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 [...]
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 [...]
My favourite posts of 2009
Another year nearly over, and what an epic it has been at www.paulpetch.com! Some obvious highlights have been merging of personal blogs into one (that went problem free within 24hrs!), lots of riding, shed loads of running (61.7 KM ultra anyone!) and a rapid increase in internet traffic. The more subtle stuff of 2009 has [...]
November updates
Summer is here? Eeek. Mid November already and the days are hanging on until about 9pm ish. Summer seems to have officially arrived and as odd as it sounds my mind and body take a while to adjust to having all of this extra light and seemingly more warmth (13degs with sun is warm for [...]
Richard’s visit. Ride five. Port Hills to Taylors Mistake
While I headed out with Spencer yesterday, Richard took a well deserved break off the bike and did tourist stuff in and around Christchurch. Today he was all rested up and ready for more riding! Initial thoughts were for the Wharfedale Track, but it is a much better ride with a group so we decided [...]
Richard’s visit. Ride four. Craigieburn (Photo rich!)
After some last minute emailing/ phoning and car shuffling 4 of us took off for the Craigieburn Forest Park and in particular the Lyndon Saddle Loop. Soon after leaving the carpark we realised that we had taken the wrong track… but decided to keep going and find out where it took us… I mean…. what [...]
Richard’s visit. Ride three. Bottle Lake Forest
Richards knee is not looking to good after his tumble at Port Hills on Sunday so instead of Craigieburn, we headed to Bottlelake for some fast and dry singletrack instead. With the singlespeed cranking (and typically creeeeaking) and the Turner’s Hope hubs “click click clicking” we put two holiday paced laps in with perfect blue [...]
Richard’s visit. Ride two. Port Hills
Today was time to introduce Richard to Mr. Rapaki & Co. After a few hours in the city and a whirlwind tour of the local bike shops and a good chat with staff about how much food was eaten over the break and how perfect the weather has turned out…. off we went. Cycling from [...]
Richard’s visit. Ride one. Port Hills
We picked up Richard from the airport and within 10 minutes of getting back he was already out on the veranda with his fetching purple gloves and putting his Turner Sultan together. Now that’s dedication. Even though Richard had been up since 5am I was itching to get out for a ride as I had [...]
Turner Sultan & Titus El Guapo
I had some great news this week that my mate Richard from downunder will be heading over my way on the 26th December until the 8th Jan. I’ve got a few weeks holiday over the festive period and new year so having Richard stay should work out sweet. Our early plans are to hit the [...]
