It all started for me when I got my first BMX at the age of four. Getting that bike was my first taste of freedom; to point the bike in whatever direction I wanted and just go (so long as I was back for dinner of course). It was marvellous! That freedom also gave me my first taste of adventure, which didn't leave me for some years.
My parents recognised the enjoyment I got from this and fuelled the fire throughout my youth; by the time I was 15 years old I had skydived, bungee jumped, white water rafted, skied black diamond runs, raced motocross and travelled a lot.
However, through the years - as my life followed the normal twists and turns and conformed to society's expectations - that sense of adventure was slowly whittled away. I had a good job and successful career but something was missing. I had bicycles off and on but never really used them for anything other than to collect dust and take up space. I had forgotten what it was like to just ride a bike for no other reason than the mere freedom and enjoyment it could give.
It seems there comes a time in every man's life when he looks in the mirror, notices the grey hairs in his beard and starts taking a good, hard look at his life. When I did this at age 35, I realised I had been following a path based on what I did yesterday - what I had always done - rather than one that would lead me to tomorrow. I had ended up just going through the motions, and it didn't feel amazing. So, after a rather large life change, I decided to buy a bike and go riding again... to try and rediscover that sense of adventure.
In true "me" fashion, I bit off more than I could chew and without any experience cycle touring, and with no fitness but a single 40 km ride under my belt, I went on a three week 1,500 km tour of the top of the South Island of New Zealand. I packed up my newly purchased $450 Hybrid bike (named Terry) with 23 kgs (excluding food and water of course) of everything one could possibly need when camping and travelling. The only reason I limited it to 23 kgs was because that was the maximum allowed on the plane for my flight down to Christchurch, the city where my inaugural tour would began. Man was it heavy!
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| Terry the Tourer en route to Arthur's Pass |
I learnt a lot from that trip: like what is a need and what is a want, that it's hard to go up hills, and that the saddle on a cheap bike should probably be upgraded before going on a tour. But, mostly I found my zest for life again and the sense of adventure and excitement I had lost since my first BMX bike ride way back when.
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| Even a cold and rainy West Coast day couldn't wipe the smile off my face |
Buoyed by my experiences, I continued to cultivate the passion. I purchased a second-hand old and heavy mountain bike (Muzz) and went cross country across New Zealand trying to find its many and amazing nooks and crannies. I started with short day trails, and loved how with only a bike and a sense of adventure you could see so much more of this phenomenal (or any) country.
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| Muzz overlooking Lake Taupo |
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| Muzz in the Kaimai Ranges |
The more I cycled, the more I wanted to go further afield, get there faster, and stay for longer. I whittled down my luggage to fit into only two panniers plus tent, then down to just two panniers, then to merely bike bags (all home made). I also introduced Candy to my life as I was finding poor ol' Muzz a little uncomfortable, heavy and slow for long days in the saddle. As a cyclocross bike, Candy could be dressed up pretty but deep down was rough and ready and loved to get dirty.
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| Candy overlooking Raglan |
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| Overnight date with Candy - seeing New Zealand one ride at a time |
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| Rose posing in the Waitakari Ranges |
