Held last weekend in sunny Nelson was an epic battle on stretched bikes.Ventana team riders Oliver and Tristan rose to the challenge, taking advantage of a loaner tandem on offer. While not aboard a Ventana, the tour proved an exciting taster, and we can expect to see a Ventana El Conquistador de Montana (full squish tandem) in the test fleet in the near future.
Tandem riding requires alot of trust and brute force, and the duo represented Ventana impeccably, riding to two stage victories and earning the respect of competitors along the way.
Highlight of the race was the final stage, where the team dueled with eventual winners Chris and Bob up the Nuedorf valley. On the out and back course, Team Ventana drew first blood with an impeccably timed king of the mountain sprint, only to be out muscled at the next KOM. The final rain soaked descent proved a true test of the captain's bike handling, with reports of two wheel slides, a scary proposition given the 90kph speeds reached.
The two teams worked well to stay away on the final flat stretch before locking horns in an exciting drag race for the line. Ollie and Tristan prevailed, but finished a close second to the legendary duo of Chris and Bob, truly a formidable tandem force!
All up, the weekend was a blast, and Oliver recommends a ride on a tandem whenever the opportunity arises. For sheer speed and exhilaration in the company of someone you trust, it can't be beat!
One half of the winning duo gets his race face on!Mountain Pedaler out...
