Top Down to Tinwald: Chasing Time, Dodging Drama, and Back to the Spa Ashburton, Canterbury ☀️

{"raceId":17715155824,"athleteId":2188545,"name":"Top Down to Tinwald: Chasing Time, Dodging Drama, and Back to the Spa Ashburton, Canterbury ☀️","description":"With the Canterbury Champion road race and time trial at Glentunnel on deck tomorrow, I figured today was too good to waste. Joey, my beautiful first wife, was away working, so naturally I took full advantage, dropped the roof on the Audi convertible, and pointed it south for Tinwald and the Mid Canterbury Champs. Proper bluebird stuff — top down all the way, sun out, legs quietly humming, and not a care in the world.\n\nWe were off 37 minutes in a 60km handicap, with just the three of us on our mark: Steve Caldwell , Dave Knight, and me. Three blokes, one mission, and quite a bit of road to chew through. From the gun I felt good — strong on the pedals, rolling turns nicely, and the bunch was working like a well-oiled chain. No nonsense, just good honest racing.\n\nAs the laps ticked by, we started hauling time back and by the last lap we’d got them to within four minutes. That gave us a sniff. You start thinking, righto, they’re coming back to us now. But blow me down, they found another gear. Every time it looked like we might make the catch, they just kept dangling there in front of us like a bidon you can’t quite reach. We got it to within a couple of minutes, then scratch came through and swallowed us up, so from there it turned into a full-noise run home with them.\n\nOne of those days where the legs were good, the teamwork was mint, and although we didn’t quite pull off the grand heist, it was still proper bike racing — hard, honest, and heaps of fun.\n\nThe darker side of the day was hearing that Alex Hooper was hit by a motorist in an appalling hit-and-run incident out on those usually quiet Ashburton roads. It’s hard to understand what makes someone so angry that they’d use a car to swipe at a cyclist. Bloody frightening stuff. The good news is Alex is okay aside from a busted bike, and the ambulance was on scene quickly while the police went looking for the driver. A real reminder that we’re vulnerable out there, and that everyone deserves to get home safely.\n\nAfter all that, it was back in the Audi, roof down again, and a cruisy trip home. Finished the day exactly right: in the spa with Joey, a couple of vinos, sorting the last bits for tomorrow’s racing, and then an early night. Not a bad way to round out a big day before stepping into race director mode\n\n😨 Overtraining warning\n🐗 Sweet Spot Training (moderate intensity)\n🚵 Flat ground Ride\n🧀 Fat 34.3%, 🍞 Carb 65.7%\n🕯️ Matches 11.1\n🔋 Maximum discharge 71.2%\n\n\n--- Insights by Riduck ---\n\n---\nWeather Report: Clear sky, 19°C, and the wind was blowing 11km/h from ENE","distance":62393.9,"elapsedTime":6056,"totalElevationGain":139.0,"type":"Ride","sportType":"Ride","workoutType":11,"startDate":"Mar 14, 2026, 1:27:44 AM","startLatitude":-43.9741,"startLongitude":171.823,"endLatitude":-43.9737,"endLongitude":171.826,"averageHeartRate":164.0,"achievementCount":0,"polyline":[{"latitude":-43.97411,"longitude":171.82341000000002},{"latitude":-43.978790000000004,"longitude":171.80797},{"latitude":-43.979040000000005,"longitude":171.80719000000002},{"latitude":-43.97917,"longitude":171.80693000000002},{"latitude":-43.979400000000005,"longitude":171.80662},{"latitude":-43.980030000000006,"longitude":171.80609},{"latitude":-43.980230000000006,"longitude":171.806},{"latitude":-43.98044,"longitude":171.80605000000003},{"latitude":-43.982960000000006,"longitude":171.80904},{"latitude":-43.9887,"longitude":171.81561000000002},{"latitude":-43.98957,"longitude":171.81621},{"latitude":-43.9924,"longitude":171.81788},{"latitude":-43.99316,"longitude":171.81844},{"latitude":-44.00242,"longitude":171.82780000000002},{"latitude":-44.003260000000004,"longitude":171.82845},{"latitude":-44.006910000000005,"longitude":171.83099},{"latitude":-44.011610000000005,"longitude":171.83435},{"latitude":-44.01203,"longitude":171.83455},{"latitude":-44.012350000000005,"longitude":171.83456},{"latitude":-44.012570000000004,"longitude":171.83450000000002},{"latitude":-44.01297,"longitude":171.83427},{"latitude":-44.01393,"longitude":171.83343000000002},{"latitude":-44.01438,"longitude":171.83325000000002},{"latitude":-44.01474,"longitude":171.83325000000002},{"latitude":-44.01715,"longitude":171.83359000000002},{"latitude":-44.017630000000004,"longitude":171.83355},{"latitude":-44.01785,"longitude":171.83346},{"latitude":-44.018150000000006,"longitude":171.8332},{"latitude":-44.018370000000004,"longitude":171.83284},{"latitude":-44.01852,"longitude":171.83242},{"latitude":-44.01865,"longitude":171.83222},{"latitude":-44.01883,"longitude":171.83221},{"latitude":-44.01908,"longitude":171.83243000000002},{"latitude":-44.02053,"longitude":171.83456},{"latitude":-44.02078,"longitude":171.83501},{"latitude":-44.02118,"longitude":171.83597},{"latitude":-44.02129,"longitude":171.83635},{"latitude":-44.021300000000004,"longitude":171.83674000000002},{"latitude":-44.02127,"longitude":171.83694000000003},{"latitude":-44.021060000000006,"longitude":171.83753000000002},{"latitude":-44.02098,"longitude":171.83789000000002},{"latitude":-44.02098,"longitude":171.83827000000002},{"latitude":-44.021040000000006,"longitude":171.83855000000003},{"latitude":-44.02225000000001,"longitude":171.84226},{"latitude":-44.023700000000005,"longitude":171.84651000000002},{"latitude":-44.023990000000005,"longitude":171.84751000000003},{"latitude":-44.02427,"longitude":171.84937000000002},{"latitude":-44.02441,"longitude":171.85091000000003},{"latitude":-44.024350000000005,"longitude":171.85170000000002},{"latitude":-44.02404000000001,"longitude":171.85411000000002},{"latitude":-44.02393000000001,"longitude":171.85468},{"latitude":-44.023790000000005,"longitude":171.85511000000002},{"latitude":-44.023610000000005,"longitude":171.8555},{"latitude":-44.023390000000006,"longitude":171.85587},{"latitude":-44.020970000000005,"longitude":171.85895000000002},{"latitude":-44.020700000000005,"longitude":171.85939000000002},{"latitude":-44.02015,"longitude":171.86058000000003},{"latitude":-44.02002,"longitude":171.86073000000002},{"latitude":-44.01979,"longitude":171.86087},{"latitude":-44.01934000000001,"longitude":171.86091000000002},{"latitude":-44.014,"longitude":171.86069},{"latitude":-44.01333,"longitude":171.8605},{"latitude":-44.011700000000005,"longitude":171.85972},{"latitude":-44.01102,"longitude":171.85958000000002},{"latitude":-44.00533,"longitude":171.85994000000002},{"latitude":-44.005120000000005,"longitude":171.85978},{"latitude":-44.004020000000004,"longitude":171.8574},{"latitude":-44.00383,"longitude":171.85709000000003},{"latitude":-44.003530000000005,"longitude":171.85671000000002},{"latitude":-44.002990000000004,"longitude":171.85635000000002},{"latitude":-44.00094000000001,"longitude":171.85527000000002},{"latitude":-44.000510000000006,"longitude":171.85495},{"latitude":-43.998430000000006,"longitude":171.8529},{"latitude":-43.985890000000005,"longitude":171.84088000000003},{"latitude":-43.97401000000001,"longitude":171.82599000000002},{"latitude":-43.973620000000004,"longitude":171.82548000000003},{"latitude":-43.97355,"longitude":171.82528000000002},{"latitude":-43.973580000000005,"longitude":171.82504},{"latitude":-43.97491,"longitude":171.82081000000002},{"latitude":-43.97892,"longitude":171.8075},{"latitude":-43.979110000000006,"longitude":171.80702000000002},{"latitude":-43.979470000000006,"longitude":171.80656000000002},{"latitude":-43.97995,"longitude":171.80615},{"latitude":-43.98019,"longitude":171.806},{"latitude":-43.980380000000004,"longitude":171.80604000000002},{"latitude":-43.980540000000005,"longitude":171.80618},{"latitude":-43.98297,"longitude":171.80905},{"latitude":-43.988290000000006,"longitude":171.81519},{"latitude":-43.9887,"longitude":171.81562000000002},{"latitude":-43.98915,"longitude":171.81595000000002},{"latitude":-43.992200000000004,"longitude":171.81773},{"latitude":-43.993,"longitude":171.81827},{"latitude":-44.00249,"longitude":171.82788000000002},{"latitude":-44.01144,"longitude":171.83418},{"latitude":-44.0118,"longitude":171.83440000000002},{"latitude":-44.01207,"longitude":171.83450000000002},{"latitude":-44.012550000000005,"longitude":171.83447},{"latitude":-44.013000000000005,"longitude":171.83421},{"latitude":-44.013960000000004,"longitude":171.83338},{"latitude":-44.01449,"longitude":171.8332},{"latitude":-44.01722,"longitude":171.83356},{"latitude":-44.01758,"longitude":171.83354000000003},{"latitude":-44.017920000000004,"longitude":171.83338},{"latitude":-44.01821,"longitude":171.8331},{"latitude":-44.018420000000006,"longitude":171.83271000000002},{"latitude":-44.01863,"longitude":171.83221},{"latitude":-44.01879,"longitude":171.83218000000002},{"latitude":-44.01905000000001,"longitude":171.83238},{"latitude":-44.020140000000005,"longitude":171.83393},{"latitude":-44.02071,"longitude":171.83485000000002},{"latitude":-44.021260000000005,"longitude":171.83615},{"latitude":-44.02131000000001,"longitude":171.83643},{"latitude":-44.021300000000004,"longitude":171.83677},{"latitude":-44.02105,"longitude":171.83755000000002},{"latitude":-44.020970000000005,"longitude":171.83788},{"latitude":-44.02098,"longitude":171.83824},{"latitude":-44.02102000000001,"longitude":171.83852000000002},{"latitude":-44.023810000000005,"longitude":171.84678000000002},{"latitude":-44.02398,"longitude":171.84738000000002},{"latitude":-44.024240000000006,"longitude":171.84904},{"latitude":-44.02443,"longitude":171.85079000000002},{"latitude":-44.02440000000001,"longitude":171.85134000000002},{"latitude":-44.02402,"longitude":171.85440000000003},{"latitude":-44.02382,"longitude":171.85508000000002},{"latitude":-44.02347,"longitude":171.85577},{"latitude":-44.02302,"longitude":171.85638},{"latitude":-44.021060000000006,"longitude":171.85883},{"latitude":-44.02064,"longitude":171.85954},{"latitude":-44.020160000000004,"longitude":171.86057000000002},{"latitude":-44.01997,"longitude":171.86078},{"latitude":-44.01975,"longitude":171.86089},{"latitude":-44.017360000000004,"longitude":171.86085000000003},{"latitude":-44.014,"longitude":171.86069},{"latitude":-44.01342,"longitude":171.86053},{"latitude":-44.011750000000006,"longitude":171.85976000000002},{"latitude":-44.0112,"longitude":171.85961},{"latitude":-44.0108,"longitude":171.8596},{"latitude":-44.005320000000005,"longitude":171.85994000000002},{"latitude":-44.005120000000005,"longitude":171.85975000000002},{"latitude":-44.00394,"longitude":171.85726000000003},{"latitude":-44.00356,"longitude":171.85675},{"latitude":-44.00296,"longitude":171.85635000000002},{"latitude":-44.000960000000006,"longitude":171.85529000000002},{"latitude":-44.00061,"longitude":171.85503000000003},{"latitude":-43.98572,"longitude":171.84071},{"latitude":-43.974090000000004,"longitude":171.82608000000002},{"latitude":-43.9737,"longitude":171.82558},{"latitude":-43.97357,"longitude":171.82528000000002},{"latitude":-43.973620000000004,"longitude":171.82492000000002},{"latitude":-43.974680000000006,"longitude":171.82159000000001},{"latitude":-43.978880000000004,"longitude":171.80769},{"latitude":-43.97917,"longitude":171.80695},{"latitude":-43.97948,"longitude":171.80657000000002},{"latitude":-43.98008,"longitude":171.80605000000003},{"latitude":-43.98035,"longitude":171.80602000000002},{"latitude":-43.98302,"longitude":171.80911},{"latitude":-43.988670000000006,"longitude":171.81558},{"latitude":-43.98915,"longitude":171.81595000000002},{"latitude":-43.99259000000001,"longitude":171.81796000000003},{"latitude":-43.99306000000001,"longitude":171.81832},{"latitude":-44.00233,"longitude":171.82774},{"latitude":-44.00289,"longitude":171.82818},{"latitude":-44.01174,"longitude":171.83440000000002},{"latitude":-44.01214,"longitude":171.83455},{"latitude":-44.012350000000005,"longitude":171.83455},{"latitude":-44.012660000000004,"longitude":171.83446},{"latitude":-44.01305000000001,"longitude":171.8342},{"latitude":-44.01388,"longitude":171.83346},{"latitude":-44.01408000000001,"longitude":171.83333000000002},{"latitude":-44.01442,"longitude":171.83322},{"latitude":-44.014770000000006,"longitude":171.83322},{"latitude":-44.01726,"longitude":171.83358},{"latitude":-44.0176,"longitude":171.83354000000003},{"latitude":-44.017920000000004,"longitude":171.8334},{"latitude":-44.01818,"longitude":171.83313},{"latitude":-44.01832,"longitude":171.83290000000002},{"latitude":-44.01852,"longitude":171.8324},{"latitude":-44.018640000000005,"longitude":171.83221},{"latitude":-44.01878000000001,"longitude":171.83216000000002},{"latitude":-44.019020000000005,"longitude":171.83235000000002},{"latitude":-44.01964,"longitude":171.83319},{"latitude":-44.02055,"longitude":171.83458000000002},{"latitude":-44.020830000000004,"longitude":171.8351},{"latitude":-44.021260000000005,"longitude":171.83614},{"latitude":-44.02131000000001,"longitude":171.83640000000003},{"latitude":-44.02131000000001,"longitude":171.83675000000002},{"latitude":-44.021190000000004,"longitude":171.83722},{"latitude":-44.02103,"longitude":171.8376},{"latitude":-44.020970000000005,"longitude":171.83796},{"latitude":-44.021040000000006,"longitude":171.83861000000002},{"latitude":-44.02353,"longitude":171.84596000000002},{"latitude":-44.02398,"longitude":171.84745},{"latitude":-44.024300000000004,"longitude":171.84953000000002},{"latitude":-44.024420000000006,"longitude":171.85088000000002},{"latitude":-44.02427,"longitude":171.85258000000002},{"latitude":-44.024010000000004,"longitude":171.85447000000002},{"latitude":-44.023810000000005,"longitude":171.85510000000002},{"latitude":-44.02347,"longitude":171.85578},{"latitude":-44.02324,"longitude":171.85612},{"latitude":-44.02112,"longitude":171.85877000000002},{"latitude":-44.02069,"longitude":171.85943},{"latitude":-44.020210000000006,"longitude":171.86048000000002},{"latitude":-44.01999000000001,"longitude":171.86075000000002},{"latitude":-44.01977,"longitude":171.86087},{"latitude":-44.019380000000005,"longitude":171.86091000000002},{"latitude":-44.01408000000001,"longitude":171.8607},{"latitude":-44.013450000000006,"longitude":171.86054000000001},{"latitude":-44.01155000000001,"longitude":171.85967000000002},{"latitude":-44.01106,"longitude":171.8596},{"latitude":-44.00576,"longitude":171.85992000000002},{"latitude":-44.005300000000005,"longitude":171.8599},{"latitude":-44.00517000000001,"longitude":171.85979},{"latitude":-44.00508000000001,"longitude":171.85962},{"latitude":-44.00394,"longitude":171.85725000000002},{"latitude":-44.00356,"longitude":171.85676},{"latitude":-44.00314,"longitude":171.85644000000002},{"latitude":-44.00103,"longitude":171.85532},{"latitude":-44.00066,"longitude":171.85505},{"latitude":-43.987170000000006,"longitude":171.84214},{"latitude":-43.985760000000006,"longitude":171.84071},{"latitude":-43.974070000000005,"longitude":171.82606},{"latitude":-43.97361,"longitude":171.82544000000001},{"latitude":-43.97352,"longitude":171.82514},{"latitude":-43.974540000000005,"longitude":171.82207000000002},{"latitude":-43.979000000000006,"longitude":171.80728000000002},{"latitude":-43.97917,"longitude":171.80693000000002},{"latitude":-43.979420000000005,"longitude":171.80661},{"latitude":-43.98006,"longitude":171.80607},{"latitude":-43.98024,"longitude":171.80599},{"latitude":-43.98033,"longitude":171.806},{"latitude":-43.98053,"longitude":171.80615},{"latitude":-43.98218000000001,"longitude":171.80814},{"latitude":-43.9831,"longitude":171.80916000000002},{"latitude":-43.98861,"longitude":171.81552000000002},{"latitude":-43.98917,"longitude":171.81596000000002},{"latitude":-43.99184,"longitude":171.81752},{"latitude":-43.99309,"longitude":171.81835},{"latitude":-44.001990000000006,"longitude":171.82741000000001},{"latitude":-44.00254,"longitude":171.82793},{"latitude":-44.00826000000001,"longitude":171.83197},{"latitude":-44.00961,"longitude":171.83287},{"latitude":-44.011610000000005,"longitude":171.83432000000002},{"latitude":-44.012100000000004,"longitude":171.83452000000003},{"latitude":-44.01229,"longitude":171.83452000000003},{"latitude":-44.01268,"longitude":171.83440000000002},{"latitude":-44.012980000000006,"longitude":171.8342},{"latitude":-44.01389,"longitude":171.83341000000001},{"latitude":-44.014430000000004,"longitude":171.83319},{"latitude":-44.017120000000006,"longitude":171.83355},{"latitude":-44.01758,"longitude":171.83352000000002},{"latitude":-44.017900000000004,"longitude":171.83337},{"latitude":-44.01818,"longitude":171.8331},{"latitude":-44.01832,"longitude":171.83287},{"latitude":-44.018530000000005,"longitude":171.83234000000002},{"latitude":-44.01868,"longitude":171.83218000000002},{"latitude":-44.018860000000004,"longitude":171.83218000000002},{"latitude":-44.019200000000005,"longitude":171.83251},{"latitude":-44.02038,"longitude":171.8343},{"latitude":-44.020720000000004,"longitude":171.83487000000002},{"latitude":-44.021240000000006,"longitude":171.83611000000002},{"latitude":-44.021300000000004,"longitude":171.83636},{"latitude":-44.02131000000001,"longitude":171.83668},{"latitude":-44.021260000000005,"longitude":171.83693000000002},{"latitude":-44.02098,"longitude":171.83783000000003},{"latitude":-44.020970000000005,"longitude":171.83821},{"latitude":-44.02102000000001,"longitude":171.83851},{"latitude":-44.02362,"longitude":171.84621},{"latitude":-44.02398,"longitude":171.84740000000002},{"latitude":-44.024260000000005,"longitude":171.84919000000002},{"latitude":-44.024420000000006,"longitude":171.85073000000003},{"latitude":-44.02440000000001,"longitude":171.85128},{"latitude":-44.02404000000001,"longitude":171.85420000000002},{"latitude":-44.023880000000005,"longitude":171.85491000000002},{"latitude":-44.02353,"longitude":171.85565000000003},{"latitude":-44.023050000000005,"longitude":171.85634000000002},{"latitude":-44.020920000000004,"longitude":171.85902000000002},{"latitude":-44.02066000000001,"longitude":171.85948000000002},{"latitude":-44.02017,"longitude":171.86054000000001},{"latitude":-44.019980000000004,"longitude":171.86074000000002},{"latitude":-44.019740000000006,"longitude":171.86087},{"latitude":-44.01914,"longitude":171.86090000000002},{"latitude":-44.014010000000006,"longitude":171.8607},{"latitude":-44.01359,"longitude":171.8606},{"latitude":-44.0118,"longitude":171.85977000000003},{"latitude":-44.01126,"longitude":171.85961},{"latitude":-44.009690000000006,"longitude":171.85963},{"latitude":-44.007380000000005,"longitude":171.85983000000002},{"latitude":-44.00553,"longitude":171.85992000000002},{"latitude":-44.005230000000005,"longitude":171.85985000000002},{"latitude":-44.00507,"longitude":171.85961},{"latitude":-44.00408,"longitude":171.85750000000002},{"latitude":-44.00365,"longitude":171.85685},{"latitude":-44.00338000000001,"longitude":171.85661000000002},{"latitude":-44.002770000000005,"longitude":171.85623},{"latitude":-44.00106,"longitude":171.85533},{"latitude":-44.00056,"longitude":171.85500000000002},{"latitude":-43.996170000000006,"longitude":171.85071000000002},{"latitude":-43.991110000000006,"longitude":171.84591},{"latitude":-43.985820000000004,"longitude":171.84079000000003},{"latitude":-43.97374000000001,"longitude":171.82561}]}