Large leaps in progress are now being made in the creation of shebikeshebikes Otago Central Rail Trail HQ.

- The new windows and doors are in place (the bi-folding front doors are fantastic)

- The interior has been gutted

- A new concrete topping slab has been poured and is currently drying

The outside desperately needs the new paint job and branding but it’s not time for that just yet.

Jesse Mulligan had a little bit to say recently about the Ida Valley and it’s rail trail produce amongst other things, you can read more here http://aucklandfoodblog.blogspot.com/2010/07/central-otago-goodies.html I’ve never been to the Wanaka cinema but will certainly have to check it out and try some of those cookies.

The weather of the past month has seen some snow, a hoar frost and now some really beautiful still days. We’ve had some intrepid travellers out on the Otago Central Rail Trail recently and the consensus is that it’s very sloppy in parts due to the snow having thawed and made things boggy. The Oturehua to Wedderburn section is particularly bad and some have chosen to take to the road and bypass it altogether.  Here are a few images to give you an idea what Central Otago can be like at this time of the year.

We’ve been developing a few adverts that we’ll start to circular via various media. They’re worth a look for a giggle.

Our renvotation of shebikeshebikes HQ is underway. Consents are in with the council, the new roof is going on this week, the double glazing has been ordered and we’ve even chosen a colour scheme…. whewww!!!  The new Ford transit is on order from Ford NZ (we’ve ordered the silver one if colour is important to you

We’re privileged to be able to technology sponsor Nick Woods as he undertakes an extreme John McGlashan challenge to run, bike and paddle the length of the South Island.  When we heard what Nick and his Dad Denis were going to do we thought it would be great to be able to follow their progress as they travel across some gnarly terrain some of which makes up sections of some of the tougher multisport events in NZ. So, we’ve provided them with a Garmin 705 GPS unit and a bit of instruction so that they can log and upload each days progress. We reckon this type of father / son endeavour is truly inspirational and wish them all the best. Check out their progress at http://lighthousetolighthouse.blogspot.com

I guess when you think about Queenstown and buzz then you think adrenalin filled adventures. Carol and I spent three days in the adventure capital enjoying our wedding anniversary, taking in some of the sights and getting a bike ride in. It really was totally comical because we set off up the hill, intending to follow the route on the MTB Queenstown map we’d purchased. Well, we ended up at the bottom of the Wynyard terrain park instead of the top so headed further down hill until we found a track sign point to the Gondola. It all looked a bit narrow to me and not rideable but we decided to go up because we knew it would meet up with the access road at some point. The really funny thing was that it certainly was a walking track and really knarly one at that… so we carried the bikes a long way. It turned out it was the Gondola track that we’d walked on our honeymoon all those years ago, which was quite comical.

While out and about browsing the shops we got a real buzz when a woman passed us wearing a shebikeshebikes Otago Central Rail Trail t-shirt.

I was lucky enough to be asked what I’d like for Christmas by Carol (… I wonder when the boxers and socks will come) and I asked for an iRULE Invest cycling vest.  My brother-in-law Mark had told me that it was the best cycling vest that he’d ever worn so that was good enough for me.  This weekend the weather warranted a test ride in my new Invest, bit cooler than usual, bit of wind. Wow! what an awesome piece of kit! It cut out the wind, but I didn’t cook while I was effectively doing interval training mapping a part of the Otago Central Rail Trail for cellphone coverage (it was all start stop stuff each K for 30 K).  I really thought at the start of the ride that I was going to have to throw on another layer and get really sweaty but the Invest did the trick… broke the wind chill and kept me cool. I really liked the length of the vest and the fact that I could zip it all the way up and nestle my chin into it.

You’ve got to check this gear out at http://www.irule.co.nz/shop/products/invest

Wow! We’ve just returned from a family holiday at Lake Tekapo. The goal for the week was to get away with the family and get in some good training at the same time. We left on the Sunday and to make it all interesting, Carol cycled Thompsons track (part of the Gold Rush Course) from Omakau to Tarras. I drove round with the boys to meet her and stopped to buy the holiday groceries on the way. After a lovely lunch at the Tarras Country Coffee shop (definitely recommend it) we drove on over the Lindis pass. It was my turn to ride when we reached Lake Pukaki and they dumped me on the side of the road and off I went. Fantastic scenic ride, shame about the head wind but I guess that’s just life on a bike sometimes. At one stage I thought that the wind was gusting and making a really odd sound in my helmet…. however it turned out I was being dive bombed by Magpies! But, they’re not going to do you any damage with a helmet and glasses… unless you decide to weave out into traffic.

We rented a holiday house called “the Barn“. It’s a great space with a massive living area downstairs and bifolds that open up to that magnificent lake view and a yard with enough fencing to keep the toddler in.

The next ride we did together (thanks Nana for looking after the kids) and we rode up to the Mount John Observatory and back. A very short steep ride up the hill but well worth it for the views and coffee at the Astro Cafe. You’ve got to check out Mount John, wicked views. That afternoon Fynn and I went for a ride through one of the reserves. Really rough vehicle track in amongst the pines and although it was hard, Fynn stuck at it and we had some really great “father-son” bonding time.

The last ride of the trip was a split ride. Carol and I drove out 30 km to the Mt Dobson skifield access road. I set off up the mountain and Carol started on the road bike back to Tekapo and was happy to get up Burkes Pass without getting off and walking! After rolling around laughing at my previous Magpie experience, Carol ended up having a couple of her own and even had a “flight wing” (2 Magpies) dive at her . The ride up Dobson was steep and hard. at about the 90 minute mark I passed a car going down and they happily told me that it wasn’t far now. We’ll that was a lesson learnt, far in a car vs far on a bike when you’re riding uphill are very different things! at 125 mins I’d reached my cut off time and had to turn back about 1.8 km from the ski field. Although I was sad not to have made it I was pleased I made the decision because riding downhill on an access road is really hard work because you’re constantly braking and trying to stay on the road, and the chill or riding back down adds to the difficulty. If you’re going to ride up above the snowline make sure you have enough kit because although it’s hot going up, it’s very cold going down.

The plan was that on our return we’d probably have one of us ride out from Tekapo… but 5 cm of spring snow and blizzard conditions ended that opportunity.

We’re looking forward to going back to Tekapo next year and exploring the area some more.