Journey #1 - Inspiring Bicycle Adventures

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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

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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.

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;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

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Journey is a publication from

www.inspiring-riding.co.nz


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