Cycling the length of New Zealand

[Dave P]

Got a job offer so quit the slog and decided to fulfill a dream of cycling down New Zealand. I have
lots of cycling experience but have never taken on a big trip. I need to buy everything..... but the
catch is I fly out on Sunday! I am probably optimistic to think I have comprehensive list of gear so
could the group offer me any top tips on gear and all else to undertake such a trip.

Wish me luck,

Pete

[Tony W]

"Dave P" <davepnojunk@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:bn067k$ramk8$1@ID-119613.news.uni-berlin.de...
> Got a job offer so quit the slog and decided to fulfill a dream of cycling down New Zealand. I
> have lots of cycling experience but have never taken
on
> a big trip. I need to buy everything..... but the catch is I fly out on Sunday! I am probably
> optimistic to think I have comprehensive list of
gear
> so could the group offer me any top tips on gear and all else to undertake such a trip.

http://www.kenkifer.com/bikepages/touring/travel.htm

There is lots of good information on the web. NZ has the advantage of being a well developed country
with a great outdoor attitude -- so you will be able to top up any missing items out there.

Are you camping or hotel/B&B/hostelling?

Whatever, keep it minimalist. Use modern, polyester material for all clothing and take/buy some
travel wash so you can wash your clothes very regularly. That way you need less than your Mum would
consider sensible for a day out.

Layers for warmth. Check the weather forecasts -- its likely to be cold and wet. Be prepared.

Bike -- (I assume you have that). Simple, strong comfortable. Rack(s), lights, panniers, spares.

Spares -- hey, there are LBS dotted about -- take enough to be sensible -- not enough to build a
second bike. You can always get stuff sent to your location by mail order if all else fails -- so
you don't need a spare chainset. Puncture stuff, a couple of spare spokes, some cable ties and
strong twine, brake and gear cables, brake blocks maybe, a set of tools. If you don't know how to
use it there is little point in carrying it.

Its an English speaking country so maps, books etc can be bought, read and discarded.

I've always found a small radio worth taking -- but CD players etc. to be a waste of space. A good,
compact camera is vital.

Camping? Minimalist again -- but make sure the tent & sleeping bag are up to the job.

Have fun.

[Mseries]

Dave P wrote:
> Got a job offer so quit the slog and decided to fulfill a dream of cycling down New Zealand. I
> have lots of cycling experience but have never taken on a big trip. I need to buy everything.....
> but the catch is I fly out on Sunday! I am probably optimistic to think I have comprehensive list
> of gear so could the group offer me any top tips on gear and all else to undertake such a trip.
>
>
> Wish me luck,
>
> Pete

Please take a look at my website , scroll down to the message 'My Bike' on
19/10/03. The page describes my Trans America Ride but following that I cycled from Auckland to
Queenstown on the same bike with the same gear. I am actually starting to thinkabout
writing up the NZ leg but it'll be too late for you.
--
The Reply & From email addresses are checked rarely.

[Nick Kew]

In article <bn067k$ramk8$1@id-119613.news.uni-berlin.de>, one of infinite monkeys at the keyboard of
"Dave P" <davepnojunk@hotmail.com> wrote:
> a big trip. I need to buy everything..... but the catch is I fly out on Sunday!

NZ is much cheaper than anywhere in Europe - buy there!

At this time of year, be prepared for moderate cold or heat. NZ gets "four seasons in one day"
in a much stronger sense than we do here and your season is their springtime. Serious rain is
also likely.

--
Axis of Evil: Whose economy needs ever more wars? Arms Exports $bn: USA 14.2, UK 5.1, vs France 1.5,
Germany 0.8 (The Economist, July 2002)

[M Series]

Nick Kew wrote:
> In article <bn067k$ramk8$1@id-119613.news.uni-berlin.de>, one of infinite monkeys at the keyboard
> of "Dave P" <davepnojunk@hotmail.com> wrote:
>> a big trip. I need to buy everything..... but the catch is I fly out on Sunday!
>
> NZ is much cheaper than anywhere in Europe - buy there!
>
> At this time of year, be prepared for moderate cold or heat. NZ gets "four seasons in one day"
> in a much stronger sense than we do here and your season is their springtime. Serious rain is
> also likely.

In 1990 i started my NZ tour in early October, I got rained on everyday for 10 days. Nothing much
but enough to warrent a rain jacket.

[Steve Holdoway]

On Mon, 20 Oct 2003 20:19:06 +0100, "M Series" <spamyou@127.0.0.1> wrote:

>Nick Kew wrote:
>> In article <bn067k$ramk8$1@id-119613.news.uni-berlin.de>, one of infinite monkeys at the keyboard
>> of "Dave P" <davepnojunk@hotmail.com> wrote:
>>> a big trip. I need to buy everything..... but the catch is I fly out on Sunday!
>>
>> NZ is much cheaper than anywhere in Europe - buy there!
>>
>> At this time of year, be prepared for moderate cold or heat. NZ gets "four seasons in one day" in
>> a much stronger sense than we do here and your season is their springtime. Serious rain is also
>> likely.
>
>In 1990 i started my NZ tour in early October, I got rained on everyday for 10 days. Nothing much
>but enough to warrent a rain jacket.
>
Hi Nick,

Whatever you do, make sure your bike is squeaky clean, along with any boots, camping gear, etc.
Otherwise you could be in for quite a delay at Auckland airport!

Enjoy!

Steve

[M Series]

Steve Holdoway wrote:
>
> Whatever you do, make sure your bike is squeaky clean, along with any boots, camping gear, etc.
> Otherwise you could be in for quite a delay at Auckland airport!
>
> Enjoy!
>
> Steve

I'll second that. They cleaned my tent and tyres for me, of course they were not able to re-pack the
tent small enough to fit back into my panniers.

[Trevor Barton]

M Series <spamyou@127.0.0.1> wrote:
> Nick Kew wrote:
>> In article <bn067k$ramk8$1@id-119613.news.uni-berlin.de>, one of infinite monkeys at the keyboard
>> of "Dave P" <davepnojunk@hotmail.com> wrote:
>>> a big trip. I need to buy everything..... but the catch is I fly out on Sunday!
>>
>> NZ is much cheaper than anywhere in Europe - buy there!
>>
>> At this time of year, be prepared for moderate cold or heat. NZ gets "four seasons in one day" in
>> a much stronger sense than we do here and your season is their springtime. Serious rain is also
>> likely.
>
> In 1990 i started my NZ tour in early October, I got rained on everyday for 10 days. Nothing much
> but enough to warrent a rain jacket.

The Maori name for New Zealand means "Land of the Long White Cloud" which is a reflection on it
being a bit on the rainy side. My parents live in the shadow of Mt Taranaki (Egmont) on North Island
and almost get more rain every couple of months than we get all year here in North Yorkshire. It
rains every other day, just about.

Trev

[Ningi]

Nick Kew wrote:
>>a big trip. I need to buy everything..... but the catch is I fly out on Sunday!
>
>
> NZ is much cheaper than anywhere in Europe - buy there!
>

I was cycling and travelling in NZ for 3 months earlier in the year, and I would have made a similar
statement :

NZ is much pricier than anywhere in Europe - buy here!

EVERY piece of equipment I looked at was more expensive than the UK. Accomodation is wonderfully
cheap, food pretty cheap, but camping equipment and anything for your bike? All significantly more
expensive.

Pete

[Mseries]

Ningi wrote:
> Nick Kew wrote:
>>> a big trip. I need to buy everything..... but the catch is I fly out on Sunday!
>>
>>
>> NZ is much cheaper than anywhere in Europe - buy there!
>>
>
> I was cycling and travelling in NZ for 3 months earlier in the year, and I would have made a
> similar statement :
>
> NZ is much pricier than anywhere in Europe - buy here!
>
> EVERY piece of equipment I looked at was more expensive than the UK. Accomodation is wonderfully
> cheap, food pretty cheap, but camping equipment and anything for your bike? All significantly more
> expensive.
>
> Pete

When I was there in 1990, the cyclists I met used to get their bits mail order from the UK.

--
The Reply & From email addresses are checked rarely.