am feeling good.

Traditional early start tomorrow - 5:30am bikes on the line for 6am kick off...

Ukupacha Extreme Enduro

Submitted by monica on Tue, 10/30/2012 - 02:02

I've just been in Ecuador for my second go at the ukupacha race. This year was much harder with only a few finishers.

I won the prolog race on Saturday which was great, and then on the main race on Sunday was doing well and was leading ahead of Jarvis... then I hit a random rock and boom - down the cliff went my poor bike - luckily I stayed at the top or I think my injuries would have been awful!

Final National Enduro round, Crieghton

Submitted by monica on Mon, 10/22/2012 - 02:13

TWITTER

Whew got Powasol for post-Lesotho mission thanks @Powasol !! — 32 weeks 8 hours ago
Finally got my hands on a 2013 300! So fresh and so clean — 32 weeks 10 hours ago
the mission explained http://t.co/UYcoP2l8 — 32 weeks 1 day ago
http://t.co/Fu6tDg2O Only follow this if you like incredible science, massive bravery and really really cool stuff! 5 hours to go — 32 weeks 1 day ago
Need to work on my trailer packing skills, just dragged Mrs Birch's luggage down the street by a tie down. #notimpressed — 32 weeks 2 days ago

COACHING

If you want to improve your off road riding skills with a focus on real world trail and enduro riding techniques this could be for you.

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