Seeing the sights from the seat of a cycle

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 8, Issue 381, 9 April 1991, Page 5

Seeing the sights from the seat of a cycle

A group of 28 very fit and active tourists have chosen to see New Zealand from the seat of their cycles. With an average age of 65 (the oldest is 77) the 14 men and 14 women are members of the Cross Canada Cycle Tour Society, a group of retired people and others wanting to remain active as recreational cyclists. Most of the tourists are

from Vancouver with two members from the United States. The tour is well planned and runs to a tight schedule starting in Dunedin on 3 March and finishing in Auckland on 12 April. 28 bikes were brought to New Zealand and any necessary repairs are done along the way. A rental truck accompanies the cyclists to carry the baggage, tents and food

which is manned by a group of four each day. The van travels ahead to set up camp and cook the evening meal. On average 100km is covered each day throughout the five weeks and the group is staying at pre-booked motor camps along the way. The group stayed at the Raetihi Motor Camp last Tuesday. "The trip from Wanganui is the hardest day so far. A real challenge," said tour leader John

Philip. Members of the group said New Zealand is a wonderful country and consider that the best way to see it is from a cycle. To date there has been only one casualty, a broken wrist - the result of an argument with a railway track while boarding the ferry at Picton. Over the last few years various members of the society have cycled across Canada, South Africa and Australia.