any tips for cycling in NZ for the first time?

[cindierock]

Hey. I have been in Auckland for the past month or so and have been only cycling on the bike path on Quay St, but it is not that much fun. (Originally from Boston, MA)


I am a little intimidated by the streets because there seem to be so many huge buses and trucks. Are there any tips anyone can give me that will help me not be so paranoid?

[stevesurf]

Hi - when I was there in June (winter) I noticed very few cyclists, and none of them seemed to have lights - that's a start. You may want to order them from here if you opt for the more expensive variety. Here's my recommendation:

http://store.dinottelighting.com/shared/StoreFront/product_detail.asp?RowID=18&CS=dinotte&All=

I'll email my association contact in Auckland; he's an avid cyclist as well.

OT...Have you tried the Sky Jump over at Sky City yet ? :D

[cindierock]

in Janurary I have seen quite a few cyclists (not as many as in Boston, though) and they all seem to be very spandexed... I already have bike lights so that is not a problem and I am terrified of heights so no jumping for me. I am more worried about all these buses/trucks. I also heard the the streets here are narrower than in the US, which I am not sure is true or not, but makes me worried.

[bigtruck]

The biggest difference is New Zealand Streets can be littered with glass from beer bottles, Also the car drivers attitude sucks towards cyclists, Believe me I know as I lived in NZ for forty years, I cannot think of a more less friendly city to bike around than Auckland, Hey I am not trying to beat on New Zealand its a great place but not for cyclists

[Johnny_Monkey]

Is there a cycling association in Auckland? If so, you can probably get some advice from them.

[Welsh Wizard]

As a cyclist in Auckland or any part for that matter, remember as far as cars .lorries, and buses are concerned you are just a pain in the backside, this mainly due to a lot of push bikes rideing around after dark with no lights , a lot never stop for a red light but just go through, with bad roads that are poorly maintained it ends with those drivers getting short on temper and bikers end up getting hit.
another thing to watch for when cycling in NZ north of Auckland they have installed Wire Rope saftey barriers, last Oct a motorcyclist was cut in half by these things and the motorcycle comunity in NZ started a ban the Cheese cutter campain, one of the things that has come to the fore in their argument is tha even at speeds of 70kph you can lose a linb or worse if you hit these things, and Land Transport NZ has been installing these things not only on Motorways ( Freeways or interstates) but on standard roads which cyclist use, just south of Warkworth I think it is is one such area near a place called the Dome Lookout long hill no pedaling and you can easy reach 90 to 100 kph going down them you only need a lorry to pass to close and you could easaly find yourself heading into them, so be carefull out there.

[62vette]

Riding in a group is the best approach to both safety and as an introduction to cycling in Auckland. Get in touch with Hot Cycles (http://www.bikeforums.net/www.hotcycles.co.nz) in St Heliers, or Avanti Plus (http://www.avantipluscycles.co.nz/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogcategory&id=2&Itemid=4) Mt Eden. Both these stores run group rides and focus on getting new people into the sport.

[Pat in SLO]

It's not close to Auckland, but if you ever get a chance to cycle the East Cape with touring gear...go for it! My wife and I rode it on a tandem last Nov and it was fabulous. Gisborne to Opitiki over the mountains had some logging traffic but everyone was really careful to give us room... top of the mtns (I forget the name of the little town) down into Opitiki is fun and fast... then Opitiki around the Cape back to Gisborne is magical...

[gnome]

I haven't done any cycling in the North Island, so I can't help you with specific details. But some drivers, including drivers of buses and trucks, at best, just ignore cyclists. Also some drivers seem to have disconnected their indicators which can be a problem. If you are commuting then I would suggest a hi-vis vest as well as plenty of lights and make sure that your brakes work well.

Here are some links that may help you.

cycling advocacy (http://www.can.org.nz/)
cycling new zealand (http://cyclingnz.com/cnz4_index.php)
mountain biking (www.mountainbike.co.nz/index.php/Clubs/Clubs)

[DrDarkMatter]

I too am originally from boston and now live in nz. I live outside wellington not auckland thank god, no offense. riding in NZ is interesting to say the least, we tend to not ride in the city at all if we can avoid it, but having said that there are some nice rides to be had along the water front. Oriental bay for one. I would stick to the places you see other riders and not ride in the streets if you can help it. I see to many people get hit or have close calls for my liking. when I live in the states I road like bike designated places like minuteman bikeway and here in the kapiti area we have some nice trails in queen elizabeth park

[kyuzo]

I just moved to auckland with my family, coming from Manila. Compared to Manila, riding on the streets of Auckland is 'tame'.

We live in the North Shore where there are far less cars on the streets. When I first got my road bike, I rode even at nights, and the folks I would meet on the road kept telling me to get lights. Such nice people!

[Jonahhobbes]

The biggest difference is New Zealand Streets can be littered with glass from beer bottles, Also the car drivers attitude sucks towards cyclists, Believe me I know as I lived in NZ for forty years, I cannot think of a more less friendly city to bike around than Auckland, Hey I am not trying to beat on New Zealand its a great place but not for cyclists

Yeah for a country that prizes itself on its ball-handling skills they certainly drop a lot of bottles! Its a rough place to cycle in. I'm pretty close to DrDarkMatter, so luckily don't have the Wellington grind. My advice in no particular order:

1) Read a good book, Robert Hurst's the Art of Urban cycling is a good start, (it's got a new title that escapes me at the mo)
2) Don't be afraid to take the lane when you have to.
3) Get a helmet mounted mirror.
4) Check out the commuting forum here.
5) Intersections/junctions-they are the real danger areas-don't assume that you have been spotted when cycling across a junction, even eye contact is not fool proof.
6) Plan your route, check out where you are going at low traffic times and get used to your route.
7) keep an eye on the road- NZ have MASSIVE potholes.
8) Just go and ride, experience is the key to safety.
9) Join something like CAN, talk to people who cycle a lot.
10) lots of lights if cycling at night dusk/dawn.
11) Groundeffect gear :)

Its not that bad :thumb:

[Sianelle]

I lived in Auckland for most of my life and perhaps the most difficult thing about riding in Auckland is that an awful lot of roads are much the same as they were in the 1950s and they are carrying way too much more traffic than they were ever designed for. Roading upgrades and intersection redesigns tend to be patchwork affairs as well which means that a lovely multi-lane modern intersection with all the bells and whistles will often unexpectedly feed into a narrow 1950s two lane blacktop street. Oh yes, and Auckland is where all the potholes in the world go to die just to make it really interesting.
At one time I used to get about by taking a Raleigh 20 on the suburban trains, but eventually traffic on the roads got to the point where I was far too nervous to ride a bicycle anymore. These days I live out on the Hauraki Plains and avoid going anywhere near Auckland as much as I possibly can. I'm enjoying bicycling again and I went so far as to sell my car because I simply wasn't driving it anymore.