2025 NZ Masters' Games

Whanganui

The old mantra

“to finish first, first you have to finish”

is as true now as ever. However for Masters’ competitions we need to modify it to

“to finish first, first you have to enter”.

For the last few years I’ve entered the NZ Gravel Road Champs, the NZ Road Champs, the World Masters Games, and the NZ Masters’ Games. Since reaching 75 (supposedly the new 60) the entry numbers have dwindled - in some cases just to me.

In mountain biking especially people press the too hard button to early. I’m close to 84 and can still get round.

In Whanganui this year, no allowance was made in distances or severity from about age 60 onwards, but all events were rideable and could be finished in under two hours. I’ve found this is normally the case.

So the ability to finish saw me with two golds and a silver. Others in the time trials and track races ended up with higher medal tallies. The two golds were in the 80-84 age group mountain bike and road race and the silver in the 70+ mountain bike.

Whilst the bragging rights are great at my local coffee bar and golf course, it really would have been much better to have bigger fields.

The mountain bike race was four laps of a 4-5k circuit with 100 metres of climbing each lap – hard but by no means impossible. The road race was also four laps but of an 11k circuit which included a decent hill and some open riding where the wind was a factor. Again tough (especially when the slowest of the 70-75 contingent dropped me at the end of the first lap). But again by no means impossible.

I regard myself as an OK rider but not in the class of say Gary Ulmer or Warwick Dalton. If I can get round then I think many others could too. (Of course I had the advantage of Keywin Carbon pedals on the road bike and Keywin Mudman pedals on the mountain bike but these are available to all. Add Keywin Anti Chafing Cream and Keywin Muscle Cream and the whole event becomes so enjoyable).

The secret is not to stop. As well as the odd medal, I am sure it all keeps the rider fitter in mind and body and helps to ward off some of the symptoms of old age.

The National Road Champs are coming up so get your bikes out and entries in.