Riding in New Zealand: Routes, Advice, People and Places

trying to find some decent rides on trademe.com which is the gumtree/craigslist of NZ

If you're near Auckland, the below guy and some of his friends do a Tuesday Night Ride Club...not sure where they got the idea...

http://www.lfgss.com/member11762.html

haha soudns good, I'm bringing out my riding gear and lights so will give the boys a shout when I source myself a whip.

Check with Elliot (darkrainysunday) above, as he works for a bike shop as a mechanic, so may know of a bike to loan.

I'm out in Welsford (1 hr north of Auckland) for the summer (UK winter) and hope to take in some local coastal and inland rides. I'll also be down in the south island near Christchurch as my friend (also keen cyclist) lives there. Lemme know if you're around from Dec-Feb in either place :)

Hit Raglan on the west coast then get off the bike and spend the rest of your time there surfing = job done

I'm hoping to ship my Brother's bike out there but it will take time to get the spare £200 I need for air-freight (the only friend going out that way this winter is also doing a round the world stop-off malarky)

Does anyone have any experience of these routes?

http://www.nzcycletrail.com/

So here in NZ now, in Wellington for the mo. Did a little survey on bike shops here and, for roadies the best one seems to be Capitol Cycles... BMC, Cannondales, Colnagos and Pina's galore!

Generally bikes seem to be between 10-15% more expensive than in the UK by my reckoning. If you want to pick up a second hand ride then trademe.co.nz is NZ's own version of eBay (and is a pretty big company actually).

I'm going to continue writing any hald NZ hints and tips here in the hope that someone find it useful in the future.

Sand flies are a bugger. Don't rent Hybrids in Chch and try to ride over the 'hills' in the middle of the country with no training. It'll hurt.

Go to T.White's if you're in Auckland. I never made it up there but its supposed to be good. http://twhitesbikes.co.nz/ Also I don't think it existed when I was there.

Wellington is the best city. Nelson was nice too.

Have fun.

Also NZ is cold. Maybe not now but it gets proper cold. WTF at the lack of any heating. Move to the 21st century Kiwis. You are not tropical Queensland.

haha, just noticed someone else mentioned the heating.

South Island was my favourite bit. So much empty coastline to yourself. Wouldn't want to live there mind you.

Wellington is pretty sweet right now (on the shoulder of summer) I have to say, but i hear AK is pretty sweet too. SI was great for mountains and forests btu i hear the NI is all about the surf and the snorkelling :) either way, I'm gunna be riding!

Go to Hot Cycles in Auckland. They have some amazing deals at the moment.

Also, if you come up to Auckland and fancy a ride I have two bikes should you need one.

Oh, and welcome to NZ land.

thanks dude! I'll be in touch when i get up to AK, will certainly give Hot Cycles a go... if you're passing by and they've anything with gears in an XL size (61+ ST) then gimme a shout, I'mm PM you my NZ number.

Oh, and welcome to NZ land.

Don't go riding with him before he gas bought some gas cylinders. Or better buy him a set as a welcome present. Ben is so hevy he never gets enough air into his tyres after a puncture. And he punctured a lot this season.

Don't go riding with him before he gas bought some gas cylinders. Or better buy him a set as a welcome present. Ben is so hevy he never gets enough air into his tyres after a puncture. And he punctured a lot this season.

I've lost a fair bit of weight surviving on Sushi while travelling about Japan but I'm swearing my Open Corsa SC's these days... 140PSI and puncture proofed!

Soooo much amazing surf on both islands. New Plymouth is great as is gisbourne area and coromandel peninsula and everywhere really. But one of the best places I've ever surfed anywhere in the world is the amazingly long point break at kaikora on the South Island. For my money, better than imsouane in morocco.

Also I spent 4 of my 8 months there cycling around and the roads are bad and surprisingly busy with a huge number of HGVs. Not my favourite country for cycling.
Having said that the mountain biking is truly excellent.

T whites bikes, hands down best bike shop!

T whites bikes, hands down best bike shop!

looks like AK's answer to Tokyo Fixed (or visa versa) any more shouts out of good places to get a geared ride appreciated!

Boo!

How long you got left on your holidays?

Until April :D

I ended up buying an old racer from Maryann on here, less than $600 delivered I think, took about 3 weeks to get here. Have you been to Burkes cycles in Kilbirnie? (for a new one) Also http://www.mechanicaltempest.co.nz/ would be worth a look. And there may be something on vorb.org.nz but it's mostly links to trademe. Good luck!

So i ended up buying a sweet, carbon Avanti Quantum 2 on TradeMe.co.nz for 2,000 NZD. I've been riding it as much as poss in the northland area and it's pretty sweet. Aparently they've secured a UK distro deal for this year so should start to see more of them about. I can recommend them very highly as they've all mod cons and look good too.

Ben, are you still in Wellsford?? Only asking cos I'll be in Mangawhai in a few weeks getting married!

Steves, just seen your message. I'm in Wellsford till Monday if You're about. Pm'd