RobiNZ Personal Blog

The wrap up: 10 Months Cycling New Zealand | Time Out 2021-22

So, it ends: 10 months, 2 weeks (317 days) cycling or drive/cycling across most of New Zealand. Highlights? So many... there are 95+ blog posts... but a few highlights: Expected, but unexpected In many cases I knew what I was getting into, but sometimes it was the unexpected which added delight: Farewell Spit: I'd long wanted to visit but the combination of a small group, fantastic guide, and unusually calm, for the West Coast, weather made for an exceptional day in an incredibly special place. Loved my Takaka Rocks home too. Lake Dunstan: A fantastic trail, keep an eye on... Read more →

Clutha Gold Trail Roxburgh to Beaumont | Time Out 2021-22 Roxburgh

First item on the agenda today is sorting the broken bike... The bike problem I took Giro Rob (with yesterday's broken rear gear shift) down to Highland Bike Hire, in the Highland Pharmacy, to see if they had any suggestions. Alastair (Pharmacist, bike hirer, hire bike technician) said he could take a look during the day as had cables etc that might be suitable. He services all his hire bikes in a container workshop behind the Pharmacy. I hired one of his bikes for the day so I could keep riding. It was an Avanti Montari Sport, hardtail mountain bike... Read more →

Giro Rob tune up before Time Out 2021-22

I do routine maintenance myself but before heading into the unknown wanted the bikes checked over. Both "Giro" & "Rapid" were riding ok but I don't have the tools for things like headsets, bottom brackets or mucking around with hydraulics. Nothing worse than being 'out there' and having a preventable 'technical' ruin your ride. Bike services are busy, the COVID lockdown bike boom, but 'The Bike Maintenance Shop' in Glendene were recommended. They're a dedicated service workshop specialising in both pedal bikes and BMW motorcycles, do non-contact service, and could fit them in. First up was Giro. I had damaged... Read more →

Racing to stop, a dangerous overtake in the Halsey/Jellicoe St shared pedestrian zone

Some drivers have little regard for the safety of others, judging by this incident last weekend. I was cycling, at approx. the 30km/h limit, along Halsey Street with a considerate car following me. As we approached Jellicoe Street a Mercedes overtook both the following car & me crossing the double yellow line just before a blind 90° corner. This was in the low-speed pedestrian zone by an entry to the America's Cup village on the final Prada Cup race day (Jan 30th). Seems they were racing to find a parking space. I slowed as I passed, with a W.T.F.?, but... Read more →

Kayaking, a landing and endless evening | Antarctic Mission Log 04

The morning began, in what had already become a routine, with a wake-up announcement from 'Clouds' (Claudia) outlining the days activities and our first excursion stop: Orne Harbour. The weather was calm, clear (around us), and surprisingly warm (9°c) but a high cloud base with patches of sun trying to break through in the distance made for stunning ever changing vistas. From our anchorage Spigot Peak, on continental Antarctica, dominated and its summit was the target for some! Seemingly soon, but actually 30 minutes after Clouds, came Siegi's world famous melodic announcement; 'Good Morning, Good Morning, Good Morning; the dining... Read more →

A2O Cycle Road Trip 15–Westport Denniston Cycle

I slept in a bit again, nice after the busy A20 and big drive days. Finally looked out the window about 8am to see blue skies and sun. What a contrast to last night’s overcast and drizzle! I’d come back to Westport as back in 2011 we cycled north of here to Karamea past the turnoff to the Denniston Plateau. It is an area with a unique history. From 1869 to 1967 a perilous rail incline was used to bring coal from the 600m high plateau to sea level. Although only ~25km from Westport, and an easy drive today, it... Read more →

A2O Cycle Road Trip 12–Kurow, Otematata to Burnside Homestead

Signs of more snow arriving on the hills overnight but seeing this sunrise, and blue sky, was a nice start to the day. After breakfast at Waitaki Braids we loaded up and drove back to Otematata to ride the best part of the trail we skipped yesterday. While waiting I sought the sun warmth as it was still quite chilly! (photo by Buzz) Stunning day, what a contrast, for our first ride from Otematata towards Benmore Dam. From there a quiet country road follows the lake shore for about 25km down to Aviemore Dam. Struth, nearly hit an Aussie! Although... Read more →

Just because you are on a crossing, keep watching…

Red lights, cars stopped, green pedestrian and cycle crossing, all good, right? No! It doesn't look so dramatic on the front camera (due to field of view). I let this run a bit longer so you can see the cars queuing across the bike lane trying to enter a gridlocked parking area. The second white one was actually trying to push into a space which wasn't there and looked mad a me for crossing their path! But the rear view better represents what happened at the crossing and how close this near hit was. Read more →

Triangle Road, Massey, Auckland Chicken Run

It is astonishing how many cars are doing a head on "’chicken run’ down Triangle Road passing stationary traffic, on the wrong side of a double yellow ‘no passing’ line, crossing a two lane bridge with no means of escape. They must have a good job to be that desperate to get there… Just to show this isn't a one-off here is a repeat performance from today. * I don't use the bike lane down there unless there is traffic approaching from behind as it is rough, has a lip to the road and often covered in road debris. Read more →

MINI by BMW

Cycle lane | Tick Green Light | Tick Forget MINI are made by BMW, thus don't have functioning indicators | Tick No harm done but could have been… Read more →