Stories from New Zealand

Most amazing cycle trail -- spectacular scenery and lots of fun physical challenges -- although best part by far was meeting golden-oldies were totally kicking it -- So, so inspiring -- If you ever... read more

Planning on visiting my grandchildren on the weekend, I was looking forward to catching up with them. Having a lunch time meet up was a good idea, as it gave the modern generation time to get o... read more

I had never ridden a pedal bike before, my hubby buys me one for my 52nd birthday. It is an e-mountain bike, I thought I would never love it as much as my motorbike and it would sit in garage like ... read more

Topic: Encouraging others to ride

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More than 50 cyclists gathered in Queenstown and Wanaka for barista coffees and pain au chocolate, croissants and muffins to fuel their ride to work. Braving the light drizzle, but celebrating the ... read more

Topic: Encouraging others to ride

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I finally had the guts to start my biking challenge yesterday with my hubby and son. So fun.. today I rode to work. Small accomplishments, makes me happy 😊. See you around bikers!

Anke Fronius Congratulations to getting started! That’s always the hardest bit and you have done it! Enjoy!!!

Congratulations to getting started! That’s always the hardest bit and you have done it! Enjoy!!!

Hi my name is Liam Carter, I'm the founder of a group called ride your trike which was started when i got mad at drivers and overtime turned into a advocate group who loves seeing others complete t... read more

My daughter started school last year. We live about 1.5km away from school. So for me, especially being from Dutch descend, it comes naturally to bike to work and drop Ana off at school on the way.... read more

Topic: Encouraging others to ride

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Tim Galea You know it is more than $0.95 / km? So that is $855 saved!

You know it is more than $0.95 / km? So that is $855 saved!

Decided to try out some of the Wharfedale Track with friends. Can't say I've tried riding a DoC track before, or that my bike has been hugged by ferns. A bit of technical uphill and then a fun ride... read more

Brendan Van den Bosch I rode that myself a few weeks ago. Unfortunately after the saddle, it gets a bit hectic with continued slips and fallen tr... read more

I rode that myself a few weeks ago. Unfortunately after the saddle, it gets a bit hectic with continued slips and fallen trees on the way to the hut. Still doable but that trail needs some love.

Hi my name is Liam and im 15 years old with cerebral palsy. I'm new to this group and wanted to introduce myself. I am just recovering from my 5th knee dislocation injury which doesn't stop me from... read more

Phil Evans Nice one. I like that last line.

Nice one. I like that last line.

Tim H NZ does have some "fast and aggressive drivers" ! Take care Matey...and keep safe Biking : )

NZ does have some "fast and aggressive drivers" ! Take care Matey...and keep safe Biking : )

Laura Cisneros Go Liam!!!!!

Go Liam!!!!!

Thomas Stokell Nice one Liam! Thanks for sharing your story.

Nice one Liam! Thanks for sharing your story.

Christina Sorbello This is pretty amazing Liam! We at Love to Ride are all super inspired to read your story. Incredible!!!

This is pretty amazing Liam! We at Love to Ride are all super inspired to read your story. Incredible!!!

Carol Imray Well done Liam :)

Well done Liam :)

Jenny Davis So inspiring Liam

So inspiring Liam

Show 5 more comments

The race team for riders who don't necessarily want to race! To quote the website (and they have stickers!) “WE DON’T CARE WHERE YOU PLACE, JUST THAT YOU HAVE A DAY ON THE BIKE” Have A Day Race... read more

Topic: Encouraging others to ride

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My partner is not a huuuuge fan of exercise. He knows it's good for him, he's just not super keen on doing it all the time due to having various aches and previous injuries. I have been biking for... read more

Topic: Encouraging others to ride

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Anne Heins This is awesome, love it!

This is awesome, love it!

Veronica McKinnon My husband doesn't like cycling and he gave it a go but not his thing. Great you and your husband ride together 🚴‍♂️🚴‍♀️

My husband doesn't like cycling and he gave it a go but not his thing. Great you and your husband ride together 🚴‍♂️🚴‍♀️

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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Jenny Davis Woohoo go you!

Woohoo go you!

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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Jeremy Gadd Photo of Louise on Photo Page

Photo of Louise on Photo Page

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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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

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

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Richard Earl Was so great to see SOOO many bikes at this event. It's totally (and ALWAYS) the best way to get to festivals!

Was so great to see SOOO many bikes at this event. It's totally (and ALWAYS) the best way to get to festivals!

Anne Heins SUCH a fun time!! Awesome to see people with their kids in tow on their own bikes, in trailers and on kids bike seats too!! :D

SUCH a fun time!! Awesome to see people with their kids in tow on their own bikes, in trailers and on kids bike seats too!! :D

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, but s... read more

So after a big crash on my bike, I was getting back on the proverbial horse. Cardrona on Saturday, Skyline Gondola Sunday and Glendhu Bay on Sunday. At Cardrona, I rode a track that I refused to ri... read more

Topic: Encouraging others to ride

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2020 was the year I discovered cancer in my body and the treatments commenced. Six months of aggressive treatments before returning to full time work in November. Then I needed a challenge to get m... read more

Topic: Encouraging others to ride

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I took advantage of Saturday afternoons open day for the new Christchurch Northern Corridor. Headed from Edgeware Rd, joined at the Cranford St roundabout, then all the way north up the cycleway, a... read more

The thing is, I live and work in a small town,so I don't really need a car. The main reason I have one is to get my cat to the vet. What to do? Find a bike-compatible, cat-friendly pet carrier of c... read more

Topic: Encouraging others to ride

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Sam Stockwell Cats don't seem to mind going on the back of a bike, must be because they have a good view.

Cats don't seem to mind going on the back of a bike, must be because they have a good view.

For the second year, GHD Christchurch arranged a lunchtime picnic ride to encourage staff to ride a bike. Today we had a beautiful day warm day to go for the relaxed 3.5km ride off road. We had ano... read more

Topic: Encouraging others to ride

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Sharon Lea What a great idea.

What a great idea.

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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Erin Billing Great story share - Thank you!

Great story share - Thank you!

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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William Porth That's what I'm talking about!

That's what I'm talking about!

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 Aote... read more

“For me riding a bicycle helps me to become aware of the elements and landscapes around me. It’s a form of mobile meditation and a test of endurance when it its rainy and windy”. - Paula López

Topic: Encouraging others to ride

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My boss Wendy and I took the Active Southland E-Bikes for a spin on Valentine’s Day! Our first 1:1 catch up on wheels.

Topic: Encouraging others to ride

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I am a freelance photographer in Hamilton and have never owned a car and for the last 50 years have been cycling everywhere. I have never had an interest in getting a licence. “Everything I needed ... read more

Topic: Encouraging others to ride

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Over the weekend, hubby and I met in with his brother in Hamilton. We all have e-bikes, although he has not ridden far from home (he is worried his battery won't last long enough for a lengthy ride... read more

Topic: Encouraging others to ride

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I cycle for everything and in 2021 I discovered a virtual cycling app which I began with riding along the Berlin Wall. I was given information, history and updates along the journey and photos of t... read more

Topic: Encouraging others to ride

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Connecting with activities. Lunch breaks spending with biking + lessons how to ride 😍 happy to help

Topic: Encouraging others to ride

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Despite foul weather to start, had an excellent day riding with a great group of ladies, taking turns riding the 4km course, encouraging and challenging eachother to go hard it give it our all for ... read more

Topic: Encouraging others to ride

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We've been cycling along the river bank every day for the past six months. It's delightful. We ride past the estuary along to the harbor, then back up river to the railway bridge. Twenty km's all u... read more

Topic: Encouraging others to ride

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Diet and exercise have gone up a notch in my life due to a stroke a few months ago and a CAE procedure 2 weeks ago to remove the blockage (plaque)in the severe stage. Biking has been a savior to ge... read more

Topic: Encouraging others to ride

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My son who is 12 wanted to get fitter for sport so I suggested he cycle to school and I could cycle with him. At first he was a bit unsure as it is 7km each way but a little encouragement and he wa... read more

Topic: Encouraging others to ride

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Taking a break from driving through the Clutha District I stumbled on an unmarked trail at the Mt Stuart reserve and explored. Lo and behold it follows the old railway line and passes through cutti... read more

This challenge……. 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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Julian Boorman I found trainging for Iron Māori to be a good motivater too!

I found trainging for Iron Māori to be a good motivater too!

Russell Hockley Its a very good motivator.

Its a very good motivator.

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

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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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

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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

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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

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I found coming back to work in 2021 really hard. So, at the end of week two I decided it was all too much - I took a few days off to go and see my daughter in Nelson. I bought a ferry ticket for th... read more

Topic: Encouraging others to ride

I joined Landcare Trust late last year and have been inspired by my awesome colleagues all over the country to sign up our organisation to participate in the Aotearoa Bike Challenge. Most of us wor... read more

Topic: Encouraging others to ride

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My 3 year old had so much fun riding on my bike during the ABC this year, for her 4th birthday last week she got her first pedal bike (thanks for the discount Torpedo7!). I've never seen her so exc... read more

Topic: Encouraging others to ride

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We had a lovely day out on Sunday with workmates and friends and even dragged my partner's son Matthew along, who at 21 years old had never rode a mountain bike, he loved it! We had a delicious lu... read more

My mum mostly grew up in Christchurch and biked as a kid, but hasn't since she was in her twenties for a few different reasons. She saw how awesome I found riding around once I got my e-bike, and g... read more

Topic: Encouraging others to ride

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H M Wenley I call my E-bike my freedom machine. I have joined E-bike Social Riders Hawkes Bay group and we have not only clocked up he... read more

I call my E-bike my freedom machine. I have joined E-bike Social Riders Hawkes Bay group and we have not only clocked up heaps of kms but we have new friends. The group has suspended for now due to Covid-19 sadly.

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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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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Anne Heins Oh Ivan, I'm so sorry to hear you were made redundant, that's full on. I hope you have some good support around you. You ca... read more

Oh Ivan, I'm so sorry to hear you were made redundant, that's full on. I hope you have some good support around you. You can still take part in the Challenge though - what about setting up a group to ride with friends, or any kind of social group (family groups, faith groups, sport teams - anything at all). You can create/join as many clubs/groups as you like by clicking on the + sign by "My clubs and groups' in your Challenge profile. Clubs have their own leaderboards too, so you can see how you’re tracking compared with groups of a similar size, either nationally or in your home region! Plus you'll still be in to win prizes, and be eligible for the great participants discounts!

Barney Fitzsimons Hang in there Ivan, your attitude will win thru, ka kite

Hang in there Ivan, your attitude will win thru, ka kite

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 the afte... read more

Topic: Encouraging others to ride

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