Kathmandu Coast to Coast competitor Ian Walsh didn't let a high-speed collision with a traffic light ruin his determination to finish the race - on a borrowed, folding bike - last weekend.
The 58-year-old was 5 kilometres into the 55km cycling stage of the male veteran two-person team category, when one moment of not paying attention cost him.
"We were doing about 38 kilometers an hour and suddenly, there was a road cone in front of me, because I drifted a bit too much to the left, and I flicked the bike to avoid that and collided with a traffic light temporary tower, so that went flying, I went flying," Walsh told Afternoons.
"In a split second, I thought the next thing I'm going to see is the inside of an ambulance, so I was pretty happy when I [was] all good [enough to] pick myself up."
"There were a lot of spectators there because it was at the Kumara Racecourse, where we camped the night before, and I was pretty embarrassed and ashamed of my efforts. So I had my head down and I was just trying to get back on my bike and get cracking again, but the seat handle bars were all twisted around and luckily a guy, Vince, came over and straightened my bike up for me and then I got away."
It wasn't long before the bike malfunctioned while Walsh was going up a hill. So he took matters into his own hands, jogging while carrying the ruined bike on his shoulders.
Along the way, a couple in a campervan were his knight in shining armour, asking if he wanted to borrow a bike.
"I couldn't get over there fast enough and they opened a locker and had to unload a few suitcases and a bit of other gear and found this folding bike in the back there.
"So it was sturdily built, probably another 15 kilograms heavier than my bike, but I was not about to worry about that.
"I think that's what's great about the Coast to Coast. Everyone seems to have a connection and very much an understanding of what it's all about, whether they'd done it or not, I guess it's part of what we are as Kiwis really."
Ian Walsh has competed in the Coast to Coast 22 times Photo: SUPPLIED/Kathmandu Coast to Coast
With adrenaline pumping, Walsh hit the road again and shrugged off a few chuckles from the other competitors.
"I thought actually I'm going alright, I'm keeping up with these people and then I just suddenly felt the toll of it all.
"I looked at the little heart rate monitor on my wrist and it was 170 [beats per minute] and when you're nearly 60, that's getting up there ... [but] a lot of them toward the back of the field, they were kind of taking on the scenery and they were great company."
Walsh says he couldn't afford to let his teammate, Richard Thomas, down.
"I had my niece in the transition and she plays for the Black Ferns and I thought, well, I fell off my bike, but she probably takes two or three hits bigger than that in the games she plays ... So I had to get in, so I was pleased I didn't let the team down."
He still reckons he'll back for the next Coast to Coast. "I wouldn't miss it."
Although his bike is still ruined, the couple got their folding bike back and his team sailed to third place in their category.
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