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Nice place to be, Army Bay. You'll be looking for a bit of a dirt track on the LHS quite far up - there used to be a barrier gate thing across the road and there was a new site office going in there, IIRC, around where on the left there is access...

BTW Saag, and I know you have probably said it many times before, but where are you located? Whangaparaoa IIRC? There is (or was, with all the development going on now, it might have disappeared) some MTB tracks at the back of Orewa...off Hillcrest Road, just go up there until you see some dirt off on the side, go down a steep hill, there were some jumps and what have you made by local folks as well as some pretty handy singletrack. Some of it might be in Alice Eaves, which technically you aren't supposed to bike in, but...you know...

I had the same issue - when you have limited time, it is best to ride straight out the front door. I've ridden to Woodhill a couple of times when I lived in Silverdale, it is very do-able, not at all dangerous...

Yep Hayley those are 'metal' roads, not tarred. All the road names I've mentioned above are dirt - excellent exploring oppos out there, all the way further North, towards Warkworth; nice road riding too out to Port Albert/Tapora/Wellsford, beautiful rolling countryside...can all be done on a regular road bike, but MTB or gravel bike will probably be a bit better for handling the gnarlier stuff...

Good luck mate. Most important thing to make it here is to have a positive attitude. Skillz, mad, helps too of course

See above; if it is distance you want, then head out and start in Puhoi. Here's an example of a circuit you can do https://www.strava.com/segments/830742

Heaps of really good gravel riding out past Silverdale/Wainui Road area. Look for Monowai Rd, go up Krippner which is a seriously steep (sealed) climb which leads into farmlands, check out Haruru Rd and on to Tahekeroa Rd, Kanohi Rd, Tuhirangi, etc. Not really 'MTB' per se, I have ridden nearly all of those on my road bike, but some quality, hard n hilly farm roads to explore.

I had no idea that was named!

Love how the considerate Kiwis put the AB/SA matches on the North Shore. Mind you, makes economic sense, too...

Gonna try make that one. Sounds great.

edit dbl post

I'm still too scared to ride outside, just been getting back on the rollers a bit. Although Sunday was so mild a day that we were on the beach in kort pant. Here's my older boy flying a kite for the first time..

Thanks guys. It appears I have to fill in a form and post it then hope they will post something back eventually...

Best wishes Wayne! Funnily enough, I was thinking of finally finishing the BA I started through UNISA in 1995. I've only got maybe 3 papers to do...but the real mission now is pulling my academic record from UNISA. Anyone had any experience with that?

I'm only on page 10, but loving this thread. As a lightie I was never any good with my hands; think it had something to do with being a perfectionist and not understanding that as with all things, practice makes perfect (though some talent undoubtedly helps). Also, until recently, I was never a patient person - having kids can (should) change that; it has for me. So, I have taken a great interest in doing things myself, including building some decking and stairs, doing some block laying and landscaping, and other stuff. I'm loving the ability to get good quality tools, many of which I hadn't even heard of - I didn't know what a mitre saw was months ago, now I have one and have learned how to use it. Hugely satisfying. And when I do things that are wrong, such as laying a squif block, I just take it apart and try again. Or if a cut isn't perfect, doesn't matter, do again. Anyways, thanks to all the contributors to this thread - I am learning heaps more about tools and techniques and am keen to start building a few items of furniture to replace the stuff my boys are slowly but surely destroying. A lot of talented people on here!

I find the blogs enormously useful in finding out who is who - I don't take Whaleoil seriously, but I like seeing who is being talked about and all the blogs routinely serve as the start of a wormhole to read up on past 'luminaries' - like Muldoon, Shipley, Anderton, even the venerated MJS, Fraser, Douglas, Cullen, etc. Gets your knowledge of NZ's history a bit better, I find, and you don't have to agree with anything said there either. As well as, of course, getting perspectives and insights on the politicians 'du jour'...

Oh, and of course, NBR.co.nz - business/economy news, very good publication but subscription and the subs are not cheap.

I skim the tabloidy stuff mentioned by Niterider. But I also regularly read www.kiwiblog.co.nz and www.whaleoil.co.nz (blogs to the right; David Farrar is a highly astute chap, Cam Slater also, but Slater is a gutter operator - with excellent political connections) and then www.thestandard.org.nz and www.thedailyblog.co.nz (which are blogs on the left, run by idiot Lyn Prentice and amusing buffoon Martyn Bradbury, respectively). There's also Richard Harman's www.politik.co.nz for good, sober political analysis. These sources have provided me with massive political and 'pulse' insight into who's who and what's going on in Kiwiland...

In other news, I interviewed the government CTO the other day. This will annoy the hell out of people like Goat123 and maybe a few others, but government services are pretty impressive. You can get a passport within 5 days without leaving your desk, everything is done digitally. You can pay your GST with one click of a button from your accounting software. And other stuff. Read the interview here if you're into that sort of thing: http://istart.co.nz/nz-feature-article/citizen-driven-tech-enabled-nz-civil-service/

I'd be happy with $120 for brakes and cranks...PM me your email address or phone number so I can whatsapp pictures...

Oh ja, also have a brand new SRAM XX Eagle 12sp trigger shifter off my new bike. I'm a gripshift man.

Yes it is, will fit 27.5 also...

While we talking mountain biking, I have a whole lot of 9 speed stuff from my (3rd) broken S-Works Epic. So if any Kiwikaners/bikehub NZ Tee Em people want anything below, get in touch and let's make some deal: Almost new SRAM Grip ShiftersSRAM XO rear der, red, blackbox, VGCAlmost new XT cassette and chainXT cranks in good condition, but worn big blade (middle ring is new, steel)Tektro Auriga Pro brakes, white, good condition (off my wife's bike, she got my Deore XTs)White Ritchey WCS low rise handlebar, VGC, cut to 56cm (IIRC)Black Ritchey WCS 10cm stem, good cond.Almost new black Fizik Gobi saddleS-Works carbon seatpostAlmost new Rock Shox Reba 120/100mm travel fork (tapered)Collection of FDs including new XT 10sp, older XT 9sp, SLX 9spSet of Roval Controle E5 wheels with discs, older wheels but very light. Rear is buckled, but has a brand new DT Swiss rim to fit. Hubs prob need a service. With tyres.I've also got a brand new Octane 1 Zircus jump bike frame; bought it, turned out it wasn't soemthing I needed. Alu, small (but supposed to be medium). If anything sounds interesting, I'll send you photos and we can haggle. Ekse.

Do it man, get some work in ahead of the ride so you can enjoy Woodhill, it's a great facility..

I'm not fussy with times/dates. Very keen on Rotorua hub ride, it's about an hour's drive for me (was there this weekend also, but for the Maori All Blacks vs Lions game). There's some NZ ugly - WTF is 'Maori All Blacks'. Like my Mrs said, just imagine if they had the Pakeha All Blacks, people would lose their minds. Ha.