I hope you are getting excited . . .

I went for my last ride before Taupo yesterday morning -  it didn't go well (story of my life...) I had a couple of unwelcome visitors - lead legs and this annoying person in my head the whole ride who just wouldn't shut up "your legs are sore" "you're not going fast enough" "you are never going to make it up Kuratau"

There is the saying that cycling is 90% physical, 10% mental, but it is that 10% that controls everything. I think that was definitely true yesterday.

No doubt you have all been checking the weather forecast. RAIN?! No way. I haven't really practiced cycling in the rain...

There are many things that I should have done before Taupo: I should have trained more, I should have ridden more hills, I should have practised bunch riding. . .

But it's too late. I haven't done those things. My goal is just to cross the line, so if it takes me three hours or six hours (I'm only doing the 80km) then who cares, I would have done it.

I'm absolutely hopeless at cycling events. I just get too excited by all the people, all the bikes, and all the people on bikes that I go a little bit silly. I hope I can channel that excitement into making my legs spin faster.

My big fear for the day is the two hills - Kuratau and Hatepe. I know that as I live in Wellington I really have no excuse for not cycling hills, but I just haven't done the long or steep ones that I should have. When I cycle up hills I get the ‘zombie wobble' and am all over the road, although I know that I won't be able to do that with hundreds of other people flying up the hill past me.

I will be riding in a RideStrong jersey (of course) - look out for me on a light blue sub bike. Feel free to slow to my pace as you cycle past me and have a chat - I will be grateful for a wheel to jump on!

Make sure that you come and visit us at the BikeNZ/RideStrong booth at Friday's expo, or the RideStrong tent on Saturday. We will be selling our awesome RideStrong jerseys at a ridiculously low price.

Good luck to you all, have an awesome ride and I hope to see you in Taupo town to celebrate on Saturday night!

Enjoy the Ride