Te Anau

Well we had a good couple of days cross country. We got a lift across Lake Wakatipu on a steam ship and then pedaled across empty backcountry and sheepstation land for two days to reach Te Anau. After serious thought, we then elected to get a bus rather than cycle down to Milford Sound and go for a day cruise. The road to Milford is the most dangerous in NZ, so i think we made the right call. Milford itself was stunning, not only the scenery, but also a huge pod of dusky dolphins and then a pair of Hectors dolphins playing around chasing the boat.

Happy Christmas

Had a nice ride today, the promised bad weather turned out not too bad, and even the climb over the Crown Range was bearable. We had a beer and a nice christmas lunch on top of the pass, but are now stuck trying to find somewhere to eat on christmas day and all the half decent restaurants have been booked up for weeks!

Paragliding in Wanaka

IMG_8070
Originally uploaded by hairy_matt

The weather has finally perked up and we've been enjoying a few rest days in Wanaka. It's a nice chilled out town with nice beer and fantastic views.. We succumbed a bit to the tourist thing and went paragliding this morning, but it was well worth shelling out a few quid for. It' a great way to see the mountains, and very relaxing.. Tomorrow we have to ride over the Crown Range though, so Christmas lunch will be a sandwich on the top somewhere..

Wanaka

Well we finally got some sun. After a few more horrid wet days on the west coast, we climbed over the Haast pass and after a fairly epic day, we now have a few days rest in Wanaka before heading over the crown range to Queenstown.

They don't call it a rainforest for nothing..

Hanging out by the Franz Josef glacier today, and it is rather wet.. In fact it hasn't stopped raining for days! Oh well, pedaling off south now, into wet more rain.. Just like being at home.

A windy day

Just arrived in Hokatika after several hours of purgatory into a horrible headwind. Hope the weather helps us out a bit more tomorrow. The run down the Otira gorge was awesome though, even in the rain.

On the road

Pathway
Originally uploaded by hairy_matt

So, no new pics to post at the moment, but that's because I don't have access to any RAW conversion software while cycle touring. We are currently in Arthur's Pass, South Island of NZ. Tomorrow we ride down towards the west coast, and then south towards Queenstown and Milford Sound.

The weather has been rubbish so far, but the scenery is fantastic. Huge glacial valleys with trestle bridges spanning massive rivers.. Very Montana-esque, with a hint of Scotland about it.

The cycling is going fine so far, though we've only really put in one proper day. I had to buy a new wheel in Christchurch (when we unpacked the bikes on arrival in NZ I found my rear wheel bearings had seized completely...serves me right for washing my bike before flying..).

We managed to pare the kit right down this time so we both have quite managable loads. I think we're going to try to put in a few epic days in order to get an extra day off... Watch this space to see if we make it..

Iron Horse team photoshoot

Montage
Originally uploaded by hairy_matt

Had a good photoshoot with the guys on Saturday in Leigh Woods, Bristol. The weather was freezing and foggy, with a nasty washed out sky and gloomy woods. We got some good shots though, and the guys were great, hitting the same corners again and again... mind you, I think they were just glad to keep warm..

Life keeps on rolling…

Wheel
Originally uploaded by hairy_matt

Been very busy recently. Planning for New Zealand, fixing burglar alarms (and trying to exterminate mice) as well as more than a little work.. Which all means I haven’t had much time to take photos for fun. Things are coming together though, the new site looks good and I’ve got a few projects lined up. All I need now is the time to fill out my portfolio with some really killer images.

Extreme Endurance Cyclists

_DSC4161Web.jpg
Originally uploaded by hairy_matt

Took a few photos for Dave and Josh of the Iron Horse/Extreme Endurance team on Sunday. The weather was horrible, but the guys were very good sports and I managed to get a few decent frames..
You can read more about the team on Dave's Blog.

Another hotel room

Another day, another hotel room. Only this one is not quite up there with Rome or Paris... Welcome to the Tottenham Court road..

Black mountains

Did the black mountains killer loop for the first time on saturday, what a cracking day out. It almost made up for our joke of a summer.

Where now?

Ok, so it's a bit melodramatic, but i have been thinking more than ever recently about my direction in life. Time to make some decisions is near. This post though, is mostly to try blogging from my new phone ;)

If in doubt, rip their legs off...

Nice ride in this morning, though I did fall prey to every commuter's weakness. I was overtaken by a chap on a mountain bike on Newport Road, not a problem in itself, but he did not offer any cheery hello, or friendly good morning. As a result of course, I was compelled to draft him to the bottom of Rumney Hill (noting with satisfaction that he was slyly looking behind to see if he'd dropped me yet) and then, as the gradient picked up, I pulled round him and sprinted up the hill until my lungs were burning. He was nowhere in sight by the time I had crested the rise, and as I kept the hammer down for the next 7 miles or so, he had no chance of catching me back up...

Satisfying, yes...am I an overcompetitive cock? ...probably ;-)

Ha, back on a faster machine

Quarry ahead
Originally uploaded by hairy_matt

Felt good to spin in this morning on the CX bike.. It may not be a tour de France winning machine, but its a hell of a lot easier to pedal than a mountain bike..

Not cycling, but canoeing

Campfire
Originally uploaded by hairy_matt

Took a weekend off the bike, and paddled down the river Wye with friends.. This shot is from our little campfire and camp on Saturday night...it was great to be out..

I love my Surly

Surly
Originally uploaded by hairy_matt

But it ain't half sodding slow when cycling along the road to work.. Hopefully the ride home off road will make up for it..

Back from the Mega

Qualifier start
Originally uploaded by hairy_matt

Well I survived the Mega Avalanxche, even though my bike ain't quite in one piece.. This vid is of the qualifier race, the main event this year started at the same point because of bad weather, usually it would be even higher, on the glacier of Pic Blanc at 3300.. I'll be back next year and hopefully will get to race over the whole course..

Off to the Alps

Tomorrow morning we leave for the Alps, to race in the MegaAvalanche (google it, it's the worlds most stupid downhill race). Apparently there is a lot of snow on the course this year...eeep!

Marshalling and downhilling

Stef
Originally uploaded by hairy_matt

Been a bit patchy on the old riding front for the last few weeks. Marshalling at 24hours of Mayhem took it out of me a bit, but otherwise I've been getting into shape for next weeks Megavalanche race.. it looks completely ridiculous.