Cycling Report

A wonderful day in wonderful company is the only way I can describe our return visit to Taumarunui cycling group.

Set up after they attended our event trainer around the “tour De Trout” course the Turangi Rock N Road group went en mass to Taumarunui’on the main trunk line’ to ride the “Ngapuke” loop in a counter clockwise direction.

A really pleasing turnout meant that the sponsored Van, from Extreme Backpackers and Climbing Wall, was full with 6 cyclist and with Wim meeting us there.

It was a good show of solidarity to our friends. There must have been 20 riders , not counting our ladies division who rode through Taumarunui to the heather farm, that set off at 10 am from Pogues Plumbing on the main street of Taumarunui.

The roads from start to finish were a cyclist’s dream, with the town roads reminiscent of a race track surface and the country roads, excepting for the odd patch, having a great surface and never more than an occasional car disturbed the social intercourse that proceeded for the following 2 hours or so.

As the ride progressed bunches formed and everyone had a new friend to chat with and then once back at Pogue’s place we were treated to a fresh cuppa and a ,straight off the grittle, cake from Steve’s Mum. Also the compulsory chocolate trout from Turangi.

It was particulary pleasing to have many moari Cyclist in the group because Moari are under represented in this sport and going on the performances we see in Turangi and Taumarunui Maori are particularly suited to the sport physically and mentally and I’d love to see more Tangata Whenua involved locally and on the national stage and it is a goal worth pursuing on a personal, local and national level.

The next ride is now in planning and we will have to lift our game if we can improve on the ride, the welcome and the food. We are up for the challenge.

Thanks To Taumarnui Cycling, Mike Pogue and Graeme ‘tinka” Bell for hosting us, to our sponsors, Pogue Plumbing and Extreme Backpackers who provided the van at a fuel only cost. Of course all those who joined in the fun well done and thanks for your support.

Photo’s depict before and after scenes.

Safe Cycling

W van der Aa