Day 1
This weekend (15th, 16th November, 2014) I rode Le Petit Brevet around Banks Peninsula, New Zealand. What a fantastic ride. It would be a self supported bike ride. About 280 kms, over 8000 meters climbing and a 36 hour time limit to complete the course (I never really had much chance of finishing inside 36 hours).
Training had gone well. My biggest training rides included an overnight trip about 6 weeks ago. This involved two 6 hour days. I also rode the Mcleans Island 12 hour, 4 weeks ago. It was the third time I've rode it and the first time I've got everything right and cracked 200kms. This was the day I realized I could have a go at Le Petit.
We were pretty fortunate that Friday was a public holiday in Cantebury (show day). I had a day to organize my gear, pack the bike and make loads of rice cakes (I like using these on long rides) GCN rice cakes
I had better appologise now, my phone only has a 2 mega pixel camera, so the photos aren't great.
Saturday morning and we all lined up at Hansen park, Christchurch. 22 riders, looking for an adventure. We were a couple of minutes late starting, so at 7.10 am, we were on our way.
We only had about 1 km before heading up our first climb. Up Huntsbury Track and then along the Bowenvale Traverse. If you don't like hills, this is not the event for you, I love the hills, so it was going to be a fun. At the end of the Traverse we continued along Summit road to Kennedys Bush Track and carried our bikes over the first of what would be many fences this weekend. Three of us descended together, Rik from Vorb and a rider who had come down from Auckland for the event (I'm so sorry, I've forgotten your name). Both Rik and myself were first timers, the Auckland rider was back for his third time, what a star.
It was good to have these two riders for company out through Tai Tapu and along the rail trail to Motukarara. This was a flat section (about 30kms) and we had a bit of a head wind.
At Motukarara we said goodbye to our Auckland friend as he decided to stop for his morning coffee, We were now heading up Gebbies Pass Road, toward the start of the Packhorse Track. Rik and I got seperated up the climb. The Packhorse Track is a fantastic ride. If you live in Christchurch, go ride it sometime. At the top, I saw another rider, sitting enjoying the views. Thanks for taking my photo, you are a good man.
I'm no good at ridding technical trails, so I really enjoyed the ride back down from Packhorse towards Kaituna Valley. Big, wide, grassy trails are my kind of descending.
Once I got back on the road again that headwind made things hard work. It made for slow progress down Kaituna Valley Road and then along the next section of rail trail to Little River. There was going to be so much climbing this weekend I couldn't afford to work hard on the flat. So I just accepted it was going to be slow to Little River and took it easy into the wind.
I got to Little River near 1.00 pm (6 hours after the start). This was the probably the last place I could buy food before Akaroa, so I topped up my supplies and headed of towards hill top. This was the start of riding on roads I've never seen before, The sign on Harmens Track should have been a warning for how hard things could get. It wouldn't be until Sunday afternoon before I would see a flat piece of road again.
At Hill top we turned left and followed Summit Road until we descended Little Akaloa Road. This is when I thought to myself I'm going to finish this thing. Not like my thinking going into the ride, if I had a great couple of days I've got a chance. I new I'd make it round the course.
There was a tap in Little Akaloa so I could fill a bottle. I saw a couple of cyclist coming down the road while I was stopped. Fantastic, someone to ride with. One was from Rotorua (third Le Petit), the other from Alex (first timer). They had made a navigational error earlier and that's how they ended up behind me. I thought I had lots of time to get peoples names, but they were far to strong for me up the first hill we tried to ride together. I had to let them go. It was probably good I couldn't keep up with them. I had been having such a great day, I was singing, "Everything is Awesome" for most of day one. No-one else needed to hear that. Just before I reached Okains I caught a rider who had gone out for a 10 km ride from the camp ground. He asked how far I was going, When I said 280kms I got that you are crazy look from him.
I was surpised by the climbs between Little Akaloa and Oakins Bay. I thought they would be a couple of little easy rollers. Turns out they are not easy climbs.
My research told me Okains Bay store would be open until 4:30 and it is about half a km off course. I got to Akains Bay at 4:31, I had enough food to get me to Akaroa so I gave the store a miss.
Onto the next climb, Big Hill Road, which turns into Camerons Track. This was a gravel climb which just went on and on. I made my first navigation error at this point. We were meant to turn left of Camerons onto Lavericks Ridge Road. I got to the road but it did not have any signs. I read the queue sheets wrong. I thought it said there was a right turn 200 meters into Lavericks. I went 200, 300, 400. Still now right had turn. I went back to Camerons thinking Lavericks must be round the next corner (which was only a few hundred meters away). I road up and round the corner but there were no other turn offs. I read the notes again and realised it was 1.2 kms, not 0.2.
Back on course and down Panama Road after 1.2 kms. It is a very steep descent. I knew that every meter I dropped I had to come back up again before Akaroa. And I knew I had to come back up. I had booked a bed in a Back Packers in Akaroa. I didn't have a backup plan, I was going to make it.
One more hill to do before Akaroa, food, shower and bed. My original plan was to get to Akaroa before the supermarket closes. I was going to get stuff for dinner, breakfast the next morning and enough food to get me through double fence line and into Little River. The supermarket shuts at 7:30, it was clear I wouldn't get there in time. I'd need a new plan, but I'd worry about that in Akaroa.
The climb out of Le Bons Bay was long and steep. Combined with the extra bit along the end of summit road I got to the highest elevation I'd been all day.
Any normal ride would then go down the road to Akaroa. This is not any normal ride, so we headed towards Purple Peak Track. I was having so much fun riding down the gravel road to the track I missed the turn off. Turn round, back up the hill, thankfully only a few hundred meters. For some reason I though we would start going downhill as soon as we got to the track. I was wrong, got my final bit of climbing for the day. The decent was good. It was a mix of really technical big rocks (which I walked) and a big wide grassy track (which I enjoyed). Got our first view of Akaroa from here. Sorry, the light was fading so it's near impossible to make Akaroa out in this picture.
Got to my accomodation at 8:25. Strava tells me 11hours55 moving time, 150 kms and 4529 meters elevatio. It had been a big day out. Got changed and then went in search of food.
Akaroa closes early. I went to three different bars/restaurants before I could find somewhere with a kitchen still open. I could have got Alcohol from the others but not food.
A great big thank you to Bully Hayes Restaurant. They could do me something from the light meals or starter menu. Had a great feed of fish and chips and then bought lots of garlic bread. The garlic bread would be breakfast in the morning and hopefully get me through double fence line and into Little River for lunch. I was planing on leaving Akaroa before any shops opened in the morning.
Some people where going to keep riding through the night and get back to Christchurch for morning. Not for me, back to Bon Accord backpackers, a quick shower and then bed. It had been a good day.
Day 2
I woke early (4:30), it was raining hard outside. I checked the forecast. It was due to stop this morning so I went back to bed until 5:25. The rain had stopped, I had the first of my garlic bread, got ready and started riding at 6:10 am. No sign of life in Akaroa. Even the petrol station was closed, so I couldn't get a Mars bar to take with me.
We took a back road out of Akaroa only to find it had a road closed sign. That wouldn't stop a Brevet rider. There was a huge pile of dirt in the road. As high as a car, maybe 10 - 15 meters long and no way to go around. I new I'd be carrying my bike a bit today, but hadn't expected it to be in Akaroa. So up and over the pile of dirt and then on my way.
We road around the bays for a while, up and down, up and down before turning into Okains Bay road and it was up, up, up. I got to summit road expecting it to drop back down, but it still went up. I realised I was a bit more tired today, no singing to myself up the hills. Still felt good, but not quite as bouncy as yesterday. It was a bit cooler than yesterday. I spent quite a bit of time putting on and taking off my vest, depending on climbing or descending. Despite the cold, it was clear and sunny. I had gotten very lucky with the rain coming through the night.
After a few ups and downs on Summit Road I reached Double Fence Line. Why it's called double fence line I don't know. It should be called "10,000 fences to carry your bike over". It just keeps climbing. On both the up and the few down sections there are fantastic sections to ride and sections which require hike a bike. It was hard work through here. It's the first time I've been on this track and I'll have to do it again. If I was fresh it would have been stunning. I stopped and to take in the views a few times. I knew it was stunning but couldn't really take it in. I was just working hard and trying to get over the top. This section really helped to make Le Petit an epic adventure. Near the end of the track I saw some trees which made me realise how lucky I was with the weather.
I enjoyed the ride down into Little River where I stopped for Lunch. I had a fantastic vegetarian Samosa. It was full of curried vegetable and cashew nuts, I bought some snacks to get me through the rest of the ride. I didn't need much as I still had garlic bread. I did buy a piece of apple short bread. This was the food highlight of the trip. The cafe has a sign beside its bike stand. I couldn't decide if they haven't had time to remove the old sign or if it's just someones sense of hummer.
After lunch it was time for another big climb. This time we climbed up to Basso road. Sealed road on the way up and then gravel on the way down. I really enjoyed the gravel roads on this trip. I'm going to have to get out and explore a lot more of them. The views from here are my favorite of the whole trip. My camera can not do it it justice. If you haven't been up Basso Road before, go and have a look. And make sure you do it on a bike.
And then it was time for something I hadn't experience for some time. I was riding on the flat again. Along the rail trail with a tailwind. Nothing much exciting happened until the last km of the trail and a magpie decided to attack. A couple of bangs on my helmet, then I was out of it's territory and we were happy to leave each other alone.
That's enough of riding on the flat. Time to head back up Gebbies, along Summit Road and up the bastard. It's such an iconic climb in Christchurch, I'm glad we rode it.
When I got to the start of the Traverse it was clear I wasn't going to get home inside the 36 hours. I enjoyed the Traverse but it seemed harder than normal. Then it was onto the trails to the east of Rapaki. I've only rode them once before, I don't do well on technical trails and to be honest, I struggled a bit. I'm still glad they were part of the route, they added a lot to the event. I could see Lyttleton, then Sunmer from one of the tracks, I'm going to make it.
This is where I have to admit I didn't complete all the course. I did not ride Captain Thomas, I came down the road instead. I was cold, tired and could hardly stand on the pedals. I have no regrets, not riding that last track.
I rolled into Sunmer and my legs would hardly turn. I stopped for a bag of lollies and all of a sudden my legs came back to life, I could ride again. To make things even better it was going to be a tail wind back Hansen Park.
This is when I realised I had locked my suspension climbing up to Basso Road and forgot to turn it back on again. I'll have to go ride those trails with suspension some time and see if it helps.
Ferry Road had a sign saying road closed. They were pulling up the old road surface. I didn't want to go round any detours at this point so I hoped up onto the footpath.
About 9.10 pm I rode into Hansen park. 38 hours after I had left. Shattered but very, very happy. Teresa was there to pick me up and take me home. You are a great girl and I love you lots.
Day 2 and Strava tells me, 132km, 12hours 11mins moving time and 4366 meters elevation.
What's next, nothing for a while. I'll just ride my bike for the sake of ridding my bike for a couple of months. I've got today of work but I hope to commute by bike tomorrow. I only do these events if I can still live car lite after.
Final thing, would I do it again. The standard answer after something like this is "never again", but it was a fantastic weekend.
You never know, I might remember to turn my suspension on and get down Captain Thomas next time.
