what do YOU call a hill????

[SnappyPix]

I never really knew what hills were until I moved here to New Zealand!
My absolute max heart rate used to be 184. Previously a hill was something that made my quads burn, and my heart rate go up to 184.
I now find that a hill is something that I can't bring myself to look at; I have to stare at the tarmac in front of the wheel. It makes me dig real deep into my psyche even though I'm in my lowest gear and I'm out of the saddle. My heart rate is bursting my lungs at 191 and still the hill goes on, upwards, round the bend and out of sight.
When I'm climbing my hills, speed becomes irrelevant - just getting to the top is a miracle.
That's my hill! But the view at the top is FANTASTIC! And the descent is knee-trembling!

[RoadRaven]

hey there Snappy - aint it great?

If you decide you like hills, you should think about trying the K2 --- though I don't think you'll be seeing me riding in it, just cheering from the side

http://www.cycleclub.co.nz/eventsCalendar.htm
link to Manakau, Auckland club

http://202.20.65.2:3000/sportzHUB/ARC/K2_Noticeboard/
event summary from last year

http://www.ramblers.co.nz/links.asp
Link to my local club which lists events round NZ abd a few overseas

But yeah, views are great. I think its understood that no matter where you drive in NZ you are only about 2 hours away from the ocean - and we still have the amazing forests and mountains - the backbone of the fish Maui pulled up so long ago

[SnappyPix]

hey there Snappy - aint it great?

If you decide you like hills, you should think about trying the K2 --- though I don't think you'll be seeing me riding in it, just cheering from the side

http://www.cycleclub.co.nz/eventsCalendar.htm
link to Manakau, Auckland club

http://202.20.65.2:3000/sportzHUB/ARC/K2_Noticeboard/
event summary from last year

http://www.ramblers.co.nz/links.asp
Link to my local club which lists events round NZ abd a few overseas

But yeah, views are great. I think its understood that no matter where you drive in NZ you are only about 2 hours away from the ocean - and we still have the amazing forests and mountains - the backbone of the fish Maui pulled up so long ago

RoadRaven,

Ha ha! Ha ha ha ha!
I'm trying to break myself in gently here!! LOL!
Plan to do the Taupo Challenge (160km), the Hamilton to Auckland (measly 97km!!) and the Taranki Challenge - that's enough for starters!
Thanks for the links - that's brilliant, but dangerous! Hee hee!