Officially it has arrived, but the grey clouds and downpour at lunchtime are a far cry from the baking hot Mackenzie sun we have booked for late February.

Pack your sunscreen, it's going to be hot. Guaranteed.

The people who entered the inaugural event in 2009 took a leap of faith, largely into the unknown. In cliff diving terms it would be the equivalent of having a quick glance to check for water, and then leaping off in your speedos without checking the depth. We were tickled pink with feedback from these people, and absolutely stoked that lots of returning riders already feature on our entrant list. To name a few... 

• Glenn Kirk hailing from Palmy North and Neill O'Fee from sunny Dunedin;
• Ric Barber and Steve Hanmer, who have teamed up after ditching their previous team-mates;
• Tamsin Chittock, who has convinced her husband Grant to accompany her through the hills;
• Graeme Nuttridge of PhysioSouth;
• Shane Armstrong and Sophie Hart from the green grassy paddocks of the Eastern Bay of Plenty; and strongman
• Willy (Mark) Williams from Queenstown.

Thanks heaps guys, for taking the leap. Twice.

Entries are coming in and we've got a few speedy looking teams in every category.

Erin Greene and Hannah Thorne are lining up and will challenge for the women's title At this stage we are waiting to see if winners of the inaugural women's event, Sadie Parker-Wynyard and Megan Dimonzantos will return to defend their title...but word on the wooded streets of Geraldine is that they will.

In the men's category last years runner up, Mark Williams is returning with Tony Hogg who placed third in the 2009 BC Bike Race in Canada. They will be tough to beat but will face opposition from Mike and Willy Walker, and the threat of Kashi Leuchs returning also hangs over the men's field.

The corporate teams section has a number of entrants vying for the trophy, which was not awarded in 2009. Matt Soppit and Brendan Carney of Foothold Developments in Nelson are the hot pick at present after being sighted riding at a blistering pace down Trafalgar Street.

We've discovered a nice track up a hill to a spectacular view of Aoraki Mt Cook, which is not too long but will provide a perfect and mostly unrideable start to stage 5. In fact we will be standing at the top of it and if you ride the whole thing will get a prize.

Bring your camera, it'll be stunning.

If we don't get around to sending another newsletter in the next 17 days, happy riding whereever you are, and merry Christmas, we hope you have a good one.

Cheers