Team Pushbikes main mission is a partnership between itself, young talented cyclists and the sport of cycling. Our aim is to bring professional advice, support, assistance, and help to youth in their quest of achieving results. Our team consists of three different support/sponsorship levels, this being ‘Pro Elite’, ‘Elite’ and ‘Development’. The ‘Pro Elite’ and ‘Elite’ team consists of our best riders, who will compete at a national and international level in the sport. The ‘Development’ team will consist of numerous riders who are considered our core base. These riders will follow all the same support and guidance that our ‘Elite’ team does and compete at a local and possibly a National level too. So if you have a bike, some good results then set your sights high and contact us.

Warmup - Pushbikes

Team roster:

Lee Johnstone
John McKenzie
Glen Quantock
Jason Revell
Mark Forsey
Arron Perriam
Darron Burns
Scott McDonnell
Simon Acker (U19)
Jeremy Inglis
Harrison Perriam (U19)
Ben Wortelboer (U19)
David Roche
Stephen Mark
Greg Scott
Stephen Clearwater
Lauren Ellis (Bike NZ National Team)
Sharlotte Lucas
Kelly Chapman (Manager/Rider)
Tony Cleall (Directeur Sportif, Soigneur)

Team Successes

Lauren Ellis Winner Round Two Benchmark Homes Series 2011
Cat 2 Team&Rsquo;S Classification Winner Round Four Benchmark Homes Series 2011
Scott Mcdonnell Masters Winner Benchmark Homes Series 2011 And 35-40 Age Group Winner Le Race 2011
Simon Aker Cooptown Classic Winner 2011
Lee Johnstone Amanda Wilks Sefton Classic Winner 2011
Mark Forsey Canterbury Masters 3 Road Race Champion
Scott Mcdonnell Canterbury Masters 2 Road Race Champion
John Mckenzie Canterbury Masters Time Trial Champion (Hood Cup) 2011, and M3 Winner, National Club Championships Bronze 2010 M2 and 2011 M3 TT
Stephen Mark Canterbury Masters Time Trial Champion M4
Dave Roche Christchurch Time Trial Masters Champion 2009 and Overall Series Winner
Tour De Lakes, Multiple Stage Wins And Stages In Yellow for John Mckenzie 2010 and 2011. (B Grade)
Benchmark Tour 2010 Amanda Minty Second Hamner Kaikoura, with the team winning Category Two
Tour De Lakes Winner 2009 Kelly Chapman (C Grade)

Zac Barber

Sponsorship: Elite
Age: 17
Weight: 65kg
Height: 175cm
Residence (Area & City):Burwood, Christchurch
Why do you ride: I love the thrill and intensity of races
What/who started you in Racing: Seeing my Dad compete in the Coast to Coast
Weakness: Steep hills
Strengths: Time-trialing
Racing Since: 2008
Best part of racing: Close finishes, the feeling of winning
Hardest part of racing: Having bad days, punctures, not achieving goals
Worst moment: Breaking my collarbone while training in Hanmer
Best moment: Winning 2010 U16 NZ Duathlon champs in front of friends and family
Career goals: Representing New Zealand at Elite level
Best results (Last Season): 1st HOT triathlon festival
Favourite rides & tracks: Summit Rd, Dyers pass climb
Favourite event: House of travel Triathlon Festival
Favourite athletes: Ryan Sissons, Hayden Roulston, Mark Cavendish
Other Sports Interests: Rugby, cricket
What consists of my normal weekly training: 5 swims, 4 cycles, 4 runs
Current bikes I'm riding: 2009 Giant TCR Advanced

Canterbury Secondary Schools Triathlon 2012- Corsair Bay

I wasn’t tapering at all for this race as I was in the middle of an intense sharpening period of training. The business end of the season was approaching so I was hoping to show some good form. I set out in the swim as hard as I could and midway through found myself in a group of 4. We stayed together through to the first transition which was up a steep hill from the beach. Onto the bike I put the hammer down in an effort to lengthen the small lead I had out of the swim. Aggressive cycling is very common at the national level so I needed a good test on a tough course. Towards the end of the bike my lead had grown so I toned down the pace a bit and looked to stay consistent onto the run. I was able to cruise into the finish with the closest competitor just over a minute behind at the end. I was stoked to win as it rounded off a perfect winning record at the Canterbury Secondary Schools Champs over my five years at high school. I was especially pleased with my cycle and the way I was able to power up the hills on my new Giant. It was a great day of racing.

Jaye Atkin

Sponsorship: Elite
Age: 18
Weight: 54kg
Height: 165cm
Residence (Area & City): Rangiora, North Canterbury
Why do you ride: For triathlon (swim/bike/run)
What/who started you in Racing: I was told bike racing was best way to improve my cycling for triathlon, encouraged by triathlon coach Andrew Abakhan and my parents.
Weakness: Bike mechanics
Strengths: Dramatic crashes
Racing Since: June 2010
Best part of racing: Winning
Hardest part of racing: Not winning
Worst moment: Crashing
Best moment: See best result below
Career goals: Olympic gold and World Champion for Triathlon
Best results (Last Season): 5th Oceania Triathlon Champs (2nd New Zealander) U19 Elite, March 2011
Favourite rides & tracks: Whiterock, Ashley Gorge, Gebbies (with a tailwind uphill)
Favourite event: Anything with good weather and an interesting course
Favourite athletes: Andrea Hewitt, Chrissie Wellington, Alistair Brownlee
Other Sports Interests: Triathlon, Duathlon, Cross Country, Athletics, Swimming, Yak Skiing
What consists of my normal weekly training: Mixture of swim, bike, run and strength training – anywhere between 12 and 20 hours a week
Current bikes I'm riding: Avanti Road Bike

Brent Miller

Sponsorship: Elite
Age: 29
Weight: 72kg
Height: 185cm
Residence (Area & City): Halswell Christchurch
Why do you ride: Enjoy the challenge of getting faster and fitter, and riding is addiction.
What/who started you in Racing: Injuries from Moto X forced a change from Moto X to MTB.
Weakness: Short track XC races
Strengths: Endurance
Racing Since: 2007
Best part of racing: The feeling you get when you finish and are stoked with how well you went.
Hardest part of racing: The suffering
Worst moment: Puncturing 2k from the finish at 2010 Motatapu while in 3rd place.
Best moment: Winning my class and getting 2nd to Anton at 2011 Motatapu Career goals: Top 5 in world 24hour mtb champs
Best results (Last Season): 1st elite men Motatapu, 1st Bannockburn Gutbuster, 1st Peninsula Challenge, 1st McLean’s 6 hour solo, 4th Dirtworks 100 Australia elite men.
Favourite rides & tracks: All Hamnersprings tracks, Crater Rim, all riding around Wanaka
Favourite event: Motatapu, Contact Epic, Hammerhead
Favourite athletes: Cadel Evens, Lance Armstrong, Ricky Carmichael
Other Sports Interests: Moto X, hunting and fishing
What consists of my normal weekly training: 13-18hrs
Current bikes I'm riding: Niner Air 9 Carbon, Niner Jet 9 RDO, Giant TCR advanced

Motatapu - March 2012

This is a race I had been looking forward to all year, which I had peaked my training for. The weather on race day was perfect, so conditions were going to be fast. The race started quite slowly for the first few km's with no one attacking hard. Once we started climbing a front bunch of 5 riders formed and we started pulling a gap on the field. Gavin Mason was looking strong setting a fast pace with Mark Williams, Nick Clark, Ryan Cull and myself on his heels. My legs were not feeling real flash on the climbs, and soon realised that if I wanted to have any chance at the win I was going to have to really hurt. By the half way Cull had dropped off leaving us 4 battling hard, with no one managing to get away. The last long downhill was ridden at a crazy pace, taking big risks dodging runners and rocks. Once we hit the last 2 km of river crossings before the finish I knew it was going to be a lottery who won, and it was decided in the last and deepest crossing. Gavin had found a great line before the race and got through it without stopping, where we all had to dismount and run up the following bank. It was then a full bore sprint to the finish, with Gavin and Mark locking handlebars and going down hard over the line. I was 3rd 1 second behind with Nick on my wheel. I'm a bit gutted to get so close to winning this race but it really was an awesome battle. Thanks to Pushbikes for getting my bike running perfect, Niner Bikes, High 5 nutrition.

Ben Friel

Sponsorship: Development
Age 13 years
Weight: 47 kgs
Height: 161cm
Residence (Area & City): Murrey Aynsley ,Christchurch
Why do you ride: For the fun and challenges
What/who started you in Racing: Family, I biked too school aged 5 yrs in England
Weakness: Not Drinking enough when racing, not hurting enough on the hill climbs in the heat
Strengths: Lots of stamina, perseverance, taking criticism well
Racing Since: Aged 10 yrs
Best part of racing: The adrenalin buzz and to trying and catch the rider infront
Hardest part of racing: Nerves on start line, crashing when I was about to get a PB
Worst moment: Pulling out of Kaiwara classic when it was 40 degrees
Best moment: Winning races
Career goals: Best for my age in NZ or up there, and to win
Best results (Last Season): 2nd Nelson NZ National under 15’s, 3rd Living Springs NZ Nationals under 15’s, 2nd Canterbury Secondary Schools Huxster event under 15’s, 4th Team Road Race under 16s, South Island road biking Ruapuna July 2011, Ist Hammerhead one lap event,1st Mount Somers Intermediate Challenge
Favourite rides & tracks: Flying Nun, Hamner Springs tracks, Bowenvale traverse, Crocodile and many others in Port Hills.
Favourite event: Hammerhead, Long beach, Mt Somers, Timaru
Favourite athletes: Anton Cooper, Cadel Evans, Shleck brothers
Other Sports Interests: Snow boarding, Soccer, Basketball, Surfing
What consists of my normal weekly training: Mountain Biking
Current bikes I'm riding: Giant Carbon OCR C1 Road bike, Giant XTC MTB bike

Clarkville Classic 22 kms

I felt I rode really well on my Giant running Maxxis Aspens, I was happy with my time and felt good all ride. I ended up coming 1st in 12 – 19 age group. The week before I did the Mcleans 6 hour teams event and came 2nd in junior category. 

Mitchell Campbell

Sponsorship: Development
Age: 15
Weight: 61kg
Height: 1.75cm
Residence: Kaiapoi Christchurch
Why I ride: To challenge myself and the enjoyment
Who started you in racing: My dad, he use to take me to the bike jam races at Bottle Lake Forest
Weakness: Not getting to the top of the hill fast enough
Strengths: Determination
Racing since: 2004 (Kids Jams Races)
Best part of racing: Racing new tracks
Hardest part of racing: The nerves on the start line
Worst moment: Breaking my wrist in the Timaru 12 Hour in 2009
Best moment: Getting King of the hill at the frog rock Festival of Cycling 2011
Career goals: Make the world’s team...oh and finish school
Best results: Second at the NZ Mountain Bike Cup, and second overall. 3rd NZ Secondary Schools MTB Championships - Levin, 2nd under 15’s Hill Climb at South Island Championships - Bluff, 3rd under 15’s Cross Country at South Island Championships
Favourite tracks: All Hanmer Springs tracks, Living Springs, Flying Nun, Signal Hill (Dunedin) all Nelson tracks
Favourite event: Spring Crusher, UCI New Zealand Cup Rounds, NZ National events
Favourite athletes: Lionel Messi, Anton Cooper
Other sport interests: Football, Running
What consists of my weekly training: 5 - 6 days a week (1-2 hours a day)
Current bike I am riding: Giant XTC Composite 29er 0

Kiri Atkin

Sponsorship: Development
Age: 15
Weight: 44kg
Height: 156cm
Residence (Area & City): Rangiora, North Canterbury
Why do you ride: For enjoyment, staying fit, lover triathlon, family
What/who started you in Racing: My parents-they raced, then my sister started, it seemed natural for when I was old enough to start racing too
Weakness: Stubbornness
Strengths: Determination
Racing Since: Cycle racing since 2010, triathlon/duathlon-since I can remember (about 2003)
Best part of racing: Feeling great, winning, beating mum
Hardest part of racing: Feeling awful and getting dropped
Worst moment: Embarrassing slow motion fall off bike at give way sign-forgot to unclip shoes
Best moment: Winning Contact Tri and winning Physiomed duathlon race one
Career goals: To compete at the Olympics and Commonwealth games
Best results (Last Season): Winning the 3:9:3 Contact triathlon at Pegasus overall and in age-group
Favourite rides & tracks: Sefton, Corsair bay-Governors Bay
Favourite event: Any triathlon-H.O.T triathlon festival, Secondary Schools Triathlon, Contact Triathlon series
Favourite athletes: Emma Snowsill, Alistair and Jonathan Brownlee, Andrea Hewitt, Hamish Carter, Andy Schlek
Other Sports Interests: Cross-country running, swimming, surf lifesaving
What consists of my normal weekly training: Depends on what races are coming up. One or two rides a week but this increases when I don’t have school
Current bikes I'm riding: Giant Avail One 2012

Canterbury Secondary Schools Triathlon 2012- Corsair Bay

On Tuesday 21st it was the Canterbury Secondary Schools triathlon at Corsair Bay. I was competing as an individual in the U16 girls. The race distances were 500m swim/14km bike/3.6km run. Having not too flash a swim I knew I had to push hard on the bike. The cycle was a hilly and technical course from Corsair Bay down to Governors and back. I managed to move myself up into first place on the bike by making use of both chain rings which meant I was able to work the descents as well as the uphills. Near the end of the cycle I was caught by a girl who was in my age-group. We came of the bike together but a flying transition saw me go onto the run in first place. I managed to hold my place and ended up winning by about 50 seconds. Overall it was a good day and I was pleased with my cycle as I could make full use of all the gears.

Bryn Atkin

Sponsorship: Development
Age: 12
Weight: 48kg
Height: 168cm
Residence (Area & City): Rangiora
Why do you ride: To get better
What/who started you in Racing: I started riding and racing because my family was often competing
Weakness: Hills
Strengths: Sprinting
Racing Since: 2010
Best part of racing: The finish line
Hardest part of racing: Clipping in at the start
Worst moment: Falling off my bike when learning to ride with clip in pedals
Best moment: Getting my new Giant Defy 2
Career goals: Olympics
Best results (Last Season): 4th National Schools Duathlon
Favourite rides & tracks: Mount Thomas
Favourite event: South Island Schools Time Trial
Favourite athletes: Alexander Vinokourov
Other Sports Interests: Swimming, Rugby
What consists of my normal weekly training: I ride once or twice a week but this increases over the holidays, plus I swim three or four times a week
Current bike I'm riding: Giant 2011 Defy 2

Canterbury Road Championship Time Trial at Loburn

On Saturday 20th April I competed in the Canterbury Road Championship Time Trial at Loburn. This was the first time I had contested a road time trial event. I was in the U15 age group so had a restricted gear ratio of 6m and no specialised time trial bikes or accessories are permitted. We rode 15km on an out and back undulating course from Loburn School. The weather was good and with an early start it wasn't even too windy. I was pleased with my time of 28 min 13sec. I finished second and was awarded the Canterbury silver medal.

Darren Atkin

Sponsorship: Development
Age: 47
Weight: 82kg
Height: 180cm
Residence (Area & City): Rangiora
Why do you ride: Fun and for personal space
What/who started you in Racing: Started cycling after a serious car crash in 1982 in order to rebuild leg strength. Found I was quite good at it
Weakness: Kit-kats
Strengths: Using my head instead of my legs when racing gets tough
Racing Since: 1983
Best part of racing: Being in a break and knowing you are the strongest rider there
Hardest part of racing: Being in a break and knowing you are the weakest rider there
Worst moment: The occasional crash
Best moment: Racing in Europe in the 1980s
Career goals: To keep riding for as long as I can
Best results (Last Season): Member of the winning team of the Waipara 100km Classic
Favourite rides & tracks: Ashley Gorge, Ports Hills
Favourite event: Any event with a free sausage sizzle
Favourite athletes: Beryl Burton, Sean Kelly
Other Sports Interests: Triathlon, Football
What consists of my normal weekly training: Three rides (if you count warming-up, racing and warming down as separate sessions)
Current bikes I'm riding: Giant TCR

Kath Atkin

Sponsorship: Development
Age: 47
Weight: 55kg
Height: 110cm
Residence (Area & City): Rangiora, North Canterbury
Why do you ride: Family activity, fitness, enjoy the outdoors, thrill of competition and satisfaction of finishing, cup of tea and chocolate biscuits afterwards
What/who started you in Racing: My husband, Darren. It was the only way I could get to see him
Weakness: Sprint finishes, downhills
Strengths: Hills, Endurance
Racing Since: 1988
Best part of racing: The adrenaline rush
Hardest part of racing: Getting dropped
Worst moment: Crashing on the bumps on German Road, Cust
Best moment: Silver Medal at 2009 World Triathlon Champs
Career goals: To ride as fast as I can for as long as I can
Best results (Last Season): 6th Waikari Classic Handicap (90km)
Favourite rides & tracks: Ashley Gorge, Whiterock
Favourite event: Triathlon
Favourite athletes: Erin Baker, Andrea Hewitt, John Walker, Cadel Evans
Other Sports Interests: Running, Swimming, Surf Lifesaving, watching the All Blacks
What consists of my normal weekly training: Riding to work and back, wind trainer or rollers, Saturday race and Sunday long ride
Current bikes I'm riding: Commuter bike – Raleigh Triathlon, steel frame, downshifters, 20 years old; Training – Mercian made to measure steel frame with down shifters, 20years old; Racing, Scott CRI composite.

Canterbury Road Championship Time Trial at Loburn

On Saturday 20th April I contested the Canterbury Road Championship Time Trial. I was in the M3W category, and we rode 25k on an out and back course from Loburn School. The ride out was into the wind and was hard work, but the return journey seemed to fly by. I finished the event in 42min 35sec and, for the third time in this event, won the gold medal in my category. I like riding time trials as you don't have to worry about what anyone else is doing. It was an added bonus to compete on familiar local roads.