Eclectic Cyclist NZ: April 2012

Sunday, 29 April 2012

Ride #29

Ride #29, a photo by Bazzaphotos on Flickr.

Only took two 'takes' with the self timer to get this photo.
Made the most of the warm weather as the forecast suggests that a powerful southerly change will arrive later in the day.
Spent a little time wondering how other people manage to get this feeling of calm brought by exercise.
Great to be out turning the the cranks in the South Otago country side.
Ride #29 in 30 Days of biking.
Eclectically enjoying the ride.

Saturday, 28 April 2012

Rides which put smiles on your smile.

#30daysofbiking Ride #28 Hina Hina & Lakeside Roads. Catlins, Otago. by Bazzaphotos

#30daysofbiking Ride #28 Hina Hina & Lakeside Roads. Catlins, Otago., a photo by Bazzaphotos on Flickr.
Third last ride in April which contributes to 30 Days of Biking. http://30daysofbiking.com/
Mary and I decide to head down to the Catlins Lake about 30km away from home. I guessed a warm norwest breeze would be blowing down the lake ................. and I was right. http://www.catlins-nz.com/scenery.html

We found the first few kilometres up the side of the lake into the wind a slow slog. Once into the shelter of the bush on the Lakeside our ride was heralded by a bevy of Bellbirds. These mid-sized songsters sang our praises as we passed from one territory to another. http://www.doc.govt.nz/conservation/native-animals/birds/land-birds/bellbird-korimako/

Mary noticed the smell of the bush and the fact with water running down the gullies and suggested that the area had far more rainfall than we have had at home.
After a quick rest at the bridge at the top of the Lake the run home was with the following wind. The Bellbirds chartered our passing and we were soon back at the bridge at the bottom of the lake.

16 kilometres in total. These rides are the rides which put smiles on your smiles.
Eclectically riding in the Catlins - Cheers.

Friday, 27 April 2012

30daysofbiking Ride #27 Commute Gear

30daysofbiking Ride #27 C by Bazzaphotos

30daysofbiking Ride #27 C, a photo by Bazzaphotos on Flickr.

So far haven't needed the front light on the way to work. Use the rear flashing light all the time. Partly to combate the possibility of sun strike effecting drivers at this time of year.
Pretty sure I need to up grade my bike bag to more safely seen colour. Having spent $230.00 on this model I am a bit reluctant to purchase another.
Eclectically concerning myself with bike safety. Cheers.

Thursday, 26 April 2012

Ride #26 Pic #2

Ride #26 Pic #2, a photo by Bazzaphotos on Flickr.

Ride #26 Pic #1

Ride #26 Pic #1, a photo by Bazzaphotos on Flickr
When I roll down the drive for the second time each morning I virtually tingle at the thought of my short commute and the photo opportunities the ride may present. Swooping into the drive at work I was greated by the sun light filtering through the trees. Initial photos tried to pick up autumn colours of the leaves. I prefered this shot of the elongated bike.
Managed this shot early in the day which meant that the ride home was simple as the photo was already captured.
Cheers - eclectically.

Wednesday, 25 April 2012

30daysofbiking Ride #25

30daysofbiking Ride #25, a photo by Bazzaphotos on Flickr.
With a day off work for ANZAC Day - Dawn Service on the bike.
Another great ride with Mary near the Clutha River the photo topic for the day seemed obvious.
Eclectically Cycling.

Tuesday, 24 April 2012

Not another fine, warm after work ride in April! Ride #24.

Untitled, a photo by Bazzaphotos on Flickr.

Day off tomorrow for ANZAC Day. Today - 30 days of Biking - Ride #24
After work Kelly suggested a quick ride. (This has nothing to do with her new bike!)
She nipped home and got geared up, I just went in my work clothes on "Belta' the commuter. Gravel and bitumen ride of about 20k in perfect autumn afternoon weather.
No bikes were damaged in the making of this photo!

Monday, 23 April 2012

30daysofbiking Ride #23

30daysofbiking Ride #23, a photo by Bazzaphotos on Flickr.

Found on the morning commute - hit that with sleep in your eyes and it's all over!

30daysofbiking Ride #23

30daysofbiking Ride #23, a photo by Bazzaphotos on Flickr.

Every keen cyclists dreams of a home delivery like this!

Sunday, 22 April 2012

Top two Inches - 5.1cm

I'm not tough! 30 Days of Biking 2012 - Ride #17

As a cyclist I tend to just get on with it. Out on the road or the track some days are harder than others and at times I do have to concentrate and bring in some 'top two inch' skills to get to where I want to be. That was until I read this:

http://www.adventure-journal.com/2012/04/are-you-tough-enough-the-answer-is/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+adventure-journal+%28adventure+journal%29&utm_content=Google+Reader

In this article I found out what I do is 'tough it out' just like I used to do when tramping or climbing!

Never really considered that to be the case.

Last Tuesday's ride from my Aunt's home in Milton to my home via the mainly gravel roads through Toko Mouth, Measly Beach, Wangaloa and Kaitangata turned out to be one of these rides!

It started out with a mild ride beside the Tokomairiro River:

Ride #17 Milton to Balclutha via Tokomiriro River, Toko Mouth, Wangaloa, Kaitangata. In the dark. by Bazzaphotos

Within 10km darkness had come on, this was easily overcome with a good light, what I found difficult to overcome was riding in the 7-10cm of loose gravel distributed all over the road by a grader.

Many of the corners have a steep camber which pushes the bike down into the ditch. Combine this with the gravel layer and a healthy dose of corrigations meant riding up the many rolling pitches took lots of head spin.

While there were only a couple of decent down hills to negotiate there were a good number of rolling down hills all of which cause the sphincter to clamp shut.

I considered the safe option of pulling over and calling Mary for a tactical pick-up. Shelving this idea, applying concentration to the needed bike skills and enjoying the ride made a difference. The difference is, I guess, that I conscoiusly 'toughed it out' and felt better for it.

Almost euphotically I biked up hill past the hated grader which was parked up for the night surrounded by it's hi-vis safety layer and was delighted to lay rubber onto the bituman over looking Kaitangata.

I dd stop and call home at the Balclutha bridge over the Clutha River, but only to report in because I was nearing the end of the agreed 'rime window'.

So, having read the above article and after riding every day for the last 383 days I suppose I can reluctantly agree that I can still 'tough it out'.

Eclectically toughing - Cheers.

30 Days of Biking - Ride #22

On the last day of our term break with the sun and high air pressure bringing warm sunny conditions I took a short local ride. Attempted to get one of 'Team Blackwag' to jump the bike for a photo but ended up sitting on the fence.

What to photograph when Team Blackwag is too excited

30 days of biking - read all about it here:
http://30daysofbiking.com/
While thinking about it why not read about this family?
http://youaintgotjack.blogspot.co.nz/2012/04/day-21-of-30-days-of-biking-bicycle.html

Who would have thought?

Who would have thought?

Who would have thought
That riding every day in April
http://www.30daysofbiking.com/
Provides the best darn training ever?

Pedals feet cranks knees
turn every day
Every kind of bike
Eclectic . . . . . you might say.

Building legs lungs bike handling power.

Chances to record:
"Crouch . . . . . . pause . . . . . engage,"
Shutter release captures cyclepic of the the day.

"It's a bike path . . . . . mate!"
"Sorry, didn't see it!" driver replies.
"The bikes tend to give it away."
She rides to the right and I cycle to the left of his car.

Lots to see, Regan Gentry's big wisdom teeth 6.5 tonne each.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/55304671@N05/5671669986/in/set-72157626611853438/

Handle bars forward into May.