Paul Petch

Seven weeks in – Lake Sumner ride

So after being here for nearly 2 months what’s happening?

I’ve met up with quite a few people on the Port Hills as well as riding the surrounds since arriving in Christchurch and am now regularly out there at least 3 times a week cranking away. It’s really great meeting so many different types of riders out to enjoy the same thing…. riding bikes. What totally blows me away here in NZ is the attitude towards riding and the outdoors in general- people just love it….. and are not caught up on the latest “bling” or the “lightest wheels”… they just get out and ride :) I’d also like to make a note that the average weight of a bike I’ve seen out on the hills are not in the ‘weight weeneie’ category at all! and to just see people riding and get on with it- is not just an inspiration- but refreshing too :)

My technical skills and fitness have improved too I think. The Port Hills have very skinny single track in most places with randomly strewn rocks, rocky obstacles and tight switcthbacks (often up)- which compared to the smooth tracks in Australia is very challenging- and continue to be a steep learning curve! The terrain on Port Hills also provides large climbs (900m +) as well as a constant undulation of the single track- all of which has helped me drop nearly 4kg from my fat ass- and also helped me adopt a good seated climbing technique :) I’m also riding everywhere in the city as we have no car- this is now becoming less and less of a chore compared to the first weeks after selling the planet killer- my wife Amy is even out on a bike!

Bike wise- it has been interesting. I started out on my 120mm+ Trek Dually which worked well- but I soon went back to my hardtail once it arrived. I’m a minority (it seems) riding a hardtail in the Hills – but I just find that I ride better on a hardtail and more importantly- enjoy it more. Saying that- I’d not want to ever go back to a 2.1 XC race tyre or an aluminum frame! The 2.3 tyres pretty much stick to anything and love rocky sections- fixed or loose – while riding Ti just blows my socks off everytime… it’s so smooth at the back! I’ve now put the Trek Fuel EX8 2007 frame up for sale….. make way for an Orange P7 frame- of course it’s cro- mo :D (p.s. offers are welcomed).

My attitude towards riding has also changed or “evolved” – gone are the days of weight weenie obsessions and an unhealthy competitiveness at events and even out with mates. I’m just loving getting out, meeting some great people, and riding primo trails in this magnificent country that embraces anyone who wants to challenge themselves in the outdoors.

I’m missing my mates something rotton back in Australia- but as we know- shit moves on – and they are just a stones throw over the water!

It’s all good :)

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Related posts:

1. Lake Sumner ride with Craig
2. Mountain biking at Lake Sumner
3. Lynskey titanium arrives
4. Port Hills and no dab into Sumner
5. Richard’s visit. Ride three. Bottle Lake Forest

This entry was posted on Sunday, January 27th, 2008 at 11:26 am and is filed under Bike Rides and tagged with lake sumner, lynskey, Trails & Rides. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.