hayleyearth

Did it hit SA news? Edit: or I wonder if it is just earth quakes that gets on the news that side from here...

It is my friend in the Day 3 vid at 1:07 FYI....she is riding because of me...hahahaha

Winter is coming This morning I had to use my front light on full ball on my commute. Off to Rotorua again tomorrow .. 3rd weekend in a row, I have fallen in love!! Some pics of last weekend (Mount Maunganui): Summerhill trails, Tauranga..... up-and-down park, needs a bit of maintenance on the general trails, they have a jump park too and a very nice flowy-ee trail on the other side of the road (it is kinda new apparently): At the top of Frank n' Furter https://www.trailforks.com/trails/frank-n--furter-70817/ The we went into Riff Raff, into Rocky Horror, Roller Coaster, Moonshine back to shuttle... FUN! I rode with 5 people that will race to qualify for EWS this coming weekend....they are blits but such awesome folk! Lake Tarawera........ skurfing... skiing with a surfboard: Lake Tarawera view from bach's porch we stayed in :

Rotorua, Redwoods (aka Heaven), Eastern Spice Loop

So the 1st question: "Why do you want to visit USA?" ME: "to visit my sis for our birthdays. #Aprilbabies" 2nd question: "How long have you been in NZ?" ME: "7-8 months" 3rd question: "do you have any family in NZ?" ME: "No, I am alone" 4th question: "how are you going to proof you will return to NZ?" ME: "I have a letter from work who recruited me from SA that I will be returning and I have prove of my bank accounts" Oke behind counter: "Are you twins?" ME: "no, 10 years apart but have always seen each other on or around or birthdays" Oke: "my two kinds birthdays are in April too. I have granted you a visa." I was sooooo soooo nervous, 3 guys before me were declined, a very expensive ($240) outing for them for nothing!

Yes I have joined the party late, but I am happy I did. Fitted a DHF and DHR II on the Intense (with tubes because I couldn't get the them seated the night before I wanted to ride ) and took it for a spin at Rotorua last weekend....nice! very very nice! I could only get the 60tpi, but for NZ it is fine because I a, yet to see a rock garden on the trails ... Plenty of roots etc. and they handled the soft very well (for my limits of course)!

Last weekend was so awesome. I organized a ex-Giant-sponsored kiwi rider (was on the team with Cam Cole etc) to go show us around at Rotorua Saturday and Sunday and we all camped at Blue Lake ....sooooo pretty there and the water was awesome to swim in. It was great to ride with someone that knows the trails around there because it means we didn't heave to look at the map once or decide which trails to ride next. For me it was great to just ride with someone again, I have been riding alone now for almost 2 years and my skills (the little I had) has totally disappeared and also I found I am now more likely to take a bit of risk again. He has won previous NZ enduro's and also got on a few podiums at Europe Enduro's in 2014 so he was fun to watch too. I only realized after the weekend that I didn't take photo's really of anything, which is quite strange...maybe I was too busy trying to keep up ....haha This weekend I will go and check out Mount Maunganui area (never been there) Friday till Sunday morning and then shoot through to go ride at Rotorua again Sunday and Monday. Long-weeeeeekend again Next weekend there is a 2W (enduro race) on at Rotorua and the guys said I should enter, but I am too scared still. But maybe, just maybe I will head down again and then it would have been 3 weekends in a row of magic

Morning commute to work via Musick Point, Bucklands Beach, Auckland.

It worry me to think how the underwear looks of everyone on here who says socks isn't 'important' to cycling kit... because socks one/the world can see while you wear it, your underwear one/the world can't and hence I am to believe that your 'attention to detail' will lack even more in that regard...

but but different BRANDS believe different LENGTHS are 'right' and oh the length is very important to me..

https://youtu.be/F8cOj_N8Zfg edit: http://www.gizmodo.com.au/2017/01/this-unbreakable-racing-drone-is-perfect-for-terrible-pilots/

Me the last 2 weeks

THAT IS JUST UNFAIR! I am avoiding your posts in the near future! I am buying a boat , I cant afford a Stigmata also this year! It's on my bike desire list though!

There is a quick answer to your "unfit" problem.......get on a road bike and on the road... #justsaying

I think I found NZ's version (or what they wish it is) version of 'the hub'... http://nz-cyclist.spruz.com/forums/ I think Matt and BIKEHub team must assist them to improve...

This weekend was a great riding weekend, too the trail bike, DH bike and road bike out Today the weather wasnt great, but got some pics, yesterday was a bit too busy for pics..

I just phoned both (USA and CH consulates) and was they friendly! Both cases are the same, I fill in the form online (although with the CH one I have to originally select "country of legal residence" as NZ to be able to get to the form) and present myself with the online appointment and treat is as normally would back home. US$160 NZ$94 (for Schengen) It might be a bit 'tricky' getting the USA one because I don't really have a 'solid' case here in NZ yet (long term live and work and no property etc) work and I am going to visit my sis there. Lets see. Thanks!

Does anyone here know how do we apply for USA Visa's and Schengen Visa's from NZ? Because every time I search it it takes me to websites made for NZ citizens or back to the consulates in SA... Also the one online USA one I found looks like a scam, when one needs to select which type of visa one wants to apply for it gives one all random nonsense about aliens etc... heeeeeellllppppp please

Been at that bar to the right on the corner many times.... expensive but have free French nibbles on Fridays Edit: I mean to the left...flip my dyslexia!

So ride planned at 440 this Saturday with another South African (not on this thread) and a few Kiwi's I don't know yet/really. Who ever wants to can join...

I have done quite a bit over the holiday but wont bore you all with ALLLL the things, so maybe just this one post about one specific area in the South Island: So I saw the Kaiteriteri MTB park trails on Trailforks and didn't give it much thought or planning until Mr. Molloy told me it is a must do and that I will have fun.... wow, amazing park. Small compared to the unlimited amount of trails in and round Nelson but the ups are just SOOOOOO much more forgiving (saying that I still did about 2000m accent in 20km) but it was easy dare I say fun climbing. If you know me you will know the size of my smile after a section trail explain all about how much fun I had, I swear my cheeks were sore after my time there. I HIGHLY recommend going to this place to ride if you are doing a trip to the South Island, actually I recommend planning a riding trip just to go ride around Nelson area. 99% of the trails are free to ride, yes incl the Kaiteriteri park. I have no idea how they do that...well I guess passionate people go a far way. The area other than riding: Keiteriteri is beautiful. The beaches etc. Able Tasman park is right there if you want to go kayak and hike and then also loads of wine farms and breweries. A 'real fruit' ice cream is to be found every 5km almost and I think the little town Mapua is a must for a brunch till dinner stoll. SO many other beautiful free nature attractions like caves, natural springs, waterfalls, rock climbing etc etc. Did I mention how beautiful it is? But then again I guess we all know already one doesn't have to go far anywhere other than look out your window in NZ to see natures beauty. **and of course my holiday wouldn't have been so 'pain free' without having Wayne dropping me at the airport and picking me up again and listening to all my blabbing in his ears on the drive home THANKS AGAIN!!

22km 2300m accent Nelson, NZ Awesome awesome trails.

So I'm going out riding with Gabbey Molloy's brother tomorrow afternoon..... #dontevenask #gonnadie

I commuted in this morning again (2nd morning after my accident, yesterday was the 1st). I am sticking to the MTB for now and the route along the stream, not the roads. Sooo nice riding there in summer, a bit cold (as in very cold) in winter along that stream.