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where in colorado did you live vv?
Telluride
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Wicked a fellow London rider. I'm leaving for NZ on 26th Jan. Flying with Air NZ cos it's my first long haul flight and I want to fly in comfort. If you fly via LA instead of Asia you get twice the baggage. I imagine other airlines may employ the same policy.
I'm taking my mountain bike over and a trailer to tow my tent and tings. Check out; www.extrawheel.com. You can carry loads and the trailer is stupidly light and easy to take off. The off road riding looks fucking sweet.
I'm going to be heading down to Wellington from Auckland then onto the South island. I'm kinda going to see whether I want to live there as the place looks awesome and visitors and Kiwis have good things to say about it.
I used AKfixed- AUckland fixed forum as mentioned above and was advised about http://www.vorb.org.nz/ which is a good cycling resource. Maybe we'll meet on a ride before we both head out across the water. Otherwise I hope your trip is a joy. -
Good food for thought: I think the idea of fixed has officially been ditched, for the South Island anyway. Gonna start my adventure in Christchurch and
but if you're going to be picking grapes you'll probs be kinda rural in the South Island somewhere Nelson/Marlbrough/Central Otago (pinot!)
ding ding ding we have a winner, gonna be working at Felton Road in Central Otago during April (best Pinot in NZ, also Riesling). The rest is good info, keep ti coming. Gona try to sort out work for another 3 months after,and plenty of riding , then back in inglan is time for Orbital at the Big Chill.Unfortunately Caleb I ain't Londoner,although I've donemy time in Camberwell/Belsize Park/Barking/Ilford, but if you're still in NZ by the time I get there would be wicked to arrange a meet up. Thanks for the links
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I've no idea if this will be of interest to you:
I worked in Auckland while I lived over there. When I fancied seeing a little of the country I'd chip off to work on one of the many farms/ecco projects involved with the w.w.o.o.f scheme. I'd work for food and accommodation (rather than $) but learned a lot and met some interesting people. And contrasted nicely with living and working in the city.
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I've no idea if this will be of interest to you:
I worked in Auckland while I lived over there. When I fancied seeing a little of the country I'd chip off to work on one of the many farms/ecco projects involved with the w.w.o.o.f scheme. I'd work for food and accommodation (rather than $) but learned a lot and met some interesting people. And contrasted nicely with living and working in the city.
im using the WWOOF thing too. 4 hours of work a day for room and board... yes please
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I mostly worked more than that!
Although making clay bricks by hand is a job you only want to do for 4 hours a day for sure!I really liked the flexibility:
if you hate the work (or people) you just hook up the next place. If your learning and liking it you stay on. Then head back to civilization (of sorts) in the city. -
Digging this thread up because I'm off there in two weeks. The journey as so far planned is fly into Auckland, maybe spend a few days there, then train to Wellington, then ferry to Picton through the Marlborough sounds. From there the first time I ride the bike in anger (as opposed to zooming around the cities) in a relatively short hop to Nelson. Visit the relatives there and visit the vinyards, as well as see if I can get some yatching in before heading down the West Coast. From there I'll cross the Haast Past which brings me into Central Otago and near Queenstown. Hopefully I should get there for the 1st of April and then onto working on the vinyard. Then when that's done I've got at least a month to make my way back up to Auckland before flying back. Unless something else comes up
I am taking a MTB, currently being built. Various bikes are being cannabalised to make it. I'm using an old Orange Gringo frame which has classic XC geometry so good for touring. Although I am going back to gears, there's no way I wanted to go back to suspension so I got one of those handsome Dog forks off ebay and it is sweet. I'm also going to be chopping down those wide MTB bars (EA70s, if anyone is interested). Got myself a Alpkit bag and some panniers. Anyone got a suggestion for a tent? Apart from the West Coast the weather should be good so I don't need something super sturdy, but I also don't want a tiny 1 man bivvy since I'll be living out of it for 3 months. Also bike locks, since I'm going to have to secure the steed overnight. Both need to be lightweight as possible.
Been away from the forum for a bit due to lack of internet and moving house so I hope everyone is well. When I get back maybe I'll make it to drink, hopefully with some tasty NZ bike bits. Will post up pics of the bike when it is done
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Regards getting a tent:
Compared with prices in the UK general outdoor stuff used too be way cheaper. That said I don't know what the exchange rates are like for Sterling vs NZ$ right now.
Pac n Pedal are a chain of outdoor superstores in NZ. They're like Millets... but a lot better and much cheaper. All the big towns have them.
Have a good time.
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Cloudy Bay for me please................
Dude that's so 1990s. I'll bring you up to speed with some Felton Road Riesling from Central Otago, since that is where I'm going and working
Miro, just plumped for a cheap, loightweight one-man tent off ebay (£30). Thinking I don't need anything too hardcore since I'm going in a favourable season. I may live to regret that decision riding down the West Coast.
Anyone got a decent front V brake lying about? Stealing a XTR off another bike for the rear but for the front all I got are cheap Avids. So hard to compromise on parts. Bike should be beautiful though
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nope sorry I haven’t got a brake for you lol
your trip sounds good
how did you get the chance to work on the vineyards? what exactly are you doing there
I would love to go to a vineyard and work there as a grape picker might be a bit repetitive but at the end of the day you can cycle out in the country and see the beautiful views -
how did you get the chance to work on the vineyards? what exactly are you doing there
I work in wine and emailed three companies I admired asking about the possibility of coming over, and got an email back from the viticulturalist at Felton Road. I'll be working with them during the harvest so certainly picking grapes (Felton Road are big on handwork, organic and biodynamic viticulture, and minimal intervention in the wine making process, so natural maceration and wild yeasts, not that this will mean to much unless you know wine) but hopefully will be working as a cellar hand after the harvest too.
As for the landscape, I got a month either side of working there which will be spent riding my bike, so sure I will get too see plenty. Interestingy the head winemaker at Felton Road is a keen MTBer, so maybe I'll get the chance to ride with him. Sure he'll know the good trails
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Regards getting a tent:
Compared with prices in the UK general outdoor stuff used too be way cheaper. That said I don't know what the exchange rates are like for Sterling vs NZ$ right now.
Pac n Pedal are a chain of outdoor superstores in NZ. They're like Millets... but a lot better and much cheaper. All the big towns have them.
Have a good time.
Cheaper if you're paying in pounds! Much more expensive than the UK if you're earning local currency.
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Sounds brilliant, Jimmy. Have a great trip and report back regularly!
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Cheaper if you're paying in pounds! Much more expensive than the UK if you're earning local currency.
Really?
I live with a Kiwi who thinks the UK is much more expensive, even for clothes, kit etc. Which is also what I found way back in 2001. You could live in the middle of Auckland then and not pay more than a quarter of your (average) wage on rent. Try that in London.
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So me again, with pics of the bike and links to the blog. Firstly bike:
and here the blog:
http://journeytothecentreofotago.wordpress.com
Post today all about the bike so check it out, and I hope you'll follow it in the future. Flight Saturday so almost away. Anyone with experience of long-distance touring any advice welcome (nutrition, pacing myself etc). Pedalling that bike with full panniers and rucksack ain't easy!
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Have a great trip, Jimmy! FYI here's my friends Adrian and Diana's blog--they're riding from India to Europe:
http://ontheroadfromindia.wordpress.com/
Fellow adventurers!
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cool, I'll link to them, once I work out how!
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About
New Zealand. Fixed
Posted by
@Jimmy_Fingers
I was in Auckland before I got into riding 700c bikes... but I can't think of a city more fun to ride fixed. It's not hilly in a bad way! As you can see from the links above... they're on it.
Wellington, while full of art bitches!... sits on a fault line and is pretty much vertical :P
Most NZs roads seem to be either very smooth tarmac or what they call metel (loose gravel). So don't try touring on the Charge.
I was over there for almost 9 months so I bought a Datsun Sunny for $300 and covered it in stickers! It's a good way to see NZ because your licence is valid, tax & insurance are about $100 (pennies) and fuel relatively cheap too. Bangers cost about the same as here (cost of scrap).
I'd say pack your bike and buy a banger in Christchurch (as that's where bangers are cheap, most travellers fly from and leeve their cars behind). Do your road trips with the bike on the back seat... good times! :D