A camera, computer and a compulsion.

Where do I go for inspiration?

This weekend I rode from home to my Dad’s place at the beach.  125km, 1km of climbing, 25km of gravel, 1km of tunnel.  To me an epic adventure of 6 hours riding, a 5km descent of constant glee-hollering-whooping-giggling, lovely badinage with lovely people, a chocolate bar, a Devonshire Cream Tea, a sourdough German toasty, two cars that slowed to a crawl to act as a road shield when they foresaw me approaching blind narrow bridges, and 3 litres of water.

To put this in perspective, my all day adventure would take the very average roadie well under 4 hours.  So whilst to me, my accomplishment is a little bit of a pride generating moment, I recognise it isn’t a strava segment winner!!!

However, there are a number of people, bike mentors, who certainly don’t know I exist, who made this special for me.

• Erik Nohlin - whose writings teach me that black stretch denim cut off are the best touring shorts in the land (he is right, btw, imho, fwiw)
• Bike Snob - constantly rails against cliques and the Velominati and barracks that your non-gravel bike is ok on gravel!
• The Blayleys - do eeppiicc rides in amazing places at a rapid pace (and I’ve met them, they’re (surprisingly) human)!
• Lovely Bike - dangled the lure of a big, big cassette on the back, and as I sat down and spun up any incline, dying and unable to stand, I thanked her for the 34 front 32 rear combo I had on!

So this is a post for two reasons: One - posterity and a diary for me!  I rode to my Dad’s house with a homemade handlebar bag via the Hauraki Rail Trail, and; Two - gratitude! All the blogs and adventures I read of that motivate me to challenge myself, thank you!