South Canterbury Mountain Bike Club

Beachcomber Cruises offer water transport to the Queen Charlotte Track and also cruise throughout Queen Charlotte Sound including the New Zealand Post Mail Run.

The Queen Charlotte Track is 71kms in length and is renowned for its stunning views, contrasting landscape, historical landmarks and wonderful variety of native bush and wildlife. To complete all of the track we have our Great Track & Pack Pass which includes transport and luggage transfers. We also have many day walk/mountain biking options available ranging from 2hrs - 7hrs. Please contact our friendly team about day options.

We would like to offer your group special discounted rates with our Great Track & Pack Pass for both mountain bikers and trampers.
For Mountain Bikers:
One way transport from Picton to Ship Cove with luggage transfers will cost $65.00 per person. Minimum 4 pax.
Great Track & Pack Pass including return transport from Picton to Ship Cove with a pickup from Anakiwa and luggage transfers will cost $80.00 per person. Minimum 4 pax
For Trampers:
Our Great Track & Pack Pass including return transport from Picton to Ship Cove with a pickup from Anakiwa and luggage transfers will cost $80.00 per person. Minimum 4 pax
For groups of 10+ please contact us for our group rate.
If you would like information about accommodation on the Queen Charlotte Track please visit our website www.beachcombercruises.co.nz where you will find information about accommodation available.
If you would like more information or to make a reservation please contact our friendly team
Kind regards
Paula
Beachcomber Fun Cruises
The Waterfront
P.O. Box 12
Picton New Zealand
Office: +64 3 573 6175
Fax: +64 3 573 6176
Web: www.beachcombercruises.co.nz

McLeans Island in the morning

• 11km one-way loop - no oncoming traffic
• Buffed singletrack, bermed corners mostly through pine forest
• No climbs (other than up ‘n’ down stopbanks)
• Suitable for all abilities - great for families, even with quite young children (so long as they can cope with the distance)
• Suitable even in inclement weather
• 25 minutes to 1 hour per lap - the fast guys ‘n’ gals can do multiple laps!

Check out http://www.onyourbike.co.nz/ for details. McLeans Island is between Christchurch Airport and the Waimakariri River - the entrance to the MTB track is opposite Orana Park.

BYO lunch

Port Hills singletrack in the afternoon

• 20+ kilometre loop
• 2+ hours

We’ll start from a car park above the Sign of the Takahe in Cashmere, so no huge climb: 5 minutes of tarseal up to Victoria Park, then climbing offroad for 15 minutes will have us up to the Summit Road, just below Sugarloaf Transmitter. Admire the view across the city and plains to the Alps and catch your breath before turning left (East) and ride flowing singletrack along Bowenvale Traverse Track probably as far as the top of Rapaki Track.

Return the way we came but continue past Sugarloaf, dropping down Thomsons Track past the Sign of the Kiwi (maybe an icecream?) and a short tarseal climb along the Summit Road to the top of Worsleys Road, then down Marleys Hill Track (aka “Flying Nun”) onto Old Dyers Pass Track then a short climb back to the waiting cars.

This ride is 80% singletrack, 10% 4WD track, 10% tarseal

I would describe it as moderately difficult singletrack - narrow, with frequent obstacles - a few (mainly very short - often only 10 metres or so) stretches may be easier walked. Some technical ability and confidence is required. If you aren’t comfortable riding the more technical tracks in the Scenic, you may find this ride challenging in places.
Check out http://www.onyourbike.co.nz/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=32&Itemid=30 for some good photos of what to expect on the easier sections of track.

Check out http://www.ccc.govt.nz/Cycling/TracksRides/PortHills.asp for more details on the tracks, and track reports. Note that as at yesterday many of the tracks were closed due to the recent rain, however the tracks I’ve selected above are very quick-drying (except for Old Dyers Pass Track, which we can avoid if need be). In the absence of any more significant rain, I’m reasonably confident the tracks will be open by next weekend.

Obviously, the Port Hills are exposed and so this ride is weather-dependent. It’s not a nice place to be in a howling southerly! We’ll keep Bottle Lake Forest as a backup - lots of great tracks with plenty of shelter.

More details next week as to car-pooling, meeting times and places

Hope lots of you can make it

Ken

Chris Thomas has organized the following Club Ride for this weekend.

Start and finish the ride at Michael Little’s farm, (Little Road, off Cave Pareora Road). Start time 10.30am.

Meet at the Aorangi Park car park on Morgans Road, Timaru at 9.30am to car pool.

The proposed course is quite demanding and hilly, exposed to weather and wet so members will need to be well prepared with wet weather gear and good fitness levels. The track would not be marked out and we would be riding through areas with stock so we would need to ride as a group.

Approximately 20 kilometres and 2 – 3 hours

If the weather is looking dodgy, watch out for an email or listen to cancellations on Port FM on Sunday morning or contact Chris Thomas: chris@specialevents.co.nz

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