taupo to turangi 60 km?
After packing up my gear (for the last time at reads farm on this trip). Getting in to town I do some jobs in town before going to the library for a few hours before going to the super market and fulling up on water leaving town around 2 pm on S.H 1 going south riding around the like (going the other way this time)riding over the hatepe hill. Getting in to turangi around 6 pm. I deside to stay at a camping ground for the night I end up having a short chat to some elso who is gett ing a round by bike before going to bed.
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Saturday, November 27, 2010
round lake taupo bike ride
It’s 11:30 pm and its time to get up and pack up my gear (after only getting to sleep an hour before) riding down hill into taupo at around 12:30 am
So what am I doing riding the town of taupo after midnight on a friday night? I’m going for a bike ride 2 times around lake taupo (leaving most of my gear in taupo )what is around 320 km (or 200 miles) there is around 70 other people doing the same ride (and theres about 10,000 people starting just part of one times around or 1 one times around (160 km) later that day (saturday) on the wednesday about 20 riders starter riding 8 laps of the lake (around 1250 km) so I wont be own all the time .
getting some think to eat at the BP -where else can one go and find some food at this time of night (not much open around midnight on a friday night in taupo)
Near the start line I do some last min things to my gear -after a bit of a talk and a roll call it’s 1:30 am and time to start -ever one starting at the same time with me about last riding off- as the km past I will be passing a few riders. going down to the river and up the first hill (one of many to come) I keep one eye on my heart rate (I like to keep it below 170 bmp) I look at the tail lights to the riders ahead of me climbing up the hill.
it’s a nice night for being out on the bike with not much wind (it’s a nice change from some of the days out training on the bike -riding into 60+km head winds) riding over rolling hills (at lest I thing there are rolling hills as it is a bit hard to tell in the dark even with good bike lights-maybe thats a good thing that I can’t see where the hills are.) with just few cars pasting by ( support people helping some of the riders out). I get my headphones out and start listing to mp3’s to help me not to fall asleep on the bike(It’s never a good thing to fall asleep when riding a bike-and no I have not do that yet thought I know a few who have ) having the sound on low so i can still hear cars and people talking.
There is a few people park in drive ways who call out and wave (with the odd look as I go past- must be the bike friday as I often get funny looks when riding it places )going down some of the hill’s I get up to around 50+km/h part of the way around the course there is a sharp bend where I don’t slow down much for (around a 90% bend )as I done a lot of riding around sharp bends before at night (so don’t try this home )its was a bit like riding in to a black hole before my bike light went round (I used my head light to see around bends in the road) passing some of the riders who was riding the 8 laps and saw a few of the others doing the 2 lap’s happy riding at my own speed around the course (it’s not a race)
some where near the souther end of the lake I come across one of the 4 riders riding 4 laps of the lake and had a chat for a bit before riding off (I was riding a little faster then they were) with the small 20 inch wheel’s and low gearing (as I use the bike a lot for touring on )the bike friday climbs hills easy. some time time after 3:30 am I stop to change batters on my bike light as it’s going flat (on long night rides aways have spare batters and a spare light with you) around 5 am I start to see the sky lighting (the start of dawn) I stop to take my arm and leg warmers off (on the first lap I only stop 3 times and for never more the 3 mins each time)
Enjoy the very fun long down hill near the kuratau relay point there is a few more uphill’s until the look out over the lake and a down hill with a few bumps near waihi siting around 27-30km/h to turangi dealing with the sun in my eyes as the sun comes up. from turangi to the hatepe hill I sit at around 27-30 km/h along the flats near the lake before going over some small hills (around Bulli point )passing a few of the rides who are also doing 2 lap's of the lake (getting more funny looks from the rider's as I ride pass them) going up and over the last long hill before taupo I ride along the flats (and a few small hills ) before getting into taupo .where I am trying to find the caltex service station where I need to check into before I start the 2 lap of the ride. near the caltex I see my friend max who offers to ride the 2 lap with me so after we find the caltex and check in it's time to start the 2 lap of the ride some of the big groups of rides (who are doing one lap)are starting around the same time on the main road. going up the hill out of taupo I get passed by lots of other riders (the fast groups)
There are lots of people out around the course on the side of the road calling out and waving to the rides as they ride pass. having a bit of a chat to some of the others ride's as I ride over the hills with lots of people asking about the bike . Some where around 1/2 way around I start passing people going up hill. stoping at some of the water stops as It's getting to be a hot day. Some time's max ride's ahead of me with me catching up on the hills then it’s down the big hill (with people one the side of the road telling some of the riders to slow down as the down hill has some sharp bends )into Tokaanu and thought turangi onto S.H.1 on the side of the road there is a bike power band playing.
Riding a long the flats between turangi and Bulli point I ride in a few pace-lines siting around 25 km/h .riding around the buffs theres not much room on the road with the cars and trucks going pass) riding up the hatepe hill at around 8-10 km/h I see a lot of people walking up the hill (a lot of the bikes I see don't have low gears) then back a long the flats having a chat with some of the others rider’s before riding over last rolling hills into taupo. going down the main street to the finish line (fishing with a time around 16 hours for the 2 laps) where I get off the bike and stay around to see the prize giving .
So what am I doing riding the town of taupo after midnight on a friday night? I’m going for a bike ride 2 times around lake taupo (leaving most of my gear in taupo )what is around 320 km (or 200 miles) there is around 70 other people doing the same ride (and theres about 10,000 people starting just part of one times around or 1 one times around (160 km) later that day (saturday) on the wednesday about 20 riders starter riding 8 laps of the lake (around 1250 km) so I wont be own all the time .
getting some think to eat at the BP -where else can one go and find some food at this time of night (not much open around midnight on a friday night in taupo)
Near the start line I do some last min things to my gear -after a bit of a talk and a roll call it’s 1:30 am and time to start -ever one starting at the same time with me about last riding off- as the km past I will be passing a few riders. going down to the river and up the first hill (one of many to come) I keep one eye on my heart rate (I like to keep it below 170 bmp) I look at the tail lights to the riders ahead of me climbing up the hill.
it’s a nice night for being out on the bike with not much wind (it’s a nice change from some of the days out training on the bike -riding into 60+km head winds) riding over rolling hills (at lest I thing there are rolling hills as it is a bit hard to tell in the dark even with good bike lights-maybe thats a good thing that I can’t see where the hills are.) with just few cars pasting by ( support people helping some of the riders out). I get my headphones out and start listing to mp3’s to help me not to fall asleep on the bike(It’s never a good thing to fall asleep when riding a bike-and no I have not do that yet thought I know a few who have ) having the sound on low so i can still hear cars and people talking.
There is a few people park in drive ways who call out and wave (with the odd look as I go past- must be the bike friday as I often get funny looks when riding it places )going down some of the hill’s I get up to around 50+km/h part of the way around the course there is a sharp bend where I don’t slow down much for (around a 90% bend )as I done a lot of riding around sharp bends before at night (so don’t try this home )its was a bit like riding in to a black hole before my bike light went round (I used my head light to see around bends in the road) passing some of the riders who was riding the 8 laps and saw a few of the others doing the 2 lap’s happy riding at my own speed around the course (it’s not a race)
some where near the souther end of the lake I come across one of the 4 riders riding 4 laps of the lake and had a chat for a bit before riding off (I was riding a little faster then they were) with the small 20 inch wheel’s and low gearing (as I use the bike a lot for touring on )the bike friday climbs hills easy. some time time after 3:30 am I stop to change batters on my bike light as it’s going flat (on long night rides aways have spare batters and a spare light with you) around 5 am I start to see the sky lighting (the start of dawn) I stop to take my arm and leg warmers off (on the first lap I only stop 3 times and for never more the 3 mins each time)
Enjoy the very fun long down hill near the kuratau relay point there is a few more uphill’s until the look out over the lake and a down hill with a few bumps near waihi siting around 27-30km/h to turangi dealing with the sun in my eyes as the sun comes up. from turangi to the hatepe hill I sit at around 27-30 km/h along the flats near the lake before going over some small hills (around Bulli point )passing a few of the rides who are also doing 2 lap's of the lake (getting more funny looks from the rider's as I ride pass them) going up and over the last long hill before taupo I ride along the flats (and a few small hills ) before getting into taupo .where I am trying to find the caltex service station where I need to check into before I start the 2 lap of the ride. near the caltex I see my friend max who offers to ride the 2 lap with me so after we find the caltex and check in it's time to start the 2 lap of the ride some of the big groups of rides (who are doing one lap)are starting around the same time on the main road. going up the hill out of taupo I get passed by lots of other riders (the fast groups)
There are lots of people out around the course on the side of the road calling out and waving to the rides as they ride pass. having a bit of a chat to some of the others ride's as I ride over the hills with lots of people asking about the bike . Some where around 1/2 way around I start passing people going up hill. stoping at some of the water stops as It's getting to be a hot day. Some time's max ride's ahead of me with me catching up on the hills then it’s down the big hill (with people one the side of the road telling some of the riders to slow down as the down hill has some sharp bends )into Tokaanu and thought turangi onto S.H.1 on the side of the road there is a bike power band playing.
Riding a long the flats between turangi and Bulli point I ride in a few pace-lines siting around 25 km/h .riding around the buffs theres not much room on the road with the cars and trucks going pass) riding up the hatepe hill at around 8-10 km/h I see a lot of people walking up the hill (a lot of the bikes I see don't have low gears) then back a long the flats having a chat with some of the others rider’s before riding over last rolling hills into taupo. going down the main street to the finish line (fishing with a time around 16 hours for the 2 laps) where I get off the bike and stay around to see the prize giving .
Sunday, November 21, 2010
some where to taupo
some where to taupo 95 km
getting up around sunup (I had a wet sleeping bag from a leaking drink bottle ) I get on the road around 6:30 am only to find my bike computer had stop working so I spend about 45 min trying to get it to work (i think it needs a new battery)I end up using my GPS for the rest of the day .The road is a mix of up and down with more down then up (going from 1070m down to 360m near lake taupo) about 10 km from Turangi I spot 2 people on touring bike and have a chat to then before getting in to Turangi where I stock up on water and then start riding around lake taupo .the road between Turangi and taupo is mostly flat with just a few rolling hills near motutera bay and the hatepe hill (also the odd hill coming in to taupo)It’s a winder day and there is white caps out on the lake. I saw 3 other touring cyclist’s going the other way. I get into taupo around 2pm doing a bit of shopping in town before heading out to reads farms (a fee camping ground near taupo) where I set up camp for the night.
getting up around sunup (I had a wet sleeping bag from a leaking drink bottle ) I get on the road around 6:30 am only to find my bike computer had stop working so I spend about 45 min trying to get it to work (i think it needs a new battery)I end up using my GPS for the rest of the day .The road is a mix of up and down with more down then up (going from 1070m down to 360m near lake taupo) about 10 km from Turangi I spot 2 people on touring bike and have a chat to then before getting in to Turangi where I stock up on water and then start riding around lake taupo .the road between Turangi and taupo is mostly flat with just a few rolling hills near motutera bay and the hatepe hill (also the odd hill coming in to taupo)It’s a winder day and there is white caps out on the lake. I saw 3 other touring cyclist’s going the other way. I get into taupo around 2pm doing a bit of shopping in town before heading out to reads farms (a fee camping ground near taupo) where I set up camp for the night.
Saturday, November 20, 2010
vinegar hill to some where
vinegar hill to some where 91 km
after I pack up my gear I head out on the the road S.H.53? starting with a clinb up to the end of S.H.53? tuning right on to S.H.1 mostly riding uphill (with a dip in to a valley and back up the other side (where there is a lot of road works)near Ohingati. Stoping at Mangaweka for some water and to take some photos around the town. between Mangaweka and Taihape there is a few hills to ride over. I had a short stop at Taihape to get some food and water for the next 2 days. after Taihape the is a few long hills up to town of Waiouru after that is a 250m (over 20 km) climb up to the summit of the desert road (near to where I spend the night out of site of the road)
after I pack up my gear I head out on the the road S.H.53? starting with a clinb up to the end of S.H.53? tuning right on to S.H.1 mostly riding uphill (with a dip in to a valley and back up the other side (where there is a lot of road works)near Ohingati. Stoping at Mangaweka for some water and to take some photos around the town. between Mangaweka and Taihape there is a few hills to ride over. I had a short stop at Taihape to get some food and water for the next 2 days. after Taihape the is a few long hills up to town of Waiouru after that is a 250m (over 20 km) climb up to the summit of the desert road (near to where I spend the night out of site of the road)
Friday, November 19, 2010
Tielcey park to vinegar hill
Tielcey park to vinegar hill 76km
after spending the morning doing last min jobs on the bike I get on the road around 12:30 pm going thought Palmerston north (with a bit of a side trip when I went down the wrong road (opps) then on to Feiling where I stocked up on food -though cheleten?-Waitunun west where I had a chat to some one about traveling on to stormy point look out (its a nice look out over the river valley) down a fun down hill to the town of Rewa where I stop to get some photos before riding over more rolling hills to the camping ground at vinegar hill for the night
after spending the morning doing last min jobs on the bike I get on the road around 12:30 pm going thought Palmerston north (with a bit of a side trip when I went down the wrong road (opps) then on to Feiling where I stocked up on food -though cheleten?-Waitunun west where I had a chat to some one about traveling on to stormy point look out (its a nice look out over the river valley) down a fun down hill to the town of Rewa where I stop to get some photos before riding over more rolling hills to the camping ground at vinegar hill for the night
Friday, November 12, 2010
riding 310 km in 2 days
riding 310 km in 2 days
(doing a 205 km bike ride and doing an 105 km bike ride the next day)
I had a 200 km ride to do as part of training for taupo on the satrday riding a 50 km loop to the south of palmerston north before picking up my riders pack (for the 80 fun ride on sunday) (getting a small bag as a spot prize) then heading out of town on a 155 km loop (part of the loop was riding the 116 km tour de Manawatu route) getting back late on satrday night and getting about 4 hours sleep before getting up to ride into town for the tour de Manawatu fun ride (riding the 80 km fun ride ) had a nice day riding with other people (makes for a nice change as I ride on my own most of the time) having a chat to some people as I was riding. My time was about 3 hours to do the 80 km fun ride (2:53) after prize giving riding home
(doing a 205 km bike ride and doing an 105 km bike ride the next day)
I had a 200 km ride to do as part of training for taupo on the satrday riding a 50 km loop to the south of palmerston north before picking up my riders pack (for the 80 fun ride on sunday) (getting a small bag as a spot prize) then heading out of town on a 155 km loop (part of the loop was riding the 116 km tour de Manawatu route) getting back late on satrday night and getting about 4 hours sleep before getting up to ride into town for the tour de Manawatu fun ride (riding the 80 km fun ride ) had a nice day riding with other people (makes for a nice change as I ride on my own most of the time) having a chat to some people as I was riding. My time was about 3 hours to do the 80 km fun ride (2:53) after prize giving riding home
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