tag
After first experiencing New Zealand‘s South Island during a life-altering thru-hike in 2015, Mckenzie Barney returns with a same-but-different journey in mind. This time astride her Kona Sutra LTD, Mckenzie reconnects with the familiar terrain through a new medium all while stitching together classic stretches of mixed-surface bike touring routes to cover the 1500km from Picton to Bluff.
In the 1980s, Queenstown was a small lakeside community with just a couple thousand residents. Perched on the foreshores of the majestic Lake Wakatipu; its unique mix of snowy-topped mountains, roaring rivers and stunning vistas made it the perfect summer holiday destination for nature-loving Kiwis. However, the mid-90s brought adrenaline junkies and stoke seekers to Queenstown’s shores and soon enough, the town got an ‘Xtreme’ makeover!
We’re living in the golden age of handlebar comfort. Never before have we seen such diversity, originality, or inclusivity for riders as right now. For a lucky few, long days behind an ultra-wide curly bar is analogous to lounging in their favourite La-Z-Boy. For others, a backswept alt-bar with more hand positions than the kama sutra offers the perfect perch to grind out those backcountry miles. But for so many riders, comfort on a long ride is still a thing of legend and fairy tales. With the laminated bamboo Gump handlebars, however, Passchier of New Zealand claims to have found the key to both comfort and performance.
Continue reading for our thoughts on how the Gump handlebar holds up after many months of trail riding and touring…
With ancient podocarp forest blanketing the trail beneath me, I stand, perched on the escarpment about halfway through the Paparoa Trail. The mountain wind forces tears from my eyes and between the momentary breaks in the cloud, I catch a glimpse into the deep channels of Pike River valley, which once held the Pike River Mine.
Our Radar Roundup compiles products and videos from the ‘net in an easy-to-digest format. Read on below for today’s findings…
Kona‘s latest video features an epic bikepacking trip across the recently built Paparoa Track in New Zealand’s South Island.
Check out more photos and a brief synopsis below. Enjoy!
Bombtrack’s House Blend series takes a look at the brand’s dealers around the world. The latest video showcases Get Lost Cycling in Wellington New Zealand. Check out the video above and drop down below to see one of the shop’s latest builds with a Bombtrack Cale.
For something a little different this week, we’re bringing in Sam from Christchurch, New Zealand and his unique late 1980s New Zealand-built Pertini Ten Road. This one has some patina but a great story and as Sam puts it’s “all just old as hell.”
If you recall our coverage of the 2021 Handmade Bicycle Show Australia, then you probably noticed those unique bamboo handlebars on some of the unique builds. Here’s a quick video showcasing Passchier Bamboo Handlebars. Would you ride them?
Deane Parker‘s newest bikepacking film brings you along for a ride on the stunning Kōpiko Aotearoa, a 1,100-kilometer route across New Zealand’s North Island. See the wonderful sights, meet the locals, and share in the physical and mental challenges of this bikepacking adventure.
Presented by:
TRACKME
SALSA CYCLES
Damian Stones and friends take on New Zealand’s Paparoa track in a hut-to-hut adventure.
Join Deane and Rose on an overnight bikepacking trip. Starting from the heart of Christchurch around the extinct volcano of Lyttleton Harbour on Banks Peninsula. Starting with a chairlift from Christchurch Adventure Park and finishing with some of the parks groomed singletrack.
Deane Parker shared his latest video, from New Zealand’s Old Ghost Road:
“We got slapped by Mother Nature above the bush line and dragged our butts like popsicles into Ghost Lake hut as the full ferocity of a storm hit. This scuttled a chance to do the full out and back but we still ended up with riding 104km of the gnarliest sections twice! The few who had booked for this mid week period must of canned due to the forecast. We essentially had the trail to ourselves except for the toiling of the Old Ghost Road trail crews. An unforgettable way to celebrate 48 times around the sun w a couple of super mates…”
Two friends take off on an early winter impulsive 3-day backcountry touring trip on the Amuri and Hope passes, with hopes to link the two into a maybe un-ridden loop. Many river crossings and a high hike to bike ratio meant for Type 2 fun all the way.
There is something in the mountains, a kind of magic that from the beginning of humanity has exerted influence in our history. They have been adored as gods in different religions, they have forged cultures and inspired their stories, and even countries have been formed and developed around them. New Zealand is one of these countries.
In November 2019 Damian Stones and Mike Anderson set off to the Marlborough Sounds across the top of the South Island in New Zealand in search of challenging trails on their gravel bikes. The weather forecast was less than ideal but due to time restrictions they decided to commit to this journey with the idea that, ‘surely, it can’t be that bad.’ This film was aptly named Mākū due to the adverse weather these riders faced during this 4-day adventure.
‘Forgotten Highways’ is a film of documenting self-supported travel bike bicycle and cultural discovery set in the Whanganui District of New Zealand. The film is a journey through a challenging landscape following the historical trails to and from one of NZ’s most significant rivers (or Awa).
The Pike 29 Memorial Track was built as a living memorial to the men who died in the 2010 Pike mining disaster. Watch what it takes to build a $12,000,000 trail in New Zealand.