| A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | |
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1 | Timestamp | Your name or non-de-plume | Favourite Brevet food | Best meal | Food you now hate the most | Best wild life encounter | Nicest locals | Weirdest locals | Most unexpected surprise | Best piece of kit | Things you were glad you didnt omit | Worst bike failure | Best accomodation | Best day | Best part of course | Least enjoyable part of course | Hardest section | Craziest/funnest person to travel with | Things you'd change | Funniest moment | Best direction, clockwise or counter? This was counter | Add anything you like in here : ) |
2 | 09/02/2014 16:07:17 | Jeff Lyall | Chocolate milk | Breakfast at the Voodoo Lounge day 1 | OSM bars | Thomas asleep on roadside | Arthurs Pass | To be lent a new pedal when mine broke | Horizontal drop-outs | Lezyne multi-tool | Crank bros pedal and deraileur breaking | Wakefeild Domain | Day 1 | Port Underwood | North Bank | North Bank | Thomas Lindup wins again ! | Go for heavier weight tires | Forgetting I had toe-clips on and falling over on Jacks pass | Counter! | What a great event. Thanks Simon and helpers | |
3 | 09/02/2014 17:32:05 | Richard Tait | Pies | Curry | Cranberry OSM | Keas | Locals at Canvastown | La z boys in Trout Hotel | Revelate feed bag/pie warmer | Sunscreen | Dry chain (does that even count!) | Hanmer | Day 1 | Maruia Saddle/Lake Tennyson | Fist sized rocks on forestry road on north bank of Wairau | Wakefield to St Arnaud in the heat | North bank on last day was hard on forest road | Mark skinny dipping in Lake Tennyson | Can't comment! | |||
4 | 09/02/2014 18:15:31 | Hana B | Fish burger and iced coffee | Steak pie and Shandy at the Blackball Hilton | OSM | WEll that would definitely NOT be the pile of dead rabbits and severed pig head near Golden Downs! | People everywhere were very friendly and curious about what we were up to. EVen the ones that told us we were crazy! | The note left by Phil Brownie at the start of MacDonald Downs - it would have been better if the chocolate iscuit he'd left us for morning tea hadn't mysteriously disappeared! | Homemade frame bag - my small frame meant I only had one bottle mount. The fram bag let me carry 1.5l water plus spare tubes, tools and pump. | Bum cream, anti-flamme, codeine, no-doz, moro bars. | None experienced. | Wharfdale Hut - thanks to the kind person who left the big stack of dry firewood! | Lake Rotoroa to Big River despite the heat. Braeburn was surprisingly short, Maruia very pleasant, West Bank road very flat, Rahu Saddle smooth and getting to Big River a real bonus. | Wharfdale in the rain - seriously! | Wairau Valley due to creaking achilles, rain, and general fatigue. | The Rainbow Road - due to corrugated road surface, bitterly cold headwind then rain. Boo! | Joanne Emmens for Fun. Steven Macleod for Crazy. | Take warmer gloves next time - after mild weather for 2012 I wasn't prepared for the wintery conditions experienced. | Seein Martin and Al going past ont he West Coast Shuttle - waving at the back window like a couple of schoolboys ;-) | I think counter clockwise was easier for Maungatapu, Porika, Big river, Wharfdale and MD Downs - but not for Otira! | Thanks heaps to the event organisers and for all the work done on Wharfdale track. Don't forget to buy a Kiwi Brevet Musette to help the track work donation made on behalf of all riders. | |
5 | 09/02/2014 19:02:16 | Dave Sharpe | Lamb & Kumara Pie - Arthurs Pass | Beer in the shower - Culverdon | Cherry flavoured Nuun | A large green native parrot (Not a Kaka or Kea) taking off form right next to me through the Waiuta | Culverdon | Hares darting out in front of me late at night, while down on the aero bars - could have ended badly if I wasn't paying attention... | Revelate bags - Tangle and Pika | Chamois creme, ipod, extra elastic bungee on seatbag | I had to stop and adjust my rear brake on the third day :-( | Moana/Lake Brunner - lovely spot. Would love to visit in in the light of day some time. | Moana to Culverdon - about 320km, fantastic weather, beautiful scenery, good singletrack (Warfedale) and a great climb up Arthurs Pass to start the day | MacDonald Downs, the Waiuta (and the run out to Ikamatua), the finish. | The small stretch from Culverdon to Blenheim. | The Maungatapu was physically hardest, while the Rainbow and Northbank sections were mentally challenging. | I'll tell you next time... | Take a full suss MTB, some mates, and make it a tough (but achievable 5-day adventure) | Arriving at Lake Brunner at 11[m at the end of a 290km day - I was finding my way to my cabin, when I turned in deep gravel, and ended up falling over sideways. I lay there with my light pointing skyward, and my loaded bike pinning me to the ground for a few moments - then started laughing. | Counter - Climbs are nicer, and the course seems to "flow" a little better. | ||
6 | 09/02/2014 20:02:32 | Wayne Gedye | Cookie time triple chocolate cookie | Fish Burger at Havelock | OSM | Weka's fighting on Sunday morning on the Maungatapu Track | Springfield | No accommodation in Culverden on Wednesday night. | Spot, (my bike) it never let me down and only asked for oil. | Chain oil, wet weather gear, biviy bag | Unlocked my front fork and took a day to work out way my front bag kept dragging on the front wheel while going down hills and braking. | Northbank Road, it was quiet and had a nice camping area. | Day 1, not too hot and nice riding. | Porika Track, the walk up was not bad and the down hill was so much fun and a good challenge with the extra gear. | Pushing up the main road to Arthurs Pass, there was no room on the side to walk. | Wharfedale Track with all the wind fall and slips would have been nice to have someone to help get through the trees and slips. | Me? I spent most my time riding by myself. | I would like to try those fancy gear things some other people had on their bikes. | Having a local at Arthurs Pass telling me I had an IGH and not believe it was a single speed hub. He even went looking for the gear cable. | A great event can't wait to do another one. | ||
7 | 09/02/2014 20:04:45 | Pat H | Tamari nuts & seeds | Bowl of salad at Springfield | Apricot OSM - never again | The morning chorus Maruia saddle | Staff at the German bakery in Picton who also gave us free pies and rolls | Smoke coming out of the chimney at Island saddle hut was a welcome sight being that it was 9:30pm, cold & wet. | Brooks B17 saddle = no issues with my hind quarters whatsoever. Wagon wheels & carbon fork. | My down jacket | None | The Starlight Hotel, Lees Valley | Day 5 - Lees Valley to Island Saddle hut | Maruia Saddle | The coarse gravel on Northbank | The hike sections of the Wharfdale | They were all crazy & all fun | Maybe take it slower next time & spend more time with the locals | Crazy kaka's at Arthurs Pass having a go my eggs benedict and taking off with another riders sammies | Definitely counter | Thank you Simon & the rest of the Kennetts in making such an event available & 'enjoyable' for everyone. The option of Brevet / Brevette made it more accessible & it was great to catch up with the Brevette riders in Hanmer. | |
8 | 09/02/2014 20:51:32 | Matt Roberts | Chocolate milk | Pizza in Hamner and the left overs next day through Rainbow | Apricot OSM | Maruia Saddle | Maruia | bivying with Andy one night and then finding we were i nthe same bunk room at a back packers the next night | frame bag so had nothing on back | butt butter, sun | broke spoke and dent to rotor on Rainbow | hard to say | St Arnard to Maruia | Maruia Saddle | heat up Golden Downs | Rainbow was rough but when I did it cool, Golden Downs was on seal but heat was really sapping | meet lots of great people | wider tyres so could do Porika | pushing top gear to catch only person I caught all day on Lewis Pass | only done counter | thanks to everyone from organisers to riders | |
9 | 09/02/2014 21:10:11 | Julie Williams | Mini bacon and egg pies | Toasted sandwiches at Ikamatua Hotel - thus avoiding OSM's | OSM's | Wekas having an early morning domestic on Mangatapu | Hamner Springs takeaways. Even though toasted sandwiches were not on the menu they made 6 huge ones for me. | Finding the fire going at St James homestead shelter - after arriving in the rain. | Chocolate coated coffee beans (really they are kit) | Chocolate coated coffee beans | None, but my front tire has several knobblies missing with the bead showing | |||||||||||
10 | 09/02/2014 21:31:28 | Bryce Lorcet | Toasted sandwiches | Bangers n mash, Sheffield Pub | Scroggin | Kea stealing my sandwiches at Arthurs Pass while the tourists took photos | Fleur's parents somewhere near Culverden | Getting a house in Hanmer to sleep in with 7 other riders. | Sweet Cheeks Butt Butter | The entire container of Butt Butter | NONE. | Fleur's aunties house in Hanmer | Tuesday, Blackball to Sheffield | Arthurs Pass or Rainbow | Nothing currently registers | Road section north of Rainbow waiting for painkillers to kick in | John (China) Yu, from the multisport team | Take less gear, ride earlier in the mornings | Long day into Blenheim to finish, riding silently for hours, then laughing at the absurdity of the moment. | Only know counter clockwise thus cannot comment | Please someone take on organising this again in 2016. | |
11 | 09/02/2014 21:31:48 | Julie Williams (continued) | Henry... my tarp tent | Best and worst was Ikamatua to Wharfedale saddle - I went from wanting to quit to riding 270 km! | to hard to choose | Ikamatua to Lake Brunner region, my butt and saddle were not good friends | Halling my bike past the carnage ont the Wharfedale late at night | Every one who does this is crazy and thus fun to be around! | Carry less, omit pack towel, less shampoo body lotion etc | Deciding to throw out my remaining toasted sandwiches and cambert on North bank section... you had to be there.. after all those hours into a headwind solo simple things became very amusing | Jury's out, clockwise for the more ridable downhills? | A big thanks to the Kennet's and others behind the scenes. | ||||||||||
12 | 09/02/2014 21:42:25 | Andy GILBERT | Nachos | Steak Meal @ Blackball Hilton | none, I had lots of variety | Cresting Hogs Back Track, Craigiburn and having four deer run through the tussock across in front of me, stop and look, ( two were stags with antlers) before troting across the valley, visible for over a minute. It was a beautiful stil clear morning, I guess they weren't scared off because I was on a cousin, the Krampus. | Couple from the Hilton | The amount of downhill bombing from Island Saddle to St Arnaud. The first time I had travelled in that direction, I didn't realise how consistent the decent was. | Credit Card, noticed its value when I lost it on the second day. | 29+ wheels @ 9-15psi | broken chain | Black Ball Hilton | Riding Craigiburn in the morning and Wharfdale in the afternoon. | Off Road/ Single track | Wairau Valley | Mangutapu track before my body had got used to the activity | Inspiring Riding | Could travel lighter, some kit wasn't touched. Second gas bottle? | Racing calves on Isolation Flat, no speedo so no idea of speed but I was high cadence in top gear. | Counter | It was great to take part in something that involved such a diverse group with a common love, the cycle. I was reading comments ranging from no showers for four days, through to Nathan who must have swum in every decent creek through out the journey.I had found a bike that suited me well and left me smiling most days. Cheers and thanks to all of those who contributed to the organisation of the event and not a single national or international licence required. ;) | |
13 | 09/02/2014 22:44:49 | Mark Wright | Butter Chicken Pie | Eggs, Beans, Sausages & Toast | Tamarillo (some things don't change) | Yellowhammer leading us away from her nest for a good five minutes | St Arnaud | Being able to climb Jacks Pass after best meal | Revelate Feed Bag | Bent derailleur | Canvastown to Murchison | Maruia Saddle | Heavy metal on north Wairau forestry road | Maungatapu Climb | My shorts | |||||||
14 | 10/02/2014 08:15:08 | Simon Morton | Pies | Voodoo lounge breakfast pre-start | I will never hate food | Bill the farmer | Bill the farmer | Finishing on Thursday | Brooks b17 saddle | Tent | Giro Terraduro shoes | Tarptent | Otira to Lees Valley | The whole thing worked really well | Ikamatua to Otira | Dave Drake | Nothing | Sheffield pie loo incident | Counter of course | A big thanks to Simon and Jonathan and everyone that had a go. And Bob and Chris for the first night comforts! | ||
15 | 10/02/2014 09:08:54 | Calum Chamberlain | Cheds with Lemon and Pepper tinned tune | Both first and second breakfast at Springs Junction | None, nothing disagreed with me. | Chasing a stampeeding heard of sheep through McDonalds Downs-dust and light made this special rather than the sheep. | West Coast | It didn't hurt to the point of wanting to stop | Freeload rack | Sleeping bag and liner (it was cold in the mornings). | Chain break up Mongatapu. | St. Arnaud motel after downpour | Crossing the Alps | Waiuta track | North Bank headwind | Headwind to the bottom of the Wharfedale | Simon Morton | Take a tent rather than a bivy bag | A story to not be shared online | Counter (haven't done clockwise though) | ||
16 | 10/02/2014 11:16:55 | Karl Yager | Pretty much everything except muslie bars and scroggin. | $20 steak and potatoes in Hamner. Steak was actually pretty rubbish but the company was good. | Never got to that. | The tiny white horse that ran along beside us as we rode the wrong way to Jacks Pass.... think it was trying to warn us. | Combo of the guys at Ritual Cafe in Blenheim (especially the dude who seemed to be on speed), and the staff at Alpine Lodge St Arnaud - towels and soap! | How much food went in one end and didn't seem to come out the other. | Water bottles | Bike | Worn front chain ring (fixed 15mins before start) | The AV room at the DOC Pelorus Bridge campsite (unexpected luxury) | Murchison to Hamner | Evening ride into Murchison was magical. Otherwise the Braeburn and Maruia Saddle. | The Goulter River Rd boulder sized gravel | Lewis Pass to Hamner turn off | Lighter bike | Too many. | Counter was pretty sweet! | Thanks to everyone who helped organise such a sweet event! Thanks Oli and Paul for the company over the 700+km's. | ||
17 | 10/02/2014 11:46:16 | Brian Alder | Quiche at Culverden | Sheffield burger | OSMs | Locals in Springfield pub | Maruia cafe | Getting to Nelson in time for kebabs | Conti Rcae king tyres | wet wipes | none!! | Big River Hut | Wakefield to Big River | Waiuta | North Bank Wairau | North Bank Wairau | Jeff | Carry more food | Jeffs endo leaving Big River | n/a | Thanks. Providing good cues would be an improvement. | |
18 | 10/02/2014 12:30:44 | brett whiteley | toasted sandwich ham pineapple chees | breakfast Murchison | morning chorus at Pelorus Bridge | Reefton | Me ... | Aussie Butt Cream | chamios cream | none | Hanmer Springs | Reefton to Arthurs Pass | Maruia Saddle | riding out of macDonald downs to the Hurunui Hotel it just went on forever | The Wharfdale as I was soloing it | Scotty D Andrews | push a bit more on day one | taking a pee on the side of the Wairau Velley road in the dark when a van comes out of no where slows and turns right next to me into the gate which I hadn't realised was there! | counter | bloody good event | ||
19 | 10/02/2014 14:46:55 | Malcolm Hughes | round wine biscuits | Alpine breakfast at springs junction | Backcountry meals | chasing hares down numerous roads | Wakefield cafe | Rainbow descent | Sunglasses | Insect proof head net | 1 puncture, my own fault | Scotties hut on the st james | st james and rainbow | Maruia saddle | Nelson to st Arnaud | Maling pass | Cliff | Carry less food from start | Cliff talking about his crash while descending at night to scotties hut | counter | Thanks | |
20 | 10/02/2014 15:11:11 | Revster - Mike Revell | The Big Breakfast | Homemade pie at St Arnaud | all food is good | Camping at Lake Rotoroa I thought it was raining, but turned out to be a dense later of sandflies trapped between my inner and outer tent - fortunately they weren't able to penetrate the inner layer! | Owner at St Arnaud Hotel - kept kitchen open to after 9pm | A bee sting at 70 km/hr coming into Hanmer | wide grip handlebars | butt cream | 2 punctures going down Porika track - ended up walking it for an hour in the dark. | St Arnaud Hotel after 3 nights camping out | First day from Blenheim to foot of Maungatapu - before my butt got sore! | 60 km with tail wind coming into Hanmer early in the morning (apart from the bee sting!) | Heat and corrugations between top of Jacks Pass and Lake Tenyson - closely followed by riding the river stones on north bank of Wairau | Riding down Porika with flat tyre | Thomas Lindup | Less weight on my back and more on the bike | Seeing Thomas's tracker moving at 60 to 70 km/hr toward Christchurch from Oxford Gorge | Hard to say - road more of it on my own this time | Thanks Simon and helpers for putting it all together. It was great to see som many people enjoying themselves out in the back country of NZ irrespective of whether they were going hard out or taking it easy. | |
21 | 10/02/2014 16:08:49 | Mark Humphreys | cold meat pie | Fish and chips at wakefield | one square meal | bush robin on marui saddle | Murchison motlier offer her car to drive 800 metres into town for tea | Murchison motlier offered her car to drive 800 metres to buy tea | Old and heavy folding alien key set | complete change of riding gear | didn't happen love my pugsley | Springs Junction Motel kept me entertained all night with rat racing in the ceiling | Pinning it back to Blenheim on the last day | Maruia saddle probably the most beautiful road i have ever ridden | no complaints here | maungatapu | Mckayla and Kelly | nothing had a blast please dont change it aint broke | watching other riders doing the sandfly beating dance | only done this one so nothing to compare with | Thank you thank you thank you | |
22 | 10/02/2014 16:37:08 | Matthew Peploe | Packaged sandwiches. One straight away and one for later. | Chips and sandwiches in Culverdon. | Still love food. | Kea stealing my sandwiches in Arthur's Pass. | At the Maruia cafe. | I'd nearly run out of food at the end of Rainbow Valley and was standing at the intersection wondering whether to head into St Arnaud to re-supply when Mike Hoogeveen rolled down from St Arnaud and gave me a supply of wraps and salami which got me through to Renwick. Cheers, Mike! I wouldn't have made it through North Bank easily with my one remaining Bumper Bar! | Yeti Big Top. I love this bike! | Water purifier. | Slashed tyre on Mauntgatapu. | Tenting beside Glenroy River swimming hole. | Ben Hill Reserve to Lees Valley: West Coast lakes and rivers, Arthur's Pass climb and the spectacular descent that followed, Wharfedale track - so much variety in one day! | So many options! Maruia Saddle, Porika and Braeburn, the list goes on ... | Wairau Valley headwind slog into Renwick. Had to get home somehow though! | Damaged sections of the Wharfedale Track. Parts of this track were sublime but the damaged parts were hard work! | Anyone one a single speed automatically qualified as one of the craziest! | Nothing. | Having my lunch stolen by Kea. | Counter was great. This was my first Brevet so can't comment on which is best. | Thanks to the organisers. This event was a lifetime highlight for me. I finished exhausted but exhilerated to be alive and living in this amazing country. Thanks Simon and team for your efforts. | |
23 | 10/02/2014 18:09:28 | John Carman | $2 lolly bags | Chicken Fajiatis | Maybe 1 square meals | Kea's or Kaka's on Lewis Pass | St Arnaud Lodge Lady | Public's Interest | Butt Butter! | Butt Butter! | Rear brake died... | Top 10 Hanmer | Pelorus to St Arnaud | 2nd half of Rainbow | North Bank road section, head wind | Rainbow Corragations | Paul Smith - Fixie | Go for the long course | How simple things madde you happy, like clean towels and hash browns in your burger | 1st timer | Loved it! Knee didnt but i did! | |
24 | 10/02/2014 18:39:32 | Clifford the Big Non-Red Dog | Wedges with extra salt and katchup | Garlic chicken in Hanmer x 2 | Bumper Bars though I could of used one late on day four. | The wild horses and geese on the St James track. | Cricket and Ronnie (?) from nzadventures.co.nz with water and fresh plumbs then the family that hooked me up with ice water and Replenish drunk AND fruit.... All these somewhere in Valley after Whafer"dumb". | The sight of Nathan and his ice cream cone at Aurthurs Pass. 5+ scooper!!! | Chamois. Not one saddle sore. | I'm still | ||||||||||||
25 | 11/02/2014 09:13:44 | Ric the Rim | Choc milk | Lamb & Kumara Pie - Arthur's Pass Store: pure meat & carb joy! | Sqwincher | Friendly/territorial robins during my al fresco toilet stop up Big River | Blackball Hilton - salt of the earth... | Finding that extra Moro bar when all was lost... | Saddle/short combo - almost zero saddle soreness, considering the distances | Macpac raincoat | Cracked rear rim at Old Rainbow Homestead leading to penultimate day withdrawal: boo... | Murchison luxury cabin with spa bath(!) | Many excellent sections, but best overall day prob Jacksons to Springfield through Arthur's... | Molesworth/Rainbow from Island Saddle: awesome, long, fun downhill | Feckin' Porika... | Feckin' Porika... | Paul Smith: Inspiring Rider and seemed to share my joy in the surrealist nature of breveteering... | Cracked rim - would have been nice to complete the course... | "It's all downhill from here, of course..." at [fill in blank with whatever section you care to...] | This seemed nice... | Thanks to the Kennett crew, family, friends and other breveteers who made it all possible, and even pretty joyful for the most part... Memory's already putting a gloss on the harder parts and the little voice is saying: "Maybe again... maybe again..." ;0) Ricos. | |
26 | 11/02/2014 09:32:29 | Michael Dann | Kiwifruit | Spaghetti on toast x2 at Springs Junctio for breakfast | Hard, chewy muesli bars | Mad hares along the Matakitaki at dusk | Manager at the Matai Campground, 'renting' me a towel so I could have shower was awesome | Pat picking my lost mandarin and deliverying it to me at the top of the Porika track | Good bibs. - no problems down there. | Ipod shuffle for the long solo seal strecthes | None, headset came a little loose from the corrugations on the rainbow. | Sedgemare sleepout on the Rainbow road after 2 nights bivvying | Nelson to Maturia (day two) | Braeburn track and Maruia Saddle at dusk | Corrugations on the Rainbow and the 'stone-fruit' gravel + logging trucks on the Northbank of the Wairau. oh and riding back thru Wellington from the ferry, all the traffic was a shock. | Maungatapu track | Good company of the ferry going both ways, Tor on the way there and Michael and Richard (?) on the way back. | Not much. Do the Brevet so I'd have more company. | Eating a can of spaghetti with a tyre lever for dinner at the end of day 2. | 1st time, was good for me. | Thanks again, I had a blast, would do again, the brevet next time. Thanks Simon, Jonathan, Mondo (excellent signage in the forest, didn't need my cue sheets, but I think I also had help just following your tracks!), Pat all the rest who did something behind the scenes. | |
27 | 11/02/2014 12:32:56 | Alex & Di | Cafe Latte Perpetuem / toasted sammies | Pizza at alpine lodge after the Rainbow, thought we'd be going hungary that night so tasted even better! | All good - still hungary now! fortunately didn't rely on OSM's. | Not the best, but most disturbing.....rat/s scuttling around in ceiling at springs motel | Reid Store - very welcoming | Great riding into and out of Murch | Credit card | Credit card | Just a couple of flats | Alpine Lodge -bed, shower, food, beer and friendly staff – all good! | early morning through Lewis pass – clear blue sky and a nice tail wind – just magic | Lots of great bits...probably the Rainbow | North Bank | North Bank - brutal gravel followed by howling headwind. | Would take Tim and Chalotte’s lead , skip Northbank, stay on the road and head to the pub on the way into Blenheim! | No preference, first time | A big thanks to the Kennetts and to all who put time and energy into making this happen, Great course, awesome ride, challenging and very rewarding!. (and thanks for the brevette option) | |||
28 | 12/02/2014 14:13:33 | Garth Baker AKA Bob Biker | Oat cake crackers - they've got energy, taste and tensile strength | The green and roast vegie salad in Blenheim after finishing. It was well earnt. | Didn't add any food items to the hate list - a good way to finish | As a beekeeper I enjoyed seeing so many hives along the way - bees just doing their thing | Big ups to Pelorus Bridge cafe - friendly with tasty hot cheese scones at 7:56am | |||||||||||||||
29 | 12/02/2014 14:47:46 | Garth Baker AKA Bob Biker | Oat cake crackers - they've got energy, taste, tensile strength and go with anything else | The green and roast vegie salad, with two coffees and an orange juice in Blenheim after finishing. It was well earnt. | Didn't add any food items to the hate list and tamarillos is still my most hated so called food | As a beekeeper I enjoyed seeing so many hives along the way - bees just doing their thing | Big ups to the staff at the Pelorus Bridge cafe - friendly with tasty hot cheese scones at 7:56am | Unexpectedly seeing my cuzz who was riding the other event at the entrance to the north bank forest | My bug eyed Dirty Dog sunglasses just kept on my nose quietly doing their job, only rewarded with the occassional wash | Glad I had my opinel knife to fight off a starving rider when making crackers and cheese. It was potentially an ugly scene, eh Cliff Clermont | Bike was perfect but solar charger was inadequate to charge phone. Should have tested it more b4 hand | Under a big old fir tree across the Wash bridge in the Wairau - it was a soft and completely dry bivy in the rain. Best night's sleep ever. | Early start from bivy near top of Jack's Pass, up the Clarence, down the Rainbow. In sync with the universe | The slightly downhill, tar-sealed straights towards the end of the Rainbow. With a tail wind and symmetrical scenery on each side, it was like a time trial video game. Great! | From the Boyle River into Hanmer. I had no leg power and lost focus. | I struggled on what was probably a reasonably easy stage from the Boyle River into Hanmer. Lost leg and mind power. But lived to ride (happily) again. | I rode it solo but have to say my seat was a ever-present companion, always offering support, sometimes some tough love, but never abrasive. Left as friends, returned as friends. | Now it is over I wished I'd gone slower so it lasted longer. I wish I was still out there. | Wearing my mountain-biking shoes with cleats, I stood in a especially big and sticky dog turd in Murchison. Lesson = never get off the bike. | Counter made Porika and Muangatapu more enjoyable, and the Braeburn a sweet descent. | Thanks so much to all involved in organising such a great event - it is whatever riders want it to be. Opens the door to all sorts of similar type rides, for different lengths in new places. | |
30 | 12/02/2014 18:31:50 | Oli du Bern | Ham and Cheese Sammies | Eggs Bene in Nelson after a morning on the Mangatapu | I can't hate food. | The eels in the lake near St Arnaud | So many. The owner of Kiwi Motel Park in Murchison, the super friendly staff at Alpine Motel at St Arnaud | How truly beautiful the course was. | Saddle bag | shorts to free ball in | I rode through a significant pile of cow poo | AV room at Pelorus Bridge Camp ground. Unexpected awesome. | They all had elements of pain but Pelorus Bridge to Murchison was epic. | Maruia Saddle, Braeburn Track, Rainbow valley | Gravel road on North bank going into Blenhiem. Out of control boulder gravel | The heat on day 2 coming out of nelson and from Lewis Pass to Hamner into the wind. | Karl and Paul - it's why I ride with those two. | get a pimpin' bike - the Trance was better than expected, but a nice light bike would be good. | So many. Watching Paul freak out when he though e was going to eaten by the eels after a swim in the lake by St Arnaud was a crack up. You should have seen his face. | Counter was great. I'm a first timer and it seemed to flow for me. | Simon and the other who organised this event are awesome. Love the experience and approach to the whole event. Awesome work! | |
31 | 12/02/2014 22:09:52 | Richard Hiles-Smith | Bags of Jetplanes | McDonalds at the end | Nup - love food | Nearly whacked a hedgehog on Rainbow | Two trampers at Springs Junction gave us an ice cold beer | That damned North Bank forestry road | Revelate bags - brilliant! | None thank goodness | Sleeping at Lake Tennyson - awesome even though we woke up freezing our butts off | Hard call - they were all good | Rainbow | North bank forestry road! | North bank forestry road | My mate Nigel was brilliant | Make them every year | The lady's face when I ordered $20 of takeaways in Hamner | Counter - haven't tried the other but wouldn't like going up some of those downhills we did | Great bunch of people - it was great running into people and sharing the adventures | ||
32 | 14/02/2014 15:56:37 | [continued input] Clifford the Non-Red Dog | I'm still….not sure were I was going there, but my iPhone 5s captured the journey and the "Gas Tank" was key, | NONE - Cannondale Scalpel - bravo! | Roxbourgh (sp?) Mortel | Day 4 - St. James on to finish | Big River section | Forest | for some reason….(lack of food)…Aurthur's to Shefeild | Thomas Lindup….nuff said. | …not eat 4 LARGE Kababs in 8 hours near Nelson | …seeing Thomas in the grass, napping | I liked this direction | THANK you to everyone that helped make this event happen! | ||||||||
33 | 15/02/2014 20:52:23 | Phil Brownie | Hard boiled eggs | Murchison Cafe -Breakfast, 3 eggs, 3 saugages, 3 peices of toast, 300grm baked beans , 3 hash browns and yip 3 cups of tea as well | Bananas | Reefton local at 5.30am in the mist | The Owners of Macdonal Downs who stopped for a yak | discovering how accurate the spot tracker was when you got texts from mates qouting the the name of the cafe that I was in - big brother was watching thats for sure | My Specialised Comp 2014 lent to me by the Cyclery Bike Shop | dznuts chamios cream | both sets of brake pads and only one set of spares | Arthurs Pass Railway station waiting room. heaters, comfy benchs , toilets, and not too many trains | Reefton to Arthurs Pass - absolutley stoked with the day | Seeing those HUGE trout in the Glenroy river up the Matakitaki | That Rainbow rd up to Island Pass | up over Arthurs Pass at 11.00pm in the misty rain , spooky and very dark | Steven Mcleod - crazy as | Id take my puffer for those chilly nights bivying out | Those voilet rubber dish gloves worn by Joanne Emmens - colourful and perfect attire for the Waiau Pub on a Friday night | Counter | Thanx to everyone who contributed in any way to the success of the event from the organisers their helpers and friends to the locals and friends at home and not forgetting all the fellow riders i met and shared the road with on the journey -what great company | |
34 | 16/02/2014 12:24:23 | Niel the Wheel | Pies | Steak & Chips | Bacon & Egg Pie | Kea Stealing Sandwiches | Otira Hotel Publican | Wild Sheep Dog Attack | cotton cycle cap | clean lens cycle glasses | sticking front changer | motel Blenheim | Arthurs Pass | Finishing the Waiuta Track | Circuit Road Wairau Valley. | Top of Lees Valley. | Andrew Scott | No tent next time or bed roll next time. | Andrew trying to get me to go 1/3rds in purchase of thermal socks. | counter | ||
35 | 16/02/2014 21:58:33 | Andrew Scott | Pies and choc milk | Late lunch of sausages, eggs and chips with a pint at Hurunui Pub as southerly drizzle set in ouside | Enjoyed all of it | Sublime dawn chorus on Maruia Saddle with Pat | Pretty much all of them | Saturday afternoon B-Grade thrash to Pelorus | Eureka Spitfire Solo Superlight Tent | Proctosedyl Ointment, Used on feet ,between toes, as butt butter 3 x day, smeared on shock stanchions as well as prescribed use | Sam Turner,never grizzled ,groaned, moaned or whined at all. I love him dearly | Fowlers Hut,which used to be derelict and is now far from it. Shelter from the storm | All good, didn't want to finish so had a final toasted sandwhich and pint at Renwick Pub | Port Underwood, Maungatapu, Porika,Maruia Saddle, Big River, Waiuta, Waimakariri Basin, Mac Downs, Island Saddle, Manuka Island Forest. | Fecking boulder bash that was Goulter Rd | Northbank boulder bash ,headwinds ran out of food. | Niel the Wheel | I'm getting me a B17 | Counter, though I haven't done it the other way | So many thank yous. All those I rode with and those I didn't. The K bros especially Simon for bringing us the Brevet. Mondo for the brilliant Manuka Island Forest, and wifey of course for all the support. | ||
36 | 18/02/2014 20:11:17 | Nigel | Barbeque at st Arnuard | Hamner springs | Beers provided by the trampers in the next room at springs junction | After bike my bed | chain oil, tool kit | chain brake | Springs junction, Alpine motel | springs junction - lake Tennenson | Braeburn track | North bank | Run up to St Arnard | Richard | the need to be bike fit on day one, found I tapered for too long | Stopping for a swim in the river, Bloody cold but refreshing | counter | Great event, Must have a strnge sense of humor to throw North bank in | ||||
37 | 20/02/2014 08:39:37 | Nathan Faavae | Absolute Wilderness Freeze Dry - Creamed Rice & Apples | Greymouth Coaster Breakfast | Russian Cuisine - never liked it really | Breaking up a fight between 2-bulls in Clarence Valley | Farmers, north canterbury, filling my water bottles | Car pulled alongside me late one night asking WTF was I doing, I rode along explaining and they gave me a bag of fruit | Maps and mapholder | Full suspension | Freewheel bearings ground to metal dust | connors creek hut | Day 2, lots of passes | Waiuta | north canterbury | northbank wairau | the fly who sat on my map holder all the way up arthurs pass | seat | getting to halfway mark thinking I must be at least 2/3 done | Counter worked for me | thanks for the opportunity | |
38 | 20/02/2014 09:58:38 | Paul Smith | Milkshakes | Venison and mash, with a pint, at Blackball | I still like food. Always will. | Dave Ryan on Waiuta | Astounded by the support from everyone I met all the way around. Can't pick just one standout. But probably the COC guys at Big River who brewed up a lunchtime coffee for us. | Talcum powder and chammy cream in combination is awesome. | My bike. And my expensive roadie-cafe gloves while they lasted (RIP) | A sense of humour. | Didn't unpack my tools or tubes for the entire event. | A rental tent, inside a barn at Jackons. Inside a barn I say. Still wondering why. | Springs Junction to Jacksons. | Everything other than Porters Pass in the cloud and cold driving rain. Oh, and Port Underwood Road. You can keep those two. I'll take the rest. | Really? It was all good. Just some bits better than other bits. | 30km of corrugations on Rainbow made me feel physically nauseous. | The little fellow who lives inside my head. I talked to him a lot. Mostly out loud. | Nothing. Really. Nothing. | Missing a Weka by millimetees at 40kmh on a gravel road in the twilight semi-darkness around Brunner. I think it lost a tail feather or two to my front wheel. Funny now, wasn't at that very moment. | Only ridden counter. So that one. | ||
39 | 02/03/2014 13:25:45 | Dave Ryan (Grumpy) | Cooked breakfasts (Nelson and Hanmer were the standouts) | Venison and mash at Blackball, Steak at Sheffield. | OSM Bars, creamed rice. | Kea that tried to eat my rear tyre in Otira. Sandflys at Lake Rotoroa. | Blackball, Sheffield | DOC workers at big River Hut giving us a cup of coffee. | Ground Effects Flash Gordon | Tub of sweet cheeks, credit card | Rear deraileur cable. | Camp ground pavilion at Culverden | Last Day, Culverden to Blenheim, felt good all day. | Big River, Wharfedale, Rainbow Valley | Lees Valley to Hurunui, endless farm roads and tricky navigate | Otira to Sheffield, a bit lumpy and cursed by the weather gods. | The inspiring Paul Smith, fixed and unrelentingly positive. | A bit less highway and a bit more singletrack. 9:00am stat for Grand Depart. | The Publican at Blackball telling me who I was. | Only done counter, some of those climbs look a bit daunting in the other direction. | Very enjoyable event, enhanced by friendly and interested locals, good company on the road and some magnificent locations. | |
40 | 11/03/2014 21:30:47 | Martin 'mfw Nichols | Full cooked breakfast, with a pie on the side | Hmm, Steak, chips and a bowl of pasta at Blackball Hilton | OSM's | Kea destroying hire car at the viaduct carpark | Blackball Hilton proprietors | Bivvying on a conveyor belt | Psych frame bag for full suspension frame (so no backpack) | Aero bars | Chain jammed around front derailleur | Sheep shearing shed | First 24 hours | Rideable sections of Waiutu and Wharfdale | Walking sections of Waiutu and Wharfdale | Rainbow due to injury. | Muzz my riding buddy! | More singletrack, less road if possible | Splashing each other in the puddles, just didn't care anymore... | N/A | Brevet on 'Brevette fitness' is an epic test of body and mind! | |
41 | 19/08/2014 21:15:40 | Yip | Fresh Sandwiches | Reefton Breakfast | Nothing this time.. | Plenty of bird life... | Not Otira | Food glorious food... | Great LG bib shorts + Brooks saddle + Sweetcheeks Butt Butter = happy butt. | Was all sweet | None, good luck and | Under the stars, several times. | Richmond to Reefton | Most of it. | Northbank section. Not fun. | Probably Wharfdale. | Some wasted dude we met up with. | I'd avoid the unnecessary detours and big rocks on the Northbank section. | Hmm.. | Clockwise.. | ||
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