Afan Forest Park Mountain Biking – Wales
After a few nights in central Cardiff my brother and I headed an hour or so to Afan Lodge for a nights stay to check out the Afan Valley. Our original plan was for me to stay all week- but the weather was against us- as well as budget (one night at Afan Lodge was [...]
x = n+1 right?
Do you feel like you have to many bikes? I reckon less is more and I’m sure that you will agree….but still feel the need for a bike for every possible terrain. I mean how many bikes do we actually need? It seems that the universal formula being pushed by the marketing gurus, bike makers [...]
Mountain Biking at Woodend & the You Yangs….
Today is the first day that Amy and I have really stopped since rocking up to Melbourne last Friday. Having some internet access is also very nice! After spending time with Family and friends and craving our own bed back home- it was great waking up on Collins Street in a huge hotel bed this [...]
Magicshine/ Nitelights Bike Light Review
The night riding/ running season is here! And this time around I’m not going to “out run” my lights and opted for some cheap but very bright lights from Magicshine (or Nitelights as they known here in NZ) to light my way. First impressions are that they are well made for the cash and ship [...]
I love rubber…
So it was a fine fine day today when I eventually managed to roll out of bed at 11am :) What a stark contrast to yesterday when it was rainy and cold. I was pretty chuffed to have saved myself for today’s outing and after a quick call out to the gang- I remembered Spence [...]
Singletrack Fiesta at Living Springs
I scooted over to Living Springs near Christchurch to support (and photograph) the riders today. What a sweet day it was too. I caught up with some familiar faces as well as screaming bad Spanish at riders….while wearing a stick on mustache. I managed to scope out a fair bit of the loop on foot [...]
Hello Autumn my old friend…
I love this time of year. Leaves falling from the trees, the smell of the “out doors” as it starts to breath once more and of course the colours of nature getting ready to retire for a few months. The forecast looks varied for the next few weeks with some wet and sun- then repeat. [...]
Return to the Wharfedale Track
You know what they say about falling off a horse right? Well today I headed back to the Wharfedale Track near Oxford to ride it after breaking two ribs there just a few months back. Mid week I decided it was time to get out of Gotham and sent an email to the usual group [...]
Hamner 4/8 hour
This week has been quite shit really. A virus totally wiped me out with aches (particularly the back!) from hell had me in bed for Easter (when I had 5 days off work!) and then with terrible sleep and empty batteries I’ve been in “delirious land”. And we all know that it’s the end of [...]
Marin Wolf Ridge for sale…
A lot has changed in the past twelve months and I’m now very keen on all day rides in the saddle, more enduro style events (like I used to do a few years ago), 12 & 24hr races as well as dipping my toes into off road duathlons. Friends that I once rode with every [...]
Vulcanizer trail at Mt. Vulcan
The infamous Vulcanizer was due to take a hammering a few weeks ago as part of the annual event run by Christchurch Singletrack Club but bad weather put a stop to that. What’s awesome is that the event organisers – Craig and Rebekka- kindly gave up their Saturday to organise a social ride for folk [...]
Le Race. 100KM Christchurch to Akaroa
On Wednesday I was at at my desk contemplating how much I hate sitting at my desk and then I had a thought. It’s been a while since I’ve really got out there and blew away the cobwebs so I decided to enter the annual 100KM road race from Christchurch to Akaroa known as the [...]
KHS Tuscan 29er mini review
Gee. It has been sometime since I’ve reviewed anything at www.paulpetch.com hasn’t it? Well, I’ve now discovered that I can ramble and rant on video now about the bikes and gear that I enjoy. It’s kinda lazy, but works much better me thinks. So here are some thoughts about the new KHS Tuscan build- which [...]
Man down! at the Wharfedale Track
I did not get to bed until after midnight so come the early rise I was not feeling to good. Infact- a lazy day under a tree with a book would have been my choice! And with Spencer running characteristically late we did not get going until after 10am. To further aid the poor start [...]
Craigieburn mountain biking with Mark & Ricco!
After a week up North, Richard and Mark went via Wellington to Nelson before arriving late Wednesday in Gotham (Christchurch). I chose a few rides my Aussie guests at Craigieburn and the Wharfedale to show them what the trails in Canterbury are like. If time was on our side I would have loved to have [...]
Rotorua. North Island trip. Ride six!
The day before I left for Auckland (3rd) I rode the Port Hills and felt terrible. It was 27 degs and I wanted to vomit climbing up the Rapaki Track. Just three weeks earlier I had run my first Ultra Marathon and it was like my body and mind had forgotten just how grueling it [...]
Lake Taupo. North Island trip. Ride five
Our legs are feeling a tad tender so today’s “recovery” ride was welcomed at Lake Taupo. It was really warm as we got our gear ready and set off, so the challenge today was going to be the heat as much as the aching legs! The drive took about an hour and was nothing special [...]
Rotorua. North Island trip. Ride four
We set off at about midday today with a route planned the night before that aimed to take us to the highest point in the park and then down…down..and down :) Needless to say, the climbs were a bit of a grind but nothing like the good old South Island ;). With all of us [...]
Rotorua. North Island trip. Ride three
Another awesome day with more riding in the redwoods this afternoon. We were lucky enough to have Vanina Vergoz & Gavin with us who and were happy to show us their favorite tracks. Mark and Richard bumped into the pair and got chatting while waiting for the wheels to be built at Kiwi Bikes. Small [...]
Rotorua. North Island trip. Ride two
It typical Craig and Paul fashion we got to our accommodation and had a quick feed and were off climbing up to the highest point in the park with 30 mins of our arrival! And boy oh boy it was sticky and humid out there! Unlike most climbs though- the reward was more than I [...]
Woodhill mountain biking. North Island trip. Ride one.
I’m currently in Auckland and staying with my good friend Craig- who I’ve had many an adventure with over the past few years. Last night we met up with some of his mates and went out for food- and rose early this morning for a spin at Woodhill bike park- about 45mins outside of Auckland. [...]
An afternoon with the Salsa Fargo
Things have started to mellow somewhat as I taper to the biggest physical challenge of my life on the 5th December in the form of the Kepler Challenge- a 60KM Ultra mountain run. Today I rode the trusty Fargo to Bottlelake Forest for a short run. Once I was on route- I was enjoying the [...]
