INSPIRING BIC YCLE ADVENTURES
SPECIAL EDITION SAMPLER December 2012
The long way round THE SMITH FAMILY’S FIRST OVERNIGHT BIKE ADVENTURE Writer: Paul Smith
The wind didn’t bode well for our ride - we were heading south around the coast into the teeth of the gale.
“Dad, can we go camping on the bike again soon?” It was the best
minute freewheel downhill from our door to Wellington’s waterfront,
thing we could hear from our five year old daughter Heidi. It was all
where we would catch our ferry. First, though, there was time for
the reward we needed out of this little adventure.
brunch and coffee at Mojo, one of Wellington’s many coffee roasters.
“Roooaaarrrr!” That was three year old Fred’s only contribution to
The 40 minute ferry trip was rough. Wellington harbour is exposed
the discussion. He was too busy being a monster - hiding behind a
to a southerly wind, and that morning there was a good one blowing
picnic shelter and popping out to scare Beth and Heidi. We assumed
in. Fred thought that crashing through the waves was more fun than
he was happy.
Space Mountain, his benchmark for adrenaline since scraping over
On this Sunday morning late in the New Zealand autumn we - my
the minimum ride height at Disneyland. We sat undercover rolling
wife Beth, friend Mike, daughter Heidi, son Fred and myself - were
with the waves, wondering just how much
at a campsite in the Rimutaka Forest Park. The previous day we had
salt spray our bikes were being exposed
loaded up bikes with camping gear and kids, taken the ferry across
to on the roof. The wind didn’t bode well
Wellington harbour, and pedalled for a few hours around a coastal
for our ride - we were heading south
track into a stiff southerly wind.
around the coast into the teeth of the
The seed for this adventure was an Xtracycle I saw for sale locally.
gale. Fortunately the coastal path dipped
I bought it on a whim. Fitted to my long-serving city bike the rear
in and out of numerous bays, which were
seat of this newly-created longbike was set up for two kids to travel
very sheltered. The same couldn’t be said
in style with a handlebar, pink grips, pillion strap and a comfy seat
about the headlands however. Heidi and
pad. The kids loved being transported to school on it, and I loved
Fred thought it was great fun hiding down
how excited they got about riding it. Not wanting to let that fade, we
behind me as I powered us into the wind.
talked Beth into a fully-loaded camping trip.
Only once did it get too much - we were on
Our adventure started in fine style. Bikes loaded, it was a fast fifteen
the point of getting blown over, propped up
/1/1
Previous pages / Riders: Heidi, Fred, Paul and Beth Smith / At: Baring Head, Wellington, New Zealand / In: Late Autumn / Shots: Mike Wilson Opposite page / Riders: Paul, Beth, Heidi and Fred Smith / At: Home, On the Coast Road, Camping at Catchpool and On The East-West Ferry, Wellington, New Zealand / In: Late Autumn / Shots: Mike Wilson and Paul Smith
precariously by my right leg. For a few minutes after there were tears
people. Some might need an unsupported trip around the globe
and two scared kids. But chocolate biscuits have magical powers.
to get the buzz, others hang off mountains. For two young kids,
At Baring Head, around 15 kilometres after disembarking the ferry,
riding along the coast on the back of a bike, splashing through
we left the coast behind and pushed our bikes up to and over a
puddles, fighting the wind and watching the surf crash is a full-scale
low saddle. The descent down a four-wheel drive track and onto
adventure. For mum and dad, taking their kids on their first bike
broken seal brought whoops of joy from the little passengers, and
camping trip is an adventure. Adventure isn’t defined by the activity
just one or two pangs of concern from their mum. With our backs
but by an attitude - an intention to try something new.
to the wind we cruised along a quiet country road to Catchpool
There were many reasons not to do this trip: the longbike had never
Valley - our overnight camp. We had our pick of camp sites, one
been ridden off road or fully loaded, it was late May and the forecast
advantage of camping late in the season, and we found a quiet spot
wasn’t ideal, Heidi and Fred had only ever ridden on the bike for
with a cooking shelter. Heidi and Fred lasted long enough to fill up
15 minutes at a time, we’d never taken them camping without the
on rice, sausages and chocolate before the sea air and excitement
safety net of a car, and none of us had ever ridden around the
got too much and they flaked out for the night. The adults were not
coast. But it is easy to find reasons why it would have been too
far behind.
risky, when the real risks are tiny. There were three adults on the
The following day dawned sunny and calm - exactly as forecast. We
trip and we were only ever a couple of hours away from a warm
were in no rush to get home - our only logistical commitment was
cafe. If we had to, we’d just turn around and catch a ferry home.
the afternoon ferry. The journey back was warm enough to enjoy in
The rewards for taking those risks were immense. Two months later
short-sleeves. We lingered to explore a shipwreck, to throw stones
I am still buzzing about it. Mike puts it down as one of his favourite
into the sea, and to investigate Pencarrow Lighthouse. The coastal
bike trips. It has reignited Beth’s passion for riding. And the kids?
track was much busier, with riders and walkers taking advantage of
Well, the following day I returned from work
a sunny autumn Sunday. Our ride to the ferry was made easy by the
to be presented with a painting showing their
slight tail-wind lingering from the southerly and we arrived in good
favourite parts of the trip: the longbike, the
time for ice creams. The ferry journey was a world away from the
hill and the crashing waves. We had better
previous day - we could sit up on the roof without fear of being blown
plan the next trip soon.
overboard. Our journey ended in Wellington as we had begun, at a cafe - this time for a well-deserved afternoon tea. This trip reminded me that adventure is different things to different /1/3
Top / Riders: Fred, Heidi and Paul Smith / On: Baring Head looking into the Wainuiomata Valley / In: Late autumn / Shot: Mike Wilson Right / The Longbike, The Hill and The Crashing Waves / Art: Heidi Smith
There were many reasons not to do this trip: we’d never taken them camping without the safety net of a car.
/1/4
;OPZ WHNL 9PKLYZ! Jono, Craig, Jim, Neil 6U! Deadstag, Akatarawa Forest
another world RIDING HIDDEN SINGLE TRACK DEEP IN THE AKATARAWAS Writer: Paul Smith
The trails that spark my passion were cut and hewn over a century
feet acted as two training wheels, stabilising my balance over the
ago by trailbuilders who had never set eyes on a mountain bike.
constant flow of slippery roots and windfall. I walked as much as
These men were in the Akatarawa forest to strip the tallest and
I rode – up and down. I cursed the supplejacks that grabbed at
straightest timber, sent to exploit the natural assets of the land.
my handlebars and chided the bush laywer that tore at my skin.
They left when all but the most inaccessible trees were gone, but
I wished I could ride some of the steep clay chutes or bend the
signs of their work still remain. One of their trails, now accessed
bike around seemingly impossible switchbacks. With every repeat
from a 4WD track near the top of Deadwood, joins an old logging
visit, however, my ability and confidence reached new heights and
railway at a rusting boiler and continues down a long, gentle
I fell head over heels in love. These old trails remain very much
decline. The rails are still in place – partially buried in the trail but
the boss though – changing character with every passing season,
occasionally defying gravity by floating above slips. Riding these
and always looking to force even the best riders into a hurried
rough, unmaintained trails makes me feel like an explorer, chasing
dismount.
the shadows of those pioneers with dubious motives. The riding is
So I tip my helmet to the men who, over a century ago, ravaged
superb – technical and demanding singletrack like nothing else on
the Akatarawa forest – men who took the trouble to install railways
offer in Wellington. Add the sense of history, the remote setting
and cut through inhospitable bush in search of profit. While I long
and the atmosphere of regenerating forest and a journey along the
to see the bush in all its glory, I know I am far too late. The best I
old logging trails in the Akatarawas becomes far more than a mere
can do is explore and enjoy the legacy they left behind – forty-five
mountain bike ride.
minutes North of Wellington but a whole world away.
On my introduction to them I was out of my depth, but boy was the experience exhilarating. I had never experienced riding as intense as this. For much of the time my
Left / Riders: Jono, Jim and Craig / In: The Akatarawa Forest / In: Early summer / Shot: Paul Smith
/1/6
Journey is a publication from
www.inspiring-riding.co.nz