Stories from New Zealand

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

Glass

Ok, this time I stopped to pick up all the broken glass. I had ridden through it once, and, in a act of self preservation, thought it best to remove the "worst" of it. 5mins later, a cyclist stop... read more

Topic: My commute by bike

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Image for story Sore bum!

Sore bum!

A regular bike commuter for over six years now, the start of that journey was a holiday on the Otago Rail Trail. My enduring memories are of wonderful scenery but dismal Xmas Day food (we had to b... read more

Topic: A happy riding memory

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Cycling with the family

My parents visited me this year from the UK and we did lots of trail riding on the south island. They are much more used to road cycling back home but we had such a great time on many different tra... read more

Topic: A happy riding memory

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Family business

My grandparents owned a bike shop in the UK so I have always loved bikes. Their bike shop was famous in the local area and everyone got their bike from Renhams.
I used to love the smell of the ... read more

Topic: A happy riding memory

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Image for story Reunited with the shear joy of cycling.

Reunited with the shear joy of cycling.

I treated myself to a commuting “smart city” cycle (Reminds me of my old Raleigh 20) for my 60th birthday near the end of 2019. I planned to cycle to work once a week. I have picked up some shoppi... read more

Topic: My Bicycle Romance

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From My Accident on Sunset Blvd. Hollywood CA. USA

About fifteen years ago, I left my work at the Arclight Cinema at close to midnight. On my way home on Sunset Blvd. I was riding my bike and ended up getting hit by a car. It was pretty bad that ... read more

Topic: My first time on a bike in years

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The last time I ride with my brother

My brother and I went for a bike ride around where our parents used to live near the Selwyn Hutts. We were on our way back when we were biking along the stop bank and my back Tyre got stuck. In wha... read more

Topic: A happy riding memory

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How I met my wife and later proposed

I was riding with my sister in Riverhead Forrest Auckland in 1995 and met some friends and a group of their friends, one of whom caught my eye. After a number of fun filled years including regular ... read more

Topic: My Bicycle Romance

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Image for story Team Christmas Ride

Team Christmas Ride

The Safe and Sustainable Journeys team took a Christmas Ride to end our 2019 work year. All 6 of us rode the Ngongotaha cycleway and then the newly built Linton Park cycleway :)

Topic: A happy riding memory

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Image for story Whats the fastest way to get to work in Auckland city?

Whats the fastest way to get to work in Auckland city?

Spoiler alert... its an e-bike.

We always thought this was the case, but we figured we should probably be sure. So our teammate Josh ran a test over a normal Auckland working week, compari... read more

Topic: Encouraging others to ride

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Image for story Home-School-Work-School-Home

Home-School-Work-School-Home

Home-School-Work-School-Home by Bike Monday to Friday
I love the ride from Symonds St, my home at 8:30 AM to Freemans Bay, my daughter's School through the pink cycleway.
I back to work at... read more

Topic: My favourite place/route to ride

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Image for story First date on a bicycle

First date on a bicycle

I met my wife in the summer of 2001 in New Plymouth. Through mutual friends we met and the four of us went to a party together. I brought a spare bike along for her to ride, and when her eyes lit u... read more

Topic: My Bicycle Romance

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Image for story Waiheke connection

Waiheke connection

Daily I make the commute from Waiheke to Half moon bay and then on to East Tamaki. Come rain or shine my commute takes me past some of the most spectacular scenery in Auckland. On a daily basis my ... read more

Topic: My commute by bike

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Image for story Biking makes me happy

Biking makes me happy

My partner and I starting biking at the start of 2018, and just this totally joyful and amazing adventure it's added to our lives . We've been on a bike packing trips , we take our bikes away wit... read more

Topic: A happy riding memory

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Just Do It

I am an older lady, I suppose and couple of years ago I was diagnosed with the lung disease with a capacity of a 91 yr old!! consequently I have 55% lung capacity compared to the normal person. M... read more

Topic: My commute by bike

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Bicycle built for two

My husband and I first tried a tandem bicycle around the Hawkes Bay Wineries in the early 1980's. We got married in 1984 and our first purchase as a married couple was a tandem bicycle. We have don... read more

Topic: My Bicycle Romance

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Down the hill, up the hill

I live at the top of a hill called Bluff Hill in Napier. 'The hill' has been a bit of a mental obstacle to me biking anywhere since we moved into our house almost 3 years ago. However the bike ch... read more

Topic: My commute by bike

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Image for story St Heliers to town along Tamaki Drive

St Heliers to town along Tamaki Drive

What better way to start your day?
Than to get your bike out of its place
Hop on and get warmed up
Racing down St Heliers Bay Road
Heart racing, smile upon my face
Oh glorious d... read more

Topic: My favourite place/route to ride

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Looking for love (nay a bicycle)

A month had passed since my move to NZ and then another. I'd walked through a bike store and stared longingly as we spotted the pink path and bikers on the streets. I picked up a few Auckland Trans... read more

Topic: My Bicycle Romance

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Get about the place

The days was wet, , we both had to go places , the mother in law had been sick needed checking out
So off on the bike I went, drop in to see the grand kids, drop a book off , round to the moth... read more

Topic: Other

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Image for story Baby on board

Baby on board

My husband and I met on a Friday night at after-work drinks - which we’d both quite naturally biked to. Many of our subsequent dates, leisure and general life together involved biking. I wasn’t z... read more

Topic: My Bicycle Romance

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Image for story Grandpa on an E-bike

Grandpa on an E-bike

Got my dad out on my E-bike this weekend. He loved it. He couldn’t remember the last time he rode any kind of bicycle, so it was awesome that he was so eager to give it a try.

Later in th... read more

Topic: Encouraging others to ride

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Image for story Biking - Good for the Body, Good for the Pocket

Biking - Good for the Body, Good for the Pocket

I have biked to work every day since 1978, when I started my first full-time job. In 2019 I am still biking to work every day, and wouldn't change it for anything. Five years ago someone challenged... read more

Topic: My commute by bike

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No time pressure.

For the first time in ages I was able to ride without the pressure of getting to work, getting back from work to meet my wife after work. Riding before going to golf. It was excellent to just ride ... read more

Topic: A happy riding memory

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Cycling with the family

My parents visited me this year from the UK and we did lots of trail riding on the south island. They are much more used to road cycling back home but we had such a great time on many different tra... read more

Topic: A happy riding memory

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Cycling with the family

My parents visited me this year from the UK and we did lots of trail riding on the south island. They are much more used to road cycling back home but we had such a great time on many different tra... read more

Topic: A happy riding memory

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Image for story Bikes as tools

Bikes as tools

We’re trying to help my nieces and nephews not to just see biking just as a fun leisure activity but as a tool for getting to school, doing the shopping and getting to places they want to go.
T... read more

Topic: Encouraging others to ride

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Image for story A false start, then up from there!

A false start, then up from there!

About 15 years ago I was on holiday in Europe with my boyfriend at the time. I hadn't been on a bike in many years, but we went for a ride on bikes that came free with our accommodation. I was a bi... read more

Topic: My first time on a bike in years

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Image for story  Blakes first ride on a bike

Blakes first ride on a bike

We finally got the bike seat attached to the bike! Usually Blake and I just play at home while my husband goes for a run. Now that we have a bike seat- running/ biking is now a fun family activity.... read more

Topic: My first time on a bike in years

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Image for story Turning 60 & aiming to get an age group podium

Turning 60 & aiming to get an age group podium

Mountain Biking/ Cross country Event in this coming years events T42
Maybe the Dual -Rangitoto/Motutapu?
Any other suggestions welcome

Topic: Encouraging others to ride

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ride Munich to Rome

training to ride from Munich to Rome, 1400km in 12 days, in May, I have done at least 1 Ironman these last 5 yrs. now changing track and see part of Europe in the process

Topic: A story from the Bike Challenge

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Little and often!

I didn't think I would write here as what I do is so little, but I want to thank Love to Ride for getting me back on my bike. It is very different to when I was a teenager in England road racing. C... read more

Topic: Other

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Image for story Timber Trail Epic Ride with Newbies

Timber Trail Epic Ride with Newbies

After a week of registering In the Bike Auckland Challenge and sharing my passion with my fellow brethren in our church of how passionate I am in riding gave them the motivation to ride with me on ... read more

Topic: Encouraging others to ride

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The last time

The last time i rode a bike before this challenge was in Germany, i (stupidly) wasn't wearing a helmet, fell off, hit my head on the concrete and got concussion. So this month was really about prov... read more

Topic: My first time on a bike in years

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It gets worse

I rode to work. In the morning, it was wonderful. Cool and refreshing. I really enjoyed the freedom of wind in my chest hair, and bugs in my teeth. However, the afternoon was horrible. It was hot, ... read more

Topic: My first time on a bike in years

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Beats Traffic

Coming 20kms out from Half Moon Bay to Grafton i am able to ride along the Rotary walk and along riverside road and the mostly completed track on the other side. Making use of these routes (albeit ... read more

Topic: Encouraging others to ride

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Engaging with my neighbourhood

Getting back on the bike again for the commute to work is such a great experience, I'll tell you why. In the car there is so much that takes over the senses and it is a battle, on the bike and th... read more

Topic: My commute by bike

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Biking with the ONE I LOVE

My husband is so romantic and came for 3 evening bike ride dates in a row. It was so special and I appreciate my husband biking with me. When I have been out biking and he sees me through the win... read more

Topic: My Bicycle Romance

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Image for story Out and about:

Out and about:

Bike riding was never my thing.I rode bikes when i was younger but was serous about it..since doing this challenge for the first time has made me realise that bike riding is a kewl exercise as well.

Topic: My first time on a bike in years

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Tirohanga Whānui (Spencer Road to Albany walking and cycling bridge)

The new walking and cycling bridge joining the Albany Centre to Spencer Road and East Coast Bays opened this morning. A great addition to the local cycling network.

Topic: Other

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Image for story That zen feeling

That zen feeling

I've been riding an ebike to work for a few years, and decided to train for a race and so ride my road bike more. It was hard at first, adapting to doing all the work myself. Having gotten over tha... read more

Topic: My commute by bike

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Image for story Ode to my Bicycle

Ode to my Bicycle

Before you were mine, you carried my mother while she tried to keep up with my youthful energy. Upon graduating to intermediate school at the age of 11 I adopted you; seat low and feet barely able ... read more

Topic: My Bicycle Romance

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Image for story Taking cycling indoors

Taking cycling indoors

Back in 2017 I had trained quite hard for the World Masters Games for rowing. Unfortunately I had also injured myself during this time and carried that injury through to the Games. During the 'off'... read more

Topic: Other

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Image for story From Heart Attack to Heart Transplant to come back

From Heart Attack to Heart Transplant to come back

In 2015 I had a heart after a 6km swim, fortunately I survive the attack, they don't know how. A year later I had a defibrillator put in, in February 2017 I won a gold medal in an open water swim ... read more

Topic: My Bicycle Romance

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Knees Up!

Hi
The bike challenge came at just the right time for me.
I had knee replacement surgery just two months earlier, and my physio agreed that cycling would be a great way to get my new knee u... read more

Topic: My first time on a bike in years

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A Big WIN all round!

The fabulous E bike that Ian Lancaster (Wellington) won in 2018'sAotearoa Bike Challenge has been put to great use. Ian very kindly gifted the bike to me (his wife) and very patiently encouraged a... read more

Topic: A story from the Bike Challenge

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Stories from around the world

Image for story Kidical Mass Southampton Glow Ride

Kidical Mass Southampton Glow Ride

We went to the Kidical mass Annual Glow Ride this weekend. It is one of my favourite community events, over 70+ people attended and cycled around southampton city centre. The kids loved it and we g... read more

Topic: Ride with kids

Image for story Mantova in bicicletta

Mantova in bicicletta

Ho portato i ragazzi a fare un giro in bici a Mantova. Davvero una gran bella cittĂ , anche da girare in bici!

Topic: Ride with kids

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Biking and Brain Health

I encouraged everyone to ride a bike, in all weather. Bike riding helps clear your mind and provides a calm, peaceful feeling, which supports overall health, particularly brain health. Focusing on... read more

Topic: Encouraging others to ride

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Image for story Snoopy Trail

Snoopy Trail

Watch out for Snoopy's in and around Fleet Street this Christmas. 12 in all. Map available Fleet Street Quarter website.

Topic: Other

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