Stories from New Zealand

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

Love To Ride was useful

Love to ride was useful. I found it a good motivation tool and way to trace rides. But they have stopped keeping the totals. At the top of the page was a part with total kilometres and total trips.... read more

Topic: A story from the Bike Challenge

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Anne Heins Hi Lance, if you click on the wee arrow next to the heading "Aotearoa Bike Challenge 2021" you can choose to show your stat... read more
Diane Goldstone Thanks Anne, your reply helped me fix my "stalled" score tally too. It looks so much better saying 88km.! Thanks again

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

- Ning Tan

Topic: A story from the Bike Challenge

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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

- Mark Ashurst

Topic: A story from the Bike Challenge

Up For the Challenge

Up For the Challenge

http://www.gisborneherald.co.nz/environment/20210202/up-for-the-challenge-5/

Topic: A story from the Bike Challenge

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Bike Breakfast 2021

Bike Breakfast 2021

If you're in Dunedin and looking for motivation to get on your bike during the Aotearoa Bike Challenge, Spokes Dunedin is hosting it's 7th annual Bike Breakfast for anyone who turns up on a bike! ... read more

Topic: A story from the Bike Challenge

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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

- Lynn Judd

Topic: A story from the Bike Challenge

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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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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 driver rea... read more

Topic: A story from the Bike Challenge

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David Sweeney Hi Mark, Thanks for your story. I have already pointed these TriEye glasses out to my sister, who wanted to have a mirror f... read more
Mark Hayes I'm glad the info's been useful David. You'll want a pair for yourself once you try them. Cheers, Mark

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

- Rebecca Teirney

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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Ben Mansfield psst - make sure to tag your post #MoveMonday to be in the draw to win a panier bag
Rachel Ford Thanks Ben!

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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Bike Ride for Fitness & Saves Time

Bike ride very useful for health maintenance. As long as the setting on the bike makes it comfortable and not strain the back and legs. Adjusting the height of the seat is useful. Carry air pump, t... read more

- Pui Hopotoa

Topic: A story from the Bike Challenge

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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

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Oops...

Just did me first ride on my recovered free bike i picked up last year and spent january getting ready. On the way home after biking 7km I changed gear and somehow wrapped the rear derailleur aroun... read more

- Simeon McLean

Topic: A story from the Bike Challenge

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PNCC Group ride

Good effort Palmerston North City Council Infrastructure staff - 20 of us on a 10km lunchtime ride to the eel feeding platform on the first day of the 2021 Aotearoa Bike Challenge.

Topic: A story from the Bike Challenge

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Waiheke Adventures

Waiheke Adventures

Leading the pack at Waiheke (photo) A group of us went to Waiheke, hired ebikes and had the time of our lives. It was an awesome way to get around and we clocked around 30km. We stopped where e... read more

Topic: A story from the Bike Challenge

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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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Sally Marett Now you have a decent amount of room to ride up the side we don’t get that in Wellington unfortunately
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 on to the... read more

Topic: A story from the Bike Challenge

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Rachel Ford That's awesome, Simone! Those saddle bags look brilliant :)
Eryn Shields Well done Simone :-)
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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Pete Doorbar Good luck Mike, safe travels
David Sweeney All the best, Mike. I enjoyed our night ride around Hamilton a while back. Cheers, David
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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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Kerry Roger I agree the commute is a separate trip each way. For the bike challenge they count days of commuting but each trip still co... read more

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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Stories from around the world

Keep Saying Her Name

Keep Saying Her Name

Today I kicked off the #LaMesa scavenger hunt with a protest ride/run/walk/skate for Breonna Taylor because justice has yet to be served. Just keep pedaling and keep saying her (their) name(s).

Topic: A story from the Bike Challenge

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Sylvie Froncek Yay! We'll pick a winner when the scavenger hunt ends!

Congratulations, we made it

I did not think I was competitive, but now realise I am a bit. 3 older brothers, youngest and only girl. Completing the March challenge during lockdown, with an aging body and bike (30 years ol... read more

Topic: A story from the Bike Challenge

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Rosemary Lehan Well done! Keep going and catch them up☺️

scavenger hunt

I am loving getting out and riding my bike, you see so many things you don't notice when in a car, especially when participating in the latest Scavenger hunt. This is my 3rd one and I love it. I lo... read more

Topic: A story from the Bike Challenge

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Sylvie Froncek Yay! You're entered in the prize drawing! We'll choose a winner when the scavenger hunt ends!

Climb the three highest climbs.

Managed it this week! Cheddar Gorge, Bleadon Hill and Burrington Coombe.

- Alan Jackson

Topic: A story from the Bike Challenge

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Lockdown Holiday-Cycle Challenge

Lockdown Holiday-Cycle Challenge

Set out this morning on my challenge to ride my longest ride 50 miles in a single activity. Packed lunch, bottles of water and an afternoon treat Eccles Cake. Heading out of the city towards the c... read more

Topic: A story from the Bike Challenge

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Fiets het voorjaar in - De Veluwe

Fiets het voorjaar in - De Veluwe

Wat is Nederland toch mooi! Steeds weer verrast door het afwisselende landschap en de prachtige paden. Afgelopen weekend op de veluwe een fietstocht gemaakt, heerlijk om fris het voorjaar in te ... read more

Topic: A story from the Bike Challenge

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Karen Poret Goed!

Biking at night

Bright clothes are a must! Reflectors too! And definitely lights on a bike. I always wanted lights on the tires! #BikeLightsAtNight

Topic: A story from the Bike Challenge

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Lights, Lights, Lights

Lights, Lights, Lights

I recently had the misfortune of being hit off my bike by a car. The bruises and scrapes healed fairly quickly and fortunately I walked (hobbled) away with nothing broken! The bike, however, was no... read more

Topic: A story from the Bike Challenge

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Reconnecting with my bikes

I promised myself I would use the extra time over the pandemic to get fitter. I have done lots of walking and have spent loads more time with the family which is a positive. However, my bikes hav... read more

- Mark Woods

Topic: A story from the Bike Challenge

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#665Challenge

#665Challenge

I'm a local tennis coach so wanted to do a tennis related bike ride challenge to keep my fitness up during this lockdown. I set myself a 665 mile challenge (665 relates to the longest ever tennis m... read more

Topic: A story from the Bike Challenge

Riding in the cold and rain!

Riding in the cold and rain!

Well it certainly been a challenging month. Back on furlough! Dodging puddles, trying to stay upright on the ice, fixing punctures following the multitude of hedge cutters out this month. Still... read more

Topic: A story from the Bike Challenge

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#LighttheNight

#LighttheNight

Yes! It is getting darker so to carry on cycling through the winter I replaced my old lights with new light weight rechargeable LED ones. I loved them ~#lightthenight

Topic: A story from the Bike Challenge

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My Light the Night

My cycle commute is 12 miles each way on bridleways and country lanes and I leave home at 05:30, which means a dark cycle at this time of year and definitely a case of Light the Night! I have over ... read more

Topic: A story from the Bike Challenge

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Dan Dennehy #lightthenight
RB BB 👍 I enjoy lights out riding ,it's great to catch the wildlife in action! Plush with moonlight , its easier on the eyes!
CAAM 200k From Sanford to New Smyrna Beach and Back.

CAAM 200k From Sanford to New Smyrna Beach and Back.

This is my first time to joined this event and i was so Happy but doubt that i could not able to accomplish my ride but luckily i was able to finished it despite the the sore in my legs and butt fo... read more

Topic: A story from the Bike Challenge

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Start Riding at Any Age #MobilityWeekFL

I didn't start riding a bike until I was 29. My mother is from the Netherlands where kids are basically born on bikes, and I guess she thought I would have inhaled bike riding skills from the e... read more

- Mira Tanna

Topic: A story from the Bike Challenge

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#bikeSoutheasternSD

I'm glad I got to go out and see things I've never seen during the scav (the amphitheater at market creekside was really cool) but everyone else looks like they are having so much more fun with the... read more

Topic: A story from the Bike Challenge

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Sylvie Froncek Yay! Thanks for writing a great story! We'll pick winners after the event ends!

I'm done!

Last spin today for the 'Ride it out'. Big thumbs up for all participants from me and thanks to NSC for the logistics and organising the good weather!

- Alan Jackson

Topic: A story from the Bike Challenge

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Staying Visible in the Night

I added a set of bike lights to my bike, front and back so I can continue to ride even if it gets dark while I am out riding. #BikeLightsAtNigh

- Lidia Hernandez

Topic: A story from the Bike Challenge

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Raymond Polakowski #bikeLightsAtNight I have a large light attached to my backpack that can be set to be one or to blink. I have multiple refl... read more
Lockdown Holiday-Cycle Challenge

Lockdown Holiday-Cycle Challenge

Set out this morning on my challenge to ride my longest ride 50 miles in a single activity. Packed lunch, bottles of water and an afternoon treat Eccles Cake. Heading out of the city towards the c... read more

Topic: A story from the Bike Challenge

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Getting back on the Bike

I have not ridden a bike in years due to increased weight gain. After losing some weight over the past few years I felt more comfortable getting back out there. Learning routes was never on my mind... read more

- Thomas Blasquez

Topic: A story from the Bike Challenge

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Sylvie Froncek Yay! You're entered in the prize drawing! We'll choose a winner when the scavenger hunt ends!
Collecting evidence - by bike

Collecting evidence - by bike

Our team at the University of Brighton has been remote working since March '20 and we're fortunate that most aspects of our work can be undertaken online. However we're on the brink of submitting t... read more

- Shona Campbell

Topic: A story from the Bike Challenge

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The sunny side of cycling.

The sunny side of cycling.

Boost your fitness, mental health and help reduce our carbon footprint. Get on your bike. 🚲

Topic: A story from the Bike Challenge

Bike Lights At Night

Bike Lights At Night

I've been biking around the neighborhood at night after work hours. It's a nice way to end the day. I need to double up my front white lights to help see the roadway better. #BikeLightsAtNight

Topic: A story from the Bike Challenge

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No looking back

After treatment for breast cancer I wanted a challenge, so I signed up for ride the night. But hubby pointed out that I didn’t really ride a bike without hitting things or falling off. So I joined ... read more

Topic: A story from the Bike Challenge

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Riding in the cold and rain!

Riding in the cold and rain!

Well it certainly been a challenging month. Back on furlough! Dodging puddles, trying to stay upright on the ice, fixing punctures following the multitude of hedge cutters out this month. Still... read more

Topic: A story from the Bike Challenge

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Matching lights #LightTheNight

Matching lights #LightTheNight

These two, feeling grown up riding in the dark. The rear bike light is a bit low so clip running lights on their jackets hoods

Topic: A story from the Bike Challenge

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Finding my love of cycling and maintenance

Having tipped past 47 years old this time I was keen to make more of an effort to get back into cycling. I joined cycling September challenge, which not entirely successful due to illness did see m... read more

- Mark Woods

Topic: A story from the Bike Challenge

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Breezy Ride with the Family

Breezy Ride with the Family

Today the whole family braved some blustery winds from TS Eta and trekked to the local grocery store and picked up lunch from a local restaurant. The stores are actually really close to our home, b... read more

Topic: A story from the Bike Challenge

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Poorna Bhattacharya Thank you for sharing the spirit of Mobility Week!
CAAM 200k From Sanford to New Smyrna Beach and Back.

CAAM 200k From Sanford to New Smyrna Beach and Back.

This is my first time to joined this event and i was so Happy but doubt that i could not able to accomplish my ride but luckily i was able to finished it despite the the sore in my legs and butt fo... read more

Topic: A story from the Bike Challenge

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