2/2
I started the day with cottage pie, which was disgusting, and Aeropressed a coffee. It was wet outside and I bought a pair of dishwashing gloves from Countdown - being one of their first customers for the day.
I got going but also needed to take a dump. There weren't any public toilets in an obvious and convenient location in Rangiora so I pushed on. There was a good tailwind as forecast and it wasn't until Amberley that I took a break (and that shit).
The next part of the road was sketchy as it was a shared route with the main north-south highway, with plenty of articulated trucks kicking up road mist as they passed. Once off the shared route, traffic was bursty and could be avoided by letting it all pass while I pulled off to the side. Burstiness came from the roadworks that controlled the flow of traffic. This seems to be the regular way to fix up a road in NZ... close it down and only allow one direction at a time.
I don't remember much of the remainder of the ride as it was wet and cold. James mentioned he stopped in Waikara due to being blown off his bike and falling on his shoulder! Well today the winds were much better behaved. James joined at Waikara, but soon dropped me as I was riding double the distance.
We had a quick bite in Culverden.
While getting to Hanmer Springs, I was considering getting on a coach on the next day back to Christchurch and making my way home. At some stage during this trip I cycling with the load that I had tipped the experience into unenjoyable. I think some of it can be broken down into:
It was also only after reaching Hanmer Springs that James sees the website notice that Rainbow Road is closed!
I started the day with cottage pie, which was disgusting, and Aeropressed a coffee. It was wet outside and I bought a pair of dishwashing gloves from Countdown - being one of their first customers for the day.
I got going but also needed to take a dump. There weren't any public toilets in an obvious and convenient location in Rangiora so I pushed on. There was a good tailwind as forecast and it wasn't until Amberley that I took a break (and that shit).
The next part of the road was sketchy as it was a shared route with the main north-south highway, with plenty of articulated trucks kicking up road mist as they passed. Once off the shared route, traffic was bursty and could be avoided by letting it all pass while I pulled off to the side. Burstiness came from the roadworks that controlled the flow of traffic. This seems to be the regular way to fix up a road in NZ... close it down and only allow one direction at a time.
I don't remember much of the remainder of the ride as it was wet and cold. James mentioned he stopped in Waikara due to being blown off his bike and falling on his shoulder! Well today the winds were much better behaved. James joined at Waikara, but soon dropped me as I was riding double the distance.
We had a quick bite in Culverden.
While getting to Hanmer Springs, I was considering getting on a coach on the next day back to Christchurch and making my way home. At some stage during this trip I cycling with the load that I had tipped the experience into unenjoyable. I think some of it can be broken down into:
- extra mass, especially felt going up hills
- awful oscillation when out of the saddle
- long distances
- not enough energy at the end of each day to enjoy the destination
It was also only after reaching Hanmer Springs that James sees the website notice that Rainbow Road is closed!
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