Stories from New Zealand

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

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

12

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 ... read more

Topic: My Bicycle Romance

2

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 u... read more

Topic: My commute by bike

7

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

4
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 wo... read more

Topic: My commute by bike

2
13

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

4
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

5
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

7
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... read more

Topic: My first time on a bike in years

16

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

7

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 ... read more

Topic: My commute by bike

2
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

1
18

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

1

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 ma... read more

Topic: My commute by bike

6

Wildlife incounters on night ride

During lock down to maintain shift separation I had to do night shift. On my ride home over a week I encountered two possum and was confronted by a rat that decided he had more rights to the path I... read more

Topic: Biking in the Coronavirus Era

5

10 minutes a day

This February, I have been inspired to ride every day. I normally travel everywhere on my bike, but now there's more reasons to bike on my days off. Even a 10 minute ride does wonders for my feelin... read more

Topic: A story from the Bike Challenge

7
Image for story Creating Memories

Creating Memories

Here we all are, ready to make some memories on a recent family trip to Hanmer.

Topic: A happy riding memory

1
5
Image for story Wee man goes to dirt

Wee man goes to dirt

So my boy just turned 3 the other day and he loves riding bikes no matter if its with me on the Mac Ride, one of his bikes (he has quite a few) rain or sun. This month I did my first 100km ride in ... read more

Topic: A happy riding memory

3
Image for story Child hood memories to be created

Child hood memories to be created

I have my memories of riding to school. And now i want my kid to make those memories. When i was walking along his biking then either i was dictating and my boy was thinking i am biking so only i ... read more

Topic: My first time on a bike in years

1
5
Image for story The work Ride

The work Ride

Hi
I moved into my new house on the Otago peninsula at the same time as the new cycle way was being built. See how great this looked it was the perfect opportunity to get out of the car and ba... read more

Topic: My first time on a bike in years

2

School's Cool!

Due to the latest Level 2 alert for ChCh and working from home for the next 3 days, I decided to take my daughter to school by bike this morning.
She is still small enough (just..) to fit on th... read more

Topic: Biking in the Coronavirus Era

5
Image for story Getting riding doesn't have cost much.

Getting riding doesn't have cost much.

Since living in Hamilton riding with the kids has been a big part or our spare time. One thing I love about cycling is how cheap it can be, especially compared with motorized transport. I bought a ... read more

Topic: Encouraging others to ride

1

Starting small

I have become really unfit and sedentary over the last few years, but I bought a simple bike and have started biking to work - it's less than a kilometre, but walking has been a challenge due to pl... read more

Topic: Encouraging others to ride

3

Shock of my life

Peddling along on my ancient bicycle, on a country road, I thought my bike was making more noise than the usual squeaks and groans, I checked it over casually, while peddling, was unable to see any... read more

Topic: My favourite place/route to ride

1
3

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

1
6
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

1
11

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 ... read more

Topic: Biking in the Coronavirus Era

15

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

3

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

6
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 ‘wannaʼ
Wanna travel urban styl... read more

Topic: Other

1
17

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 ... read more

Topic: Encouraging others to ride

5

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

8

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

3
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

8
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

1
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

12
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 imp... read more

Topic: Other

6

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

1
2

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

7
Image for story Biking the mariua saddle road

Biking the mariua saddle road

Generous daughter dropped us off at frog flat. So 2 hours out of her day... and off we went..4 ks to saddle summit and then cruising down 11 is to the oldest (well, that what the locals say) concre... read more

Topic: Other

2
Image for story Recapturing my youth

Recapturing my youth

When I was 18 I traded in riding my pedal power bike for a 360 Honda and swore I would never ride a bike again. Why would I got beautiful wheels will travel. Many, many years go by.....
Then in... read more

Topic: My first time on a bike in years

2
5
Image for story I believe the children are our future...

I believe the children are our future...

I think that my eight year old son sums it up with this quote which he put on a poster which he made for his classroom recently.

Topic: Encouraging others to ride

15

fitness gains

I like competing in triathlons, but I'm a weak runner, so I normally over-train on running and skip the cycling as I'm a stronger cyclist. This month I've done almost 200km on the bike, and just h... read more

Topic: A story from the Bike Challenge

1
Image for story DUNEDIN BIKE BREAKFAST - Postponed

DUNEDIN BIKE BREAKFAST - Postponed

Dunedin riders! The Bike Breakfast has been postponed due to Level 2 restrictions, but we're planning to hold it on Wednesday 24th Feb (same time 6.30-9am and same place - Train Station!). So as lo... read more

Topic: Other

Image for story NZ Gran Fondo

NZ Gran Fondo

I had a great day out in Cambridge and the mighty Waikato as a participant of the NZ cycling festival on Saturday (13th Feb 2021), that also hosted a number of national championship races and $50k ... read more

Topic: A story from the Bike Challenge

Image for story Nostalgia Bike Gang

Nostalgia Bike Gang

It's getting to be quite the institution, the annual "Bike gang" ride from various parts of Christchurch to the Nostalgia Festival at Ferrymead. Today was my first time going to the festival and of... read more

Topic: Encouraging others to ride

2
4

Did You Know?

Did you know that using a bike is up to five times more efficient than walking?

As a matter of fact, an unaided human does pretty well in terms of efficiency as a function of body weight,... read more

Topic: Encouraging others to ride

1
Image for story The Only Way To Get Around

The Only Way To Get Around

Sometimes I pity those peasants that drive EVERYWHERE.
I ha been riding since age 8, never driven one of those car thingies, have been a passenger in a few when needed. I hate winter because it... read more

Topic: Other

6
Image for story carrying bikes on  a bike

carrying bikes on a bike

I am involved in the Aranui Bike Fixup which receives old bikes which we restore and pass on to locals in Aranui who need them. I had six collected up and had to transport them 6km to the workshop,... read more

Topic: Carbon Crushers

15