"Westie" <
[email protected]> wrote in message news:<
[email protected]>...
> "Paladin" <
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>
news:[email protected]...
> > "Westie" <
[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:<
[email protected]>...
> > > "Paladin" <
[email protected]> wrote in message
> > >
news:[email protected]...
> > > > "Westie" <
[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:<
[email protected]>...
> > > > > "
> > > OK. A lot of the landscape that looks like that here is National Park
> which
> > > is 99.9% totally off limits to bikes. And if it's not park then it's surrounded by private
> > > land and high country stations with their
> associated
> > > access issues. No trails or paths or bridleways for the most part :-( Some of those areas are
> > > accessible on bike at certain times of the year
> but
> > > that usually isn't singletrack or trails, just gravel access roads, and
> the
> > > locked gates are opened for a month or two each year.
> >
> > What about racing? They're usually held at pretty scenic spots, and you normally get to pre-ride
> > as much as you can stand. Just a thought. Guess you could move, too--- ;-)
> >
> > Paladin
>
> You're right. The races are held at some pretty scenic places (and some not quite so scenic ones
> too). I've been to a couple of the Nationals for a look-see. I made the restrictions sound a bit
> over the top. There is a lot of riding around in the right places of course. And some of it damn
> fine beautiful stuff with aforementioned mountain ranges etc. in the distance. However, there's
> not too much of the stuff right amongst the peaks, if you know what I mean. Not too many mountain
> passes to climb and roll down. I think that part of it is because we're only a relatively new and
> little country of 4 million here in New Zealand and not enough of us have made tracks over the
> centuries over the hills and mountains that are now suitable for bikes. Then again, there are a
> lot of mountains over here and I haven't ridden in other countries. Maybe what I consider to be
> limited access is actually pretty good. Moving? I have considered it. And I may within the next
> year of two depending on where work takes me. But I've still got a lot of virgin mtb territory to
> uncover where I am yet. Mountainous and nil developed single-track but there are some gems of
> rides amongst it.
You're a Kiwi?! I must have forgot. Don't spoil my fantasy of some day bringing my bike down there.
I've always dreamed of riding NZ, what with the stunning scenery, friendly folks, LOTR, etc. I have
a dear friend on Stewart Island that I need to visit before she passes on.
All I could think of would be to ask the bike shop chaps where they ride, and with pizza and beer in
hand, they might let on their secrets.
We really are spoiled, even if we're not half as scenic as your neighborhood.
http://www.imba.com/news/trail_news/14_3/itn_14_3_coord.html
http://www.imba.com/news/news_releases/11_01/11_28_reportcard.html
Paladin
