definatly get the kennet bros book, lots of stuff around roturua and taupo, they are both within striking distance of Auckland

ten days gives plenty of time to get out there and back, are you taking stuff to actually bike pack or just looking for day rides ?

thats a really interesting write up, must have been hard to commit those words to 'non friends'

and I can empathise, one of the reasons I rarely do organised events anymore is that personal feeling of failure is overwhelming at times on both a personal and public level

I've got a cumulous 250, only used it once but it seemed to do the trick, immediately better than all of my sleeping bags

my garmin edge 510 was fine in New Zealand for most of the time, just losing signal every now and again, however the chap I rode with had an Etrex model, he never lost signal once, thats what I'd buy next time, its bigger and bulky but worth it for the peace of mind

last nights ride had a distinctly autumnal feel towards the end

I cant recall feeling the days heat in the night this year :-/

some interesting thoughts here

http://jeffsbike.blogspot.co.uk

was it a Shand ?, could be Emily Chappel heading to the TCR

Sinewave

interesting, I didnt think I was being elitist or smug in asking a question, but there you go....

thanks for the replies, I'll stick to what I know and continue to be discrete

posting your bivvy spot on the internet, good idea ? I try to be discrete with my photos, always vague when asked where, make sure that the spot is cleaner than when I arrived (although I draw the line at fluffing up the grass) and try to follow the idea of arriving late and leaving early occasional...

great ride Jeff

my left wrist has over a hundred bites, everywhere else fine, that must have been the hand I was using to sinch the bivvy bag together during the rain :-/

thanks for the link and the photo, just ordered a 250 after two nights being constricted by a neo air in an alpkit bivvvy bag, hoping this might help ease my ability to toss and turn all night, and maybe even sleep a bit

many thanks Stu and Dee, was a pleasure to meet you both, and all the fine folks who are the bearboners

typing this on the train having bailed out at Chester, on the plus side I have beer inside me now :)

it was a bit of a rambling text to say the least, who knows what it was/is but hes moving again, hed been on the go for eighteen hours apparently so hardly surprising

and the durty bugger hasnt showered for six days

oh, didnt realise there was a swear filter !

for those who know Greg, about now is the time for a "dont be sub standard" text

hes not out yet, bit tired and emotional is all, needs to sort his head and his bike out and then he'll be going again ;-)

thanks Stu

can anyone suggest a nice bivvy spot around the lake please, aiming to ride there next Friday before heading to bearstock on the Saturday

ta in advance

some snaps here

https://www.flickr.com/photos/45689323@ ... 5978037033

good stuff

I think you are safe on that one Stu ;-)

my default is old and cynical, I try very hard not to be really I do

but when you see those young folk having carefree fun..... well

those bastards

is there actually something wrong with being a hipster ?

as against being old and cynical ?