Get to know Jon…

Written By Kim Manunui

To get to know our ambassadors we asked them a few questions…read on to discover more about Jon…

What motivates you to get out on your bike?

In my secret daydreams I go in races, and I win them with power climbs and devastating sprints. These dreams are just believable enough that I buy a new pair of lightweight shoes with the Boa buckles, and I debate to myself about where the new bike I can’t afford will have disc brakes or tubeless, and I get up while the kids are sleeping every Sunday and take my three mates with me into the hills.

Who are your training buddies?

The Three Kings Cycle Club is a group of four slow and dependable characters based in Three Kings Auckland (hence the name). We recently expanded to five members with the honorary membership we have extended to Aaron Gate. (He has yet to formally accept). Wayne, Alex, Andy and I have matching kit we designed and had made by Tineli. Ideally we’d all ride together every weekend, but because of kids, dogs, building projects, late nights, school holidays, mountain biking, old age, laziness and injury we only ever have all four of us about once a month. But when we ride together, we give it everything. We once passed a guy.

What's your favourite snack while your training?

A gel with caffeine, or chewies with caffeine or a bar with caffeine or some caffeine.

What songs are on your training playlist?

One song each ride just going round and round, just one part of it over and over again, like the other weekend after one of the ABs test matches against Ireland it was just two lines from the stupid Irish national anthem over and over and over for 104.2kms.

What is your favourite form of exercise other than riding your bike?
I’m honestly not interested in any other exercise.

If you could have a superpower on event day, what would it be?

I’d be No-Cramp Man with the power to not cramp up. And my sidekick would be Doesn’t Need To Stop For A Wee Boy.

When it comes to training, what’s something your brain tries to make you do and you have to will yourself not to do it?

My brain says I should immediately relax at the top of a hill after a big effort riding up. A former racer I once rode with always told me to power right over the crest of the hill for just 10 more seconds in training because that’s where people will attack you in a race and you don’t want to get into the habit of buttoning off at the crest. I have used this advice in every one of the zero big races I’ve been in.

If you could go riding with a famous celebrity who would it be?

I would love to ride with the legend that is George Bennett.

Do you have any pre or post event traditions or superstitions?

I scrumple my race number up into a tight ball, then unscrumple it and press it flat again with my hand before pinning it on. All the little creases in it help it to mold better to your shape rather than billowing out and catching the air. The ten seconds this saves me over 160km makes the crucial difference.

What will you reward yourself with when you complete the event?

I will wait til last thing at night and then I’ll look over my Strava activity file little by little.

And just cause we need to know - do you like pineapple on your pizza?

Yes

Kim Manunui

Hi, I’m Kim and I work with a great team to help individuals, as well as small and not so small businesses get their message, product and services to the world using digital media and creating wonderful websites that don’t cost the earth.

I was born in Canada, and grew up around Vancouver and the mountains of British Columbia. My love of pristine environments led me to New Zealand and eventually to the mountains, lakes and rivers of the central North Island which is home. My family’s heritage is here, and it’s from here that Korio traverses the planet.

The digital world is never static and neither are we.

And I say ‘we’ because I work with an awesome group of talented people who I gather together as required to complete a project.  Whatever your business, not-for-profit or individual needs are we gather the best team to get the job done.

Collaboratively we are creative, share sustainable values and work hard for great outcomes because that’s the buzz of satisfaction that drives us.

If you have an audience and market to reach, we can make that happen. Creative design, words that work and smart behind the scenes stuff that cuts through the online noise. We’ll design your website and then build it. We’ll manage the content as well as all your hosting needs. We can handle your online advertising so you get noticed,
and we’ll manage your social media presence so you get the clicks, likes and engagement to grow your business. All within the budget you set, because none of this needs to cost the earth.  And the job doesn’t stop when your website goes live. We are your virtual business partner.

https://www.korio.co.nz
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This iconic event means so many different things to so many people