Hard News: Wanna Route?
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Out the SH16 cycleway from the Chev to Te Atatu Peninsula and around is definitely my new favourite ride.
And not one you'd comfortably do on anything other than a hybrid. There's a brilliant stretch of the Peninsula trail where the corners are nicely banked and you can (bearing in mind pedestrians) go hell for leather, before slowing down for the concrete paths It's much better than the relatively dull Twin Streams project, IMO.
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I reckon we all should chip in and buy Jackie a bike! I would be a starter with $100.
Seriously, Jackie: got a Paypal account or something?
Yeah, I'm in too.
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No no no no. Seriously. No. It's kind and now it's getting a bit overwhelming. We'll get a bike for a good price on HP. I just wanted suggestions!
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I've never been tempted by the replica team uniforms though, paying to wear all that advertising seems odd to me.
For the cost-conscious cyclist, wait until after the Tour de France and then pick up the replica kit from the minor teams for cheap. Probikekit.com usually have a fair bit of stuff from the also-rans at about 30% of RRP by the end of nothern hemisphere summer, which nicely dovetails with the start of our spring... I very nearly got in a couple of years ago to pick up full replica Astana kit at the end of 2007, back when they were so tainted by doping that it seemed a no-brainer that they'd go straight under. Then they hired Johan Bruyneel as DS and the prices went back up. Ah well.
Lisa - have seen that site. Personally, I'm looking forward to the new 11-speed Alfine hubs - I'm hearing good things from early reviews.
Bloke at the shop would do me $800 off list price of $1100, he told me...
So $300 then? ;)
I think I'll enjoy building myself one instead though. I know I'll need help with a couple of things but I can mostly do it myself for cheap, and I'll have the great pleasure of sourcing parts bit by bit and ending up with something perfect.
Yeah, you think that - and then you get it 80% done and you start thinking "yeah, I could wait around another month for the perfect set of cranks... or I can spend a hundred bucks and ride it this weekend."
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On a slightly related note, TfL in London is trialling a bike hire scheme similar to the Paris scheme. Starts at the end of the month and looks to be in Zone 1 for now
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jb,
Runkeeper's a good app - covers walking, running, cycling
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Hey! This Sunday, the SH20 cycleway finally gets its official opening (9.30am!?), and later in the day there's a chance to walk/ride across the new Manukau bridge before it's opened to traffic.
Details here.
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Sounds like a plan.
I'm going to have to do a combined NW/SH20 cycle run sometime in the future I think...
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I'm going to have to do a combined NW/SH20 cycle run sometime in the future I think...
It's pretty straightforward -- come off the SH16 path at Carrington Rd, then ride up Carrington then Richardson to the top of the path at the corner with Maioro Street.
Oddly, Google Maps shows the accessway to get onto the SH20 path, but still not the extension from the motorway.
The thing to bear in mind is the steep climb back up to Hillsborough Rd (I think I said Queenstown Rd upthread) on return. It's do-able, but I tend to swear loudly on the way up, which can unnerve the locals.
Also, it looks like the link to Queenstown Rd (taking out a smaller climb) will open this weekend. About time. I used it a couple of weeks ago and got stuck the wrong side of the fence for a kilometre afterwards.
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It's pretty straightforward -- come off the SH16 path at Carrington Rd, then ride up Carrington then Richardson to the top of the path at the corner with Maioro Street.
Excellent - or I suppose you could build the Oakley Creek track in, and then go up through/past Unitec to join Richardson?
The thing to bear in mind is the steep climb back up to Hillsborough Rd (I think I said Queenstown Rd upthread) on return. It's do-able, but I tend to swear loudly on the way up, which can unnerve the locals.
I remember this well (the hill, not your language) from working in Mangere Bridge in '08 - I usually went up through Onehunga town centre instead, but that brought its own problems...
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Excellent - or I suppose you could build the Oakley Creek track in, and then go up through/past Unitec to join Richardson?
You could, but you'd be going through Unitec to get to Oakley Creek, then finding a way back to where you would have been anyway. On weekends, I'll sometimes go via Unitec's back road, just for fun.
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You could save a kilometer and some hills by taking Rosebank Rd. Not as scenic, though.
You could, but you'd be going through Unitec to get to Oakley Creek, then finding a way back to where you would have been anyway. On weekends, I'll sometimes go via Unitec's back road, just for fun.
You don't need to go through the Tech to get to the creek. There is a path off Gt North Rd, just near the bottom. Take the overbridge, and on the other side turn around and continue down. The path has a sign. It's not the best path for bikes but it can be done. There are stairs at the end. Cross the field to Harbutt Ave. The path continues on for another km or so to a dead end on the far side of the railway from Pak'n'save, trap for young players. Harbutt connects through to Woodward, which becomes Richardson.
It's uphill all the way along the creek. Not a very hard uphill, mind, except for the stairs.
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You don't need to go through the Tech to get to the creek. There is a path off Gt North Rd, just near the bottom.
Ah, all good for you Westies, but I think Sam's coming from the other direction.
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Ah. Then Oakley creek is certainly out of the way. But if he's still keen, I recommend the way I just said. Watch out bombing the cycleway by the tech too, I was nearly collected by some loon blundering out of the bushes.
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What a fascinating read. I reckon cycling is one of the best activities that parents & kids can do together. When cycling with the 9 yr old we go from Rocket Park on edge of Mt Albert along the cycleway past the golf course to Pt Chev and then out to Coyle Park or along Carrington Rd till we can duck into some side streets & loop back to Rocket.
There is a series of walkways from Cox's bay directly to Grey Lynn Park that most people don't know about. Also good for a few loops around the Coxs Bay park & Grey Lynn Parks at either end esp great for kids. An alleyway from Westmoreland off Richmond is the missing bit for most riders. There is another track between Sackville & Cockburn which gets you to the edge of Grey Lynn Park near Dryden St.
My personal favourite is up to Titirangi off the end of the Dominion Rd extension, via Green Bay & into Titirangi from the back. Coffee / brekkie in Titirangi & then back to the city via New Lynn or whichever way has the least traffic at the time you are riding.
I'm surprised no one has mentioned One Tree Hill park which is another good one for kids. It has the advantage of being paved but away from most of the traffic & in the city still.
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My morning commute is travelling West to East, into the rising winter sun, as it brings light to a foggy Hagley Park. A magic moment, always enjoyed at the end of Kilmarnoch St.
My bike to work is sometimes as good as the day gets, so at least every day has some good to it.
Matai Street West has parrallel infrastructure, of a cycleway off the road, very good. At one end is Christchurch Boys' High School and at the other Christchurch Girls' High School.
http://maps.google.co.nz/maps?hl=en&tab=wl&q=matai%20street%20westAs for punctures. How about bringing back wooden wheels?
Place curved wood onto normal wheels & a rubber tread overtop for grip. -
The path continues on for another km or so to a dead end on the far side of the railway from Pak'n'save, trap for young players.
Ah yes, did that not so very long ago...
Watch out bombing the cycleway by the tech too, I was nearly collected by some loon blundering out of the bushes.
I find the main one to be careful with is the cycleway going down from Upper Queen Street to Newton Road, beside Ian McKinnon Drive... a wonderful slope and so easy to get carried away, but if you meet a pedestrian along the way down you're going to regret it...
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There is a series of walkways from Cox's bay directly to Grey Lynn Park that most people don't know about
Including me! Will explore.
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There is a series of walkways from Cox's bay directly to Grey Lynn Park that most people don't know about
Yep, you basically follow the creek till you hit Richmond Road right next to Countdown. You then need to cross the main road and ride past the Mitre 10 and there is a path leading to the bottom of Sackville and then on to Hakanoa.
It's a wooden walkway over the creek and mud till you get to Richmond Road so try not to push any pedestrians off ;-).
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My morning commute is travelling West to East, into the rising winter sun, as it brings light to a foggy Hagley Park. A magic moment, always enjoyed at the end of Kilmarnoch St.
My bike to work is sometimes as good as the day gets, so at least every day has some good to it.
I used to ride through Hagley Park to my first job. I know exactly what you mean.
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I'll be in Auckland for two weeks in August. I've been seriously considering whether I can fit two weeks worth of winter clothes into my carry-on and have my bike as checked baggage. Looks like there's plenty of cycling to be had up there.
Also I don't want to go without riding for two whole weeks!
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a wonderful slope and so easy to get carried away, but if you meet a pedestrian along the way down you're going to regret it...
Yes, pedestrians don't really know what to do when they see someone hurtling along the footpath at upwards of 40kmh. "Keep Left" isn't really that helpful. "Slow Down" is actually best advice - shouldn't really pass a pedestrian going any more than 20kmh. I'd think if they're children or animals 10kmh would make even more sense.
But there isn't a road code for cyclists. Perhaps there should be. The problem is that cyclists don't want to give up inertia, getting it back means hard pedaling. There's a sense of entitlement to the speed the bike can provide akin to the same thing in motorists when they have to slow down for cyclists.
When I was last in Germany, cyclists even acted like motorists, ringing their bells angrily and shouting at pedestrians who might have strayed into the cycle lane. It certainly did not endear me to their cause and did not seem like a good idea. It was not conducive to harmonious sharing of the resource. But then I did notice quite a lot of angry shouting in Germany, especially when they sensed a foreigner.
Holland had a much better culture, brought about to some extent by better infrastructure. Cycle lanes that were separated from footpaths by actual kerbs meant far less people unwittingly standing in them. The proliferation of these meant that when cyclists did ride amongst pedestrians, they knew that they were really the ones who should give way.
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Actually there is :) Roadcodes Cyclists version has hi-res & low-res available.
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Lisa, considered hiring them casually? About $4 an hour (you return them to various spots when finished), gotta be a lot less hassle and potential cost than carting a bike on a plane. If you're staying in city or central suburbs there would probably be a spot within walking distance. Just a thought.
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Lisa, thanks! Never knew that.
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