Father and Son Ready For One Hell of a Ride

Top Whangarei cyclist Lee Johnstone is pretty happy he won't be starting in the same bunch as his 14-year-old son Ben in Sunday's gruelling Hell of the North Road Race.
"He can beat me on the hills, so it's a good thing we don't start together," Lee Johnstone quipped.
The 41-year-old architect started racing when he was 14 - similar to his son Ben, who started just 18 months ago. Lee raced competitively for 10 years, representing New Zealand in a series of races in Canada in 1990, before his career was put on hold after a serious crash during a club race in 1993.
"I stopped for 10 years then started up again for a few years, then had another break. I have been back into it for three years and have been going better than ever," he said.
The past 12 months have been hugely rewarding for Lee, who won all seven stages of the Wellington to Auckland Road Race last summer, was first in the Takapuna City Criterium - both open races, and then won his 40-45 years-age group at the National Masters Road Championships, the Waikato Time Trial Champs, Auckland Time Trial Champs and the Auckland Half Distance Champs. The Auckland Full Distance Road Champs are on next weekend.
For Lee, cycling is a lifestyle.
"I do it for my health and to keep my weight down but I have to have a goal in mind to keep me training and motivated. I want to win whatever I am training for ... it's a vicious circle."
Despite years of riding, Sunday's Hell of the North 105km road race, which also doubles as Northland's Road Racing Champs this year, will be the first time Lee has competed in it.
"I'm using it to build up to the summer season which really kicks off with this race. I haven't done it before because it has always clashed with other races ... the course doesn't really suit me. I'm a bit big to get over the hills, I'm more of a sprinter. I'm looking forward to the event - just maybe not all the hills."
Ben, on the other hand, who made an exceptional start to his racing career, placing third at this year's National Under-15 Road Race Championships, second at the Auckland Half Distance Champs, first at Auckland's Time Trial Champs and third overall at the Te Awamutu Junior Tour, is tall and lanky and an efficient hill climber.
The ambitious teenager, who wants to go all the way in his chosen sport, will race in the 70km distance this year after winning the 35km event comfortably in 2009. Racing in the 70km will provide him with more competition, but it excludes him from contesting the Northland Champs. Under-15 riders have to compete in the 35km to be eligible for a Northland title.