Politicians and cycling

[kiwi girl]

I think this is very cool (go Nikki) - although really enjoying the story possibly requires having a prior opinion about Trevor Mallard that probably means being a New Zealander. These are all central government MPs that the story is talking about.

I did Taupo 10 years ago, on election day as it happens, with my final training affected by having very recently met my partner who was a parliamentary press gallery reporter at the time

http://www.guide2.co.nz/politics/new...-race/11/10857

[crazycanuck]

Trevor Mallard's a cyclist??? Wow.

I don't know what the gent's name is but he's one of the super enduro guys that rides a bent-is he a Greens MP??

[kiwi girl]

Yeah its Mike Ward, the former Green MP, who did Coast to Coast on a 'bent

[Pip]

Hi Kiwi Girl! Are you doing Taupo this year?
I would never have guessed Trevor Mallard was a cyclist. How fantastic that so many of our politicians are getting involved!

[kiwi girl]

no Taupo for me this year. I am doing this

http://www.bv.com.au/great-rides/20004/

are you doing Taupo?

[Pip]

Oh that looks great! Yep, Taupo for me again this year. Aiming for sub-six!

I'm supposedly training for the Rotorua half Ironman as well. My coach has me cycling Taupo then running for an hour. If it's over 30 degrees again I think I'll be running in the lake!

[MillieNZ]

As much as it's really great that our politicans are getting out there at Taupo,....... I'm having hang ups of seeing Mallard in lycra Still I'm sure he'll be way ahead of me !

Nice work Pip

I'm struggling with getting enough bike time at the moment, so might have to just share Taupo ride with a friend ............ the unfortunate downside of moving overseas all the 'stuff' invloved with moving

Did you see the SUB rides dates are organised for summer ?

[Pip]

I haven't looked at the SUB rides as I have so many other events already scheduled - there are four around the Wellington region I can do in the lead-up to Taupo, plus shorter distance triathlons in prep for Rotorua. As much as I would love to enter every event around I have to draw the line somewhere!

My solution to bike time right now is to ride to and from work. Unfortunately it's only about 6km from home to work - almost entirely downhill on the way in and then up a huge great big hill on the way home! Both ways involve cycling through multiple sets of traffic lights and rush hour traffic. However on days (unlike today) when the Wellington wind's not blowing near gale there's a great 28km route I can take home - mostly flat but with a long, slow 6km climb at the end. Unfortunately the climb is usually into the predominant Northerly, which funnels down the valley I have to climb up. NOT pleasant at the end of a long day in the office!

As much as it's really great that our politicans are getting out there at Taupo,....... I'm having hang ups of seeing Mallard in lycra Still I'm sure he'll be way ahead of me !

Nice work Pip

I'm struggling with getting enough bike time at the moment, so might have to just share Taupo ride with a friend ............ the unfortunate downside of moving overseas all the 'stuff' invloved with moving

Did you see the SUB rides dates are organised for summer ?

[MillieNZ]

I'd love to be able to cycle to work - I'm about 21km each way which would be easy to do.... there are two very big hills both ways, which would be a challenge but not as much as a challenge as Auckland drivers on the way to and from work........... they scare me enough in a car let alone on my bike......

the SUB rides are over summer..... three up here but I won't be here then....... One down your way

Good luck with the Taupo training I haven't written off the whole thing yet, but unless I can get my ride time up over the next couple of weeks, half it'll be !

[Pip]

Where in Auckland are you? I'm from out West originally but have been in Wellington for seven years now. I have to admit that I'd be very reluctant to cycle up there, although Wellington's not exactly a cycling paradise either. Where in this country is? It's taken me a while to get up the nerve to ride home in rush hour and I used to do the 28km detour because it missed the worst of it. Now riding through the centre of town to take the short route home is almost a fun challenge - almost! Too many of my friends have had accidents of varying severity for me to ever be completely nerve free.

[crazycanuck]

I have to say that because of Auckland we took up Mtn biking . I wouldn't want to be soley a roadie in jaffaland..

I really want to do the Colville Connection or some other mtb event in enzed next year.

[MillieNZ]

I'm in east Auckland...... have the pleasure of being able to ride Clevedon and surrounding areas form my doorstep, but would have to ride over Sandstone hill to Botany south for work.... quite frankly the number of red light running and failing to stop at roundabout etc, all with car drivers manic desire to always be in front of the car in front makes me avoid riding to work ! i'm impressed that you ride in that winds Welly always seems to get

CC - I've been out to woodhill sands a few times now and loving mountian biking.....although i still can't decide on a bike to buy too many choices ! i figure I'm much safer on a mountain bike in Hawaii than on the road on the wrong side !

[crazycanuck]

Hey ladies,

Did you guys know there's now an 80km mtb event too of the round taupo for the dirt chickas & fellas?!!! Too bad it's on the same weekend as our 12hr...oh well..

Millienz..Have you done the Hunua farm track lately? Sooo much fun but ooohh so hard. Woodhill..ahhh..mmmm..
In terms of locating a bike, many chickas here on TE seem to like thier Titus bikes. Dunno if they sell them in NZ but perhaps worth looking at.

I'd have a look but they don't sell them in Western Australia. A Yeti(sold locally at a way coolio shop that supports mtb in Perth) or a Rocky Mountain (has to be specially ordered from Vic ) might be in my stable...in the future.