North Island Completed, Now to Race Down South

Rob Howard / 28.01.2010

Tori James and Maria Liejerstam of the ‘Girls Bike New Zealand’ expedition have completed their trip down the length of North Island, and after a break in Wellington the pair are setting off for South Island. Their plan is to cycle the length of South Island in just 11 days to reach Bluff and then to make their way back to Christchurch for the start of the famous Speight’s C2C race, which they plan to take part in.

During the second half of their journey through North Island the two adventurers have received some exceptional kiwi hospitality, fitted in a testing couple of days of kayaking, and managed to lose each other! The kayaking was on the Wanganui river and they arrived late in Wanganui town only to find the chip shop closed ... but the staff took pity on them and cooked them fish and chips especially. Most of the next day was spent resting up and the next night they asked for a place to camp and were taken in by a friendly farmer we fed them well and set them on their way towards Wellington.

The final day’s riding on North Island was a long one, a 160km trip, made a bit longer by a couple of visits to friends along the way. There was a cycle track leading all the way into Wellington for the last 40km and by 7pm the riders had reached Paekakriki where they had their first sighting of South Island. Then just 7km from the city the pair became separated and it took them 90 minutes to find each other again, much to their relief, so it was late arrival in Wellington.

They’ve summarised their trip so far as follows;

Distance covered: 1282.3km
Average speed: 19km/hr
Max speed: Still 68.5km/hr
Altitude gained: More than Everest

Best bits: Being very fit, cycling faster than some boys, overtaking road cyclists, arriving in Wellington, hospitality, weather, muffins, sweet soy chicken pizza in National Park, hot springs, freedom to go anywhere and do anything, gate-crashing a veteran tennis tournament, run to the Wellington wind-turbine.

Worst bits: Losing each other, lack of other travelling cyclists, being smelly, double trucks, insect bites.
Funniest thing: Losing each other, failing to unclip peddles in time resulting in falling in a ditch head first.

Estimated calories burned per day: Under 4000
Estimated calories consumed per day: Over 4000

Most valuable piece of kit: Waterproof/drop-proof camera – Olympus, bike stand from Enterprise UK, Top Peak Frame pack, chafing cream, sporks (spoon, knife & fork in one).

Funniest road signs spotted: “Watch out for wenches” ,“Food and wine provided, bring your own woman”