it crashed and burned.....no more dark side for me, the new CCCC kits are out, navy shorts and day-glo orange tops, much like a construction workers uniform. With these colours, I won't need lights on my morning rides.

Plus, other geeks on here have DV as an avatar so I'm kinda going off it. I need something better.

Perhaps Dark Helmet from Spaceballs would be more to Sir's liking?

It is definitely a pain that we all have to experience at one point or another And I agree cycle touring is the one cure that I can think of as well. I just did the west cost of the South Island of NZ and I just want to keep on going. Such a nice country to ride in as well, so much to see (the hills are sometimes a bit of a reality check though, it is not all smooth sailing).

What parts of Oz are you thinking of taking in?

Wherever the fruit-picking jobs are going. Riverina, maybe far north-west WA, North Queensland (an old stomping ground). Pick to live, live to ride, ride to pick. With maybe an overseas trip or two thrown in. But Oz is a big island, and there's lots to see and experience.

Nice, the riverina area is not to bad, grew up in Wagga Wagga (havent been back for a while now though). Other nice areas would be across to Orange and Bathurst (Cherry picking at its finest and also lots of Vineyards). You are correct though, definitely a big place with lots and lots to see. How long are you intending to take off to do this trip, or are you going to do it in smaller chunks on and off? Anyway good idea and hope you can go through with it all.

Probably a year. Might end up being a lifetime. I have to make a decision in the next month or so regarding the job, and start saving a "safety net" bank, seeing I just about paid off all the hyenas.

There's some amazing deals out there. I was speaking to a guy the other day who bought a 2nd hand 2003 Cervelo Soloist (alu) with Dura-Ace for $1400!

Here's MY 2 cents:

Aluminium is the best bang for the buck by SO far it's rediculous. Great value. Sometimes you'll see Ultegra and 105 equipped aluminium bikes for only 200 to 400 hundred bucks more that the cost of the group-set! If you're getting a new alu bike under $2000, I reckon the frames are pretty much gunna be the same, so just go for the best deal, and the sexiest lookin'.

Good carbon is still a bit too expensive, in my opinion. I've never seen a decent carbon frame under $2000.

Steel is more likely to last longer, but it's usually gunna cost you quite a bit more, unless you find something second hand. I think Bianchi make a cheapish production steel bike which is Reynolds 631, and Specialized do one that's Columbus Foco or Ultrafoco. Dunno how they go for price.

Me and a mate are going to bike the South Island next summer. I can't wait. I'll have to pick your brains about good streches you went on.

BTW, touring through Bathurst would be boring as batpiss.

Oh, and R540 wheels aren't bad at all if yer not a prude. They looked after me when I was all but 200 pounds on some of the ****tiest roads you'd think of taking a roadbike on.

So you've lost some weight then? Must be that plastic bike

By all means ask away concerning NZ, I would be glad to help.

As for Bathurst well... depends what you want to tour through, country side, coastal etc... I dont mind Bathurst and Orange area, it is nice (wouldnt do it during summer though.. or winter for that matter either )

"Sexmoly - It's farkin rigid."

I'm an unqualified GENIUS!

The stiffest pipe a man can get his hands on!

Saccy: you wanna do Bathurst to Blayney?

Hey all you Melbournites, Anyone up for a ride on Sunday 27th Feb. I get in off the spirit at 7AM and wouldn't mind a ride before I head off to Arapiles. Any takers?

Yeah, about 13kg last count. Best splurge I ever made.


I guess first question would be what route did you ride?

As for Bathurst area being nice, well, yeah I guess for a visit...


Did Bathurst to Oberon the other weekend which was pretty easy. Bathurst to Blayney and back should be easier. So yeah I'd give it a go. Have to see how thigns are going after the RTA Bigride.

There's a dirt section That should throw the cat amonsgt the pigeons

See the bathurst cycling club website under "2005 Blayney to Bathurst" - "Latest News and Updates"

There's a Bathurst Cycle Club website?

Yeah https://www.bathurstcyclingclub.com.au/

Apparently it's where "Everyone's a champion". WTF?

Should have looked at your handle first and seen that you were from Bathurst so you are definitely in the know!

Anyway back to NZ.

Flew into Christchruch and drove to Queenstown.
Queenstown to Wanaka (over cook range, that is one big hill)
Wanaka to Makarora
Makarora to Hasst
Haast to Fox Glacier
Fox Glacier to Frans Joseph Glacier
Frans Joseph to Hokitika
Hokitika to Grey Mouth
Grey Mouth to Reefton
Reefton to Mauri Springs (spelt different and dont go there if you can help it)
Mauri Springs to Hanmer Springs
Hanmer Springs to Christchurch

All in all was about 1100km so not that big a ride really. We had a few people in the group of varying degrees of fitness so we had to make some of the distances a bit smaller than you normally would. But probably averaged about 60 to 70 km a day. I thought that it was a good route but we missed out seeing a few places that i would have liked (ex: Nelson, Able Tasmain national park, Milford Sound).

Can give you more specifics about things/places if you like, just let us know.

I was warned not to drive from Wanaka to Queenstown by the route you took. Too many folks getting dead. Must be a climb by bike!

Hasst was the scary redneck town I was thinking of. (Haast?) to Fox Glacier, if I recall correctly you probably didn't have to pedal too much, all down hill. I thought I was going to run out of diesel on the one lane bridge right before the glacier.

Is Greymouth the big ski area? If you rode there from Hokitika, you are surely mad. I recall lots of big elevation changes. I want to go back there.

They have a website! It's so crap not even google has heard of it. How did you come by that?

Oh it's an organised jaunt? Pretty embarrasing I didn't know it's on considering I work in the same building as the contact person.

The road from Trunkey to Georges plains is a real teeth rattler. The way to Rockley mount containing the dirt bit seems like a strange choice as well. Some sharp rocks on that bit of dirt as well. Actually how did you know there was going to be dirt? Didn't say on the website? Shame it finishes in Perthville as well, as the ride from Perthville to Bathurst could be called our "beach road".

I'd like to do the long jaunt though, but being a noob, I doubt they'd let me. Have to go have a yarn to Garry.

Thanks heaps for that. I'll look into that route and have a yarn to my mate. Not having been to NZ it's all new to me. I'll hit you up with some more questions when I start getting half a clue.

Hmmm... great response you've got so far, mate. Maybe your Bonnet Hill-conquering exploits have all these Melburnian poseurs shaking in their Looks. I mean, anyone coming from a place with hills...

Anyone doing the Oz Vets nationals in Vic next month?

With your new orange outfit I predict the MC will brand you Tango!

You're alive bird-flu boy! Wonderful... so do you look like an oversized chicken yet?

Saccy: I typed "Bathurst to Blayney" (including the quotes) in Google and up it popped. Now technically I should have got NO RESULTS because it's actually the "Blayney to Bathurst" run. But, that's the quality of their website...