I’ll be going over again - rigid 29er again. Looking forward to not having the timing issue with molesworth.
- Joel
Just booked my tickets over, sourced a spot tracker and bivi.
Had a look at the 700km route, think it’ll mostly be fine on my CX except for Matakitaki Rd south of Murchison, I’ve been along that track in a 4wd and it was rough.
Woo, good work Mikdee.
Pictures+ride report please.
Test packed and strapped it all to my bike, seems to work.
http://www.fixed.org.au/forums/f8/what-youve-done-your-bike-today-thread-6529/index176.html#post542457
Shakedown ride of sorts this weekend…
Looking good Mike. Good luck!
Finished up the brevette late Tuesday afternoon. Was awesome but quite tiring! Pics and a little write up to come when I get back nek week.
How’d you go Joel?
Sweet as bro!
Looking forward to the write up…
Here’s an link to the Instagram of a chap from Wellington who has been posting up pics throughout the Brevet.
@inspiringriding - inspiringriding’s Instagram photos | Statigr.am
Inspiring Riding indeed. #dolike
I really do hope that they run another Brevet/te in 2016. It looks like an amazing ride to do.
i’m not going, but if anyone goes can you please get me one of those cups? i have one already, but it is so good that i want a spare
Phwoar those pics are great. I’m going to have to get over there some time
Just photos for now, words coming.
Wow. So good.
ughhhhh I’m jealous, that looks incredible!
No words needed all ready jeoulous mike.
Cant be bother doing full write up, so bullet points it is:
Day One.
-103 starters
-2 fat bikes, one krampus, lots of fuly rigid 29ers, few CX’s
-Riding to Port Underwood was good going up on the CX not so much going down.
-wild vension and a wild pork/kumura/apple pies at Pelorus bridge were great.
-The Maungatapu track is really hard going up, and slow going down in the dark on 42mm tyres
160kms, 3100m climbing, 12noon-10pm.
Day Two.
-double breakfast, one at 6am one at 8.30 is excellent.
-bottle of coke, bottle of powerade became my go to at every stop
-carrots stay good getting bashed around and are pretty tasty after muelsi bars
-I was so stoked when one of the riders behind me picked up my dropped mandarin and delivered it to me at the top of the Porika track, made my day easily, I was looking forward to that mandarin all the was up.
-the 20kms or so of flowy downhill gravel roads to Murchison after the steep, rutty Porika track were amazing.
-Climbing a the lovely Maruia saddle at dusk was some of the best riding I’ve ever done.
-Bivvy-ing in an old cemetery and eating a can of spaghetti with a tyre lever was less amazing
220kms, 3000m climbing, 6am-10pm,
Day Three
-double breakfast, spaghetti and eggs of toast with a flat white is a good start to a day, especially when x2.
-turning off onto the brevette course from the brevet meant no more company for the rest of the ride which is something I missed.
-glad I bought my ipod shuffle for the next 95kms of sealed road.
-The rainbow road was way worse than I remember, my body took a beating from the corrugations
-I sat in a ditch to hide from the sun and drink a whole bottle before the last climb of the day.
-having a hut to sleep in with mattresses was awesome
180kms, 2400m climing, 6.30-7.30.
Day 4
-knowing there was no major climbs for the rest of the ride was awesome, my legs had lost all ‘kick’, standing up of the pedals did nothing.
-getting stung by a wasp going 40kms down a hill sucked
-coined a term for the surface of the road on the north bank of the Wairau - ‘stone-fruit gravel’ it had everything from cherry sized rocks to big peaches, it was horrible.
-running out of water with 25kms to the next stop was bad, but getting a coke and powerade at the servo was great
-finishing with some daylight to sit in the square (the start/finish line) and drink some beers was awesome, and having a few followers of the spot trackers/track the leaders come and have a chat was choice.
160kms, 1300m climbing, 7am-4.30pm.
It was an awesome ride and adventure, I’d definitely do it again.
Next time I’d do the full brevet for sure, having 20 odd other riders who are into it to hangout with at stops and chat with on the road is great.
Can totally recommend it.
Hopefully someone steps up and takes over from Simon Kennett (who has organised the last 3) to get the 2016 one happening.
thanks for the write up. wasnt prepared for this year.
really hoping 2016 is happening
Hopefully Rhino runs the Goldfields bikepacking thing at easter again, I missed last time due to family in town.
It’s still on, but dates are changing about.
Me and a mate will be doing goldfields during the week after easter.