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Conception and Prep 2022



It was about March 2022 when I decided to do the Tour Aotearoa, a bike ride the length of New Zealand, from Cape Reinga at the top to Buff and the bottom.  Cycling being a significant part of my life, I have long considered this to be the kind of thing I’d like to do.  When I heard some years ago that the TA existed, it stuck and last year I took the leap and signed up.  

January 2022 my wife Jan & I had walked the Milford and I met Wayne (yes, same name) on the walk.  Over a group dinner one night, I mentioned I was keen on doing the TA and Wayne responded that he’d like to do it too.  Recalling that conversation, after I registered, I called called Wayne, told him I’d signed up and asked if he still wanted to join me.  Surely it would be better with company.  He did, and signed up. 

Two significant steps taken, I decided to carry on in the same vein and try to keep doing things that would make it hard to pull out..and more likely for us to complete this epic undertaking. Telling friends and family about it felt like one one easy example, and I opened up about it straight away.  I also started researching and spending money on gear taking advantage of Winter bargains where possible.  I also started training, being more diligent at riding to work and started researching and reading.  I signed up to the Facebook TA group and a couple of other bike packing forums, and I began experimenting with gear in all my riding.

I felt I had plenty of time to prepare after signing up, but Winter passed, the year progressed, so ultimately did my sense of urgency.   In Spring I signed up a coach to accelerate my prep and entered a new phase of training.   I joined the gym, started a strength plan and began endurance training.   All this while carrying on a full time job.  Life got really busy, and in some ways I think all sides of my life took some hit, including my contribution to family things.   I tried to mitigate this, but don’t think I really did.  For that I am grateful to everyone in my life and feel somewhat indebted to them, especially Jan.

When February 2023 finally came around, my bike was basically ready, I felt fit enough and my plans for gear and execution were mostly in place.  

Then there was Gabrielle…





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