Stories from New Zealand

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

Image for story Carpe diem-seize the day-grip the handlebars-commandeer the towball

Carpe diem-seize the day-grip the handlebars-commandeer the towball

For the last several years I have been wanting to bike part of the way to work. Problem: it’s 56km between home and Christchurch!! If I could just bike some of it I would be happy. Well happier tha... read more

Topic: Other

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Image for story Why i ride

Why i ride

We started this adventure when our whanau of four kids left no time for me to exercise or do anything much for myself. As a survivor of an aggressive cancer that messed with my body as much as my h... read more

Topic: Encouraging others to ride

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Image for story City waterfront ride to work

City waterfront ride to work

Every ride is different, today watching the sunrise over the Hauraki Gulf, the double hulled waka under sail in the harbour caught my eye.
Otherwise the sunrise reflecting off the buildings ar... read more

Topic: My favourite place/route to ride

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Image for story Cargo Bike Thrills

Cargo Bike Thrills

I have been a bicycle nut for years and always try to ride everywhere (better for the planet, and better for my fitness and stress levels). Last year I decided to buy a cargo bike to take the next ... read more

Topic: Other

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Image for story Bringing the family together

Bringing the family together

This weekend we spend a couple of days on the Hauraki rail trail....cycling has become a great way to spend time together away from screens creating new and varied experiences. There was laughter a... read more

Topic: Encouraging others to ride

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Image for story SH2 Chaos

SH2 Chaos

Started driving my daughter to school from Brookfield to Bethlehem on Friday. Traveled a short distance before witnessing a heavy traffic on Millers Road as far as the eye could see. Knowing that S... read more

Topic: A story from the Bike Challenge

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Image for story Contagious commuting

Contagious commuting

We bought my son a good second-hand bike when he got to intermediate so he could independently cycle the 4km to school each day; no worries if we're working and can't do drop-off or pick-up. I lik... read more

Topic: My commute by bike

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Across the Finish Line

After doing a couple of longer rides for me (>30km) I decided it was time to bike from my home town of Waimauku to work in the Auckland Viaduct area.
I set out around 6:40am and had a good... read more

Topic: My commute by bike

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Riding into the sunset

When I first met my now husband I knew that he loved mountain bike riding, yet I had not been on a bike since I out grew my childhood bike.
Yet (with my permission) he purchased me a cross cou... read more

Topic: My Bicycle Romance

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Image for story Flash new saddle bags

Flash new saddle bags

Biked to work with my newly acquired saddle bags which I won Week 1 through #MoveitMonday.

The saddle bags match my bike really well, so feeling well chuffed!
I had to adjust the bags ... read more

Topic: A story from the Bike Challenge

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TriEye Bike Sunnies

Have to shout out to one of the Bike Challenge supporters; TriEye, the riding glasses with a rear-vision mirror.

After a recent experience with a large vehicle that was wider than the driv... read more

Topic: A story from the Bike Challenge

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Added extras

Wow I am 2 days into my rides and yesterday I took a dozen eggs home in my panniers, surprised they weren't cooked by the time I got home.
Today brought in a fundraising cake for Relay for Life... read more

Topic: My commute by bike

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Beaut peddle home this evening

A bit of a later ride home tonight. Kind of nice hearing the birds chirp next to the car engines while stoped at the lights :)

Topic: My commute by bike

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Image for story Three Crashes & Love

Three Crashes & Love

Hubby and I met June 2015 and he was aware I loved to exercise alot, so we naturally went on a ride for one of our first dates.
I over estimated his biking fitness and he got cramp and was ve... read more

Topic: My Bicycle Romance

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Image for story Walking the talk

Walking the talk

One of the goals I set for myself when I started my new job at TCC was to bike to work. My role is Corporate Sustainability Lead, so biking makes sense for a lot of reasons. Fitness, wellbeing, env... read more

Topic: My commute by bike

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Image for story Waiheke Esplanade

Waiheke Esplanade

This is the loveliest part of my ride to work along the mostly traffic free Esplanade coastal road, to catch the Waiheke ferry to Auckland. A bit slower with the gravel but beautiful to see the sea... read more

Topic: My favourite place/route to ride

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Image for story The Race is On!

The Race is On!

Awesome to see so many people on bikes despite the heat! Brings out a bit of my competitive spirit to keep up with the road bikers!

Topic: My commute by bike

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Auckland Cycleways

Last month I learnt that I could cycle all the way from Hillsborough to City using all cyclepaths. Auckland was awesome before, but now it has reached the next level. Thanks for the Cycleways Auckl... read more

Topic: My commute by bike

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Making it a family affair

The kids and I love to ride on the weekends and we have used this challenge to really ramp that up. This weekend they chose to bike to a very far away park so they could log a big distance and we s... read more

Topic: A story from the Bike Challenge

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All by myself

After a ride through the crisp morning air to Queen's Wharf, where I cruised down Franklin Road and crawled back up it, my back tyre felt decidedly soft. By the time I was home it was dead flat and... read more

Topic: A happy riding memory

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Bikes are freedom

I love the ability to get on my freedom machine (I'm recently an electric convert). where I would often avoid a trip because it was too far to walk and too much hassle to get in a car, I now get ou... read more

Topic: My Bicycle Romance

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Falling in love with MTB @ Totara Park #MoveMonday

A few years ago, my partner convinced me to get a mountain bike so I could go mountain biking with him. I had only been a few times before and was not very confident. This summer, in an effort to i... read more

Topic: My favourite place/route to ride

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My morning luge ride to work #MoveMonday

My favourite part about riding to work in the morning, is going down the Grafton Gully cycle way. Zooming around the corner, no cars in sight, the smell of the native bush and feeling the temperatu... read more

Topic: My commute by bike

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how fast can you go

I managed to get up to 51k/hr down parnell rise this morning. Such good way to start the day #MoveMonday

Topic: My commute by bike

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New country, new job, new bike route

I just moved to NZ on 1 January, and brought my bike with me so that I would have transportation while I was looking for houses, cars, and the rest of the things that life requires. I intentionally... read more

Topic: My commute by bike

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My cycling son

My 17yr old son bikes to school. Biking has allowed him to choose his preferred schools, which were not his closest options. Trying to encourage him to to sit his learner drivers test I said he'd ... read more

Topic: Other

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Image for story Maybe things do happen for a reason ?

Maybe things do happen for a reason ?

A colleague invited me to join the challenge early in the month. I thought about it and did nothing. On the night of the 17th someone broken into my car, with the intention of stealing it. The d... read more

Topic: A story from the Bike Challenge

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Image for story A20 Alps to Ocean

A20 Alps to Ocean

On 5 Feb we cycled from Tekapo to Twizel passed canals, lake Tekapo, Ohau and Pukaki; scenery to die for. 6 Feb we biked to Ohau Lodge with a side trip to Ohau weir which was closed but very pictur... read more

Topic: My first time on a bike in years

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Image for story The bike proposal

The bike proposal

My partner and I love to bike, and when camping at my favourite family spot, he took me on a bike ride to Mystery Lake - about a three hour climb! Half way the the wind was howling and I was pretty... read more

Topic: My Bicycle Romance

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discounted biking gear

just heads up that there is a bicycle clearance store on Lunn Ave , they have helmets from $20 and huge bins of assorted bike accessories including lights, gloves, saddles etc at very affordable pr... read more

Topic: Encouraging others to ride

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Image for story Reasons to ride!

Reasons to ride!

Hey hey,
It's almost the end of #MoveitMonday week 2
My story is about sharing that I now find that I am excited about biking to or from work as part of this challenge as I am not really v... read more

Topic: Encouraging others to ride

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Image for story Lunchtime Gelato Ride from the office

Lunchtime Gelato Ride from the office

Today around 30 staff from our office went for a short lunchtime cruise to Rollicking Gelato in the beautiful New Regent street, a 3.5km round trip. I'm pleased to say drivers were really courteou... read more

Topic: Encouraging others to ride

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Eventfull first ride to work for the year

As I pulled out of my driveway, I could feel all was not well with the left pedal. after a brief period of denial and hoping the problem would go away, I started looking closer while riding and the... read more

Topic: Other

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Image for story Pride on the Pink Path

Pride on the Pink Path

Loved the changing lights on the Pink Path this morning! Happy Pride! The lights went really well with the multi coloured Sky Tower - too bad it wasn't still dark by the time I reached the pink pat... read more

Topic: A story from the Bike Challenge

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Took my husband for a bike ride

Well, took my husband for a bike ride and he tells me I’m biking with no power as I have the middle of my foot over the pedal. Now I’m biking (when I remember) with the ball of my foot on the pedal... read more

Topic: My Bicycle Romance

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Jelly Legs

It’s been many years since I have rode my bike... so long that it had cobwebs on it. I took it to the bike shop for a checkup and 6 days into the challenge I went for my first ride on Waitangi Day.... read more

Topic: My first time on a bike in years

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Image for story Car Replacement

Car Replacement

I absolutely love my cargobike. Although we've been car free since 2010, the cargobike is a much more recent acquisition. Whilst I like to walk, and use public transport, having the cargobike jus... read more

Topic: Encouraging others to ride

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Image for story Tour Aotearoa 2020

Tour Aotearoa 2020

I'm setting off on this event, on 19 February, 3000km, Cape Reinga to Bluff. Self-supported. Hope to complete in 30 days. It's a personal challenge, as I was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease 8 ... read more

Topic: A story from the Bike Challenge

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Good Luck

I will not be taking part in the Aotearoa Bike Challenge this year, and as I am the only one from my work place taking part, I withdraw from this event. I was made redundant from my job this mornin... read more

Topic: Encouraging others to ride

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Panmure traffic

Great start to the bike challenge by avoiding a 30min queue caused by roadworks in Panmure today

Topic: My commute by bike

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Upgrade to the path

This morning was pleased to note the little upgrade to North-Western cycleway on St Luke's part. Crossing was leveled up to the path and made everyone's cycling as smooth as possible.
Well done... read more

Topic: My commute by bike

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A fun family ride

We were biking up to point Chev on the first we had a fantastic ride

Topic: Other

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Beach ride

To A Beach Because they Are nice and Far away from my home so I can have A nice and long bike ride with my mum and brother.

Topic: My favourite place/route to ride

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Image for story Cycling is my Hobby, my Passion, it's my way of life

Cycling is my Hobby, my Passion, it's my way of life

Cycling is really quite remarkable, It caters for people from all different walks of life & has so much to offer:
- Achieving your first commute to work
- Building your first bike
-... read more

Topic: My Bicycle Romance

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Riding in NZ

I've not taken a bike for several years, but the challenge now got me to try it again and it's really strange to ride on the wrong side of the road here in NZ, but I'll get used to it :)

Topic: My first time on a bike in years

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Image for story Annual Team Picnic at Ngamotu Beach

Annual Team Picnic at Ngamotu Beach

When it comes to our Annual lunchtime bike ride to the beach, everyone's keen!
The team of six completed the 8km return trip to Ngamotu Beach for our team picnic, a total of 48km towards the A... read more

Topic: Encouraging others to ride

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First day back at Kindy

My 3 year old got her first bike for Christmas and managed to crack riding it in the holidays. Today was the first day back at Kindy and she rode it all the way there. I jogged alongside and got so... read more

Topic: My commute by bike

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Two trips or one

In my mind a typical commute - in and out - counts as 2 trips. This makes my goal of 50 trips for the month achievable (that's 40 trips during the week and and extra 10 scattered in through the mon... read more

Topic: A story from the Bike Challenge

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Wildlife

I've met many animals whilst cycling along the North Western shared path. Mainly birds - had some close calls with Pukeko and Oyster Catchers, and I herded a group of ducklings back to their mum la... read more

Topic: A story from the Bike Challenge

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Image for story Bike along the Tamaki Drive waterfront

Bike along the Tamaki Drive waterfront

Well, okay, so it't Feb!
The challenge has been accepted and I'm on my bike!
Up and out early this morning 6.10am so that I could bike and enjoy the scenery along the beach lined waterfront... read more

Topic: My commute by bike

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