Roxburgh Gorge Trail

Welcome to my blog about biking in New Zealand! Note that it's written in Swedish AND English, with the Swedish version first, followed by the English version in italic font. Enjoy your reading!

Sa... aven om jag namnde att jag inte haft mycket motivation till att cykla den sista tiden, sa tog jag mig anda ut pa en 44 km tur igar, fortfarande med Lake Onslow backen i benen. Jag har inte cyklat Roxburgh Gorge Trail pa sakert ett halvar, och det har var forsta gangen pa mitt nya vapen. Det var helt enkelt superroligt! 

Roxburgh Gorge Trail oppnade 2013, och gar fran Alexandra till Roxburgh, med vattentaxi nagra km i mitten. Jag har aldrig tagit vattentaxin, men det ar aven en kanontur att cykla fran Roxburgh till Shingle Creek och tillbaka. Stephen Jeffrey (som aven ar min sambos chef) och andra inblandade har verkligen gjort ett kanonjobb med att bygga trailen. Den ar otroligt valbyggd, den ar rolig och vacker och uppforsbackarna ar inte jobbiga, de ar riktigt inbjudande. 

Roxburgh Gorge Trail fortsatter som Clutha Gold Trail efter dammen i Roxburgh, och gar sedan anda till Lawrence (dar de har den basta glassen pa sydon). Jag brukar fortsatta Clutha Gold Trail till bron i andra anden av Roxburgh, for att gora turen lite langre.

Pa vag hem igar fick jag annu en gang tillfalle att gora molnnerden i mig lycklig, genom att beskada en fantastisk rosa/orange kvallshimmel over Roxburgh.

Jag kan absolut rekommendera Roxburgh Gorge Trail till den som ar intresserad av att cykla. Jag skulle dock inte ta med min 8-arige son, da det ar branta stup pa sidorna, aven om cykelvagen ar bred och lattcyklad.

Las mer om Roxburgh Gorge Trail har.

So... even though I said I didn't have much motivation for biking lately, I did another 44 km ride yesterday... still with the Lake Onslow hill in the legs. I haven't been on Roxburgh Gorge Trail for probably half a year, and this was the first time ever on my new weapon. It was fun as! 

Roxburgh Gorge Trail opened up in 2013, and goes all the way from Alexandra to Roxburgh Dam, even though you have to take a water taxi for a few kilometers in between. I have never taken the water taxi, but biking to Shingle Creek and back is a good entertaining ride. Stephen Jeffrey (by the way my partners boss) and people did a brilliant job building the trail. It is very well prepared, it's fun and beautiful and the climbs are not hard, they are constructed in a way so that they are very inviting.

Roxburgh Gorge Trail links up with Clutha River trail, that goes all the way to Lawrence (where you can get the best ice-cream on the south island). I usually keep on riding Clutha Gold trail to Roxburgh bridge, in the other end of Roxburgh, just to make it a bit longer.

I can absolutely recommend a bike ride on Roxburgh Gorge Trail for anyone who's interested in biking. I wouldn't feel comfortable taking my 8 year old son out there yet though, since there are steep drop-offs on the sides, even though the trail is wide and very easy biked. 

On the way home I had again the opportunity to make the cloudnerd inside me happy, by watching a beautiful pink/orange eveningsky over Roxburgh.

Read more about Roxburgh Gorge Trail here.

Hidden valley.

View of Old Man's range.

Roxburgh Gorge Trail.

Shingle Creek.

Roxburgh Gorge Trail.

Nice evening sky over Roxburgh.

Lake Onslow- a reboot ride

Welcome to my blog about biking in New Zealand! Note that it's written in Swedish AND English, with the Swedish version first, followed by the English version in italic font. Enjoy your reading!

Jag har inte haft jattemycket motivation att cykla den sista tiden. For mycket PhD jobb, resande till och fran Christchurch och for mycket tid hemifran suger energi, och det blir inte mycket kvar for cykling. Igar tog jag tag i det igen, med hjalp av min cykelpolare BigT, och vi cyklade 41 km med 1000 m stigning upp till "Traktorn", pa berget med utsikt over Lake Onslow. Vadret var bra nar vi lamnade Teviotdalen, men molnen var laga och uppe pa berget var allt tackt av tjocka moln, blott och blasigt. Det var lite skillnad mot sist jag cyklade upp dar, du kan lasa om den turen i min post "Lake Onslow- an unexpected evening ride". Jag gillar det oforutsagbara vadret, det gor att jag kanner mig levande. BigT blir snabbare  varje gang jag tar en cykeltur med honom. Jag far snart problem att hinna med honom.

BigT hade tillstand fran landagarna att cykla ner pa deras mark, genom hagar med koskit och tjurar. Jag ar inte jattefortjust i tjurar sa det var bra traning for mig.

Jag jobbar just nu med moln och hur de formas i min PhD. Det var en perfekt dag for en moln-nord som jag att studera molnen fran bergen.  En bars sitter fint efter en cykeltur som denna, och jag kanner mig som en ny manniska igen.

I haven't had much motivation for biking the last few weeks. Too much PhD work and travel and being away from my son for too long drains the energy, and not much of it is left for biking. Yesterday I conquered it though, with the help of my bike-buddy BigT, and we did a good 41 km and 1000 meter climb up to "the Tractor", on the hill overlooking Lake Onslow. The weather was okay in the  Teviot Valley, but the clouds were low and up on the mountain it was all covered in cloud, wet and windy. A bit different compared to last time I climbed up there, read about it in my post "Lake Onslow- an unexpected evening ride". I love the changeable weather, and a bit of nastyness just makes me feel more alive. BigT is getting fitter each time I see him doing an uphill, I will soon have problems to keep up with him!

BigT had got permission from the farmers to go downhill through their land, crossing paddocks of cowpoo and bulls. I'm not very found of bulls so that was good training for me. 

At the moment I'm working on the formation of clouds in my PhD. This was a perfect day for a cloud-nerd like me to study the clouds from the view up the mountain. A nice beer is not the wrong thing to throw down the throat after a bike ride like that, and I totally feel rebooted.

No view of Lake Onslow today.

Some cool cloud formation far away over the mountains and Teviot Valley.

Alexandra

Welcome to my blog about biking in New Zealand! Note that it's written in Swedish AND English, with the Swedish version first, followed by the English version in italic font. Enjoy your reading!

Tillbaka i Alexandra- den forsta cykelturen bland mina favoritberg pa valdigt lange. Det ar stenigt och stokigt, branta backar och mjolksyra, valdigt folktomt och en fantastisk frihetskansla nar man val ar tillbaka pa den snabba slingrande stigen genom dalen som tar en tillbaka till Clutha River. Fotona nedan ar fran Maj forra aret, glomde kameran pa cykelturen igar.

Back in Alexandra- the first ride in my favorite hills for ages. It's hard work, it's rocky, there's lots of lactic acid (and a bit of pushing the bike) but it's the most amazing feeling of freedom and achievement once back down on the fast flowing trail through the valley leading back to Clutha River. The photos below are from May last year, I forgot my camera on yesterdays bikeride. 

Morning in Port Hills

Another nice, sunny morning-before-university-ride in Port Hills, the last one for this year. See you next year Ports!

Lyttleton Harbour.

St James Cycle trail - Pure epic in Hanmer Springs

Welcome to my blog about biking in New Zealand! Note that it's written in Swedish AND English, with the Swedish version first, followed by the English version in italic font. Enjoy your reading!

Antligen har vi gjort den! Jag har velat cykla St James trail lange, men inte ensam da det ar 60 km i avlagsna Alpinomraden utan mobiltackning. Dessutom ar det sa mycket roligare att gora det med vanner! Jag har turen att ha traffat vanner har i Chirstchurch, som dessutom ar valtranade och vill ta sig ut pa aventyr. Kate, Aleisha och jag lamnade Christchurch och korde mot Hanmer Springs tidigt pa lordag morgon. Vi planerade att sitta pa vara cyklar senast kl 9, for att vara sakra pa att hinna tillbaka innan det blev morkt. Ingen av oss hade cyklat St James tidigare, sa vi visste inte riktigt vad som vantade oss.

Som bekant sa gar saker inte alltid som man tankt sig. Vi kom till Jack's pass utanfor Hanmer (dar vi planerat att parkera en av bilarna vantande pa oss da vi cyklat klart) runt kl 9, lite senare an planerat, och det lilla misstaget vi gjorde, att dra ivag i helt fel riktning (mot vad vi trodde var starten av St James trail, dar vi skulle parkera den andra bilen, men egentligen var vagen till Blenheim) tog oss ett par timmar extra. Det var ett maratonlopp dar uppe, och nar vi kom tillbaka till Jack's pass sa kunde jag inte saga sanningen till de som jobbade med loppet (de visste att vi skulle gora St James trail och undrade vad tusan vi holl pa med), utan sa att vi bara varit ivag och fiskat uppat vagen. Vi maste ju ha lunch. Jag vet inte om de trodde oss. Vi satt pa cyklarna kl 12.30, tre och en halv timmar senare an beraknat...

St James trail ar ganska kravande, med en del upp och ner  och en dros med floder som ska korsas. Den forsta delen ar en liten uppforsbacke till Malings pass, med hogsta punkt pa 1300 m. Darefter ar det en brant nedforsbacke till supervackra Waiau valley. Val nere gar stigen langs floden till Saddle Spur bridge, en ganska cool hangbro. Efter att ha passerat bron foljer nagra branta delar av stigen, med branta stup pa sidorna. Det gar en hel del upp och ner och ar ratt sa stenigt och bokigt pa sina stallen, bra att ta det forsiktigt med andra ord.

Nar man tror att man har gjort det varsta av trailern sa kommer uppforsbacken till Peters Pass som en glad overraskning (bara for att paminna dig om att inte bli for bekvam). Vi jagades av ett regnovader, och kom upp till Peters Pass precis i tid for att kunna gomma oss i Peters Valley and njuta av den superroliga, flodande sista nedforsbacken mot St James homestead och slutet av trailern.  Mountainbikers - vader 1 - 0. Ha!

 Kate ramlade av cykeln da hon forsokte ata och cykla samtidigt (inga skador, tack och lov) och aven nasan-fore i en av floderna som skulle korsas, sa hon holl for underhallningen (och visar att hon kor hart)! Annars flot allt pa bra, fantastiskt bra jobbat tjejer!

St James trail  ar en fantastisk, rolig, vacker trail med massor av blandad cykling. Jag kan rekommendera den for de med bra kondition och ork (atminstone om du vill gora den pa en dag). Jag kommer att gora det igen. Jag bara njot av varje minut. Hojta till om du som laser ar sugen. Jag kanske hanger pa!

Las mer om St James cycle trail har.

So finally we did it! I wanted to bike st James trail, but not alone since it's 60 km in remote back country area with no cellphone coverage. And it's more fun to do it in good company! I'm lucky enough to have met some awesome biking friends here in Christchurch, friends that are keen, and fit! 

Kate, Aleisha and I left Christchurch for Hanmer Springs early Saturday morning. The plan was to be on the trail at latest 9 am, to make sure we made it back before dark. None of us had done it before so we didn't really know what to expect. 

Well, things don't always work out the way we expect. We arrived up in Jack's pass outside Hanmer (where we planned to have one of our cars parked and waiting for us after we finished) around 9 am, a bit later than we planned. The little mistake of heading off in the wrong direction (towards where we thought would be the start of st James trail, where we would park the other car, but was actually the way to Blenheim) costed us an extra at least two and a half hours. There was a marathon race going on, and when we got back to Jack's pass we had to tell the marshals (who knew we aimed to do the st James trail and wondering what the heck we were doing) that we just had to go fishing to get our lunch. I'm not sure they believed us. We were on the trail 12.30, three and a half hours later than expected. 

St James trail is actually pretty challenging, with a few ups and downs and some river crossings. The first stage is a little climb up to Malings Pass, a high point of 1300 m. Then the trail descends to the beatiful Waiau Valley and follows the river to Saddle Spur bridge which is a pretty cool swing bridge. After crossing the bridge the trail is pretty narrow and steep in places with steep drop-offs on the sides. 

When you think you've done the worst part of the trail, the climb up to Peters Pass shows up, just to remind you not to be too comfortable. We were chased by a rain storm but made it up to Peters Pass just to have time to hide in beautiful Peters Valley and enjoy the last part of the trail, a fast flowing easy downhill to St James homestead. Bikers - Weather 1 - 0. Ha! Kate fell on the gravel, trying to eat and bike at the same time (no injuries, thanks for that), and also face down in one of the river crossings, so she contributed with some extra excitement (and shows that she's charging)! Otherwise everything went smooth, superwell done chicas!

St James trail is an awesome, fun, stunning trail with mixed riding that I could recommend to those with a good level of fitness (at least if you want to do it in a day). I will do it again, I just loved every minute of it. Give me a shout if you too are keen, I might join you! 

Read more about St James cycle trail here.

The start.

Malings Pass.

Malings Pass with view over Waiau river. St James trail far down there.

Waiau Valley.

Waiau Valley

My bike, thanks for carrying me all the way :).

Saddle Spur bridge.

Beautiful New Zealand... Waiau river.

Peters Pass with rain chasing us.

Peters Valley.

The finish line, yea stoke!!!

Bannockburn Gutbuster 2015 - a buster for the guts

Nu forstar jag innerborden av namnet Bannockburn Gutbuster (vet inte hur det kan oversattas till Svenska, nat som far magen att vanda sig ut-och-in tror jag, det ar de tva bergen som ska cyklas over som namnet refererar till, inte omgivningarna for de ar supervackra). Det ar en riktig gutbuster bestaende av 75 vilda kilometrar fran Garston till Bannockburn, over tva berg (med hogsta punkt pa 1300 m), via supervackra Nevis valley, totalt runt 2000 m stigning over Hector mountains och genom delar av Remarkables nationalpark.

Det har aret stod hagel, motvind, snobyar och solsken pa menyn. De 25 floderna som maste korsas var ganska fulla av gardagens tunga regn, och vattnet var iskallt. Nevis valley ar helt fantastiskt, och det foranderliga vadret gor det bara annu mer spannande.

En av svarigheterna med ett langt, kravande lopp som detta ar att veta hur man ska fordela energin. Om man gar ut for hart i borjan finns risken att man inte har krafter kvar i slutet. I gutbuster ar det bra att ha energi kvar eftersom man ska over ett berg i slutet av banan, over Duffers Saddle. Det ar ett skapligt stort berg, speciellt om benen ar trotta.

Jag kande mig inget vidare de forsta 30 kilometrarna. Jag hade ett stort pollenallergiutbrott (ingen sarskrivning har inte!) veckan innan och var ratt sa trott och inte speciellt sugen att trampa 75 km pa en cykel i elandig terrang. Men jag hade ju sett fram emot det har loppet i ett ar (jag backade ur forra aret da jag kande att jag inte var tillrackligt tranad), sa att strunta i det var inget alternativ for mig. Jag hade ocksa krashen for tre veckor sen i minnet, och kande inte for att pusha mig sjalv for mycket.

Efter den forsta stora backen var jag trottare an jag brukar, blev omkord av en dros med folk, och blev ikappcyklad av min polare som ocksa gjorde loppet. Han sa till mig att ta en energigel och halla uppe vatskenivan, och det gav mig en energikick. Jag drog ivag igen och den sista uppforsbacken till Duffers Saddle kandes riktigt bra. Den sista branta nedforsbacken var snabb, och det var kraftiga kastvindar vilket gjorde att manga fick sakta ner dar.

Jag slutade trea i min klass, under fem timmar. Aven om jag rejsar bara for mitt eget hoga nojes skull (manga ifragasatter nog nojet i det hela) sa ska jag inte sticka under stol med att jag var stokad att fa pris igen. Jag ar supernojd att ha gjort loppet, och an en gang ar jag sa tacksam over att ha halsa och kondition att kunna gora det. Jag laste i en nyhetstidning har att "For de som inte cyklar sa ar tavlingen som barnhistorien "Vi gar pa bjornjakt och vi ar inte radda"". Den beskrivningen fick mig att skratta!

Tack sa mycket Bren Dyer Photography i Cromwell for fantastiska bilder (kolla in fler foton pa hans facebook sida)!

Now I know the meaning of the name Bannockburn Gutbuster. It is a gutbuster of 75 wild kilometers from Garston to Bannockburn, over two mountains (highest point 1300 m), via beautiful Nevis valley, a total of around 2000 m climb, into the Hector mountains and through parts of Remarkables national park. 

This year had hail, headwind, snowflurries and sunshine on the menu. The 25 river crossings were a bit full from the previous days rainfall, and the water was icing cold. The Nevis valley is a fantastic place though, and the changeable weather makes it even more amazing. 

One of the difficulties with a long, demanding race like this is to know how to distribute the energy. Going too hard in the beginning might mean that you don't have much energy in the end. In Gutbuster it is good to have energy in the end, since there is another mountain to climb in the end of the course, over Duffers Saddle. It is a rather big mountain, especially big when the legs are tired. 

I didn't feel very good the first 30 km. I had a big pollen allergy the week before and was pretty tired from it, and not sure if I was very excited about 75 km in rough terrain on a bike. But I had looked forward to this event since last year (when i backed off because I didn't think I was strong enough for it), so there was no options for me. I also had the crash from three weeks before still in fresh memory, and was afraid of pushing myself too hard. 

After the first hill I felt more tired than usual, got passed by too many people and after 35 km a friend of mine who also did the race caught up, told me to eat a gel and keep the water levels up. He really gave me a boost and some positive energy. I took off again, and actually the last hill up to Duffers Saddle felt totally okay. The last steep descent was fast and the sideways wind was gusty, and I think most people had to slow down a bit. 

I ended up on third place in my category, just under five hours. Even though I do this only for my own entertainment and fun (some people might question both the entertainment and fun part of it), I must admit that I'm stoked to get a prize again. I'm so stoked to have done it, and once again I'm so grateful to have the health and fitness to be able to do it. I read in a Cromwell news that "To non-riders, the event sounds more like the children's story "We're going on a bear hunt and we're not scared"". That description cracked me up!!!

Thank you very much Bren Dyer Photography in Cromwell for the great photos (check out more photos from him on his facebook page)! 

The startline. Photographer Bren Dyer Photography.

The last descent. Photographer: Bren Dyer Photography

Cromwell in the background. Photographer: Bren Dyer Photography.

A part of Alps to Ocean trail- Lake Pukaki, Mt Cook

Sist jag korde upp till Christchurch fran Roxburgh for att jobba med gruppen dar jag gor minPhD, sa tog jag tillfallet att stanna vid vackra glaciarsjon Lake Pukaki, nara Mt Cook, for min forsta lilla men harliga (och lite skakiga) cykeltur sen krashlandningen jag gjorde for tva veckor sen (jag skrev om det aventyret i min senast post Coastal Classic in Taieri mouth- a very eventful event). Jag cyklade nagra kilometer pa Alps 2 Ocean trail som stracker sig hela 312 km fran Mt Cook till kuststaden Oamaru (mer info om den trailen har). Den delen jag cyklade ar valdigt lattcyklad och valdigt vacker med en harlig utsikt av Mt Cook. Den har dagen var solig och en perfekt dag att ta sig tillbaka upp pa cykeln, och vilja cykla meeeer!!!

During my last drive up to Christchurch from Roxburgh to work on my PhD, I took the awesome opportunity to stop at beautiful glacier Lake Pukaki by Mt Cook for the first little but very nice (and a bit shaky) ride since the crash I did two weeks ago (I wrote about that adventure in my latest post Coastal Classic in Taieri mouth- a very eventful event). I biked a few kilometers of the Alps 2 Ocean trail, which stretches 312 km from Mt Cook to the coastal town of Oamaru (more info about the trail here). The part I biked is an easy, flowing trail, and very scenic with a nice view of Mt Cook. This day was sunny and a perfect day to get back up on the bike, and wanting more!!! 

Lake Pukaki with Mt Cook in the background.

One of the peaks of Mt Cook.

A part of A2O trail.

Coastal Classic in Taeiri mouth - a very eventful event

Forra helgen var det forsta mtb racet for sasongen, och forsta racet med min nya cykel. Racet var i Taieri mouth, soder om Dunedin. De har en 51 km, en 39 km och en 15 km bana och aven lopning och gang. Jag gjorde 39 km forra aret (du kan lasa om det har), och kom tvaa. Det var en superrolig bana, och jag tyckte att den var relativt latt och snabb, aven om det ar en hel del uppfor. Jag bestamde mig for lange sen att gora 39 km i ar igen, och forsoka fa en bra tid.

Jag var ganska langt fram i starten i ar, och de forsta backarna som gar pa lite asfalt och sen grusvag kandes latta. Skogsvagarna var daremot leriga och hala, efter en hel del regn, och precis som forra aret sa trodde jag att uppforsbackarna aldrig skulle ta slut. De hade andrat banstrackningen lite i ar, lite mer uppfor och mindre leraker.

Nedforsbackarna ar ratt sa branta skogsvagar. Min svaga sida ar snabba nedforsbackar, men det kandes bra, allt under kontroll och det var superroligt. Jag kande mig saker nedfor, och var ganska nojd nar jag kom ner till den mer platta delen av banan. Det ar en rolig och snabb del av banan, och jag cyklade nog lite for fort, och kande mig lite for saker. Sa saker att jag inte koncentrerade mig tillrackligt mycket pa lammet som siktade pa mitt framhjul. Nasta minne jag har ar att jag skrapade kinden i gruset. Det var ett "AH NEEEEEJ" ogonblick. Jag kommer inte att dra nagra detaljer, men flog over styret, fick en ordentlig kanga i ansiktet, blodde fran kinden, fran knana och var ordentligt yr i bollen och omskakad. Efter det att jag samlat mig lite och den varsta yr-i-mossan var borta sa vande jag och borjade ga tillbaka mot den checkpoint jag passerat nagra hundra meter tidigare, men jag motte nagra andra tavlande och de var sa snalla och stannade. Sa smaningom kom jag upp pa cykeln igen och kunde fortsatta.

Jag slutade som snabbaste bruden pa banan, vilket jag ar superglad over. Det kan verka helt galet att fortsatta cykla de 18 kilometrarna efter en san krash, men jag ar glad att jag gjorde det, for sjalvfortroendet, speciellt da jag lyckade vinna rejset. Jag sprackte hjalmen, vilket paminner mig om hur viktigt det ar att ha en bra hjalm, och hur attans snabbt saker kan handa. Jag har blamarken och skrapsar och har nagra fler arr i samlingen, men ar glad for de ar tecken pa att jag lever livet! St Johns  personal (ambulansen har i Nya Zeeland) gjorde ett bra jobb med att plocka grus och smasten fran mina knan och kind. Ajajaj. Det lite roliga i det hela ar at Rafa fick hjalp av samma sjuksjoterska da han fick en fiskekrok i handen under tiden jag rejsade Coastal Classic forra aret.

Tack John Fridd for de harliga fotona!

Last weekend was the first race for the season, and on my new bike. The race was in Taieri mouth, just south of Dunedin. They have a 51 km, a 39 km and a 15 km course and also running and walking races. I did the 39 km last year (you can read about it in my old blog here), and came second. It was a superfun course, I found it pretty easy and fast, even though there are quite a lot of hills. I decided long ago to do the 39 km again, and try to make a good time. 

It was a bit muddier this year, after quite a lot of rain. The hills were pretty slippery, not at all as solid and dry as they were last year. They also changed the course a bit, this years course had more uphills but less paddocks. I was pretty early in the start, the first uphills along the gravel roads felt easy. The forestry roads were muddy and slippery, and just as last year, I thought that the uphills would never end. 

 The descents are pretty steep forestry roads. My weakness are fast downhills, but I felt good, under control and it was fun as. I felt confident going down, and was pretty satisfied when I got to the flattish part of the course. It is a fun and pretty fast part of the course, and I was going too fast, and was a bit too confident. So confident so that I didn't pay enough attention to the lamb that was aiming for my front wheel.  The next thing I remember is that I was rubbing my face on the gravel. There was a "OH NOOOOOO" moment. I'm not going into details, but I got a good smack on the face, was bleeding from my cheek and both knees, and was pretty dizzy and shaken around. After I gathered myself a bit and most of the dizziness was gone I started to walk back towards the checkpoint I passed a few hundred meters earlier, but soon I met a bunch of very nice competitors that stopped and helped me. Eventually I got on the bike again and kept on riding.

I ended up being the fastest woman on the course, which I'm stoked about. It might seem crazy to get up and bike the last 18 km after a crash like that, but I'm glad I did it, for my confidence, especially since I won the race. I cracked my helmet, which reminds me how damn important it is to wear a good helmet, and how damn fast things can happen. I'm bruised and scratched and have added some scars to my collection. Just another sign of an active life. St Johns staff did a good job picking gravel from my knees and cheek. Aouch. It's a little bit funny that Rafa got help from the same St Johns nurse when he got a fishing hook in his hand while I was riding last years Coastal Classic.

Thank you John Fridd for the nice photos!

The start. Photographer: John Fridd, Dunedin.

Close to the end. Photographer: John Fridd, Dunedin.

Picking gravel from the knees. Photographer: Rafael Moser.

The challenge of knowing if a cassette is worn out or not

I den har posten vill jag dela med mig av erfarenheter av att vara nyborjare i cykel mek, och hur svart det ibland kan vara att salla det som ar ratt fran fel och det som ar bra fran mindre bra.

Jag namnde i en tidigare post (Girls basic tech night at Rock & Road Cycles) att jag forsoker lara mig sa mycket jag bara kan om mekaniken pa min cykel. Jag lar mig vilka delar jag behover, marken och modeller, jag lar mig att kanna igen signaler om att nagot behover bytas ut, och tids nog hoppas jag att kunna byta det mesta sjalv. Jag har turen att ha bra cykelpolare som inte bara ar bra cykelpolare utan ocksa generosa, hjalpsamma och talmodiga med alla mina fragor.

Eftersom jag fortfarande har mycket kvar att lara, sa maste jag ibland ta min cykel till en mekaniker da och da. Det hande till exempel forra helgen da jag hade planerat en lang tur i Port Hills men fick vanda da jag horde ljud da jag cyklade uppforsbackar pa lagsta vaxeln. Jag hade ny kedja (som jag bytt med hjalp av en polare), och vaxlarna var nyjusterade. Jag tankte att det kanske var vaxlarna som behovde finjusteras, eller kasetten som ocksa behovde bytas ut. Jag forsokte hitta varifran ljudet kom, men lyckades inte, sa jag stannade till vid en cykelbutik pa vagen hem.

Killen i butiken var sjysst nog att gora en snabbkoll pa min cykel, och han var snabb att papeka att jag bytt kedja och inte hela kittet: kedja, kasett OCH kedjeringar. Jag har hort, och last, att detta ar olika fran fall till fall: om man cyklat for lange pa den gamla kedjan sa kan det handa att kasetten har blivit nedsliten pa grund av den daliga kedjan, men ofta sa kan man byta kedja en eller tva ganger innan kasetten behover bytas ut. Kedjeringarna haller oftast langre an kasetten. Andra som tittat pa min cykel tyckte att kasetten sag bra ut och inte behovde bytas. Killen i cykelbutiken sa att man kan aldrig se om kasetten ar dalig eller inte, man byter ALLTID kasett nar man byter kedja. Han talade ocksa om for mig att jag redan slitit ut den nya kedjan, efter EN tur! Jag anvander Shimano XT, och det ar inga daliga grejjor. Det ar valdigt dyrt att byta hela kittet, och jag var tveksam nar jag gick darifran.

Jag gick till en annan cykelbutik och de sa att min cykel ar i riktigt bra skick. Kassetten ar bra, och de kunde inte hitta nagra som helst fel pa cykeln. De sa att byta kassett kommer inte att gora nagon som helst skillnad. Tyvarr hade de inte tid att ge den en grundlig omgang forran tva veckor senare...

Sa jag gick till en tredje cykelbutik. De tog sig an min cykel och konstaterade snabbt att det var bottom bracket och kullager som orsakade oljudet. Kassett och kedjering kommer att behova bytas ut nagon gang efter sommaren, troligen. Hittills ar jag valdigt nojd med deras jobb och service. Jag far intrycket att de ar arliga och valdigt kunniga. Jag kommer gladeligen att lamna min cykel dar igen.

Mitt rad till er som ar nyborjare i cykel mekanik ar att lasa och fraga sa mycket du bara kan, och tro inte alltid pa vad folk i cykelbutiker sager, aven om de verkar erfarna (om du inte har massor av pengar och inte har nat emot att spendera dem). Det kan bli onodigt dyrt, och du kanske anda inte har problemet fixat. Det ar vart att ta sig tid att kolla runt lite. Den har gangen sparade jag nagra hundra dollar pa att kolla runt lite extra.


With this post, I want to share some of my experiences when it comes to being a beginner in bike mechanics, and how difficult it might be to understand what is right and wrong and who to listen to.

As I mentioned in an earlier post (Girls basic tech night at Rock & Road Cycles), I'm learning as much as I can about the mechanics of my bike. I'm learning what components I need for my bike, brand and models, I'm learning how to recognize the signs of worn out components and eventually I hope to learn how to change most of them myself. I'm very lucky to have some good biking people around me, that not only are good biking people but also very generous, helpful and patient with all my questions.

Since I still have a long way to go, it is necessary for me to take the bike to a bike mechanics now and then. This happened last weekend when I planned a long ride in the Port Hills but had to turn around because my bike made noises when I rode on the lowest gear, only uphill and with pressure on the pedals. I just had the new chain put on it (with the help of a good and very helpful bike friend), and the gears adjusted. I thought it might be the gears that still needed a little fine tuning, or the cassette that also needed replacement. I tried to localize the noise but couldn't, so I took it to a bike shop close to where i live, on the way home. 

The guy in the shop was nice enough to have a quick look at my bike, and he was quick to point out that I had changed the chain and not the whole kit: chain, cassette AND chainrings. I have heard, and read, that this is case dependent: if the old chain has been used for too long, then the cassette needs replacement as well, otherwise you can change chain once or twice without changing cassette. The chainrings usually outlive the cassette. I had other people telling me that the cassette looks good. The guy in the bike shop told me that you can't tell if the cassette is good or not, you simply just change it when you change chain, ALWAYS. He also let me know that I already worn out the chain, after ONE ride. Note that this is Shimano XT, so no bad components. To change the whole kit is very expensive, and I felt doubtful when I walked out from that shop. 

I went to another shop, and asked for advice. They said that the bike is in very good condition, and the cassette is fine. Changing cassette wouldn't make a difference whatsoever. They couldn't find the problem though, and didn't have time for anyone to give it a proper look until two weeks later..,

So I went to a third shop. They took on my bike, and were quick to find out that it was the bottom bracket and a few bearings that caused the noises. They also pointed out that the cassette and chainrings will be fine for the rest of the season. So far I'm very happy with their work and service. They seem genuine and very professional, it really seems that they know what they are doing and I will happily leave my bike there again. 

My advice to those who are beginners in bike mechanics, read and ask as much as you can, and don't always believe what people in bike shops say, even though they seem experienced (unless you have unlimited money and don't mind spending them). It might end up unnecessarily expensive, and you still might not have your problem fixed. It's worth spending some time to have a good look around. This time a good look around saved me a few hundred dollars.

Lake Onslow - an unexpected evening ride

Jag hade ju planerat en lang tur den dagen, men saker gar inte alltid som man tankt sig. Det blev sent pa dagen och jag tankte att jag tar mig anda ut pa en cykeltur, och helt enkelt vander nar jag kanner for det. Problemet ar att jag sallan kanner for att vanda. Jag cyklade upp Wrights Road i Roxburgh och njot av uppforsbacken och kvallen. Det ar en bra bit till Lake Onslow, men ganska latt cykling pa grusvag som blir lite tuffare mot slutet. Det ar ratt sa backigt, vilket anda gor de 66 kilometrarna (33 km enkel vag) till en liten utmaning. Nar man cyklar fran Millers flat sa vet jag att det ar mer an 1100 meter ackumulerad stigning, och mer via Wrights Road, da det gar upp och ner hela tiden. Jag forsokte intala mig sjalv att vanda flera ganger, och kom upp med olika ursakter som t.ex. att det blir morkt och att jag kanske blir trott... Jag lyssnade inte pa mig sjalv, jag ville veta hur det ser ut dar uppe pa berget i solnedgangen. Solen var pa vag ner nar jag kom fram till toppen av berget dar man ser Lake Onslow, och som vanligt var det en ratt sa kall vind daruppe. Ett bra satt for mig att fa upp farten och pressa mig sjalv lite extra ar att ge mig ut och cykla precis innan det blir morkt och forsoka ta mig hem innan det blir kolsvart. Jag lyckades inte den har gangen, men an en gang hade jag en helt fantastisk cykelupplevelse i bergen.

I had planned to do a long ride that day, but sometimes things just don't work out. It got late, and I thought that I'd go for a ride anyway, and just turn around when I feel for it. The problem is that I usually don't feel for turning around. I biked up Wrights Rd in Roxburgh and just enjoyed the uphill and the end of the day. It is a pretty long way to Lake Onslow, but easy biking on a gravel road that later becomes a little bit rougher. There are a few hills though, which still makes the 66 kilometers (33 km one way) a bit of a challenge. While biking from Millers flat there's an accumulated climb of more than 1100 meters, and via Wrights road it is probably a bit more since it goes up and down quite a lot. My mind told me several times to turn around because of the dark and because I might get tired and all kind of excuses. I didn't listen to it, I was too  curious about what it looked like from up there in the sunset. The sun was just on it's way down when I arrived up on the hill before Lake Onslow, and as always the wind was pretty chilly up there. A good way for me to get the speed up and to push myself is to go out biking just before dark and try to get home before it's pitch black. I didn't succeed this time, but once again I had an awesome time on the mountain. 

My bike and the old tractor.

Roxburgh in the valley far away. Pineforest in the middle, and mt Benger in the background.

Sunset at Lake Onslow.

Girls basic tech night at Rock & Road Cycles

Jag kan inte mycket om cykel-mek, men jag forsoker snappa upp allt jag kan, mest for att det ar bra att kunna sin cykel om nagot gar snett langt ute i bergen. Forra veckan ordnade Rock & Road cycles i Alexandra en tek-night for tjejer. Bra intiativ!

Det var en basic kurs, mest en del tips och tricks hur man haller sin cykel ren och frisk sa att den haller langre. Mountainbikes far ju utsta en hel del, som de flesta av oss vet. Jag ar lite av en rengorings-nord, jag hor till den gruppen manniskor som skulle kunna putsa sonder min cykel om jag inte visste vart jag ska putsa och vad jag ska halla mig ifran. Att pyssla med cykeln ar nastan som terapi for mig.

Det jag speciellt tog med mig hem fran Rock & Road tek-night var att det ar bra att ta av sadeln och stalla cykeln upp-och-ner efter att ha cyklat genom vatten, for att inte forstora bottom-bracket. En annan grej jag tog med mig hem, var att suspension ar till for att anvandas. De mar battre av att anvandas efersom de da smorjs med olja. Jag brukade tanka att jag ska spara pa grejjerna och inte anvada suspension mer an jag behover. Jag fick ocksa prova pa att anvanda ett kedje-verktyg. Jag har ett, och i teorin vet jag hur den anvands, men har haft turen att aldrig behova anvanda den nar jag ar ute. Jag har sparat en gammal kedja som jag tanker ova pa nagra ganger, for att kunna gora det snabbt da det behovs.

For den som ar i Centrala Otago och cyklar, och behover service pa cykel, eller behover en cykel affar sa rekommenderar jag att titta in hos Rock & Road cycles i Alexandra eller Cromwell. Agarna Emma och Peter ar supertrevliga och de har duktig och serviceinriktad personal.

Kolla in deras hemsida Rock & Road Cycles.

I don't know much about bike-mech but I try to suck up as much as I possibly can about it, mostly because I want to know my bike in case something goes wrong when I'm out in the mountains. 

Last week Rock & Road cycles in Alexandra organized a girls tech-night. A very nice initiative! It was a basic course with a few tips and tricks of how to keep the bike clean and healthy so that it lasts for longer. Mountainbikes have to put up with quite a lot, as most of us know! I'm a bit of a cleaning-nerd, I belong to the group of people that would clean my bike to bits if I didn't know where to clean and where to keep my fingers off. To work with the bike is like therapy for me.

One thing that I learned at Rock & Road cycles is that it is good to take the seat off and put the bike upside down after biking through river crossings, to save the bottom bracket. Another thing I learned is that it is good to use the suspension, since the oil works through them when they are used. I used to think that it's better to save the stuff and only use them when needed. I also got to try the chaintool for the first time. I have one, and in theory I know how to use it, but I've been lucky and have never had to use it when I'm out and about. I have saved an old chain that I will use to practice so that I can do it quickly when it's needed. 

If you're biking in Central Otago, and need a service on your bike, or need a bike shop, I would recommend a visit to Rock & Road cycles in Alexandra or Cromwell. The owners Emma and Peter are superfriendly and they have very competent an service minded staff. 

Check out their websited Rock & Road Cycles

Waikato River Trails

Jag spenderade fem veckor i Juli och Augusti pa Nordon, for att surfa och cykla. Vi reste runt i var gamla husbil och spenderade en hel del tid vid kusten, for att surfa. Taranaki var en av favoriterna, med flera riktigt bra surfspots, supertrevliga manniskor och dessutom ar det latt att campa. Det blev inte mycket cykling for min del i Taranaki, men det finns en del mtb trails som kan vara varda att kolla upp i Egmont National park. Jag hade fullt upp med surf.

Jag gjorde istallet en del trails pa centrala Nordon, jag har tidigare skrivit om Tree Trunk Gorge trail (soder om Turangi), du kan hitta det inlagget har. Jag gjorde ocksa en del av Waikato River trail. Waikato River trail ar en 10 mil lang trail, graderad 2 (latt) till 4 (avancerad) som foljer Waikato River, Nya Zeelands langsta flod, med borjan utanfor Hamilton. Jag var valdigt sugen att gora hela, men det skulle ta en dag for mig, och jag hade tyvarr inte mojlighet att gora det. Jag gjorde Whakamaru delen, och det var superroligt. Den delen ar graderad 3 (intermediate) och ar 23 km snabb, rolig trail, lite upp och lite ner, men inga branta uppforsbackar eller drops, nagra rotter och stenar och med massor av fagelliv langs floden. Efterat kunde jag jamfora den turen med en 2-3 fot surf i Aramoana (vilket betyder helt enkelt roligt). Det finns minst en Department of Conservation camping langs floden, sa det ar latt att campa. Du kan lasa mer om Waikato River trails har.

I spent five weeks in July and August this year on the North Island, to surf and bike. We traveled around in our old camper van and spent quite a lot of time by the coast, to surf. Taranaki was a favourite, with lots of awesome surf spots, superfriendly locals and easy to freedom camp. I didn't do any biking in Taranaki, but there are mtb trails that could be worth checking out in Egmont National park. I was too busy surfing.

 I did a few trails in central North Island, I wrote about Tree Trunk Gorge trail (south of Turangi) in an earlier post, that you can find here. I also did a part of Waikato River trail. Waikato River trail is a 100 km long trail, graded 2 (easy) to 4 (advanced) that follows Waikato River, the longest river in New Zealand, with start outside Hamilton. I was very tempted to do the whole trail, but that would take a day and unfortunately I didn't have a chance to do it. I did the Whakamaru section, and it was fun as. It's graded 3 (intermediate) and is 23 km fast flowing fun trail, a bit up and down but no big climbs or drops, a few roots and rocks, just enough to keep it interesting. It's beautiful along the river with lots and lots of birdlife. Afterwards I compared the ride to 2-3 foot glassy surf in Aramoana (which means just pure fun). There is at least a one and maybe two Deparment of Conservation campsites along the river, so pretty easy to camp. Read more about the Waikato River trails here.

Urchin campsite- Tree Trunk Gorge trail

Waikato River trail.

Waikato River trail.

Birdlife by Waikato River.

Waikato River.

Waikato River trail.

Hawksburn- from Clyde to Bannockburn

I helgen cyklade jag en runda som jag lange tankt gora: Upp och forbi Clyde lookout, via Hawksburn road och over till Bannockburn. Jag valde att borja vid bron i Alexandra och cykla Clutha river trail till Clyde. Det gar att gora den har turen som en loop genom Bannockburn, men det ar lamningsasong nu, och vagen var stangd over vissa omraden, sa jag maste vanda tillbaka. Det gjorde inte sa mycket, det blev en ordentlig 58 km tur, med en hel del backar. Det har ar en ganska latt 4WD vag som gar genom typisk Centrala Otago natur. Den jobbiga delen ar stigningen och uppforsbackarna. For de som tycker att cykla i en riktning ar nog, och for de som inte gillar en brant gammal uppforsbacke lika mycket som jag gor kan jag rekommendera att borja cykelturen i Bannockburn, for att undvika de brantaste delarna, som antaglien ar runt Clyde lookout. Det blir hett som attan dar uppe, sa massor av vatten och solkram rekommenderas.

Last weekend I did a ride that I've been thinking of for quite a while: Up past Clyde lookout, via Hawksburn road over to Bannockburn. I choose to start by the bridge in Alexandra and did the Clutha river trail to Clyde, just to make the ride a bit longer. There is a loop you can do through Bannockburn, but unfortunately they closed parts of it due to lambing so I had to turn around and go back. Doesn't matter, it ended up being a good 58 km ride with quite a lot of climbing. This is a pretty easy 4WD road, that goes through some pretty typical Central Otago landscape. The hard part is the climbing. For those who think a one-way ride is enough, and for those who don't fancy a good steep old uphill as much as I do, I would recommend to do the ride with start in Bannockburn to avoid the steepest part of the track, which is probably around the Clyde lookout. It gets pretty hot up there, so lots of water and sunblock is recommended. 

Clyde with Alexandra in the far background.

Alexandra in the background.

Part of Hawksburn road.

Hawkburns road, looking towards Clyde.

A piece of Central Otago.

View of the Obelisk and Old mans range.