http://www.samdakin.co.nz/blog/ The latest Blog feeds from www.samdakin.co.nz en-us Sun, 26 Apr 2026 02:10:51 +1200 Rocketspark http://www.samdakin.co.nz/blog/post/60696/tales-of-the-top-two-inches/ Some of you may have come along to the 'Tales of the top two inches' event. Some of you may have watched it online (with terrible audio quality) but some may be thinking what in the world is he talking about. So. Briefly, I, along with Callum and our now mind coach David Galbraith had an idea that we wanted to change the conversation around mental health in sport. There is a mental health crisis happening in New Zealand at the moment and it certainly is not getting any better.  We had a thi... Mon, 14 Dec 2020 07:05:57 +1300 http://www.samdakin.co.nz/blog/#post60696 http://www.samdakin.co.nz/blog/post/60282/tokyo-2020--olympic-selection/ I've always dreamed of this day. The day I'd be able to say I was selected into the New Zealand team for an Olympic games. There's so much to write but so little at the same time. This is one of those selections that truly means you have to sit back and just appreciate what has just happened. I still feel like the 12 year old boy sitting in front of the TV in Auckland watching the Olympics and dreaming of going there one day. Now that dream, well the selection has come true.  There's no hid... Wed, 02 Dec 2020 09:31:53 +1300 http://www.samdakin.co.nz/blog/#post60282 http://www.samdakin.co.nz/blog/post/58187/post-break/ Once again I've failed with the regularity of these things. If I'm honest I never really know what to write about. More so now than ever that is hard though with not much racing of travelling going on.  We are training hard as always and continue to focus on being at our best on the line in Tokyo in August next year (yes, I believe it will go ahead. It will just look a little different to normal). Nothing new to report really. I'm still loving riding my bike and we have some racing her... Sat, 03 Oct 2020 14:15:43 +1300 http://www.samdakin.co.nz/blog/#post58187 http://www.samdakin.co.nz/blog/post/56695/time-off/ After what has been by far the most rewarding but toughest 6 months both on and off the bike. Having a two week break planned was something I really needed. Both physically but more importantly mentally as well and what an epic two weeks it was. Jumped on a plane with my family to watch my younger brother play rugby down in Christchurch and then drove up to stay with the Saunders in Blenheim. Treated with everything from wine tasting through to hunting. It really was a special few days. Bac... Mon, 24 Aug 2020 10:43:50 +1200 http://www.samdakin.co.nz/blog/#post56695 http://www.samdakin.co.nz/blog/post/55549/long-time-between-drinks/ It's been a long time since I got on this blog and typed something out. One for being too lazy and two for not really knowing what to write. I sit here writing this latest blog in the comfort of my flat sipping on my lovely filter coffee roasted by Rocket (if you love coffee go and check them out on Barton St in Hamilton). So, for those interested I'm going to keep this short and sweet with the focus on doing them slightly more regularly. 2020 as we all know has been an interesting year for... Tue, 28 Jul 2020 13:13:30 +1200 http://www.samdakin.co.nz/blog/#post55549 http://www.samdakin.co.nz/blog/post/42791/Racing-bikes-in-the-US-of-A/ 27th May 2019. I boarded the plane bound for my 4th year spending June in a place called Kutztown located in Pennsylvania USA. A place where it is not uncommon to come across the Amish people who are still riding around in their horse and carts.  This year was a little different though. The past 3 years I have been there on a self funded campaign but this year I had the privilege of being there with the Cycling New Zealand National Sprint team for 5 weeks. We were there to earn valuabl... Wed, 17 Jul 2019 08:02:15 +1200 http://www.samdakin.co.nz/blog/#post42791