Singlespeed bikers race for Anzac

SINGLESPEED: Australian Brett Bellchambers, the 24-hour solo singlespeed world champion, will race at the Anzac Singlespeed Championships in Rotorua later this month. PHOTO/WWW.SPORTOGRAF.COM

It's remarkably hard to miss Brett Bellchambers.

The Australian mountain biker, nicknamed Jeebus, is as skinny as a rake, has a long beard and a wonderful sense of humour.

The 42-year-old civil servant from Canberra is also a three-time, 24-hour solo singlespeed world champion.

He'll be on the start line at the Anzac Singlespeed Championships in Rotorua on Sunday, April 26.

"I brought my first mountain bike in 1991 and started singlespeeding eight years later," he said. "It was so much fun and it felt like riding a BMX in the bush, which is how I started riding bikes as a kid - all the fun and none of the hassles, and clearing something on a singlespeed that guys can't do on a geared bike is priceless."

Extending that to 24 hours in the saddle felt logical, even if it hurt.

"I'm not the sharpest pencil in the case when it comes to handling skills, so while I had a good motor, I had a bit of difficulty getting it through the corners at speed," he said.

So, the longer a race went the more his motor was an advantage.

"I knew I was stubborn and I knew I liked to ride for a long time, so why not try a 24-hour solo?

"The first one went well though I'm not sure how you define well for a 24-hour solo - blisters, numb fingers and toes for weeks, saddle rash, bung knee, but I survived and I decided that a few more might be on the cards."

So far he has raced 19 of the events, adding world titles in 2013 on home territory in Canberra and in Fort William in Scotland last year.

Bellchambers has visited Rotorua twice before. The first time was in 1998 when he was riding around the North Island.

His second visit was in 2010 for the Singlespeed World Championships.

"These races are only 30 to 40 kilometres, so far too short for me," he laughed. "However, I did manage to drink a beer, on course, while relieving myself of another one at the same time."

He's excited about returning in three weeks and is grateful to Rotorua Airport and Australian Mountain Bike magazine for organising the trip and YHA Rotorua for helping with accommodation.

Bellchambers' visit will also give him a chance to scope out the trails ahead of the World Endurance Mountain Bike Organisation (WEMBO) 24-Hour World Championships early next year.

Official entry for the Anzac Singlespeed Championships closes tomorrow, on: www.rotoruasinglespeed.com