If you are visiting the Johnston household, do not expect to find them lounging in front of a television.
The Rotorua family are mountain bike mad and have an intimate knowledge of their local trails.
Carl Johnston grew up in Rotorua and has always enjoyed getting out on the bike. Amber, 22, Nathan, 20, Taylor, 18, and Connor, 16, have all inherited their father's love for two wheels.
Amber and Nathan are studying in Auckland and Canterbury respectively, so have less time for racing, but on Sunday Carl, Taylor and Connor all competed in the North Island Cross Country Championships.
Connor made the step up to under-19 racing for the first time and finished second, but because the winner was from Nelson he was awarded the North Island Championship jersey.
Taylor was also racing in a new age group, the under-23, in which he finished second, behind Cosmo Bloor. It was a unique opportunity for Taylor because the under-23s raced alongside the elite men, including Commonwealth Games gold medallist Anton Cooper, Xterra triathlete Sam Osborne and Singlespeed World Champion Sam Shaw.
Rotorua's Carl Johnston (centre) and his sons Connor (left) and Taylor love mountain biking. Photo / Ben Fraser
"Pretty much from the start I knew it would be hard, I was just excited to see how I'd go, I didn't have many expectations," Taylor said.
He said it was a valuable experience, being able to see first-hand what made the top riders tick.
"You've got to be fast to be top in the world. It gives me something to chase."
Having just finished high school and racing at a higher level for the first time, Taylor was looking forward to seeing how he went this year before deciding whether to study or chase a career in sport.
Last year he finished second in the New Zealand Cross Country Championships and raced in Europe before competing at the Cross Country World Championships in Cairns, Australia.
"The trails are different, they're more flowing over there. Our's are more natural sort of walking tracks."
Connor said next year would be his "main year" because it would be his second year competing in the under-19s.
The highlight for Connor last year, in the under-17s, was finishing second at the Oceania Cross Country Championships.
Carl, who finished sixth in the Masters 40-49 race, said they had all spent some time doing other disciplines, such as enduro and road cycling, but for the majority of the family cross country was number one.
"There are a few more different elements, on Sunday the conditions weren't great, you don't know what to expect and have to be able to change your riding style.
"I've always rode for fun, just as a fitness thing really. The kids just sort of followed along, it started as a fun thing and it's gone from there really. For these guys sport is everything, there's not many days you'd find them sitting in front of a PlayStation that's for sure."
