Retrace to Reefton

With a day’s semi-rest under our belts (only 30km yesterday til my riding partner got injured), we set out again for Maruia, Springs Junction & Reefton. The hills, farms, bridges and rivers familiar from the day before, we sped past those. Several bees smashed into my helmet as we approached ground zero and we made our way easily back up the beautiful Maruia Saddle climb. We even found Wayne’s expensive glasses where he had collapsed the day before which was more than a bonus.

To Springs junction after the saddle is so-so to be honest. The sealed part is dull and the non-sealed was not as delightful as Maruia Saddle itself. The Marui Cafe was closed, it looked like permanently, and even Springs Junction was quiet and lacks a cafe these days.

The road over to the west coast is sealed forest road till Black Point, but from there, or maybe 5km before, it really is nice. Reefton was a sight for sore eyes tho and we set up tents at the camping ground for $15 each and went out to the Reefton Pub for a perfect roast and a beer.

Fuel

One of the most fun things about the TA, at least at the start, is the diet. A lot of the careful food choices typical of home go out the window when you’re using thousands of calories a day and your priority is energy. Pies and milkshakes are popular for sustenance and some important nutrients and shops and hospitality services in the know have both on hand for the riders coming through. I remember noticing the visible glee on one or more shop owners as the riders arrived and the pies began disappearing. Of course there’s also an abundance of electrolyte drinks and powders people use and try to replenish at 4 squares & bike shops. I tried a dairy electrolyte drink for what might be the first time after Wayne G mentioned that a sport coach he knew recommended them, and I was indeed impressed with the boost they gave me at times. I did read somewhere that the heart needs calcium for contractions and magnesium for de-contraction, so it’s good to ge...

About the Bike

Three areas of responsibility: body, bike and mind. Lose or critically damage any of the three and the show’s over. Of course you start the TA with your bike in the best condition possible. Some even have brand new bikes. Most have at least done things to their bikes to match them better to the job at hand. In that regard, most people have hard tail mountain bikes and many have gravel bikes, trying to strike a balance between fast (my gravel bike adds at least 5kph over my mountain bike) on the considerable proportion of pavement in the TA, able to handle the gravel and cycle trails that constitute a big part of the remainder and still good for the a few gnarly challenges like the Maungatapu. Many trade the last one away and just hope skills and/or hike-a-bike will get them to the end. Mine was the best bike I had for the job, a full suspension XC bike. I changed the chainring to 34 teeth for the pavement, put some good general tires on it (Vittoria M...

Curious to cows

I’m travelling home to Christchurch by Intercity bus. We think of the bus as a slow and relaxing form of travel, and it is. Since you’re not driving, just sitting back in a comfy seat for hours at a time, you do get to do little more than survey the passing landscape and sights and punctuate that with the odd stretch and refreshment or station stop. However here in the bus, you are still kind of separated from nature and the environment around you to a degree that you aren’t on the bike. One proof of that: the cows don’t take any notice of the bus let alone you. As you pass them in the bus, there is no reaction at all from farm animals most of the time. Compare that with being on the bike, where every cow and other farm animal seems to notice you as you pass, often even when they are far from the road. And they don’t just notice you, they stare at you for ages. To them you are a curiosity. In fact, as you can tell, the feeling is mu...

Wayne’s Tour Aotearoa 2023

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