Over 60 years old - Peddler's (cycling)

Park at Taumanu Reserve in Onehunga. Exit motorway at Queenstown Rd. It's a large carpark with toilets.
From there we head to and cross the Mangere bridge. Turn just before Waterfront Rd onto the cycle track. The track follows the Manukau Harbour but all too quickly comes to an end. We will continue on the footpath through the industrial area of Otahuhu (there is nobody around on the weekends) and continue on the footpath up the Great South Rd. Turn at Southdown lane and onto Hugo Johnston to get back onto the cycle lane. Once back in Onehunga we can cross the bridge and go into Onehunga to a cafe. Its a nice ride, mainly off road, and fairly flat, suitable for everybody. Approximately 23km.
As per usual:
Please bring a spare tube for your particular bike wheel size.
We travel at circa 15ks an hour except for down hills.
We have a tail end Charlie to make sure riders do not get lost. We are not too fond of leaving people behind.
Assistance will be rendered for any mechanical issues but we are not bike mechanics.

The ride is a revisit of the Hauraki Rail trail covering the parts not normally visited being Thames to Paeroa, Paeroa to Te Aroha, Te Aroha to Matamata. This is not a normal group ride at all being long,
flat and on gravel and is about energy management and endurance rather than traffic lights and fancy cafes.

The first day is meeting at Paeroa, catching a shuttle to Matamata and then riding back to Paeroa with lunch at Te Aroha. All slightly downhill but in practice flat. I am not expecting the pace to be overly fast
as outright speed burns energy and we may be riding apart if dust is a factor. Participants are expected to ride at their own speed and we will simply regroup every few ks to ensure that everyone is OK.

The Second day is a ride from Paeroa to Thames and back. Slightly longer and more technical.

If you like moo cows, the smell of the countryside and ride everywhere on a low power setting this is a great ride for you. 90% of it is simply crossing farms and it is a great way to study the different cow breed variants.

Alternatively you may see it as an opportunity to get fit for summer riding or as a way of finding out how far you can get on your bike.

Draft Schedule which may evolve as we go is:

Thursday Nov 21st Evening
Book into Peddlars Rest or other accomodation Paeroa

Friday Nov 22nd
Meet at Bandstand Paeroa 9 am
Catch Shuttle to Matamata $50 per head - Morning Tea
Ride to Te Aroha - 37km Lunch
Ride to Paeroa - 23 km

Dinner at Paeroa
Recharge Bikes
Sleep

Saturday Nov 23rd
Breakfast @ L&P Café & Bar 8.00 am
Ride to Thames 34k
Lunch at Thames
Ride Back Another 34k
Go Home

If you do get in trouble we will be able to drive back and pick you up once we get back to Paeroa but you may have a very long wait so probably best if you come well prepared.

Bring Tyre Repair Kit, Spare Tube, Cell Phone, AA Membership, Spare Bike Battery?, Clothes Layers, Raicoat, First Aid, Tyre Panda, Tool Kit, Head Screwed On, Spare Water.

People can do parts of this ride only if that suits them.

The assumption is that if you come along to the ride you will pay for the shuttle from Paeroa to Matamata. If however you do not wish to pay for the shuttle please let me know on 021 348 979. If you want to do the ride and are interested in sharing transport down let me know.

This is an event we have run before where we use cycleways to traverse parks around Mt Albert and visit Mont Cecilia being an Art Galley and Cafe close to the route. This is a nice safe easy ride for e bikers, and not too hard for peddlers. Very pretty ride and for those not familiar with this area amazing to see just how many bike paths there are in this area.

Basically, the starting point is St. Lukes Road/Northwestern Cycle Way. But the Bannerman Street address allows us to congregate safely and to park vehicles nearby. There is also parking at Motat on the other side of the motorway.. just bike over the bridge and then left to the starting point.

We will head west along the cycle way, past the Golf Course, up past AUT, down the rainbow pathway and turn left at the bottom to Waterview, up Oakley Creek Reserve. Following the Waterview Cycle Pathover the railway bridge, over New North Road into Allan Woods Park. We follow the Southwestern Path down to Valona Reserve, cross the bridge to Kukuwai Park and then travel through Underwood Park, Walmsley Park, War Memorial Park, down Somerset Road and up to Monte Cecilia for lunch. After lunch cross the bridge over the motorway into Keith Hay Park, round that once and reverse course over the bridge all the way back to the car park.

There are hills but nothing too extreme.... Rainbow path maybe the toughest.

95% is on paths... but there are a lot of road crossings. mainly controlled.

The ride is approximately 26k's.

As per our other rides then:

• Please bring a spare tube for your particular bike wheel size.
• We travel at circa 15ks an hour except for down hills.
• We will cancel for rain but not for showers.
• We have a tail end Charlie to make sure riders do not get lost. We are not too fond of leaving people behind.
• Assistance will be rendered for any mechanical issues but we are not bike mechanics.
  - If you are signed up for the ride but change your mind at the last minute please text or phone me on 021 348 979 to advise.

The last ride of the year !!

The starting point is the Buoy Cafe which is located next to the Roundabout under the Harbour Bridge (Coffee, Breakfast & Loos.)

Parking: If you want to pay for your parking then you can use Z pier. Note local street parking is only 120 minutes.

Free parking: best place is Point Erin Park which offers 240 minutes free. When you come out of the park on the bike go right, cross over motorway access to the bridge and you will then find a cycleway going alongside the water all the way to the Cafe just after the bridge.

The ride:
After gathering at Buoy Cafe we go down the marine boardwalk all the way to Beaumont Street, (quick check for anyone at Pier Z), shortcut across Victoria Park up to Nelson Street and then across to the pink pathway and down Grafton Gully which is long downhill run past the university towards the port. You need good brakes on this one and need to leave some room between cyclists.

We then head to Quay street and will pick up anyone that’s come into the city on the train or ferry ( or non e bikers. ) We follow the cycle track along side the harbour all the way to St Heliers.

Lunch : Annabelles, st heliers We have booking for 30.

Affordable, varied menu. Toasted Sandwiches, Bao buns, Fish and Chips , variety of mains and entrees.

Easy bike parking opposite.

Wayne and i had lunch here this week. And despite google reviews giving them a 3, we reckon best BLT we’re ever had ! $12.50 . Ok coffee, no cabinet food ( muffins maybe ) but lots small plate options etc. .

Return options:

1. Quiet trundle back to the city with Rosemary and Wayne.
2. Time allowing, I am sure some will want Warwick to head up to St Johns, and down the Te Ara ki Uta ki Ta back to Tamaki Drive. ( up Fern Glen Road, along Long drive and St Heliers Bay Road to the beginning of Te Ara ki Uta ki Tai. Fern Glen Road is one long hill and St Heliers Bay Road is a bit messy for cyclists but the track at the end is worth it. After swooping down Te Ara ki Uta ki Tai then we come out at Kings Plant barn where we track along Ngapipi Road (no road works at present) back to the waterfront and through to Auckland via the viaduct back to the Buoy Cafe.)

Cancellation : maybe not !! Raincoats.

- Please bring a spare tube for your particular bike wheel size.
- We travel at circa 15ks an hour except for down hills.
- We stop often to bunch up.
- We have a tail end Charlie to make sure riders do not get lost.
- We are not too fond of leaving people behind.
- Assistance will be rendered for any mechanical issues but we are not bike mechanics.
- If you are signed up for the ride but change your mind at the last minute please text or phone me on 021 348 979 to advis