Cycling 1985 Style

Machine-read text (unproofread)

Read from the scans by software, so it contains mistakes. Typing it up properly would help blind readers: use Suggest an edit.

Cycling - 1985 Style Jim Robinson This article needs an introduction, thirds of the party out of bed at primarily to explain just why a piece 6.30 am the next morning. (Here is on cycling should greedily fill pages another similarity between cycling that could be devoted to tramping. and tramping. Sunday mornings, crack Cycling, after all, involves twiddling of dawn, barely awake: "Gee, why do your feet in silly little circles, I do this" is the universal thought.) quite unlike the majestic strides At 7.15 am, the hostel silent except that propel you over mountain tops. for gentle snoring, we emerged to a cracker day. A good start? No! But think a minute. Is tramping 800 metres down the road Mike's back really so different? Is it not about tyre gave a whoosh and inconsiderthe satisfaction of completing a hard ately went flat. The valve had day's work - of beating the elements, popped out, making the tube useless. whatever may challenge - seeing new The challenges that present themcountry - and above all enjoying the selves! How to find a bicycle inner outdoors, having a good time tube at 7.30 am on Sunday in a very (masochistic maybe, but fun!) small city. Despite the odds, Michael and I spent an hour travel- Well, you can do all this on two ling 10 miles, to find a petrol wheels, and (wait for it!) more. I station that stocked one such desirmean, I bet that you've never had the "character building" experience of locating and laboriously fixing a flat tyre, pumping it up and setting off, and feel it go flat again after 60 metres while tramping the Tararuas (and getting grease all up your arm). Cycling offers a whole new range of experiences, challenges, fun, and of course, grind. The views may not be as spectacular, but downhill descents can't be beaten for exhilaration. And you get a hot shower at the end of the day Michael, Mike and myself have now got our method of cycle touring down to a fine art. We take less than a little extra gear (which means we have to toddle round shops and the like in our rather different attire, gaining pretty funny sideways stares in the process), do a good proportion of in Snowdonia cycling early in the day, and have an Cycling N.Po - Wales U.K. understanding that whilst riding able item. After circumnavigating everybody takes a turn leading (and the town about 59 times we struck breaking the wind) at some stage. gold, and by 5 to 9 all three were Gone are the days when we needlessly disappearing into the sun as we portaged extra shoes, changes of headed for Wanganui. I can personclothing and boxes of Just Juice. ally certify that there are some If you don't need it, chuck it! boomer hills (unfortunately what comes down must go up) on that road. Our hardest effort for the year The odometer gradually increased its involved driving to Marton, and display, and by the time we rolled catching the overnight train to into Mr and Mrs Hillyer's house in Otorohanga. About the only good Marton for a welcome meal and rest point of doing this is you arrive at it read over 137 miles for the day. about 5 am, so you get an early Phew! start! From Otorohanga we cruised, peddled, struggled and dragged our- By contrast to travelling through selves the 116 miles to New Plymouth. places such as Te Kuiti and Hawera, The land is lovely, but rather in the middle of the year I went to rolling, which made the going tough. England and at one stage did a tour We were all glad to see New Plymouth in Snowdonia National Park in Youth Hostel that evening! Northern Wales. The Vale of Llangollen, Cerrigyorudion, Betws-Y- Michael, as enthusiastic as ever, Coed and Machynlleth all passed dragged the unwilling remaining twobeneath my wheels.

It's hard enough asking for direc- Murchison. But from there, I'm told, tions when you can't pronounce the things were great, and Inangahua, place you're going to, but it's when Reefton, Springs Junction, Motueka the other person can't decipher a and Nelson were all added to the red good Kiwi accent, and you can't line. understand him anyway, that things get interesting. On many Sundays and week evenings we "do" the Bays, Haywards Hill, Fortunately, in North Wales it Mangaroa Valley or Makara. Each is a doesn't really matter where you go. distinct circuit; all are interesting It's all very hilly, often remote and and different. Why not give it a go? rugged, and usually very beautiful. It doesn't make any difference which town you're in, there will always be a castle (even if there's no town, there's probably a castle). By New Zealand terms, Mt Snowdon is a mere pimple. The highest peak in England or Wales would be lucky to own a name were it placed in the Tararuas. And yet, looks can be deceiving, and to all appearances it is much higher than 3% thousand feet. Being summer there was no snow, but scree and loose rockfaces devoid of growth abounded. All in all, this was one of the best tours I've ever done. Meanwhile, Mike and Michael were still turning the pedals. A Labour Weekend effort saw them battle headwinds and snow going from Picton to Brwyn Gwyant Lake = Wales, U.K.