niterider

What's your itinerary? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Looks terrible.

Yeah, just don't put the butter in the fridge and you'll be fine.

If anyone wants a short guided tour of Maraetai forest, I'll be heading out on Sunday sometime. Tracks should be mint. More rain forecast next week, so conditions not likely to be great next weekend. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

http://www.hauraki.co.nz/ - 99.0

Yes, annual membership gives you free trail access. Members also get 20% discount at Saints Cycles in St. Johns.

I might be around for a short Maraetai ride if you're keen.

The lamb too. In fact all the meat is good. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Welcome! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I'm in Maraetai forest at least twice a week. Wednesday or Friday afternoon, or Sunday morning. And the club runs ladies shuttles every second Sunday too. Not sure which Sundays the next ones are - they're announced on our FB page https://www.facebook.com/Pohutukawa-Coast-Bike-Club-117091788315880/

Yep. First rule of NZ shopping - never buy anything unless its on sale.

Loads of shopping down Queen Street. Or closer to home, there's some options at Sylvia Park, or Dressmart in Onehunga (an outlet mall).

No rocks in East Auckland. Our average trail is roots, clay, steep and/or off camber. Most Auckland riding (Maraetai or Riverhead) is clay based, so in summer something fast rolling on the back works well since the trails are hard. In winter it's slick clay with zero grip and nothing helps that. But a tacky tyre is handy for wet roots. Wood hill is sand based and you're best off with fast rolling tyres. For Rotorua Butchers, Minions and high rollers are good. I've never seen an Ibex around here, but it looks similar to all of the above, so I think you're sorted. The basic recipe is something with decent side knobs on the front, and whatever you can get away with on the rear.

Butcher front, Purgatory rear with me. Minions are also popular, as is the Magic Mary/ Hans Dampf combo. I'll probably move my Butcher to the rear with the MM at the front when winter hits properly.

Howick market is a weekly fruit & veg market. Cheaper than the supermarket. There is also a nice (but small) farmer's market out at Clevedon. And a rather pathetic "French" market near where I stay at Pine Harbour. The nicest market around is up at Matakana, but you're likely to do that on a weekend away, unless you live on the North Shore.

You bring a bike??

Congrats!

I have the regular Fenix with plastic strap and have had no problems in surf. Leather and water are usually not a great recipe. Sounds like serious bad luck with the Velcro though, I really wouldn't expect that to happen.

The view from Omaha estuary this morning Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Yeah, big rule of shopping here is only buy fruit and veg when in season, unless you're a recent Lotto winner.

I'm sure we could club together to buy you a beer. Or a lettuce.

Ditto!

More reasons to move to New Zealand - http://www.stuff.co.nz/travel/themes/78788481/toilet-spotting-across-new-zealand-and-the-world

Most days at the local bike park between a quarter and half of the cars are Subarus. Mostly Outbacks. I drive one too

Yeah, I'd say there's a few options. And if you have showers at work then probably a few more. For example, this guy does lots of morning loops (sometimes very early to miss the traffic), starting from Bucklands Beach - https://www.strava.com/athletes/585808.