The Big Coast

After some minor deliberation and planning, Ollie and I decided to embark on the Big Coast cycle adventure. It departs from our doorstep and circumnavigates the Ororonga's. The ride was designed to replace the usual Taupo cycle challenge, which  I ended up doing anyway (but didn't seem to benefit from the extra saddle time). And it should have also included Jake, but he piked the week before, citing a dubious array of excuses. It was also a reconnaissance, of sorts, as there are a bunch of keen friends that want to do it in the new year.

It's a cool route that takes in the Wellington harbour, the Rimutaka Rail Trail, Lake Ferry and back around the south coast into the harbour (see map). To make it more adventurous, and because 5 - 10% of the course is over sandy beaches, we set off on our first fat bike adventure. The other 90% of terrain would have suited a bike with less traction, but we weren't trying to break records here, just enjoy the ride.

The 90k's on day one really took it out of us. The weather was amazing but the heat really sapped the energy that the hills and pushing half an acre of rubber across tarmac left. We found that the second hand Brooks seats, already shaped into a strangers posterior, became pretty unforgiving towards the end of the day, too. The sight of us cycling the home straight, towards our accommodation, was a pitiful sight to behold but the beer, steaks, shower and rural tranquility were a worthy reward.

The second day was equally hot but with the addition of ferocious head winds. The oversized, high walled tires on these bikes present a really good target for the wind to play havoc with. We didn't even make an average of 10k's an hour over the final 45k's before we called it quits. Eating lunch in the wind shadow of rocks and trees, we had already decided that the ferry at Days Bay would be far enough. En route we got lost, lost our sense of humour, got a puncture, got petulant, and just made the last sailing of the day.

Looking forward to next time already.