Get off-road to enjoy the scenery
Stephen Heard leaves the pavement and takes to the trails.
You can take your pick from dual purpose walking trails, coastal tracks, back country roads, native forests and disused railway lines.
The possibilities on two wheels are endless. Trail riding is one particular style where cyclists go off-road to sightsee and explore rugged terrain. Specialised mountain bikes are used to withstand the harsh conditions, and usually come fitted with more durable tyres, suspension and lightweight frames. There are thousands of kilometres of offroad trails in New Zealand to shred some gravel. Pointed in the right direction by Around the Basin, I hit the Queenstown Trail – 35 picture-perfect kilometres from Arrowtown to the adventure capital. The last time I rode a bike, the handlebars came loose – something that happens when you try to avoid the assembly fee at your local cycle shop and take mechanics into your own stingy hands. After being sized up for a properly assembled two-wheeler we were obliged to watch a safety video that covered braking technique, how to use the gears, the quality of the trail and navigation. The estimated fourhour ride began along the stunning Arrow River.
The visit from Cyclone Fehi the day before was apparent with ankle-deep puddles and broken branches along the trail. A fallen tree forced us to disembark and go bush within the first kilometre. From there, the combination of loose gravel and sensitive brakes took some getting used to. We travelled across a swing bridge, down isolated country roads, through rabbit-infested farmland, around shimmering lakes and perfumed pine forests.
An intersection presented itself at the bottom of a hill. With no signage, reception or expertise to navigate by the sun, heading right seemed like the most logical direction to reach the finish line. That decision resulted in an hourlong detour through suburbia. Off-road turned on-road. Despite being fabulously lost, the asphalt was a pleasant change from the bumpy gravel. Further salvation came from a blue Queenstown Trail sign. We continued: uphill, downhill, over bridges, under bridges. Downhill was best. Fatigue eventually crept in from the knees to the shoulders. Thirtyfive kilometres and one milkshake stop later, we pulled into the headquarters about an hour later than the suggested cycling time. As well as providing a decent full body workout – it requires endurance, balance and natural bike handling skills – off-road trail cycling allows riders to soak up often untouched countryside. In New Zealand you can take your pick from dual purpose walking trails, coastal tracks, back country roads, native forests and disused railway lines. It’s almost as easy as riding a bike. Queenstown’s Around the Basin provides every rider with a helmet and safety brief to reduce risk. For general safety the company suggests becoming familiar with your bike before hitting the trail, keeping left while riding, keeping the trail clear when stopping and always wearing your helmet. Further protective equipment is common for those approaching more aggressive terrain, including gloves, knee pads and upper body armour. An appropriate amount of water and sunscreen should also be carried. The New Zealand Cycle Trail lists 2500km of cycling routes across the country. nzcycletrail.com.