Grumpy Old Men On Bikes

I am flying to NZ  with Emirates; not an airline I have used before but they were cheap.  The downside of this economy is that I am flying in an Airbus A380, the so-called ‘Super-Jumbo’. I am not a nervous flyer but I really don’t like the idea of being in an oversized cigar tube with this many other people: In contrast, the plane that will take me from Auckland to Kerikeri is very much at the opposite end of the size spectrum with just 19 seats.  After this  I transfer to an even smaller vehicle: How far can I take this transport downsizing? I wondered: A good attempt but still really rather big.  Now THIS is more like it: Sorry about the poor photo but he was doing 35mph when I took the shot so blurring was inevitable.  What impresses me about this guy isn’t that he was riding a bike the size of a hamster, it is that he has a backpack and helmet and  appears to actually be GOING somewhere on it! Yes, you’ve guess...

Many of you probably wonder what it is that I see in cycling.  Having spent the first 40+ years of my life thinking that cycling was only for people who couldn't afford proper transport I understand this point view but feel that it is my duty to educate you.  So, 10 reasons why cycling is THE sport for real men with photographic proof: 1/  Cycling is a kit-based sport - men like kit   2/  It holds back middle age spread – cyclists are always lean and fit 3/ It is an outdoor sport - you will always have a healthy tan to attract the girls 4/  Cycling is accessible to the masses - even if you cannot afford a decent size car to transport your bike to an event you can always make do 5/  There are competitive events for all tastes  - here is cycloironing 6/  Cycling is a great way to meet new friends and you will soon become bosom pals 7/ Cycling is fun for all the family 8/  The bicycl...

Although I will be undertaking this trip solo I do have a ‘chum’.  While scouring the Interweb for useful information I stumbled across:  http://frankburns.wordpress.com/ . As best I can tell, he is NOT Major Frank Burns from the 4077 MASH, but a fellow cyclist from Cambridgeshire who is undertaking the virtually identical journey but starting on Jan 19th.  It seems we are kindred spirits and have BOTH cut the handles off our toothbrushes (a ‘sawn-off’ is the true mark of a serious touring cyclist). I contacted Frank and he was kind enough to share all of his research including many useful pointers and I hope that, in return, I have helped him a little with my own meagre findings.  Frank is fortunate enough to have a little more time for his trip and it turns out that the day he flies out of Invercargill (bottom of South Island) is THE SAME DAY I am due to arrive there.  At the moment we will miss each other by a few hours ...

I have a list.  I don’t mean a  mental list, I mean an actual proper written down list.....of cycle rides that  I want to do.  Obviously at the top of this list is Round The World but it might take a while before I manage to sort out exactly how to bunk off for 9 months to do that one; but up there in the top 5 is an end to end of New Zealand.  I have been to NZ twice before on business and liked what I saw but there is the other obvious attraction that their summer is our winter.  Thanks to the wonders of ‘not having a proper job’ I find myself able to spare a few weeks to pop down under and cross this one off the list.  So on Feb 5 th I will be boarding the first of three planes that will deliver me to within about 120 miles of the top of North Island.  My big regret, and the reason for the song title, is that I will be riding alone.  Admittedly my usual riding companion is only Knobby (aka Alan) but I have kind of gotten used to rid...