Stories from New Zealand

Read stories and get inspired! Share a cycling story and inspire others to get out and ride!

Image for story biking while kids are at basketball practise.

biking while kids are at basketball practise.

I took my bike to the kids basketball practise on the weekend, I thought I would only bike a couple of kms. The basketball training was for 2 hrs in Cambridge, wow to my surprise the bikes paths we... read more

Topic: Encouraging others to ride

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Image for story Disadvantaged? Never.

Disadvantaged? Never.

Im a 45 yr old non driver. I realised early on driving wasnt for me and that the world was a far safer place with me not behind the wheel of a vehicle. So i cycle and run n walk. Ive never felt d... read more

Topic: My commute by bike

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Holiday bike trips

This time last year my partner and I did a road cycle trip from Christchurch down to Wanaka, over Haast Pass then up the West Coast to Greymouth then over Arthur's Pass back to Christchurch. All ... read more

Topic: A happy riding memory

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Image for story Christchurch Northern Corridor a HUGE success

Christchurch Northern Corridor a HUGE success

I love riding on the CNC shared path! It's so smooth and fast. I love seeing all the happy people using the path (and pets too!). It's a fantastic asset to Greater Christchurch, enabling safe a... read more

Topic: My favourite place/route to ride

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This challenge

This challengeā€¦ā€¦. I have 4 bikes sitting in my shed catching dust. The only time these only ever got used was when i was training for Iron Maori, which was rarely ever tbh. Maybe a couple of rides ... read more

Topic: Encouraging others to ride

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Encouraging hubby to ride

Hubby has a Hip injury I'm supporting him to get out n ride with me in Teanau he did 6.5 along the lake we stopped n got pics and enjoyed the scenery

Topic: My Bicycle Romance

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Waiting, waiting, waiting

Hopefully, my bike will arrive on Friday! Still have not heard anything, though.

Topic: Biking in the Coronavirus Era

Louise's first ride in quite some time!!!

Yay to Louise for her first ride in quite some time!!! Shout out to Louise for joining in the Taupo's office "Yay to Friday bike after work" event. Go Louise you Good Thing!!

Topic: Encouraging others to ride

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Donā€™t forget to thank your Council!

I used the long weekend, with some help from Twitter people, to try and work out a commuter cycle route 25km to work that is mostly in cycle lanes (separated as much as possible) and avoids the rou... read more

Topic: My commute by bike

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Image for story Too easy

Too easy

I haven't biked in 4 years due to my push-bike being stolen. Now that this challenge is on, I decided to purchase a cheap and used push-bike (for $80! šŸ˜‰) just to tackle this challenge. I'm very com... read more

Topic: My first time on a bike in years

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Image for story Life is a journey

Life is a journey

When I first started riding I really struggled with being over weight. Back then my 2 boys were young and getting out with them was my motivation. Slow, very but getting out on a short ride was awe... read more

Topic: Encouraging others to ride

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The Real Bike Story

The Real Bike Story Man with bike arrived at 9.00 am. Man with beard, tattooed all over with skull rings and similar on all his fingers. Thin frame with long scraggy beard and blac... read more

Topic: My Bicycle Romance

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Commuting to work (and back!

I decided not to own a car a few years back, and just rely on my bicycle for getting around. It's been quite good for me, as I'm a lazy person, and if given the option, I might cave and use a c... read more

Topic: My commute by bike

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Build and ride

I am passionate about tinkering and have been working on building a hackbike from spares and old bikes. A colleague (Alec R.) who is very good with bikes has been assisting me and we have a basic f... read more

Topic: My Bicycle Romance

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Image for story Beat the traffic - encourage others along for the ride

Beat the traffic - encourage others along for the ride

Leave the car at home, stay away from the petrol station for a month or more. 25mins to work in car, 29mins on the bike on the best day. Powered by craft beer and pizza! More bikes at work as ... read more

Topic: My commute by bike

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Biking dates with my husband

My favourite place/route to ride, is around the many bike trails in Blenheim. My husband and I go out biking in the weekends, which I really look forward to. We go early in the mornings when there ... read more

Topic: My favourite place/route to ride

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Image for story Rabbit Island

Rabbit Island

What better way to kick off the Aotearoa bike challenge than catching the ferry from Mapua to Rabbit Island. Lovely flat trails meant my first ride on a non-ebike for about 4 years was a breeze . G... read more

Topic: A story from the Bike Challenge

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Image for story Rainbow

Rainbow

Just cycled from Hanmer to St Arnaud through the rainbow. Fantastic scenery, well worth the pain!

Topic: A happy riding memory

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Image for story Feel the fear and do it anyway!

Feel the fear and do it anyway!

Tūwhitia te hopo, mairangatia te angitū! Feel the fear and do it anyway! My name is Jill Walters and I am the Organisational Development Lead at Toi Moana Bay of Plenty Regional Council. I live ... read more

Topic: My first time on a bike in years

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I'm just out riding my bike!

When a serious faced road cyclist has a slow day they call it 'recovery'. A commuter just calls it Friday.

Topic: Other

3

Bike life

My first bike was a Christmas present after I turned 5 years old. I was so excited, that I sneaked into the garage (where I was told NOT to go) to ride it. It was red, with a large front wheel and ... read more

Topic: Other

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Day 1

First day riding to work. Of course it had to be a day where we have a high of 30 degrees! Oh well...... I did it to improve my health. I did it to save money. I did it to help the environment... read more

Topic: My commute by bike

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Image for story The Peace Of Riding

The Peace Of Riding

This is not 1 memory. I have never driven, always ridden. I deal with anxiety. Some of my rides and my choice to ride the long way home are for the purpose of destressing. I find riding and listeni... read more

Topic: A happy riding memory

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The sweet silence

Ahhh, casting my mind back to March 2020, I remember it was heaven for bikes. No wait at the lights, serenity on the streets, just me and nature. Kids also using the streets for biking and skateboa... read more

Topic: Biking in the Coronavirus Era

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Best and worst road on my commute

Blenheim Road is both awesome and awful for commuting. Minimal parking means there's far less risk of dooring, and the traffic tends to create a nice draught regardless of the wind. So many pot... read more

Topic: My commute by bike

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Delayed

I just got an update on my bike. It is on a ship somewhere in the Pacific Ocean. Well, may not be riding in this challenge.

Topic: Biking in the Coronavirus Era

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Image for story Sharing the Love

Sharing the Love

My wife and I LOVE riding our vintage bikes from a bygone era, they hark from a time when every month was "Bike Month"... Indeed, we love it so much, back in 2016 we organised our first Tweed and... read more

Topic: My Bicycle Romance

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Motiviation

Aotearoa Bike challenge giving me motivation to explore my new region by bike :D

Topic: A story from the Bike Challenge

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From there to here...

So last year as the 2021 Aotearoa Bike challenge began, I had bought myself a new bike to commute on (40km/ each way). I was super prepared for the what I thought was going to be a fun month of cyc... read more

Topic: A story from the Bike Challenge

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Encouraging hubby to ride

Hubby has a Hip injury I'm supporting him to get out n ride with me in Teanau he did 6.5 along the lake we stopped n got pics and enjoyed the scenery

Topic: My Bicycle Romance

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3 Things I learnt while riding in Christchurch

1: Learning the bike routes to work, but cant go both back home, the same way, Tuam and St Asaph are only one way, I wonded why I didnt get any bike traffic lights. 2: Glass, I need to take a sm... read more

Topic: A story from the Bike Challenge

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Image for story New favourite place - TeAro to Brooklyn Wind Turbine

New favourite place - TeAro to Brooklyn Wind Turbine

New 'bush-ride' from Aro St to the Brooklyn Wind Turbine, Wellington. Just about all the way in the bush, if you follow the marked track in Waimapihi (Pohill) Reserve from Te Aro. This is an up-... read more

Topic: My favourite place/route to ride

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Image for story Goosechase Bike Challenge in Wanaka, Queenstown, Cromwell & Te Anau

Goosechase Bike Challenge in Wanaka, Queenstown, Cromwell & Te Anau

Sport Central (& Sport Otago) along with Queenstown Lakes District Council and the Te Hau Toka group have started a Bike Challenge for February, March and April. Download the Goosechase app an... read more

Topic: Encouraging others to ride

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More fun riding with others

This morning I rode with my daughter to her high school and the journey seemed way shorter than the first time I biked. Then I had the rest of the journey by myself, or so I thought. I banged int... read more

Topic: A story from the Bike Challenge

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Children

On my daily rides I often see children in the back of cars. They often stare at me or my bike. I hope it is my bike. I wished their parents would take them out on bikes. They look like they want to.

Topic: A happy riding memory

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How I started biking more seriously

How I started biking was due to drink driving and lost my licence but I still needed to get to and from work when most of you were sleeping. Brought a ten speed and then did some short rides before... read more

Topic: My commute by bike

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Image for story Playcentre

Playcentre

Two days a week my two year old (he started asking for this commute at age one and three quarters) bikes (on a walking bike) the 1.2 km to Playcentre, with me trotting along next to him. Some of hi... read more

Topic: A happy riding memory

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Getting Boostered!

Was planning to drive 3km up the road to get my booster shot but - it is Aotearoa Bike Challenge month so - why not cycle, I thought! Went swimmingly. In fact it was really nice to cycle home a... read more

Topic: Biking in the Coronavirus Era

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Itching to ride

But my bike delivery has been delayed! I will be a slow start, still recovering from surgery.

Topic: Biking in the Coronavirus Era

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Full month ahead

Will try to go for a ride everyday come sun or rain. I hope the bike holds!

Topic: A story from the Bike Challenge

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Image for story Poetry in motion

Poetry in motion

How staunch a cyclist are you? Do you bike in rain or snow? Do you own a fluoro jacket? Have your cheeks a healthy glow? Perhaps you are a ā€˜wannaŹ¼ Wanna travel urban style, with pup in w... read more

Topic: Other

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Dolphins and Rays

So driving to work is hot and bothersome. Not so with riding to work. On my first day of the challenge, I saw dolphins in the harbour by Te Papa and a sting ray by Fergs... Gotta love riding via... read more

Topic: Encouraging others to ride

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Downhill biking

Tried downhill mountain biking for the first time last week. Made it all the way to the bottom in one piece, hurrah!

Topic: My Bicycle Romance

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Encouraging young friend

I've got a 30yr old staying with me for around 6months. He was unsure re my bike riding long distances when fine weather around. He has since tried a 30km bike ride with me and he seemed to enjoy i... read more

Topic: Encouraging others to ride

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Image for story First day biking to work

First day biking to work

It has been something yet to be accomplish for few years. Finally, done it today and love the ride, except that in town, i am still sharing pathway with pedestrian instead of cars. Gotta get myself... read more

Topic: My commute by bike

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Image for story Paradise

Paradise

Getting back on my bike has been fab, especially with the great weather we are having. I've been making the most of the time in between jobs, exploring what is right in front of me. We do live in p... read more

Topic: My favourite place/route to ride

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Image for story Retail Therapy

Retail Therapy

Before Covid I got used to breaking my shopping up to 2 to 4 trips during the week often on my way home from other things and only buying what fitted in my backpack. During Covid I changed my shopp... read more

Topic: Biking in the Coronavirus Era

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Image for story Cycling to Survive!

Cycling to Survive!

I am a Brain Cancer Survivor. I cycle after after a foot/leg injury led to diagnosis of a Brain Tumor then Cancer. After an Awake Craniotomy in 2013 i took up cycling as i cant do much impact ac... read more

Topic: Other

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The Pain before the Pleasure

'Change' is happening in Hamilton with major roadworks around the University area of the City so my regular commute route impassable and sometimes frustrating when following the detour route sugges... read more

Topic: My commute by bike

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Back in the saddle

After a bit of a tough year in 2020 change in job, change in house a new commute ride to work is getting the head and body heading back in a good direction.

Topic: My commute by bike

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