Summer has arrived for ICTNZ

Long days and improving weather are inevitably leading to extended bike rides and the inevitable clash of timetables as the touring season gets underway. Despite the economic downturn here at Independent Cycle Tours New Zealand our tour bookings have increased by 20% over last year and our bike fleet has already seen a lot of movement.

Weekends see the local roads and trails filling with cyclists. The popular ‘Long Bays’ road circuit is seeing the small winter and spring bunches of the hardy-souled burgeoning into brightly coloured pelotons of brilliantly-attired riders. The local port hills trails are getting a hammering and plenty of flash new bikes are about.

This year has seen a push from the local cycling organization, BikeNZ to see a 1.5 metre distance for motorists passing cyclists. It’s interesting to see that even without a law change, motorists in general seem to have taken up the initiative, with only a few ‘letters to the editor’ in local papers with motorists bemoaning having to wait a couple of seconds to pass a group of cyclists.

Probably one of the most enjoyable parts of the cycling is the sense of shared experience and camaraderie amongst like minded individuals. Even the ‘hard core’ roadies are struggling to differentiate themselves from the mountain bikers, cycle tourers and BMX riders. More and more people are having a go at the different disciplines available.

The local trail system on our incomparable Port Hills overlooking Christchurch has been continuously upgraded and improved. There are now and astonishing mixture of cross country, downhill, bmx and touring routes, all only a few minutes from the city. Interestingly, one of the finest sections of road is our Summit Road’ which follows a route carved out in the early days of settlement here. The route was constructed solely as an access road for Victorian folk to take in the views and enjoy the ambience. The rider is rewarded with some truly incredible views. It’s one of the only roads I know of that really goes nowhere at all. Unsurprisingly it is thick with walkers, runners and cyclists at any time of the year.