It’s been a while since we dropped any new tees but today is the day, in fact there are three new styles. First up the AC/DC inspired raglan baseball style 3/4 shirt. It comes in just this one colour combo and is the first in a series of metal inspired shirts, so keep you eyes peeled for more soon.

Margie Pyle, whose fantastic artwork graced the Makara Peak festival poster last year and also the Revolve Women of Dirt poster, drew this graphic for us. We like to call it Ride the Sky. It’s coming in two colourways and for the first time ever we have made kids tees; we have them for 8, 10 and 12 year olds. There are no women’s tees anymore cause you never bought them. If there is demand we may look at doing a pre-order only women’s run, so register your interest in the comments below.

And Spoke Magazine’s long time designer and multi-talented legend Emma Gee just dropped this little logo-less gem. It’s based on the design she did for Tim “T Rex” Wilding’s interview in issue 34. So now you can rock a T Rex on your tee.

All these tees are shipping now so if you want to be the first on your block to be repping the latest Spoke fashion then head over to the First Floor Shop and get spending.

With Brenda Clapp racing, Chris Burr needed a new wench for his Fringe Hill establishment. Ms. Laurence Mote answered the call.

Nelson’s George Bennett demolished the race record as Saturday’s fourth Santa Cruz Coppermine Epic mountain bike race attracted a larger and more competitive field of riders than in previous years. Riders came from throughout the country to test their skills and fitness on some of New Zealand’s best trails in arguably the country’s toughest mountain bike race.
Bennett, who recently turned professional, rode away from the rest of the field to win in an incredible 2hr 3min 15sec, smashing the previous course record by six minutes. He made a break from the talented men’s field—which included last year’s winner Robin Reid, an Olympic time trial representative; Tim Wilding, the 2007 NZ Xterra and 2009 singlespeed champion; and Richard Ussher, arguably the world’s best multisport athlete—only minutes after the start.

Chris Burr and his mobile Sprig and Fern bar has become a welcome sight for regular Coppermine Epic entrants.

Once Bennett attacked the other riders, he wasn’t seen again until the finish line. He was several minutes ahead at the top of Fringed Hill, but a poorly tuned bike almost cost him his lead. Wilding had chased hard all the way down the Maitai Valley, and it almost paid off in the finish loop as Bennett lost his chain. Just as he regained it, Wilding appeared, charging hard for the line. Wilding finished second in 2hr 3min 37sec. Ussher came home for third place in 2hr 7min 49sec.

The women’s race was also hotly contested, with the lead changing only minutes from the finish line when Suzie Wood also had mechanical problems, jamming her chain. Maggie Bichard seized the opportunity and won in 2hr 35min 9sec, leaving Wood to take second place in 2hr 38min 9sec, with Brenda Clapp third in 2hr 45min 10sec.

The winners walked away with $500 from NBS and performance prizes from Macpac.

The course was in an excellent condition, aided by work the Nelson City Council recently completed. The Coppermine loop is widely regarded by recreational cyclists as one of New Zealand’s best rides.

The race has two courses, climbing to Coppermine Saddle through the mineral belt and returning to Nelson down the Maitai Valley. The courses cater for recreational to expert riders.

All riders were glad to cross the finish line, where they were rewarded with liquid refreshments from the Sprig and Fern and a seafood barbecue provided by Solander. Many riders also took up the option of some therapy for sore legs, with a rub-down from Massage Works waiting to greet them.

Full Results here

Not wanting to leave T Rex (Tim Wilding) out, I should mention that he too will be rocking a new steed for the Huka XL, but unlike Samara’s, his has clown wheels and is made of plastic. Well, carbon actually, and as you can see from these pics it’s a pretty sweet build. Tim says his gear selection and cadence hasn’t changed at all on his new Santa Cruz Tallboy with the switch to 29er wheels which can only mean one thing; he’s going faster than normal. And unlike the rest of the pro field racing at the Huka XL, Mr Rex has a little extra riding on it. You see he works for Contact (Taupo’s main sponsor) and I’m sure there is pressure round the water cooler to back up his Lake Hawea Contact Epic first place with a second win in Taupo (he did take the win at the inaugural event). So it looks like Cabin and T Rex will be battling it out for 29er supremacy this weekend which will be very interesting to watch (not that I’ll be able to see from the back of the field…).

XTR goodness out back, Fox F29 up front... damn son!

Tim's gone for the murdered out look with the build. Although it doesn't look like he was brave enough to unload the can of matt black plasticote on the forks.

Oli Brooke-White sent me a text the other day letting me know that 2009 NZ Singlespeed Champ and all round nice guy Tim Wilding was going to be in town. We rendezvoused on Sunday morning for a quick shoot and got a few pics in the bag.

That SS tattoo

Tim was in town to pick up his freshly built Santa Cruz Carbon Blur XC, which is insanely light and built with some amazing bits, like these crazy Rotor Q chain rings (kind of like bio-pace).

Tim's deadspot elminiating Rotor Q rings

Tim Wilding on Salvation