While researching new bikes I found this article from 2015 about riding the Alps 2 Ocean Trail on an Avanti Giro AR C1 cyclo-cross (CX) bike. At the time I didn’t realise I would be buying one but was looking at it’s cousin; the alloy frame AR 2.
Mine C1 hasn’t ventured far off road yet, just a local gravel cycle path (photo right), but nice to know it can tackle a more challenging journey.
One reason I was looking at a CX bike, beyond a more relaxed ride, was the flexibility to explore gravel roads and trails without fear of destroying a fragile road bike.
I’ve ridden some road sections around the A2O region, Tekapo canals, Lake Ohau & Benmore (below), on other Adventure South trips—before the cycle trail existed—but would like to revisit.
Check out the article, and great photos, and their video embedded below.
Roadtripping Canterbury - Exploring New Zealand's Alps 2 Ocean Cycle Trail
It's no secret that New Zealand is blessed with an abundance of natural beauty. Anyone that's visited the country's South Island will tell you about the diversity of terrain, from soaring peaks to alpine lakes and from lush rainforest to open plains.
CyclingTips' Jonathan Reece and Andy van Bergen recently visited the region of Canterbury in New Zealand's South Island with photographer Tim Bardsley-Smith to ride the Alps 2 Ocean Cycle Trail, a 300km mostly-off-road cycling trail from the slopes of New Zealand's highest mountain, Aoraki/Mount Cook, right out to the Pacific Ocean at Oamaru. This is the story of their journey.
by Jonathan Reece | Photography by Tim Bardsley-Smith
Adventure South offer a more relaxed view of the trail, same awesome scenery:
