Well, I made it!
On 15 March I rolled into Bluff with my 5 other Bike for Blokes riders, having completed what was an epic adventure: cycling 2,422km from Cape Reinga to Bluff and climbing 21,591 vertical metres in the process.
It was an emotional moment for all of us as we arrived at the famous road sign in Bluff and were greeted by friends and family.
You dream of getting to that sign for so long and then, suddenly, there it is on the road ahead of you, and the adventure is over. Quite surreal.
The fundraising was also a success. We collectively raised over $240,000 through the Bike for Blokes charity. This money will be distributed between the Prostate Cancer Outcomes Registry and Farm Strong, the farming mental health charity.
I am extremely grateful to those PKF Withers Tsang clients who supported our fundraising effort. Over 100 clients chipped in a donation which was both humbling and far exceeded my wildest expectations of the support I might get. Thank you all so much.
So, what are my thoughts and observations of the actual ride? Here are some comments and points of interest on the cycling and the physical challenge.
- Training is key. In the year before the challenge, I trained by doing one 70–80km ride every weekend and three or four shorter 30–40km rides mid-week.
- Planning your route is important. We were able to stay off State Hwy 1 for the vast majority of the ride and still cycle the entire way on sealed roads.
- It’s your legs that get sore and fatigued – not your backside!
- Ride hills… you can go all day on the flat but it’s the hills that build your strength.
- Planning and logistics are challenging but feasible. We kept to a planned schedule but had to pull favours to get the vehicles across the Strait.
- Having willing and able support drivers for the vehicles was a god send. They made sure the riders had food and water whenever needed.
- You have to eat, eat, eat… we were burning 6,000 calories a day so had to eat big meals, and that included during the rides. If you don’t eat you hit the wall.
- We were able to average 100–120km per day at an average speed of about 25kph.
- Riding in a bunch enabled us to draft off each other, but it takes courage and concentration as you ride right on the wheel of the rider in front. We used hand signals to indicate potholes and other hazards and you learn to trust one another to ride safely. We swapped the lead rider about every kilometre. Bunch riding requires so much concentration that you actually don’t get to take in the scenery. It’s as mentally exhausting as the ride is physically exhausting.
- One rest day for every 7 days of riding was essential.
- We were very lucky with the weather. Our only wet ride was Picton to Blenheim, although you needed extra layers in the South Island. Most mornings it was 6 degrees, even in Feb, so being warm was key to remaining alert.
- Toughest hill climb was Kaeo Hill. We had already cycled 100km in 34 degree heat before we hit Kaeo Hill and its 5km uphill 14 degree slope. Exhausting and soul destroying in that heat.
- Across 6 riders cycling 2,400km each we only got 4 punctures. Why? Rural roads generally don’t have glass on them like we do in Auckland.
- Technology helps keep you safe. We used the Varia radar system on our stem posts to give us a visual and audible 140m warning of vehicles approaching from behind. This system is unbelievably reliable and we literally trusted it with our lives.
- We only had 1 mechanical bike breakdown.
- Best rides…Raetihi to Paihiatua and Fairlie to Omarama… spectacular country and great riding.
- Mental strategies. Support and encourage on another constantly and just focus on the ride ahead of you. Eat and sip water constantly.
- Heartland New Zealand is such a special place to cycle through, the landscapes and the people were just amazing. We live in a wonderful country.
Thanks to Bruce Cotterill and Paul Muir who lead Bike for Blokes. Thanks to the support drivers, video editors, and everyone who worked together to make the ride possible and successful.
And thank you to everyone for donating to support the charity. Giving the ride purpose really helped make the effort meaningful and rewarding.
All in all it was a bucket list challenge ticked off. I am delighted to have achieved it and so grateful to have had the opportunity.
